Lebron to the Lakers

[kskboys]

Look at their 3pt shooting if you want facts (you won't though).

Well, if you have to turn to insults, your argument must've been really weak to begin w/!!!!!!

 

[Clove]

They will need shooters in order to contend.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Quite frankly, funny. Basketball is like my 5th sport after NFL, NHL, MLB, and Travel Channel

LOL........

Your twisting the knife a little bit Trouty.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

34 by the start of the season.

To me this is either 1) A move that was made knowing other moves will be made with LA's young core 2) A family move. Lebron owns a home in LA and its been said family will weigh heavily on his decision. 3) A move to help him make most playing career connections.

Basketball wise, Philadelphia made more sense. Even with fit issues with Simmons. Philadelphia's young core is playoff ready, where LA's frankly isnt. And Philadelphia could have teamed him with Leonard while leaving there main core peices intact.

Well, if you look at this historically, the chances of James winning a championship in LA are really, really good. Name one mega star who hasn't won in LA. I think really only Baylor and that was a fluke, the Lakers should have won one with him as well. I mean, everybody wanted James in LA. All of his business associates (he is in the movie industry now) Nike, the NBA and don't underestimate the draw of Magic. James want's to be a guy who is very successful, even after Basketball. Who has been more successful, outside of Basketball then Magic?

There are a lot of reasons why James probably headed to LA.

 

[Doc50]

It's pretty clear LBJ and Kawhi have both known for quite some time they wanted to partner up in LA.
That is likely why George silently backed down and signed in OKC.
LBJ picked his partner in crime.

But SAS has no real pressure to make the deal so LAL should merely offer what it takes.
The young kids in LAL aren't going to have the ball anyway to grow as part of LBJ centric team.
He's 33 and no young kids have developed with him yet.
It's be insane to assume that changes.

BUT LBJ grew up with Magic as his basketball idol (much like me) and I he will likely listen more to Magic than anyone in CLE so maybe Magic has change the narrative but I don't really buy that.
At 33 LBJ only knows one way to play and it has shifted to more half court ball dominant play. Being in the West means less rest during the season because games are far harder to win.

The true puzzle is why the use of FA dollars on KCP and Stephenson... sheesh that makes like zero sense. Javale at least is a really cheap big.

Yeah, good question.

I wonder what SA wants - LAL will surely need to give a pick plus young talent; I’m not sure they can give enough to make Pop happy.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Try again. Talent in bold (all can shoot 3's except Randle).

Lebron
Ingram
Kuzma
Randle (think he will be resigned)
Lonzo (3pt shot will only get better)
Hart
K.C.P
Stephenson
Wagner
Mykhailiuk
Malik Newman
Joel Berry II
Zubac

Joel Berry can shoot the 3.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vegas just released revised odds. Cavs are .500 to 1 for a Championship this season. Lakers are probably the third best team in the West behind GS and Houston, right now, on paper. JMO

 

[Clove]

Well, if you look at this historically, the chances of James winning a championship in LA are really, really good. Name one mega star who hasn't won in LA. I think really only Baylor and that was a fluke, the Lakers should have won one with him as well. I mean, everybody wanted James in LA. All of his business associates (he is in the movie industry now) Nike, the NBA and don't underestimate the draw of Magic. James want's to be a guy who is very successful, even after Basketball. Who has been more successful, outside of Basketball then Magic?

There are a lot of reasons why James probably headed to LA.

This considering if the Warriors don't get better.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Yeah, good question.

I wonder what SA wants - LAL will surely need to give a pick plus young talent; I’m not sure they can give enough to make Pop happy.

I think the hard stick here is Kuz and Ingram. I bet San Antonio wants both of them and picks and the Lakers don't want to move both of them. That's what I'm guessing but who knows right? James has input here so it would be interesting to see who James might like, as a young player. That might actually be the sticking point. Of course, it doesn't help that Ball suddenly comes up lame. Ball has to be moved and his trade value, right now, is about as poor as you are going to see. That's a real problem for the Lakers, IMO.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

This considering if the Warriors don't get better.

I don't think GS can get any better. That's just me.

 

[Doc50]

I think the hard stick here is Kuz and Ingram. I bet San Antonio wants both of them and picks and the Lakers don't want to move both of them. That's what I'm guessing but who knows right? James has input here so it would be interesting to see who James might like, as a young player. That might actually be the sticking point. Of course, it doesn't help that Ball suddenly comes up lame. Ball has to be moved and his trade value, right now, is about as poor as you are going to see. That's a real problem for the Lakers, IMO.

Right -- Ball needs to be sacked.

And Pop won't put up with that circus.

Probably need a third party.

 

[jterrell]

Vegas just released revised odds. Cavs are .500 to 1 for a Championship this season. Lakers are probably the third best team in the West behind GS and Houston, right now, on paper. JMO

Vegas odds aren't a predictor of winning but a betting tool.
Money will flow like crazy in for Lakers now and then likely settle after the season starts and real gamblers bet.

From a Lakers fan perspective it's a pretty poor bet.
GSW and HOU are still FAR BETTER on paper.
But if you love the team and are in christmas in july mode why not toss 100 bucks that way.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Vegas odds aren't a predictor of winning but a betting tool.
Money will flow like crazy in for Lakers now and then likely settle after the season starts and real gamblers bet.

From a Lakers fan perspective it's a pretty poor bet.
GSW and HOU are still FAR BETTER on paper.
But if you love the team and are in christmas in july mode why not toss 100 bucks that way.

They may not be a good predictor of winning but they are a pretty good predictor of losing, and I'm not real sure I agree with the winning thing either. Vegas ranks Cleveland as second to last, now that James is gone. The idea that Clevelands roster is far superior to the Lakers is just wrong and Vegas is telling us that right now.

 

[jterrell]

I think the hard stick here is Kuz and Ingram. I bet San Antonio wants both of them and picks and the Lakers don't want to move both of them. That's what I'm guessing but who knows right? James has input here so it would be interesting to see who James might like, as a young player. That might actually be the sticking point. Of course, it doesn't help that Ball suddenly comes up lame. Ball has to be moved and his trade value, right now, is about as poor as you are going to see. That's a real problem for the Lakers, IMO.

agreed.
LAL shouldn't give up both Kuz and Ingram unless they can offload Deng's money.
1 of them plus Hart and a couple future 1sts is fair 1 year Kawhi value imho.

Keep in mind going forward the issue is operating over the cap as a team is very different than under the cap.
Flipping that switch like this year creates weird side effects.

But again time is not the Lakers friend IMHO. They nee dot get a team together, get them practicing together and such.
34 year old LeBron doesn't have time to wait around on things to gel or players to grow up.
Lakers fans have to understand these young guys probably get worse (statistically) as opposed to better.
It's hard to adjust from what the Lakers did last year to what they will do with a 34 year old megastar.

 

[Sarek]

That's wrong, the Lakers young players will not get worse statistically.

 

[Clove]

I don't think GS can get any better. That's just me.

They can add Dwight Howard, and that might be scary.

 

[CowboysRock1980]

They can add Dwight Howard, and that might be scary.

Warriors said they are not interested in him because he is a headcase

 

[jterrell]

They may not be a good predictor of winning but they are a pretty good predictor of losing, and I'm not real sure I agree with the winning thing either. Vegas ranks Cleveland as second to last, now that James is gone. The idea that Clevelands roster is far superior to the Lakers is just wrong and Vegas is telling us that right now.

no, they aren't telling us that.
they are telling us betters like the Lakers far more than they ever did CLE.

again this is common sense. what dufus would bet on the Cavs to win it all right now? not a soul.
vegas has to reflect that.
odds change mightily as the off-season than season wear on.

Vegas job is to balance out bets not predict games.

Were I betting I'd put money on HOU. --though I detest them.
They are quiet right now but showed with a healthy CPS they could beat the GSW.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

agreed.
LAL shouldn't give up both Kuz and Ingram unless they can offload Deng's money.
1 of them plus Hart and a couple future 1sts is fair 1 year Kawhi value imho.

Keep in mind going forward the issue is operating over the cap as a team is very different than under the cap.
Flipping that switch like this year creates weird side effects.

But again time is not the Lakers friend IMHO. They nee dot get a team together, get them practicing together and such.
34 year old LeBron doesn't have time to wait around on things to gel or players to grow up.
Lakers fans have to understand these young guys probably get worse (statistically) as opposed to better.
It's hard to adjust from what the Lakers did last year to what they will do with a 34 year old megastar.

I think they have this year but after that, they need to be ready to roll. I agree with that. I think that if you have James, you are pretty much signing up for the over the cap club. That's just my opinion thou.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

They can add Dwight Howard, and that might be scary.

I hope they do. Howard is a flake. I watched him in LA and it is my opinion that signing Howard is a bad move.