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The Lakers trade Wei Shao, six words in the domestic and foreign media have been flying, so does the Lakers need to send away Wei Shao? Let's look at three facts together, and the answer naturally surfaces.
Do the Lakers need to send Wei Shao away?
First, the Lakers' record.
16 wins and 13 losses to the 6th place in the West, 7.5 games behind the first Warriors, 7 games behind the second Suns, to be honest, not easy to chase; can be counted further: 5 games behind the Jazz, 2 games behind the Grizzlies, and the Clippers record is equal, in theory, the Lakers are expected to rise to the 3rd place in the West, at least to the 4th place in the West, in addition, a detail worth noting:
The Lakers' current record is based on James's absence of 12 games; thick eyebrows missing 3 games; Tucker missing 14 games; Ellington missing 8 games; and even Ariza and Nunn have not returned, and the team has fallen into the quagmire of injury, so it is not unacceptable that the Lakers can still have the current record of "6th in the West and expected to be promoted to the top 4 in the West", and the key point is the effect of Westbrook's third leadership role.
James has been playing a stop-and-go this season
Second, the performance of Wei Shao.
So far this season, Westbrook has averaged 19.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.4 assists, 1.2 steals per game, scoring, team 3rd, league 38th; rebounding, team 2nd, league 40th; assists, team 1st, league 5th; steals, team 4th, league 45th; only the number of turnovers is not ideal, averaging 4.6 times per game, the league is second most. Overall, the 4 main statistics are the top 4 levels of the whole team and the top 50 of the league, and Wei Shao at least fulfills the team's expectations - the effect of the third leader. In addition, a few small data items are worth highlighting:
Wei Shao's recent breakthrough efficiency is improving
1. Wei Shao's shooting rate this season, 45.1% + 32.2%, the second best result in the past 6 seasons since he was awarded the MVP in the 2016-17 season, referring to the fact that he is still in the run-in stage with the team, and there is a trend of improvement.
2. Westbrook has averaged 16.4 shots per game this season, the lowest in nearly 10 years after two rookie seasons, which shows that he is willing to make sacrifices for the team.
3. Westbrook is trying to improve his defense this season, the defensive efficiency value of 106 is only inferior to Reeves, Munch and Tucker, the Lakers' 4th outside players, and a rare statistic, this season Westbrook began to make up offensive fouls in the paint area, averaging 0.1 times per game so far this season, the league's 27th. Admittedly, he is easily overwhelmed by a speed defender when defending on the perimeter, but he is already trying to improve his defense, which cannot be ignored.
Westbrook helped Reeves to a three-point shooter
4. Finally, speaking of Westbrook's performance at key moments, in 17 games so far in the season, Westbrook has averaged 2.8 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.2 steals per game, scoring, 23rd in the league; rebounding, 15th in the league; assists, 3rd in the league; steals, 18th in the league, the team 10 wins 7 losses. Judging from the superstar effect of the team bringing him in, it is at least a passing level.
That is to say, from the overall performance of Wei Shao, the state is still in an upward trend, and the performance of key moments, Wei Shao has fulfilled the purpose of the team to introduce his third leader, such as the three games against the Hornets, the Heat and today's Lone Rangers, the team can finally win, and Wei Shao is really the greatest.
Third, Wei Shao's salary.
Taking a step back, even if the Lakers really have the heart to send away Wei Shao, it is difficult to achieve. This season, Westbrook's salary is as high as $44.21 million, and we all know that Westbrook's current contribution has not fulfilled the league's fourth-man salary value, so which other teams are willing to exchange "benign assets" for Westbrook? If the Lakers can't get a better replacement than Wei Shao, then why should the Lakers who are determined to rush to the top replace him? Not to mention the second point of analysis above, Wei Shao at least fulfilled the expectations of the third leader of the team?
It is expected that Westbrook can help James realize his dream of a championship
Conclusion: From the team's record, Wei Shao's contribution, and his salary, three "facts" point of view, the Lakers do not need to send away Wei Shao, as for whether the Lakers can return to the ranks of the championship, can only wait for the team health, the three giants rub out the ideal chemical reaction, the puzzle can be tightly embedded in the system, and then before the trading door is closed, small repairs, with this lineup to rush the crown, whether it can succeed, depends on the playoff series in the impromptu play, and whether the goddess of luck can be favored.