In the world of the NBA, the ups and downs of record are often accompanied by unexpected changes.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, the recent setback seems to have set off a chain reaction of chaos. They have suffered nine defeats in their last 12 games, causing them to drop to 10th place in the Western Conference standings.
After suffering a loss against the Miami Heat, the situation seems to be getting worse. According to a new report from Shams, the head coach of the Lakers, Darvin Darvin Ham, and his players are deepening to the point where the atmosphere in the locker room is close to spiraling out of control.
It's annoying that there are still people who like it!
The Lakers' current infighting is not the result of a single factor. In addition to the results, there was also a clear disagreement within the team over the tactical choices of head coach Ham. The players questioned Hamm's frequent changes to the starting line-up, arguing that this changing tactical arrangement affected the team's overall stability and squad continuity. This dissatisfaction and distrust of tactical adjustments has exacerbated tensions within the squad.
Since last year's Dec. 24 game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, head coach Ham has made a bold change: Russell has been put off the bench instead of Reeves to the starting lineup. This decision means that in the starting lineup, except for "Old James" LeBron James, the rest of the players basically play a supporting role, including everyone except Anthony Davis (Bushy Eyebrow).
This tactical adjustment initially came as a shock to many within the team, as it significantly changed the team's dribbling and possession strategy. What's more, the change didn't work as expected, with the team only having a poor 2-3 record from the start of the game against the Thunder to the subsequent match against the New Orleans Pelicans.
After five games of trial and error, Lakers head coach Darvin Ham finally made a change against the Miami Heat, promoting Reaves to the starter and adding a second ball-handler to the team's starting lineup. However, this adjustment seems to be too late. Even with Reaves on board, the team still failed to turn the tables and ultimately failed.
The decision to have players like James, Russell and Reaves and only have one ball-handler in the starting lineup seems somewhat confusing. Such a tactical layout may mean that there is a certain deviation in the team's distribution of the ball and the center of gravity of the playmaking on the court, perhaps out of trust that James will take on the responsibility of the playmaker alone, but it may also limit the opportunities for other players to play to their strengths.
However, this seems to have changed for now. A well-kept but reputable sports journalist revealed that the Lakers' interest in Zach LaVine, who has a strong offense but a relatively weak defense, has waned. Instead, they are now more inclined to look for players with the speed advantage and versatility to enhance the team's overall performance on the defensive end.
The journalist also added that although Zach LaVine's appeal to the trade market isn't as strong as expected, the Chicago Bulls have no plans to fully rebuild, so they're in no hurry to send LaVine away. In this case, LaVine is still part of the Bulls' plan.
In addition, LaVine is expected to return soon after a recent home game against the Charlotte Hornets after being suspended due to a foot injury on Nov. 30 last year.
The news that the Lakers have lost interest in Zach LaVine comes as no surprise, given their roster tweaks and changes in tactical needs. However, it is somewhat surprising that despite LaVine's absence during the injury, the Chicago Bulls have a relatively good record — a 10-7 record in the games he missed, compared to the 5-13 when he was on the floor.
From that perspective, the Bulls seem to have performed better without LaVine, which should have prompted team management to be more determined to push for a trade, and perhaps even be willing to take some financial losses in order to speed up the rebuilding process. However, the Bulls don't seem to be in a hurry to send LaVine away. It seems that there is still an expectation that he will come back from injury, which is really incomprehensible.
Zach LaVine's performance in the current season is in stark contrast to his high salary. He earns more than $40 million a year through 2027 and averages just 21 points per game. More crucially, the Chicago Bulls have a better record when he's not on the floor. This situation has made LaVine less attractive in the trade market, and he is no longer the hot trade partner sought after by many teams. But maybe there are teams that get dizzy? Like the Lakers!
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