Team notes analyze the Lakers' realistic reinforcement plan: mid-level signing Capela packs limited chips to make small and medium-sized trades

On May 16, Beijing time, Lakers reporter Buha wrote an article analyzing the Lakers' trade dilemma and put forward what he believes is a realistic reinforcement plan. How should the Lakers, who have limited chips, improve their combat effectiveness in order to get closer to the championship trophy?

For the Lakers, trading Doncic has always been a "future-proof" decision — a transition of power from the James era to a new era.

The Lakers are the absolute favourites to kick off the first-round series against the Timberwolves – especially when they avoided the Thunder in the playoff half of the tournament with 68 wins, and the prospects for advancement look bright. However, in 12 days, everything was in tatters: the Lakers were eliminated by the Timberwolves in five games, averaging a net minus 11 points per game.The fiasco is a sobering reminder of the fact that the team's structure isn't maximizing Doncic's talent.It's also a testament to why mid-season blockbuster trades rarely lead straight to a championship, and why it's hard for a rookie coach to go far in his first playoff game.

"These kinds of adjustments take time, especially when it comes to star players," Lakers coach Redick said at the season wrap-up two weeks ago, "and looking back at the last three or four decades of NBA history, there have been very few cases of All-Star players being traded and directly won championships during the season...... Repeating the run-in is crucial, but frankly, we didn't have time to run in enough, and that's the limitation of mid-season trades. ”

The Lakers' strong part of the second half belies the fatal flaw: they don't have a real starter-level center, and they can't even find a reliable interior other than Hayes; The appearance of a strong defensive team disguised by strategy since January has actually exposed the problem that it is difficult for outside defenders to limit the breakthrough with the ball; Athleticism is at a disadvantage against most teams, which is reflected in rebounding fluctuations, inconsistent ball control, and lack of off-the-bench offense.

In his concluding remarks, Pelinka, the Lakers' president and general manager of basketball operations, acknowledged these shortcomings to varying degrees, and made it clear that the team will be built around Doncic this summer, focusing on strengthening the center position — the last time they tried to upgrade the interior, they had to withdraw their trade with the Hornets for Mark Williams because they missed the trade deadline.

"We didn't have time to adjust after trading Doncic," Pelinka said, "but now we have a chance. The beauty of the NBA is that there are always unexpected opportunities, and it's my job to seize them and make sure we have the size to compete for a championship next season. ”

The Lakers need to add size, defense, shooting and athleticism to Doncic — easier said than done。 Especially with James almost impossible to accept a pay cut, their room is extremely limited: a $5.7 million mid-range exception and a handful of trade assets (a first-round pick, several expiring contracts, and Knecht).

It's worth noting that Doncic will be eligible for a contract extension on August 2 — a month after the free agency market has been open, and he'll have a clearer picture of the Lakers' roster sincerity.If the Lakers fail to show competitiveness this summer, contract extension talks could reach an impasse.

In Laker Nation, patience is a scarce commodity—every season is a "championship or failure." But unless there's an all-or-nothing deal with Reaves and/or Hachimura at the core, there's a good chance that next season's roster framework will be similar to this season's.Management's realistic options include a key signing with a mid-level exception (such as Capela), one or two mid-to-small deals with expiring contracts (Vincent, Kleber are most likely to be traded), Kneckt, and a 2031/2032 first-round pick (either).

However, it's nearly impossible to tackle multiple issues such as interior, defense, and athleticism at the same time — and that's the price you have to pay for betting on a team core on the verge of reaching its prime: the 26-year-old Doncic is desperate for a first championship, James is running out of time in his prime, Reaves has only one year left on his contract for child labor, and Redick has shown his tactical brilliance in the regular season but has exposed his experience shortcomings in the playoffs.

But from another point of view, many teams will envy the Lakers' "happiness troubles": Few players (perhaps only 1-2) have a brighter future than Doncic in the next 5-7 years; Redick's regular-season coaching ability has been proven, and the playoff setbacks have only accumulated valuable experience.

The dual reality of the Lakers is that they are far from being as competitive as expected and must optimize their roster around Doncic; But thanks to a solid core and turbulent landscape, next season will still be their window of opportunity.