After the trade of D'Angelo Russell, the Los Angeles Lakers released a statement through their general manager, Rob Pelinka. The statement, shared by the team's communications department, expressed gratitude for Russell's contributions on the court. "We want to thank D'Angelo for his second stint with us, where we celebrated some great moments and achievements on the court. We wish him and Maxwell Lewis all the best in their future endeavors with the Brooklyn Nets." "We are thrilled that Dorian Finney-Smith will bring physicality, toughness, and elite shooting to our core. We also highly value Shake Milton's playmaking abilities. We are excited for our fans to see these two players on the court." ESPN's Shams Charania reported on Sunday about the trade involving these four players. The Lakers traded Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round draft picks (2027, 2030, and 2031) for Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Finney-Smith provides much-needed wing depth, earning 14.9millionthisyearwithaplayeroptionfor14.9 million this year with a player option for 14.9millionthisyearwithaplayeroptionfor15.3 million in the 2025-26 season. This season, he averaged 10.4 points and 4.6 rebounds for the Nets. D'Angelo Russell could only sit on the bench, averaging 12.4 points and 4.7 assists. This is his second career move from the Lakers to the Nets and his fifth overall trade. What's next for the Lakers after trading D'Angelo Russell? Trading D'Angelo Russell and Maxwell Lewis to the Nets could be the start of many future trades. While the full details of the trade are not yet clear, the team retains flexibility for further trades, including one or more first-round draft…

On December 31st, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues to unfold, with the Lakers showing a recent resurgence, securing two consecutive victories to climb to fifth place in the Western Conference. At this juncture, the team also made a move in the trade market, successfully acquiring 3D player Finney-Smith and a backcourt player Milton, which has indeed bolstered their lineup. In this transaction, the Lakers gave up Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks, obtaining Smith without parting with a first-round pick, which is quite commendable. This deal has once again earned General Manager Pelinka praise, and in an interview, Pelinka revealed that the recruitment work has not ended here, as there will be further additions, considering they still have a first-round pick available. After the trade was completed, the two newcomers quickly arrived in Los Angeles and will make their Lakers debut in the next game. Smith is the most anticipated addition to the team, as his 3D attributes are what the team needs. He expressed great excitement about joining the Lakers, stating that he now has the opportunity to compete for a championship. Upon joining the Lakers, he will wear the number 17 jersey, though he will not start for the team. Coach Redick stated, "The plan is to have Finney-Smith and Milton come off the bench!" However, Smith still has a chance to challenge for a starting position if he adapts well, as he is deserving of one. Milton, on the other hand, will wear the number 20 jersey, and in an interview, he said, "I'm very…

Translation of the article content into English: This season, Pelinka has lived up to his words. At the beginning of the season, he said that he would use 30 games to evaluate the lineup. Now that the time has come, he has brought in the team's currently scarce 3D player on the trade market. As the core of this trade, new recruit Finney-Smith can average 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game this season. He can also make 2.4 three-pointers at a 43.5% shooting rate. Most importantly, he has proven his abilities multiple times in the playoffs. In 2022 when the Mavericks reached the Western Conference Finals, he could contribute an average of 11.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.6 three-pointers, with a three-point shooting rate as high as 42.6%. In order to acquire Finney-Smith, the Lakers gave up three second-round picks and Russell, who had been on the trading block all along. Looking at Russell's career now, it can only be described as full of drama. He was selected by the Lakers in the first round as the second overall pick in 2015, but after two years, he was sent to the Nets. Now, nine years later, he has once again been traded by the Lakers to Brooklyn. However, he is no longer the young man he used to be. After leaving the Nets, Russell gradually reduced his value step by step. This season, his annual salary is only $18.69 million, but the Lakers are still eager to get rid of him as soon as possible.…

Trade Completed! Lakers Trade Russell, Smith Might Not Be That Great After All! On December 30th, Beijing time, Shams, a well-known reporter, brought a piece of important news: the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have reached a significant trade. The details of the trade are as follows: Lakers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton; Nets receive: D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, 3 second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). This is the second time Russell has been traded; he was selected by the Lakers and first traded to the Nets in June 2017. At that time, the Lakers were in a rebuilding phase, but due to Russell's inconsistent performance and poor relationships with his teammates, the Lakers management decided to send him away! On June 22, 2017, the Lakers officially traded with the Brooklyn Nets, exchanging D'Angelo Russell and Moisés Bamba for the Nets' overall draft pick, the 2018 second-round draft pick, and $1.79 million in cash. Now, Dillon has been sent to the Nets again, which is really liberating for him! In these years with the Lakers, as a point guard, he struggled on the court due to conflicts with James' playing style. Even when starting, he found it difficult to perform well without the ball. As a result, this season he was directly demoted to the bench, where his playing time was not guaranteed! Russell played his best game this season when James was absent. On October 9th, the Lakers played against the Trail Blazers at home, and James did not play in this game. Russell…

The Western Conference has always been a fiercely competitive division in the league, where the win-loss difference between teams is often minimal by the end of the season, and a single game can determine whether a team makes it to the playoffs. Therefore, every game in the West is crucial. The Clippers have not been overshadowed in terms of attention compared to the Warriors and Lakers in the league. This season, after the departure of George and Westbrook, many people were concerned about the Clippers' prospects. However, under Harden's leadership, the Clippers have presented a surprising record so far. And recently, they received another piece of good news: Leonard, who has been out since the beginning of the season, is expected to return and may choose to come back in the next one or two games. With Leonard's return, Western Conference teams might start feeling nervous as the Clippers will immediately become a top-tier powerhouse. Although they lost George, Powell has performed exceptionally well this season, averaging 24.2 points, which is already at an All-Star level. In fact, his performance this season far exceeds that of Paul George, making him one of the Clippers' giants in a strict sense. After Leonard's return, the Clippers will still have a trio of superstars. Harden, Powell, and Leonard will set sail again for the Clippers. The significance of Leonard's return lies in the fact that the Clippers will have more players capable of deciding games in critical moments. As we all know, Leonard is a player with excellent clutch abilities, averaging 24+6+4 last…

According to Shams Charania, a well-known journalist, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets have completed a trade. The Lakers acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton, while the Nets received D'Angelo Russell, Maxey Lewis, and three second-round picks (from the Lakers in 2027, 2030, and 2031). After the trade was announced, it sparked significant discussion among American media outlets. Some experts believe that the addition of Finney-Smith may not live up to expectations, similar to the concerns when Russell Westbrook was traded to the team. However, these worries are unfounded; Finney-Smith is a good fit for the Lakers. Unlike Westbrook, he does not require a high usage rate of the ball, and it should be noted that any quality 3-and-D player has not had compatibility issues playing alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Finney-Smith is averaging 10.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%. He possesses excellent perimeter defense and the ability to switch defensively. Finney-Smith played a crucial role in the Dallas Mavericks' Western Conference Finals in 2022. After joining the Nets, he not only became a reliable spot-up shooter but was also used as a small-ball center. In addition to Finney-Smith, new addition Shake Milton is more than just a throw-in in the trade. Milton is averaging 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists this season, with a three-point shooting percentage of 38.9%. Milton has some ball-handling ability and can play off the ball, enhancing the Lakers' guard rotation with his strong defensive capabilities and efficient scoring off the…

The Lakers managed to win against the Kings without James, which has made things difficult for the Clippers as they have now dropped to sixth in the West. The uncertainty surrounding Leonard's injury has left the team in an awkward position. The Lakers' victory was unexpected, especially since they were able to win without James. This has put the Clippers in a difficult situation, as both teams now have the same record of 18 wins and 13 losses. However, the Clippers are ranked sixth due to their inferior record against Western Conference teams. The Lakers have been performing better than expected recently, with other players stepping up in James' absence, particularly Davis, whose consistent performance has helped maintain their competitiveness. The Clippers are currently feeling uncomfortable, as they had hoped that the Lakers would lose to the Kings without James, allowing them to secure the fifth spot in the West. However, reality has dealt them a heavy blow. The outcome of this game has significant implications for the Clippers, as they are about to embark on a three-game road trip against opponents of average strength. However, playing away is physically demanding, and their current lineup is not complete. Leonard is scheduled to return on January 5th against the Hawks, which is good news for the Clippers. However, it also presents new challenges, as the team will need to readjust their lineup and tactics. The Clippers have been doing well without Leonard, with other players taking on more responsibility, especially Paul George and Harden, whose stable performances have kept the team…

On December 31st, Beijing time, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin revealed the inside story of the Lakers' trade, offering Valanciunas but failing to reach an agreement with the Wizards. The target centers also include Kessler, Lowry, Richards, and Sharp. The pursuit of Kessler encountered obstacles because Anji was worried that Kessler's performance after James retires would weaken his own first-round pick in 2027. Previously, the Lakers had completed a major trade, sending Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Nets, recruiting Finney-Smith and Shake Milton; the Lakers strengthened their perimeter and defense, and they still plan to strengthen the team through trades. Lakers beat reporter Anthony Irwin reported that the Lakers are still seen as the more advantageous side to get Valanciunas; however, the Wizards are asking for more draft picks than the Lakers are willing to give, and they were previously seeking Russell's expiring contract. The Wizards are exploring throughout the league, wanting a better offer than the Lakers', but teams are quite cautious about Valanciunas' contract. His contract will continue until the 2026-27 season, with no guarantee in the last year. Anthony Irwin continued to report that the Lakers have discussed internally with the Trail Blazers' Robert Williams, the Hornets' Richards, the Nets' Sharp, and the Utah Jazz's Kessler. Sources say that the Lakers and the Jazz were quite close to reaching a deal on Kessler this summer, but the negotiations between the two sides this year have been very unstable. One concern of the Jazz is that sending Kessler to the Lakers to partner with Davis will…

On December 31st, Beijing time, LeBron James officially became a "forty-year-old man," with various parties expressing their congratulations on his 40th birthday; after today's training session, James reiterated his desire to end his career with the Lakers. The NBA official account continuously updated several tweets to congratulate James on his 40th birthday, showcasing 40 highlights from his career, as well as a compilation of his career dunks, with the caption reading: 22 years in the NBA, 40 years of life, one of the greatest players in NBA history, still moving forward. The Lakers' official account posted a poster to celebrate James' birthday, also sharing a compilation of the top 40 dunks from his Lakers career; the USA Basketball official account congratulated three-time Olympic gold medalist LeBron James on his 40th birthday. FIBA's official Twitter posted a poster reading: The King is 40 today. James' former teammates Kevin Love, Kyle Korver, Dwight Howard, and others voiced their congratulations to James; Mike Brown, Billups, and others also recorded videos to congratulate James. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke about James' 40th birthday, saying: In some ways, he's a freak of nature. Today, the entire Lakers team is preparing for the Cavaliers game, with James returning to participate in training. After the training session, when discussing ending his career with the Lakers, James said: I think this is my plan. I hope to end my career here. I came here to embark on the final journey of my career, and then end it here. I am very clear that basketball is a business, and…

On December 30th, Beijing time, the Lakers and the Nets completed a 5-for-2 trade. The Lakers acquired Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton; the Nets received D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). This is the second time Russell has been traded by the Lakers to the Nets, having previously been traded in 2017. The Athletic's ratings are as follows: Lakers Trade Rating: A-‌ The 28-year-old Russell did not fully utilize his abilities during his second stint with the Lakers. He is not a bad player, but he was inconsistent in how he played alongside James and Davis. We often saw James frustrated with Russell, and new coach Redick also had moments of frustration with him. Now the Lakers no longer have to worry about Russell. The 31-year-old Finney-Smith is an excellent wing defender who has become a reliable three-point shooter. In his last three full seasons with the Mavericks, Finney-Smith shot 38.9% from three-point range, averaging nearly 5 attempts per game. After being sent to the Nets as part of the Irving trade in February 2023, we saw him struggle at times, but Finney-Smith has regained his shooting form this year, averaging 5.4 three-point attempts with a 43.5% three-point shooting rate. If he can bring such performances to the Lakers, along with his relentless defensive efforts on the perimeter, it's not hard to understand why Pelinka was determined to acquire him. Redick is deploying some big lineups. The Lakers might start with James, Reeves, Finney-Smith, Hachimura, and Davis. They will have enough…