In the brutal arena of competitive sports, every match is like a move in a chess game, either exquisitely executed or leading to a complete loss with one wrong step. Recently, a game by the Lakers seemed to pour cold water on the hearts of all fans. Facing the Mavericks without Doncic, Irving, and Gafford, this seemingly "weak" opponent crushed the Lakers with an almost overwhelming manner, with the point difference once widening to over 20 points. This defeat was not only ugly in terms of score but also served as a significant wake-up call for the Lakers' overall attitude and tactical execution. The three missing key players from the Mavericks have a combined salary of as high as $97 million, accounting for more than half of the team's total salary. Even in such a "depleted lineup," they still demonstrated their strong overall strength and tactical quality. Especially considering that the Mavericks had previously experienced a five-game losing streak and this game was a back-to-back battle, the Lakers' defeat seemed even harder to accept. After the game, even Anthony Davis, the star player of the Lakers, left the court directly, refusing to be interviewed, showing the impact of this defeat on the team's morale. So, why did the Lakers suffer such a crushing defeat in a game that seemed like an easy win? Was it underestimating the opponent? Fatigue? Or a major tactical blunder? These questions may require the entire Lakers team to reflect deeply. However, judging from the game process, the Lakers appeared disorganized on both offense and defense,…

On January 17th, Beijing time, the NBA regular season continues. As the schedule progresses in depth, many teams in the league have also experienced varying degrees of injuries. In order to better fill the lineup gaps, teams led by the Suns have begun to make moves to strengthen their squads, hoping to transform their teams into an ideal state before the trade deadline. It is worth noting that after the Suns officially announced a 4-for-2 trade to acquire Richards, the Los Angeles Lakers have also completed their own recruitment operations. They temporarily gave up on Valanciunas, abandoned the Jazz's young interior player, officially waived two-way player Olivari, and signed with free agent Jamison. Here, some fans may be unfamiliar with the name Jamison. Is it really worth giving up Olivari, who averages 17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and a three-point shooting rate of 40% in the Development League, for such an unknown player? The answer is obviously yes. As a 2023 NBA draft pick, the 25-year-old Jamison stands at 2.11 meters tall and weighs 117 kilograms. Since his debut, he has played for the Wizards, Pelicans, and Grizzlies. This season, he represented the Pelicans in 16 regular-season games, averaging 10 minutes per game and scoring 2 points and 2 rebounds. Although his statistics are average, Jamison's potential is still worth exploring. It should be noted that in last season's game against the Wizards, representing the Grizzlies, he once scored 24 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in a single game with 13 out of 11 shots. In terms of…

After the Lakers acquired wing players Finney-Smith and Milton, the team did put up some impressive performances, but they were still unable to stop their losing streak, especially when facing two teams from the Southwest Division, the Rockets and a weakened Mavericks lineup, where they were thoroughly exposed. Although it takes time for new players to integrate, it does not mask the dissatisfaction of the Lakers' star player, Anthony Davis. After suffering two consecutive losses, the team refused to participate in post-game interviews, with their behavior clearly expressing their emotions. As the head coach's designated tactical core, Anthony Davis' good days have not changed due to the arrival of Redick; instead, he has become the team's "clean-up" player, filling in wherever there is a gap. On the offensive end, as the team's tactical finisher, he not only has to use his proficient skills for close combat but also fight tooth and nail for second-chance rebounds. During the transition back on defense, Anthony Davis must also try his best to guard the opposing team's center, which undoubtedly consumes his energy. Due to the lack of an outstanding and stable center to replace Davis, his average playing time this season has reached 35 minutes, ranking 26th in the league. However, the two-way player Koloq in the roster seems to have fallen out of favor with the head coach. After coming off the bench for 21 games, he gradually disappeared from the team's active list, with his last appearance for the Lakers dating back to January 3, 2025. Therefore, strengthening the team's frontcourt…

Can a second-round draft pick truly carry the future of a team? When the Lakers spent 32milliontosignanobscuresecond−roundpick,almosteveryonefrowned."Fouryearsfor32 million to sign an obscure second-round pick, almost everyone frowned. "Four years for 32milliontosignanobscuresecond−roundpick,almosteveryonefrowned."Fouryearsfor32 million? Isn't that just throwing money away?" This was the immediate reaction of many fans. However, this contract that was once mocked as "garbage" has quietly turned into a trump card in the hands of the Lakers. Christie, this second-round pick, is now using his performance to silence all doubters. The story goes back to the 2023 offseason. At that time, Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka signed a four-year, $32 million contract with Christie under immense pressure. It should be noted that this was not a simple signing: Christie was the 35th pick in the second round of the 2022 draft and had no "superstar potential" before entering the league. Even his scouting report was mediocre, with only "has potential on the defensive end" standing out slightly. Despite this, the young man performed averagely in his rookie season, with hardly any noteworthy statistics. Therefore, signing such a "non-entity" level player naturally drew countless doubts. "Has Pelinka gone mad this time?" "Any veteran would be better than this," comments like these were everywhere. But if you are familiar with Pelinka, this general manager is known for his keen eye. He has never been one to follow the crowd but dares to go against the current. Back in 2020 when the Lakers won the championship, Pelinka signed undervalued players like Howard and Pope at low prices, ultimately helping the Lakers lift…

In the NBA Western Conference standings, an unexpected drama unfolded as the Lakers clawed their way from a sluggish start to join the championship contenders, showcasing the team's resilience and potential to all. When Pelinka offered Christie a $32 million contract, the entire league questioned the rationality of this signing, given that the young player had indeed underperformed at the beginning of the season. The Lakers' management puzzled fans with this move, as they could have used the money to sign more experienced veterans, but Pelinka chose an untested rookie instead. Christie's performance on the bench was once disappointing, with shockingly low three-point shooting percentages and average scores struggling to break into double digits. As the team's head coach, Redick was also once troubled by Christie's performance, but he still chose to give the young player more opportunities and trust. Russell's departure provided Christie with an opportunity to prove himself, a turning point that came both suddenly and naturally, as if fate had already scripted it for him. After securing a starting position, Christie underwent a complete transformation in form, shooting with greater confidence and making more decisive decisions on the court. In a game against the Pistons, Christie's 17-point performance caught everyone's attention, giving him immense confidence with this breakthrough display. Facing strong teams like the Warriors and Kings, Christie maintained stable scoring output, indicating that he had gradually adapted to the NBA's competitive rhythm. The partnership between Reeves and Christie significantly enhanced the Lakers' offensive firepower, infusing the team with new vitality through this young backcourt duo. James…

On January 5th, Beijing time, as the NBA regular season progresses, the Western Conference standings have undergone another dramatic change. The Thunder remains at the top with a 14-game winning streak, followed closely by the Rockets and Grizzlies. The Nuggets, Lakers, and Mavericks, despite an unfavorable start to the season, have managed to catch up with the championship contenders in the middle of the season. In contrast, the three teams that were considered favorites for the championship at the beginning of the season - the Spurs, Timberwolves, and Suns - have completely fallen behind. Among them, the Lakers, who are not favored among the championship contenders, have made almost no meaningful reinforcements during the offseason. Even though Davis explicitly stated that he hoped Pelinka would sign a big man center, all they ended up with was Crocker, who suffered from thrombosis and was insured last season. In addition, amidst widespread doubts, Pelinka signed rookie Christie to a $32 million mid-level contract, claiming that he would be an indispensable force on the Lakers' championship journey in the new season. However, as the 2024-25 season officially began, Christie's performance at the start of the season was not ideal. As the starting shooting guard for the second unit, his average score struggled to even reach double digits, and his absurdly low three-point shooting percentage once made Redick "question life." What exactly did the management see in him? How did this player manage to get a $32 million contract and re-sign with the Lakers? It is worth noting that just when the outside world…

It is well-known that recently, the Los Angeles Lakers completed a very important major trade this season. They reached a deal with the Brooklyn Nets in the East, with the Lakers acquiring Finney-Smith and Milton in exchange for Russell, Lewis, and three second-round picks (2027, 2030, 2031). This trade marks the Lakers' call to arms before the trade deadline this season, as they will go all out for the second half of the season. After completing this trade, the Lakers will not stop there, because there is still a huge weakness that has not been addressed by the Lakers, which is the lack of a center. This season, the Lakers' three main rotation frontcourt players, Vanderbilt, Wood, and Hayes, have all been plagued by long-term injuries, leaving the Lakers' center position in a vacuum. After obtaining Smith, the Lakers must make another trade to bring in a center player to fill the last piece of the puzzle for the team. The Lakers have been trying to trade for a center, and they previously engaged in trade talks with the Wizards regarding center Valanciunas. According to media reports, both sides have reached a preliminary framework, with only some details left to be finalized. However, as time progressed, the Lakers completed the trade involving Finney-Smith first but failed to reach an agreement on Valanciunas. Today, according to media reports, the trade between the Lakers and the Wizards regarding Valanciunas has basically fallen through. According to Lakers beat reporter Anthony Irwin, sources within the league revealed that the Lakers are still seen as…

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…

Today, a major news broke in the NBA, as reported by renowned journalist Shams. The Lakers and the Nets have reached a trade deal. The Lakers sent Russell, Lewis, and three future second-round picks to the Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton. This trade has garnered significant attention. In this transaction, the Lakers can be said to have made a substantial profit. They not only retained their first-round pick but also acquired a top-tier 3D player who fits well with their lineup. As a result, many fans have praised Pelinka's moves. Pelinka also discussed the topic of this trade during an interview and stated that there will be more significant moves in the future. Pelinka expressed that they have never given up on this season and will spare no effort to effectively improve the team's roster. The trade with the Nets is just the appetizer, and the management's goal is to build a top-level team with both offensive and defensive capabilities. It can be seen from Pelinka's interview that the Lakers will undoubtedly have more shocking trades in the future, and it is hoped that day will not keep the fans waiting too long.

During the offseason, Clippers star Kawhi Leonard chose to undergo knee surgery and has now officially stated that he will not be joining the team for their upcoming three-game road trip. This means that the All-Star small forward will miss all of the 2024 games, spending the remaining time in San Diego for rehabilitation training. However, this behavior has sparked considerable controversy. As early as mid-December, it was reported that Leonard had already resumed partial on-court training, and if everything went smoothly, he was expected to return to the court in two weeks. Now, everyone who cares about him has become a clown, leaving the team to rely solely on Harden and Powell to carry the load. Despite achieving an 18-13 record since the start of the season, without Leonard, it seems unlikely that they can compete for the championship. According to the latest report by renowned journalist Shams, Leonard is set to make his comeback on January 5, 2025, marking his first appearance of the new season. The versatile player, who averages 20 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1.7 steals per game in his career, will alleviate the pressure on James Harden at both ends of the court. Currently, competition in the Pacific Division is fierce, with the Los Angeles Clippers securing the top spot in the division thanks to their strong defense. Meanwhile, the Lakers, Suns, Warriors, and Kings behind them are experiencing significant internal lineup issues. The Sacramento general manager took the initiative to challenge the status quo by firing head coach Mike Brown. The Suns'…