Damn it. I hate that we have to wait a year, but LeBron being a Laker is looking more and more possible by the day.
If theres a year to wait... This is the one where it seems like you might already have one franchise player on your side.
Your concerns are fair BUT I think Magic is smart enough to not cater to all things LBJ demands. Heck even Riley had his limits. LBJ at 34 carries a lot less weight than the 28 yr old LBJ who was the king of the NBA.
I think it all depends on what the kids look like this year. If they look like stars, I think they stick around (Ingram and Ball I mean). LeBron is about the "next big thing" always and if Ball is that thing, then LeBron will want to leave his legacy and his footprint on the kid's career. If the kids don't work out and don't show flashes of brilliance, then I think they're gone too. Management probably tells LeBron to collaborate and pick 2-3 of the kids they both like and then they'll move on to spending the cash. Boy... It is crucial that the Lakers find a landing spot for Deng without taking money back. I don't know how they do it, but it is vital that they do it even if it takes two unprotected picks. Having that salary off the books changes the Lakers' financials in a massive way. But I agree with what you're saying. if LeBron comes here, so be it, but I don't want him coming here to bring his banana boat friends. I want him bringing Paul George and getting to work with our young crew.
At the end of the day if it means Ingram to dump Deng in order to create a Ball + PG + LBJ core surrounded by Nance Jr. Hart. Kuzma Zubac and maybe a Brook Lopez then you gotta sign off on that as Magic
Uuugggghhhhh. Too much smoke about this and it's not because of the brush fires SoCal has been dealing with. If LLLLLebron comes and doesn't flip the roster for his guys then I might be able to live with that. I do not want him to come here and trade Ingram for over the hill shooters that can't defend.
Bulls*** we have basketball people running and coaching the Lakers vs you with your nuclear option for LeBron. LMAO.
I despise the idea of LlllleBron in purple and gold. He is my least favorite NBA player currently playing. But Magic does not share my distaste. Nor does Jeannie. Rob is here to restore the team to glory, and the PG13 / LlllleBron parlay is his most direct path to the goal. He is also Lonzo's favorite player. It's going to happen. I'm going to have to take this one for the team.
One more thing Russell was garbage from day 1 and I said it. Well the "new" basketball people agreed even though a lot of Laker fans are up in arms.
I feel your pain, it suuuuucks. I want to get better, but damn not like this. I can't do anything about it though, and I'll never stop being a fan, so I'm stuck if it happens.
KRL's point is if you have to, you can do it in order to bring in LeBron. I sort of disagree with that though. I only brought up trading Ingram or Ball because it's possible they don't show enough this next season. Then, if you want to get an older talent somehow, you can trade one of them if you must. Hopefully it never gets there. If Ball and Ingram don't show out this season, it's possible LeBron and George pass on LA anyway.