LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

DO NOT WANT

 

Using LeBron giving up is a valid argument. I hate that attitude in a player.

Saying he gave up and then using those clips and stats as evidence of decline is double dipping the argument.

I won't pretend he's the same guy he was 3 years ago, but LeBron today is worth 4 of any player we have. LeBron at 38 will likely be better than anyone we have on the team right now. Irrational hate aside, the Lakers would be world's better with even a "declining" LeBron.

 

Yes this is exactly true. I don't care about his shortcomings because his talent is still so high that he'll elevate our team. We'll be instantly legitimized, Paul George will likely join, and we'll move into the top 4 of the West in one summer.

 

I just want the first domino to fall. Right now it looks a heck of a lot more likely to be Lebron than PG. But . . . if we do manage to get Lebron it makes such a huge case to PG. We'd be ready to roll. If we could somehow retain Randle, too, to play small ball center - watch out.

 

I was just talking with a non-Laker fan in my office. There aren't many teams that will have a max offer slot available for Lebron this offseason. It's gotten so toxic in Cleveland I don't think he'd stay. I'm wondering, do you think there's a chance he just signs a 1+1 (essentially a 1-year deal) with us because he doesn't have any better options? Seriously. Other than the "Morey Magic Rabbit A** Chicanery" in Houston, where does he go? If it continues to be this bad, and Gilbert refuses to play ball with a sign and trade, maybe he ends up here with the Lakers alone?

 

That's been my question too. He's destroying his relationship with Cleveland seemingly on purpose. He must have another destination in mind. It might be he's looking towards Houston, but we would be the only logical threatening landing spot in order to pull that off. LeBron walks into the Cavs office and says, "trade me to Houston or I'm signing in LA". What does Gilbert do? I'd let him walk to LA. From Gilbert's perspective, have fun walking into a team full of kids in the same division as the Warriors and the same conference as the Spurs and Rockets. You'll spend 3 years just trying to get to the Semi-Finals.

But that's basically the last bridge he's got. Unless of course he wants to sign in Dallas or Philadelphia or something. He needs a viable threat though and right now it seems like we're the best suitor.

 

I really don't get into the numbers ramifications (salary wise)...but can he AND George sign outright here during the summer AND not cost us anything? That 2 max slots scenario?

 

I'd argue that we're better than Philly though at this point. None of our kids are better than Embiid or Simmons, but we have a lot more of them. Dallas...all they have is Dennis Smith Jr. and Barnes? Dirk is an old shell of himself. We honestly look like the best option for him as it pertains to signing straight into space. I'm not saying we are his dream scenario or that he'd even want to sign with us. But with Cleveland imploding so spectacularly, he might sign with us cause he has no other options if Gilbert decides to be a total d***.

 

No. We'd need to trade Clarkson and take very little back, stretch Deng and let Randle walk.

 

Hart can replace Clarkson...Deng is...(no words to express my frustration)...Randle, I'd be sad but given but the pair we get I'll get over it.