The Lakers lineup adjustment is in progress: How to solve the problem of renewing the contract with Reeves in the inside line?

The 2023-24 season is mixed for the Los Angeles Lakers. The team ranked third in the Western Conference with a record of 50 wins and 32 losses, showing strong regular season competitiveness, but unexpectedly lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves 1-4 in the first round of the playoffs, ending the journey ahead of schedule. An in-depth analysis of this failure exposed the structural flaws in the Lakers lineup. The fatal shortcoming is the lack of depth in the inside line. When Anthony Davis is not on the court, substitute center Jaxson Hayes is completely unable to deal with the Timberwolves' double tower impact consisting of Rudy Gobert and Carl Anthony Towns. The loss of the penalty area has led to an absolute disadvantage in rebounding competition, especially the loss of frontcourt rebounds has caused the Lakers to repeatedly miss out on their second offensive opportunities. What is even more worrying is that core player Austin Reeves' form has declined significantly in the playoffs, with his shooting percentage falling to 41.1%, and his three-point shooting percentage is only 31.9%. This abnormal performance of key players further amplifies the team's dilemma.

Faced with such a situation, the Lakers management must make wise choices this offseason. The first priority is undoubtedly to strengthen the inside line. There are currently three feasible directions: in the free market, mobile centers such as Nick Clarkston and Isaiah Haltenstein are worth paying attention to; in the trading market, immediate centers such as Walker Kessler or Andre Drummond may become targets; if the draft pick is retained, potential rookies such as Yves Missy of Baylor University are also worth considering. These reinforcement plans require management to accurately evaluate the team's existing assets and future plans.

At the same time, Reeves' contract renewal is also imminent. The third-pointer, averaging 20.2 points in the regular season, declined in the playoffs, causing differences in its market value. The Lakers' quotation of $88-90 million in four years is quite different from the annual salary of 30 million that the Reeves team expects. If an agreement cannot be reached, a transaction may be inevitable. The Mathurin trading plan proposed by the US media is quite interesting. The 21-year-old forward guard can contribute 16.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. His athletic ability and defensive potential meet the Lakers' long-term team building needs. But the transaction cost is not small, and Hachimura Ai, rookie Dalton Necht and future draft picks are required.

From the perspective of team building, the Lakers are at a crossroads. On the one hand, we must maintain our immediate combat power to grasp the championship window at the end of James's career, and on the other hand, we must prepare for the post-James era. It is urgent to strengthen the inside line, and how to deal with Reeves' contract will directly affect the team's future salary flexibility. Although young assets like Mathulin are attractive, whether their unstable outside projection can adapt to the Lakers system remains to be observed. Every decision in this offseason may affect the Lakers' development trajectory in the next few years. Fans might as well speak freely. How do you think the Lakers should balance the present and the future? Is Mathurin an ideal candidate for strengthening? Welcome to share your insights.