The Rockets need to demonstrate the courage to trade Monta Ellis in order to empower Curry with more ball-handling opportunities for his growth, and they should also consider trading away Fan Dazhou to give younger players more playing time. The key question is who the Rockets should focus on developing among their seven young players, all of whom have noticeable flaws. Green, for instance, has shown inconsistency in his performance. Shen Jing, as a center, is relatively short and struggles with shooting and attacking the basket. Yi Sen has yet to meet the requirements of a core player. Smith's functionality is limited, making him more suitable for a 3D role. As for White Magic Xie Pud, he is even less likely to reach core potential. The only player with the potential to become a core, Aman, still lacks shooting skills. If the Rockets had a player like Harden in his first year with the team, they would have already cleared obstacles to focus on his development. Trading for Fox would be best done through a three-way deal. It is suggested that the Rockets, Kings, and Nets complete a major three-way trade. In this scenario, the Rockets would acquire Fox and Huerter, while the Kings would receive Ben Simmons, Sheppard, Whitmore, Cameron Thomas, the 2027 first-round pick (Suns), the 2028 first-round pick (Rockets), the 2029 first-round swap right (the best first-round pick among Rockets, Suns, and Mavericks), and the 2030 first-round swap right (Rockets). The Nets would obtain VanVleet and the 2027 first-round swap right (Nets). This trade would be beneficial…

The trade between the Lakers and the Nets has been completed. In yesterday's game against the Cavaliers, newcomers Finney-Smith and Milton made their debuts for the Lakers, performing well enough to satisfy the fans. Today, in the game between the Nets and the Raptors, Russell also made his return debut with the Nets, delivering an even more impressive performance. In this game, the Nets achieved what they wanted: to keep the score close in the first three quarters to attract fans, then suddenly collapse in the fourth quarter, losing 113-130. The Nets' goal is clear: to tank, secure a higher draft pick, and focus on the future. How to lose in a spectacular way is an art. Russell doesn't care about that. His goal is to get better stats so he can get a better offer after his contract year and make more money. In this game, Russell came off the bench for 26 minutes, shooting 9 of 13 from the field, including a perfect 7 of 7 from two-point range, efficiently contributing 22 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 blocks, a very eye-catching performance. The last time Russell was traded from the Lakers to the Nets, he went all out, making it directly into the All-Star Game lineup, which was also his only All-Star Game appearance in his NBA career so far, and the source of his first big contract. This time, back with the Nets again, will Russell be able to make it to the All-Stars again? Coincidentally, Russell met an old acquaintance on the Nets' bench:…

NBA regular season games continued today, with the Brooklyn Nets visiting the Toronto Raptors. Prior to this, the Nets had completed a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, sending out Finney-Smith and Milton in exchange for Russell. This trade was actually driven by the Nets' interest in the Lakers' second-round draft picks, as well as acquiring Russell's expiring contract, with the intention of furthering their rebuilding efforts. For the remainder of this season, the Nets' goal has been to lose in an attractive manner, such as keeping the score close before collapsing in the final quarter, thus losing gracefully and aiming for a higher draft pick in the summer. Today against the Raptors, the Nets followed this strategy, staying competitive through the first three quarters before being overtaken in the fourth. Ultimately, the Nets lost to the Raptors 113-130, successfully accomplishing their task. Yesterday, in the game between the Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers, Finney-Smith and Milton made their debuts, and today Russell also made his return debut with the Nets, performing quite well. Throughout the game, Russell shot 9-for-13, scoring 22 points, 2 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 blocks, and 1 steal, showcasing a comprehensive and impressive performance. Among these, Russell was 2-for-6 from beyond the arc, but he achieved a perfect 7-for-7 on two-point shots, boasting a 100% shooting rate, which was very dominant. This marks the second time Russell has been traded from the Lakers to the Nets, but he isn't particularly saddened by it, as playing for the Nets allows him to pad his stats. Last time,…

The NBA trading market has been quite lively recently. The Lakers and the Nets have made big news, and there's also the issue of Edwards from the Timberwolves being fined a significant amount by the league for his thoughtless remarks, not to mention the continuous fights on the court. The Lakers have been doing pretty well lately. They made a big trade with the Nets, acquiring Finney-Smith and Milton, two players capable of shooting three-pointers, which eases the offensive pressure on James and Davis. Finney-Smith performed well during his time with the Nets, with a three-point shooting percentage of around 43.5%, which is considered top-level in the league. He also has good height and arm length, allowing him to contribute defensively. Although not as outstanding as Finney-Smith, Milton's shooting is decent, and he's willing to take shots in crucial moments, making him a solid backup option for the Lakers. To acquire these two players, the Lakers gave up Russell, Lewis, and three second-round draft picks. This price isn't too high, considering Russell wasn't performing particularly well with the Lakers. Pelinka's move was quite smart; he knew that what the Lakers lacked most were shooters. This trade immediately adds two, both of whom are ready to play without much waiting. This trade received an A- rating from American media, which is quite reasonable. The Lakers have solved their problem with outside shooting without paying too high a price, making it a win-win deal. The Nets, on the other hand, acquired Russell and several draft picks, which, although only rated C+, is…

Overnight! The Lakers have completed an epic 5-for-2 trade, with James welcoming another super tough player, while Edwards has been fined a total of $240,000 (approximately 1.71 million RMB), and the league has banned as many as 5 players! Text by Lao Kan Kan Qiu Edited by Lao Kan Kan Qiu Since the start of the NBA's 2024-25 regular season, many teams in the league have delivered unexpected performances. For example, the Warriors in the West have seen their rankings fluctuate like a roller coaster, once reaching the top of the West but then falling all the way to 11th, with Kerr's stubbornness drawing controversy. Despite opening the free market and completing the league's first 5-for-2 trade with the Nets, bringing in starting point guard Schroder, the results so far have not been good; additionally, on the Kings' side, after introducing DeRozan this summer, the team's record has not improved but rather declined, with Mike Brown becoming the first head coach to be fired this season; the Pelicans are even worse off, with a losing streak that has dropped them to the bottom of the West, and the management has put Ingram, Zion, and CJ McCollum on the trading block, preparing to embark on a rebuilding path. Therefore, with the opening of the league's free trade market, many teams in the league are eager to explore new trades, addressing internal weaknesses and continuing to chase the championship. Overnight! The Lakers have completed an epic 5-for-2 trade, with James welcoming another super tough player, while Edwards has been fined a total…

The ups and downs of life are more common than we imagine. Ben Simmons, labeled as a "genius" player, seems to be experiencing a long-awaited "highlight moment." But is his reversal truly convincing? Or can his outburst bear the weight of those heavy expectations and doubts? The answer may not be simple. Never has a high-paying contract like Simmons' caused so much anger among countless fans. A staggering $177 million over 5 years, yet it brought about disappointing game after game. He once played on thin ice, as if carrying an invisible mountain that almost made him breathless. He dared not shoot or attack, lowering people's expectations of the "No. 1 pick" and even making them question whether the extravagant praise was genuine or just excessive hype. Once considered a candidate to succeed LeBron James, people now prefer to call him a "fragile heart" stereotype. But the irony of fate lies in its love for dramatic twists. The Brooklyn Nets management has been looking for opportunities to "deal with" the burden of this big contract. Unfortunately, there is almost zero interest in Simmons in the market. Even if a team wants to take advantage, they are unwilling to take on a player with a consistently poor performance and a huge contract burden. And what about a buyout? That would be akin to cutting off one's own arm, and the Nets management clearly does not have such courage. But who could have thought that in a lineup adjustment this season, Simmons seized the opportunity and actually played with a hint of…

Breaking News! Lakers Trade Russell Back to the Nets in a Major Deal Late-night news from Beijing time. The Lakers have traded Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks to the Nets, in exchange for Finney-Smith and Shake Milton. Among them, the three second-round picks are for 2027, 2030, and 2031. In the past, they were often the "interested team," habitually "picking up cigarette butts," but this time Pelinka took advantage of the Nets' supermarket opening, did the right thing, without being stingy or looking around, and actively seized the opportunity when it came. What they got were two immediate contributors. Finney-Smith is the "main dish." This season, he averages 10.4 points, 4.6 rebounds (including 1.6 offensive rebounds and 3.0 defensive rebounds), 1.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 45.9% and a career-high three-point percentage of 43.5%. This guy looks tough, and he is the only player in the NBA this season who has faced off against guards, forwards, and centers at least 15 times per game, a versatile player. There's no need to say what kind of player he is; he's the 3D that every team in the league needs. Shake Milton, a 196cm shooting guard, averages 7.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game this season, with a shooting percentage of 46.5% and a three-point percentage of 38.9%, and he shoots 40% on catch-and-shoot threes. The impact of the two new additions on the Lakers will only be known after they play some games. For the Nets, they have already stockpiled a total…

Today, all six regular season games have concluded: The Magic narrowly defeated the Nets 102-101, the Timberwolves edged out the Spurs 112-110, the Hawks easily won against the Raptors 136-107, the Pacers pulled off a surprising victory over the Celtics 123-114, the Heat made a comeback to beat the Rockets 104-100, and the Thunder easily defeated the Grizzlies 130-106. At the same time, the Lakers have welcomed a wave of trades today, which has made the Lakers fans unable to sit still! Below is a detailed analysis of four teams: the Thunder, Rockets, and Lakers! The Thunder has achieved an impressive 11-game winning streak and currently stands at 26 wins and 5 losses, ranking first in the West. Notably, this season, Alexander has delivered an MVP-level performance! In 31 games played this new season, he has averaged 30.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, with an overall shooting percentage of 52%. Moreover, he contributes an average of 1.9 steals and 1.2 blocks per game, making him a versatile guard reminiscent of Jordan, Kobe, and Wade! The Thunder's management indeed has a keen eye for talent, and their team-building strategy is unique in the league! The Thunder was established just 16 years ago and managed to draft three MVPs, three top 75 players, and three future Hall of Famers in consecutive years: Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. In just three short years, they have completed another rebuild. This year, Alexander has a strong chance of winning the MVP, and the team is very likely to advance out of the West, with a…

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…

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…