LeBron James

[GTL]

Your fourth paragraph.....no disrespect? Thats pretty direspectful to our fanbase.

Superstars are well aware of the opportunities they have in large markets like LA. The context wasn't meant to show disrespect. LeBron didn't just come to Los Angeles to only play basketball, we all know this, he has like 50+ projects in the works, media, brand expansion, etc. It comes with the territory of the greatest player on the planet signing with the largest market outside of New York.

With that said, what you guys did in 2016 was probably the most amazing feat I've ever witnessed in the history of the game. So no disrespect here at all. The Cleveland franchise and the fans who never game up despite being down 3-1 to a 73 win team is exactly the type of fanbase the NBA needs.

 

[Cavatt]

D'Angelo Russel is better than most of the Young guys on the Lakers roster right now. The longer Ingram plays the worse he looks. Should have traded him this summer.

Ball is good, but his value is pretty limited because he doesn't fit on most teams.

I get the hype with Kuzma, but he isn't great. James always inflates the value of some of his big men. I mean Kuz is great right now the way Mcgee is great.

We'll see, but I will be shocked if Klay or Durant go to LA. I will be surprised if Butler did either. Probably depends on how the Sixer fair. Kawhi is a hard read but its been reported he does not want to play with James and there have been reports their relationship is basically nonexistent.

Not going all in for Kawhi was very dumb when he was on the trade market. What if Toronto beats GS? They won't be able to resign him?

Players have seen over and over again how your star power is no match for Lebron's no matter who you are. Wade took a backseat to the man in a franchise he "owned".

I just don't see any of the top guys going to LA. I think you are looking at 2nd tier dudes like Kemba potentially.

Even potential ring chasing vets like Marc Gasol is on a team on the upswing.

IF Golden state gets broken up somehow, it could happen. Maybe Jimmy Butler sees an opportunity. I think Bird in the hand really applies here though, and I think LA should have cashed in their chips before they lost value(which they have) in the Butler or Leonard trade.

 

[GTL]

D'Angelo Russel is better than most of the Young guys on the Lakers roster right now. The longer Ingram plays the worse he looks. Should have traded him this summer.

Ball is good, but his value is pretty limited because he doesn't fit on most teams.

I get the hype with Juzma, but he isn't great. James always inflates the value of some of his big men. I mean Kuz is great right now the way Mcgee is great.

We'll see, but I will be shocked if Klay or Durant go to LA. I will be surprised if Butler did either. Probably depends on how the Sixer fair. Kawhi is a hard read but its been reported he doe snot want to play with James and there have been reports their relationship is basically nonexistent.

Not going all in for Kawhi was very dumb when he was on the trade market. What if Toronto beats GS? They won't be able to resign him?

Players have seen over and over again how your star power is no mathc for Lebron's no matter who you are. Wade took a backseat to the man in a franchise he "owned".

I just don't see any of the top guys going to LA. I think you are looking at 2nd tier dudes like Kemba potentially.

Even potential ring chasing vets like Marc Gasol is on a team on the upswing.

IF Golden state gets broen up somehow, it could happen. Maybe Jimmy Butler sees an opportunity. I think Bird in the hand really applies here though, and I think LA should have cashed in their chips before they lost value(which they have) in the Butler or Leonard trade.

Russell showed promise...but if you were as entrenched on the behind the scenes nonsense that came with his lack of work ethic, laziness, or the garbage Hollywood drama (which we've had enough of here throughout the years), you would understand why Russell wasn't the future for this team. I wish him all the success with the Nets, but he's still an inconsistent player who may or may not show signs of being solid, in his 4th season.

Now with all that said, I will say this. The Lakers FO made an absolutely idiotic decision isolating and letting Julius Randle walk. He would have been a phenomenal piece next to LeBron. His upside was so high, and it's showing in NO where he's averaging 19 points, 10 boards, nearly 3 assists, while shooting 55% from the field, and 32% from 3. He was rightfully bothered by the fact that the Lakers wouldn't even look into signing him for 2 years, because it would affect the max contract situation in 2019. I actually agree with Jules there, having him on this roster right now would have provided a huge improvement at the starting PF position. You now have a starting five of:

Rondo/Ball
Ingram
LeBron
Randle
McGee

You have size, scoring, and enough length to actually defend.

Your second team would consistent of, Hart/KCP, Kuzma, Lance/LeBron, Chandler...that's a damn good 10 man rotation. Because of Luke's inconsistent shooting coaches, it would probably be best if the Lakers could muster up enough salary at that point to sign Klay in 2019, and you've got your secondary scorer/3 point specialist.

Of course, they let Randle walk, a guy who the fanbase here loved.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

Trade for AD and assume he's going to sign an extension, despite being a FA in 2020 and having more leverage...or keep the core together, that seem to be playing fairly well right now all considering, and look for other options this coming summer with your max space.....

Yes, on one hand, I would love AD next to James, but at the expense of gutting the roster? No thanks.

This is my problem though, you act like the Pelicans are just sitting there waiting for Magic to offer all these guys to finalize a deal when in reality a) based on all the info we have so far, AD isn't available b) plenty of other teams can comfortably beat that package. I think the only way AD ends up on the Lakers is if he forces his way there and threatens to not sign an extension with any team that tries to trade for him.

I get not wanting to "gut" your team, but you overrate your players, same as everybody else. If you had the opportunity to put a top-5 player and MVP candidate next to LeBron at the expense of some young players with upside, you do it 10/10.

I understand standing pat this year and waiting to see what happens with the Warriors/free agency in the summer. But if you strike out on all the A-list names, Magic had better be prepared to make some trades.

 

[cavsfever]

Trade for AD and assume he's going to sign an extension, despite being a FA in 2020 and having more leverage...or keep the core together, that seem to be playing fairly well right now all considering, and look for other options this coming summer with your max space.....

Yes, on one hand, I would love AD next to James, but at the expense of gutting the roster? No thanks. The Pelicans would absolutely listen if the Lakers offered Ingram, Ball, Kuzma, or at least two of the three and maybe Hart. But that's giving up too much for a team that has max space this coming summer.

If the Pelicans would actually take three out of the four of Ingram, Ball, Kuzma and Hart in exchange for AD (hint: they wouldn't) then the Lakers should JUMP ALL OVER THAT DEAL AND DO IT INSTANTLY before NO comes to their senses. That's a three dimes for a dollar type trade. None of those four are looking like they will ever be better than borderline all-stars at best, in fact none of them look like they are even a lock to make an all-star team in their career. And none of them are particularly young, they are all 21 or over which in contemporary NBA terms is not super young. They will improve but they would have to really transform to become major stars.

The Lakers roster beyond Lebron is OK at best, they would probably not be a West playoff team without him.

But I understand how Lakers fans are susceptible to magical thinking and fantasies, more than any other team in NBA history they have gotten bailed out by having superstars come to their team just to live in LA. And now it's happened again.

 

[GTL]

This is my problem though, you act like the Pelicans are just sitting there waiting for Magic to offer all these guys to finalize a deal when in reality a) based on all the info we have so far, AD isn't available b) plenty of other teams can comfortably beat that package. I think the only way AD ends up on the Lakers is if he forces his way there and threatens to not sign an extension with any team that tries to trade for him.

I get not wanting to "gut" your team, but you overrate your players, same as everybody else. If you had the opportunity to put a top-5 player and MVP candidate next to LeBron at the expense of some young players with upside, you do it 10/10.

I understand standing pat this year and waiting to see what happens with the Warriors/free agency in the summer. But if you strike out on all the A-list names, Magic had better be prepared to make some trades.

Maybe you're right.

But I look at it from a 2008 perspective.

If the Lakers were asked and agreed to give up Lamar, or Bynum, along with Kwame, Javaris Crittenton, and rights to brother Gasol (which turned out to be a solid deal for the Grizzlies in the long term btw), for Pau, would they still have been good enough to not only reach the finals that season, but get there 3 straight years..? As inconsistent as AB was, he was still a fairly big piece to those championship teams with his interior D. Lamar was always under appreciated.

Point I'm making is, gutting the team to get one more superstar in AD while possibly losing three young studs who seem to both enjoy playing with LeBron and vice versa, isn't a recipe for winning a championship, especially in the grueling WC. Still not good enough to beat GS, or I'd argue, even Denver, in a 7 game series if it's LeBron, AD and scrubs. The team needs to preserve its depth, and not give up on what they perceive to be solid young studs.

 

[GTL]

If the Pelicans would actually take three out of the four of Ingram, Ball, Kuzma and Hart in exchange for AD (hint: they wouldn't) then the Lakers should JUMP ALL OVER THAT DEAL AND DO IT INSTANTLY before NO comes to their senses. That's a three dimes for a dollar type trade. None of those four are looking like they will ever be better than borderline all-stars at best, in fact none of them look like they are even a lock to make an all-star team in their career. And none of them are particularly young, they are all 21 or over which in contemporary NBA terms is not super young. They will improve but they would have to really transform to become major stars.

The Lakers roster beyond Lebron is OK at best, they would probably not be a West playoff team without him.

But I understand how Lakers fans are susceptible to magical thinking and fantasies, more than any other team in NBA history they have gotten bailed out by having superstars come to their team just to live in LA. And now it's happened again.

The Lakers would absolutely NOT be a playoff team without LeBron...they were 35-47 last season...likely would be worse this season without Randle if LBJ weren't here. But this is assuming they would have made no other moves if James didn't end up coming. Of course, I believe LeBron has known his destination to be in LA for a while now. This obviously wasn't some spontaneous decision.

Most analysts see it differently. They believe the Lakers have a very talented young roster with a blend of solid vets. We're not healthy right now. Missing who is perceived to be our starting PG in Rondo and Ingram, who many consider the second option on this team.

The team was starting to show its potential when they were healthy, and I believe when the roster is back to health, will be good enough to muster out between 50-52 wins. I consider that a hell of an accomplishment.

 

[cavsfever]

The team was starting to show its potential when they were healthy, and I believe when the roster is back to health, will be good enough to muster out between 50-52 wins. I consider that a hell of an accomplishment.

Dude...this is a Cleveland Cavaliers board. All of us saw Lebron drag the rotting corpse of last year's Cavaliers team to 50 wins and the NBA Finals. That's close to the same team that is on track to win like 25 games this year. Those of us who are older saw Lebron drag horrible supporting casts to 60+ wins year after year.

It is not "a hell of an accomplishment" to win 50 games with Lebron on your team. In fact, winning 50 games with Lebron is fool's gold and doesn't really tell you shit about the rest of your roster. If you guys end up with 50 wins and don't at least make the Western Conference Finals and win multiple games against the Warriors in the playoffs, that should be a screaming signal that the rest of your team isn't all that good. Lebron is the most impactful player in NBA history. So far the Lakers are looking like a pretty average LBJ squad without all that much talent around him.

 

[MediumBaller]

The Lakers "young core" is overrated, imo, and that's coming from someone who wants them to be good because I want LeBron to succeed. Hart is my favorite out of them all. I like Kuzma too. He seems to fit well next to LeBron. I don't like Ingram at all and hope he gets traded. I'm not a big Lonzo fan either. Hard to see him doing anything big time if he doesn't develop a shot. I wish they had made a move for Kawhi.

 

[JayDD1972]

Id be quite happy and content never seeing the Lakers raise a 17th banner. Yankees, Lakers, Celtics....fans are entitled. Ill pass on wishing those teams any more success.

 

[GTL]

Dude...this is a Cleveland Cavaliers board. All of us saw Lebron drag the rotting corpse of last year's Cavaliers team to 50 wins and the NBA Finals. That's close to the same team that is on track to win like 25 games this year. Those of us who are older saw Lebron drag horrible supporting casts to 60+ wins year after year.

It is not "a hell of an accomplishment" to win 50 games with Lebron on your team. In fact, winning 50 games with Lebron is fool's gold and doesn't really tell you shit about the rest of your roster. If you guys end up with 50 wins and don't at least make the Western Conference Finals and win multiple games against the Warriors in the playoffs, that should be a screaming signal that the rest of your team isn't all that good. Lebron is the most impactful player in NBA history. So far the Lakers are looking like a pretty average LBJ squad without all that much talent around him.

And to be quite honest with you, from my perspective, it seems as though some of the responses I’ve gotten here have been fairly inconsistent. On one hand, you have people saying that the Lakers young core are at best average, so he’s lugging around a bunch of half scrubs (btw, he’s playing right now with second unit guys as starters as Rondo, Ingram, and McGee are all out. All starters).

On the other, you’re telling me that he’s got all this talent around him and 52 wins in the parity driven, grueling Western Conference isn’t an accomplishment.

Is that right?

Damn right he’s impactful, he’s averaging 27/7/7 in 34 minutes.....

......

Who argued that he WASN’T impactful?

Back to the point at hand. The Lakers are 2.5 games out of first place in the West. Denver, the first seed, is 20-9, and the defending champ Warriors are 21-10. The team that took GS to 7 and the brink last season are 15-14. Golden State without Curry for a few games is supposed to be a far more talented team then the Lakers. Yet, they didn’t do to well without their pride and joy. LeBron has been dealing with a team that has seen three of its starters out at various times, along with no backup center until we got Chandler.

Tell me again how the Lakers look “pretty average” by those standards?

Also, it’s one thing to win 52-57 games in the East, it’s another to do in the West. The fact that he was able to come here and put the team in this position is absolutely an accomplishment.

Finally, the Lakers have managed to win 57+ games a multitude of times in the last 18 years. I am not some ignoramus who isn’t knowledgeable about the game. I’ve loved this game since I was 3 years old.

 

[GTL]

Id be quite happy and content never seeing the Lakers raise a 17th banner. Yankees, Lakers, Celtics....fans are entitled. Ill pass on wishing those teams any more success.

We’re entitled because our franchise has built a winning team on 16 different occasions? Isn’t the exact goal of every sports franchise, you know, to hoist up trophies and hang up banners....?

 

[JayDD1972]

By entitled i mean you guys think every big FA wants to go there simply because its LA.and the Lakers history. We have been hearing for the last 10 years that every FA is going to the Lakers. The funny thing is they never go there. K. Love, George, numerous others. Their fans just expect it,,,entitled.

 

[David.]

We’re entitled because our franchise has built a winning team on 16 different occasions? Isn’t the exact goal of every sports franchise, you know, to hoist up trophies and hang up banners....?

Sure that's the goal of the franchise. What's not the goal of the franchise is for the fans to act like dipshits.

 

[GTL]

Sure that's the goal of the franchise. What's not the goal of the franchise is for the fans to act like dipshits.

This is the “Around the NBA” section of this message board, right?

Everyone here is defending their team of choice. I know where I am and who I represent. Just trying to provide an outside perspective. Don’t think that constitutes as being a “dipshit” fan.

I digress.