On July 26, Beijing time, both Chalaniya and Wanaroski reported on the latest operations of the Lakers. The powerhouse, which was eliminated in the first round of the season, is trying to strengthen the squad in the offseason and try to regain the championship in 2021-22.
Message one: A deal with the Kings has been negotiated
Charania reported that the Lakers and Kings have entered into a deal over Buddy Hield, and sources reveal that Kuzma is in the Lakers' offer. Many teams are interested in Kuzma. In terms of salary matching, Kuzma cannot be used alone to exchange Hield, but he will be a key component in the offer. Warnaroski reported that in addition to Kuzma, the Lakers also peddled Pop to many teams.
In the 2020-21 season, Kuzma averaged 12.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 44.3% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range. The playoffs were poor, averaging 6.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 29.2 percent from the field and 17.4 percent from three-point range. Pope averaged 9.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game, shooting 43.1% from the field and 41% from three-point range, and performed poorly in the playoffs, averaging 6.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1 assist per game, shooting 37.9% from the field and 21.1% from three-point range.
Hield averaged 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, shooting 40.6 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from three-point range. Compared to the 2019-20 season (19.2 points), his scoring stats have declined this season. If the Lakers get Hield, he has the ability to be the third scorer next to Zhan Mei.
Hield has signed a four-year, $94 million contract with the Kings in 2019, with an annual salary of $22.47 million for the 2021-22 season. It is worth mentioning that before Pelinka became the general manager of the Lakers, he was Hilde's agent.
Message two: sign first and then change the three major choices
Charania reported that Lowry, DeRozan and Dinwiddie are all targets of interest to the Lakers, and all three of them have a certain interest in joining the Lakers. However, considering the problem of salary space, the Lakers, no matter who they want to get, must sign first and then exchange. The Lakers, Philadelphia, Lone Rangers, Pelicans and Heat are currently in the first echelon of the Lowry Scramble.
On the Lakers' side, Schroeder, Matthews, Caruso, Dudley, Maurice Big, Drummond and McLemore will all be unrestricted free agents, while Horton Tucker is a restricted free agent.
Message three: Rubio has become a new target for the Lakers
Warnaroski reported that Timberwolves' 30-year-old point guard Rubio was a potential target for the Lakers. He said on the show that if the Lakers lose Schroeder in the free agency market, they will see Rubio as one of the options.
Rubio averaged 8.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in the 2020-21 season, shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from three-point range. Rubio has a good performance in organizing the attack, but his shooting ability is always an issue. Rubio has $17.8 million left on his contract for one year.
Message Four: The draft is considering a downward trade
Draft expert Kiwani reported that NBA executives revealed that the Lakers are looking to trade the No. 22 pick in their hands downwards, and they are also hoping to get some second-round picks. What is the purpose of the Lakers' move?
Expert Gozlan analyzed that if the Lakers want to get a free agent by signing first and then exchanging, or use the full middle-class exception, this operation is very meaningful. Don't look at the difference between the No. 22 salary ($2.7 million) and the rookie base salary ($925,000), but it is likely to determine whether the Lakers' hard cap is triggered.