After three weeks of opening, the NBA free agency market has entered a lull. There aren't many quality players left on the free market at the moment, and they have yet to sign or renew contracts with other teams. Undoubtedly, the biggest winner in the free market this summer is the Philadelphia 76ers, who have signed star players in the free market, such as Paul George, Drummond, Super Sixth Man Gordon and others, so that the 76ers will be on the road to the championship in the new season. Compared to the crazy arms race in the east, the teams on the west side are a bit bleak. The Suns, Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors are a drop in the bucket!
In particular, the Lakers' operation this summer has made the entire Lakers fans dissatisfied! Especially after being eliminated by the Nuggets last season, Lakers fans this summer want the Lakers to reinforce, but things are not as everyone imagined! After firing Ham, the Lakers hired rookie coach Redick with no coaching experience and signed a four-year, $32 million contract extension for the team's water cooler manager, Christie. After that, the Lakers barely had any commendable moves on the free market. The only thing to be commended for is that the Lakers missed an older rookie in this year's draft, but it is difficult for a rookie to be a lifesaver for the Lakers!
In fact, on the issue of contract extensions, the Lakers have a great chance to keep two quality players this summer! One is Timberwolves swingman Prince, who has publicly expressed his willingness to renew his contract with the Lakers in the offseason. However, the Lakers did not complete the contract extension with Prince, and after waiting for many days to no avail, Prince chose to join the Eastern Conference team Bucks. In fact, Prince's value is very high, providing the team with outside firepower when James is off the court, and he also has enough ability to defend some guards, so it can be said that it is a real bargain. But the Lakers didn't sign him, and his willingness to return to the Lakers became a joke!
After Prince left, Dinwiddie, another guard of the Lakers, also announced today that he would leave the Lakers and join the Mavericks, a dark horse team in the West! According to news reports, Dinwiddie has reached a one-year contract with the Mavericks and will return to the Mavericks! After Dinwiddie was traded last season, he was announced to be a free agent and signed with the Lakers. Although he was eliminated in the first round, Dinwiddie unilaterally stated that he wanted to complete the signing with the Lakers, and after the Lakers renewed James, Christie, and signed Bronny and Knecht, the Lakers' 15-man roster has been determined, and the team has no salary space and personnel positions for Dinwiddie.
In this case, although Dinwiddie expressed his desire to stay with the Lakers, his wishful thinking became a joke among fans! In a season with the Lakers, Dinwiddie is definitely a championship puzzle piece from the perspective of his individual ability, and this joining the Mavericks, a dark horse team in the West, will improve the depth of their guard line for the Mavericks. After acquiring Klay Thompson this season, the Mavericks must be the favorites in the West next season. On the other hand, the Lakers' reinforcement operation this summer can only be said to be of no help to the current predicament, if there is no big move next season, then the Lakers may completely miss the playoffs next season!