The Lakers probably won't trade for backcourt stars like LaVine or Murray. Lakers reporter Jovan Buha revealed on his podcast that the Lakers have no possibility of trading for a third star, and they should pay attention to "small upgrades" that can improve them, and Nets duo Royce O'Neale and Dorian Finney-Smith are the Lakers' targets, both of whom are excellent 3-and-Ds. Could the Lakers' reinforcements turn to them?
Ever since the Bulls were rumored to send LaVine away, the Lakers have connected with the Bulls. The Lakers have won only three of their nine games since winning the midseason tournament and ended an 18-game losing streak for the Spurs, making it necessary to bring in LaVine. However, the Lakers are suffering from not having enough chips, and the Lakers are concerned that LaVine's salary is too high and the defense is not effective, so they are getting farther and farther away from LaVine.
The Lakers are afraid that LaVine's defense is not good, so the whole defense is powerful, and the Hawks' Murray entered the eyes of the Lakers, who was selected for the Defensive Team of the Year. But the Lakers were reluctant to sell Reaves for Murray, and the deal went awry. In the final analysis, the Lakers lack trade chips, and the limited number of chips the Lakers are unwilling to give.
In exchange for stars, the Lakers have other options, and the 3D wing has always been a big problem for the Lakers' lineup, which is what Lakers reporters call "a replacement for Kuzma, KCP (Kentavios-Caldwell-Pope), Danny Green and Caruso". This time, they are targeting the "Nets duo" O'Neal and Finney-Smith. The Lakers had previously been interested in the two at this year's trade deadline, and this time Lakers reporters reconnected the two pairs.
O'Neill is 30 years old and he is 193 meters, averaging 78 points 47 rebounds 32 assists and a 39-point shooting percentage2%, as a substitute for the Nets. He earned a reputation as a 3-and-D player from his early years with the Jazz, and he continued to do so after switching to the Nets. As he enters his contract year, he should plan his next destination as soon as possible.
Finney-Smith is about the same age as O'Neal and is 201 meters, an average of 105 points and 5 rebounds, with a three-point shooting percentage of 448 percent, moving between the Nets' starters and benches. He gained a reputation as a 3-and-D player in his early years with the Mavericks, and even his departure at the beginning of this year is considered one of the reasons why the Mavericks have two superstars and are still undoubtedly in the playoffs. He was supposed to be a starter this year, but recently lost the starter, and the Lakers could take advantage of this opportunity.
O'Neal's four-year, 36 million contract expires next year, and his annual salary is 9.5 million this yearFinney-Smith's four-year, $55.6 million contract expires at the end of the 2025-26 season, with a final year as a player option and an annual salary of $13.93 million this season. The duo should think about where they will go next in their careers as soon as possibleThe Lakers threw an olive branch at this time, which is tantamount to a blessing from heaven. However, the Nets are currently in ninth place in the East with 15 wins and 16 losses. The team has amassed a large number of players who have played second-in-command or supporting roles in other teams, in order to empty them at the right time and exchange them for the assets needed to rebuild. The Lakers are trying to make a discount in this regard.
The Lakers are now recruiting superstars so that after James leaves one day, they can continue to partner with Davis and keep the Lakers fighting. But it is clearly not wise to act at this time. Wait until the offseason, firstly, there is plenty of time, and secondly, the stars may be unhappy due to the unfavorable contract extension, and it is obviously more cost-effective to make a move when the time comes. As for the Nets Twins, the Lakers can actively buy them, and Russell + Hachimura may be bargaining chips.
The NBA has entered a "trade period" to talk about various trade rumors, and there will be no shortage of news around the Lakers. What are the trades the Lakers can make?(Mao Mao Daddy Push-ups).