From the Athletic: what will LeBron do?

[trojanfan12]

^Everything I hear is the Lakers are just done with him, period. And we know Jeanie Buss's done with him and she probably still has influence there. I don't think it's a money debate.

Jeanie doesn't own the team anymore, Mark Walter does. She has very little influence anymore. He'll be the one deciding what the Lakers would be willing to pay him. If they can reach a deal that allows them to upgrade the talent around him and be a true contender (not just a "punchers chance" contender) and they're confident that he can still play at a high level, I could see them bringing him back.

I'd find this about as lame as the Durant move. It's the guy who kept you from multiple titles and probably ruined any chance of this GOAT thing you're desperate about...and you're going to join him? I agree the fit in GS is actually pretty nice but this would be weak s***. But I guess him joining Miami was already weak s*** in the first place so what's another one?

And yet, the rumors have still persisted for years. Also, Lebron joining Steph and Jimmy who are both also old and will likely be retiring themselves in the next few years, would be seen differently than an in his prime KD joining in their primes Steph and Klay coming off having just won a championship.

 

[Hotel Security]

>Jeanie doesn't own the team anymore, Mark Walter does. She has very little influence anymore.

She's acting governor of the team so she absolutely does. Part of the deal of the sale was purging her brothers from the team while she retains her position. Please read up on the situation before you try correcting people, thanks. Article below for your convenience. And there's no evidence the new owner is gung-ho for LeBron either. Bron's constant meddling in the front office is a headache to them as much as it's been an asset.

How Buss family infighting drove the $10B sale of the Lakers

The post-Jerry Buss era was defined by resentment, dysfunction and conflict -- and ended with the loss of the most valuable family-owned franchise in the world.

www.espn.com

>And yet, the rumors have still persisted for years.

Still lame as f***. And we're still not sure if the "rumors for years" are the result of media constantly mentioning it or if it's based on anything real. And I wouldn't believe anything out of Bron's camp anyway.

>would be seen differently than an in his prime KD joining in their primes

Oh, of course the move will be loved by everyone since the league has bred a generation of fans who have zero team loyalty and love players jumping teams. But, it's lame as f***.

 

[trojanfan12]

She's acting governor of the team so she absolutely does. Part of the deal of the sale was purging her brothers from the team while she retains her position. Please read up on the situation before you try correcting people, thanks. Article below for your convenience. And there's no evidence the new owner is gung-ho for LeBron either. Bron's constant meddling in the front office is a headache to them as much as it's been an asset

She's Governor of the team for NBA meetings on league business while Walter puts together his front office. That is not the same as having influence on the roster. Nowhere in that article does it say she has any influence on the roster.

Still lame as f***. And we're still not sure if the "rumors for years" are the result of media constantly mentioning it or if it's based on anything real. And I wouldn't believe anything out of Bron's camp anyway.

It's real in the sense that Lebron and Steph have both been asked. For Steph's part, he's basically always said that he's not leaving Golden State...which implies that Lebron would have to go to the Warriors. Lebron has always said that it would be great to play with Steph, but, to my knowledge, has never actually tried to make it happen.

Ya know what's really "lame as fuck"? Not using the quote button.

Oh, of course the move will be loved by everyone since the league has bred a generation of fans who have zero team loyalty and love players jumping teams. But, it's lame as f***.

You thinking it's lame, doesn't necessarily make it so. For the record, I seriously doubt it happens. I'm sure the league would love it though. I think far fewer people would bothered by 41 year old Lebron joining 39 year old Steph and 36 year old Jimmy Butler as were bothered by in his prime KD joining Steph and Klay in their primes after just losing to them in the WCF with the Warriors having just won the title.

 

[tlance]

^Everything I hear is the Lakers are just done with him, period. And we know Jeanie Buss's done with him and she probably still has influence there. I don't think it's a money debate.

>There have been rumors about him wanting to play with Steph for years...if he, Steph and Jimmy can stay healthy...maybe they can make a run?

I'd find this about as lame as the Durant move. It's the player and team who kept you from multiple titles and probably ruined any chance of this GOAT thing you're desperate about...and you're going to join him? I agree the fit in GS is actually pretty nice but this would be weak s***. But I guess him joining Miami was already weak s*** in the first place so what's another one?

---

>Actually, his ego may be exactly what keeps him from doing a farewell tour.

Oh he'll definitely want to do a farewell tour. The most annoying ones always do.

BS.

LeBron is 41.

Most former stars in their late 30s sign to be a bench guy on a contender for their last contracts.

GS would maybe be in the mix if they were healthy and added LeBron. They are not without him.

History aside, that is nothing remotely close to prime KD signing with the best team in the league.

Insane to make that comparison.

 

[msgkings322]

BS.

LeBron is 41.

Most former stars in their late 30s sign to be a bench guy on a contender for their last contracts.

GS would maybe be in the mix if they were healthy and added LeBron. They are not without him.

History aside, that is nothing remotely close to prime KD signing with the best team in the league.

Insane to make that comparison.

New guy reminds me of Wiggy in his contrarianism

 

[trojanfan12]

New guy reminds me of Wiggy in his contrarianism

At least Wiggy knows how to use the quote function.

 

[msgkings322]

At least Wiggy knows how to use the quote function.

Yeah that affectation of his is hella gay lol

 

[shopson67]

>The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason.

If this is a real point of this story than these guys are complete hacks who are putting this out just to get attention...or they're schmucks who seriously believe Bron's nonsense when his people drip these rumors out. Of course he's not retiring. He can go and still go well. He's not hanging it up. I'm sure he's done with the Lakers but there's a bunch of places he can fit in.

>Does this guy ever freakin' age?
>It's absolutely bullshit that he can be the age he is and play at the level he still plays at.

Bron's 41 and Doc Rivers made the point that this was his age when he got his first head-coaching job.

You're sure he's done with the Lakers, but the other guys are schmucks?

 

[shopson67]

Depends, imo. I don't see the Lakers giving him another max deal. Especially since they'll be looking to re-sign AR who's expected to turn down his player option and become a free agent.

So, it may come down to how much less than a max deal that he's willing to play for and if the Lakers are willing to meet that price.

His choices are likely to be pretty limited. He's not going to go to a non-contender and I don't think there will be any contenders besides the Lakers who will have the cap space to give him a max deal.

If he and the Lakers can't reach a deal, maybe he goes to Golden State? There have been rumors about him wanting to play with Steph for years...if he, Steph and Jimmy can stay healthy...maybe they can make a run?

Nobody is giving him a max deal at this point. The teams he will want to go to would have to go the S&T route and give up a big chunk of their roster. So, if the money's the same elsewhere, why move?

How is he going to GS with Steph and Jimmy and getting paid?

 

[trojanfan12]

Nobody is giving him a max deal at this point. The teams he will want to go to would have to go the S&T route and give up a big chunk of their roster. So, if the money's the same elsewhere, why move?

Never said anyone would give him a max deal. As far as why move? That would be up to him.

How is he going to GS with Steph and Jimmy and getting paid?

That would be between him and the Warriors. I have no idea what, if anything, the Warriors can do to fit him under the cap at an amount he'd play for. I just commented that there has been speculation for years that he'd like to play with Steph.

 

[Wamu]

Is there a single Lebron guy on the planet without an inferiority complex when it comes to MJ?



.

Your hatred is shining bright. Thanks for the laugh.

It's the LeBron haters that never STFU about him.

And I'm a Celtics fan.

What all the haters don't understand is for LeBron to only be compared to the GOAT is one helluva compliment.

 

[thunderc]

Nobody is giving him a max deal at this point. The teams he will want to go to would have to go the S&T route and give up a big chunk of their roster. So, if the money's the same elsewhere, why move?

How is he going to GS with Steph and Jimmy and getting paid?

Jimmy said he doesn’t like his name even being mentioned in terms of wondering how he gets paid. Jimmy gets paid no matter what, don’t mess with Jimmy.

 

[dtgold88]

It checks out honestly.

For all that was made about “the decision” and the way he handled it…

In that time period most of the other big names that headed to feee agency absolutely held their franchises hostage in the final year of their contracts.

LeBron never let that happen. He played out his deal and deflected media questions despite his free agency being a marquis event.

What is considered holding the team hostage, since it seems you imply Lebron has done this differently than others did to their teams?

 

[Wamu]

What will LeBron do...get hair extensions?

 

[dtgold88]

LeBron could be done

Tomorrow, the Lakers begin their playoff series against the Rockets as a shorthanded crew. Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves are both out indefinitely for L.A., which leaves 41-year-old LeBron James as the centerpiece of an undermanned team. It could be the last time we see James play in the NBA, per a report from The Athletic this morning. Quick notes: The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason. Sources said James does not want a farewell tour. This choice would align with that. But James is still really, really good. The Lakers would welcome him back, as his run with a healthy Dončić and Reaves was fearsome. The Warriors are a possible landing spot, though, as are the Cavaliers. Seriously. ^^^ he does NOT want a farewell tour? Who had that on their LeBron bingo card?

Other than maybe retirement and no farewell tour what in this "report" is different than what someone could guess would happen?

 

[dtgold88]

Is there a single Lebron guy on the planet without an inferiority complex when it comes to MJ?



.

oh, the irony.

 

[dtgold88]

>The story is deeply reported by Dan Woike and Sam Amick, and includes that retirement is a very real option for James this offseason.

If this is a real point of this story than these guys are complete hacks who are putting this out just to get attention...or they're schmucks who seriously believe Bron's nonsense when his people drip these rumors out. Of course he's not retiring. He can go and still go well. He's not hanging it up. I'm sure he's done with the Lakers but there's a bunch of places he can fit in.

>Does this guy ever freakin' age?
>It's absolutely bullshit that he can be the age he is and play at the level he still plays at.

Bron's 41 and Doc Rivers made the point that this was his age when he got his first head-coaching job.

So true and you kind of ninjad mean. I mean, the bolded is hardly some hard hitting reporting. Though while I agree it's an option (and you might not) do agree with you it's not what will happen.

 

[dtgold88]

>
>would be seen differently than an in his prime KD joining in their primes
Oh, of course the move will be loved by everyone since the league has bred a generation of fans who have zero team loyalty and love players jumping teams. But, it's lame as f***.

well you don't love it so clearly not loved by everyone and have you followed this sport? There are Lebron haters will complain no matter what he does.

I'd also say you are way off on thinking there are not a number of young fans who care about their teams quite a bit and stick with them.

 

[tlance]

What is considered holding the team hostage, since it seems you imply Lebron has done this differently than others did to their teams?

The players that make it clear that they aren’t re-signing and all but demand trades hijacking the last season or two under contract.

Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, etc.

 

[DJ "I'm blessed" Fieri]

BS.

LeBron is 41.

Most former stars in their late 30s sign to be a bench guy on a contender for their last contracts.

GS would maybe be in the mix if they were healthy and added LeBron. They are not without him.

History aside, that is nothing remotely close to prime KD signing with the best team in the league.

Insane to make that comparison.

Yep.