Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[True Lakers Fan]

if he gets healthy he is a nice scorer but you have to cover him up on D

obviously if LeBron goes there he wont want Thomas there.

He played great for Boston - He didn't fit in with Cleveland because LeBron is a ball hog. Isaiah Thomas done a fantastic job here in Los Angeles. He would be coming off the bench any way - the bench comes in when the team goes small and they run a lot with less defense - Isaiah was averaging pretty good numbers coming off the bench and he runs the point guard position pretty good - He is too small to be a starter for sure though

 

[True Lakers Fan]

just as a refence point....Ball shot 36.0% from the field

out of NBA players with at least 500 field goal attempts, he was the worst.

other awful shooters with 500 or more attempts were Frank Ntilikina, Marcus Smart, Justin Holiday, Stanley Johnson,

It was his rookie season - he is going to fix his shot this summer and his other skills made up for the lack of shooting substantially. He will be fine.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

It was noticeably better, but the difference wasn't huge.

And Phil Jackson wanted to trade Kobe for Jason Kidd before they started the season in which they won their second championship. I for one am really glad the Lakers told Phil NO

 

[WiggyRuss]

He played great for Boston - He didn't fit in with Cleveland because LeBron is a ball hog. Isaiah Thomas done a fantastic job here in Los Angeles. He would be coming off the bench any way - the bench comes in when the team goes small and they run a lot with less defense - Isaiah was averaging pretty good numbers coming off the bench and he runs the point guard position pretty good - He is too small to be a starter for sure though

you are right in that LeBron had no interest in sharing the ball with him. Kind of annoying at times- but then agian Thomas wasnt healthy to begin with.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

you are right in that LeBron had no interest in sharing the ball with him. Kind of annoying at times- but then agian Thomas wasnt healthy to begin with.

I am not a fan that want's LeBron to come to Los Angeles by any means. I feel that LeBron would ruin the chemistry our young players have and slow down their development unless some changes in LeBron's approach to his Game. In which case here is how it would have to go

Magic Johnson(with Jeanie Buss, Rob Pelinka and Luke Walton in the room for support) LeBron - you're the best player in the NBA and your athletic abilities are off the charts. We believe that we can win championships by putting the right players with you, but in order for that to work, We would need to change your role in the game as follows:

1. Let the point guards bring the ball and set you up -This means less work for you and less pressure on you to do things.
2. Get other players involved so that you have help. When you shoot your way to the playoffs, the other players get left out too much - that's fine when you don't have young players that can shoot - but you're getting older now and we want to adjust your game so you stay healthy and have a longer career

If LeBron buys into that mentality - then He would fit in, but as of right now he has a team without all stars - and he has to do too much - Watch what happens when the Cavaliers meet up with the Warriors who have three players shooting 20+ points per game - You can't shut them all down, but they can shut everyone but LeBron down and let LeBron wear himself out and the WARRIORS WILL GO HOME WITH THE TROPHY AGAIN.

 

[tlance]

NEver- because he doesnt waste his time on that.

Can you even imagine LeBron going to the playoffs with a team with no playoff experience?

It would be like trading Tom Brady to the Browns.

That is precisely what he did when he returned to Cleveland.

 

[WiggyRuss]

That is precisely what he did when he returned to Cleveland.

its fair point- but he did join 2 multi time all stars in Cleveland that were ready to go- thats better than even Philly.

 

[trojanfan12]

I am hoping that the Lakers would sign Isaiah Thomas - I think he is really a good fit for the Lakers

He'd be alright. Not sure I'd want to sign him to anything long term though.

 

[trojanfan12]

if he gets healthy he is a nice scorer but you have to cover him up on D

obviously if LeBron goes there he wont want Thomas there.

The Lakers seemed to figure out how to do that, at least for stretches.

I know IT didn't fit in well there and popped off when he shouldn't have. But was there any real tension between him and Lebron?

 

[WiggyRuss]

The Lakers seemed to figure out how to do that, at least for stretches.

I know IT didn't fit in well there and popped off when he shouldn't have. But was there any real tension between him and Lebron?

yah

thomas acted like he was a big shot and team leader when he played like ass and was hurt the whole time.

 

[trojanfan12]

just as a refence point....Ball shot 36.0% from the field

out of NBA players with at least 500 field goal attempts, he was the worst.

other awful shooters with 500 or more attempts were Frank Ntilikina, Marcus Smart, Justin Holiday, Stanley Johnson,

You need to make up your mind. Is Lonzo staying or going if Lebron comes to the Lakers?

If he's going, why are you still talking about his shooting since it's not going to stop him from coming to the Lakers because he won't be there?

 

[WiggyRuss]

You need to make up your mind. Is Lonzao staying or going if Lebron comes to the Lakers?

If he's going, why are you still talking about his shooting since it's not going to stop him from coming to the Lakers because he won't be there?

its a fair point....i wonder if they could package Ball, Deng and Kuzma for like McCollu m or something.

 

[trojanfan12]

yah

thomas acted like he was a big shot and team leader when he played like ass and was hurt the whole time.

It's weird because he was the opposite with the Lakers. Some of it may be that the Lakers are so much younger than the Cavs and were more open to his trying to lead. Plus, he may have learned his lesson in Cleveland.

Pretty funny that he thought he as going to go to Lebron's team and be some kind of leader.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It's weird because he was the opposite with the Lakers. Some of it may be that the Lakers are so much younger than the Cavs and were more open to his trying to lead. Plus, he may have learned his lesson in Cleveland.

Pretty funny that he thought he as going to go to Lebron's team and be some kind of leader.

i think he got humbled.

going from a title contender to a lotto team and getting traded for Jordan Clarkson will do that to you

 

[msgkings322]

its fair point- but he did join 2 multi time all stars in Cleveland that were ready to go- thats better than even Philly.

LOL no. If he joins Philly next year that's a much more talented team than when he rejoined Cleveland

 

[trojanfan12]

its a fair point....i wonder if they could package Ball, Deng and Kuzma for like McCollu m or something.

Interesting. I don't like losing Ball or Kuzma, but I'm also not sure how much better Kuzma can be. I think he can improve, but I don't think his ceiling is that much higher. But if it rids them of the Deng contract...

Plus, it may allow them to keep Randle.

I don't know if it was just speculation, but I heard a guy on the radio yesterday saying that the Lakers may be more open to moving Ball than was previously thought. He said that was the message when they told him during his exit interview that "this is the most important summer of his life".

 

[trojanfan12]

i think he got humbled.

going from a title contender to a lotto team and getting traded for Jordan Clarkson will do that to you

Yeah, he did kind of go from MVP candidate to traded for a 6th man pretty quickly. lol

 

[WiggyRuss]

LOL no. If he joins Philly next year that's a much more talented team than when he rejoined Cleveland

maybe eventually but not right away....I think Love and Kyrie were better than Simmons and Embiid right now.

Simmons will get there-- but as we can see- he still has quite a bit of work to do--- and hes just not a great fit with LeBron either--- kind of a Lonzo Ball light--- cant shoot, needs the ball in his hands- but obviously he is a lot more talented than Lonzo Ball

If we go back 10 years in the NBA - to the draft after the Durant draft--- I think Simmons is prob the 2nd best prospect to come into the NBA. AD is obviously first....Embiid is prob about top 5 depending on what you thinkf of Wall, Rose, Griffen--- all of who were extremely highly rated. Wiggins was really highly rated too....all those guys were prob bigger prospects than Kyrie when they came in.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Interesting. I don't like losing Ball or Kuzma, but I'm also not sure how much better Kuzma can be. I think he can improve, but I don't think his ceiling is that much higher. But if it rids them of the Deng contract...

Plus, it may allow them to keep Randle.

I don't know if it was just speculation, but I heard a guy on the radio yesterday saying that the Lakers may be more open to moving Ball than was previously thought. He said that was the message when they told him during his exit interview that "this is the most important summer of his life".

i think it all depends on LeBron.

Ball is a good fit with guys like Kawhi, PG, Cousins--- Klay next year etc.

He just isnt with LeBron- and LeBron is older than those 3 and has more urgency to win. Those other 3 guys primes line up a LOT better with Ball than does LeBron's and those other 4guys all playo off the ball

 

[trojanfan12]

i think it all depends on LeBron.

Ball is a good fit with guys like Kawhi, PG, Cousins--- Klay next year etc.

He just isnt with LeBron- and LeBron is older than those 3 and has more urgency to win. Those other 3 guys primes line up a LOT better with Ball than does LeBron's and those other 4guys all playo off the ball

I disagree re: Lebron and Lonzo being a bad fit. Lonzo doesn't need the ball in his hands like you claim. So Lebron won't necessarily be playing off the ball all that much. We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

It's going to be interesting because, I do agree that Lebron would probably be more comfortable with another veteran player.

I think some of what Lebron wants will depend on who/if anyone the Lakers other max guy is (we know Lebron ain't coming by himself). If it's PG (or a trade for Kawhi), I think Lebron may be less concerned about the youth on the roster because of the versatility of those 2 players. They can help with ball handling, running the offense and making the right plays late in games because they've already been there.

But if it's someone like Boogie...he'll want at least 1 other vet because he isn't as versatile.