Thinking about this has really got my mind buzzing. I can definitely see a scenario where George just flat out comes here, and LeBron doesn't. Basically, where we disagree is I'm thinking it's one or the other. I find it odd that the talk of LBJ going to LA is so public. I would be a fool to not see this as a bargain chip, for whatever LeBron wants in '18. On the other hand.... Factoring LeBron to this roster opens up possibilities if he is indeed coming. Bill Simmons is talking about Wall and Cousins joining Lebron here, since they are Klutch. Take it for what it is. If Lonzo and Ingram end up looking very good, it would be more difficult for LeBron to just move them like chess pieces. They're already fan favorites here. And there is already a objective dislike for LeBron here, since the fan base is pro-Kobe. I truly believe that he cares about his brand and PR, and if he arrives here it would be very diplomatic in nature. In short - i don't think he'll move Ingram like he did Wiggins in Cleveland. If LeBron comes, I think Ingram stays, and it's another reason why PG doesn't come. Those 3 players on the roster would be definitely redundant.
I'd imagine this. Plus if the article is any indication, he's most likely been trashing George on the radio too. Guy comes across like a total a**, very Dan Gilbert-like after LeBron left. http://kentsterling.com/2017/07/13/...orge-shows-why-fans-should-be-happy-hes-gone/
This isn't out of the realm of imagination. PG and Russ are both young and wanna play 82 games. Pop doesn't care about regular season and will rest his guys, maybe CP3 and Carmelo miss a few games with injury and OKC slots in at 2nd. They were a perennial 1-2 seed when it was KD and Russ after all.
PG is great, but is he gonna become better than Reggie? I wouldn't bet on that, rather the opposite. BTW, I would love to see Reggie in today's NBA, his skill set would fit in perfectly
I think he already is honestly. Paul George is the more complete, better overall player. Obviously Reggie has the edge shooting and clutch wise, but I'd give the edge to George everywhere else.
I guess it could be argued both ways, but IMO Reggie was just the better player. Just rewatch the 98 series against the bulls where he almost took down MJ, and compare the sipporting casts on those teams. If it weren't for Davis' pathetic FT shooting in game 7, MJ may have one less championship now. And it would be due to this skinny bastard. I'm not saying PG cannot become better, it's just not that "sure" IMO.
They were knocking on the door in 2013. They took Miami to the brink. Maybe if Indiana had a better #2 option than David West they could've won something.
I'm beginning to wonder the same thing... Personally, if it's me I want to play with both, but I'm starting to wonder if Ingram and Ball are real, do you just take one of the max guys and then start divvying up the rest of the cash among the guys you want to keep (Lopez, Randle, KCP)? @vasashi17 showed that there's a way to get everyone on board if people are willing to take cuts which would mean pushing some people to the bench, but it is what it is. Either way, we need Ingram and Ball to look real and if they do, someone will come here next summer. If it's LeBron and/or George, we're in awesome shape because that means the kids followed through on this early looking promise.
I don't think its redundant at all Purp and Real. I call it our " small hands" team aka our Trump unit. Luke has that GSW pedigree so small ball is something he really won't shy away from. Kind of like how Dray was their center with KD, Iggy, Klay and Steph rounding up their "death" lineup, can you imagine Bron as our 5 along Ingram at the 4 and PG at the 3. KCP and Zo would make up that backcourt and that's our trump lineup. Make D great again, by grabbing your opponents by the V. Okay, I'm done on that tip....sorry, moving on. But Luke has even said that he makes Randle watch tapes on Dray cause he wants him to have that type of role. If Randle is part of the plans moving forward, great...but if he's not, I think Bron is a more than worthy replacement and I'm sure Bron can handle that "Dray" role on defense. Seriously tho, our hands unit would be a thing of beauty on D. Like I've insinuated in my previous posts, I'm tired of this soft arse league. I want to see some grimy defense again. Also can you imagine what Zo could do with all those spontaneous fast breaks off of great D....especially with all those rim assassins around him. Get Da King and PG in royal P&G asap...or am I sounding too redundant?
That's not quite what I meant. What I meant was that I think depending on how this season goes, the Lakers may turn their attention to a different path. Say things go well in OKC, I wouldn't be utterly shocked if George re-signed there as long as they get to the WCF which isn't impossible. So then we're talking about LeBron and what? Well it's within the realm of possibility that the Lakers win 35 games or so this year if the kids really take a step forward. If they do, do the Lakers decide to double-down on the young guys while adding LeBron and one other, maybe less-than-max guy? Do we re-sign KCP, Randle, and Lopez and add LeBron and Wade or something? Would Wade be willing to ring-chase with his buddy off the bench one year? All-in-all I'd love if we did what you said and we brought back two of KCP, Lopez, and Randle along with LeBron and George. If you can add those two with Ball, Ingram, and a handful of solid young guys then we're talking about a truly scary and versatile team. I mean someone is on the bench, but so what? Caldwell-Pope goes to the bench or Randle goes to the bench. You start Ball/Ingram/George/LeBron/Lopez with Pope, Nance, Kuzma, Hart, some minimum vets off the bench? Oh c'mon. We're talking about an amazing team. That's a Top 4 team in the West for sure.
Screw that, I was promised 2 max free agent, I want to max free agents! Seriously though, I need to see a full season from Pope, Lopez, and especially Randle before I even begin to talk about wanting them back, or how adding only LeBron to them (and Ball and Ingram) would make us good enough for Wade to "ring chase" here, because to me it doesn't. Warriors have 4 all-stars, it seems to take at least 3 to win it all right now, we need 2 max free agents, or we need to go a non-LeBron route, because if any of our kids turn into stars it won't be until he's just about used up and done.
I'm not disagreeing, I'm saying it's within that realm of possibility is all. The kids would have to look tremendous, but it's just something to think about. Obviously I'd prefer George/LeBron, but what if this renaissance we're hearing from Randle is real? If he's actually figured it out, it won't be easy to dump him. He's a very talented kid. What if Lopez is the real thing? His brand of rim protection and three point shooting is an absolute 100% fit for this team and what they're doing. I can't imagine a better fit inside. If KCP has the type of statistical season he should have, it'll be hard to let him go too, albeit easier than the other two in my opinion. It's just something to think about with a long summer ahead of us.
If the Randlessance is real, I'd rather just sign PG-13 and not sign Lebron because Lebron puts pineapple on his pizza and is a console gamer.
Yeah, give me 28 year old Paul George for 5 years over 33 (going on 34 2 months into the 2018 season) year old LeBron if I only get to pick one.
I maybe in the minority, but I'm not all that worried about LeBron's age. His skill level has improved remarkably (not Kobe level but nobody is) over his career to the point that I don't worry about longevity being an issue. I think LeBron has at least another 2-3 years (from next offseason) of MVP caliber play.
He will start to slowdown soon. Of course he'd still be one of the best players in the game in maybe 2-3 years more. But he won't be as good as we're to used to seeing him by the time he becomes a Laker in 2018, if he decides to be a Laker. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
