That's why I said "possibly Julius Randle". If the Lakers are able to move Deng (which they do have a Deng trade in the wings), then they can keep Randle. Even without Randle, the Lakers are still a serious threat with LBJ + PG for all the reasons I just mentioned.
Playing in LA would not get him a ring. Let's face it Lebron and PG will be a lock for being a contender for sure, but how would Lakers match with GSW, Houston, Spurs...etc? Boston would be the easy path to the final next year.
Cavs - LBJ = Lakers = lose nba finals (tops), same movie different year, except this time with the super lottery lakers team. Wanna add PG? He’s the replacement of K Love, still same result. If I want to be in the conversation of GOAT I need rings!! And I’m not getting any younger, I’ve heard Bron cares about that. I’d join the team with the best chance ( excluding GS unless I want to be called snake 2.0). Only team proven to challenge GS recently??? Make a guess
I don’t think the BBall IQ of their young players stacks up with GS or Houston, I think they were out-athleticisming veteran players, but that’s a subjective qualm.
Lebron needs to get to 6 or 7 titles so he can trot out 6/9 or 7/10 to help him in the MJ 6/6 debate. I don't buy LA being that good this year even if they bring in Bron/PG/whatever. We vaulted to 67 wins on the back of our system installed the year before and then upgraded with talent. They will be rebuilding and occasionally listening to CSNY while Luke works them through their own egos. If it is a basketball/legacy decision mostly, it has to be HTOWN. Lebron wants and needs -Being able to play off the ball -Probably not having to drag a team along like he did this year -chance at furthering the LBJ vs GS storyline -shot at regular season win record? -4-5 chances at a championship. -He can opt in and get traded here and feel it out for a year. Better to have loved and lost in a worst case scenario.
Sounds great, but I dont see this other key piece out there that really catapults us above the Warriors. It has to be a really good player that we add and being over the cap that is really hard to do, for Lebron or any player. I think we may have to deal with the possibility that Chris Paul leaves too.
If you look at the past 5 years, quality FAs haven't exactly been flocking to LeBron teams (mostly old has beens that offer little to no help) but ok...
Lakers aren't getting out of the west with just Paul George and LeBron. Not happening. I could see that team winning about 50 games probably a little less than that. LeBron can't screw around during the season in the west on a team with a weak bench.
RA is gone (along with that salary).....Our window is now. CP3 isn't going anywhere. We're already better than GS.( just got the shaft) Expect an expensive impact piece along with vet ringchaser (s) cheap.....
Lonzo was a rookie. You don't think he can improve? Check out these rookie season averages: 11.7 points 5.4 rebounds 7.7 assists 1.9 steals 38% field goal 27% 3-point field goal These are Jason Kidd's rookie season stats. Lonzo's rookie stats: 10.2 points 6.9 rebounds 7.2 assists 1.7 steals 36% field goals 30.5% 3-point field goals Pretty similar stats. Yes, Lonzo shot terribly his rookie season. So did Kidd. But it doesn't mean that he can't improve. You can say all you want about Lonzo sucking and can't hit a shot, but Jason Kidd pretty much shot the same percentages in his rookie season as well. Lonzo shot 55% FG and 41% 3-pointers in college while Kidd shot 46% FG and 33% 3-pointers at Cal. Jason Kidd started out shooting terribly, especially from 3 as a rookie, but became a great 3 point shooter as his career progressed. As long as Lonzo continues to put the work in, his shooting could very well improve the same way Kidd's did. Lonzo has proven he can shoot at a high percentage and could even one day shoot above 40% on threes, just like how Kidd recorded multiple seasons shooting over 40% on 3's. Add a mentor and a basketball mind like LeBron to take Lonzo under his wing, it could do wonders for Lonzo.
I could see the Lakers signing two of the three LeBron, Paul George or Chris Paul. Then turn around and make a trade for the other.
This. Ring chasers aka washed up veterans who can no longer play (like Joe Johnson on the Rockets) with a few exceptions. *Strictly free agents, not trades Cleveland: Richard Jefferson James Jones Shawn Marion Dwyane Wade Jeff Green Jose Calderon Chris Andersen Dahntay Jones DeAndre Liggins Larry Sanders Andrew Bogut Derrick Williams Mo Williams Mike Miller Kendrick Perkins Deron Williams Derrick Rose Miami: Shane Battier Ray Allen Erick Dampier Rashard Lewis Eddie House Mike Bibby Ronny Turiaf Zydrunas Ilgauskas Chris Andersen DeAndre Liggins Greg Oden Roger Mason Jerry Stackhouse Mike Miller Eddy Curry Juwan Howard
Yeah, this is what I've been telling my friends all year. Statistically, Ingram is pretty similar to Giannis at age 20. Kid has a high ceiling. Y'all can say what you want about Lonzo, but he's going to be a very good player. Kuzma is nice too. The way I look at it, Lebron can go team up with these young dudes for a couple years and carry them to a couple titles. Then once he begins his decline, they'll be able to carry him on the back 9. A Lebron, CP3, George, Ingram, Lonzo, Kuzma core is pretty nice, and one I can see challenging GS immediately.
Good point. The Lakers are young and were able run teams out of the gym. But Lonzo, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart have high basketball IQ's. Julius Randle just bullies people around, which is fine. You add great minds like LeBron and Paul George to take these kids under their wing, I'm sure their collective basketball IQ's will improve that much more. The Lakers were the youngest team in the league but with their burgeoning bball IQ's and work ethic, along with LBJ + PG and whatever vets they surround them with, they could grow to become just as cerebral as they are athletic.
Lonzo not only shot those incredibly horrible percentages from the field, but he also shot 45% from the free throw line. These are historically bad percentages.
