It is revealed that the Lakers are expected to pursue Nets center Clarkston again this summer!

According to reporter Ricardo K Sandoval, the Los Angeles Lakers are expected to restart trading negotiations for Brooklyn Nets center Nicholas Clarkston in the offseason. The 26-year-old defensive insider, averaged 26.8 minutes per game this season, scoring 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 blocks, with a shooting percentage of up to 56.3%, becoming one of the most watched blue-collar centers in the trading market.

The Lakers' attention to Clarkston is not surprising at all. During the regular season, the team asked the Nets for a price, but the deal was stranded due to the excessive demand from the other party. After losing to the Timberwolves 1-4 in the first round of the playoffs, the shortcomings of the inside were fully exposed. When facing double Tarandel and Gobert, the Lakers lost rebounds and their score in the penalty area was beaten by their opponents, which prompted the management to speed up their strengthening plan.

If you really want to get this center, you have to have enough sincerity. The Lakers may send guard Austin Reeves (averages 20.2 points and 5.8 assists per game this season) as the core chip, and pair it with a second round pick or cash. After all, from the playoffs this season, if the Lakers use Reeves Jr. and Doncic as the starter, the defense on the outside of the backcourt is too easy to be beaten; there are already point guards like Vincent in the lineup, Reeves Jr. can send them away for more favorable chips; with his high-quality contract, the Nets management will not be moved.

The Nets are currently in a period of reconstruction and are open to young assets; at present, the two sides have not yet started a substantial dialogue. Reeves' contract has two more seasons left, with an annual salary of $13.94 million next season, and the Nets are expected to clarify the direction of reconstruction after the draft.

If the deal is reached, Clarkston will fill the Lakers' weakest five position, and its pick-and-roll ability is highly anticipated to be compatible with James and Doncic. In my opinion, the Lakers' operation is "the right medicine". Clarkston's frame protection and defense switching ability can really resolve the urgent problem of "wind in the penalty area". After all, letting the 40-year-old James go to the No. 5 position, that scene is really unbearable to look at.

Nets clearly want to push down and rebuild. Blue-collar centers like Clarkston who can defend the market are the scarce hard currency in the trading market. The Lakers' plan to throw Reevesga's draft pick at this time is quite a bit "taking advantage of the situation" - it is important to know that Reeves Jr.'s three-point shooting percentage in the playoffs fell to 31.9%, and it still needs to be a question mark whether the Nets are willing to take over.

However, the most funny thing is the Lakers management. When Caruso, who was "handsome and capable of playing", the team never had a top leader on the outside. In my opinion, whether this deal can succeed depends on Clarkston's attitude. If he insists on pursuing the championship, joining the Lakers can fully meet his needs. With the instigation of Doncic and James' ball holding, his offensive data will inevitably surge.

are also blue-collar centers, look at Capela in the past and Zubac this season, and follow the ball-holding core Harden has to eat and drink. If Clarkston could play with Doncic and James, he would probably grow rapidly; with the huge commercial market in Los Angeles, his personal value would also rise.

I don’t know if the Lakers management is willing to let Reeves go, but “I can’t bear to let the child take the wolf”, so there is not much time left for James to win the championship.