The recent trade moves by the Lakers have shaken up the entire league. Starting with Russell's trade to the Nets in exchange for Finney-Smith and Milton, the Lakers' trade story has become increasingly interesting. Now, they have set their sights on Valanciunas from the Wizards, making things even more exciting. This time, the Lakers' trade actions seem unconventional. They first sent Russell away in exchange for two practical players, an operation that caught many fans off guard. In recent games, Finney-Smith and Milton's performances have indeed brought new vitality to the team, especially their contributions on the defensive end have made the coaching staff very satisfied. The Lakers' management's move is actually quite interesting. They did not immediately pursue big-name stars but instead focused on solidifying the team's overall strength. The team's atmosphere is now significantly better than before. The two new players have gelled well with their teammates, making the Lakers' rotation lineup more flexible. However, the Lakers are clearly not content to stop here. They are brewing a bigger trade, this time targeting Valanciunas of the Wizards. The Wizards are also interested in this trade, but they require at least one first-round draft pick, which caused the negotiations to stall temporarily. The Lakers' management seems to place great importance on Valanciunas. Even though the negotiations were temporarily put on hold, they did not give up on continuing communication. Recent news indicates that both sides have resumed contact, suggesting that the Lakers are really keen on finalizing this trade. Vincent's recent performance has indeed been eye-catching. He has been…

As we enter the new year of 2025, the trade deadline for the NBA season is drawing closer. Prior to this deadline, the Los Angeles Lakers, a team under close scrutiny, are planning significant moves. Just a few days ago, the Lakers completed a trade that garnered attention across the league. They traded Russell and others to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for two exceptional role players, Finney-Smith and Milton. This trade marked the beginning of the Lakers' efforts to strengthen their roster this season. Following this, the Lakers will focus on trading for a center to address their last remaining weakness. The Lakers have been in discussions with the Wizards about a trade for center Valanciunas, with a deal framework already largely agreed upon. However, according to recent media reports, negotiations between the Lakers and the Wizards have been temporarily put on hold. The reason for this is that the Wizards are seeking at least a first-round draft pick from the Lakers, a proposal that the Lakers find difficult to accept, leading to a stalemate in negotiations. Despite this, the Lakers have not given up on the possibility of acquiring Valanciunas. A center like Valanciunas, who possesses height and excellent skills, could provide significant assistance to the team. Shortly after media reports revealed the temporary halt in trade talks between the Lakers and the Wizards, negotiations between the two sides were restarted within a day or two. Recently, Michael Scotto, a well-known journalist from Hoopshype, discussed the Lakers' latest developments in his column. "After securing a wing defender like…

On the last day of 2024, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin exposed a series of Lakers trade dynamics and behind-the-scenes secrets, further revealing the team's future strengthening direction. Although the Lakers have already introduced Finney-Smith and Shake Milton through a big trade, enhancing their perimeter firepower and defensive depth, the team has not stopped its strengthening pace. Currently, the Lakers are focusing on the interior, targeting multiple centers including Valanciunas, Kessler, Williams, Richards, and Sharp. However, the Lakers still face significant obstacles during the negotiation process. According to Anthony Irwin, the Lakers are still considered one of the leading contenders for Valanciunas. Valanciunas is a center with strong rebounding ability and low-post scoring threat, capable of effectively enhancing the Lakers' interior strength. However, the Wizards' asking price is far higher than what the Lakers are willing to pay. The Wizards not only hope to obtain more draft picks from the Lakers but also showed interest in Russell's expiring contract, which was already used up in the previous trade between the Lakers and the Nets. Currently, the Wizards are looking for better offers within the league, but Valanciunas' big contract (unprotected in the final year of the 2026-27 season) has made other teams somewhat reserved about trading for him. Whether the Lakers will continue to pursue Valanciunas remains to be seen based on the progress of the upcoming negotiations. In addition to Valanciunas, the Lakers are actively discussing other interior targets, including Robert Williams of the Trail Blazers, Nick Richards of the Hornets, Day'Ron Sharpe of the Nets, and Walker Kessler of…

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…