The Lakers' season ended early, and Vogel "back the pot" without suspense. Two years ago, the championship-winning giants, the championship-winning powerhouses at the beginning of the season, suddenly completely sank and degenerated into a fish belly team.
Vogel has to carry the pot, the Three giants of Zhan Meiwei have to carry the pot, Pelinka has to carry the pot, and Lambis and Jenny Bass also have to carry the pot. However, it is difficult to say who is at fault alone, and it is difficult to explain what exactly is what has led them to this. What bothers the Lakers management more than missing the playoffs is their future.
Vogel was fired, and he patted his ass and turned away. For the league coach on the cusp of the storm, this is not a relief. But the Lakers can't go, Jenny Bass can't go, and they still have to clean up the mess here. Zhan Mei may announce his departure at any time, but Wei Shao is difficult to escape, and the combination of the three giants may have been a mistake from the beginning.
With the season ending early, the Lakers players have also had to start rethinking their future. James and Thick-Brow certainly won't leave so quickly, and Westbrook wants to leave and can't ask for it; Nunn will certainly execute the player option after a year of rest; Anthony and Howard are still waiting, whether the Lakers will continue to accept veterans like them.
According to salary statistics, the Lakers still have 8 people with guaranteed contracts in the 2022-23 season. Among them, Wei Junior salary is $47.06 million (player option), James is $44.47 million, Thick Brow Brother is $37.98 million, Tucker is $10.26 million, Nunn is $5.25 million (player option), Stanley Johnson is $2.35 million (team option), Gabriel is $1.88 million (team option), and Reeves is $1.56 million.
Westbrook and Nunn have largely determined that they will execute player options, while Stanley Johnson and Gabriel's contract is still quite cost-effective. Even aside Johnson and Gabriel, the total salary of the remaining 6 players in the lineup has reached $145 million. The luxury tax threshold for the new season is $147 million, which means the Lakers have almost no room to maneuver.
James's age can not afford to wait, if he continues to lead the team to play such a record next season, it will inevitably not stimulate his turbulent heart. The Lakers are eager to adjust, want to send Westbrook, and are even willing to trade all players except Zhan Mei. But the time and space left for them is really too little.
If the Lakers fall lonely in the next few years, fans may not be surprised.