Yup, they probably won't consider it, which I suppose is good for us, since they'll be stuck treading water for a long time in that case.LA doesn’t trade away stars. They would never seriously consider trading LeBron. What they’ll do is re-shuffle the chairs on the deck of the Titanic a million times.
When Kuzma thinks that you don't play enough defense.This is so great.
Who could trade for LeBron though? It would have to be a team with at least two, impressive young assets, plus draft picks, and still have a star player or two so LeBron knows he is going to have support. Plus they would probably have to be in the Eastern Conference because if the Lakers were in the East this year, he would probably be the 5th or 6th seed.They won't consider trading Lebron, but they should if if they miss out in free agency this summer. They don't have any bad long-term contracts on the books and Lonzo/Ingram/Kuzma is an okay starting point for a rebuilding franchise. Add a lottery pick this year and what would be an absolute haul in any hypothetical Lebron trade and they'd be well on their way to a legit rebuild. Fans would probably be okay with it, too; that city just isn't taking to Lebron like many expected.
I could watch that on loop for 10 minutes. Lol. Fantastic.#PlayoffModeActivated
Well one team certainly comes to mind.Who could trade for LeBron though? It would have to be a team with at least two, impressive young assets, plus draft picks, and still have a star player or two so LeBron knows he is going to have support. Plus they would probably have to be in the Eastern Conference because if the Lakers were in the East this year, he would probably be the 5th or 6th seed.
You can always do the Brooklyn special, and offer unprotecteds for after your window will have closed. Maginka might not have enough job security for that variant though.Who could trade for LeBron though? It would have to be a team with at least two, impressive young assets, plus draft picks, and still have a star player or two so LeBron knows he is going to have support. Plus they would probably have to be in the Eastern Conference because if the Lakers were in the East this year, he would probably be the 5th or 6th seed.
Me too. It's the exact same "FML" face he makes in that other classic LeBron clip from the 2014 Finals where he looks over at the Spurs bench and sees Kawhi getting ready to check to back in.I could watch that on loop for 10 minutes. Lol. Fantastic.
The Knicks would be a hilarious choice.Who could trade for LeBron though? It would have to be a team with at least two, impressive young assets, plus draft picks, and still have a star player or two so LeBron knows he is going to have support. Plus they would probably have to be in the Eastern Conference because if the Lakers were in the East this year, he would probably be the 5th or 6th seed.
It's an excellent thought experiment. Houston and Philly are typically aggressive and would have the need, but they are far enough in their window that they lack the young players and draft assets to really put together a good offer. Boston, of course, makes sense on paper, but the Lakers and Celtics would be unlikely to do that deal for a variety of reasons. The Knicks have the assets and probably the need as well, but a lot of pieces would have to fall into place this summer to make that viable. After that you get teams like Dallas, Chicago, Milwaukee and Denver, all of whom might have interest, but probably won't interest Lebron. It's not an easy fit anywhere, but teams would get very creative if the Lakers really acted like they were courting offers (which they won't).Who could trade for LeBron though? It would have to be a team with at least two, impressive young assets, plus draft picks, and still have a star player or two so LeBron knows he is going to have support. Plus they would probably have to be in the Eastern Conference because if the Lakers were in the East this year, he would probably be the 5th or 6th seed.
The Lakers won 35 games last year and are on pace for 38 this year, so not tangibly different. Lebron did miss a chunk of time so it's not a totally fair comparison but they haven't been lighting the world on fire since his return either.... the Lakers had a better record without him than with him. LeBron's Lakers aren't there yet, but it's been a clusterfuck ever since he answered Magic's midnight knock on his door.
I love rondo forever. I hope he's our Rozier replacement next yearLakers 24-23 with LeBron. 30-35 overall. Lakers give up 43 points at home in the first quarter against the Nuggets and lose by 16. Rondo finishes the game sitting ten seats away from the rest of the team at the end of the game. Lakers play without their Young Three, aka the future core of the 39 win Pelicans.
LeBron passes MJ on the all time scoring list.
I love Rondo too. If he bought in, I'd love to see him a backup PG for the Celtics as they try for another title the next few years.I love rondo forever. I hope he's our Rozier replacement next year
Too bad he couldn't be our Rozier replacement this yearI love rondo forever. I hope he's our Rozier replacement next year
Lebron and Blake likely have those spots on the third team already wrapped upIs it possible that LeBron doesn't make an All-NBA team? He is already imo looking at All-NBA Third Team behind Giannis, Durant, George and Leonard. I'm not sure if anyone can bump him off the third team but if he plays under 30 mpg the rest of the way and misses some more games, it could get interesting. If Detroit keeps playing well I could see Blake making it; then it would be maybe Jimmy Butler? Draymond? Siakam? Bojan Bogdanovic? I'm probably dreaming.
Lakers brass are definitely focused on the important uses of their time:Lakers 24-23 with LeBron. 30-35 overall. Lakers give up 43 points at home in the first quarter against the Nuggets and lose by 16. Rondo finishes the game sitting ten seats away from the rest of the team at the end of the game. Lakers play without their Young Three, aka the future core of the 39 win Pelicans.
LeBron passes MJ on the all time scoring list.
Not all numbers are created equal. Before the injury, he was strongly impacting winning whiile putting up those numbers. Since the return, the numbers are there, but it's looking a lot more like "big stats on a losing team."He's still averaging like 27/9/8, and his rebounds and assists are at or near career highs, so I don't know.
James may be the best physical specimen of that group. But he had the more physical wear and tear in his career than those guys as well. I think he can play at a high level for a while.Obviously not at his usual high levels. If the Lakers can get him help.Is now the right time to point out that Lebron is 34 years old and suffered a significant injury this season? Would it be worth also mentioning that Kobe's last effective season was his age 34 season? That Jordan retired (second time) at age 34? That Bird *should* have retired at 34?
Bird had a history of a bad back. Kobe had a history of a bad knee. I don't know that Lebron has anything really comparable. From what I've seen of him this year, the bigger danger seems to be that he's mentally checking out of games/plays. He's won a championship, has nothing to prove, and it's conceivable that the game just doesn't inspire him to play as hard now.Is now the right time to point out that Lebron is 34 years old and suffered a significant injury this season? Would it be worth also mentioning that Kobe's last effective season was his age 34 season? That Jordan retired (second time) at age 34? That Bird *should* have retired at 34?
Regular season LeBron has cruised on the defensive side for a few seasons.Bird had a history of a bad back. Kobe had a history of a bad knee. I don't know that Lebron has anything really comparable. From what I've seen of him this year, the bigger danger seems to be that he's mentally checking out of games/plays. He's won a championship, has nothing to prove, and it's conceivable that the game just doesn't inspire him to play as hard now.
Oh I gotcha, but this is the media voting...Not all numbers are created equal. Before the injury, he was strongly impacting winning whiile putting up those numbers. Since the return, the numbers are there, but it's looking a lot more like "big stats on a losing team."
Between the missed time and shit performance since he's been back, I don't think he should be All-NBA this year.
True, although the media vibe this year doesn’t seem hugely pro-LeBron.Oh I gotcha, but this is the media voting...
Lebron doesn't have the catastrophic or chronic injuries that Kobe or Bird had, and it's not the 1980s or 1990s anymore. Guys playing until 40 and beyond are not unicorns these days. Nutrition, weight training, massage/PT, arthroscopy/orthopedics, and *cough* supplements changed the game.Bird had a history of a bad back. Kobe had a history of a bad knee. I don't know that Lebron has anything really comparable. From what I've seen of him this year, the bigger danger seems to be that he's mentally checking out of games/plays. He's won a championship, has nothing to prove, and it's conceivable that the game just doesn't inspire him to play as hard now.
I agree with this. The conventional knowledge in the 80s was heavy, muscular players could not last, leapers could not last.Lebron doesn't have the catastrophic or chronic injuries that Kobe or Bird had, and it's not the 1980s or 1990s anymore. Guys playing until 40 and beyond are not unicorns these days. Nutrition, weight training, massage/PT, arthroscopy/orthopedics, and *cough* supplements changed the game.
If Lebron burns out mentally, he could change course. And catastrophe is possible for anyone. But despite his mileage, there's no reason to think that he doesn't have five years in the tank at least.
LBJ isn’t going to bounce back from injury as quickly as a younger player. All of us underestimated the significance of that groin injury. That said, it’s the first significant injury of his career. I’m not ready to call this the beginning of the end — he looked good before the injury. Like @Jimbodandy I think LBJ has 4 or 5 good years left, though I expect the gap between regular-season and postseason LBJ to continue to widen — I’ll be shocked if he wins another MVP award.Is now the right time to point out that Lebron is 34 years old and suffered a significant injury this season? Would it be worth also mentioning that Kobe's last effective season was his age 34 season? That Jordan retired (second time) at age 34? That Bird *should* have retired at 34?
I hope that most reasonable Lakers fans expected this year to be a building year and will reserve judgment until after the draft and free agency periods close. It would be asinine to expect contention for a championship this year.I wonder how Laker fans feel about Lebron. He co-opts their franchise, loads the roster up with old retreads, shits on the young core in public, and leads the team to the bottom of the draft lottery. This will be the Lakers' sixth losing season in a row, and seventh in the last eight years. They only had seven previous losing seasons since they moved to LA in 1961.
Should they have rounded out the roster with undrafted free agents instead?I wonder how Laker fans feel about Lebron. He co-opts their franchise, loads the roster up with old retreads, shits on the young core in public, and leads the team to the bottom of the draft lottery. This will be the Lakers' sixth losing season in a row, and seventh in the last eight years. They only had seven previous losing seasons since they moved to LA in 1961.
It has been a BIG last few months for the Kobe>LeBron Laker fans out there.I wonder how Laker fans feel about Lebron. He co-opts their franchise, loads the roster up with old retreads, shits on the young core in public, and leads the team to the bottom of the draft lottery. This will be the Lakers' sixth losing season in a row, and seventh in the last eight years. They only had seven previous losing seasons since they moved to LA in 1961.
Maybe they could have found some vets who could shoot. In hindsight, they would probably have been better off with G league players than head cases like Beasley and Stephenson.Should they have rounded out the roster with undrafted free agents instead?
LebIt has been a BIG last few months for the Kobe>LeBron Laker fans out there.
Kobe's last four years were a disgrace, but at least they got prime Kobe and some rings.It has been a BIG last few months for the Kobe>LeBron Laker fans out there.
I was interested in the numbers here.Lebron doesn't have the catastrophic or chronic injuries that Kobe or Bird had, and it's not the 1980s or 1990s anymore. Guys playing until 40 and beyond are not unicorns these days.
Do you mean Lakers fans, or Kobe fans? It's hard to make a distinction anymore and the latter didn't really care for Lebron to begin with and this season hasn't done a lot to change their minds. On the whole they are still kind of in the honeymoon phase with the Lebron experience, but if this summer goes poorly the knives will be out for Lebron and Klutch. They won't turn against Magic. They'll put the blame squarely on Lebron shoulders, especially because every Lakers fan seems to think Lonzo, Kuzma and Ingram are future All-Stars.I wonder how Laker fans feel about Lebron. He co-opts their franchise, loads the roster up with old retreads, shits on the young core in public, and leads the team to the bottom of the draft lottery. This will be the Lakers' sixth losing season in a row, and seventh in the last eight years. They only had seven previous losing seasons since they moved to LA in 1961.
We've gone over this before. They made zero effort to target guys that fit around Lebron. It wasn't as if free agency was protracted and they did their best with what was left after everything shook out. Lebron signed on day one and they immediately pivoted to Javale, Rondo, KCP and Stephenson. With the exception of Rondo and maybe Javale those are bad players and they were bad fits. Many pointed that out then and are still hammering it today. They needed shooters, wings that could defend, rim-runner/protectors, etc. We know the formula of how to build a Lebron-focused team and Magic and Pelinka willfully ignored that template because they believed they could build the better mousetrap. Go back to the quotes in the summer; they thought tough guys and ballhandlers that could take the focuse off Lebron were the key to unlocking a latter career renaissance.Should they have rounded out the roster with undrafted free agents instead?