LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

Huh? Where did I say this. I mentioned nothing about Kawhi or Randle. I’m purely talking about LeBron and PG as free agent signings, which I believe we have the momey to do if we renounce Randle and even if Deng is still on the books in July.

 

Wouldn’t be good enough for me. Paul had plenty of help in his final year as a Clipper and still got injured in the playoffs and was done.

 

I don’t think LeBron wants to shoulder the load anymore though, that’s why he’s probably leaving Cleveland. To say that it doesn’t matter if I get hurt because you’re here to carry us would be a terrible argument by Paul. “Oh, you mean like I had to carry the Cavs when Kyrie went down in the ‘15 Finals? No thanks”. And fresher? LeBron has been to 8 straight finals and played for multiple Team USA squads in-between, he’s carrying so much mileage he might be as big an injury risk as Paul soon enough. I know he’s superhuman, but man talk about overdue for an injury. No, I think LeBron would be looking to join a younger, fresher squad and some stars that tend to stay healthier in the playoffs.

 

My friends offer me stuff all the time and badger me to join. I always tell them no, but thanks for the offer.

I think what Woj is reporting is at least somewhat editorialized. "He's lobbying for this as hard as he's done anything in his life" was the direct quote. What in the world does that even mean? That's a highly editorialized take on the situation I'm sure.

And in fact it could mean the opposite of what you're saying: Chris is trying desperately to convince LeBron to go because he needs to try desperately to convince LeBron to go.

 

I don’t see how setting up a meeting 2 days or so into free agency is not playing it by the book, especially with the “talks” period being shorter than it’s ever been. We called Mosgov at freakin midnight and offered a deL and he took it. You set up a meeting with these players, and you hope they give you a verbal commitment a day or 2 later, that’s pretty standard. Like I said before, most free agents do that, most commit within the week or so of talks, then sign as soon as they can. Just because LeBron hasn’t before doesn’t mean he can’t now, especially since he’s had a year to think about this. Same with George, he supposedly wanted to come here a year ago. If he agrees to sign with us early it has zero to do with tampering, it means we are what he had wanted all along, and so his choice was a quick one to make, one meeting to solidify it in his mind.

 

I'm with vash a little bit in that the Lakers are absolutely worried about tampering.

This is 100% speculation, but I believe it's like this:
- The Lakers know someone is coming, probably LeBron. They've had the discussions, they've gone through the back channels, they've done the work. They know it's happening.
- The Lakers also know that there are a few teams that have it out for them in terms of tampering and they're desperate not to get popped for that. There's a chance they aren't allowed to sign LeBron and make their moves if the league vetoes their deals because of tampering. It's completely unfair and a complete double standard since Miami did all the same ****, but the Lakers are careful right now to cover their tracks.
- This is corroborated by every single Laker official in any sort of capacity saying they cannot comment. On the radio today Billy Mac was on AM 830 and said he's received no less than two emails just today reminding Laker personnel not to speculate openly about what is going to happen with any Free Agents. John Ireland on ESPN710 has said repeatedly he's not allowed to speculate. My source who is under investigation for a silly reason. Ramona Shelburne has said the Lakers are taking this wildly serious.
- All that said, I think they have to play the game and pretend like there's no deals in place so they don't get busted. That means it might take a few days longer than we'd like.

 

Well, alright, if you say so I suppose better safe than sorry, and long as it means we don’t get screwed over waiting around. I just didn’t want to give Vas the satisfaction on this one.

Kidding, man.

 

Alright, I get you fully now, I appreciate the full explanation. Yes, I wasn’t taking a Kawhi trade into account. And no, I didn’t think a Deng trade would look suspicious because we’ve been trying to trade him for a year and a half, but the way you explained it, yes, the books would have to look spotless. The combination of real pointing out all those sources and your explanation here has cleared things up for me. I sometimes forget that we aren’t Miami or Houston or Cleveland where the league isn’t going to go after us if we tamper and collude, they are indeed out to get us and we are treated differently, despite ALL that Dr. Buss did for the NBA over decades. I shall be patient, at least the draft is only a few days away.

 

Does LeBron say yes? Doesn’t he have a no trade clause?

 

Wild presumptive favorite. Not a good bet against the Lakers here. I'm saying guys, get ready. Decision 3.