The Los Angeles Lakers have been on a roll recently, winning five out of their last six games, even managing victories without LeBron James on the court. Following adjustments, the Lakers' defense has become the second most efficient in the league over their last ten games. Anthony Davis has been pivotal, not only scoring but also leading by example with his defensive efforts. In their latest game against the Sacramento Kings, which James missed, the Lakers still managed a significant win, demonstrating the excellent performance of role players such as Rui Hachimura, Austin Reaves, and Kendrick Nunn, who all had breakout performances. Together, they scored a combined total of 84 points, 24 rebounds, and 24 assists, leading to a victory that proves the team's recent signings were a gamble that paid off. Firstly, the Lakers have swept the Kings this season, winning all four matchups. Prior to this season, Davis had a 0-10 record against Domantas Sabonis, but he has now broken that curse. In the recent game, Davis scored 36 points, grabbed 15 rebounds, and provided 8 assists (the highest in both points and rebounds), while Sabonis had 14 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists. Davis emphasized the importance of defense in an interview, stating that he told his teammates to focus on improving their defensive efforts against the fast-paced opponents. Secondly, with James absent, the trio of Davis, Reaves, and Hachimura stepped up, combining for 84 points, 24 rebounds, and 24 assists to secure a win. The Lakers are seeing more and more role players step up to…

Breaking News! Lakers Complete Major Trade, 5-for-2 Deal, Welcoming a 3D Forward! Magic Johnson Praises: "Fantastic Trade"‌ As we approach the end of 2024, the NBA trade deadline is just around the corner. During this period leading up to the trade deadline, many teams are contemplating significant trades. Among them is the highly anticipated Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers have had a season with ups and downs, indicating that there are still several weaknesses within the team. The Lakers are attempting to strengthen and enhance their roster through trades. On December 30th, Beijing time, fans finally witnessed the Lakers' major trade. According to ESPN's renowned reporter Shams Charania, multiple sources revealed that the Lakers and the Nets have reached a trade agreement, as follows: Lakers receive: Dorian Finney-Smith, Shake Milton; Nets receive: D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). It's worth noting that this marks the second time Russell has been traded by the Lakers to the Nets. Back in 2017, he was sent to the Nets by the Lakers, where he played for two years and even made an All-Star appearance. The Nets can be considered the place where Russell reached his peak and where his dreams began. Returning to the Nets is a great outcome for Russell. However, Lakers fans may feel somewhat saddened by Russell's departure. The Lakers acquired Finney-Smith, an exceptional forward. He possesses excellent three-point shooting ability and outstanding defensive skills, making him a top-tier 3D forward – a rare asset in the league. Besides the Lakers,…

On December 30th, Beijing time, the Lakers have finally strengthened their roster. Both the Lakers and the Nets have officially announced the completion of a major 5-for-2 trade. The Lakers have posted photos welcoming their two new additions to Los Angeles while bidding farewell to Russell; LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead an 18-man new squad in pursuit of the championship, with Finney-Smith and Milton supporting them. The Lakers and the Nets have completed a significant 5-for-2 trade. The Lakers sent D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, and 2031, all from the Lakers) to Brooklyn, receiving Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton from the Nets. Through this trade, the Lakers not only acquired Finney-Smith, an excellent defensive player with accurate three-point shooting, but also made their salary cap more flexible and saved $15 million in luxury tax. ESPN rated this trade, giving the Lakers an A- for successfully strengthening their team, while the Nets received a C+. After the official announcement of the trade, the Lakers' official account posted photos welcoming Finney-Smith and Milton to Los Angeles and posted photos bidding farewell to Russell and Lewis; the Nets welcomed Russell's return, welcomed Lewis to Brooklyn, and bid farewell to Smith and Milton. Russell's career with the Lakers has come to an end once again. This season, he played 29 games for the Lakers, averaging 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 0.8 steals per game; throughout his career, he has played five seasons for the Lakers, appearing in 265 games and averaging 15.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.9…

Lakers fans are in for a treat as team owner Jeanie Buss and General Manager Rob Pelinka have made a bold move, offering three first-round draft picks to assist LeBron James in his pursuit of an NBA championship. This decision has not only stunned the league but also sparked intense discussions among fans. The Lakers indeed possess multiple future first-round draft picks, including those from 2028, 2029, and 2031, along with first-round swap rights in 2026 and 2030. This information was directly released by Jeanie Buss and supported by Pelinka, with the involvement of LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Rich Paul (James' agent), greatly enhancing the credibility of the news. The Lakers management is aware that the current competitive environment in the West is relatively relaxed, presenting a good opportunity to strive for better results; on the other hand, they also recognize that if they do not seize this chance now, it may become more challenging in the future. The Lakers aim to bring in a young star who can immediately enhance the team's competitiveness and provide long-term support to Davis, such as De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings. If they cannot acquire such a player, they may consider multiple trades to introduce several capable role players. In response to this significant news, fans naturally did not remain silent. Here are some of the opinions from netizens: "I've been waiting for this day. It feels like the Lakers management has finally made up their minds, and I hope it works out." "Jeanie Buss is being quite generous this time, but…

This season's NBA regular season started with the Lakers' performance impressing fans, with a winning streak at the beginning of the season leading many to chant "Lakers are the champions." However, as the season progressed, the Lakers' performance showed a noticeable decline. It is clear that with their current roster, it would be difficult for the Lakers to achieve their championship dreams again. To increase LeBron James' chances of winning another title in the twilight of his career, the Lakers completed a 5-for-2 trade on James' 40th birthday. According to Shams Charania, the Lakers and the Nets have reached a deal that brings versatile forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the team, further enhancing their competitiveness. In this trade, the Lakers sent out D'Angelo Russell, Maxey Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, and 2031, all from the Lakers) to the Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Finney-Smith, who is 31 years old this season, averages 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals in 29 minutes per game, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5%. His excellent 3D attributes make him a perfect fit for the Lakers' style of play. LeBron James and Anthony Davis both have significant offensive influence and strong passing abilities, which will undoubtedly create many open three-point opportunities for Finney-Smith. If he can maintain his efficiency from the Nets, Finney-Smith will play a crucial role in the Lakers' offense. Additionally, his strong defensive capabilities will help alleviate the defensive pressure on James. His addition to the Lakers will undoubtedly enhance the team's dominance on…

On December 29th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season saw the Lakers face off against the Kings once again. Prior to the game, LeBron James' status was downgraded to a game-time decision due to illness, and he ultimately missed the game against the Kings due to his condition. Vincent will replace James in the starting lineup; Rui Hachimura (also sick) is available to play, while Anthony Davis and D'Angelo Russell will decide whether to participate before the game. Previously, James had missed team training due to illness and was listed as questionable for the game due to his health. Before today's game, a Lakers beat reporter announced that James would miss the game against the Kings due to illness. This marks the third time this season that James has missed a game; in the previous two instances, the Lakers had a record of one win and one loss. James missed what would have been his last game before turning 40 years old, as he will celebrate his 40th birthday tomorrow. Currently, James has scored in double digits in 1250 consecutive games. The last time he failed to reach double digits was on January 5, 2007, when the Cavaliers played against the Bucks. In that game, James shot 3 for 13, scoring only 8 points. In other words, James has scored in double digits for 17 consecutive years, and even in his 22nd year in the league, he continues to deliver incredible performances. This season, James has played 28 games for the Lakers, averaging 35 minutes per game with 23.5 points,…

On December 30th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. According to Shams, a well-known journalist, the Lakers and the Nets have reached a trade. The Lakers sent D'Angelo Russell, Maxwell Lewis, and three second-round picks to receive Finney Smith and Shake Milton! So what are the backgrounds of these two new Lakers players? Finney Smith is 31 years old this year. He entered the NBA in 2016 and played for the Mavericks for 6 and a half years. The 2021-22 season can be regarded as Smith's strongest season. He started all 80 games, averaging 11 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.1 steals, helping the team reach the Western Conference Finals. In the mid-season trade involving Irving in the 2022-23 season, Smith was sent to the Nets by the Mavericks. So far this season, Smith averages 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5% (a career high, previously highest at 39.5% in the 2021-22 season), averaging 2.4 three-pointers per game. Throughout his career, Smith has played 548 games, averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of 35.9%. From the above data, we can see that Smith's three-point shooting will be the foundation of his standing in the Lakers. More importantly, Smith also has an impact on the defensive end. He can defend multiple positions, from point guard to center. His defensive ability and basketball IQ make him a key figure on the team's defense. In this regard, NBA Central wrote: According to Second Spectrum statistics,…

On December 30th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. According to Shams, a well-known journalist, the Lakers and the Nets have reached a major 2-for-5 trade, which the Lakers quickly announced as completed. The details of this trade are as follows: Lakers receive: Finney-Smith, Shake Milton; Nets receive: D'Angelo Russell, Lewis, 3 second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031, all from the Lakers). The contract situations of the players involved in the trade are as follows: Finney-Smith's salary for this season is 14.92million,withaplayeroptionworth14.92 million, with a player option worth 14.92million,withaplayeroptionworth15.38 million for the 2025-26 season; Milton's salary for this season is 2.88million,withasalaryof2.88 million, with a salary of 2.88million,withasalaryof3 million for the 2025-26 season and $3.29 million for the 2026-27 season; Russell's salary for this season is $18.7 million, and his contract will expire at the end of this season; Lewis' salary for this season is 1.89million,withasalaryof1.89 million, with a salary of 1.89million,withasalaryof2.22 million for the 2025-26 season and a team option worth $2.41 million for the 2026-27 season. The Lakers officially announced the completion of the trade and welcomed Finney-Smith and Milton to the team. So far this season, Finney-Smith has averaged 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 0.9 steals, with a three-point shooting percentage of 43.5% (a career high, previously highest was 39.5% in the 2021-22 season), averaging 2.4 three-pointers per game. Throughout his career, Smith has played in 548 games, averaging 8.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, with a three-point shooting percentage of 35.9%. So far this season, Milton has appeared in 27 games for the Nets,…

The game between the Lakers and the Kings is just around the corner, but things are getting complicated. It's quite a coincidence that James suddenly announced his absence due to illness and ankle pain. This isn't good news, considering he's the brain of the team. Without him on the court directing, those smooth offensive combinations could instantly become chaotic. As for Davis, he hasn't been idle, but the problem is that his ankle is still injured. However, this guy is stubborn by nature and insists on playing through the pain. When I heard this news, I wondered if the Lakers could withstand the pressure? Can they handle a well-performing Sabonis? James' absence not only worries the fans but also gives the coaching staff a headache. What's his current condition? The official explanation is simple: he's sick, and his old injury - the ankle - is acting up again, so he has to take a temporary break. This sounds casual, but upon closer thought, it seems more complicated. He's already 38 years old, and playing high-intensity games at this age is already pushing the limits, especially with a series of old and new injuries taking turns to bother him. Moreover, without James in command, it's like losing a stabilizing force. Whether it's connecting the whole team or stabilizing critical situations, he's always been the one in charge. Now, he's offline, and you can see that the Lakers' overall strength visibly diminishes. Of course, with James out, Davis naturally becomes the focus. But let's not forget that he's just crawled out from…

The Lakers managed to defeat the Kings without James, which has made things difficult for the Clippers as they have now dropped to sixth in the Western Conference. However, with Leonard set to return to play soon, the Clippers' future looks promising. The recent performance of the Lakers has been puzzling. Despite James being unable to play due to a cold, they managed to defeat the Kings at home. After this game, the Lakers' record caught up with the Clippers, and because they have performed better against Western Conference teams, their ranking is now ahead of the Clippers. The Clippers have not been playing smoothly recently. In their last few games, their offense has seemed off, especially in critical moments when they struggle to find someone to score. Although Harden has joined the team, he appears to have not fully adapted to the team's style of play, making the Clippers' offense appear disorganized. In fact, the Clippers' defense has always been solid, with a top-five defensive efficiency in the league, indicating that they are quite capable on the defensive end. However, the current issue is that the offense is too reliant on individual ability. When Leonard is not on the court, the team's offensive options become particularly limited. Leonard is finally returning to play. Previously, there were reports that he could return before Christmas, but it has been delayed until now. However, it has now been confirmed that he will make his comeback in the game against the Hawks on January 5th, which is a timely boost for the Clippers.…