The Hornets throw their powerful bait again, will the Lakers still dare to bite the hook? A big bet about the first round of the future!

I just saw this message from Evan Sidery, to be honest, it is not surprising at all. The Charlotte Hornets’ hand has been played until now, and anyone with a discerning eye can understand it - during the period of asset accumulation, cashing out at high prices is the king! The "lottery" that Ma Wei, which was once almost cashed, was valued by a strange physical examination storm.

Now, the Hornets are proactive in revealing news: As long as the price is right (specifically referring to the Lakers' quotation in February), Ma Wei can still negotiate.

But the problem is here! The Lakers, especially the Lakers management who had been scared out of cold sweat by the physical examination report, really dared to take out two valuable first-round picks (one unprotected + one swap) plus potential stocks for the same "physical examination bomb"?

time goes back to the trading deadline in February this year. Lao Humi understood the Lakers' inside dilemma at that time - Dawn's eyebrows flew to Dallas, Hayes' upper limit can be seen with naked eyes, Wood's attack and defense are weak and injured. So, Pelinka waved her hand and reached an agreement with the Hornets: to send out the rights to swap Knector, Reddish, the first round of unprotected in 2031 and the first round of 2030, in exchange for the power of the young center who was highly expected at the time. As soon as the news came out, Lakers fans cheered. The average double-double average (15.3 points and 10.2 rebounds) averages, explosive athletic ability, a cake-eating artifact, perfectly adapted to Doncic, and it is a good deal no matter how you look at it.

If nothing unexpected happens, the accident still happens. The Lakers team doctor shows up the red light and the transaction fails directly. The official statement is that "the physical examination has not been passed", but the details are very secretive. The news circulating in the league is that the problem is far more than known back injuries, and there are many hidden dangers. The Lakers Medical Team's attitude was extremely tough, and the management quickly stepped on the brakes. This reaction is very similar to the sequelae of being afraid of being a "small injury" of Kendrick Nunn in 2021 - once you are bitten by a snake, you are afraid of a well rope for ten years. The Hornets of course complained about their injustice, claiming that they provided complete medical records, and even complained to the league that the Lakers' operations damaged the value of players. But the NBA officials finally defaulted to the legality of the cancellation of the transaction (the approval rate is said to be close to 100%), which itself conveys a certain signal - the Lakers' concerns are likely to be tenable.

So back to the previous question, facing the Hornets' plan to restart trading, will the Lakers pay for their health? At the original price (Knector + Reddish + 2031 unprotected first round + 2030 swap)? The possibility is slim.

Hornets' abacus was very good, but the Lakers were no longer the Lakers who were in a hurry to seek medical treatment in February (although the inside still needs strengthening). Pelinka and his team know each other that a future first round that may be worth a lot of money, betting on a player with a history of serious injuries and his team doctor has clearly warned him that the risk-return ratio is too imbalanced! Although the Hornets are struggling to rescue asset value, the Lakers will most likely choose to hold the first round pick in their pockets tightly and find more "safe" reinforcement goals (such as cost-effective centers in the contract year, or use lower chips to scrape the lottery). After all, on the way to the championship, the Lakers have paid too many tuition fees for the "Glass Man".

As an old fan, I understand the team's desire for talent, but I am really afraid of the "patient" contract. Mawei's data is indeed greedy, but think about Bynum and Nunn... Management, we have to calm down this time. In the first round, especially the 2031 one, we really have to hold on! If you really want to make up for the inside line, there are still many more secure choices in the market!