Can James Play Center Full-Time?

Eric Bieniemy · Post #1 » by **Eric Bieniemy** » Sat May 28, 2022 6:12 pm

LeBron James is big as hell. 6'9, 270 pounds

If Davis were to be traded (probably not happening, but play along) and if James played alongside a defensive "PF" (like a Nance or Covington or Tucker), could the Lakers and James be successful with LeBron as the full-time starting center?

FYI: The centers left in the playoffs are Horford, Green, Kleber, Looney, R. Williams, Bam, Powell/Bertans, and Tucker. Only Williams is bigger than James.

Last Point: James thrived at center.

Your thoughts...

Post #2 » by **Slava** » Sun May 29, 2022 8:43 am

No and neither should Davis. Those ultra efficient line ups are to be reserved for the playoffs so that you are not taxing the players much earlier in the season. Regular season line ups need to be as bland as possible to get through the grind and rack up enough wins for home court advantage.

LAL1947 · Post #3 » by **LAL1947** » Sun May 29, 2022 1:40 pm

We need to get this kid as one of our Centers, Jericho Sims.
He is very good at rim protection, help defense and perimeter defense.
Think of him as McGee on steroids. He's also a Klutch client, which helps make the trade.

PG: Lebron
SG: 3&D guard with some play-making ability
SF: 3&D Wing
PF: Davis
CE: Sims

Watch on YouTube

Lakers24gm · Post #4 » by **Lakers24gm** » Sun May 29, 2022 2:30 pm

To me the Lebron at center minutes this season was so hard to watch. The defense was a complete joke. Maybe a few minutes here or there but we would need way better wings.

Post #5 » by **Kilroy** » Mon May 30, 2022 4:04 am

LeBron doesn't play defense... Why would playing him at Center be a viable option?

This team's biggest problem last season was terrible D... And that has to do with the core players more than anything. So, gimmick lineups are not going to be a real answer...

Landsberger · Post #6 » by **Landsberger** » Mon May 30, 2022 4:31 pm

Can James play a full season at any position is a better question. The answer is probably not.

scoobs07 · Post #7 » by **scoobs07** » Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:33 pm

delete

scoobs07 · Post #8 » by **scoobs07** » Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:37 pm

scoobs07 wrote:We played well with Lebron at center last season. However, I am not sure it would be sustainable for a full season, unless he had a defensive power forward playing along side him. In essence, Lebron could play 5, and AD at 4 because AD is a defensive power forward. But, it is kind of ridiculous to have your 6-10 with a 7-5 wing span rim protector playing the 4, while you have your 6-9 275 pound small forward playing the 5. With that being said, I think at this stage in his career, Lebron should be sliding over the the 4. But unfortunately, AD's reluctance to slide to the 5 is "blocking" Lebron so to speak. AD is hurting the team by not sliding to the 5. The solution could ultimately e the Lakers trading AD for a dynamic wing player or point guard and acquiring "stretch 5" rim protector type like Bamba or Turner. Those type of players are extremely rare, so we would be fortunate to get our hands on either one of these players. Come to think of it, with Lebron's abilty to be a stretch 4, the 5 that we get does ot even need to be a shooter, but it would help. If we could get a Christian Wood then great. If we are unable to get Bamba, Turner or Wood, then we could look at other players that could rim protect. Thomas Bryant is another stretch 5/ rim protector type that is a free agent. WE also could look at Jalen Smith. There will be a lot of bigs available n free agency to put next to Lebron.

danfantastk32 · Post #9 » by **danfantastk32** » Sun Jun 5, 2022 4:50 pm

Just asking for injuries, and it would be terrible. This is not the time for gimmick (as Kilroy put it...good description) stuff. Not for the Lakers, and not for Lebron. If he ever would have been a decent Center, it was 8-9 years ago.

stan francisco · Post #10 » by **stan francisco** » Mon Jun 6, 2022 10:49 pm

LAL1947 wrote:We need to get this kid as one of our Centers, Jericho Sims.
He is very good at rim protection, help defense and perimeter defense.
Think of him as McGee on steroids. He's also a Klutch client, which helps make the trade.

PG: Lebron
SG: 3&D guard with some play-making ability
SF: 3&D Wing
PF: Davis
CE: Sims

Watch on YouTube

Do it, Rob!

Hoopz Afrik · Post #11 » by **Hoopz Afrik** » Wed Jun 8, 2022 2:06 pm

Not at all. He was getting cooked all season long when manning the 5 and the squad, in turn, bled points like a hemophiliac.

stan francisco · Post #12 » by **stan francisco** » Wed Jun 8, 2022 11:21 pm

No, he can’t. And we shouldn’t want him to, for the same reasons that we don’t want AD to play center. Injuries. What’s up with reaching for weird solutions? We need defensively intense players around LBJ and AD. Some young, some vets. All need to be three point threats.

Post #13 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 1:47 am

No, he's best as a playmaking 4.

The more I think about, the more I think a trade of Davis for a C that can survive the RS would help this team.

SlimShady83 · Post #14 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 2:47 am

zimpy27 wrote:No, he's best as a playmaking 4.

The more I think about, the more I think a trade of Davis for a C that can survive the RS would help this team.

Myles Turner in a heart beat

Post #15 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 3:05 am

SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:No, he's best as a playmaking 4.

The more I think about, the more I think a trade of Davis for a C that can survive the RS would help this team.

Myles Turner in a heart beat

I'd be very keen on that. I'd be interested in Gobert too. I think LeBron/Gobert at 4 and 5 would be very good. LeBron could defend paint while Gobert goes to perimeter, not being able to do this in playoffs is what made Gobert less effective. Westbrook would have to be gone too though

SlimShady83 · Post #16 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 3:28 am

zimpy27 wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:No, he's best as a playmaking 4.

The more I think about, the more I think a trade of Davis for a C that can survive the RS would help this team.

Myles Turner in a heart beat

I'd be very keen on that. I'd be interested in Gobert too. I think LeBron/Gobert at 4 and 5 would be very good. LeBron could defend paint while Gobert goes to perimeter, not being able to do this in playoffs is what made Gobert less effective. Westbrook would have to be gone too though

I wonder If Lakers would consider it ... I can call it now, AD going to go down in first month if not 2 months with some sort of Injury - Turner is ready to break out and when Bron goes, he'll be main focus (depending who else Lakers get after Bron) ... Lakers need to take a look at trading AD If not this off season the next - because having him with out Bron is not a good Idea.

Post #17 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 3:52 am

SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:
Myles Turner in a heart beat

I'd be very keen on that. I'd be interested in Gobert too. I think LeBron/Gobert at 4 and 5 would be very good. LeBron could defend paint while Gobert goes to perimeter, not being able to do this in playoffs is what made Gobert less effective. Westbrook would have to be gone too though

I wonder If Lakers would consider it ... I can call it now, AD going to go down in first month if not 2 months with some sort of Injury - Turner is ready to break out and when Bron goes, he'll be main focus (depending who else Lakers get after Bron) ... Lakers need to take a look at trading AD If not this off season the next - because having him with out Bron is not a good Idea.

Yeah agreed, I think both are PFs and Davis is too unreliable.

Only other path I see is trading Westbrook for Ross+Bamba(SnT)+Harris(SnT). I think Harris/Reaves/THT could be a lesser version of KCP/Green/Caruso which were the type of defenders that could make LeBron at 3 and AD at 4 workable.

SlimShady83 · Post #18 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 4:02 am

zimpy27 wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:
I'd be very keen on that. I'd be interested in Gobert too. I think LeBron/Gobert at 4 and 5 would be very good. LeBron could defend paint while Gobert goes to perimeter, not being able to do this in playoffs is what made Gobert less effective. Westbrook would have to be gone too though

I wonder If Lakers would consider it ... I can call it now, AD going to go down in first month if not 2 months with some sort of Injury - Turner is ready to break out and when Bron goes, he'll be main focus (depending who else Lakers get after Bron) ... Lakers need to take a look at trading AD If not this off season the next - because having him with out Bron is not a good Idea.

Yeah agreed, I think both are PFs and Davis is too unreliable.

Only other path I see is trading Westbrook for Ross+Bamba(SnT)+Harris(SnT). I think Harris/Reaves/THT could be a lesser version of KCP/Green/Caruso which were the type of defenders that could make LeBron at 3 and AD at 4 workable.

I wanted THT gone in a trade, but because you need wings, him and Stanley will be kept unless a trade worth happens. Reaves Is my guy and the guy I'm watching. As you know, I like Westbrook and don't care if his traded OR not, I think he deserves another shot with a full healthy season/covid and having to deal with different line ups etc - I think It can still work -just hope Ham and all the hype, can make it work - If not trade him at deadline?

Post #19 » by **zimpy27** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 4:34 am

SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:
I wonder If Lakers would consider it ... I can call it now, AD going to go down in first month if not 2 months with some sort of Injury - Turner is ready to break out and when Bron goes, he'll be main focus (depending who else Lakers get after Bron) ... Lakers need to take a look at trading AD If not this off season the next - because having him with out Bron is not a good Idea.

Yeah agreed, I think both are PFs and Davis is too unreliable.

Only other path I see is trading Westbrook for Ross+Bamba(SnT)+Harris(SnT). I think Harris/Reaves/THT could be a lesser version of KCP/Green/Caruso which were the type of defenders that could make LeBron at 3 and AD at 4 workable.

I wanted THT gone in a trade, but because you need wings, him and Stanley will be kept unless a trade worth happens. Reaves Is my guy and the guy I'm watching. As you know, I like Westbrook and don't care if his traded OR not, I think he deserves another shot with a full healthy season/covid and having to deal with different line ups etc - I think It can still work -just hope Ham and all the hype, can make it work - If not trade him at deadline?

I'm cool with one of Westbrook or THT staying. Can't have both imo. I just think Westbrook has more.potential to bring back more players that could turn the team around.

SlimShady83 · Post #20 » by **SlimShady83** » Thu Jun 9, 2022 5:08 am

zimpy27 wrote:
SlimShady83 wrote:
zimpy27 wrote:
Yeah agreed, I think both are PFs and Davis is too unreliable.

Only other path I see is trading Westbrook for Ross+Bamba(SnT)+Harris(SnT). I think Harris/Reaves/THT could be a lesser version of KCP/Green/Caruso which were the type of defenders that could make LeBron at 3 and AD at 4 workable.

I wanted THT gone in a trade, but because you need wings, him and Stanley will be kept unless a trade worth happens. Reaves Is my guy and the guy I'm watching. As you know, I like Westbrook and don't care if his traded OR not, I think he deserves another shot with a full healthy season/covid and having to deal with different line ups etc - I think It can still work -just hope Ham and all the hype, can make it work - If not trade him at deadline?

I'm cool with one of Westbrook or THT staying. Can't have both imo. I just think Westbrook has more.potential to bring back more players that could turn the team around.

I remember reading OR hearing on youtube (laker nation?) ... That THT's contract will be hard to trade If they decide to keep him - unless he proves himself that his worth keeping after all - than his not worth keeping longterm. I'm just not a fan of THT. I remember b4 the season started everyone was wanting THT and the HYPE was real and some GM's saying they'd build around him (probably fake), Lakers didn't want to trade him, now look you can't get much for him, I just don't see the HYPE/potential that he has, maybe on another team like Kuzma, I like Kuzma, but the fit on this team with Bron wasn't good.

I so can't wait for Bron/Klutch to be off this team to be honest