The Los Angeles Lakers have won only a pair of playoff series in the last four seasons, and it is evident that the team management needs to take some action in order to make things happen. The Lakers playoff prospects are not high, and things are not any better on the other side of the country with the Brooklyn Nets.
The Lakers’ Defensive Struggles
This time last season, the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Cup and now are sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference with a 13-12 record. The Lakers do not stand well in the basketball predictions today, as they have lost 7 of the last 10 games, and LeBron James has missed the last two contests with left foot soreness.
There are multiple reasons for the Lakers’ recent poor performance, and the main one is the team’s defense. They allow 115.8 points per game and 113.7 on 100 possessions, which ranks them 21st in the league. Looking deeper into the stats, things look even worse. The Lakers are 25th in the league, allowing 48.5% shooting from the field, and are one spot lower, allowing 37.2% conversion from three-point territory. Furthermore, the team is in the bottom eight in the league in total allowed field goals and free throws.
First-year head coach JJ Redick is having a tough time getting the best out of his roster on the defensive end. Their over-reliance on James and Anthony Davis, who both play at least 35 minutes per game, hurts the team long-term.
Given the individual stats, Rui Hachimura is the Lakers’ best defender with 0.08 defensive win shares. D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves are next on the list as the only two remaining players above 0.06. Anthony Davis, who is 7th in the league, averaging 11.2 rebounds per game, is fourth, and LeBron James sits 10th in this category.
On the other end of the floor, the Lakers are 10th in field goal percentage (47.4) but only 18th, averaging 112.1 points per game, which is 3.7 less than they score. It is way too early to talk about coaching change, but the Lakers will definitely need to be active before the trade deadline and bring in some players that will make a difference on the defensive end.
LeBron James’ Future
LeBron James future with the Lakers is uncertain, and his name is trending in the NBA trade rumors. James, who is about to turn 40 on Dec. 30, joined the Lakers in 2018 and led the team to a championship two years later. This off-season, he signed a two-year, $101.35 million deal that includes a no-trade clause, so he would need to agree on a proposed trade.
At this point in his career, James only cares about winning, and adding another championship to his resume is his main focus. He fulfilled his dream of playing with his son Bronny, and whatever team would like to bring in the four-time league MVP will most likely need to make a roster spot for Bronny as well.
Given the current struggles, it is likely that the Lakers will not be able to add some pieces that will make the Lakers a championship contender, so seeing him go is the most likely scenario. There are only a handful of teams that can be suitable for him, like the Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks, or Phoenix Suns. James is still in excellent shape, recording a triple-double in four consecutive games earlier in the season, but it is a fact that he is considering retirement.
Wherever he decides to go, that will probably be his final destination in the league, and that will undoubtedly have a broad impact on the league. When it comes to the Lakers fans, they seem ready to put the LeBron era in the past and excited about welcoming another superstar with plenty of years left in the tank.
The Brooklyn Nets and Trade Rumors
Not that long ago, the Brooklyn Nets were among the top contenders in the NBA. After the big-three left the borough, the Nets are in a rebuilding mode. They came into the season as the eighth youngest roster in the league and their current record of 10 wins and 15 losses is way better than anyone could have expected.
Anyways, the team lacks identity and leadership, so filling in these roles is a high priority with the Brooklyn Nets trades targets. Ben Simmons draws a lot of interest in the league even though his heavy contract may be a problem. Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith have high trade value, and these two will probably be traded for young talent and future draft picks.
Unlike the Lakers, the Nets have the time to go into a full rebuilding mode. They are a big market that is desirable for superstars in their prime, so there is no doubt that some big names will join the team soon. An aging superstar like James is not an option for Brooklyn since he would not solve their issues long-term, and the Nets cannot offer him the roster that he wants.
