Lebron for Simmons: would you do it?

[ecuhus1981]

Let's pretend for a second, that the LBJ to BRK rumors are legitimate. There is reason to believe: Lebron has been liking Nets tweets, saying his younger son's favorite player is KD, and now is spending the offseason in NY. Could King James be angling for a trade to Brooklyn???

The bigger question of course is: do we want him? He's 37, nursing injuries, and on a $44mil contract that expires at the end of next season. The logical trade bait would be Ben Simmons, who is 12 years younger, and locked into his contract for 2 years more than Bron, at $9mil less per season. For a team that's already deep into the luxury tax and needing to re-sign Brown and Claxton, that monetary difference is significant.

Of course, Marks may want to negotiate with James, to sign a multi-year extension at a lower cap number, as a pre-condition of a trade. Something like 3 years, $90mil, with the final year unguaranteed. That would alleviate some cap pressure, and give us additional wiggle room for other signings.

Finally, the fit. LBJ could work next to Kevin, Kyrie and Joe. I don't know who plays defense, but we could have a devastating offense.

So, would you do it? And would they? Simmons is a Klutch client, so the agent relationship in LA helps. He could finally run his own team, and have an elite running mate in Davis. The Lakers could decide to pivot due to the high number of competitive teams out West right now.

[ecuhus1981]

Here's a link of the trade, it works straight up with current year salary:

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7556972

[gigantes]

Hah! It's such a gloriously, rationally-preposterous trade, but both franchises are so deep in to the Twilight Zone that... sure, why not?

LAL: creates a better timeline fit with AD's age, maintains an extra-tall PG, and adds a tremendous defender to counter the loss of all the solid players blown in the WB trade. Obviously they still need to get away from Russ ASAP, but this move gives them a bridge year that could help them do just that, plus restock some of the lost supporting cast without the desperate need to WIN NOW that you have with an aging LeBron.

BRK: This team looks like such a complete mess these days that I'm partial to the idea of blowing it sky-high to get whatever draft picks possible, getting the rebuild started sooner rather than wasting more years on wannabe title hopes. OTOH, with this trade there are legit title hopes again, and the team's arguably even better than the threesome featuring a healthy Harden. Give Durant at least 2-3 years of Frank Miller's Dark Knight, plus his erratic Robin, and you've sorta reset where we were two years ago. I can feel the excitement already!

BIGGEST CAVEAT:: Leadership-wise this is probably a huge shot in the arm for Nash, and let's him better do... whatever the hell it is he does for the Nets. OTOH, priority one is managing these guys' minutes, so Nash just might need a brain transplant there.


Btw-- good to hear from you, Ecu. You kinda vanished just there, seemed like!

[TheNetsFan]

1) Would KD really want to team with LeBron? I have serious doubts about that,
2) I still think that trio would be too old & injury-prone to succeed.
3) It would feel almost as sickening as bringing Paul Pierce in at the end of his career.

I would pass.

[ecuhus1981]

Thank you, brother! I feel like I can finally return, and contribute something other than vitriol.

[NyCeEvO]

As I posted in another thread…yes, I would trade Simmons for LBJ on the condition that LBJ plays for us for at least 2 years.

My short answer is that I don’t believe ask Simmons peak will ever reach LBJ’s. In fact, it’s a good discussion to consider whether he’ll even reach where LBJ is right now.

Barring serious health issues, I think we’d win at least one title with LBJ, KD, Kyrie for the 2 year period he’d be here for, but Marks would have to search under every nook and crannie for cheap 3&D players and vet minimums to fill out the roster.

IMO, Simmons will never be the #1 guy on a championship squad. He’s a great defender and could be a Draymond, but for as great as Draymond is, we happens when Draymond doesn’t have superstar shooters around him to consistently create good offense.

LBJ is still one of, if not the best individual “floor raiser” for a team in the league, alongside Steph, Giannis, Jokic, and Embiid. Players like Kyrie, Draymond, and Ben Simmons are great stars, but they are elite “ceiling raisers” (as opposed to being “floor raisers”).

[NetsWorld]

I cannot see Simmons going anywhere; it seems like the Nets have made it clear he is part of their long term plans. How else does this trade work besides sending over Joe Harris with the picks and maybe cash considerations?

[JKiddy]

Straight up I would do it if LBJ renegotiates his contract for less than the 3 years $90M with the 3rd year a Team Option and not fully guaranteed.

If LBJ is healthy for those 3 years then I would do this deal. He likely have 2 more All-NBA Seasons ahead of him and the 3rd season he would likely be an A- or B+ All-Star Level player.

We would likely win 1-2 titles if the team had chemistry and was filled out with the appropriate role players (think a few key vets, some overlooked and under appreciated players coming off injuries/lackluster play/lack of minutes/scandals with rookies or young guys with major upside (think Jarrett Allen 2 years ago, Claxton today, etc.).

Simmons might have 10 great years ahead of him. But, I think if the chemistry is right we would have to consider this.

[Stone]

It's nice to dream...........

The first thing that comes to mind is would LeBron want to be here? He and his family are settled in LA. But maybe he wants to take a shot at leading a forth team to a finals victory.

For me it would be a resounding yes. Ticket prices would be through the roof. But I would be willing to spend more to see a KD-LeBron. No doubt it would reinvigorate the existing fan base and expand it also.

I have no concerns on LeBron age. He is the consummate professional, the gold standard. He is still playing at a third team all NBA level. Almost lead the league in scoring.

[MrDollarBills]

No. Sean Marks can't even handle KD and Kyrie, if LeBron came in here it would be an absolute sh*tshow.

[gigantes]

Thank you, brother! I feel like I can finally return, and contribute something other than vitriol.

Bro, I think I get where you're coming from... er, Mordor-less!

At the same time, I think sometimes it's good to remember that we folks here are mostly just a random bag of complete amateurs. Not so much implying that our views and experiences shouldn't matter, but in terms of expressing our opinions in a thoughtful, considered, respectful, way... HAHA!!



Just-- we all blow our tops here and there, we all fall in love with our opinions such that we're utterly unable to consider other peoples', we all skim through other peoples' posts in order to ignore what they're really saying so as to restate our own thoughts, such that most of us here outright train themselves to learn absolutely *NOTHING* from the whole process.

Yes, over and over again, without even a self-aware, or even self-conscience, intelligent comment stewn along the way.

Now THAT's cynical, right-so?

Booyah.

[3pt_chucker]

Yes, especially if LBJ signs a short term extension. Pretty much a no brainer from the Nets perspective tbh.

Simmons gives the Nets a building block for years to come but he's NOT a #1. Post-KD, Nets would most likely be on the hunt for another #1 star anyway or try to trade Simmons for younger pieces.

LBJ + KD would be an insane combo despite their ages. Add KAI, Harris, Curry, Mills, Clax to the mix and that's an insane roster. LBJ + shooters have been a recipe for major success for 15yrs. Nets have 5 of the best shooters in the league when healthy(KD, KAI, Joe, Curry, Mills). That would be devastating offensive firepower , where LeBron can actually be a PG full time which he's wanted to be since Cleveland.

That said, <1% chance it happens for so many reasons.

[Gooner]

LBJ wants the Nets move for sure. If he leaves LA, this is the only option that makes sense. It's up to Nets to decide whether they value young Simmons or old LBJ. Personally, I wouldn't do it, but an owner like Joe Tsai might think otherwise.

[NetsWorld]

LBJ wants the Nets move for sure. If he leaves LA, this is the only option that makes sense. It's up to Nets to decide whether they value young Simmons or old LBJ. Personally, I wouldn't do it, but an owner like Joe Tsai might think otherwise.

At the end of the day, Nets are concerned about a ring; that's why they brought the stars they brought in here and not winning at least 1 RING throughout their tenure here would be an utter and colossal failure. KD is top two in the league and Kyrie is top 15; adding LeBron to that and winning cures all of this hoopla surrounding the team. While Simmons gets a pass from me for now because of his back, it's still an unknown when/if he will back on the court anytime soon. LeBron, even at 37/38, is still efficient and has high IQ and is one of the all time greats.

[ecuhus1981]

One of my big swing factors is: how do Lebron our Ben fit next to our big free agents?

It's all speculative, but I can't imagine Simmons working well on the court with either Brown or especially Claxton. He hasn't ever gotten to play next to limited role players like them before, so maybe he can thrive. But since none of them have a jumper, and all of them work best in the dunker, I envision problems.

IMO, we need to keep both Bruce and Nic. They are the type of versatile defenders that allow superstars to conserve their energy for offense. James would mesh well with either IMO, and I could even see all 3 working well together.

[bullsaficianado]

You don't trade Simmons for LBJ. Got to keep Durant,Irving,Simmons together. You throw the Lakers some crumbs for LeBron and see if they bite. Depth is important and having that big 3 and adding a 38 year old LeBron is a bonus. Simmons is still a young player and trading him for a 38 year old LBJ is stupid. Lakers would not hesitate to bite for Simmons/LBJ.

Somehow if LeBron forced his way out of LA I see Marks sending Simmons for LeBron but it's a short term move that may or may not pay off. The only upside is Simmons has never played a single game for Nets.

Also I am a Nets/Bulls fan not just a troll posting in here.

[NetsJets]

I’d trade Ben Simmons for a sock let alone LeBron James.

[NyCeEvO]

You don't trade Simmons for LBJ. Got to keep Durant,Irving,Simmons together. You throw the Lakers some crumbs for LeBron and see if they bite. Depth is important and having that big 3 and adding a 38 year old LeBron is a bonus. Simmons is still a young player and trading him for a 38 year old LBJ is stupid. Lakers would not hesitate to bite for Simmons/LBJ.

Somehow if LeBron forced his way out of LA I see Marks sending Simmons for LeBron but it's a short term move that may or may not pay off. The only upside is Simmons has never played a single game for Nets.

Also I am a Nets/Bulls fan not just a troll posting in here.

The Lakers aren’t trading LBJ for “crumbs”. He’s the only thing keeping them from being a lottery-bound team searching for the next great superstar.

[therealbig3]

I mean y'all realize that LeBron is still easily a top 10 player in the league, and is STILL probably the guy that is scariest to face in the playoffs for anyone around the league? Like, he wasn't close to the main issue for the Lakers this year, and was the only reason they even had a shot at the playoffs.

He still averaged 30/8/6 on 62% TS, despite having a million miles on his body. WTF are we actually talking about? He's still better than KD, always has been. I'd be absolutely thrilled if we brought him in.

[TheNetsFan]

I mean y'all realize that LeBron is still easily a top 10 player in the league, and is STILL probably the guy that is scariest to face in the playoffs for anyone around the league? Like, he wasn't close to the main issue for the Lakers this year, and was the only reason they even had a shot at the playoffs.

He still averaged 30/8/6 on 62% TS, despite having a million miles on his body. WTF are we actually talking about? He's still better than KD, always has been. I'd be absolutely thrilled if we brought him in.

Lebron is not a top 10 player anymore. He's still very good, but not top 10. His numbers were amazing, but basically stat padding on a bad team this year.