LeBron James, Anthony Davis Urging Lakers To Improve Roster

[RealGM Wiretap]

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have expressed that they want the Los Angeles Lakers to improve their roster as they believe they are potentially a piece or two away from contending for a championship, sources tell Shams Charania of ESPN. James and Davis are concerned about the Lakers' ability to make that sort of trade. 

The Lakers are open to using their tradable first-round picks for players who are a fit for this iteration of the Davis-James team as well as for several years to come under JJ Redick. The Lakers have done due diligence around the league and are believed to be targeting a big man and a wing.

The Lakers previously traded for Dorian Finney-Smith, who has been slow to find his rhythm. 

Via Shams Charania/ESPN

[hyberx]

Yeah, it won't be a LeBron team unless you mortgage your farm and your kids for him to "win".

[xchange55]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

[NBA4Lyfe]

2k sports is bought off by klutch sports

how is it the lakers are trash every year or underacheive and they consisently have 2 95-96 overall players on their roster

[YourGM99]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

[Rek]

Conveniently no mention of how they urged Rob to trade for Westbrook and wasted all of their assets and picks in the process.

If Rob and Jeanie had any clue about where this team stands going forward, they would send Bron to pair up with Steph and trade AD while he's still worth a haul.

I really can't wait for the post-Bron era of Lakers ball no matter how ugly it gets. So tired of this crap.

[alienpick]

Cool. Trade AD and get some decent players in return.

[Rek]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

Pelinka is mediocre at best. But let's not pretend that Bron's influence hasn't left their cupboard dry.

Rob had a trade lined up for Hield and then Bron and AD pressured him to pivot to unload their picks and proven players for Westbrook of all players. That certainly worked out.

This is exactly why he was always leaving teams after 4 years. They were always depleted by the time he moved on. If he wasn't set to retire and operate out of LA, he would 100% be forcing his way out to the next franchise. That's who he is.

[JKiddy]

How can the Lakers get 2 1sts so they can try to get Cam Johnson, the only great player left on the market?

If they just gave the remaining unprotected 1st, then which players would be enticing to BK?

[YourGM99]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

Pelinka is mediocre at best. But let's not pretend that Bron's influence hasn't left their cupboard dry.

Rob had a trade lined up for Hield and then Bron and AD pressured him to pivot to unload their picks and proven players for Westbrook of all players. That certainly worked out.

This is exactly why he was always leaving teams after 4 years. They were always depleted by the time he moved on. If he wasn't set to retire and operate out of LA, he would 100% be forcing his way out to the next franchise. That's who he is.

Yeah, I’m still not buying that narrative. The lakers were pinching pennies. Go back and look at the moves they made leading up to the Westbrook trade and the players they traded for Westbrook. Are you saying LeBron was behind not paying Caruso, not trading for Kyle Lowry or Derozen because they wanted a 3 year contact, not offering Schroder an extension (according to him an offer was never on the table), etc. Trading for Westbrook allowed the lakers to off load long term salary (KCP and Kuzma), not commit long term money to Montrez who was included in the trade and not commit long term money to schroder which they obviously didn’t want to do. Jeanie doesn’t have the pockets to pay into the luxury tax this is why they have become content with just being mediocre because they can still sell tickets with Lebron and AD. They have had the same glaring holes in their roster for the past 4 years even while making it back to the conference finals a couple of seasons ago.

[Dennis 37]

Conveniently no mention of how they urged Rob to trade for Westbrook and wasted all of their assets and picks in the process.

If Rob and Jeanie had any clue about where this team stands going forward, they would send Bron to pair up with Steph and trade AD while he's still worth a haul.

I really can't wait for the post-Bron era of Lakers ball no matter how ugly it gets. So tired of this crap.

It's ugly now.

[MrPainfulTruth]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

Pelinka is mediocre at best. But let's not pretend that Bron's influence hasn't left their cupboard dry.

Rob had a trade lined up for Hield and then Bron and AD pressured him to pivot to unload their picks and proven players for Westbrook of all players. That certainly worked out.

This is exactly why he was always leaving teams after 4 years. They were always depleted by the time he moved on. If he wasn't set to retire and operate out of LA, he would 100% be forcing his way out to the next franchise. That's who he is.

Ironic part is when his fanboys and paid influencers arent even ashamed to use the lack of success of a team he left behind (that traded all their current and future assets for his "win now" desires) as "evidence" of how great he is ("See? They cant win without him, thats how great he is"). And people continue to listen to this nonsense. Its hard to believe there are people putting this guy in the GOAT conversation. At this point i'm not sure he is top 10 at all.

[Pickled Prunes]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

The starting backcourt is exactly as you describe... and everyone (including AD, Lebron and LAL fans on these boards) are pushing them to trade for a center. Their greatest need is in the backcourt!

[YourGM99]

I thought the "star" players were supposed to help lift and elevate the lesser skilled players?

LeGM picked this roster including the #9.

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

The starting backcourt is exactly as you describe... and everyone (including AD, Lebron and LAL fans on these boards) are pushing them to trade for a center. Their greatest need is in the backcourt!

Hey, my friend from yesterday lol. Yes, a center should be the top priority and Myles Turner is the solution with Rui being the one traded. After thinking about this some more they could probably survive with Max being the starting SG or even Vincent if he can figure out how to shoot again. Put LeBron back as the starting PG. Lebron, Max/Vincent, DFS, AD, and Turner as the starters. Reaves, Max/Vincent, Vando, Dalton, etc. off the bench. This simple trade adds another rim protector without taking away shooting out of the starting line up. It also allows Lebron to guard the weakest threat on the court like many other guards do like Brunson, Steph, Luka, Conley Jr, etc. Additionally, it provides another big to help guard actual centers which AD struggles doing.

[niha17]

they got no assets

[Pickled Prunes]

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

The starting backcourt is exactly as you describe... and everyone (including AD, Lebron and LAL fans on these boards) are pushing them to trade for a center. Their greatest need is in the backcourt!

Hey, my friend from yesterday lol. Yes, a center should be the top priority and Myles Turner is the solution with Rui being the one traded. After thinking about this some more they could probably survive with Max being the starting SG or even Vincent if he can figure out how to shoot again. Put LeBron back as the starting PG. Lebron, Max/Vincent, DFS, AD, and Turner as the starters. Reaves, Max/Vincent, Vando, Dalton, etc. off the bench. This simple trade adds another rim protector without taking away shooting out of the starting line up. It also allows Lebron to guard the weakest threat on the court like many other guards do like Brunson, Steph, Luka, Conley Jr, etc. Additionally, it provides another big to help guard actual centers which AD struggles doing.

"This simple trade..."

The Pacers started 9-14 and Turner wasn't available. Since then they've gone 15-5. They now sit 5 games over .500. at 24-19 and one game back of home court in the first round. Turner is still not available and the Pacers are as thin as LAL at center. But even if he was available, why would they want Rui? They're buying, not selling!

And just a heads up... I like Turner, but AD is a far better center. It's not even close. Turner would be a downgrade at center and Lebron would be a downgrade defensively wherever you tried to hide him. It's a pipe dream trade that wouldn't solve their actual issue... perimeter defense.

The way to hide a poor defender is to surround them with elite defenders. Hart, OG and Bridges in NYK, for instance. Steph and and Luka are not great defenders, but they have quick hands and both lead their teams in steals. Conley is a great defender and is a close 2nd in steals in MIN, even after being relegated to the bench... because he's old and slow! If you are old and slow but have Lebron's size, you don't need to hide because most players 6-8, 250 are slow. You put him on the wing and he gets toasted!

[TheCage4]

I urge LBJ and AD to show me how to get blood from a stone.

[hyberx]

They did. They have a starting backcourt comprised of an undrafted player and a 2nd round pick and they are 6th in the west. I thought the “GM and Owner” were supposed to put together a roster that fits around their star players instead of pinching pennies and worrying about draft picks when they don’t even know how to draft in the first round.

Pelinka is mediocre at best. But let's not pretend that Bron's influence hasn't left their cupboard dry.

Rob had a trade lined up for Hield and then Bron and AD pressured him to pivot to unload their picks and proven players for Westbrook of all players. That certainly worked out.

This is exactly why he was always leaving teams after 4 years. They were always depleted by the time he moved on. If he wasn't set to retire and operate out of LA, he would 100% be forcing his way out to the next franchise. That's who he is.

Ironic part is when his fanboys and paid influencers arent even ashamed to use the lack of success of a team he left behind (that traded all their current and future assets for his "win now" desires) as "evidence" of how great he is ("See? They cant win without him, thats how great he is"). And people continue to listen to this nonsense. Its hard to believe there are people putting this guy in the GOAT conversation. At this point i'm not sure he is top 10 at all.

+1000 this.

The dude has never led a team himself to win a ring without colluding to form a super team or benefiting from the peak of the pandemic when nobody really wanted to play / watch. Real ones like MJ, Curry have done that multiple times with their own team. Even players like Dirk Nowitzki, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Kawhi Leonard, who did it with their own, are more legit.