(LOCK THREAD) The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Thread - 40K POINTS+(Part 1)(NO INSULTING)

[Doug_12]

They need to go for Murray immediately if he’s actually available and still what he used to be on defense (I haven’t watched any Hawks game this year so someone please chime in on this). Gives them elite defense while also giving them another ball handler. He’s also shooting 37.5 3PT% on over 6 3PA this year but not sure how much of that is an anomaly as well as things like off-the-dribble vs catch-and-shoot.

He’s also younger than Lavine and I’d rather the team go for an upgrade that isn’t as elite offensively but still balanced on both ends of the floor rather than being a sieve on defense. They have enough of those between DLo and Reaves. What would the Hawks want is the question?

I have no problem trading Reaves in this deal if it also nets them Capela, by the way. How about:

Austin Reaves - $12mil
Jaxson Hayes - $2mil
D’Angelo Russell - $17mil
Jalen Hood-Schifino - $4mil
2029 1st

= $45mil

Dejounte Murray - $21mil
Clint Capela - $18mil
Patrick Mills - $7mil

= $46mil

Thoughts?

Edit: meant to mention this earlier, but I also love this on paper for the Lakers’ backcourt on defense assuming Vincent comes back healthy in February/March with both him and Murray.

Murray-Vincent-LeBron-Davis-Capela

and

Murray-Vincent-Prince/Rui/-LeBron-Davis

If the goal is to win now, I'd definitely do that.

(The problem is more that I'm not convinced that this team is repairable. Even with that trade we would be no contenders and the 39 year-old Lebron+Davis combination will get worse every year. I reached the point, when I think we should blow the whole thing up and start a rebuild.)

They’d never do that because they’re not trading LeBron or AD unless those two ask for it.

That's probably true, but still, they should be doing that IMO. I've strong 2012-13 vibes in the sense that it's obvious we have a team, that will not win anything and instead of starting the rebuild we keep on trying and eventually wasting our time and assets.

Anyways, if this trade had happened, I'd probably try to start a Lebron-Murray-Prince-Davis-Capela lineup. It has the potential to be a very good defense w/ some passable shooting. Then we would still have a playmaker* for the 2nd unit in Vincent. The Gabe-Christie(Reddish)-Vanderbilt-Rui-Wood 2nd unit would also be well balanced.

*I don't consider Mills a rotational piece. I mean, for me he is there for insurance purposes (like Lewis, Hodge or Castleton), but in normal circumstances he shall not play.

[Fadeaway_J]

Reddish is such a dreadful offensive player.

[RRR3]

Reddish is such a dreadful offensive player.

Let's play him with an even worse one in Vanderbilt!

[IG2]

Pretty incompetent officiating crew tonight. No consistency.

And it's about to be 2024 and Lakers still can't shoot 3's. They are an archaic team that simply isn't worth taking seriously in today's NBA.

[Fadeaway_J]

These refs are making some weird calls.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Pretty incompetent officiating crew tonight. No consistency.

And it's about to be 2024 and Lakers still can't shoot 3's. They are an archaic team that simply isn't worth taking seriously in today's NBA.

The team is 39.4% from three in December lol

[IG2]

Minnesota has played such a sloppy game and LA's only response has been to display their own mediocrity. A better team would've taken control long ago.

[Fadeaway_J]

Vando's terrible finishing strikes again.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Lebron nooooo

[IG2]

Yeah, let's keep playing Vando big minutes

This entire game was a masterclass on how this Laker team just doesn't have it and badly needs to make some moves. Any good team would've beaten Minnesota tonight and handily to boot.

[IG2]

LeBron's foot is clearly behind the line. Of course this game ends with more officiating incompetence. Easily the worst called game I've seen this season.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Referees are criminals

[homecourtloss]

Yeah, let's keep playing Vando big minutes

This entire game was a masterclass on how this Laker team just doesn't have it and badly needs to make some moves. Any good team would've beaten Minnesota tonight and handily to boot.

It doesn’t really matter which team they play, but generally speaking, they are very competitive, and a few plays away, always, even while playing some archaic and unwinnable style of play like they’re showing tonight while regularly baking free throws in addition to some terrible games by Austin Reeves and D’Angelo Russell. I feel that we come here and say this every game like it’s Groundhog Day. In this one, they shot eight more free throws and also took 12 more shots — usually when you do that, you almost always win, but not when you can shoot three-pointers worth anything.

Every one of their good defensive lineups is missing shooting and every one of their good offensive lineups is missing one defender, so it’s obvious that a trade has to happen.

[IG2]

Ummm LeBron didn't know there were 1.4 seconds on the clock? How did he think he could make a move like that....

God what an annoying game.

[rk2023]

**** moronic refs man

[RRR3]

What was that last play? Shoot a 3 ffs. Ham at it again.

[Ian Scuffling]

Certainly wasn't one of Lebron's best games, but he definitely played well enough. The "help" was 15 of 50. So many open looks and they clank them. Monster game by AD wasted. Ugh.

[MyUniBroDavis]

**** moronic refs man

If you see it in super slow motion it’s a three on the last frame it’s actually insane

[RRR3]

Whether it was a 3 or not never seen anything that close called a 2 on the floor. Refs absolutely despise this man.

[Ursusamericanus]

Frustrating loss. Watching it live I thought it was a 2, but on replay, it was a 3 for sure. He has every right to be annoyed, seems like they've lost a lot of games due to weird reffing or due to other near-misses. Have to wonder where they go from here, seems like a legitimate third scorer (who can shoot) is needed.