Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[trojanfan12]

@DJ @trojanfan12

Sounds as if Rockets need to be crossed off LeBron's list

I've never understood the Rockets speculation. It's always had the feel of "throwing a bunch of names together."

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

They could take Gordon...

Not just him....

Like Shops on said, how does that benefit the Cavs?

I'd tell him fuck it, take the pay cut if you wanna go or get me some legit assets.

 

[The Q]

Not just him....

Like Shops on said, how does that benefit the Cavs?

I'd tell him fuck it, take the pay cut if you wanna go or get me some legit assets.

I meant OKC.

If they're not gonna blow it up, getting Gordon is better than losing PG for nothing.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I've never understood the Rockets speculation. It's always had the feel of "throwing a bunch of names together."

It reminds me of when he went to Miami.

Well, if he was old....

If Wade was gimp.....


....and Bosh was only interested in scoring....lol

But, ALLEGEDLY these are the teams on his list.

Plus, Chris has already started recruiting.

https://uproxx.com/dimemag/lebron-j...2018-four-teams-lakers-rockets-cavs-sixers/2/

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I meant OKC.

If they're not gonna blow it up, getting Gordon is better than losing PG for nothing.

Oh, yeah....

Because they are in cap hell, yeah....

Shit, maybe they'd take Ariza and Gordon in a sign and trade.

I didn't think of that....

If he walks, OKC can't just sign a replacement....

 

[The Q]

Oh, yeah....

Because they are in cap hell, yeah....

Shit, maybe they'd take Ariza and Gordon in a sign and trade.

I didn't think of that....

If he walks, OKC can't just sign a replacement....

Exactly.

The problem for Hou is gonna be getting someone to take Anderson.

 

[trojanfan12]

It reminds me of when he went to Miami.

Well, if he was old....

If Wade was gimp.....


....and Bosh was only interested in scoring....lol

But, ALLEGEDLY these are the teams on his list.

Plus, Chris has already started recruiting.

https://uproxx.com/dimemag/lebron-j...2018-four-teams-lakers-rockets-cavs-sixers/2/

I'm sure they're on his list. I just don't see where it makes sense from a basketball perspective.

Part of his leaving Miami was D-Wade got old and injured...just like CP3 and both CP3 and Harden are ball dominant, especially Harden.

Then, when you consider what they'll have to give up to make room, what do they do for a bench?

Especially since CP3 apparently won't take less than max and neither will Lebron.

 

[trojanfan12]

As for speculation...

Isn't all this speculation?

Him to the Lakers, 76ers or Rockets all fall in that category.

At least with the Lakers and Sixers, they aren't gutting their roster to fit him. Some speculation is more realistic than others. If Lebron really wants to go to Houston, I'm sure he and they will figure out a way...but it's going to be incredibly difficult and what's left, still probably won't be able to beat the Warriors.

Who's to say Chris won't be the guy to take the pay cut?

I forget where I saw it, but according to an article I read...CP3 says he won't be the one to take a cut.

Who the blue hell knows....

In the end that's most accurate statement by anyone. lol

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

But, ALLEGEDLY these are the teams on his list.

Plus, Chris has already started recruiting.

https://uproxx.com/dimemag/lebron-j...2018-four-teams-lakers-rockets-cavs-sixers/2/

You can almost rule out the Cavs if he get demolished in the Finals.

No way does he want to be the guy that has to continually score a 40 point plus triple double just to be competitive only for the team to get blown out in the end. Cleveland isn't going to get better in the next few years either.

To me, the Sixers sound his best choice.

 

[tlance]

You can almost rule out the Cavs if he get demolished in the Finals.

No way does he want to be the guy that has to continually score a 40 point plus triple double just to be competitive only for the team to get blown out in the end. Cleveland isn't going to get better in the next few years either.

To me, the Sixers sound his best choice.

It depends on what matters most to him.

Like @trojanfan12 suggested, he might not see any of the available options as a team likely to beat Golden State. If he comes to that conclusion and if he doesn't hate Dan Gilbert too much to stay,
Cleveland would likely be his choice.

After all, he has further enhanced his GOAT case this year without winning anything.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I'm sure they're on his list. I just don't see where it makes sense from a basketball perspective.

Part of his leaving Miami was D-Wade got old and injured...just like CP3 and both CP3 and Harden are ball dominant, especially Harden.

Then, when you consider what they'll have to give up to make room, what do they do for a bench?

Especially since CP3 apparently won't take less than max and neither will Lebron.

I saw it right before I read your post.

It was something to the affect of.....

He didn't turn down 200 m from the Clippers to help the Rockets with their tax problems....lol

Yeah, that sounds like no discount.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

You can almost rule out the Cavs if he get demolished in the Finals.

No way does he want to be the guy that has to continually score a 40 point plus triple double just to be competitive only for the team to get blown out in the end. Cleveland isn't going to get better in the next few years either.

To me, the Sixers sound his best choice.

You would think.

That and he publicly stated that he didn't want Kyrie traded and Gilbert did it anyway.

He might not feel valued.

But, we will see if he actually leaves.

I asked the question earlier....

If LeBron goes to any of those 3 Teams, but DOESN'T win a chip, what's his legacy there?

The Lakers don't usually give out statues for playoff appearances.

I THINK he might get one in Miami.

But, not before Wade.

Cleveland is the only place he will have GOAT status no matter what happens from here on out.

Might be tough to leave that behind.

 

[trojanfan12]

I saw it right before I read your post.

It was something to the affect of.....

He didn't turn down 200 m from the Clippers to help the Rockets with their tax problems....lol

Yeah, that sounds like no discount.

That's the quote.

Lebron has said that he won't accept less anymore also. I wonder if they can fit them both if they completely gut the roster and just sign a bunch of mid-levels, vet exceptions etc.?

 

[trojanfan12]

Like @trojanfan12 suggested, he might not see any of the available options as a team likely to beat Golden State. If he comes to that conclusion and if he doesn't hate Dan Gilbert too much to stay,
Cleveland would likely be his choice.

Yeah, I'm sure that the first thing he'll look at is if there is a team that he can go to that will have a real shot at beating the Warriors right away. If he does, that's where he'll go.

But, if he doesn't see that, then it gets interesting.

He has described his relationship with Dan Gilbert as a "working relationship." The question is "what does that mean?" Is it a relationship that he thinks he can "work with" for a few more years so that he can retire a Cav? How well will the relationship hold up when he can't even get out of the East anymore? If he thinks he can deal with that, he'll stay.

If he wants to join a team that probably isn't ready to beat the Warriors, but can get to the finals (thus giving him a punchers chance) and may be ready in a season or 2, he'll go to the Sixers and hope he, Simmons and the coaches can figure out the logistics of who's running the offense and when.

If he's looking towards life after basketball and is willing to be patient and maybe have a shot at a title or 2 before he finally retires and wants to be where he already has homes and businesses (plus great weather), he'll go to the Lakers.

 

[trojanfan12]

You would think.

That and he publicly stated that he didn't want Kyrie traded and Gilbert did it anyway.

He might not feel valued.

But, we will see if he actually leaves.

I asked the question earlier....

If LeBron goes to any of those 3 Teams, but DOESN'T win a chip, what's his legacy there?

The Lakers don't usually give out statues for playoff appearances.

I THINK he might get one in Miami.

But, not before Wade.

Cleveland is the only place he will have GOAT status no matter what happens from here on out.

Might be tough to leave that behind.

As far as his legacy wherever he goes if he doesn't win a title...I think it depends on what else happens.

For example, if he goes to the Lakers, doesn't win a title, but gets them back to say, the WCF, helps the kids develop (he really wouldn't have to do much except set the example)...he'll be the guy who got them back to that level.

But, if it somehow turns into Dwightv2.0...his legacy will take a hit.

It's a little trickier with the Sixers because they made it to the 2nd round without him. So I think he'd have to get them to the finals at the least.

If he goes to the Rockets and doesn't win a title, then I think it could really hurt him. It would be seen as him trying to get another super team and still couldn't get it done.

As far as Cleveland goes...his GOAT status there was cemented as soon as he brought the city it's first title since Jim Brown was toting the rock for the Browns. Nothing is changing that.

 

[shopson67]

Isn't all this speculation?

Sure, but that article didn't even really get into the possibilities, just kinda threw out some vague suggestions.

He's a good player and I think his 3 point shot has improved. He's just not a guy that you give up an Ingram, Ball or even Kuzma for.

Still only at .310 (53rd among SGs), but that seems like massive improvement from his .266 the year prior.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Y'all watch Wojo's draft show?

I hadn't even thought of Houston for George until @The Q mentioned it.

I haven't seen anything to suggest he'd be interested. But, you never know.


Adrian Wojnarowski reported on ESPN’s “NBA Draft: On the Clock” special that the Oklahoma City Thunder very much remain in contention to re-sign George, while the Houston Rockets will make a strong effort to acquire him: “Like LeBron James, any place he’d tell a team, ‘I’d like to come,’ they’d create salary cap space for him. But, Oklahoma City has done a great job on selling him on a future there. He liked playing with Russell Westbrook, Steven Adams and Billy Donovan. They have a real opportunity to keep him, but the Lakers are home. He grew up in L.A. and when he left Indiana, his plan was that he would be in L.A. in a year. So you have to credit Oklahoma City for really turning his head on that. … And Houston will be aggressive to try to see if there’s a way to get him there.

 

[Retroram52]

IT used to be just about the money but if this is true, this latest criteria for LeBron's decision of where he plays next is about the chances for another ring which screams Houston on the surface. But as has been discussed, there are other logistical problems that prohibit James going to Houston. One of the many factors is that he doesn't own a home there. But anyways...

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/c3a2...f01ce3030/ss_lakers-rumors:-lebron-james.html

 

[The Q]

Y'all watch Wojo's draft show?

I hadn't even thought of Houston for George until @The Q mentioned it.

I haven't seen anything to suggest he'd be interested. But, you never know.


Adrian Wojnarowski reported on ESPN’s “NBA Draft: On the Clock” special that the Oklahoma City Thunder very much remain in contention to re-sign George, while the Houston Rockets will make a strong effort to acquire him: “Like LeBron James, any place he’d tell a team, ‘I’d like to come,’ they’d create salary cap space for him. But, Oklahoma City has done a great job on selling him on a future there. He liked playing with Russell Westbrook, Steven Adams and Billy Donovan. They have a real opportunity to keep him, but the Lakers are home. He grew up in L.A. and when he left Indiana, his plan was that he would be in L.A. in a year. So you have to credit Oklahoma City for really turning his head on that. … And Houston will be aggressive to try to see if there’s a way to get him there.

It makes a lot of sense.

They can add another star without dismantling their roster.

It's a good setup for them.

And they don't have to burn more assets to dump ryan anderson.

 

[shopson67]

It makes a lot of sense.

They can add another star without dismantling their roster.

It's a good setup for them.

And they don't have to burn more assets to dump ryan anderson.

Really, it's the only way to get George or Lebron to Houston. Clearing cap space isn't going to work, but a trade could.