The Lakers announced that they would give up last year's No. 17 rookie, no longer develop, and let him go after this season

According to well-known journalist Shams, the Lakers no longer had any expectations for Schifino and decided to terminate the experiment against him. The team refused to exercise Schifino's $4 million team option for the 2025-26 season. Schifino will become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, freeing up salary space for the Lakers and allowing for roster flexibility.

Last summer, the Lakers drafted Schifino with the 17th pick in the first round, and the 18th pick behind Schifino was the Heat's Hakes Jr., the Warriors' Podzemski with the 19th pick, and Whitmore with the 20th pick the Rockets. The Lakers all missed it perfectly.

So far in his NBA career, Schifino has played in a total of 21 games, totaling 34 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists and 9 turnovers, averaging only 1.6 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game. He shot 10-of-45 from the field and 2-of-15 from three-point range. He shot 22.2 percent from the field and 13.3 percent from three-point range.

For comparison, the Lakers' No. 17 pick this year, Knecht, played in five games in the regular season this year, averaging 8.2 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game, shooting 45% from the field and 35% from three-point range.

The selection of Schifino was a mistake in decision-making by the Lakers management, and it was a waste of a first-round pick.

In addition to Schifino, who will become a free agent after the season, small forward Lewis is also a player that the Lakers acquired in the 2023 draft, and he is a second-round pick. Last season, he played a total of 34 games, all garbage time, averaging 3 minutes per game, with 0.3 points, 0.1 rebounds and 0.2 assists. The rookie contract is worth $7.63 million for four years and expires in 2027, of which $3.11 million is guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $1.9 million, and he can get $1.89 million this season.

So far this season, the Lakers' starting lineup of Russell, Reaves, James, Hachimura and Bushy Eyebrows has averaged 95 points per game, ranking second in the league. But the Lakers' bench lineup averages just 20.8 points per game, ranking last in the league.

It's really embarrassing.

Knect 8.2, Hayes 5.2, Vincent 3.4, Christie 3.6, Bronny 1.0, Reddish 0. The Warriors bench averaged 59 points per game, ranking first in the league.

The Lakers are averaging 7.8 rebounds per game off the bench, the league's bottom. 4.6 assists, the league's bottom-to-last. He shot 28.3 percent from three-point range, sixth from the bottom in the league.

The Lakers still don't have a second team with enough strength to replenish the firepower, which will drain the main team. Of course, Vanderbilt and Wood on the bench are still recovering from injuries, which is one of the reasons why the Lakers' bench is weak.

The Lakers lack a strong center to pair with thick eyebrows and relieve the pressure on thick eyebrows on the inside.

Lakers reporter Jovan Buha said the Lakers are still interested in Jazz center Kessler.

Over the past two seasons, Kessler has averaged 8.7 points, eight rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game for the Jazz, shooting 69 percent from the field and 54.8 percent from the free throw line. Kessler is only paid $2.9 million this season and next season is in the final year of his rookie contract at $4.9 million. Such a salary is easy to come by for the Lakers, especially with the current team salary cap close to the luxury tax limit.

In addition to the interior, the Lakers' point guards need to step up.

So far this season, Russell has averaged just 10.8 points, 2.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game, shooting 37% from the field and 25% from three-point range. The outside feel was too cold, and many empty three-pointers failed to grasp the opportunity. He averaged points, shots and three-pointers per game at the bottom of the Lakers' starting lineup.

This is Russell's contract year, and he has to put in good enough numbers to get a long-term contract with a good salary in the summer. If you continue to play like this, I don't know if I will be able to get this year's $18 million salary next season.

Tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m., the Lakers will play the Raptors away, and there is no room for error. The Lakers are fifth in the West with 3 wins and 2 losses, and the Raptors are 13th in the East with 1 win and 4 losses. And the Raptors' number one star Barnes is out with a fractured eye socket, and Olynyk and Brown are unavailable due to injuries.

Therefore, as long as the Lakers play normally, they can basically win.

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