LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

not at all surprised that he didn't mention the offensive rebounding...

 

Clint Capela is still one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA.

 

he'd get plenty of opportunities here!

seriously, though, not sure how much this matters to me. if the goal is to have a guy who can bang with the big uglies for 20mpg, that guy's not capela, imo.

 

I'd take him because he checks most of the boxes I'm looking for in a big this summer and I don't think we'll be able to get one who checks them all unless we're willing to use more draft assets then I'm comfortable with for the position. What he does bring:
1) 250+ lbs
2) good enough to play 24+ minutes
3) can start when injuries occur
4) good rebounder (1 of 13 to average 10+ rpg, 9th overall in rpg, 1st on orpg, 2nd in contested orpg)
5) top 13 in bpg, so he is still a rim deterrent
6) has a history or at least reputation of helping defensively.
7) averaged double digits offensively 8 years running.

Defense has taken a hit, I don't think he's as switchy as he was when he got to ATL and i think the 5 man groups have gotten worse defensively around him over the years. Still think he can help weak side, make a guard think twice about a drive, battle on the boards, and gives size against a Joker. 250 pounds is harder to move than Jax at a (generous) 220. But similar to Murray, for the record I don't think Clint is nearly as good a defender as Murray, I'm taking the gamble that the issue is ATL and Trae related.

 

Capela doesn't fit well with Jokic. Yes, almost nobody does but against him you need physicality and Capela doesn't have it. He's big but 'soft'.

We only need another big against Denver. You can add Sabonis and Nurkic, that's pretty much it. Any big center who uses body strength that makes AD uncomfortable. Turner fits better but don't think Indiana is going there, he fits well with Siakam

 

But who does? There isn't a bubble Dwight out there and Joker is much better now than he was then.

I'm capping my targets around $20m and even then I'd be shocked if we invest that much in a backup big (I think we should).
Dray - not moving
Turner - we missed the chance, if we had one
Capela - obtainable
Jarrett Allen - same as Capela but leaner
Jakob Poeltl - if TOR didn't dump him during their tank they're not doing so now
Nikola Vucevic - no D
Jonathan Isaac - walking injury
Jusuf Nurkic - ?
Mitchell Robinson/Isaiah Hartenstein - maybe you force the Knicks to pick who they're investing in. I really like Hartenstein for us. But I'm not hopeful that plays out how I'd like it to.
Jonas Valanciunas - no D
Wendell Carter - cost too many assets
Kelly Olynyk - they paid him, don't see them moving him. Also effort and results defensively don't match.
Robert Williams - injury concern is too high
Nicolas Claxton - too slight of frame

So best case is something similar to that list that you at least put on the old white board, discuss and call about . 15ish guys who can bring us something . Whether it's additional size, rebounding, blocks, some defense, a big who can come in for AD and not completely get abused and let go of the rope.

We have a really high ask here: we're asking someone to guard the best player in the NBA and not suck at it. AND to sub in for the best defensive player in the league/best two way big and to not let us down too much.

 

Yeah you BRICKED a wiiiide OPEN 3 and lost us the game mr “goat” Jordan and Kobe would’ve swished that shot.

 

Yeah. I think we have to be realistic about what any addition will be able to do. There will be flaws in the game of pretty much anyone who is available.

 

he's better on defense than his rep, i think. he'd interest me a lot; i just don't think NO will let him walk easily.

 

Exactly, those two were incredible players at 39.

 

i don't know for sure if they'd made it. but they wouldn't have missed it, looked at their box scores and saw that they made a decent percentage for the series, then threw everyone under the bus for not making threes.

guess i need to see the full context here, though. it's possible he was including his very large miss as part of the "we can't hit anything" sentiment. because that was open and would have extended the series. if rui missed it, he'd be pissed at rui.

 

Wait a minute …. @Casual+ am I correct above when I assumed your comment was sarcastic or did you mean it? I think he’s out there over the top with his LeBron as a player dissing. There’s been recent stats this year we saw not long ago that LeBron is actually quite good in the clutch dept. No one makes them all and same with MJ and Kobe considering his broad brush statement. As a shooter I commented the other day that though Kobe is my all time number 1 Laker I don’t think he was as efficient a scorer and shooter as Bron … 25-30 shots a game when James is usually around 20-25.

 

I wanted to see him go all in against the coach.

 

Kobe retired at 37.

 

Yeah, agree there's not much options out there. I like the Knick's options, maybe there's something there

 

I would def go hard at Hartenstein and if that doesn't work...offer sommething good for Mitchell Robinson because that guy is a legit 7-footer and 240 pounds and he's STRONG as hell (I think he would give Jokic some issues).

 

hartenstein's my target if we have the mle to use. he probably stays in ny, though.

i remember we were interested in drafting robinson, but ny snagged him ahead of us.

 

LeBron

LeBron Bricks more shots than he makes them, all thru out his career !

 

Charles Barkley said LeBron should retire ! He is starting to look like MJ in a WIZARDS jersey.