Since the start of this season, although the Lakers are not as high-spirited as when they won the Mid-Season Cup last year, they have still remained within the shot of the Western Conference playoffs. However, the team’s defensive efficiency is currently only ranked 21st in the league, which is relatively low. There is a major concern about maintaining the record in the future, and the Nets just traded Dennis Schroder to the Warriors not long ago in exchange for more draft picks, accumulating assets, and at the same time trying to find more transactions to increase the number of players. assets as the team rebuilds.
Therefore, the two teams completed a trade involving four players earlier. The Nets sent Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Lakers in exchange for D’ Angelo Russell . ), Maxwell Lewis and 3 second-round picks.
This is the fifth time Russell has been traded in the past eight seasons, and even the second time he has been traded by the Lakers to the Nets. Although he was the second pick in the 2015 draft and his current age is theoretically still in his prime, these few The most outstanding moment of the year was the last time I stayed with the Nets. It’s just that this time the Nets may not necessarily be hoping that he will lead the team to achieve any results, but they are looking forward to how much salary space his expiring contract can clear. Even a buyout within the next month or two is not completely impossible.
In addition, this year is a draft year with good depth and strength. The Nets are trying to give themselves enough chances to get super rookie Cooper Flagg. Therefore, after Russell comes to the Nets, he may not have many prospects. There is a lot of room for performance. If you want to produce outstanding data here again, the chance of winning the next big contract may not be high.
And Louis is a second-year rookie. He has not had many playing opportunities with the Lakers in the past two seasons. Although the Nets are short of manpower, it is estimated that it will be difficult to get a good opportunity. What the Nets want in this transaction is mainly to Those three second-round picks: In particular, these three second-round picks will be cashed out in 2027, 2030, and 2031 respectively. By then, LeBron James will probably have retired or at least further degenerated. It may be better to get a pick. ‘s signature.
Russell has averaged 12.4 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game so far this season. This is a significant decline from last year’s 18.0 points, 6.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds. His shooting percentage has also dropped from 45.6% last season to this season. 41.5%, there is a big gap in overall offensive and defensive quality, and he has been relegated to the bench. Last season, he could still use offense to make up for the shortcomings of poor defense. This season, not only did the offense fail, but the advanced defensive data was even worse than last season.
At the same time, the Lakers’ defense has not been ideal this season, so increasing wing defense is obviously the focus of the Lakers’ reinforcements this season. Although Finney-Smith’s offensive ability is not as bright as Russell’s, he has always been a pure 3D player in his career. , but with a qualified body and solid defensive skills, in modern basketball, he is the green leaf that every team hopes to obtain most. The Nets did not offer a good first-round pick before, so the Lakers finally won it with 3 second-round picks.
In short, since the two teams are on different timelines, the Lakers want to compete in the playoffs or even the championship game again at the end of James’ career, while the Nets plan to break up the team and sell draft picks to start rebuilding after several reinforcements failed to win the championship. Therefore, this transaction can be regarded as a deal for both parties.
