The center is here! Thank you for sending warmth! Sorry Rivers, the Lakers really can t afford $200 million

After being eliminated by the Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers ushered in another critical offseason, and Rivers' future has become the biggest puzzle. Recently, many media have been discussing Rivers' contract renewal. Under the current labor-management agreement, the Lakers can provide him with a four-year contract renewal worth $89.2 million. However, according to US media reports, Rivers will jump out of the contract after the end of next season, test the free market, and seek a maximum salary renewal contract of $180 million to $200 million.

In fact, Rivers knew that the Lakers could not give him a maximum salary to renew his contract. He did this because he knew that he was not in the Lakers' long-term plan. The Lakers would use him as a bargaining chip to upgrade to the center position in the offseason. Pelinka has previously said that the Lakers' first task in the offseason is to strengthen the center, and there is no good center in the free market at all. If they want to seek trades for a high-quality inside, the best chip is Rivers.

Today, the Lakers' record Buha reported that the Lakers are expected to restart the transaction about Clarkston in the offseason, and the core bargaining chip of the transaction is Rivers.

center is coming, thank the Nets for sending warmth!

Clarkston is a top finisher who can grab offensive rebounds and catch an all-relay pass. He is also a great rebounder and blocker, and his outstanding franchise protection has given him a chance to be among the discussions about the defensive player of the year.

The Lakers expressed their interest in Clarkston in the regular season, but on the one hand, the Lakers were unwilling to make a first-round pick, and Rivers Jr. was a non-sale product for the Lakers at that time. It's different now. With Doncic's arrival, they have no worries. Using the first round pick to upgrade the lineup is the best choice, and Rivers is no longer suitable for the current lineup.

Normally, the Lakers with James and Doncic as the core should not have Rivers' position among the five starting players. One center + two 3D forwards + James + Doncic can take into account both offense and defense. Now in the Lakers' lineup, Rivers + James + Doncic trio are struggling on the defensive end, and Rivers can do better Doncic. In the playoffs with the Timberwolves, Rivers undertakes a lot of weak side single-point blasts, but unfortunately the efficiency is very average. In the playoffs of high-intensity confrontation, Rivers still lost to talent.

Of course, we cannot deny the great progress since Xiao Li entered the league as a loser. Rivers Jr. has a silky ball control, skilled in breaking through the basket, has a stable and reliable jump shot, is good at creating opponent fouls, and has excellent ability to organize offense. These traits give him great potential on the offensive end. This is why at the end of the regular season, Rivers was hailed as the best third leader in the league.

For the rebuilt Nets, Rivers Jr.'s upper limit is higher than Zhao Si. It can be predicted that Rivers, who has become the core of the company, will average more than 25 points per game and have the opportunity to grow into a veritable All-Star player.