The Lakers did not move before the trade deadline, they missed the last opportunity to use the trade to change the existing lineup, and the chips given by the Lakers could not be gained in the trading market, but this was more to show that the Lakers management did not have the courage, the first half of the course clearly knew that the existing lineup did not work, but did not choose to break the big stand, but continued to choose to give hope to the lineup, which is the most helpless point for fans. And Lakers general manager Pelinka also said after the trade deadline that the team will focus on the buyout market, and now the Lakers have also made some changes, the Lakers intend to lay off DeAndre Jordan, and then sign with free agent DJ Augustine. Previously, in order to free up the roster to complete the trade with the Celtics, the Rockets cut Augustine. In addition to signing such a veteran point guard, the Lakers will also sign a two-way contract with Venion Gabriel.
Even if the Lakers make the first adjustment after the trade deadline, although it is not an earthquake-level transaction like Harden and Simmons, it can also be regarded as a little bit of movement for the Lakers, but can such a signing really bring a big change to the Lakers? Jordan Jr.'s performance is obvious to everyone, I thought that in the Nets because his playing time was limited and the role of the team was reduced, it would make Little Jordan show a negative state on the court, I thought that little Jordan who came to the Lakers would change, and Little Jordan's basic salary to shoot also showed his determination, and the Lakers also gave Little Jordan great trust, Little Jordan has always been the Lakers' starting center at the beginning of the season, no matter how well Howard performed, Little Jordan has always firmly occupied the starting position. However, the Lakers soon found that they could not adjust little Jordan, he now only had the ability to eat cakes, once the defense of little Jordan was very passive, his defensive coverage area was even less than McGee.
In this way, Jordan Jr. rarely played time in the later games, the team did not reuse Little Jordan again in the absence of Howard and Davis, the Lakers are willing to use James to play five small lineups and are not willing to give Jordan Jr. more opportunities, this season Jordan Jr. averaged only 12.8 minutes per game, although he still has the ability to eat pie in one hand, but his attitude is really problematic, he is not willing to go down after blocking and dismantling, and he is not even willing to extend his hand in the face of defenders. It's hard to believe that Jordan Jr. will go from a player with a defensive to what he is now, even if his physical fitness deteriorates again, his defensive awareness and attitude should not be so, it seems that Jordan Jr. has a hard time having a highlight performance, it is said that the 76ers will choose to sign a contract with Jordan Jr., after all, Embiid does not have a substitute center to use, Millsap is really old, and Cauley Stein's professional attitude is worth examining, see if Rivers and Jordan Jr. can make him change in the degree.
Augustine is 34 years old this year, has played for 10 teams in his career, which is the typical tramp, but Augustine definitely has his own skills, he has been in the league for 14 seasons, although he has only been in a team for the longest 4 seasons, but he can successfully get a job every time. This season, due to the Rockets' all-out efforts to cultivate rookies, Green and Porter Jr. are the key targets of the team, so Augustine's role is not as good as last season, averaging only 5.4 points and 2.2 assists in 15 minutes per game this season, but Augustine has a precise three-point shooting rate, 40.6% of this season's three-point shooting rate, and a career three-point shooting rate of 38%, which is Augustine's survival skill. However, Augustine is still a small guard, only 1 meter 8 tall, so it can only be expected that he can contribute on the offensive end, and the defensive end will definitely be targeted, but given the Lakers' struggling shooting performance, Augustine's shooting will definitely help the team more favorablely.
However, Augustine is a veteran of the plug-and-play type, no matter which team he is very aware of his task, he only needs to do a good job of passing organization and shooting, although the defensive end is insufficient, but in the buyout market he is one of the few point guard choices, although Augustine's peak has passed, but from last season's performance as long as the veteran enough ball rights and trust, he will definitely become a trustworthy player in the bench. Whether in the Bucks or the Rockets, Augustine proved this, and in the Bucks he also got a 3-year, 21 million contract, the Rockets cut him more to give rookies a chance, rather than Augustine's ability is not enough to stand in the league, so the Lakers this signing still gives them more options on the guard line, theoretically introducing a reliable veteran to the shooting team of unstable shooters.
Although the Lakers have an operation in the buyout market, but it is still unrealistic to change the status quo of the Lakers with this signing, I thought that the Lakers would focus on strengthening the center position, after all, the injury of the thick eyebrows made the rotation of the center become stretched, especially after the loss of Little Jordan, the available candidates for the center were Howard and the thick eyebrows, and the effect of the thick eyebrows playing the center was not good, so it would take James to serve as a center for a long time. In addition, such a signing also reflects the Lakers' helplessness this season, they really have little way to change the status quo, the big contract of the big three directly locked the team's salary space, so that they want to strengthen and can not open an attractive contract, can only use the basic salary veteran and marginal players to fill the lineup, and this signing also proves the Lakers' disappointment with the guard group, originally thought that Wei Shao can become the team's offensive engine, but Wei Shao's performance is really hot eyes, and now the substitute lineup also lacks an organizer, Augustine may bring some leadership to the team.
Honestly speaking, if the Lakers can't make a makeover in this offseason, the situation next season will be worse than it is now, their main rotation players will grow older, no one knows what the state of these veterans will be, if the offseason operation is not good, the Lakers will be a dark season, it turns out that the aging lineup can not be successful, and even if the current buyout market has done something, it will not change the fact that it is difficult for the Lakers to compete for the championship now.