This season's Lakers, recruited eight All-Star players, a total of 60 times appeared on the All-Star field, which is the reason for the initial shouting of "Lakers championship", who admitted that the season will be half they almost fell out of the top eight in the West, of course, the reason is also obvious, the retreat (Gasol Jr.), the walk (Rondo), the injury (Davis), the season has not even had a stable starting lineup.
Just imagine, Westbrook, James, Ariza, Anthony, Davis, Howard, Ellington, Bazemore, is it already the Lakers' toughest lineup this season? According to statistics, among these eight people, Davis is the only player under 30 years old, Westbrook, Ellington, Andzmore three are under 35 players, and the other four are already 35+ veterans. From this point of view, do you feel that the Lakers' record of more than 50% win rate so far this season is already very rare?
Everyone knows where the Lakers' current problems are, but it's hard to change all that. Champion point guard Rondo, for example, although he has played a minimal role on the court this season, cannot deny his influence off the court, so trading him to the Cavaliers has won the team a lot of salary space.
Nowadays, there are only two paths in front of the Lakers management, one is to seize James's peak and win another championship; the other is to rely on James to find a "successor". A few days ago, there was news that "Tucker Jr. will be the future of the Lakers", if the Lakers management chooses the first way, if they want to seize James's peak and win another championship, they must strengthen the lineup: As we all know, the Lakers' salary space has been eaten up by "All-Stars", just imagine, which team like the Lakers used three potential stars for a 32-year-old All-Star player? However, in addition to Westbrook, the Lakers can get their hands on the trading chips, I'm afraid it's only Tucker Jr., Ellington, and Nunn!
Realistically speaking, the Lakers management has given Tucker the opportunity to prove himself so far this season, and the result is obviously a "chicken rib". With offensive talent but not stable enough, defensive advantage but not top-notch, Tucker Jr. is showing a state that is definitely not worthy of the team's future. If the team is in the rebuilding period, it is possible to try to get Tucker Jr., especially the Pistons' Grant, which is definitely a good candidate for the Lakers.
Everyone knows that the Lakers' biggest problem at present is on the inside line, although Howard will erupt from time to time and cut two double-double performances, but it is undeniable that he is already a veteran, and Jordan Jr.'s performance in the past period of time can only be described as "pulling crotch". Whether it was playing for the Nets last season or the Lakers this season, Jordan Jr. played a very small role.
If the Lakers want to trade Jordan Jr., I am afraid that it can only be "sweet", or like Rondo, in exchange for some salary space. If a "sweetener" isn't enough, Ellington is definitely one of the other teams who can move, after all, he was a shooter who averaged 10+ points per game and shot more than 40% from three-point range. Ellington, who has averaged 6.4 points per game so far this season, is clearly having a bad time with the Lakers because there are too many guards in the lineup (Westbrook, Nunn, Munch, Bradley, and Rondo, who was traded not long ago).
Although the Lakers have recently achieved six wins and five wins, the team's problems are still not solved, so if you want to return to the championship track, in addition to Davis's health, reinforcement is definitely the most important part.