Center battle! Lakers want to dig for the Rockets, Aquaman Adams becomes the focus of the free market

On June 5, according to authoritative media The Athletic, experienced powerful center Steven Adams will become a full free agent this summer. As the free market gate is about to open, this inside player nicknamed "Aquaman" has become a hot spot in the eyes of many playoff-level teams, among which the Los Angeles Lakers regard him as a "natural target candidate."

In fact, before the trading deadline in February this year, the Lakers management took the initiative to attack and called the Houston Rockets to inquire about Adams. The reason is simple: the value Adams showed after joining the Rockets is coveted. Data shows that in the last 30 games played for the Rockets, Adams' personal net efficiency value reached +11.3, ranking first in the team! He can grab 7.7 frontcourt rebounds every 36 minutes, and the league's top cover quality perfectly meets the Lakers' urgent need to improve the thickness of the inside and the ability to respond. Unfortunately, the Rockets were firm at the time and directly rejected the Lakers' trading request.

The situation is different now, and Adams holds the right to choose. But the Rockets obviously don't want to let go of this inside pillar easily. According to the latest long article by Rockets reporter Kelly Ico, Rockets management has listed "renewal of Steven Adams" as one of the top priorities this summer. This undoubtedly built a high wall for the Lakers' plan to chase Adams.

Adams' two-year contract worth $25.2 million has expired. Now, he has completely control over his future, and the bidding war between the Lakers and the Rockets seems inevitable. News shows that the Rockets are open to Adams' slight salary increase. Data media predict that the Rockets' acceptable annual salary for renewal is about $18.9 million. This number will become a threshold that the Lakers must seriously consider when poaching.

Faced with the critical task of strengthening the inside, Lakers media JSM also sorted out four potential goals for the team: Nets' Nick Clarkston, Steven Adams, Pacers' Miles Turner and Mavericks' Daniel Gafford. Among these four, Adams and Turner will become free agents this summer, and the Lakers can directly chase. Pursuing Clarkston and Gafford requires complicated transaction negotiations, which is significantly more difficult.

The free market is undercurrent, and the Lakers are determined to strengthen the inside, but the Rockets have regarded renewing Adams as a top priority. Which team of robes will this rebounding beast and the top cover wall eventually wear? This battle for "Aquaman" will usher in a critical round after the free market begins.