Every hero has a twilight time, and every beauty has a gray hair. But even so, there are still some fans who believe that the Lakers and Warriors can still challenge for the championship next season. But to calm down and look at the current situation of these two giants, such an idea may be too optimistic.
Let's start with the Lakers. Management seems to be in a state of silence and has not made any major changes. In contrast, the Warriors' actions are slightly more aggressive, but still small, such as replacing Saric with Anderson and Melton for Paul, which are barely understandable, but the following operation is really unacceptable: Let Buddy · Hield replace Klay · Thompson? It's unimaginable.
Some fans believe that Hield is no worse than Thompson, and may even be better. The reason is that Hield is also a three-point shot, and both of them have average defense, and Hield can completely replace Thompson. Hearing this kind of remarks, many Warriors fans are afraid that they will be angry. Indeed, Thompson is no longer the "Buddha's light" at his peak, but he is still a skinny camel, far from being comparable to Hilde.
Let's start with a few key stats to see how far apart Hield and Thompson really are.
Hield has only played one playoff game in his career, playing in four games and underperforming. Conversely, Thompson has played 158 playoff games since entering the NBA in 2011, shooting a whopping 40.5 percent from three-point range and averaging 3.2 three-pointers per game. What's more, Thompson has won four championships, and he is one of the pillars of the Warriors' dynasty.
Although Hield's regular season three-point statistics seem good, he has played most of the time in mid-to-lower teams such as the Kings and Pacers, and the "gold content" of the data is naturally greatly reduced. Thompson, on the other hand, has been playing for the top team Warriors for 12 years and has endured countless high-intensity games, and his three-point shot is not only accurate, but also always kills the game in key moments.
In addition to the statistics, the tacit understanding and tactical fit between Thompson and the Warriors is also incomparable to Hield. As a member of the Splash Brothers, Thompson's combination with Curry has become one of the cores of the Warriors' offensive system. The Warriors' style of play relies on the off-ball running and coordination of the pair of top shooters, and this tacit understanding that has been honed over the years is not something Hield can easily replicate.
Of course, Warriors management is well aware of this. Hield can't replace Thompson, and it's even more foolish for the Warriors to win the championship with their current roster. So the question is, why don't the Warriors and Lakers take advantage of the free market or trade market?
In fact, the management of the Warriors and Lakers is not indifferent, and their thinking is very simple: if they can trade their existing chips for "big fish", such as a superstar, they will not hesitate to make a move. But if it's just some decent player trades, names like Markkanen, LaVine, Trae Young, and Grant won· not be in their eyes at all.
The reason is simple: both Curry and James are at the end of their careers, and management is aware of the risks facing the team. The Warriors and Lakers have paid a huge luxury tax for the championship and have multiple big contracts in their hands. If Curry and James retire in two or three years, the team doesn't have enough draft picks, and they're saddled with a bunch of big contracts, the future rebuild will be very tough, and it could even be a long slump.
Because of this, the Warriors and Lakers have chosen to err on the side of caution. They are not willing to risk being trapped in the long term for the sake of short-term success. For the Warriors, they have begun to develop the young "Four Little Swans": Kuminga, Moody, Pojer, Davis. These young players will determine the Warriors' ceiling next season. But let's be honest, it's not going to be easy for the Warriors to go far in the new season.
The Lakers, on the other hand, have made draft picks the cornerstone of a rebuild, and management's goal is clear: to ensure that the team still has draft picks and flexibility in the future. At the same time, James's eldest son Bronny may also enter the NBA in the future, and the Lakers will take advantage of this to maintain a certain commercial value by selling tickets and other means. As for the record, they are more inclined to guarantee a playoff spot, and how far they can go depends on the team's performance.
So, can Hield replace Thompson? Among the Warriors' "Four Little Swans", who is the most optimistic? Can the Lakers and Warriors make the playoffs next season? These questions may soon be answered. But for those fans who still hold the Lakers and Warriors still competing for the championship, maybe it's time to calm down, the reality is often more cruel than imagined.
Feel free to discuss your views.