One center is not enough! Pelinka attacks wildly, equips Doncic with the inside puzzle

On May 29, undercurrents surged during the NBA offseason. According to Lakers' team reporter Anthony Irwin, as the 2024-25 season approaches, the transaction negotiations between teams in the league have entered a white-hot stage. One of the busiest figures is Lakers’ basketball operations president Robert Pelinka. Since the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, strengthening the inside has become the most eye-catching task list on his desk.

"A center? Not enough!"

The lessons learned this season are vivid. When the plan to trade Mark Williams from the Hornets failed due to physical examination problems, the Lakers had to bite the bullet and let Jaxon Hayes take on the task of No. 5 in the playoffs. result? The inside was cut through by the opponent and the season ended in a hurry.

This incident was like a thorn in Pelinka's heart. At the season summary meeting, when reporters asked why they didn't turn to Koloko or Jamison, Pelinka turned black on the spot. Anyone with a discerning eye understands: coach Redick has too few cards in his hand, and Colin Casti on the bench can't count on it at all. The Lakers made the wrong move.

Pelinka is crazy: the phone call is hot

"Pelinka is crazy!" A league source at the Chicago draft joint trial site said bluntly. Less than a month before the draft, Pelinka's mobile phone has almost become a hotline. He is negotiating intensively with several teams, and even repeatedly putting out the trading framework that pursued Mark Williams to test it, just to find out the market trump card before the official trading window opens.

But sellers are not easy to fool. An Eastern Conference executive pointed out the key: "Whoever has a big man who can play normally now needs to start with a rookie Knector with a first-round pick. If the player is stronger, the price must be increased!"

Two-pronged approach: both "Big Eater Man" and "Space Tower"

The Lakers' signing ideas are gradually clear:

The primary goal: find "Big Eater" inside players who can complete aerial operations around Doncic, James and Reeves (such as Clarkston of the Nets and Gafford of the Mavericks).

Tactical adaptation: At the same time, the new coach Redick desires a "high-end turret" center who can shoot three-pointers and open up space to serve his preferred "five foreign" offensive system. However, Redick also expressed his opinion to the management that he was willing to flexibly adjust his tactics based on the final lineup.

Combination Strategy: Pelinka plans to fight on both the free market and trading lines. Ideal for this is: if the transaction is exchanged for a "empty expert", use a limited middle-class special case or basic salary to sign the space-type or defensive insider; on the contrary, if the space-type insider is signed first, then the full trade will be made to fill the sports-type box guard.

The Lakers' script this summer is destined to revolve around Pelinka's running around at the negotiating table. He knows better than anyone else: Hayes alone can't fill the hole in the inside last season. If you want to keep Doncic's heart and want to win another championship in James's final peak period, you have to show real money and trading courage. The phone call is hot? This is just the beginning. The real test, in the trading market that is about to open - can the draft picks and young chips in Pelinka get back to the inside answer that makes Staples Center boil again? The whole league is waiting to see how this "crazy" president presses the termination button for the inside dilemma of the Purple Gold Legion.