When the playoffs are going on until now, who thinks of the Los Angeles Lakers? Of course, the Lakers are still one of the most talked about teams in this league, and even if the Lakers don't appear on the playoff stage, the news about the Lakers in this league will not be interrupted. The Lakers and LeBron James, you can't ignore the presence anyway.
After the Lakers did not qualify for the playoffs, it was endless ridicule, ridicule and speculation for the Lakers, which was something the Lakers had to face after a bad season. Frank Vogel's dismissal is by no means the end of the season, and the Lakers have a lot of trouble, which is just a vague response to the chaotic season.
The most important thing about the "troublesome thing" is the construction of the team lineup, start over or continue to gamble? "Famous" Stephen A. Smith's advice was to trade LeBron James.
The rumor of trading James is not the first time it has appeared, and the same voice has been heard in the previous two seasons, perhaps because of James's decline in form, or perhaps because of the value of the trade on James, in short, trading James does not seem to be completely impossible. It would have been crazy earlier in my career, but now things have changed.
What is Smith's reason? He began by stating his position, "I don't want to belittle LeBron James at all." Smith suggested that the Lakers trade James, and the important reason is because of James's age - at James's age, he can play for two or three years at most, what will the Lakers do then?
Moreover, James still has one last year of contract left, and if he refuses to renew his contract with the Lakers, the Lakers will get nothing. Smith said: "That's what I'm talking about, you have to think about all the things that're going to happen, and if that means trading LeBron [James], then get started." ”
Smith analyzed the competitive environment in the West, the Suns, Warriors, Lone Rangers, Clippers, Timberwolves and Grizzlies are all strong or on the rise, even the Pelicans have great potential, and the Lakers want to break out of the West. That is to say, the Lakers' championship window is closed, and sending James away is undoubtedly a wise move.
Smith suggested that the Lakers trade James so that his final value could be realized, and he also proposed four teams that would most likely be of interest to James — James' old clubs, the Cavaliers and Heat, and the Jazz and Trail Blazers, who could join the title race with James.
The team's prospects are already very bleak, the Lakers must face up to the situation they are facing, james is the only chip that the Lakers can change their fate. In Smith's view, the Lakers trade James is no way to do it, Westbrook is difficult to find the next home, and Anthony Davis is not easy to get a reasonable trade chip, because it is easy to get injured.
However, some people do not think that the Lakers will trade James.
Former NBA player J.J. Redick retorted to Smith's remarks, "First, that would be against the Lakers' decades-old code of conduct — they're a superstar-driven club." Second, trading LeBron (James) to the Jazz or Trail Blazers would also violate their code of conduct. ”
There is also a reason, is there really a team willing to pay too much chips for James? For example, the Heat, sending Adebayo as a trading chip to get James, will it really make the Heat closer to the championship? For example, the Cavaliers, sending Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland away, is this really conducive to the rebuilding of the team?
In fact, the reason why Smith and Redick have their own views is because of the Lakers' current embarrassing situation - there is no room for operation to take a step forward, there is no way to improve the competitiveness of the team; it is a pity to take a step back, and the final highlight of James's career should not be wasted like this.
in a dilemma.
(Text/Yan Wujun)