After a difficult victory over the Nuggets in overtime, the Lakers also drew a successful end to the season, but shortly after the game, reporter woj released a fierce material: "This is Vogel's last game, the Lakers will dismiss him." ”
After the game, Vogel said: "I just want to enjoy the moment and be proud of the young players in the team. ”
Today, however, what he saw was the Lakers' official thank you for his words: "Thank you coach. ”
With the end of the Lakers' season, the trading market began to be active again. A famous reporter reported that the Hornets owner was interested in Wei Shao and gave two plans.
Scenario One: The Hornets send Hayward and Plumberry to get Westbrook
Hayward has $30.1 million and $31.5 million in contracts with the remaining two years, respectively, while Westbrook's one-year contract will help the Hornets free up salary space and build a roster in the 2023-24 offseason. Hayward averaged 15.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this season, shooting more than 40 percent from three-point range, making him a good third-scoring pointer and quality shooter.
For the old Jan who has just released harsh words, welcoming a Hayward with excellent shooting ability and solo offensive ability is a good choice, and averaging 6.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game Plumberry can become a substitute for Howard.
Option two: The Hornets sent Hayward and Rochelle to westwood + 2027 first-round picks
If rochelle is to get Rochel, the Lakers need to pay an extra 2027 first-round pick, and it is difficult to predict what the Lakers will be in 2027, and such a potentially valuable first-round pick will bring the Hornets a young and energetic high-pick player. Rochelle has averaged 19.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season, and the tough and flowing young players will inject fresh blood into the Lakers
The Lakers only want to reorganize the lineup to win the championship at the moment, and may not think too much about the future draft pick, and getting a tough and flowing Rochelle and Hayward with excellent shooting ability will reduce a lot of offensive pressure for Old Zhan.
If the Lakers want to compete for the championship again, there are still many problems that need to be solved.
The lineup is aging. The average age of the Lakers this season is 34 years old and as many as five veterans over the age of 35, resulting in problems such as insufficient physical strength and serious injuries.
Uneven offensive and defensive: The Lakers have seriously uneven offensively and defensively this season, with fatal holes in each lineup. There are three points without defense, and there is no space for defense, which causes the team to have to open up space for the fifth position on top of the old Zhan and the thick eyebrows, and then increase the injuries of the superstar players, the old Zhan played 56 games, and the thick eyebrows played 37 games. As a result, the existing squad could not play its normal strength and was excluded from the play-offs.
Focus on the small lineup: The Lakers center played less than the league average this season, and the interior line lacked frame guards. Old Zhan is 37 years old and it is impossible to attack and defend at both ends, and this season the Lakers have lost 112.8 points per round defensively ranking at the bottom of the league. At the same time in the small lineup, if you can't play a higher offensive level, you will be carried away by a wave of streams in the third quarter.
Too many lineup changes: This season, the Lakers have come up with more than 80 different lineups, the players have a poor run-in, and the lack of a stable rotation of the lineup has greatly affected the atmosphere of the locker room, resulting in more and more contradictions in the locker room.
Where to go: While preserving the existing squads of Munch, Rivers, Nunn and Bradley, strengthen the interior gates. Thick brow injuries were minimized and defensive efficiency was greatly improved. Hayward, the third scoring point, was ushered in after the trade, and the strength of the substitute lineup was strengthened.