The Los Angeles Lakers' performance has been full of ups and downs this season, and despite having superstars like LeBron James and Anthony Davis, the team has struggled. The key issue is that, in addition to these two core players, the Lakers desperately need a consistent third scorer to share the pressure. D'Angelo Russell (, as a small foreign player in the team, was expected to be high, but his performance in key games was not as good as it could have been.
D'Angelo Russell's performance and future
D'Angelo Russell has had a standout performance against the Milwaukee Bucks this season, showing his scoring potential. However, looking at the season as a whole, Russell's instability has become a big failure for the Lakers. Hamm has also publicly criticized: Russell's form is sluggish!
While he averaged 15.6 points per game, he was often out of step in tough games, which prevented him from meeting the team's expectations for a third-place scorer. In the end, in the face of Russell's contract requirements of up to 40 million annual salary, and the news that he may jump out of the contract in the offseason, American media reported that American media revealed that the Lakers have planned to give up the player this summer, and Russell will also enter the free agent market this summer.
The Lakers' decision to let Russell go marks a major shift in the team's strategy.
James' teammate needs and team strategy adjustments
LeBron James' team philosophy has always been to build a lineup around him that can play consistently in crunch time. James clearly needed not only a scoring contribution, but more importantly teammates who could consistently perform under pressure. As a result, the Lakers, after listening to James, began looking for an All-Star-caliber player who could provide consistent output in the playoffs and finals. With this strategic adjustment, even if Russell has good skills, his poor performance at key moments has become the direct reason for his departure.
Potential new additions: The addition of Kyrie Irving and its impact
For the Lakers, the selection of Kyrie Irving should bring new hope. Irving is known for his excellence in key games and his calm mental qualities, which is exactly what the Lakers need. Joining forces with James and Davis, they will form a formidable triumvirate that will not only improve the team's performance in the regular season, but also make a huge impact in the playoffs. The addition of Irving is expected to make the Lakers a direct contender for the championship.
Through the above analysis, it can be seen that the Lakers will make major adjustments after the end of the season, with the goal of building a team that can play consistently at the highest level. With the departure of Russell and the possible addition of Irving, the Lakers' future strategy and tactical layout will change significantly, all in order to build a team around James and Davis that can really compete for championships.