With the doors of the NBA's free agency market slamming open, the transfer fog for the Los Angeles Lakers seems to be the most intriguing playbook of the summer.
They locked up rookie Christie on a four-year contract, and the swingman who is known as the "face of Kobe" is clearly expected by the Lakers, as if it was the first light to light in the chaos, but it also foreshadowed the twists and turns of the subsequent moves.
Just when fans are full of anticipation and fantasizing about how the Lakers will build a luxurious roster, the transfer market has staged a reversal drama.
First of all, Chris Paul's status as a free agent sparked reverie, and the Lakers seemed to intend to include the veteran in their team to contribute to their championship dreams, but unexpectedly, the Holy City Spurs came out halfway with a contract with an annual salary of 11 million, shattering the Lakers' point guard dream and leaving a full screen of "ifs".
Then, on the other end of Los Angeles, the Clippers joined forces with James Harden on a two-year, 70 million contract, announcing their desire for a championship.
The dreams of Lakers fans have been thwarted again, and they are still at the crossroads of the transfer market as their city rivals accelerate on the road to the championship.
What's even more embarrassing is that the Wizards poached Valanciunas for three years and 30 million cabbage, and the loss of the former Pelicans starting center seems to have become a silent mockery of the Lakers management's "only talk but not do".
Fans can't help but ask, is the 12.9 million full middle-class exception just an empty talk?
Today, the Lakers have 14 players on their roster, but the names on the roster don't seem to outline the blueprint for the championship.
The only remaining hope, Klay Thompson, is being sought after by multiple teams, and there is a big question mark over whether the Lakers have enough chips to attract the shooter.
This series of operations makes people have to sigh that the script of the Lakers' transfer market is like a gripping suspense drama, and every turn makes people sweat.
Will LeBron James's salary cut sacrifice be exchanged for substantial reinforcements for the team, or will it just be a flash in the pan in the end? When will the Lakers' transfer maze find the right exit to the championship? This summer, the mood of Lakers fans is probably like riding a roller coaster, up and down, and in addition to excitement, there is more uncertainty and expectation.