LeBron to LA

Sox Puppet

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 7, 2016
726
"LA probably out of the running for DeMarcus Cousins after using a good amount of cap space to retain Kentavious Caldwell-Pope."
Brilliant resource allocation from the team that brought you the Mozgov and Deng contracts ... LOL :)
 

jose melendez

Earl of Acie
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 23, 2003
31,092
Geneva, Switzerland
If there's not strong front office leadership by the Lakers, they are going to make a lot of bad front office decisions. Only the sheer magnitude of Reilly's personality prevented LeBron from taking Miami into the ground. I don't think Magic has the stones to tell LeBron things he doesn't want to hear.
 

Ed Hillel

Wants to be startin somethin
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2007
43,973
Here
Trading Brown for Kawhi fucks up our longterm cap picture, too. Pass.

I bet LeBron to LA increases the chances Kyrie sticks around, too. A shot to stick it to him as part of the sport’s greatest rivalry.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,037
Lebron's streak of consecutive NBA finals in serious jeopardy now.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,335
Boogie was an odd fit with an LBJ team unless he became more of a perimeter player. Since Potapenko, he's never really played with a back to the basket center.
Boogie has taken more than 5 threes a game each of the last two years---while there's reasons to worry about the fit (need for the ball, lack of attention to winning, personality) outside shooting isn't one of the big ones, imo. Effectively, he's already made the shfit you suggest (and I'd agree with you if we were talking about three years ago Boogie!)
 

mcpickl

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2007
4,547
Maybe this is a transitional year for Lebron/Lakers. They keep their young assets this season. Sign Kawhi next year. Deal assets for veterans next year.

KCP and now Brook Lopez, yuck
Lopez makes a lot of sense on a Lebron team. Having a 5 that can shoot suits him, and they need some size and don't have many options to acquire it.

If it's for the room exception, I like it for them.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,443
deep inside Guido territory
Boogie has taken more than 5 threes a game each of the last two years---while there's reasons to worry about the fit (need for the ball, lack of attention to winning, personality) outside shooting isn't one of the big ones, imo.
I get he's shot the ball from 3 more often and he's pretty good at it. I'm just not sure a big man who like you said needs the ball a lot would fit. Also with his Achilles how good would his mobility be?
 

Reardon's Beard

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 3, 2005
3,798
From the Twitter.

"The Cavaliers made everyone with floor seats sign deals this February that would lock them in for the next three seasons."
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
42,054
Well, I've been saying around here that Lebron was going to the Lakers for months. Least surprising signing ever. When the rumors about his family wanting to be out there started to surface, it sealed it for me. I thought Paul George was going to be joining him, so I was surprised to see him stay with OKC (and I'm still laughing at what a stupid decision that was, because that team will go nowhere as long as Melo is on the roster), but Kawhi isn't a bad consolation prize.

Even if the Lakers don't sign anyone else, Julius Randle, Lonzo Ball, Kuzma, Brandon Ingram, KCP, etc. is FAR, FAR more talented than the shitshow of castoffs on the Cavs that he just singlehandedly carried to the Finals. The Lakers won 35 games last year. If you put that Cavs team in the West, without Lebron, last year, I'm saying they wouldn't have won 25 games. Lebron can increase that win total from 35-50 by himself. You add Kawhi, and that team can compete with anyone in the West, IMO.

Bottom line, good riddance. Should enable Brad to rest his stars throughout the regular season, without fear of losing the #1 seed in the East, and hopefully, HOPEFULLY, we can get to the playoffs without the injury Gods taking a giant, steaming shit on top of our heads again.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,335
Brilliant resource allocation from the team that brought you the Mozgov and Deng contracts ... LOL :)
You know, I hate the Lakers as much as anyone. But I can't kill them for this set of moves. They are playing it halfway after striking out on PG13...they can keep their young assets, put two perimeter shooters who can defend around Lebron (KCP/Lopez) and the kids, and see what happens at deadline and during the year development-wise. That's far from a bad plan.

Boogie sounds great, but he's a coach-killer who has never shown any interest in team play or winning AND he's by far the largest guy ever hoping to come back from his injury. There's tons of reasons not to want to commit a ton of money to him right now.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,443
deep inside Guido territory
Stephen A on ESPNEWS said Magic did indeed meet with LeBron last night at 9:01 pm LA time for 3 hours. He says there is no opt out. Never met face to face in the 16 years they've known each other. LeBron knows this isn't a finished product.
 

bosockboy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
19,981
St. Louis, MO
Plausible scenario, Magic and LeBron realized this offseason it wasn’t going to come together fully. Keep trying for Kawhi, if not sign him next summer and trade assets then for a 3rd star. Did LeBron a solid by signing KCP for a year while they wait it out.
 

mcpickl

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 23, 2007
4,547
Plausible scenario, Magic and LeBron realized this offseason it wasn’t going to come together fully. Keep trying for Kawhi, if not sign him next summer and trade assets then for a 3rd star. Did LeBron a solid by signing KCP for a year while they wait it out.
I wouldn't close the door on this yet.

If Randle and San Antonio have mutual interest, would Ingram, Randle and two first round picks get Kawhi? Would they have to include Lonzo? If not, maybe Charlotte would take Lonzo for Kemba.

Might be able to entice Charlotte into Kuzma/Hart/Deng contract for Batum as well if Charlotte wanted to blow it up and get out of Batums deal.
 
Last edited:

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
54,037
Stephen A on ESPNEWS said Magic did indeed meet with LeBron last night at 9:01 pm LA time for 3 hours. He says there is no opt out. Never met face to face in the 16 years they've known each other. LeBron knows this isn't a finished product.
Of course, Stephen A also said he'd meet with 6 or 7 teams this offseason. Wonder how plugged in he is.
 

oumbi

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2006
4,183
I wouldn't close the door on this yet.

If Randle and San Antonio have mutual interest, would Ingram, Randle and two first round picks get Kawhi? Would they have to include Lonzo? If not, maybe Charlotte would take Lonzo for Kemba.
Whatever the price, it will be steep. I am not convinced Laker first round picks will carry all that much value for a few years. SAS maybe be able to get more from LA, assuming they trade Kawhi, by waiting and making James impatient.
 

bosockboy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
19,981
St. Louis, MO
I wouldn't close the door on this yet.

If Randle and San Antonio have mutual interest, would Ingram, Randle and two first round picks get Kawhi? Would they have to include Lonzo? If not, maybe Charlotte would take Lonzo for Kemba.
Yes keep trying, but knowing if they don’t get him they are comfortable waiting a year. Calling Pop’s bluff.
 

soxhop411

news aggravator
SoSH Member
Dec 4, 2009
46,456
So how many games into the season until lavar yells at lebron to stop being a ball hog and give his son the ball?
 

Eddie Jurak

canderson-lite
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2002
44,663
Melrose, MA
I'm still completely fascinated that big time players want to play with LeBron. He's great, your team will be good. But has a really good player ever come out looking better from playing with LeBron? Kyrie maybe? But in some ways LeBron hid how good he is. Bosch maybe?
I think this is just an artifact of the way LBJ has built his teams over the past 8 years. If he plays with LAL's current roster (unlikely), I think it will work out well for Ball, Ingram, Randle.
 

Manzivino

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
7,147
MA
Well, I've been saying around here that Lebron was going to the Lakers for months. Least surprising signing ever. When the rumors about his family wanting to be out there started to surface, it sealed it for me. I thought Paul George was going to be joining him, so I was surprised to see him stay with OKC (and I'm still laughing at what a stupid decision that was, because that team will go nowhere as long as Melo is on the roster), but Kawhi isn't a bad consolation prize.
<snip>
Stupid for OKC, right? Because from where I’m sitting Paul George just locked in $137M while avoiding the LA media and having zero expectations of winning. If he goes to LA and they don’t win it’s his fault (LeBron can’t do it on his own!); in OKC it’ll always be “Is Russ too selfish?”. He can always chase rings later.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,443
deep inside Guido territory
It’s his prerogative and what not, but that’s a lot of money, and if he pretends he’s injured and I’m the Spurs, I’d sue him for it.
They'd be able to fine him if it comes to it. I'm of the belief that there is even less incentive for the Spurs to trade him to LA now that LeBron is there. If the offers are even close to equal, Pop is not going to help the Lakers.
 

jose melendez

Earl of Acie
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 23, 2003
31,092
Geneva, Switzerland
I think this is just an artifact of the way LBJ has built his teams over the past 8 years. If he plays with LAL's current roster (unlikely), I think it will work out well for Ball, Ingram, Randle.
Maybe, but if they come up short who takes the blame? Certainly seems better to be an up and comer than a vet alongside him. I’m amazed Kevin love never tweeted at him to fuck off.
 

jose melendez

Earl of Acie
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 23, 2003
31,092
Geneva, Switzerland
They'd be able to fine him if it comes to it. I'm of the belief that there is even less incentive for the Spurs to trade him to LA now that LeBron is there. If the offers are even close to equal, Pop is not going to help the Lakers.
I ask for pretty much all of the Lakers young talent if I’m Pop. Picks as little me as lbj is there will be garbage. A lot of this is wishful thinking on my part, but I think pop might be old school enough to not trade him there out of spite.
 

Deathofthebambino

Drive Carefully
SoSH Member
Apr 12, 2005
42,054
Stupid for OKC, right? Because from where I’m sitting Paul George just locked in $137M while avoiding the LA media and having zero expectations of winning. If he goes to LA and they don’t win it’s his fault (LeBron can’t do it on his own!); in OKC it’ll always be “Is Russ too selfish?”. He can always chase rings later.
Stupid for both sides, IMO. I would hope that Paul George actually wants to win, and that ain't gonna happen in OKC. No fucking chance. They are going to sit in NBA mediocrity for years and years and years, exactly where you don't want to be, and their luxury tax situation is so fucked that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. If Paul George is just worried about cashing a pay check, and doesn't care about winning and losing, then sure, I guess it's good for him. I just don't buy it. I think he somehow thinks they can win.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,443
deep inside Guido territory
I ask for pretty much all of the Lakers young talent if I’m Pop. Picks as little me as lbj is there will be garbage. A lot of this is wishful thinking on my part, but I think pop might be old school enough to not trade him there out of spite.
Exactly. Their young players outside of Ingram aren't going to be building blocks for the next good Spurs team and their picks are going to be in the 20's.
 

Sam Ray Not

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
8,871
NYC
that team will go nowhere as long as Melo is on the roster
That could be a matter of days. A buyout and stretch of Melo's contract saves them something like $50M in taxes, and is likely addition by subtraction on the floor.

Obviously a curious decision for PG. Props I guess to some combo of Westbrook and Presti's powers of persuasion, and/or the dubious enticement of getting "sonned" 24-7 by LeBron.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,797
I find it hard to believe LeBron would sign with the Lakers without some form of guarantee that other stars are coming soon; whether that is Boogie, Kawhi, or someone else. That doesn’t mean things can’t break down and LeBron ends up on a team without a lot of supporting help. If I’m LeBron the last thing I want to do is be on a team where I have to kill myself in all 82 games just to get a decent record.

The big thing for him is that it’s really title or bust. The Laker fans are almost the exact opposite of Cavs fans when it comes to their expectations for the team over their respective existences. They won’t be satisfied just by witnessing greatness.
 

E5 Yaz

polka king
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 25, 2002
90,482
Oregon
I don't know. Probably. But adding Kawhi to this could could mean Banner #18.
Trading for a player who only wants to be somewhere else, and given up strong assets to do so, doesn't seem like smart business practice to me
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,272
Brilliant resource allocation from the team that brought you the Mozgov and Deng contracts ... LOL :)
KCP is part of LeBron's teams representation. There is a greater than zero chance that LeBron signing was contingent on bringing on KCP for at least the one-year as he was a prime candidate to get squeezed out of this summers FA marker. It gets his guy paid this year, adds a quality player for LeBron this year, allows him to hit a more open FA market next summer while opening up a full max for Kawhi assuming SA doesn't deal him to LA this summer. It's a win-win-win!