This offseason, the Lakers have two key words: Westbrook and 2 first-round picks, which are also tied together. The Lakers have repeatedly hit a wall in the transaction, and the crux of the problem is in the 2 first-round picks, either they don't want to send it, or the other party doesn't want it. After Irving slipped away, the Chances of the Lakers delivering two first-round picks are getting smaller and smaller, which makes it harder and harder for Westbrook to shoot, even if it means that the spectacle of Westbrook and Beverley on the same team will appear in Los Angeles next season.
Today, the US media broke the news that the Lakers may be the third party to the Mitchell transaction, and Jazz director Angie is salivating over the Lakers' first-round signing in 2027 and 2029.
At first glance, this news would make the second monk confused. Previously, the Lakers always held on to 2 first-round picks, but after James renewed his contract, they said that they were willing to send 2 first-round picks for Irving, forcing the Nets to change their mouths to fight. This also undoubtedly left an impression on everyone: the Lakers do not see rabbits and do not throw eagles, and only all-star players like Irving can say that the Lakers sent 2 first-round picks.
However, this time the US media clearly pointed out that the Premise of the Lakers becoming a Mitchell deal is that the Knicks or other teams trade to bring in Mitchell. That said, the Lakers' goal is not Mitchell, but the Jazz's role players. Fans can't help but wonder: For the Jazz's role players, will the Lakers send 2 first-round picks? Is Angie delusional?
This is a question that the Pacers can answer. The Lakers' trading partners this summer, except for the Nets, the Pacers have the highest appearance rate, Miles Turner and Hield are what the Lakers have been longing for.
However, it is reported that the reason why the deal has not been reached is related to the Pacers' reluctance to take over Wei Shao, and it is also related to the Lakers' reluctance to give up 2 first-round picks, and the latter has a greater relationship. Although Hilde's outside projection was eye-watering for the Lakers, it almost brought him in a year ago; Although Turner will also be the answer to the Lakers' interior line and can also liberate Anthony Davis to the fourth position, the Lakers are biased to be a little more accurate: they are not Irving, not All-Stars.
From this, it is also conceivable that the Lakers have an attitude towards the trading chips provided by the Jazz. Turning over the Jazz's roster, Malik Beasley, Bojan Bogdanovic, Clarkson, Gay, vanderbilt are all high-quality role players that the Lakers can choose from, which is foreseeable under the premise that the Jazz fully start rebuilding. But will the Lakers, who are reluctant to send two first-round picks for Turner and Hield, be generous for the Jazz's role players?
At present, in the absence of other big fish flowing into the market, the Lakers' 2 first-round picks have increasingly revealed the trend of "packing and sending away is better to keep for their own use", after all, they can only bring role players to the Lakers now, even if they may be more suitable for the Current Lakers, but this is contrary to the Lakers' superstar route.
Exactly what to do, the Lakers may need to pull Wei Shao in to consider together. For the current situation of the Lakers, the industry has long been aware. Some people believe that the Lakers should stick to their position and not easily give up 2 first-round picks, because this is the future; Some people also believe that the Lakers can send away Wei Shao is a success, and they should not expect to be able to exchange for any high-quality assets.
Undoubtedly, from the perspective of the Lakers, the latter approach is really "headache medicine, foot pain medicine foot", treatment of symptoms is not cure. If you can't get back players who can improve their competitiveness, the Lakers can't bet on the future, otherwise it will be "losing the lady and folding the soldiers." Therefore, they will be more inclined to the former.
Doing so means that Westbrook will have to stay in the Lakers for another season, at least half a season, and by the closing date of next year's trade will usher in another opportunity to "unwind", and it is still a better opportunity, after all, Westbrook's salary in the last year has also been paid in half. In addition, during the interview, he talked a lot about how to activate Wei Shao's new coach Davin Hamm, perhaps a glimpse of the possibility of Wei Shao staying in the team, and recently said that if Wei Shao stayed in the team, he would still arrange a "real role" for Wei Shao. The Lakers also said they would not abandon Wei Shao like Rocket Snow Zangwall.
But this is contrary to the predictions made when the Beverly deal was reached. After joining the Lakers, Beverley once echoed James, and exaggerated Wei Shao, and Wei Shao has so far shown no expression on Beverley's joining, and the hatred between the two is difficult to resolve in a short period of time. This has laid hidden dangers for the Lakers to force Wei Shao.
What's more, today there are rumors that the Lakers and Schroeder may join hands again. If this also comes true, sitting on the three most related defenders of Westbrook, Beverley and Schroeder, one can't help but wonder: Are the Lakers going to play or act next season?
Previously, the US media reported that the Lakers would not pack 2 first-round picks just to send away Wei Shao. But without packing 2 first-round picks, it's hard to imagine how the Lakers should send Wei Shao away. Leaving Wei Shao, the Lakers will also face a lot of follow-up problems, and even the Lakers' operation this summer is difficult to say successful.
In summary, at least until the 2023 free agent market opens, the Lakers' two first-round picks cannot be completely decoupled from Westbrook. Teams that want to take the Lakers' two first-round picks for themselves must take over Wei Shao; Once the Lakers use the two first-round picks on other transactions, Wei Shao will inevitably have to stay in his hands. And if the Lakers, as they are now, don't think any of the players who can be exchanged are worth giving 2 first-round picks, Westbrook will become a high probability event, no matter how unreliable it seems. (Supine Braces/Hairy)