Unknowingly, the offseason is nearing the end, and there is less than a month left before the team training camp of the new NBA season, and basically most of the players have finished their vacation, returned to training, and prepared for the new season. As one of the most high-profile teams in the West, after the Lakers successfully signed Space-based interior lineman Christian Wood with a base-salary contract, it can be said that their operation throughout the offseason was perfect, and the Lakers also became one of the teams in the West with the most opportunity to challenge the Nuggets championship status, which added confidence to the Lakers and brought pressure. Cut your salary by 14 million, return to the Lakers, and crave self-redemption, you have no way back.
Great hope, accompanied by invisible pressure. Almost all of the Lakers' core roster is stressed. James is about to turn 39 and there is not much time left for him to rush for the championship and chase greatness, and he needs to take every possible opportunity to attack the championship. Thick eyebrows are also 30 years old, he has not been able to meet the expectations of the outside world over the years, and has been gradually thrown off by players such as Jokic, Embiid, and Alphabet Brother. Although Reeves and Hachimura have completed contract extensions, they need to continue to prove that they have the ability to play efficiently, especially Reeves, who will become one of the tactical cores of the Lakers in the new season. However, to say that the most stressful is D'Angelo Russell, he is the only player who has no way back.
Russell's bad situation needs to start with his contract. After the free agent market opened, he failed to complete the signing immediately, and after going around the market, Russell re-signed a 2-year, $36 million contract with the Lakers. The first year of the contract was paid $17 million, compared to Russell's $31 million annual salary this past season, and Russell was forced to take a salary cut of $14 million. However, this is already a relatively good ending for him personally, Pelinka gave Russell the opportunity to test the free agent market, but in contrast, the Lakers' offer contract is already a relatively lucrative offer in the entire market.
Or to put it ugly, Russell's market price, even less than the price of this contract, indeed before the free agency market opened, when everyone was discussing what kind of contract Reeves would get, what kind of offer Hachimura would get, no one cared about Russell's situation, most of the discussions about Russell, basically how much his salary would fall, when everyone speculated that it was about $20 million-$25 million, Russell only got a contract with a starting salary of $17 million. This is somewhat embarrassing, and if Pelinka hadn't given this relatively decent contract, Russell's worth would probably have continued to decline. In addition, Pelinka also gave Russell a chance to redeem himself.
In the second year of the contract, Russell has a player option, which means that he can voluntarily jump out of the contract after the end of next season, become a free agent again, and continue to test the free agent market. As long as Russell plays beyond expectations next season, Russell will have the opportunity to re-sign his contract as soon as his value increases. On the question of Russell, Pelinka not only gave him decency, but also gave him a chance. Of course, this came at a cost, and Pelinka also left himself a way back, cutting off Russell's retreat. Under the rules of collective bargaining, a player with bird rights, after a contract extension, his new contract will come with a trade veto.
One of Pelinka's conditions for Russell was to give up the veto of the deal after resigning. Lakers management has left a way back for themselves, no matter how Russell performs, he does not have the right to veto a trade, and the Lakers can trade Russell's contract for other championship puzzles before the trade deadline. This also allows Pelinka to operate without being restrained. At the same time, Russell's own retreat is gone, and there is only one way left for him, that is, to play his best and regain his value. Whether it's with the Lakers, or at any other team (if traded).
Without the veto of the deal, it is equivalent to not being able to determine your own future. Russell knew exactly what his current situation was. This offseason, despite Russell's low profile, he also followed Wade and others on a business trip to China. However, after returning to training, it can be seen from the official player training dynamics released by the Lakers that Russell is the player with the best body management among almost all players, and his figure is maintained quite well, not only not out of shape, but also feels very comfortable. Previously, Russell posted his continuous efforts to train dynamically, including the training of the strength room and the training of polishing techniques on the field, and the new season is also a season for him to prove his redemption.