52.6 million in one year! Dilemma, the team used as a shield! James, you should leave on your own initiative

With Durant joining the Rockets, the league's free market gradually entered the "ice age" after nearly 4 days of lively scenes. Although there are two "bigs" in the market, Bill and Lillard, their status has dropped sharply and the other has been injured, which has little impact on the league structure. For most teams, the team's lineup is basically set, and they are also preparing for the upcoming summer league! For Western Conference teams, the biggest winners in the offseason are the Rockets. They have obtained Capela, Durant, and Fanny Smith, and are strong; the Nuggets' reinforcements are also targeted. Huang Zhong, Cameron Johnson, Hardaway Jr. and Brown join, providing strong ready-to-fight power. Although Valan wants to return to Europe to play, the Nuggets plan to force their players, and one of them is lobbying Valan to stay in the NBA. In addition to the strong strength of these two teams, the Mavericks are also expected to become the dark horse team of the new season. The joining of No. 1 pick Flag not only brings the team an instant combat power supplement, but also brings new expectations to the Dallasians. In addition, they save money by Irving's salary cut, sign Russell at a bargain price, and the combat power in the new season is also very strong. Russell + Dark Eyebrow + Flag + Thompson basically has good ability to maintain the lower limit. When Irving returns, the Mavericks can take off. They all have the strength to defeat the Thunder!

However, there is a team in the West that was highly expected, but they became one of the most failed teams in the offseason operation. After the trading market opened, the Lakers signed Laravia with a two-year, 12 million contract, and then gave Hayes a contract renewal. The most eye-catching signing was the signing of the former No. 1 pick Ayton in two years, 16.6 million US dollars. When Los Angeles media revealed that the Lakers used the remaining part of the full middle class exception to sign the center who was once highly expected, Lakers fans did not feel any joy. As the inside pillar of the Suns' finals in the past, Ayton was questioned by the outside world during Portland's period after being traded! According to the team insiders, Ayton had many bad habits during his time in Portland, and was late many times, missed the team's training and even went away flights. He was also a bomb in the locker room. This is why the Trail Blazers would rather lose $25 million in vain to break up with him!

The Lakers management cheered that "there is finally a center", and it could not hide a cruel perception: Ayton's signing was not the clarion call for the Lakers to reach the peak, but rather it was more like a helpless compromise by the management in the resource dilemma and a clear announcement of the end of the James era. After watching Capela, Lopez, Connet and other favorite centers fell one after another after another after the free market opened, Ayton became the last choice for the Lakers to strengthen the inside. Ayton is now coming to Angel City with a question mark on his body. His stable 15+10 data output, affordable mid-range projection and high-quality pick-and-roll are skills that the Lakers need urgently. However, its fatal weakness is equally distinct: the style of the game is soft and often retreats when it really needs tough confrontation; the glass attribute of only 95 games played in the past two seasons; the most worrying thing is the professional attitude problem repeatedly reported by the Portland media. Relying on such an Ayton to carry the Lakers' inside banner in the new season to beat top Western Conference centers such as Jokic, Gobert, and even Zubac? This is nothing different from a fool. At most, he can only be regarded as a starting center who barely passes the qualification, and he will lose the bucket for improving the Lakers' overall strength.

Eaton's arrival reflects the Lakers' shortage of subsequent operation space, and the team's future path to strengthening has been locked. Previously, the Lakers management's "stupid move" in pursuing Finney Smith - deliberately exaggerating his injury to lower the price, which eventually led to the latter's angrily turning to the Rockets - has wasted a valuable opportunity to strengthen the front line. Now, even if the Lakers can successfully sign veteran Horford with a two-year special case worth about 5 million, the depth and quality of the team's lineup are far from reaching the championship level. What's even more suffocating is the salary space: James implements the $52.6 million player option, and with role players such as Hachimura (18.26 million), Reeves (13.94 million), Vanderbilt (11.57 million), Kleber (11 million), the Lakers have contracts with a total salary of up to $190 million, far exceeding the luxury tax line of 188 million! If Horford is signed, the Lakers will completely lose the reinforcement method other than the exception of the middle class and can only rely on Taobao for basic salary.

Perhaps, the Lakers management has never intended to do their best to compete for the championship in the upcoming new season. Whether you get Ayton or pursue Horford in the future, your goal is to maintain a relatively "normal" lineup system that is not too distorted. James and Doncic have received nearly $100 million in salary together, but the team has accumulated tens of millions of contracts with different premiums such as Vanderbilt, Cleber, and Vincent. Reeves' contract is of course worth a lot, and Hachimura's contract is reasonable, but it cannot cover up the imbalance of the overall salary structure and the lack of frontline depth. Watching Cameron Johnson be snatched away by the Nuggets, the Lakers management seemed passive and lacked courage in the trading market. All operations reveal a message: minor repairs and minor repairs, just go through. Such a lineup configuration is a fantasy to compete for the championship when facing the Nuggets, Timberwolves, Thunder, Mavericks, and Suns in the Wild West.

So, what is the root cause of the strategic contraction of the Lakers' management? The revelations between the two James' "monique" reporters Windhorst and McMenaming came to the forefront. Windhorst pointed out: "The Lakers basically regard James' execution player option as an expiration contract, with the goal of opening a window for the team's future. "McMenaming revealed that four teams including the Knicks, Cavaliers, Heat, and Warriors have heard the news to test the situation of trading James, but these teams cannot match James' contract. For example, if the Warriors want to give up Butler, the Cavaliers need to give up Garland + Hunter, and the Knicks need to send Bridges and Hart away, but once these teams send away these chips, they basically lose the possibility of competing for the championship!

These information are intertwined, pointing to a cruel conclusion: James is as high as 526 The huge contract of $00,000 has become a "perfect excuse" and "shield" for the team to not be able to make substantial reinforcements in the present. The Lakers' management's mentality is obvious: Since LeBron chose to execute this sky-high contract, locking up the current reinforcement space, then we are willing to wait until the contract expires next summer before undergoing drastic reconstruction or signings. Signing Ayton and pursuing Horford are just a stopgap measure to deal with Doncic and fans, and it is a basic operation to maintain the team's "decent" and is essentially unable to be fulfilled. The core demand of the pair of James and Doncic continue to strive for the championship.

James agent Ritchie Paul's previous statement about "to see if the Lakers have the willingness to win the championship before deciding James' future direction." Now, the Lakers' management has given a clear answer through Ayton's signing and the operation of the entire free market: we have no intention (or are powerless) to bet on the championship in the last year of LeBron's contract. The Lakers' attitude has been After the showdown, the wheels of history are rolling silently. James once brought long-lost glory to the city, but when the management quietly regards his contract as a burden rather than a cornerstone of the championship, the lights of the stage are quietly shifting. James' future is basically determined, that is, retire as a Lakers player next summer, or after this big contract is over, sign a veteran contract and complete the retirement tour! It is also possible that James will start his retirement tour ahead of schedule in the new season! The Lakers will also completely rebuild around Doncic!