On April 28, Beijing time, according to NBA reporter Eric Pincus, the los Angeles Lakers management attributed the failure of the transaction to Russell-Weisbrook to Rich Paul's Klutch Sports company, which is also the agent of LeBron, Thick Brow and Tucker. The Lakers internally said that Klutch Sports promoted the deal for Westbrook, and that James and Davis both supported Westbrook in the deployment of the lineup, and Zhan Mei opposed when some role players asked Westbrook to play as a substitute.
In other words, Paul Fu is the culprit who indirectly caused the Lakers to miss the playoffs this season, in other words, Zhan Mei suffered the consequences, if Pop, Kuzma, Harrell, and the first-round pick may be able to enter the playoffs this season like last season, the arrival of Westbrook directly invaded the entire team.
The Nets' Irving also faces great problems. According to Brooklyn reporter Tommy Beer, the Nets should reject Irving's 5-year, 248 million extension in the offseason, and the team will try to sign first and then send Irving elsewhere to exchange some championship assets, so as to build a new team around Durant.
He has also previously slammed Irving, since Irving left James in 2017 in the playoffs - injured in 2018, lost five games to the Bucks in the second round in 2019, lost seven games to the Bucks in the first round of the second round in 2020, and was swept by Green Kai in the first round in 2022. (Key Irving is still a part-time player this season and he is in danger of getting out at any time)
When Perkins said on the show that the Nets should trade Irving, and if the Nets can't handle Irving, then Durant can try to apply for a trade, an American fan made a suggestion:
I have a crazy trade offer that shouldn't happen, but it makes sense for both the Nets and the Lakers. Wouldn't it be nice if Irving and Durant were directly replaced by James and thick eyebrows? Neither team is making progress so far than "swapping"
An American fan also proposed a trade proposal for the swap between Westbrook and Owen: Mills + Owen for Westbrook, let Westbrook go back to join forces with big brother, Mills is also a top pitcher very suitable for James, Irving back to LeBron may become a super giant again.
From the current point of view, Irving really only plays like a superstar around James, which is really bad elsewhere, and the nerves are problematic.
Text/Yan Xiaobai's basketball dream