LeBron to LA

HowBoutDemSox

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HomeRunBaker

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So did LeBron help orchestrate the Lakers bailout at the trade deadline to set himself up this summer?
No I think Magic did that knowing what was at stake. The same reason why he's signing veterans on 1-year deals knowing what is at stake next summer with Kawhi.
 

mcpickl

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Jul 23, 2007
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Seems to me it is more true that signing a four-year deal leaves open the possibility that Lebron did NOT obtain any commitment about trading young players and is open to possibly growing with them. I say that because if his goal was to get those guys dealt, it seems far more likely he'd have insisted on it happening first, or at least on a different contract mechanism with more opt-outs, since he surely could have gotten any one he wanted.

I don't disagree that he may have an understanding with the team about such a trade, mind you...I just think logically the longer deal suggests he doesn't require it rather than that it does.
Contracts can only have one opt-out, and it's only for the final year of the deal.
 

djbayko

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No I think Magic did that knowing what was at stake. The same reason why he's signing veterans on 1-year deals knowing what is at stake next summer with Kawhi.
It's no mystery why Magic did it. I read that question as "Did Lebron help orchestrate the bailout from the Cleveland side?" It's a popular assumption on many basketball forums.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Now I really wanna see NO swoop in (somehow) and get Kawhi.

Holiday-Kawhi-AD plus parts would crush the LOLakers.
 

Sox Puppet

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This is working out well for us. LeBron is surrounding himself with guys who can't shoot. He'll be able to build himself a third home in LA with all the bricks put up by Lonzo, Rajon, and KCP.
 

DJnVa

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Rondo is more of a 20-25 minute guy now anyway. That may be the case, but I don't think it necessarily is.
He was at 26/game last year, but perhaps he’s agreeing to come in and play backup to Lonzo.
 
So I think they'd be better off moving Ball to another team and get a quality shooter in return. In all honesty, maybe trying to move Ball for Trae Young would be a solid move for them, but I don't know that Atlanta would do that. Not sure what else Atlanta would need in order to take that trade. But that's the kind of player that I think LA would need - a great shooter and playmaker that probably can operate without being ball-dominant, even though he was clearly ball-dominant at Oklahoma.
The hardest of hard passes. (From the Atlanta perspective.)
 

HomeRunBaker

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He was at 26/game last year, but perhaps he’s agreeing to come in and play backup to Lonzo.
This is Bron's team now.......even if Ball is in LA to start the year I can't imagine HIS guy backing up LaVar's kid.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Lakers have $5.6m left in cap space following the Randle and Rondo moves. This seems like an ideal landing spot for Carmelo on a 1-year deal after OKC stretches him which has to happen with nearly $100m at stake to the Thunder.

Edit: Boogie to play post-ASB and playoffs for $5.6m? Seems strange.
 

Kliq

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Yeah, I assume LeBron knows what is going into, but damn, I wouldn't be shocked if this ends up going sideways.

Also:

 

The Needler

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Rajon has shot over 35% from 3 in 2 of the last 3 years. 33% in the other. He's much better than he was here.
I wouldn't go so far as to say "much better." He's been better from three, but he's been worse than he was here on non-3pt jump shots (32% from 10ft to 3pt line in the last two years) is shooting under 47% from 2-pt (compared to 49% here), and 56% from FT (compared to 61% here) since he left.

Still plenty of bricks to go around.
 

Auger34

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Do Magic and Pelinka think this team will compete? My god, I hope they don’t...every signing after LeBron has been questionable at best
 

benhogan

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Kemba Walker would work. He's been rumored to be on the block, plays like Kyrie-lite, and would be a nice fit with Bron.

Lakers add 2 veteran shooters in Kemba/Marvin Williams for Lonzo/Kuzma/Deng. Charlotte gets 2 youngsters, starts re-build, but has to eat some salary. Who says NO?
looks like Lakers say NO

I kind of get what they are doing, I guess???

Maybe Spurs capitulate and offer Kawhi for Ball, Ingram, Randle(S/T) (Sixers would be nuts to pay more than that for a Kawhi rental). If Lakers get Kawhi its game on, GFIN mode.

If Pop doesn't play along with Magic...

Lakers let the youngsters ripen, see what they have with these 1yr players, Deng' contract shrinks, and Lebron lowers his MPG & focuses on health/body.

July'19: The Warriors a year older. Lakers sign Kawhi and Klay(from LA/family Laker ties), Lonzo/Ingram/Kuzma/Hart a year older/better
 
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Ed Hillel

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Rondo in a competition with Lonzo and Lavar lololol. This is gonna be ridiculous.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Do Magic and Pelinka think this team will compete? My god, I hope they don’t...every signing after LeBron has been questionable at best
Well of course they are going to compete just not at the Warriors level until next season. There are a limited number of vet FA willing to sign for 1-year. Magic has added decent talent to the mix despite being (self) handcuffed to only have 1-year deals on the table. What is so questionable about using their space on expiring contracts to be able to go all in next summer? There is still the trade market plus the draft picks which will surely be included in deals at some point.
 

GoDa

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No way can he take this motley collection of misfits up against the Golden State All Stars.

Lebron just wants to live in LA and chill.
 

bosockboy

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looks like Lakers say NO

I kind of get what they are doing, I guess???

Maybe Spurs capitulate and offer Kawhi for Ball, Ingram, Randle(S/T) (Sixers would be nuts to pay more than that for a Kawhi rental). If Lakers get Kawhi its game on, GFIN mode.

If Pop doesn't play along with Magic...

Lakers let the youngsters ripen, see what they have with these 1yr players, Deng' contract shrinks, and Lebron lowers his MPG & focuses on health/body.

July'19: The Warriors a year older. Lakers sign Kawhi and Klay(from LA/family Laker ties), Lonzo/Ingram/Kuzma/Hart a year older/better
Would they have two max slots next summer?
 

TripleOT

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Would they have two max slots next summer?
If the renounce everyone but LBJ and rookie Wagner, and manage to offload Deng, they will have only $38m in salaries, not counting draft cap holds. Next year's cap $108 million. If the player options on Ball, Kuzma, Ingram and Hart are exercised, they have room for one $32m free agent.
 

Van Everyman

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I'm weirdly kind of happy for Rondo doing this. I've always loved him -- his competitiveness and play when the lights are brightest kind of represent everything I love about the NBA. The quote from Kobe about him puts it best (and remains the one thing that softens me on Kobe a bit):

"You don't want Rondo? Send him my way," Kobe declared. "I love everything about him. Everything. I love his attitude, I love his chippiness, his edge, his intellect, his know-it-allness. All of it. That's what makes championship players.

"What guard have you seen at his size that will get you 18 assists, 17 boards and 20 points all in one game? That's unheard of. I love that kid. I always make a point of talking to him during All-Star [Weekend]. He's one of my favorites."
Yes, it kind of stinks for a guy who is still obviously really proud of his Celtics heritage (just watch "Anything is Possible: The Story of the 2008 Celtics") to be headed to the Lakers. But this guy deserves another chance to play for a ring -- as he proved with the NOP last year (and Bulls the year before), he remains a terrific facilitator around elite guys. Plus, all things considered this is def. better than him going somewhere in the East with Lebron. We're only going to see him a few times a year.