LeBron James

[inliner311]

I know everyone is giving the Lakers shit for not being able to lock down Lie, but giving him a five year deal would have been a massively stupid move.

I think it's the cost of doing business though. The Lakers are still thinking they can operate like they were in the 90's and early 2000's. The ownership groups are richer now and all have other businesses to offset the cost of their NBA teams.

If they keep operating like this they aren't going to get free agents in the future. You have to spend money to win in the NBA now. That means luxury tax payments and over paying coaching staff. An extra 12 million to Lue gets you a win now coach and if they turn the ship around they make that money back easily.

The problem with the Buss family is from what I can tell, the Lakers are their primary source of income. They see that 12 million as money out of their pocket, not some chump change like the Billionaire owners around the league would see it as.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Kind of funny that, after all the bitching, we basically ended up winning the Kyrie trade. Boston is about to flame out in the second round and Kyrie is about to bail on them without having won anything of note.

Trades aren't zero sum. I don't know if we "won" the Kyrie trade but it looks like Boston definitely lost it.

Kyrie's behavior these past two seasons -- especially this season -- is a pretty good indicator of how he would have acted had the Cavaliers refused to trade him. Whether or not we agree with the decision to execute that trade I think it's fair to say there were damn good reasons to get him out.

As a general rule if someone doesn't want to be where they are it's better to part ways. Life's too short.

 

[Dawg4L]

Yeah, but he didn't want to do it. He wanted to be in LA, his kid wanted to be in LA (nobody points to that, but I think James Jr. playing on Crossroads HS was as important as the LA brand or whatever)

TBH the Lakers were always about the after basketball business and Jr getting away from SVSM to not follow in Dads footsteps. If he got a couple all stars with him then great. If not, oh well.

 

[cavsfever]

We didn't win the Kyrie trade. Maybe everyone lost it, but we definitely didn't win it. For one thing, we could have gotten a lot better players for him and at least been competitive in the Finals last year. If we're competitive in the Finals last year, maybe Lebron doesn't leave.

Also, even if Kyrie stays he was always a way better playoff performer with Lebron than what we see here.

I would say that the entire NBA lost the Kyrie trade.

 

[cavsfever]

After being ruthless with the Cavs Lebron got weirdly sentimental with the Lakers and gave them ALL the power over him. I mean, they could trade him to a sucky team to get Zion Williamson or something. They won’t but they could. And then he would still be locked up for years on whoever they traded him to!

I wonder if it was Magic who talked him in to that. Well guess what, turns out Magic wasn’t locked in even if Lebron was LOL. Now Jeanie Buss and Linda Rambis own his life!

PICTURE OF WOMAN WHO NOW OWNS LEBRON'S LIFE

Look at her demonic grin. I would take even Dan Gilbert over her.

The basketball gods are taking a terrible revenge on Lebron and Kyrie for betraying the Cavs. I think it’s clear that destiny intended they remain in Cleveland

 

[LeeBuckeye]

We didn't win the Kyrie trade. Maybe everyone lost it, but we definitely didn't win it. For one thing, we could have gotten a lot better players for him and at least been competitive in the Finals last year. If we're competitive in the Finals last year, maybe Lebron doesn't leave.

Also, even if Kyrie stays he was always a way better playoff performer with Lebron than what we see here.

I would say that the entire NBA lost the Kyrie trade.

(1) LeBron had a chance to acquire Bledsoe and PG by trading Kyrie if he committed long term. He didn’t

(2) They could’ve used the Nets picks for a good player (not an elite player because the Nets weren’t that bad) but Dan wanted LeBron to commit and he didn’t again.

I think PG staying and Kawhi possibly staying in Toronto (50/50) changes the future outlook of one year rentals. Maybe more teams will take chances without verbal assurances. Maybe they just felt strongly that no matter what they did LeBron ends up in LA.

 

[Lee]

(1) LeBron had a chance to acquire Bledsoe and PG by trading Kyrie if he committed long term. He didn’t

(2) They could’ve used the Nets picks for a good player (not an elite player because the Nets weren’t that bad) but Dan wanted LeBron to commit and he didn’t again.

I think PG staying and Kawhi possibly staying in Toronto (50/50) changes the future outlook of one year rentals. Maybe more teams will take chances without verbal assurances. Maybe they just felt strongly that no matter what they did LeBron ends up in LA.

Its very obvious to me that his move to LA was not a basketball one but a personal one for his business, kids and wife. All are or wanted to be in LA.

He gave Cleveland 11 years over 2 stints there, we keep arguing about him making the wrong basketball move, but he has said several times this was more than just winning titles. Yes it sucks he is gone, but I am over it. He gave us one amazing title, the first for our city in 52 years, he has moved on to start his post career in LA. I am ready to act like the man is retired and move on and root for the players we do have.

 

[Bucketz]

Kind of funny that, after all the bitching, we basically ended up winning the Kyrie trade. Boston is about to flame out in the second round and Kyrie is about to bail on them without having won anything of note.

And Isaiah Thomas might be in the western conference finals

 

[cavsfever]

And Isaiah Thomas might be in the western conference finals

Incredible that IT is now so bad he didn't get a single minute of play in that 4OT game!

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

After being ruthless with the Cavs Lebron got weirdly sentimental with the Lakers and gave them ALL the power over him.

What does that even mean?

 

[Bucketz]

Its very obvious to me that his move to LA was not a basketball one but a personal one for his business, kids and wife. All are or wanted to be in LA.

He gave Cleveland 11 years over 2 stints there, we keep arguing about him making the wrong basketball move, but he has said several times this was more than just winning titles. Yes it sucks he is gone, but I am over it. He gave us one amazing title, the first for our city in 52 years, he has moved on to start his post career in LA. I am ready to act like the man is retired and move on and root for the players we do have.

Powerful and tempting mentality. We still have kevin love, cedi, and a promising Collin Sexton. Unfortunately I’m not sure cedi is going to become the ginobili type, but he gets more time in my book before judgement. So dear god and all that is good, let’s land that 1-2 pick, however we should brace ourselves for 3-5 (I think 5 is our floor?). Maybe I didn’t watch enough Duke and the zion/media shrouded RJ, but I’m just not as high on RJ.

 

[cavsfever]

What does that even mean?

it should be obvious -- he locked himself in for four years with the Lakers and doesn't even have a no-trade clause. The Lakers have complete legal ability to keep him there or trade him as they wish. Cavs, he always went with one year contracts and a no trade clause.

 

[The Human Q-Tip]

it should be obvious -- he locked himself in for four years with the Lakers and doesn't even have a no-trade clause. The Lakers have complete legal ability to keep him there or trade him as they wish. Cavs, he always went with one year contracts and a no trade clause.

It wasn't obvious because the Lakers were not permitted to put a no-trade clause in LBJ's contract.

The CBA is very strict in terms of when contracts may contain a no trade clause. The player must have 1) at least eight years of service, and 2) At least four of the years must have been with team with which the player is signing a contract with a no-trade clause.

LBJ was with the Cavs from 2003-2010. so when he came here in 2014, he met both 1) and 2) and so could have a no trade clause.

But the contract he signed with the Lakers was his first with them, so the Lakers were not permitted to have a no trade clause in his contract.

 

[BiGZD]

Incredible that IT is now so bad he didn't get a single minute of play in that 4OT game!

It's truly is so sad. I wish the trade would have worked out or if he didn't listen to the shitty Celtics doctors and had gotten surgery right away

 

[ShawnKempIsMyDad]

It's truly is so sad. I wish the trade would have worked out or if he didn't listen to the shitty Celtics doctors and had gotten surgery right away

Nope. Fuck IT. Especially after that video of him ragging on Cleveland. I’m glad that he’ll be out of the league in two years. The guy is a human garbage can.