Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[msgkings322]

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.

Come on man, Embiid is already way better than Love (assuming health not that Love is an ironman). Simmons vs Kyrie I grant you. But Philly has other very useful pieces like Fultz, Saric, McConnell, etc.

 

[Mecca]

I wonder how many shots Westbrook let George take?

#TooEasy

 

[Scapegoat]

I agree.
If LeBron wants to go to L.A., im sure Magic will take him.
Does it instantly make you better?
Of course.
Is it worth it if it gets you a title or 2?
Of course.
Is winning a title or 2 a probability?
I would say no.
So, if thats accurate, long term you are better off staying on the path you’re on now IMO.

 

[trojanfan12]

I agree.
If LeBron wants to go to L.A., im sure Magic will take him.
Does it instantly make you better?
Of course.
Is it worth it if it gets you a title or 2?
Of course.
Is winning a title or 2 a probability?
I would say no.
So, if thats accurate, long term you are better off staying on the path you’re on now IMO.

The problem is, we don't really know the probability of winning a title or 2 with the Lakers.

Lebron won't be coming to the Lakers by himself. Another max guy (presumably PG) would be coming with him.

A lineup of Lebron, PG, Ingram, Ball and Lopez with Kuzma, Hart and a couple of vets on cheaper deals chasing rings puts them in the contender conversation.

Add to that the fact that it's going to get harder, if not impossible for the Warriors to keep their current team together and it gets better for the Lakers.

If Lebron's fate for at least the next 2 years is getting eliminated by the Warriors, at least with the Lakers, it would likely be in the WCF instead of the finals giving him more time to enjoy the nice weather in LA. lol

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Why you using Ball.
Remember, he cant shoot.
I thoughy Wiggy traded him for you?


On another note, didnt LeBron support adding Wade and Rose last summer?
I dont recall either being Pistol Pete.

 

[trojanfan12]

Why you using Ball.
Remember, he cant shoot.
I thoughy Wiggy traded him for you?


On another note, didnt LeBron support adding Wade and Rose last summer?
I dont recall either being Pistol Pete.

lol I'm not convinced that Lebron would want Lonzo gone.

 

[trojanfan12]

Interesting point made by Doug Gottlieb on Cowherd just now.

He says that he thinks Lebron ends up on the Lakers.

However, he also said that if Lebron drags this roster to the finals, especially with all of the turmoil they've had, the accolades he'll receive will be that it's the same as winning a title.

He said, it's not the same and he doubts it would satisfy Lebron, but that it may give him second thoughts.

 

[WiggyRuss]

if the Lakers somehow strike out for the 18th year in a row on free agents what happens?

Say Kawhi doesnt get dealt there, PG says no, LeBron says no, Cousins says no.

Do you spend cap room on guys like AVery Bradley or do you just wait another year?

 

[Black Adam]

if the Lakers somehow strike out for the 18th year in a row on free agents what happens?

Say Kawhi doesnt get dealt there, PG says no, LeBron says no, Cousins says no.

Do you spend cap room on guys like AVery Bradley or do you just wait another year?

wait til next year. the free agency class should be just as deep if not deeper from what I'm hearing...

 

[Mecca]

if the Lakers somehow strike out for the 18th year in a row on free agents what happens?

Say Kawhi doesnt get dealt there, PG says no, LeBron says no, Cousins says no.

Do you spend cap room on guys like AVery Bradley or do you just wait another year?

Give out Redick, KCP deals.

Worst thing that could happen would be to pull a Blazers and give long-term deals to marginal guys.

 

[Heatles84]

Interesting point made by Doug Gottlieb on Cowherd just now.

He says that he thinks Lebron ends up on the Lakers.

However, he also said that if Lebron drags this roster to the finals, especially with all of the turmoil they've had, the accolades he'll receive will be that it's the same as winning a title.

He said, it's not the same and he doubts it would satisfy Lebron, but that it may give him second thoughts.

I'll disagree with that strongly. Now, if you say he takes Golden St. or Houston to 7 games with that roster, then it's a different story. But it says more about the state of the East if he limps through (saying if he goes 6-7 games with Boston) sans Toronto where they swept then it does Lebron's legacy at that juncture. If you get the doors blown off again like last year, then what exactly are we talking about?

"Congratulations, you brought your team to the Finals and got whooped! Here's another accolade for you just for making it!"

 

[Heatles84]

if the Lakers somehow strike out for the 18th year in a row on free agents what happens?

Say Kawhi doesnt get dealt there, PG says no, LeBron says no, Cousins says no.

Do you spend cap room on guys like AVery Bradley or do you just wait another year?

One year deals. Don't lock yourself up long term on marginal players. You know this, I know this.

 

[Scapegoat]

Give out Redick, KCP deals.

Worst thing that could happen would be to pull a Blazers and give long-term deals to marginal guys.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

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

My vision is under or up to 11 million per year for two or three years

 

[Mecca]

4years/19 mil seems fair for an executive towel waiver.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

if the Lakers somehow strike out for the 18th year in a row on free agents what happens?

Say Kawhi doesnt get dealt there, PG says no, LeBron says no, Cousins says no.

Do you spend cap room on guys like AVery Bradley or do you just wait another year?

How do you figure that the Lakers have struck out for 17 years in a row now? Have you already forgot that the Lakers won NBA championships in 2009 and 2010? That was 10 years ago and that is not striking out. Some teams haven done that in 50 years.

Oops, I didn't mean to talk about the Cavaliers like that - One championship in 50 years or since their existence and you have dissing the Lakers who have 17 titles to the Cavaliers ONE?

 

[Scapegoat]

4years/19 mil seems fair for an executive towel waiver.

It must be because he always sucked as a player.

 

[Black Adam]

and Kobe says build and develop from within. I don't totally disagree...

#noLeClown...

 

[tlance]

Interesting point made by Doug Gottlieb on Cowherd just now.

He says that he thinks Lebron ends up on the Lakers.

However, he also said that if Lebron drags this roster to the finals, especially with all of the turmoil they've had, the accolades he'll receive will be that it's the same as winning a title.

He said, it's not the same and he doubts it would satisfy Lebron, but that it may give him second thoughts.

Which makes me think that the best possible team for LeBron to join for His legacy isn't Cleveland. It isn't Philly or LA or even Houston.

Expectations in any of those cities would be to win a championship, and they still wouldn't be as good the Warriors unless the same team got Kawhi and LeBron. Not winning in Philly or Houston would be viewed as failure and could even slightly harm his legacy.

One possibility would have minimal expectations.

The New York Knicks.

LeBron could prove once and for all what i already believe. That he can elevate a sub 30 win team to contender status. He would gain serious points if he got them to the Finals, and it wouldn't matter if he still lost to GS, which is highly probable no matter where he plays.

I do not think there is any chance he goes to NY. But I do think it would do most for his legacy with the least amount of risk.

 

[trojanfan12]

I'll disagree with that strongly. Now, if you say he takes Golden St. or Houston to 7 games with that roster, then it's a different story. But it says more about the state of the East if he limps through (saying if he goes 6-7 games with Boston) sans Toronto where they swept then it does Lebron's legacy at that juncture. If you get the doors blown off again like last year, then what exactly are we talking about?

"Congratulations, you brought your team to the Finals and got whooped! Here's another accolade for you just for making it!"

I agree. There's no way he's satisfied with that result.

I do think some will try to build it up like he really did something, but most understand that it says more about the East than about Lebron. He's not dragging that roster very far in the West.

Even if they manage to make it a tough 6 or 7 game series, I don't think he'll be satisfied, but it would greatly increase the chances he stays.

But if they lose in ECF or get run over in the finals, I think he's gone because they don't really look to have much way to close the gap.