原标题：Lakers’ offseason hinges on their decision at point guard. So, what
can they do?
(湖人的休赛季取决于他们在控球后卫位置方面作出的结论。因此，他们会怎样
做？)
来源：https://theathletic.com/4605252 (付费媒体)
作者：Jovan Buha
原文＋翻译：
For the fourth consecutive summer, the Lakers are looking for a solution at
point guard.
这已是湖人队连续第四个夏天，正在寻找著对于控球后卫的解决方案。
Since its 2020 championship, when then-35-year-old LeBron James and
then-33-year-old Rajon Rondo excelled as the Lakers’ lead ballhandlers, Los
Angeles has used a revolving door of point guards. James’ advanced age and
mounting injuries, as well as an internal acknowledgment that he should play
off the ball more, have created a need for more supplementary ballhandling,
playmaking and shot creation within Los Angeles’ offense. It’s why the
Lakers have been enamored with the possibility of adding elite scoring guards
like Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving through the years.
在二零二零年夺得总冠军的时候，作为主要控球球员、当时三十五岁的LBJ 和三十三岁的
朗多表现得很出色，湖人队拥有能进行轮替的控球后卫群。然而随着LBJ 的年龄逐渐增加
、伤病随之频发，加上内部认为他应该多尝试无球战术，使得湖人队的进攻中需要更多辅
助性持球、组织核心和机会创造。这就是为什么湖人队多年来一直对于追求小李和ＫＩ这
样的精英控球后卫的可能性感到着迷。
They have taken some big swings to fill this hole. The Lakers traded Danny
Green and a 2020 first-round pick for Dennis Schroder before the 2020-21
season. They flipped Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell
and a 2021 first-round pick to Washington in exchange for Russell Westbrook
in a five-team mega-deal in the ensuing summer. They, of course, moved
Westbrook for D’Angelo Russell (among others) in a three-team trade at the
2023 trade deadline, to mixed results. Russell, Schröder (twice) and even
Westbrook had productive moments, but none have provided exactly what the
Lakers have sought since the title run.
他们已经采取了一些大动作来填补这问题。湖人在2020-21 赛季开始前，用丹尼绿和一个
二零二零年的首轮选秀权换来了德软。在随后的夏天，他们在五队大交易中，将 KCP、库
兹马、哈雷尔和二零二一年的首轮选秀籖权交易到巫师队，以换取威少。当然，他们在二
零二三年交易大限当日的三队交易中，用威少换来了D'Lo（包括其他人），结果好坏参半
。D'Lo、德软（两次），甚至威少都有富有成效的时刻，但没有人提供湖人在夺冠后所想
追求的东西。
The Lakers are at a crossroads once again this summer. Russell and Schroder
are unrestricted free agents, opening up the possibility that one or both aren
’t back and the Lakers must again cycle through new options at point guard.
After priority No. 1 (re-signing free agent Austin Reaves) and No. 2
(re-signing restricted free agent Rui Hachimura), the Lakers’ next priority
is addressing their point guard uncertainty.
湖人队今夏再次来到十字路口。D'Lo和德软都是不受限自由球员，这意味着中一位或两位
可能不会回归，并让湖人队必须再次在控球后卫的位置上探索新的选项。在完成前面两项
优先事项（依序重新签下自由球员Austin Reaves 和受限自由球员八村垒）之后，接下来
要解决的是控球后卫上的不确定性。
With the key spots in their rotation largely settled if they retain Reaves
and Hachimura, the Lakers’ offseason swings on their decision at point
guard. They have various options, from running it back (re-signing Russell
and Schroder) to chasing an expensive upgrade via free agency or trade
(Irving, Fred VanVleet, Trae Young), or splitting the difference (signing the
potentially available Chris Paul in addition to retaining Russell and/or Sch-
roder).
在以留住 Reaves 和八村的前提下，基本上解决板凳上的关键人员问题后，湖人队的休赛
季将取决于他们对控球后卫的决定。他们有很多选项，包括重新签下 D'Lo 和德软，或在
自由市场或交易中寻求豪华的升级（如ＫＩ、ＦＶＶ和吹羊），或在两者间求取平衡点（
留住 D'Lo 和德软的同时，签下可能进入自由市场的 CP3）。
The Lakers’ needs at point guard will be determined in part by how they fill
out the rest of their roster, but one of the constant requirements has been a
player who can competently run the offense when James is off the floor,
develop strong pick-and-roll chemistry with Anthony Davis, fare well off the
ball as a catch-and-shoot threat and cutter and at least hold his own in the
team’s defensive scheme. Russell, Schroder and Westbrook each checked
several of those boxes, but none checked all of them.
湖人队在控球后卫方面的需求将部分取决于他们如何填补他们名单上的其他部分，但其中
一个不变的要求是，当LBJ 不在场上时，一名球员需要能够胜任进攻、与ＡＤ建立强大的
接球和滚动的化学反应、作为一个接球投篮的威胁和切割者，在球队的防守计划中至少要
保持自己的地位。D'Lo、德软和威少分别满足了这些条件中的一部分，但没有人满足所有
条件。
The most likely path forward is re-signing Russell and Schroder (possibly
with their taxpayer midlevel exception, worth a projected $6.5 million), as
The Athletic previously reported.
按照《运动家》早前的报导，最有可能的作法莫过于重新签下 D'Lo 和德软（可能用到纳
税中产阶级特例，价值预计是六百五十万美元）。
Russell’s stock has never been lower after a disappointing Western
Conference finals showing against the eventual NBA champion Denver Nuggets.
He was significantly better in the first two rounds but still did not quite
perform well enough to be the third option on a title-contending team — the
level at which the Lakers will be paying him to play if he’s retained.
Russell is certainly a useful player who is good on more nights than not. But
a player making at least $20 million per season shouldn’t be played off the
floor in high-stakes playoff games.
虽然在对阵最终得到NBA 总冠军丹佛金块队的西部决赛中，表现令人失望，D'Lo的价值从
未降低过。他在前两轮比赛中的表现明显有所好转，但仍然不足以成为一支争冠球队的第
三选择——如果湖人队留用他的话，湖人队将要继续支付他的薪资。D'Lo当然是一个有用
的球员，能在更多的比赛表现良好。但一个每赛季至少赚取二千万美元的球员，不应该在
高风险的季后赛中被打下场。
Given Russell’s inconsistent playoff performance and the lack of league-wide
interest in him, the Lakers should have the upper-hand in contract
negotiations. One framework the Lakers have discussed internally, according
to multiple team sources not authorized to speak publicly, is signing Russell
to a front-loaded two-year deal – either with an option in the second year
or a straight two-year contract – that both gives him the salary he wants
and keeps him on the same timeline as James (player option in 2024) and Davis
(has an early termination option in 2024 and is eligible for a contract
extension in August).
鉴于 D'Lo 在季后赛中的不稳定表现，以及全联盟对他缺乏兴趣，湖人队在合约谈判中应
该会占上风。据多名未获授权公开发言的球队消息人士透露，湖人内部讨论的一个框架是
与 D'Lo 签订一份为期两年的先期合同——要不在第二年有一个选择权，要不直接签订两
年合约——这样既能给他想要的薪水，又能让他与 LBJ（二零二四年有球员选择权）和Ａ
Ｄ（二零二四年有提前终止的选项，八月有资格续约）处于同一时间线上。
Even though the three-team deadline deal was more about getting rid of
Westbrook than the players acquired, the Lakers don’t want to lose Russell
in free agency for nothing. Their preference is to find a superior player by
either sign-and-trading Russell elsewhere in July or, more likely at this
point, re-signing him and then potentially trading him later in the season
for a better player or fit.
尽管三队在大限前的交易更多的是为了摆脱威少，而不是获得球员，但湖人并不想在自由
市场上白白失去D'Lo。他们更倾向于通过在七月从签换交易中，把 D'Lo 交易出去，或者
现时更有可能的作法是，重新与他签约，然后可能在本赛季晚些时候将他交易出去、换取
另一位更优秀的球员。
There may not be many realistic and attractive alternatives to re-signing
Russell. It’s unclear what, if anything, he would net them on the
sign-and-trade front. The theoretical alternatives range from unrealistic
(Irving, VanVleet) to even more unrealistic (Young, Lillard).
除了重新签下 D'Lo 之外，可能没有很多现实的、有吸引力的替代方案。目前还不清楚签
换交易方面能给他们带来什么（如有）。理论上的替代方案，从不现实的（ＫＩ、ＦＶＶ
）到更不现实的（吹羊、小李）都存在。
Acquiring Irving or VanVleet would almost certainly require a sign-and-trade,
which would hard cap the Lakers at $169.0 million. The Lakers can create
roughly $30million to $35 million in cap space, but it would cost them
multiple rotation players, likely including Hachimura. Even then, Irving and
VanVleet may want more than the $35 million the Lakers can offer – Irving’s
maximum contract would start at about $47 million and VanVleet’s max begins
at $40.2 million. Young and Lillard have been discussed internally but appear
nothing more than a pipe dream given the current asking prices for stars on
the trade market.
要获取ＫＩ或ＦＶＶ几乎肯定需要先签后换，这将使湖人的硬上限达到一点六九亿美元。
湖人队可以创造大约三千万至三千五百万美元的上限空间，但这将使他们失去多名板凳球
员，可能包括八村。即使如此，ＫＩ、ＦＶＶ可能想要超过湖人能够提供的三千五百万美
元薪资——ＫＩ的最高合约将从大约四千七百万美元起跳，ＦＶＶ的最高合约则从四千零
二十万美元起跳。吹羊和小李已经被内部讨论过了，但考虑到目前交易市场上明星的要价
，似乎只是纸上谈兵的事。
That leaves Paul as the most realistic potential upgrade at point guard. If
Paul is waived or stretched by the Suns, the Lakers would have a strong
interest in signing him, according to multiple team sources not authorized to
speak publicly.
这使得CP3 成为控球后卫群中，最现实的潜在升级。据多个未获授权公开发言的球队消息
人士透露，如果CP3 被太阳队裁走，湖人队对于签下他将有强烈的兴趣。
The Athletic reported the Suns were working with Paul through a number of
options for next season, including a trade or a release. He is slated to make
$30.8 million next season, but only $15.8 million of that is guaranteed if he
is waived before June 28.
《运动家》曾报导称，太阳队正与CP3 就下赛季探索各种可能性，包括交易或放人。他下
赛季的年薪将达到三千零八十万美元，但如果他在六月廿八日前被裁走，受保障的薪资将
只剩一千五百八十万美元。
Given that Paul’s next contract would offset the amount he’s guaranteed for
this season, him signing for anything more than the veteran’s minimum doesn’
t really make sense, as it would only hinder his new team. The Lakers could
then sign Paul to a veteran’s minimum contract, retaining access to other
salary-cap exceptions to use on other players to bolster their depth.
鉴于CP3 的下一份合同将抵消他本赛季的受保障薪资，他以超过老将底薪的合约签约其实
是没有意义的，因为这只会对他的新球队造成阻碍。然后，湖人队可以用老将最低薪资合
约与CP3 签约，保留其他薪资上限的特例，以用于其他球员，加强他们的深度。
Paul is coming off a season in which he averaged 13.9 points per game (on a
55.5 true shooting percentage), 4.3 rebounds, 8.9 assists and 1.5 steals. He’
s far from the player he was even a few years ago, but he remains a quality
starter as a plus shooter and passer. His biggest issue, as has been the case
for several years, is durability. He has suffered an injury in three straight
postseasons and six of his nine trips to the playoffs, indicating the Lakers
would likely have to manage his workload throughout the 2023-24 season.
CP3 在赛季结束时，场均累计十三点九分（真实命中率达五成五）、四点三个篮板、八点
九次助攻和一点五次抄截。虽然比数年前的表现远远逊色，但他仍然是一个高品质的首发
球员，是一个优秀的灌蓝兼传球者。他最大的问题，正如近年来的情况一样，是耐久性。
他已经连续三个赛季在季后赛中受伤，九次进季后赛中也有六次受伤，这表明湖人队可能
不得不在整个2023-24 赛季管理他的工作量。
If the Lakers replace Russell with Paul on a minimum contract, they’d be
able to easily retain Reaves and Hachimura and have the option to use their
non-taxpayer midlevel exception (worth approximately $12.5 million annually)
on Schröder, another player, or both. Another option the Lakers have
discussed is signing Paul and retaining Russell to further solidify their
point guard position, according to those team sources. Paul would be the
favorite to start in that scenario.
如果湖人队能藉著底薪条款，让CP3 取代D'Lo，他们将能够轻松地保留 Reaves 和八村，
并可以选择将他们的非纳税中产特例（每年价值约一千二百五十万美元）用在德软身上、
另一名球员，或两者都用。据这些球队消息人士的说法，湖人队讨论的另一个选项是签下
CP3 并保留D'Lo，以进一步巩固他们的控球后卫位置。在这种情况下，CP3 将是首发的热
门人选。
Head-to-head, Paul vs. Russell was never a conversation until last season,
and Paul still rates out better in virtually every advanced metric. He’s the
better midrange shooter, passer, rebounder and more of a defensive playmaker.
That said, Russell is younger, nearly matched Paul as a midrange shooter this
past season and is the better 3-point shooter both by percentage and volume.
Russell’s 6-foot-10 wingspan also allows him to defend bigger players and
add length to the Lakers’ scheme in a way that the 38-year-old Paul never
could.
在上个赛季之前，CP3 与D'Lo的正面对决从未成为话题，而且CP3 在几乎所有的高级指标
上都更胜一筹。他是表现更好的中距离投手、传球者、篮板手和更多的防守者。也就是说
，D'Lo更年轻，在过去的一个赛季里，他的中距离投篮能力几乎和CP3 不相上下，而且在
百分比和数量上都是更好的三分投手。D'Lo六尺十寸的翼展也使他能够防守更大的球员，
并为湖人队的计划增加长度，而三十岁的CP3 却永远不可能做到。
Paul’s ability to command an offense would be appealing to a Lakers team
that has lacked that type of traditional floor general. James, of course, has
always played that role, to an extent, but Paul is one of the few players in
the league he would fully trust to help co-pilot the offense. Signing Paul in
this scenario would also be a minimal one-year investment from the Lakers.
CP3 指挥进攻的能力对于缺乏这种传统地板将军的湖人队来说是很有吸引力的。当然，
LBJ 在某种程度上一直扮演着这样的角色，但CP3 是联盟中为数不多、他会完全信任的球
员之一，可以帮助他共同领导进攻。在这种情况下，签下CP3 也将是湖人队最基本的一年
投资。
There are other reasons for a Paul-Lakers reunion. Paul’s family remains in
Los Angeles. Paul and James have a long, storied friendship. They have
envisioned what it would be like to play together over the years. Paul
famously was traded to the Lakers in 2011 before the deal was nixed by former
commissioner David Stern for “basketball reasons.”
CP3 在湖人队的重逢还有其他原因。CP3 的家人仍然在洛杉矶。CP3 和LBJ 还有一段长期
的、有故事性的有七个。多年来，他们曾设想过一起打球会是什么样子。保罗在二零一一
年被交易到湖人队时，在完成已被前专员David Stern 以“篮球考量”为由否决之前，这
一点是很有名的。
If the Lakers sign Paul, let Russell walk and retain Schroder, a Paul-Schroder
backcourt tandem would still allow Paul to play only 24 to 26 minutes per
night in the regular season before ramping up to a larger role in the
playoffs. Paul and Schroder played together in Oklahoma City during the
2019-20 season; Thunder lineups outscored opponents by 15.6 points per 100
possessions in the regular season and 5.3 points per 100 possessions in the
playoffs with the duo on the floor, per NBA.com.
如果湖人签下 CP3，放走 D'Lo 并留住德软，CP3 -德软的后场组合仍然可以让CP3 在例
行赛中每晚只打二十四到二十六分钟，然后在季后赛中提升到更大的作用。2019-20 赛季
期间，保罗和施罗德在雷霆队一起打球；根据数据统计，雷霆队的先发阵容在例行赛中，
每一百场中赢了对手十五点六分，在季后赛阶段，每一百场中赢了五点三分。
However, Schroder is quietly one of the top point guard options realistically
available this summer and will command deals that could be upwards of the
non-taxpayer mid-level exception (about $12.5 million starting salary). The
Lakers only have non-Bird rights on him, meaning they’d likely need to use
the midlevel exception to meet his market.
只不过，德软悄悄地成为今夏相对现实的顶级控球后卫选择之一，他的交易额可能会超过
非纳税中产特例（大约一千二百五十万美元的起薪）。湖人队只拥有他的非鸟权，这意味
着他们可能需要使用中产特例来满足他的市场。
The Lakers have other options. They could re-sign Schröder anyway and
promote him to starting point guard, maintaining wing and big-man depth by
keeping Malik Beasley ($16.5 million team option) and Mo Bamba ($10.3 million
non-guaranteed contract) over Russell. They could technically sign all three
of Russell, Paul and Schröder, with Russell and Schröder sliding up to
shooting guard in smaller bench backcourts. They could also hand ballhandling
keys over to Reaves and add a player in the Caldwell-Pope/Danny Green mold
next to him to form a bigger backcourt, but it’s unclear if they’re willing
to do that yet.
湖人队还有其他选择。他们可以重新签下德软，并将他擢升为先发控球后卫，再透过保留
Malik Beasley（一千六百五十万美元的球团选择权）和 Mo Bamba（一千零三十万美元的
非保障合约），维持侧翼和大个子的深度。从理论上来讲，他们可以把D'Lo、CP3 和德软
三人都签下来，D'Lo和德软在较小的板凳后卫线上滑到投篮后卫。他们也可以把控球权交
给Reaves，并在他身边增加一个类似KCP 或丹尼绿的球员，组成一个更大的后场，但现在
还不清楚他们是否愿意这样做。
Looking at the free-agent market, if the Lakers wanted to use one of their
exceptions, there aren’t many – if any – options that would be a
legitimate upgrade over Schroder, let alone Russell. The Athletic’s John
Hollinger’s free-agency point guard rankings have Russell and Schroder at
No. 3 and No. 6, respectively. Aside from Irving and VanVleet, Miami’s Gabe
Vincent – more of a combo guard than a traditional floor general – is the
only appealing alternative, at least to Schröder.
纵观自由球员市场，如果湖人想使用他们手上的其中一个特例，没有多少比德软更合理的
升级之选择（如有），更不用说 D'Lo 了。在《运动家》记者 John Hollinger 的自由市
场控球后卫排名中，D'Lo和德软分别排在第三和第六位。除了ＫＩ和ＦＶＶ，热火的Gabe
Vincent ——更像是一个双能卫，而不是一个传统的场上指挥官——是唯一有吸引力的替
代方案，至少对德软来说。
Most realistically, the Lakers will re-sign Russell and Schröder,
maintaining flexibility for next season with the ability to enhance the
roster with a trade during the season. There’s also the growing possibility
that they can make a move at the 2023 draft, flipping their pick (No. 17),
along with Bamba and/or Beasley for a starting-level upgrade.
最现实的是，湖人将重新签下 D'Lo 和德软，为下个赛季保持灵活性，并有能力在赛季中
通过交易来增强阵容。此外，他们越来越有可能在二零二三年的选秀大会上采取行动，将
他们的选秀权（第十七号）与 Bamba 和／或 Beasley 一起交易出去，以获得一个先发级
别的升级。
The Lakers have craved continuity for years and have a chance to finally
establish some semblance of that by running it back with most of their
current group. That begins with the point guard position, which will
determine who fills in the fifth spot around Davis, James, Hachimura and
Reaves in closing lineups.
湖人队多年来一直渴望永续性，并有机会透过与现有的大部分阵中球员一起运行，最终建
立起某种程度上的永续性。这要从控球后卫的位置开始，这将决定谁在ＡＤ、LBJ 、八村
和 Reaves 之外的第五个位置上担当先发球员。
Los Angeles has a one-to-two-year championship window with James (38) and
Davis (30). This is perhaps its best shot at addressing arguably the team’s
biggest need and help solve some of the late-game offensive lulls from the
playoffs, most notably in the conference finals.
湖人的 LBJ（三十八岁）和ＡＤ（三十岁）有一至两年的冠军窗口。这也许是解决球队最
大需求的最好机会，并有助于解决季后赛中（尤其在西部决赛期间）最为明显的一些后期
进攻问题。
There are numerous ways the Lakers’ offseason can unfold. But, assuming they
stay true to their intent by retaining Reaves and Hachimura, nothing is more
important for the Lakers than their future at point guard.
湖人队的休赛季有无数方式可以开展。但是，假设他们忠于自己的计划、留下 Reaves 和
八村，对湖人来说，没有什么比他们在控球后卫上的补强动作来得更重要。
短评：
在痛定思痛后，要再出发可能会是一大考验呢...