Annual salary of 48.73 million, I m seriously injured and bid farewell to this season! It s not a ruthless team, you should cut your salary and give it to the virtuous

The first round of the playoffs is approaching the end of the stage, and the top four of the Eastern Conference advance to the semi-finals. The Western Thunder and Timberwolves advanced first, and the Clippers, Nuggets, Rockets and Warriors were all dragged into the tiebreak battle. Somewhat similar to last season's playoffs is that many league super giants and even legendary superstars were eliminated early. The Big Three of the Suns are not even qualified for the playoffs. For example, Antetokounmpo is likely to leave the Bucks this summer. Even if he is unwilling to leave, the Bucks will only have one way to trade Antetokounmpo! There are also James and Doncic, as the third seeds in the regular season Western Conference, and were beaten 1-4 by the No. 6 seed Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, and the gentleman swept the ball. This result is unexpected and reasonable, because the Lakers have no championship configuration at all.

starts with three messages. First of all, after the Lakers were eliminated, when James was asked about the team's lack of center, he said that my brother (Danime) had just expressed his needs and was sent away in just one week. Later, in an interview with columnist McMenaming, James talked about the prospects for Doncic's contract renewal and emphasized two points: I am 40 years old. The deal about Doncic is for the future of the Lakers, not for me. He can't build his career on me. I hope he stays for a long time, but he has to make a decision for himself because I can't stay for long. After the interview, McMenaming confirmed that James suffered a second-degree sprain in the medial collateral ligament of his left knee in the first round G5 (exit game). Even if the Lakers are not out, he will need 3-5 weeks of rest!

In the words of team reporter Buha, James' injury this time was quite serious for his entire career. Although the surgery is not required, the player suffered such injuries and was absent on average for about 7 weeks! James averaged 25.4 points, 9 rebounds, 5.6 assists per game this season, and played 40.6 minutes per game. This is indeed a great test for James, who is already 40 years old. But a very realistic data: when James is on the court, the Lakers lose 11.1 points in 100 rounds (the team's offensive efficiency is 110.7, and the defensive efficiency is 121.8); when James is not on the court, the Lakers win 10.9 points in 10 rounds (the offensive efficiency is 108.2, and the defensive efficiency is 97.3). James' On-Off value this season's playoffs is embarrassing -22.0! Have you seen the problem?

data will not lie. As James said, trading Doncic is for the future of the team, but one thing is worth pondering: Why did the Lakers stop the transaction about Marvel, and then cut Redish without Kneckett? In McMenaming's words, Marvel is Doncic's inside partner, but the Lakers suddenly regretted it when the deal was about to be concluded on the grounds of being healthy! Many media and fans blame Doncic for his poor defense in the game. However, in the absence of wing helpers + inside pick-and-roll partners, Doncic averaged 30.2 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists in the playoffs, and the On-Off value is +10.7. When Doncic is not on the court, the Lakers' offensive efficiency is as low as 91.5. James is indeed unable to lead the lineup!

The Lakers will not easily use the first round pick for Ma Wei! The Lakers' management cannot be blamed for being ruthless. Famous reporter Amik wrote an op-ed article after the Lakers were eliminated, revealing the key news: Last year's offseason, James signed a two-year, 101.3 million contract, and James was equivalent to getting 3 million less. James expressed his willingness to cut his salary through his agent Ricci Paul, but in the end, the Lakers' pursuit of Clay, Harden, Valan and DeRozan all failed, so James only reduced his salary by 3 million, and this 3 million includes the 4-year, 8 million part of the guarantee contract given to Brownie by the Lakers! In the Doncic system, the Lakers lack Derek Jones, Washington, Gafford and Lefly, but what are the Lakers changing? Does the Lakers still have room for salary after changing?

No! To take a step back, even if the Lakers are willing to touch Reeves this summer to seek a qualified inside blue-collar collar + forward 3D above average, the Lakers' salary space will continue to be extended. Lakers boss Jenny Buss is not as rich as Ballmer and Ragb, and the Lakers' management has always been careful in budgeting. The most fundamental reason is that James is still holding a $48.73 million contract, with the option to take players next season, worth $52.63 million. It is impossible to count on role players such as Hachimura, Cleber, Vincent, and Vanderbilt to compete for the ideal Doncic partners like Johnson, Clarkston, and Collins. The Lakers' Big Three, James is old, Reeves cannot hold on to the pole in the playoffs, and Doncic has not been able to achieve the greatest value.

column reporter Reed bluntly said that if James still wants to compete for the championship, he only has the only way to consider a salary cut, otherwise the Lakers would not even have room for movement. Since the Lakers won the championship in the Bubble Park, the management has always been unwilling to allocate the No. 5 position, including sending away Davis for Doncic. To put it bluntly, the team gradually lost trust in James. Of course, Doncic can choose to stay, after all, he can be the Lakers' faces for the next 10 years. For James, cutting salary and giving up the virtuous is a path he must go through at the end of his career. It is impossible to expect the Lakers to satisfy him with a maximum salary while also fully satisfying Doncic. The Lakers do not have the financial resources. The most important thing is that high-level data proves that Zhan is really old and gradually becomes a drag.