As the trade deadline approaches, it has been widely known that the Lakers want to bring in Hawks guard Dejounte Murray. However, Lakers general manager Pelinka has been slow to make a move. Perhaps the terms of the deal have not yet been agreed, or the team is hesitant about Russell's performance. Over the past seven games, Dejounte Murray has contributed an average of 27 per game4 points, 23 rebounds and 66 assists and a whopping 52 shooting percentage4%。For the majority of fans, is this performance the real reason for the Lakers' failure to act, or is it just an excuse from the team's management?
The public revelation by Los Angeles Clippers owner Ballmer laid bare the Lakers' predicament. Ballmer bluntly pointed out that the main reason why Lakers general manager Jeanie Buss has not taken action is that the team does not have enough financial support. He jokingly said that Jenny was a penniless pauper. Such remarks undoubtedly raised doubts among fans about the future of the Lakers.
While Jeanie Buss has been excellent at running the team as the Lakers' CFO, she really doesn't have the financial strength to be as strong as Ballmer. Compared with other team owners in the league, Jeanie Buss's financial strength is indeed not outstanding. However, the current Lakers team is in jeopardy, all of which is related to Jeanie Buss's savings, but the poverty of the team's management has also dug a big hole for itself.
There was a little-known unpleasant experience between Ballmer and Jenny Buss. When Jeanie Buss took over the management of the Lakers, Ballmer had intended to provide financial support for the team, but Jenny refused. Since then, the relationship between the two has become very strained. Ballmer then brought his Clippers into his camp and saw the Lakers as imaginary enemies.
In life, it is inevitable that there will be differences of opinion and even friction between husband and wife, let alone the owner of a basketball stadium who runs a basketball hall together? Jenny used the Lakers' illustrious history and the championship flag hanging from the arena to taunt Ballmer and make him cheeky enough to use his financial resources to build a new arena, which is expected to be officially operational this year. Although the problem of the arena was solved, the contradiction between the two could not be bridged.
Ballmer seized the opportunity before the trade deadline, jokingly called Jenny no money, and released harsh words, saying that he would try to chase LeBron James this summer offseason, and use the power of money to force him to make a compromise. Such remarks undoubtedly touched the sore spot of the entire Lakers team. Without James, the Lakers would only be able to build their team around the thick eyebrows, and both the attraction of the ball market would be greatly reduced. In addition, Jeanie Buss is also timid in the current trade market as she needs to take into account James' future plans. Should James choose to retire or leave, future planning for the Lakers may be forced to be delayed.
In order to better keep James and create the buzz, many teams are willing to sign James' eldest son Bronny in 2024 to make them truly historic on the same stage. And Ballmer's rhetoric should not be ignored, and it is indeed possible that he will witness James decide his future. First, James could settle down in Los Angeles, whether playing for the Lakers or the Clippers, and he wouldn't need to move or interfere with his son, Bryce's studies. Second, although the Clippers lost their 2024 first-round pick in a trade, signing Bronny wasn't the only option. The allure of money is everywhere. Finally, and most importantly, the Clippers are better than the Lakers in a championship race. This season, the Clippers have four future Hall of Famers on their roster, including James, Harden, Westbrook, Paul George, and Leonard. In addition to the strength of the team, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue's tactical arrangement and on-the-spot command are superb, and he has even shown a five-man lineup in the last few games0 version of the strength, players such as Mann, Powell, Coffey, Theis and Zubac have all played an important role in the system. What's even more rare is that the four superstars have all expressed their willingness to take a salary cut for the team, especially Leonard took the initiative to take a salary cut to sign a 3-year 1With a $5.2 billion contract extension, James Harden also expressed his willingness to keep a salary cut for the team. Only Paul George's contract extension has not yet been finalized in detail, but his 1The 4.3 billion contract is also likely to continue to cooperate. In such an environment, James can challenge for a fifth championship. It is worth mentioning that Tyronn Lue and James once won a championship together with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their cooperation together is also exciting.