The Lakers are exposed to negotiate with multiple teams! Plan to introduce multiple centers, Hayes Lane is likely to leave the team

On May 29, Lakers reporter Anthony Irwin reported that with only a few weeks left in the 2024-25 season, communication between NBA teams has entered the "high potential energy" stage. League sources revealed that one executive was particularly active - Lakers' basketball operations president Pelinka. Since the Lakers were out in a bleak first round, Pelinka's top priority has always been clear: they need multiple centers.

Obviously, the previously failed Mark Williams deal is enough to illustrate Pelinka's clear understanding of the status quo. An undisputed fact is: when Ma Wei failed the physical examination, the Lakers could only use Hayes as the only barely available center to compete in the playoffs, and the team's season ended since then.

In the season summary interview, when asked about the decision to not be transferred to Koloko and Jamison, Pelinka seemed quite dissatisfied. But the cruel reality is: Redick needs to rotate choices, and Ryan can't play at all - a decision that has obviously become a painful mistake.

Now less than a month after the NBA draft, sources said that Pelinka has negotiated with several teams, and even repeatedly threw out the trading chip framework that was used to chase Ma Wei, trying to hoard as much information as possible for the official operation period.

An Eastern Conference executive said: "The problem that Pelinka faces is that any team with a big man with a 'can play normally' will first use Kneckett and a first-round pick as the starting point of negotiations. If their center is stronger, the chips will be increased."

From a historical perspective, if the price does not meet expectations, Pelinka is used to choosing to wait. But according to internal Lakers sources, the situation may be different this year - after all, he still needs to convince Doncic to stay in the team for a long time.

Although the league generally believes that Doncic hopes to end his life in the Lakers and regards winning the championship in Los Angeles as the top goal, the Lakers obviously dare not take it lightly.

"Pelinka is crazy," a league source said during the Chicago draft joint trial. "He said he needed a big man, but it's no secret - you need multiple centers with different technical characteristics. He may not be able to fully build an ideal rotation this summer, but he is definitely going all out."

In terms of potential goals, there are names we've heard of before (such as Clarkston of the Nets, Gafford of the Mavericks, etc.), as well as new faces in the trading and free markets. The Lakers need to find an all-in-one threat point for Doncic, James and Reeves, but sources said Redick also hopes for a big man who can open up space for his "five foreign systems". However, Redick is willing to adjust his tactical system according to the existing lineup, so the final balance is worth looking forward to.

In the free market, the Lakers' strategy is to complement the signed players and the center they get traded. For example: If you get an all-connected center through trading, they will sign a space or a meat shield insider with a mini middle or base salary; and vice versa.

Regarding the stay and departure of existing players, sources said that Hayes had a very small probability of staying in the team. He was dissatisfied with his marginalization of his role in the playoffs and his reduced playing time caused his salary expectations. From the Lakers' perspective, they are weighing whether Redick has lost trust in Hayes and the relegation he may face after introducing a new center.

In addition, the Lakers need to carefully consider the public opinion impact of renewing their contract with Hayes - since TMZ exposed his video of his 2021 domestic violence incident, the league has launched an investigation into him since November last year.

Koloko is loved by many people within the team and is likely to return next season; Jamison may also stay in the team, but the former is seen as closer to the NBA rotation level, while the latter is more positioned as a two-way contract player. As for Ryan, his career with the Lakers has almost been finalized.

Pellinka mentioned in the season summary interview that the league is ushering in the "craziest offseason" in recent years. He and the Lakers undoubtedly hope to take advantage of this chaos - after all, the market deadlock last summer had a headache, and turmoil may break it.

There is something undoubted: the Lakers urgently need to increase complementarity depth in the center position. The whole league knows this. To a large extent, success or failure of this offseason will depend on the extent to which the Lakers resolve this urgent need and whether they will be passive in negotiations as a result.