LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

Me ....

I know we're pals and nothing other than that intended. But me >>. You shift around at times in the way you defend what your point is. Such as right above, "If I said "the only argument" that's not what I meant. I said the "number one argument" as in: the one that holds the most weight. I'm pretty sure I said "best" and "number one" argument, if I ever said "only" then I apologize because that's not what I meant."

No you didn't say any of that. You specifically said 100% the only reason PG has to look at us now is "nostalgia". Multiple times when clearly I was taking issue with those words.

I'm over it . Let's play something else. No need to apologize but thanks.

 

Accckkk. Sorry to misquote you. You did indeed say 100% the best reason for him to consider L.A. is nostalgia. But that's semantics and I have the same problem with it. IMO.

 

I don't really have much of an opinion about whether PG comes regardless of LeBron coming here or not. I do know that we are in a very enviable position in the best market with the gold standard franchise of the league that has a team with loads of talent and that shows a ton of potential.

It is not hard for me to imagine that free agency could play out in ways that we don't expect. The trade deadline was so surprising to me and I think Rob and Magic have a vision that we aren't privy to.

The things I do know...

- PG mentioned that his preferred destination was LA when still with the Pacers. That is big for me. He wanted to come here before there was even a thought about LeBron coming to LA. Personally, I think PG is a stealthy alpha and wants to be the man for the Lakers.

- OKC cannot afford to retain PG unless the franchise wants to pay a HUGE tax bill. They could renegotiate Melo's deal but I don't think OKC is that enticing of a team/market.

- PG can make more money in endorsements here. That has to be really attractive to any free agent.

- PG has family here and this would be a homecoming of sorts for him if he signed with the Lakers.

I firmly believe the reason we struck out in free agency before is because of the product, i.e., the team. We have a really exciting team that is definitely up and coming. With every win the Lakers become a more attractive destination. It's exciting!

I actually believe we have a higher % chance of getting PG than LeBron. I don't think it will be both. My opinion is that PG is our first choice over LeBron.

That's my $.02

 

Is it safe yet?

Oh, by the way....

www.ihatelebron.com

 

My 2 cents:

First and foremost, LA opened up a 2nd max slot with the JC/Nance deal, even though the team clearly loved Nance and they were rolling at the time. Why do that deal if you know that only one FA will come? We had enough cap space for a max deal by shipping out Mozgov. So that alone tells me that they are aiming for both LaBron and George.

Secondly, you turn to '19 only if '18 fails. Kyrie didn't put us on his short list when he demanded out of the Land. Klay has been very outspoken about wanting to stay in the Bay and that dude has a history of not biting his tongue, so you can't assume it's just lip service. The Klaw hasn't been linked publicly to LA in any way... Oh and there's that mysterious injury thing. Meanwhile there is a ton of smoke linking both LaBron and George to LA. So you go hard at that and treat 2019 as a contingency.

Some of you guys are burying LaBron in spite of his track record. Dude has missed on average less than 4 games a year in his 15 seasons as a player. In the past he's sat for "hang-nail" type injuries but maybe there's a method to his madness aka 7 straight Final appearances. Plus if you bring him into a young squad, you get to save his legs... And I'm sure he knows that.

We've already shown that our youth won't be sacrificed to bring him on if both George and LaBron agree to shave 3M off their true max deals in year 1. Heck you can even make up that cost with inevitable incentive based milestones such as making All-NBA teams and suiting up for a certain amount of games (kinda like Embiid's extension). Their cap number just has to fit in year 1 of their contacts. So we're not even implying that the young'ns be sacrificed... It would be George and Bron that would have to sacrifice and Bron has done that not only to allow the big 3 to fit in Miami in year 1, but also to accommodate year 1 of his return back to the Land. In both cases he did not end up with his true max.

Now look at our retired jerseys. We've had pretty much a who's who of great players outside of Michael Jordan, Dr. J and Bill Russell. Next to the Laker Lifers of West, Baylor, Magic, Worthy and Kobe you have great players that were acquired in the Stilt, KAJ and the Diesel. Our organization is all about bringing in the best. LaBron right now is the best basketball player and has been for some time. Our organization deserves that type of talent... You need to bring in that type of talent.

LaBron with a summer roster overhaul followed by an in season roster overhaul along with a Love injury had led his team to a 36-25 record. Meanwhile George has had the reigning MVP to rely on and has helped that team to a 36-27 record. But of course folks will look to the East vs West argument ignoring that the 8th seed in the East has lost 30 games while the 8th seed in the West has lost 28 games. Not to mention George missed out on making an All-NBA team last year while playing against lesser competition in the East.

It's folly to think that all this team needs is George to be a contender. I love his defense, but it's easy to focus on defense when you have a MVP that can help carry the offense. George alone here would have to take on too much for us to be competitive. But bring him the best player in the game and.... #17andBeyond

EDIT: Just read @therealdeal and @LTLakerFan discussion and I have to side with Real on this one. In fact my 2 cents were a direct rip off of what he said, so yeah, we're kinda in agreement. LaBron is an egocentric douche....but honestly most star alpha types are. MJ, Kobe, Shaq, Magic, KAJ all had their demons and/or weren't really good people to get along with off the court. I don't think we need to fault LaBron for that...in fact many of the vices and indiscretions that his peers have done off the court, we haven't heard anything remotely of the sort about him in today's heavily scrutinized social media climate.

 

I follow you but I don't necessarily think opening another max slot was necessarily for LeBron per se. They would do this regardless in my opinion.

More importantly, I think it provides the Lakers flexibility and that move brought back a coveted draft pick to potentially unload Dung. I think it was opportunistic. We look at these things and ascribe a higher value on our players than is realistic. I believe the Lakers loved Nance but think about that deal... I think the Lakers clearly benefited most.

I'm not burying LeBron but the dude has a ton of mileage and I'm concerned about the latter part of a long-term deal where his athleticism wanes. I will cheer for him if he comes but man that will take a lot effort for me.

 

All that is fine. And well and good. And I am truly excited about the truth of rolling out the DEATH lineup in every game they're healthy.

Originally that was not the conversation. Randle was assumed gone and it was no big deal. Max for LBJ and Max for PG and you give up at least 2 or more of our liked young players. And LeBron coming with his armchair GM proclivities to maybe move even more of them.

Boom! Magic and Rob IMO hit a home run with making those 2 young players "gone" for the 2nd Max slot be JC and Nance Jr. Really liked them but perfect to me in that it was them and none of the others. Aside from DLO at the outset for the first slot.

So I'm down with it and though I have misgivings up my butt about the L.A. LeBrons once he gets here and does his thing and our media does its thing ..... rolling out the DEATH lineup puts us right there and maybe better than anyone. Zen's opinion notwithstanding.

HOWEVER ...... If LLLLL comes and does either of the following I will hate his guts forever and it just tears up at least half the enjoyment for ME of winning however many games each year or a ring more quickly. If he power trips and costs us any of the remaining Big 4 prospects in Lonzo, BI, Randle or Kuzma or .... if he costs us Walton because he wants his own guy in Fizdale. F*** him. Enough is enough. The organization should not do that.

 

Reading essays aside, the biggest sign that Lebron is coming is his guys buying up houses/mansions in SoCal. It could be a sign he's coming here or that he's preparing for the future and laying the groundwork for life after basketball.

 

George is a lock because of these two gentlemen selling the pitch.



I'd offer a 2-year contract to LLLLLebron if he wants to join. Take it or leave it. Sorry but we're not that desperate for your services.
He'd expire the same year as Deng and we'd have a ton of cap space in 2020 to max out Ingram along with other players.

 

Well said my friend. Injury is my main concern as well. A 4+ year contract for a 34-year old, with his mileage, is a terrible decision.

I'd give offer him a 2-year $70M contract. That is no slight btw. We gave Kobe, a Laker legend, a $50M extension when he was around the same age. If LLLLLebron demands more? GTFO.

 

.... Eh don't sweat this too much as it worked out OK with Nash.

 

Cookie, your sarcasm meter must be broken.

Nash was a colossal failure.

 

He's just using us as leverage.

 

If LeBron says I'll only sign for the full max Magic and Rob would still do it. It's all about netting the whale.