The gap is obvious! The Rockets and Clippers are winning the center in a row, and the Lakers are a little stunned. Where will James go?

As soon as the door to the NBA free agent market opened, it was a lively scene. Among them, a series of operations by the Rockets and the Clippers attracted a lot of attention, but in comparison, the Lakers' performance was a bit disappointing. After the Rockets got Durant's trade, they have already targeted the championship. They first reached a four-year, $53 million contract with Lakers former player Finney Smith. Finney Smith, nicknamed "Electric Fan", is a top 3D player in the league, and his three-point shooting percentage has been stable at 38% in the past six seasons. Last season, he averaged 8.7 points per game and had a three-point shooting percentage of 41%. His real value is reflected in the defensive end. His arrival has enhanced the strength of the Rockets' wing and filled the vacancy after Dillon left.

At the same time, the Rockets also signed old player Capela back with a three-year, $21.5 million contract. Capela's current state is no longer as good as when he was with Harden, but as a substitute center last season, his average of 8.9 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1 block can still meet the team's needs, at least as a rotation insider.

Now, the Rockets have Shinkyung, Adams and Capela in the center position, and Durant, Jabbarry Smith, Ethan and Amen Thompson on the forward line. The reserves and talents of the forward line are top in the league, and the depth and thickness of the lineup have been greatly improved. They have undoubtedly become a strong contender for the championship in the new season.

The Clippers are also not to be outdone. After successfully renewing Harden and Batum, they signed champion center Lopez with a two-year, $18 million contract. Lopez played 80 games for the Bucks last season, averaging 13 points, 5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 1.9 blocks per game, with shooting percentages of 50.9%, 37.3%, and 82.6% respectively in the three events. His joining significantly increases the height and thickness of the Clippers' inside line. His excellent shooting ability can also perfectly complement Zubac and is also very suitable for partnering with Harden.

In contrast, the Lakers seem a bit slow and incompetent in signings. Their first signing this summer was to sign 2.03-meter marksman Laravia, with a contract of 2 years and 12 million US dollars. Although Laravia has potential, it seems a bit thin and not correct compared to the heavy signings of the Rockets and Clippers. This signing was also deeply complained by fans and netizens.

More importantly, in the weak center position, with the Rockets signing Capela and the Clippers signing Lopez, there are few high-quality centers left on the market for the Lakers to choose. Ironically, these two people were both Lakers' targets before. At present, Ayton is the only one of the best centers in the free market, but whether the Lakers can successfully sign him is still full of variables. Moreover, Ayton is famous for his defensive cleanliness. Whether it is really suitable for the Lakers is also a big question mark.

It is worth mentioning that 40-year-old James has announced the implementation of the final year's player option, but according to his agent, he has no plans to retire and still wants to continue to compete for the championship. However, with the Lakers' current configuration and the current indecisive and inappropriate signing practices, it is probably difficult to create a championship lineup. If there is no heavyweight signing operation this summer, it is really hard to guarantee that James will not have the intention to leave.

Once James decides to leave the team, the New York Knicks and his old club Cavaliers are his potential next home.