Lakers general manager Pelinka successfully extended the contract of Hachimura, Russell and other titans this summer, and successfully signed Soncent from the Heat. The arrival of these players has effectively increased the depth of the Lakers' bench, but the individual ability is average, and I am afraid that the Lakers will not be able to touch the championship trophy. Therefore, if the Lakers want to attack the championship, they must use their trade chips in the trade market this summer to recruit big-name stars, and assist James and thick eyebrows to attack the championship. The 76ers' star Lillard and Philadelphia star James Harden were both sought-after in the trade market this summer, and both of them also had a trade scandal with the Lakers.
According to the news revealed by the NBA analysis network, the Lakers are ready to join the battle for Blazers star Lillard this summer. Although Lillard joined the Heat by name after applying for a trade, he fought tough guy Butler for the championship. But other championship-level teams will also use their trade chips to invite Lillard to join. Two summers ago, James and Thick Eyebrows invited Lillard to discuss joining the Lakers in James' mansion. But Lakers management ultimately chose Wilson, causing Lillard's trade to fall through. This time, the Lakers are ready to see the right time to make another trade offer to Lillard.
It is reported that the Lakers intend to use three players, Hachimura and Russell Vanderbilt, as trade chips to complete Lillard's trade. Once the deal is made, then next season, the Lakers will form James, thick eyebrows, and Lillard's new version of the Big Three to attack the championship. But after reading the deal chips that the US media gave Lillard, I concluded that the deal would not be done. The Blazers will certainly use Lillard's important trade chip to help the team access more rebuilding resources. For a rebuilding team, young players with upside and first-round picks are much-needed resources. The Lakers sent only three role players in the deal, without any first-round picks as chips. And Hachimura and Russell have just completed contract extensions with the Lakers, and these three players simply can't enter the eyes of the Blazers.
For the Lakers, trading for Lillard is also a big bet. Lillard's individual scoring ability and ability to grasp key balls are undoubted, and his arrival can alleviate the scoring pressure on James to some extent, and James is likely to hand over the team's offensive power and become the team's playmaker to sort out the team's offense. But Lillard completed an early two-year contract extension with the Blazers last summer totaling more than $120 million. The Blazers currently have 4 years left on Lillard's contract, which means that if the Lakers fail to win a championship trophy in two seasons, Lillard's annual salary for the next two seasons will exceed $60 million. At that point, Lillard could become a hot potato for the Lakers, and they won't be able to trade Lillard for useful trade chips, something Lakers management doesn't want to see. So I concluded that from the trade chips and Lillard's salary situation, the Lakers and Trail Blazers would not reach a trade for Lillard.
Personally, I think that if Lillard leaves the Blazers, the most likely to get them is naturally Lillard's preferred Heat, as well as the Philadelphia 76ers. After Harden announced the execution of the player option, he discussed a trade with the team. Philadelphia is likely to join Lillard's trade to replace Harden with the cold-blooded killer and Embiid to form a championship partner and continue to attack the championship.