Why are we targeting lebron?

[danfantastk32]

I would be concerned less about his affect on the near future and more about what happens when he leaves because not only does he leave a huge hole to fill on the team, but the financial lux tax sink hole too. Miami and now Cleveland are not in a happy place.

Getting LeBron INSURES that the lakers MUST surround him with pricey aging vets because you don't really think he'll be happy playing with youngsters do you

Ok...but where were Miami and Cleveland BEFORE he arrived? Cleveland just went to it's 3rd straight finals. 4 straight for Miami. You think either team takes it back? What do you think either team would look like had he never gone? Miami was about to lose Wade to Chicago.

And to your last sentence....I don't agree with that either. A) He's going to want another star I'm sure...but who wouldnt? But I don't think Lebron is thinking about a pile of stars. You can't "out-star" the Warriors right now. And if Star-power is what he wants, then goto Houston, and be done with it. Why go to LA with zero stars? I think Lebron realizes that the only way to beat GS, is to have a team with 3-4 good players who are young, and on Cheap contracts. Try and surround yourself with another star or two....but let the cheap youth become legit players....I think that's the only option right now.

[Landsberger]

I truly think his main interest in LA is for what he wants to do after basketball. Sure he wants to win but at his age and milage he's beginning his transition IMHO.

I'll disagree that he'll want to play with unproven playoff performers if he has a chance to get vets he trusts. Our young guys taking steps to be very good is an IF..... them going deep in the playoffs for the first time and being able to count on them is beyond what you can ask in 2 or 3 years. There is a reason very few teams with youngsters get deep in the playoffs while teams with decrepit vets do.

This is all conjecture until it happens. A lot of things have to align for us to be a contender again. Not the least of which is that Ball and Ingram have to be all that the most enthusiastic projections say they will be. That part has nothing to do with cap room yet still can make or break any of these scenarios.

[danfantastk32]

I truly think his main interest in LA is for what he wants to do after basketball. Sure he wants to win but at his age and milage he's beginning his transition IMHO.

I'll disagree that he'll want to play with unproven playoff performers if he has a chance to get vets he trusts. Our young guys taking steps to be very good is an IF..... them going deep in the playoffs for the first time and being able to count on them is beyond what you can ask in 2 or 3 years. There is a reason very few teams with youngsters get deep in the playoffs while teams with decrepit vets do.

I think your first paragraph answers the 2nd paragraph. If Lebron is 'ring chasing' he'll goto Houston (even BETTER....goto OKC and win with Westbrook/PG. Talk about shoving it in Durants Face!). If he comes here, I think he knows that Ball and Ingram are where we're at. Would he like to add a 2nd star? Sure....and I think that's pretty doable. Would he want to win a title? Well....who doesn't?

I think he'll be watching our team this year. And if our young team shows some potential, he might very well think about something like he and PG (the 'consensus' pair we have all been talking about) joining up WITH our guys and at the very least, having a punchers chance.

As long as we don't gut the everloving f** out of our team to bring two stars....I think it's a total win / win.

I think it is VERY doable to get him/PG and still resign Randle / or keep Lopez / or keep KCP (whatever sounds best of the 3) while keeping Ingram-Ball and a couple other young guys.

If we're not all that....A) Maybe we aughta look at gutting the youth??? B)He turns his gaze to Houston, or whatever.

[danfantastk32]

And for the record....I give this whole thing about a 33% chance. I think there's legs to the story, but if he comes here, it's for his own reasons.

The thing to do, is let the season run it's course. Perhaps PG doesn't want to come next year? Suddenly the song's starting, and we don't have a dancing partner. Lebron's looking prettier and prettier. Maybe Ball, Ingram, Randle, Lopez and KCP really mesh...and we have ourselves a team that barely made/missed the post-season? Perhaps we resign that group, and tell CP / Lebron it's 1 or the other.

Who knows? Gonna have to wait about 250 days here to find out what happens with our boys.

[Beethoven]

Serious question. He will be 34 and we will be giving him a super max. One bad injury and we will cripple our franchise for years. And the thing is, injuries start to come with that many miles on the body. Nobody beats Father Time. We might squeeze one good year out of him then be stuck with his albatross contract for years. And in that one year we aren't beating the warriors anyway. I'm very much for targeting paul George and some of the other fa, but should we just flat out say no to lebron?

Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic man. Better than he was before. Better...stronger...faster.

[loveshaq786]

Who's to say that we are going to sign for multiple years. His track record doesn't prove that he will be here long term

[Slink]

He'll be 33 years old if he does come to Lakers. If he does, I think he will end his career with Lakers.

[Slink]

He'll be 33 years old if he does come. If he does, I think he will end his career with Lakers. I doubt he would look for another team at 37 or 38 years old.

[Lakernut4ever]

I think even if he does comes here...l don't think he will retire here like Kobe.

[dAdo dA dEvil]

I think even if he does comes here...l don't think he will retire here like Kobe.

He will comeback to the Cavs when it's time to retire to add more drama to his career coz he's all about drama.

[Spanish_Laker]

If LeBron does come, I'm pretty sure he would sign for cheap, something around 10M/year, just to make room for 2 other superstars.

[Slink]

I think even if he does comes here...l don't think he will retire here like Kobe.

Another poster stated if he comes to the Lakers it would be for non basketball reasons like running his side businesses in L.A. I doubt he leaves his side ventures just to chase another ring in his late 30s when he would be on the tail end of his career.

[iamworthy]

Read on Twitter

[Penberthy]

If LeBron does come, I'm pretty sure he would sign for cheap, something around 10M/year, just to make room for 2 other superstars.

My thoughts exactly. He makes more money and cements his legacy by getting to the finals every year and winning a few more rings, than taking the max on a so-so team for the final 5-6 years of his career.

-Play through Randle before the deadline, get him 20/10
-Randle+Deng for expirings
-Clarkson for 2018 1st

Ball 2018 1st
George Hart
Ingram Kuzma
Lebron Nance
Boogie Zu Bryant

Boogie and George are currently 27. That team wins for a LONG time.

[mademan]

How is this even a question? Would you seriously take the next 4 years of PG over the next 4 years of Lebron? Thats insane. (Though I think both sign in LA)

[Lalouie]

if the idea of getting lebron is to be an instant contender it is not a well thought out plan.

by the time gsw starts losing its grip, lemme say maybe 4 years, lbj will be too old to matter. in the meantime acquiring lbj might cost lal too much.

spend the money on established YOUNG stars. it will cost less and the team will be ripe to take over if gsw falters.

[Dr Aki]

don't be stupid guys

when we looked like we had 2 max FA slots in 2014, we thought kobe would take a little less, and then he was given one of the max slots

why would lebron take less? he's not THAT charitable

[Slink]

I don't know. Maybe he follows Durant's example and takes less money to compete for a champoinship?

[karkinos]

If LeBron does come, I'm pretty sure he would sign for cheap, something around 10M/year, just to make room for 2 other superstars.

lmao
not happening
not in a million years

[stan francisco]

All we need is Westbrook, and then either PG or LBJ. We won't need three superstars.

Why LBJ? Not my favorite either, but neither is PG. Most people would say it's because he's the best player in the world.

Westbrook at SG next to Ball? I like it, just wonder if RW digs the thought of it after this season...