LeBron James

[GTL]

Which of their current starters wins the matchup? Lebron and who else? Depth doesn't do anything against GS.

Mcgee would be your 2nd best player and that is why you need to trade all of your young talent for someone else.

Personally I don't think AD gets traded and the Lakers missed their shot at Kawhi. I think there was a chance of keeping him if they had gotten him in the summer.

Reason I haven't mentioned Kawhi is because I tend to believe the exact same thing, that the Lakers are not on his list of destinations. Honestly, I think Toronto is probably the best option for him. He may be intrigued by the Clippers, though knowing Kawhi, he would prefer a low key destination over LA.

All considering, Kawhi and LeBron on the same team together? Yikes.

McGee has been a solid serviceable big man, but second best player?

 

[Cavatt]

Reason I haven't mentioned Kawhi is because I tend to believe the exact same thing, that the Lakers are not on his list of destinations. Honestly, I think Toronto is probably the best option for him. He may be intrigued by the Clippers, though knowing Kawhi, he would prefer a low key destination over LA.

All considering, Kawhi and LeBron on the same team together? Yikes.

McGee has been a solid serviceable big man, but second best player?

Against Golden State, yeah. They will shit on those other guys IMO. They are vulnerable to guys like him. I mean who do you think will perform the best against them? The first game is next week, so we can keep track and see who performed well.

 

[GTL]

Against Golden State, yeah. They will shit on those other guys IMO. They are vulnerable to guys like him. I mean who do you think will perform the best against them? The first game is next week, so we can keep track and see who performed well.

The only indication I'm going to use are two pre-season games they played in October 10th and 12th against each other. They lost the game on the 10th, but Ingram didn't play. Kuzma had 19 on 6-13 shooting. They won on the 12th, Ingram played and had 26, attacking the basket and going 15-17 from the FT line. Kuzma had 22 that game.

Ingram is set to return against NO on Friday. Not sure how well he's going to do a few games back from injury. But I do expect Kuzma to have a solid outing. I also think Ball will continue benefiting from our current style of play and perform well. But if I had to choose one guy, I'm picking Kuz.

This is of course taking James out of the equation.

 

[cavsfever]

Ingram/Kuzma/Ball are good players, they are headed for being above average NBA players, but I'm not seeing any evidence that that any of them would be capable of being the second best person on a championship team. You need that kind of player, especially as Lebron ages. Now if they were going to be solid all-star players I could see the case for preserving them and hoping to hit it lucky in free agency, but it also seems very unclear that they are going to reach consistent all-star level. They aren't looking that way right now. Ingram has the most tantalizing ceiling but he is in his third year and usually by that time players who are going to be great show more signs than he has.

Literally any players below all-star level you should give up for Anthony Davis. Role players are replaceable, guys like Anthony Davis are special. So far Ingram/Kuzma/Ball are looking like "pretty good but replaceable".

But it's all academic because NO is not going to give up AD for Ingram/Kuzma/Ball and all of the Lakers draft picks in perpetuity.

 

[JMoneyYourHoney]

I'll just say, it's reprehensible how the NBA and media are trying to drive Davis out of New Orleans the same way they did with LeBron in Cleveland.

Rather than focus on what New Orleans needs to do to get back to the playoffs or become a contender, every attention-grabbing headline is how LeBron wants Davis or why Davis should go to L.A.

This is why many casual fans have become disgusted with the "sport" and begun turning away; small markets have become nothing but poaching grounds for big city magnates and the putrid media is what drives it.

Want to tell Pelicans fans, we know how it feels...

 

[GTL]

Ingram/Kuzma/Ball are good players, they are headed for being above average NBA players, but I'm not seeing any evidence that that any of them would be capable of being the second best person on a championship team. You need that kind of player, especially as Lebron ages. Now if they were going to be solid all-star players I could see the case for preserving them and hoping to hit it lucky in free agency, but it also seems very unclear that they are going to reach consistent all-star level. They aren't looking that way right now. Ingram has the most tantalizing ceiling but he is in his third year and usually by that time players who are going to be great show more signs than he has.

Literally any players below all-star level you should give up for Anthony Davis. Role players are replaceable, guys like Anthony Davis are special. So far Ingram/Kuzma/Ball are looking like "pretty good but replaceable".

But it's all academic because NO is not going to give up AD for Ingram/Kuzma/Ball and all of the Lakers draft picks in perpetuity.

Look, you may very well be correct in your assessment. I've talked to scouts who have the opposite to say about Ball and Kuzma, calling Kuzma the steal of the draft. Some people have called Ingram a poor mans Durant, and I don't take that as a compliment honestly. Maybe you're right about one of them, possibly even two. But all three? I don't think so. There is enough talent in all three of those guys combined that would absolutely intrigue the Pelicans into taking them on. Plus first round picks? No doubt about it, they are all over that trade.

It's Magic and the Lakers who would be trying to offer less. It isn't that they wouldn't necessarily make that trade, it's that they are high on all three, specifically Ball and Kuzma, to give up all three, as well as a possible filler, and future first round picks. It's so much. Rather then look at these guys from a narrow perspective, imagine their potential...and how much that means to the franchise. Of course all our eggs are now in the LeBron basket, but the team can't continue giving up on all their draft picks. Year after year, that's all they seem to do.

At this point, if I'm Ball, Kuz, and BI, I'm uncomfortable at home as the franchise seems to be teetering on getting rid of them before they can even showcase what they can do on a regular basis. The team is just starting to get into gear, and this is with multiple injuries to starters. No McGee, no Ingram, no Rondo. Once again, the Lakers COULD have been in first or second place in the West right now if everyone had been healthy from the start.

Not sure why everyone thinks this is a dire strait situation when the Lakers are a desirable location for any FA, despite what the media says, and have enough cap space to sign anyone from the superstar laden FA class of next summer.

 

[GTL]

I'll just say, it's reprehensible how the NBA and media are trying to drive Davis out of New Orleans the same way they did with LeBron in Cleveland.

Rather than focus on what New Orleans needs to do to get back to the playoffs or become a contender, every attention-grabbing headline is how LeBron wants Davis or why Davis should go to L.A.

This is why many casual fans have become disgusted in the "sport" and begun turning away; small markets have become nothing but poaching grounds for big city magnates and the putrid media is what drives it.

Want to tell Pelicans fans, we know how it feels...

You're not wrong, and I'm one of the many fans who doesn't want the franchise to gut its roster to bring another superstar here. I'd rather just wait and do it the right way, sign a FA who actually wants to be here. If nobody comes, so be it, at least it was through free agency via our cap space. I'm also a bit tired of the team always trading away all its draft picks. They haven't let anyone of their picks develop properly for them in recent years. It would be nice to actually keep our guys for once.

 

[JayDD1972]

I'll just say, it's reprehensible how the NBA and media are trying to drive Davis out of New Orleans the same way they did with LeBron in Cleveland.

Rather than focus on what New Orleans needs to do to get back to the playoffs or become a contender, every attention-grabbing headline is how LeBron wants Davis or why Davis should go to L.A.

This is why many casual fans have become disgusted with the "sport" and begun turning away; small markets have become nothing but poaching grounds for big city magnates and the putrid media is what drives it.

Want to tell Pelicans fans, we know how it feels...

Its appalling. I hope he stays right where he is at. LA doesnt deserve him.

 

[GTL]

Its appalling. I hope he stays right where he is at. LA doesnt deserve him.

“Deserve” is subjective...the franchise has managed to win 10 NBA Championships in just the last 38 years, in a total of 16 NBA Finals appearances.

They’ve worked hard to build winners, even if you believe one of those seasons was tainted, your opinion, your belief.

Surely the franchise has been on a 90’s type slump since 2011, but thankfully, are at least back in winning form now.

I would personally prefer the team waits until next summer to test the waters and try their luck on a FA.

 

[godfather]

I'll just say, it's reprehensible how the NBA and media are trying to drive Davis out of New Orleans the same way they did with LeBron in Cleveland.

Rather than focus on what New Orleans needs to do to get back to the playoffs or become a contender, every attention-grabbing headline is how LeBron wants Davis or why Davis should go to L.A.

This is why many casual fans have become disgusted with the "sport" and begun turning away; small markets have become nothing but poaching grounds for big city magnates and the putrid media is what drives it.

Want to tell Pelicans fans, we know how it feels...

The NBA might as well not even exist. This is just pathetic. All the great players in the league run to a few teams in the league.

The product is terrible right now. In case you've not notice, there's a lot of really shitty teams around the league.

In a weird way I almost root for this to happen because it will make the league even more unwatchable, ratings will continue to drop.

Then just maybe, maybe, the idiots running the league might realize that majority of Americans don't live in California, and are in bed, or drunk at a bar by the time these games are on and not even watching to begin with.

And maybe, realize parity is actually better going forward.

 

[K1rieIrving>AllOtherPG's]

And so it begins, coaches on the hot sit, everyone on the roster being looked at as temporary players or as trade pieces or assets..

Kawhi already said he doesn’t want to play with LeBron, Paul George didn’t want to play with LeBron, Kevin Durant is shitting on LeBron daily in the media calling him toxic, so Davis is his last hope.

I hope LeBron gets nothing, I hope he plays 4 years with the roster he started with, Lonzo, Ingram, Kuzma, Hart... LeBron just can’t help it, he has to put this stuff out there and be passive aggressive, he doesn’t care how his public comments about trading for Davis effects the guys he’s playing with now, such a douche move.

 

[Ethan]

Lebron is the ultimate control freak. Bosh didnt like playing with him, Kyrie didnt want to play with him, Love tolerated him and Wade invited him to his wedding lol. Cant renigg after that lol

 

[JayDD1972]

Arent the Pelicans in the thick of the Playoff picture? Why is this even being talked about by Lebron or the media? Anthony Davis has never gave one inkling that he is unhappy in NO. Never said he wants traded. This is the exact same thing the media started last year with Lebron. Lebron saying that right now is wrong on so many levels. Doesnt surprise me though.

 

[godfather]

And so it begins, coaches on the hot sit, everyone on the roster being looked at as temporary players or as trade pieces or assets..

Kawhi already said he doesn’t want to play with LeBron, Paul George didn’t want to play with LeBron, Kevin Durant is shitting on LeBron daily in the media calling him toxic, so Davis is his last hope.

I hope LeBron gets nothing, I hope he plays 4 years with the roster he started with, Lonzo, Ingram, Kuzma, Hart... LeBron just can’t help it, he has to put this stuff out there and be passive aggressive, he doesn’t care how his public comments about trading for Davis effects the guys he’s playing with now, such a douche move.

Should come to no surprise. He can never just go somewhere, shut up, and play.

He's a fantastic player, but man is he constant whiner and complainer. I honestly don't really miss him and the drama he brings.

I'm not a LB hater. I'm grateful he came back and won. But after our window closed, I was ready to move on.

The last few years of him here really wasn't that much fun for me.

 

[godfather]

Arent the Pelicans in the thick of the Playoff picture? Why is this even being talked about by Lebron or the media? Anthony Davis has never gave one inkling that he is unhappy in NO. Never said he wants traded. This is the exact same thing the media started last year with Lebron. Lebron saying that right now is wrong on so many levels. Doesnt surprise me though.

Won't matter. They're going to try to squeeze him out of there. This is clearly done by deliberate.

This is so shady and bad for the league. They want their darling Lakers to be relevant.

Eventually Davis might just cave to the pressure put to get him out.