After the 76ers and pistons rejected the Lakers' trade application, Simmons and Grant, the two "senior goods", have obviously lost touch with the Lakers. With limited leverage in hand, the Lakers had to turn their attention to the secondary market, looking for veterans or talented young players who played their residual heat. The success of Austin Rivers and Stanley Johnson is no accident, and the excellent work of the scouting department has given Lakers management enough confidence to try more young players. Earlier today, well-known sports media outlets in the open-air stands exposed the Lakers' latest deal plans. Of the three target players exposed by the media, Thunder player Kenridge Williams became the most notable name.
Kenridge Williams, 27, is 2.01 meters tall and has an arm span of 2.01 meters and is a standard-size forward-guard swinger. As a losing draft, Kenridge Williams made his NBA debut at the age of 24. Williams, who became a late bloomer, has steadily improved step by step since entering the NBA, and although he has no potential to become a superstar, Williams has proved to the world that he can become a good NBA role player in the three seasons of the Thunder. Excellent physical condition allows Williams to cover multiple defensive positions, while on the offensive end Williams has excellent ability to catch the ball and shoot. So far this season, Williams has averaged 7 points and 4 rebounds per game in 20 minutes of playing time, which is already quite good statistic considering the Thunder's pendulum record.
If the Lakers can successfully introduce Williams, then their lineup will be further younger, and the quality of defense will increase while the ability to catch the ball and shoot can also be upgraded. After his comeback, Ariza is no longer an NBA starting-level role player, and Williams can perfectly replace him. Coupled with Williams' contract of only 2 million a year, the Lakers only need to pay a basic salary contract to match the deal. According to the analysis of the open-air stands, the Lakers' deal is intended to adjust the lineup back to the configuration of the championship-winning lineup for the 19-20 season. Anthony Davis will continue as the team's center forward, James as the point forward and Westbrook in the role of Rondo. Kendrick Williams' role is similar to the combination of Big Morris and Pope in the 19-20 playoffs.
Although James's fifth position is the Lakers' biggest gain this season, and the 37-year-old veteran's excellent form has also made him a strong contender for the NBA's scoring champion this season, the Lakers do not want to put all the burden of the season on James's fifth position. Anthony Davis, in particular, is now very close to a comeback, and James is presumably going to reduce his playing time for some time to come. When Davis returns to the Lakers, there will be one more player who can play with James, and a good catcher like Kenridge Williams will get more shots. Do fans and friends think the Lakers' adjustment plan is trustworthy? Welcome to discuss and communicate in the comments section!