LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

For the sake of argument......Lebron is already a billionaire..so if he really wanted to play for the minimum. Cleveland would have the better team, with him on it.

 

Is It Time To Move On From LeBron James?

 

I want Lebron and Rui back for their playoff prowess, but they limit us severely in terms of building a balanced roster.

If we can get one good wing and one good center via trades, (dumping some of our trash in the process) I think I'm OK with running it back.

 

BTW if Lebron really cares about winning and his Lakers legacy, he should sign for $20M-ish and I'm sure he'll experience a dramatic 180 in his public perception among some fans and the media.

I understand that he also cares about player empowerment (more so than money at this point, imo), and I respect that he feels he'll leave a poor precedent if he signs for less than his market value, but at the age of 42, I don't think anyone would care. No one will ever be in the same situation as him, and it will not affect the mark he left on the game as the pioneer and enforcer of player empowerment.

 

If I were LeBron..Id be seriously thinking about heading back to Cleveland.

 

I don't think that'll happen. It's clear he prioritizes family and maintaining continuity. I'm sure he wants to stay in LA. He might consider the Warriors.

 

I think next season is his last regardless. He can live in LA after retiring. An opportunity to win a chip in Cleveland with his son;that's a hell of a curtain call.

 

His chances of winning a chip in Ohio aren't any greater than winning it here. And they have no cap space. There aren't any real benefits.

 

I'm putting myself in LeBron's shoes, and talking if money wasn't the issue. If he wanted to take the vet minimum at Cleveland, Golden State or here. Cleveland is a better choice. That team could very well be in the Eastern Conference Finals this season. What makes the Lakers a better choice?

 

Who cares if they're in the ECF or the Finals if they get whipped by OKC or Spurs?

Luka & Reaves > Mitchell & Harden

They have Allen, Mobley, Wade & Struss as supporting cast.

We have Smart, Rui, Kennard & Ayton plus we have an opportunity to add players to that. Unfortunately the Cavs are locked in only being able to give vet mins.

We'll be the better team next year than them.

 

I don't know about that..Lebron elevates Cleveland too. If you put James on Cleveland right now..they could beat OKC or San Antonio in the Finals IMO. Harden and Mitchell have come up big in the playoffs. More than Reaves, going back to the bubble.
Mitchell has 36 career playoff games scoring 30pt plus. 8 40pt games. He's 29.
Harden has 49 with 16 40pt games. Those guys are legit

If he's locked in, Mobley is also a problem.
He's a former All NBA..All Defense Team, a DPOY. . He's only 24.

 

Bro...
He's literally known as the biggest playoff choker in the history of the league.
Sometimes you just say stuff

 

And you think Austin Reaves is top 5 ? You have some damn nerve dude. FOH. I'd damn sure take Harden over Reaves in the playoffs. You don't WTF your talking about most of the time!

 

https://tmspn.com/four-brutal-stats...mpletely-falling-apart-in-the-playoffs-again/

You're just making stuff up man

 

Meh..The playoffs are still going aren't they? You are posting an article about game 2? Today? I think Cleveland is up 3-2. As for Reaves you didn't say he was top 5 Laker over the last 20 years?

 

Cleveland are a good team, but if he wanted to take the vet min, go to Knicks. Brunson, Bridges, OG, Lebron, Kat with Clarkson, McBride, Hart, Robinson off the bench.

You win a ring for that organisation, you're immortal.

 

That would be an intriguing option too. It might mean more to him, to go out on top where it all started from, with his son. That would be an incredible story.

Stephen A tripping over himself, kissing the ring would be amusing tho.

 

There are only 3 actual options here.

- Lakers
- Cavs
- Warriors

My money if I was predicting is:

39% Lakers
60% Cavs
1% Warriors

 

especially if he's taking the vet min in this hypothetical. or even just the most cleveland can pay. we could definitely fill in around that and get ahead of their roster.

as others have noted, harden's kind of legendary for just hocking up hairballs in big playoff games. hell, he was a mess down the stretch of last night's game, too! just spraying the ball all over the court. it's why they had to make a comeback in the first place, lol.

anyway, i don't see lebron leaving. i agree that if he does, he should go east. zero trust an ancient warriors team could get out of the west.

 

Can someone that knows what they are doing set up a poll? I'm curious how many want LeBron back vs time to go bro. Unless one has been done and I just missed it.