Spend a small amount of money to accomplish big things! They only spent 38 million to sign three tough players. The Lakers have great vision!

Last season was definitely a mixed season for Lakers fans. In the middle of the season, they sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks through a seismic deal, thereby acquiring Luka Doncic. The arrival of Doncic undoubtedly added countless lights to the future of the Lakers. After all, as LeBron James enters the end of his career, Doncic will become the cornerstone of the team for at least 5 years. But unfortunately, although they secured the third position in the Western Conference, they lost to the Timberwolves in the playoffs and were eventually eliminated in the first round.

However, with the change of team boss, this summer the Lakers have also made targeted reinforcements based on Doncic's playing characteristics. I have to say that their vision is indeed good, although LeBron James has not been able to play well so far this season due to the impact of sciatica. They haven't played yet, but the team is making great progress and is currently ranked at the forefront of the Western Conference. This is absolutely inseparable from the team's three very cost-effective signings this summer. They only spent 38 million US dollars to get three top players. Let us take a look at how amazing the Lakers' vision is!

Deandre Ayton

This season's statistics: 16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1 block

Contract status: 2 years, 16.2 million US dollars

In Canada After joining the Trail Blazers, Ayton occasionally shined, but because the team's tactical focus was not on the inside, his attention declined even more. Although he contributed 14.4 points and 10.2 rebounds last season, he still could not escape the fate of being laid off. Therefore, the Lakers only used a two-year, $16.2 million contract. After signing Ayton, many fans and media believed that Ayton's help to the team was relatively limited.

But it seems that they have forgotten one thing, that is, Ayton is the No. 1 pick in the 2018 draft, and he has talent and ability. And when he was with the Suns, he was able to contribute extremely high-quality scoring and pick-and-rolls. This time partnering with Doncic, Ayton was also completely activated. Although the defense still did not have many highlights, the offensive end added a lot to the team. Currently, he scored 16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1 block with a 67.5% shooting rate that ranked fourth in the league. There is no doubt that this signing is very critical for the team's internal reinforcement, because the arrival of Ayton gives the team's offensive end a core point inside, which is a key to the team's ability to quickly regain its form.

Marcus Smart

This season’s statistics: 10 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals

Contract status: 2 years 10 $520,000

Before the season started, the Lakers' lineup was full of losers. In addition to Ayton, who was not reused in the Trail Blazers, there was also Smart, who had been drifting between the Grizzlies and Wizards after leaving the Celtics. Although he is 31 years old and his efficiency has declined significantly in the past two seasons, after all, Smart is the only point guard in NBA history to win the DPOY award besides "Glove" Gary Payton, so he still has abilities.

After joining the Lakers this time, his role is also very simple, that is, to share the defensive pressure of Doncic and Austin Reeves as much as possible. And now it seems that Smart is doing a very good job. So far, he has averaged 10 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals per game. Although the efficiency on the offensive end is still not high, he can hold the ball and control the court, and can also make sudden shots from outside the three-point line. Of course, the most important thing is his defense. This season, he has the brilliance of the DPOY season. He has repeatedly helped the team complete efficient defense at critical moments. Doncic and Reeves have scored 30+ points one after another, and they cannot do without Smart, the hero behind the scenes. Considering that Smart's contract is only 2 years and 10.52 million US dollars, this is simply a very cost-effective signing.

Jack Laravia

This season’s statistics: 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals

Contract status: 2 years and 12 million US dollars

Finally, let’s talk about Laravia, who is not too famous among the three. In the previous seasons, he played for the Grizzlies and Kings respectively. In his most outstanding season, he only contributed 10.8 points, and this was based on the fact that the Grizzlies were in a bad situation and gave him the ball rights to brush up the statistics. Therefore, although it only cost the Lakers 12 million US dollars in 2 years, many fans are not interested in him and think Laravia is just a helpless move by the team.

But what is unexpected is that after joining the Lakers, this 24-year-old young man quickly became an important member. This season he can contribute a career-high 11.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals. His shooting and three-point shooting percentages have reached 52.8% and 37.8% respectively. He is one of the team's most efficient players. Moreover, Laravia's characteristics are very distinct. He can find a position that suits him in both the first and second lineups. This is also an important reason why JJ Redick can't put it down. As long as he maintains his current performance, Laravia will definitely be able to give the Lakers more surprises during their journey this season.