The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[JulesWinnfield]

Don’t know where else to put this... but when asked on the Dan Lebatard show if he or Wade was more responsible for Lebrons decision to come to Miami, Pat Riley bizarrely answered with (paraphrase) “If we really got into some of the real reasons why that wound up happening then I’d be excommunicated from the NBA....so I’m gonna steer clear of that”

Watch on YouTube

14:50 mark of this video. The whole thing is worth a watch but at 14:50 he gets into the answer I was talking about

[Gooner]

Don’t know where else to put this... but when asked on the Dan Lebatard show if he or Wade was more responsible for Lebrons decision to come to Miami, Pat Riley bizarrely answered with (paraphrase) “If we really got into some of the real reasons why that wound up happening then I’d be excommunicated from the NBA....so I’m gonna steer clear of that”

Watch on YouTube

14:50 mark of this video. The whole thing is worth a watch but at 14:50 he gets into the answer I was talking about

Interesting.

[Freighttrain]

The big plan is to get Curry in free agency, nothing else will work. LeBron has already started the recruitement process around the all star break. It's Curry or bust, unfortunately, I don't think Curry will ever leave Golden State.

As much as I'd like to entertain that thought, I think it's more of an appreciation thing that LeBron has for Curry, which only developed the last year or so. They're both a part of the older generation now and they're probably the two most important players of this decade (last 10 years or so). Their legacies are intertwined and they both had a tremendous impact on the game. I think LeBron sees that and appreciates it more now, especially with KD not being there. I also think there was a jealousy aspect he had towards Curry and the love he received, with the 'final straw' him being crowned as the best player in the fans and media, which didn't sit well with LeBron (players were more cautious about that statement if I remember). But as people and players get older, they get wiser.

[Gooner]

The big plan is to get Curry in free agency, nothing else will work. LeBron has already started the recruitement process around the all star break. It's Curry or bust, unfortunately, I don't think Curry will ever leave Golden State.

As much as I'd like to entertain that thought, I think it's more of an appreciation thing that LeBron has for Curry, which only developed the last year or so. They're both a part of the older generation now and they're probably the two most important players of this decade (last 10 years or so). Their legacies are intertwined and they both had a tremendous impact on the game. I think LeBron sees that and appreciates it more now, especially with KD not being there. I also think there was a jealousy aspect he had towards Curry and the love he received, with the 'final straw' him being crowned as the best player in the fans and media, which didn't sit well with LeBron (players were more cautious about that statement if I remember). But as people and players get older, they get wiser.

There has to be mutual respect, but believe me, LeBron wants Curry, and he sees an opportunity to get him now when Warriors missed the playoffs. He is gonna talk to him about legacy and try to convince him that his only chance to win another championship is to join the Lakers. Personally I don't believe it will happen but who knows. I don't think Curry would be against it if they have another season like this, but if Klay stays healthy next season, then I expect them to be competitive again. Problem is LeBron's age aswell, he doesn't have much time to wait for Curry, but it seems like it's their only hope.

[Dupp]

Everyone wants Curry, he’s not leaving the warriors. Is curry to Lakers even technically possible?

[HeartBreakKid]

Everyone wants Curry, he’s not leaving the warriors. Is curry to Lakers even technically possible?

Could trade Davis for him.

[Dupp]

Everyone wants Curry, he’s not leaving the warriors. Is curry to Lakers even technically possible?

Could trade Davis for him.

That’s the only way? Obviously warriors would never do that.


Why’s this even a discussion? Lebron would be well aware Lakers can’t possibly swing curry.

[HeartBreakKid]

Everyone wants Curry, he’s not leaving the warriors. Is curry to Lakers even technically possible?

Could trade Davis for him.

That’s the only way? Obviously warriors would never do that.


Why’s this even a discussion? Lebron would be well aware Lakers can’t possibly swing curry.

It's probably not the only way, but it's the best thing they could get. Curry is on his last year, so if he did hypothetically demand a trade then Davis would be a good return.

Davis is injury prone but he's not damaged goods. Not yet at least.

[MisterHibachi]

Don't see why anyone would have faith in Schroeder. He's too terrible a shooter to be on a LeBron team. Him and Kuz gotta go

I still like Kuz, but agree on Dennis. He's just not the right type of point guard to play next to LeBron. He takes forever to wind up his shot and no one respects him out there anyways, and he's not that great à playmaker either so you don't get the full benefit of having another ball handler next to LeBron.

[Slava]

A volume scoring guard is possibly a necessity next to LeBron unless you want him to play full time PG again.

[trickshot]

Maybe also someone that has the vision to throw AD an alleyoop every once in a while. This had to have been to least I'd ever seen his lob threat utilized in his entire career. Even a Jrue holiday type would have done wonders. The drop off in secondary ballhandling was bad.

As for roleplayers get athleticism and spacing. I mean Lebron can still pass so maybe make sure there are people who are useful when they have an open look. The defensive roster thing didn't pan out at all. I still don't know how they haven't had a real 5 out unit around the stars. Would also help to not sign players that are a sure thing to be obsolete when the playoffs start

[Freighttrain]

The big plan is to get Curry in free agency, nothing else will work. LeBron has already started the recruitement process around the all star break. It's Curry or bust, unfortunately, I don't think Curry will ever leave Golden State.

As much as I'd like to entertain that thought, I think it's more of an appreciation thing that LeBron has for Curry, which only developed the last year or so. They're both a part of the older generation now and they're probably the two most important players of this decade (last 10 years or so). Their legacies are intertwined and they both had a tremendous impact on the game. I think LeBron sees that and appreciates it more now, especially with KD not being there. I also think there was a jealousy aspect he had towards Curry and the love he received, with the 'final straw' him being crowned as the best player in the fans and media, which didn't sit well with LeBron (players were more cautious about that statement if I remember). But as people and players get older, they get wiser.

There has to be mutual respect, but believe me, LeBron wants Curry, and he sees an opportunity to get him now when Warriors missed the playoffs. He is gonna talk to him about legacy and try to convince him that his only chance to win another championship is to join the Lakers. Personally I don't believe it will happen but who knows. I don't think Curry would be against it if they have another season like this, but if Klay stays healthy next season, then I expect them to be competitive again. Problem is LeBron's age aswell, he doesn't have much time to wait for Curry, but it seems like it's their only hope.

The Warriors organization would never trade him, as he is their franchise and all-time best player. And like you mention, Klay is coming back so they'll definitely want to run it back, add some pieces (they still can make a big trade), and become one of the favorites. I don't see any way or reason for him to join the Lakers. Curry doesn't have to prove anything anymore, he'll have more to lose than gain in joining the Lakers. Someone like Dame, Beal, or CJ who haven't won could see those benefits.

[McBubbles]

Where is this "We have to get Curry" ridiculousness coming from? There is a negative 18% chance of that happening. Stop talking about it like it has a chance of it happening wtf

[eminence]

Y’all might get Bertans if you’re lucky. Curry talk is ridiculous.

LeBron to the Warriors is more likely than Curry to the Lakers.

[nzahir]

A volume scoring guard is possibly a necessity next to LeBron unless you want him to play full time PG again.

Yes, need scoring from someone

But also need the guy to be able to shoot

[Slava]

A volume scoring guard is possibly a necessity next to LeBron unless you want him to play full time PG again.

Yes, need scoring from someone

But also need the guy to be able to shoot

McCollum would be a solid fit. He'll get to handle the ball and initiate offense a lot more and his iso scoring would come in handy to keep non-LeBron units afloat.

[homecourtloss]

Also, you guys have gotta stop using regular season nunbers to justify why the team is actually fine as it is. There are players that are good in the regular season, players that are good in the post season and players that are good in both. Pretty much every single person on the team not named LeBron, AD, KCP or Caruso is a regular season player that is either extremely exploitable in a match up or just not resilient / consistent enough come playoffs, so in my mind the regular season nunbers pre injury or 21-6 is irrelevant. Dennis, Harrell, Kuzma, Gasol, Markieff and Drummond come to mind. Even regardless of fitting next to your superstar players, something which half of the players listed do not, they just suck ass talent wise and cannot produce come post season.

Speaking of fit though, players that provide non AD rim protection (or just rim presence in general actually), secondary playmaking AND **** SHOOTING are needed. Literally if nothing else, just some shooting for the love of god. This team being league average from 3 would have gotten them out the first round. This team being THEIR PEDESTRIAN REGULAR SEASON AVERAGE, 21st ranked 35.3%, would have likely gotten them out of the first round.

I think going 5-5-5-6 actually hurt the team in the long run. It's given the FO and a lot of fans a false sense of confidence in the Lakers blue print. It wasn't just LeBron, AD and great defence. It was Prime (Somehow), Mega Efficient LeBron, Mega Hot Streak AD, Hot Streak Rondo, Hot Streak Markieff and mediocre competition. It took Rondo, Morris and AD mega career high shooting splits just for the Lakers to be the 12th ranked 3 point shooting team in the playoffs at 35.3%. This season the playmaking got worse, shooting got worse, rim protection got worse and the competition got much better, and yet people still convince themselves that this team healthy was a contender because of the pre-injury regular season record.

Everything you say is true, and I too was worried about this, but I was also confident because even with all the positive 90th+ percentile outcomes that the Lakers had going for them, it’s difficult to run though a playoffs having an all time type great NET rating sans garbage time minutes, so even a reduction in outcomes I thought would be good enough with a health AD and James.

—James had that great mega efficiency playing without space as everything was at the rim or a three (70% of his shots) and only 14% from 10-22 feet. He also did most of that not in full gear. I thought he only turned it on full gear for the Nuggets closeout game and games 5 and 6 in the Finals. Before Hill clumsily fell on him, he looked like he could get there again.

—Most worried about AD and Rondo. AD hit 40% from 10-16ft and 55% from 16-22ft primarily on ISO/post up face ups, i.e., offense out of nothing. He wasn’t going to do that again. But I thought he would ameliorate some with by drawing fouls as he’s shown to be capable of and if struggling in a series, I thought he’d go to. He had a great defensive playoffs and I thought that would be replicated.

Rondo...that was most worrying. Literally had his most efficient playoffs ever. Defense was poor but his connection with AD produced high level offense and for the first time, James could sit and leads didn't evaporate as AD+Rondo had the Lakers at a 122.7 ORtg and about +5 NET with James off court. Needless to say, Rondo’s production wasn’t replaced.

—The thing that gave me the most confidence was that the Lakers went the entire season and the entire playoffs last year rarely going to the magic bullet, i.e., the AD/James lineup. It had been super dominant throughout last year and this year (+17 per 100 possessions) and it felt like they could always go to it when needed since AD doesn’t want to plan the 5. But neither James nor Davis were healthy.

—The shooting...it finally caught up with the Lakers. No Morris making threes this year.

Game 6:

Wide open threes: Lakers 5/20, Suns 8/17
Open threes: Lakers 4/12, Suns 8/14
Total: Lakers 9/32, Suns 16/31

Series:

Wide open threes: Lakers 5.7/17.7, Suns 6.3/13.8
Open threes: Lakers 3.3/12.2, Suns 4.2/13.5
Total: Lakers 30.1%, Suns 38.5%

Pretty big gap to overcome if Lebron and AD aren’t going to be able to impose their will on a series. Their “best game” was a 12/35 in game 5 which was just LeBron in the third quarter in a game that was already lost. They didn’t have a single average shooting game in the entire series despite generating better looks in the series.

Both the cracks were always there, but there was reason to be optimistic especially during locked in games n which AD and James we’re healthy when the Lakers suffocated teams.

[falcolombardi]

i feel like a core of lebron, davis, kcp, caruso, gasol, wesley should be kept

great defense and not awful shooting, then surromd them with shooters even if they are weaker defenders

change harrel, schroeder (his floor raising when lebron is hurt or resting will be missed, but is more important to raise the team ceiling) drummond, maybe kuzma, maybe , maybe morris, Tucker

keep McLemore if he is cheap, bring as many strong shooters as possible even if their defense sucks, people like bryn Forbes whose defense issues can be minimized around lakers defense while being actual great shooters other teams are scared of

if lebron can have 3 solid to great shooters + davis as the rollman then the offense will be revitalized amd davis will Érase defensive holes

[trickshot]

The Curry thing is farfetched but if Lebron is any serious about winning again he'd be in the parking lot after game 6 calling Lillard

[yoyoboy]

Not trading THT when his value was high for a player who could contribute during the current title window is looking really stupid now. It's going to be hard to upgrade the roster now.

I agree that optimally you keep:

LeBron
Davis
Caruso
KCP
Matthews
Gasol

And everyone else should be dangled in trades/let go. Not a fan of bringing in Bertans at all. The team doesn't need regular season bodies. The team needs guys who can shoot but also can't be played off the floor in the playoffs. Bertans posted a 128.3 DRTG in the Sixers series this year. You can't hide a guy like that.