The Knicks have reached the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years! Unless a top-tier interior player is brought in, the Lakers won't sell Reaves

Today, the Knicks defeated the Celtics 119-81, eliminated the opponent 4-2, and broke into the Eastern Conference finals again after 25 years. It's really been a long time. The Knicks' opponent in the East Conference is the Pacers. Coincidentally, the last time the Knicks played in the Eastern Conference Finals was in 2000, and the opponent also happened to be the Pacers, who were eliminated by the Pacers 4-2 at that time, I wonder what the plot will be this year?

The Celtics fell in the second round of the Eastern Conference, and since 2019, the defending champions have reached the second round of the playoffs at most in the second round in the second year, and the Lakers fell in the first round in 2021 due to injuries. If the Thunder win the Nuggets in the tiebreaker, one of these four young stars will win their first NBA championship.

It is difficult for the Nuggets to step through the Thunder, after all, the tie-break is on the home court of the Thunder, and the physical fitness of the Nuggets' main players is a test. Are times really about to change? There may be a new king to be born this year.

Well, let's take a look at the Lakers news.

Yesterday, Lakers reporter Dan Woike wrote: "According to people familiar with the matter, Reaves is still recovering from a severe toe sprain, although things are improving and surgery is not expected to be necessary." And, he wasn't always the worst in crunch time, and he played well in some of the Lakers' biggest games, helping him build a reputation with the team. "Secondly, he is not considered a non-tradable player because there is almost no one in the NBA who is not tradable. But if the Lakers were to trade him for a center, they would want a center with a fundamentally important position, the type around whom the team could be built, not just to fill the obvious void in their center position. ”

In addition, the journalist reiterated that the Lakers' most valuable trading chips are Reaves, Kneckett, and their distant 2031 first-round pick. However, rival executives see Kneckett and a 2031 first-round pick as the Lakers' easiest assets to trade because the Lakers trade Reaves as a last resort.

Kneckett is still a pity, if the Lakers make a trade, he will definitely be one of the chips, this is not negotiable, after all, the opposing team needs young players with potential. Kneckett proved it during the regular season, averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game while shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from three-point range. However, due to experience issues, he only played four minutes in garbage time in the playoffs.

Dan Woike said that the Lakers have made it clear internally that they will not trade Reaves unless they can trade for a top-level interior player. "The team has made it clear that it will not consider trading Reaves unless it can trade for a top-tier interior player. However, there are currently no such players available on the market. In the offseason, two of the most frequently mentioned players are Claxton of the Brooklyn Nets and Gafford of the Mavericks. ”

Claxton, 26 years old, 2.11 meters tall, averaged 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.4 blocks in 26.9 minutes per game in the regular season with the Nets this season, shooting 56.3% from the field.

Gafford, needless to say, Doncic's good friend. Extremely efficient. He is also 26 years old this year, 2.08 meters tall, and averaged 12.3 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.8 blocks in 21.5 minutes per game in the regular season with the Mavericks, shooting 70.2% from the field.

Obviously, Claxton and Gafford are not the so-called top interior players, and the Lakers will have to see how to get one of them without Reaves, preferably Gafford .