After completing the lineup adjustment in the offseason, the Lakers' performance this season is still lower than expected, and the team is not only in a run-in dilemma, but also suffered from injuries and epidemics.
Among them, the injury problem is particularly serious, not only Ariza, Nunn and other new signings have been absent for a long time, but the core James and the thick eyebrow brother have also missed the game due to injury.
The thick eyebrow brother even sprained his knee in the game against the Timberwolves and is expected to miss 4 weeks, which is undoubtedly worse for the Lakers.
Because in the Lakers' existing lineup, the center position is a short board, only Jordan Jr., Howard and Thick Brow Can use.
Due to spatial problems, Brother Thick Eyebrow is undoubtedly the best candidate for the No. 5 position, but before the Thick Brow Brother has been reluctant to play the No. 5 position for a long time, he clearly told the coaching staff that playing the No. 5 position for a long time will make him feel tired.
Of the remaining two interior players, Howard was efficient enough, but for some reason, the Lakers have been reluctant to use him, and as for Jordan Jr., the Nets' waiver, he simply can't provide high-quality performance on the defensive end.
In this case, the US media have also supported the Lakers, and the internal reinforcement action should be completed as soon as possible to fill the vacancy in the team's internal line after the absence of the thick eyebrow brother.
Among them, the US media "hoopshabit" shouted at the Lakers, listing the 3 big stand-ins of the thick eyebrow brother, the pelicans or sending the Purple and Gold Legion gift package.
Goal Three: Muscala
As a veteran of the Lakers, Muscara briefly played 17 games for the Lakers in the 2018-19 season before joining the Thunder.
The space-based interior has a foothold in the Thunder, and he has been with the Thunder for the past two seasons, averaging 3.9 three-pointers per game and shooting 38.4 percent from the field.
This means that his ability just meets the Lakers' reinforcement needs, not only to solve the problem of internal rotation, but also to provide enough space for the Lakers.
What's more, Muscala's contract is very friendly, worth $3.5 million, and the Lakers can easily get him.
And in the Rotation of the Thunder, Muscala did not play too important a role, and the Lakers provided a player with a second-round signing + partially matching contract to complete the transaction.
For the Lakers, Muscara is a low-risk, high-reward reinforcement option that can solve the Lakers' employment dilemma in the short term.
Goal two: Lopez Jr
Compared to Muscara, Lopez Jr. is a better defensive interior option, but he does not have the ability to shoot from the outside.
Even so, in Vogel's system, Lopez Jr. is more in line with the Lakers' long-term reinforcement options, and he will become an upgraded version of Jordan Jr., providing the rebounds and defense that the Lakers need.
In the future, after the return of Brother Thick-Browed, Xiao Luo can also play with Thick-Browed Brother, considering that his contract is only $5 million, plus the Magic team already has Little Carter and Bamba, the Lakers will not have too difficulty getting him.
Goal One: Jaxon Hayes
If the Lakers take a longer-term view, hays of the Pelicans would be the perfect reinforcement target, and according to Jake Fischer of The Open Stand, the Pelicans have put Hayes on the shelves.
The 21-year-old Hayes is the No. 8 pick of 2019, has very good physical condition, and so far in his career, he can deliver 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in the 16.5 minutes per game.
Coupled with his contract of only $5.4 million, betting on Hayes would be a good choice if the Lakers wanted to plan for the future.