Lakers Pistons formally discuss Durham s deal, President Pei is willing to make three first-round picks, 21 center teams up with Doncic

The latest report by Jowan Buha, a reporter from Los Angeles Times, said that the Lakers have asked the Pistons about the deal for center Jaylen Durham. The two sides formally discussed the trading offer for Durham. Robert Pelinka is willing to pay the necessary price for the young center and provided a preliminary quotation plan to Pistons general manager Trajan Landon.

The Lakers have firmly determined to build a team with long-term competitiveness around Luca Doncic. The most important job in the offseason is to get a high-quality center with Doncic. To analyze the center players who matched Doncic last season, Daniel Gafford and Derek Leifly are the best template players, who are to find a center with excellent athletic ability and perfect pick-and-roll cooperation. The role of the defensive end is not much to say, and they have the ability to protect the frame at low posts, and solve the loopholes of the Lakers' average 50 points per game in the playoffs. By these standards, Lakers management has made the Pistons' Durham the primary trading target and has begun to enter the discussion phase.

"After Doncic's trade was completed, the Lakers then contacted the Pistons to seek a trade to get Durham." Jowan Buha said, "Although the Pistons rejected the Lakers' trade proposal at the time, this does not mean that the door to dialogue between the two sides has been closed." The Pistons' idea of ​​refusing to trade Durham before the February trade deadline is completely understandable. Teams preparing for the playoffs are generally unwilling to adjust their lineup unless heavy trades like the Lakers and Mavericks appear. With both the Lakers and the Pistons being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, they are both interested in exploring win-win trading plans. Next season, the Lakers will need 48 minutes of high-quality center playing time, and there were several conversations around Durham's trade before the Mark Williams trade was cancelled. After Pelinka and Doncic's team met, they established communication with the Pistons again, and the Pistons were also open to the Lakers' trading topics. "The Pistons are more suitable to send Durham away, no matter what rewards they can get from the Lakers." Jowan Buha said, "The Pistons can find inside players with similar technical skills and higher cost-effectiveness to fill Durham's position." There is no doubt that Durham's trade is more beneficial to the Lakers. As long as Pelinka provides a better trade offer than Williams, there will be a great opportunity to impress the Pistons management.

The Lakers' previous trade chips with the Hornets include 17th overall pick Kneckett, a protected first-round pick swap in 2030 and a protected first-round pick in 2031. If the Lakers want to get the 21-year-old Durham, they need to pay more chips, including the 2032 first-round draft pick, otherwise the Pistons will have no reason to help the Lakers upgrade their lineup. With Doncic as the core team, the performance in the foreseeable five or six seasons in the future will not be too bad. The Lakers' lower limit is a playoff-level team, and the pick in the first round may not be too high, which is also the reason why the Pistons require an increase in draft picks. The Pistons consider the Lakers' trade proposal, mainly based on two aspects of consideration. First of all, the Pistons have very good salary space in the next five years. They can build a team around Cunningham and sign an All-Star player. With a more space-like center, Kneckett can also provide the Pistons' urgently needed outside projection capabilities. Secondly, the Pistons can use the Lakers' three first-round draft picks as bargaining chips to obtain players who meet the tactical system through subsequent transactions. "The Pistons management is seriously evaluating the Lakers' trading quotation. The two sides have not reached an agreement on the first round pick protection rankings." Qiao Wan Buha said, "The offseason has just begun, and there is still time for each other to bargain."

Duron was selected to join the Pistons with the 13th pick in the first round of 2022. He is 2.11 tall and 2.26. He has excellent athletic ability. He played 78 games this season, and has only 26.1 minutes per game, and can score 11.8 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists. He played six games in the playoffs, and averaged 33.8 minutes of playing time. He can contribute 11.8 points, 10.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He also has 1.7 blocks and a shooting percentage of 65%. There is no doubt that Doncic can play better games with Durham's talent. Although he does not have the ability to make three-pointers, his athletic ability and Doncic can be said to be seamless. The Lakers are willing to pay three first-round draft picks to get Durham. Another important factor is Durham's age and career, and he can play around Doncic for a long time.

"Pellinka has provided a preliminary trading plan, and what can be confirmed is that it is willing to send out three first-round draft picks." Jowan Buha said, "Durham's deal has been confirmed by each other in the communication between Pelinka and Doncic's team, and has received support from Doncic."