Averaging 23 points per game, LaVine is difficult to trade! With a maximum salary of 96 million in 2 years, this may be the last big contract.

A month into the new regular season, the Western Conference has already shown an extremely polarized pattern. The top-ranked teams, Thunder + Nuggets + Rockets, the three most popular championship candidates, have a net efficiency rating that ranks among the top three in the league. It is indeed difficult for them to make mistakes on their own initiative. After the return of James, the Lakers team did not experience much ups and downs. James was willing to give up the ball and took on the important task of connecting the team in the connection period. The next step is how to allocate the combination sequence of the Big Three to ensure that they are not targeted by the opponent's offensive end. As for the teams in the bottom half, there are many giants from the past few seasons, such as the Mavericks. Previously, because of the thick eyebrows insisting on playing the fourth position, the lineup was messed up; after the thick eyebrows got injured, the boss did not want him to come back.

Since we are all losing, why not give the top pick Flagg a reasonable position and ample room for growth? Needless to say, the Clippers only have Harden struggling to hold on. The Grizzlies are in internal strife. Team boss Morant is out of shape and injured, and Jaren Jr. can't shoulder the burden. But there is one team that is more interesting, the Kings. They have lost 11 of their first 14 games since the start of the season. The entire Western Conference is only better than the Pelicans. To put it bluntly but realistically, this is all Westbrook's hard support, which has raised the King's lower limit a lot. A week ago, famous reporter Sidley revealed that the Kings are preparing for a comprehensive reconstruction, which includes trying to trade several of their top players this season. For example, Sabonis, DeRozan and LaVine, the Kings are evaluating the trade value.

Naturally, we have to start with Westbrook. Westbrook has a one-year unguaranteed base salary of 3.6 million this season, but he has been promoted from substitute to starter, completely conquering Kings coach Christie. For example, against the Nuggets, Westbrook scored 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists; followed by the Warriors, he scored 23 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, leading the team to win; against the Thunder, Westbrook also scored 24 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists. Since it was revealed that the team is preparing for a comprehensive reconstruction, several core players have long been disinclined to play, and every game has been in ruins. Recently, they have lost six games in a row. Coach Christie lamented: "Our competitive level is shamefully low, that's it. If you don't want to play, don't wear the jersey. I feel embarrassed for the team."

The problem naturally lies with the Big Three. Sabonis is actually the most deserving of forgiveness. He has wanted to leave for a long time, but the King does not want to let him go easily. He is also the biggest bargaining chip for the King's reconstruction. After all, DeRozan's age is here. Although he averaged 19 points per game this season, it would be thankful to be able to exchange for a few second-round picks. After all, he still has a two-year, $50 million contract. The key is LaVine. This season LaVine averaged 22.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, with a two-field shooting percentage of 51% + 42%. In terms of efficiency, LaVine's performance is indeed very good, but the advanced data is shocking! When LaVine is on the court this season, the Kings lose to their opponents by a net of 18.6 points per 100 possessions; when he is not on the court, the team only loses to their opponents by 1.6 points per 100 possessions, with an On-Off value of -17.2! He brought down the whole team directly.

Any 5-man group to 2-man group in which LaVine plays in the Kings, the premise is that as long as LaVine is on the court, the team will lose points (the effective time of the five-man group is at least 15 minutes, and there are no restrictions on other combinations). I specifically checked and found that among the 30 players who averaged more than 22 points per game this season, LaVine's win contribution value and net efficiency value were at the bottom. His defense did not chase the opponent at all, and he rarely made any symbolic gestures. The offensive end basically doesn't pass the ball when it gets it, which is a typical data brush. When outsiders criticized and questioned him, LaVine responded: I have tried my best on the defensive end, but defense requires teamwork and is a matter of five people. LaVine is indeed right, he tried his best, and defense is not a one-person affair, but he just has no defense at all.

Initially, Sidley analyzed that if other teams wanted to get LaVine, they would probably be able to do so with extremely cheap chips. In order to send away LaVine, the Bulls spent more than a year and finally found a successor in the Kings. The Kings sent Fox to the Spurs and received three first-round picks as compensation. However, these three first-round picks, including those from the Spurs in 27 and the Timberwolves in 2031, were basically at the end of the first round. The key is LaVine's current market situation. If you want to send him away, you may have to sign a first-round pick! The famous reporter Amick recently revealed that on the Kings' trade shelf, a Sabonis trade is most likely to be realized, and many teams are interested in him. But LaVine has not attracted the attention of any team and is in a state of neglect.

Regarding the king, there are nothing more than two endings. Either break your teeth and swallow it, and let LaVine finish the maximum salary contract of 96 million in these two seasons (47.5 million this season, 48.97 million next season with player options); or make the offer more ruthless, making the next employer unable to refuse, out of sight, out of mind. As for LaVine, there are actually two endings. The contract for these two seasons, including a total career salary of more than 260 million, can ensure that he has no worries about food and clothing. But after this contract is executed, based on his performance in the Bulls and Kings, no team in the league will need him anymore. Even if it is a basic salary, there is no guarantee for him, and he is not required to have the right to the ball. To be realistic, LaVine is not far away from retirement.