In the previous game, the Lakers scored a narrow victory against the Warriors. James and Bushy Eyebrows have shown a strong size advantage and attacking power, and their stats are also excellent. In addition, the Lakers also unearthed a new superstar, Russell, who scored 28 points against the Warriors. Russell has been in excellent form in recent games and he has been re-promoted to the starting line-up.
The Lakers now face a difficult decision about whether or not to make a trade. They will have to decide whether to keep their current squad or take the risk of pursuing another star. The Lakers had been in talks with the Hawks about a trade for Murray, but as Russell's form picked up, the Lakers began to wonder if they needed to make the deal. Trade talks between the Lakers and Hawks reportedly involved Russell, a 2029 first-round pick, and a first-round pick.
The focus has been on Reaves, with the Hawks wanting him and the Lakers seeing him as a non-sale. But recently the Lakers seem to have withdrawn the trade**, which has confused the Hawks, and they are starting to hesitate. Understanding Pelinka's hesitation is understandable, and anyone can have doubts about their decision-making.
Russell's performances over the past month have been remarkable, with him scoring over 30 points in several games, especially in the last six games, where he has scored at least 20 points in each of his last six games. In the last 8 games, Russell's scoring is terrifying, averaging 275 points, and 6He had 4 assists and was shooting 52% from the field and 54% from three-point range. So far this season, Russell has averaged 171 point, 27 rebounds and 61 assist, 48% from the field, 43% from three-point range, and 2 from the field per game6 three-pointers.
Now Russell has become the Lakers' nominal third big man, and he has made a huge impact on the team. And he's not yet 28 years old and he's in the age of a defender. Judging from the Lakers' past trading operations, except for necessary operations such as getting thick eyebrows, other transactions will not necessarily have good results. So the question now is, will Murray be able to perform better than Russell? The Lakers paid a considerable price for this, including a '29 first-round pick and a first-round pick exchange.
In addition, the Lakers' current roster is still good. Previously, they defeated the strong Clippers at full strength and also beat the Thunder. The Lakers' biggest problem at the moment is that they can't maintain a high level of form both offensively and defensively. James' age has made the Lakers' form erratic. But if it's a series of games, the Lakers could be a dark horse. If the Lakers can make the playoffs and finish seventh or eighth, the top two teams in the West could have a headache. Because if the Lakers stay in good shape, they could be a headache for a team.
All in all, the Lakers now face a tough decision. Whether they should trade or not requires a careful weighing of the pros and cons. The existing roster is already capable of competing, and the Lakers' past trade experience hasn't always been successful. Russell has proven his worth, so whether to trade or not needs to be considered. The Lakers are aiming for the playoffs and could be a surprising powerhouse.