Turning around, Wei Shao looked up, how is it you again?
Wall smiled slightly in Hugh City, where life does not meet.
With the closing date of this season's trade (February 10) approaching, all kinds of rumors have arrived as promised, this year is different from the past, because of the impact of the epidemic, the powers are generally low-key in trading, but the American basketball media always wants to make a big news, so Wei Shao was pushed to the center of the stage.
According to reports, the Lakers may use Wei Shao, in exchange for the Rockets' Wall. Wall's agent is Rich Paul, and "Rich Paul" has customers in the Lakers: James, Thick Brow, and Tucker.
In December 2020, the Rockets sent Westbrook to the Wizards in exchange for Wall and a protected first-round pick, which at the time was called "poison with poison", and now the Lakers want to "attack fire with fire"?
Wei Shao is a former MVP, scoring king, assist king, in the Lake talent played for half a season, will be traded? Is there a precedent in history of being a superstar who was sent away halfway through the season?
There really has been, and it is also related to Old Zhan. In the 2017 offseason, the Cavaliers signed Wade and Rose, and after half a season, they were both sent away. The reason was that Wade was "unsatisfied" in the Cavaliers locker room, he wanted to return to the heat, Rose was trapped with a foot injury and could not play a role, and even considered retiring at that time.
However, Westbrook and the situation of Wade and Rose at that time are somewhat different, Westbrook was crowned the historical triple-double king last season, bringing the Wizards who had a poor start to the season into the playoffs, even if it is not the peak, but still can play, how come the Lakers will be so unbearable, reduced to negative assets?
The ideal logic of the Lakers' introduction of Westbrook is this: Westbrook as the big core of the ball, reduce the burden on James, and his impact can drive the team's defensive counterattack. The playoffs aside, at least in the regular season, we can let Westbrook help out.
However, the actual effect is this: Westbrook's 29.6% three-point shooting rate bundles the Lakers' offensive space, Vogel has to let thick eyebrows hit the center, the load of AD is injured, the old Zhan is pushed to the fifth position, and the space improves while the situation in the basket deteriorates. The Lakers gave up Caruso, Pop and Kuzma in the offseason, the backcourt and frontal defensive resources avalanche, Wei Shao was not an excellent defender originally, the Lakers' outside defense was stabbed, the inside line was injured and no one made up, the result was the Lakers who were the first in defensive efficiency last season, and now the defense is counted backwards, resulting in a winning rate of not even 50% (23 wins and 24 losses).
The Lakers can't be as bad as the Rockets, because the 2022 first-round pick is not in their hands, it is pointless to give up this season, and it will also hurt their revenue in the local broadcast market, and wasting James's old husband to talk about the state of juvenile madness is a "crime" in the basketball field. The Lakers are reasonable for money and must try to turn the situation around.
Since the "root of the disease" is exchanged for Wei Shao, the Lakers want to send him away is not a rush to the hospital, but this matter is a little difficult. Westbrook's salary is $44.2 million this season and 47 million for the 2022-23 season, and if it is before the 2023 trade deadline, or the 2022 offseason, Westbrook can operate as a player with an expired contract, and at this point in time, his salary burden attribute is still in full frame and not very good.
This is also why it is rumored that Wei Shao will be replaced by Wall, because "Wall Brother" and "Viagra" are the Wolong Phoenix Chicks in the contract, and they have to block the wage space. Wall is 44.3 million this season and 47.37 million next season, which is more expensive than Westbrook.
The Rockets originally used Westbrook to replace Wall, mainly to think about the entire first round of signing, they did not want to keep Wall for a long time from the beginning, last season let Wall play 40 games, belongs to the "inspection" mode, let the intended buyers see that Wall can still play, this season did not let Wall play, in addition to the two sides for the tactical role failed to agree, there are considerations to avoid injury smashing hands.
Wall's injury history and contract situation made his transaction more difficult than That of Westbrook, with more inquirers and few bidders until the Lakers appeared. The Rockets have little interest in Westbrook, even if they exchange it, they may buy out, what they really want is the Lakers' 2027 first-round pick, if the Lakers are willing to give, the deal may come true.
The question is, will the Lakers be willing?
In 2027, James is 43 years old, even if he does not retire, it is almost impossible to still be at the peak, when the thick eyebrow brother is 34, his contract with the Lakers expires in 2025, 2027 is really unpredictable, if the Lakers enter the reconstruction period, the first round of signing value is very large.
In the NBA's trading operations, overdrafts are not uncommon in the future, but only if they win in the present. If the Lakers give up the 2027 first-round pick in exchange for someone who can really improve the team's combat strength, it is okay, but is Wall such a player?
Wall averaged 20.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists last season, which looks ok, but his shooting percentage is only 40.4% a career low, and his average of 20+ points per game comes from inefficient high shots. Wall's three-point shooting rate of 31.7% last season is slightly better than this season's Westbrook, but not much better, and no team will guard Wall's long-range shots. Wall's once-good mid-range has deteriorated badly, with a shooting percentage of only 31.7%, and Westbrook has 42% of this statistic this season.
In terms of offensive style, Wall is very close to Wei Shao, he has never been a stable pitcher, and the space effect is similar to Thatshao. Wall's former strength was a breakthrough based on explosive power, and with injuries to both the knee and Achilles tendon, Wall's assault finishing power dropped more than one notch, and he could no longer kill as he did before to the basket. Wall shot 56.8 percent from within 3 feet of the basket last season, the worst of his career, and Westbrook's near-rim finishing efficiency this season is not very good, but his 58 percent shooting percentage is slightly better than Wall's.
Wall is stronger than Westbrook by playing more calmly and defending better, but he is not as durable as Westbrook, playing a total of 40 games so far in the 2019-20 season, while Westbrook has played 47 games this season alone.
As far as Wall's current level is concerned, the Lakers may have suffered some losses with Wei Shaodan, and if they have to take the first round of picks, it is likely that they will lose the future without the present.
If the trading plan is adjusted, such as the Lakers using Westbrook + Tucker + Nunn + first-round picks, replacing Wall + Eric Gordon, this looks much more comfortable, "round-faced brother" can also be defended, it is the type that the Lakers lack, although the salary of 18 million is not low, but compared with Wall and Westbrook, the cost performance is obvious.
However, it is rumored that the Rockets are not interested in the Lakers' "little prince on the basket", and the Rockets do not lack tucker, who is not at a high level and still needs to digest the ball. The Rockets did not list Gordon as a non-sale product, but wanted to buy it for more money. The Rockets are also in a bad rebuild anyway, they are not in a hurry, and the Lakers still want to save this season.
The Lakers' 2023, 2024 and 2025 second-round picks are in their own hands (2022 was given to the Spurs), or will they take one or two second-round picks?
The Lakers are embarrassed to play like this in the first half of the regular season, but the more embarrassing they are, the more they can't be in a hurry. If there is no trade plan that can really help the team, the Lakers might as well keep Wei Shao and let him brush the data in the second half of the season, in case the status rises in the second half of the season as last season, it may be better to wait until the offseason.
Moreover, the thick eyebrow brother is coming back, the Lakers have 9 games before the trade deadline, they can try the "360" combination again, and then make a decision.
Attacking fire with fire should be cautious, if you don't get it right, you will burn yourself, and the Lakers should not be hasty.
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