The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[nzahir]

Man we could really use Jeff Green even

Way better than Kuzma

[VanWest82]

AD doesn’t have any case for DPOY last year and really one for all nba defense

DRtg with AD: 106.4
DRtg with AD off: 104.0

Which defensive anchor’s team is significantly worse with him on court than off?

AD ON, LeBron off, 572 minutes: 111.9 ORtg, 114.4 DRtg, -2.5 [DRtg equivalent to 28th in the NBA]

DRPM: +.50, 150th in the NBA
DRAPM: +.67, 79th in the NBA
DRAPTOR: +4.3, 4th in the NBA
DLEBRON: +2.21, 19th in the NBA

Clearly he did have a case because he finished 2nd in voting. I don't trust those defensive stats other than maybe RAPTOR. Where'd he rank in EPM?

Re on/offs...AD carried some pretty suspect Quinn Cook line ups. But mainly, Lakers had the same problem that all Lebron teams have which is that there's no offensive structure once he leaves because everything revolves around him, and so they don't score as well which makes it harder to set the defense.

AD was hurt this year and no where near as effective defensively. But when you watched Lakers games last year, did you come away thinking someone other than Davis was Lakers best defender or that Lakers were actually better defensively without him? on/offs can be a good guide but that doesn't mean you disregard what's plainly obvious.

[homecourtloss]

AD doesn’t have any case for DPOY last year and really one for all nba defense

DRtg with AD: 106.4
DRtg with AD off: 104.0

Which defensive anchor’s team is significantly worse with him on court than off?

AD ON, LeBron off, 572 minutes: 111.9 ORtg, 114.4 DRtg, -2.5 [DRtg equivalent to 28th in the NBA]

DRPM: +.50, 150th in the NBA
DRAPM: +.67, 79th in the NBA
DRAPTOR: +4.3, 4th in the NBA
DLEBRON: +2.21, 19th in the NBA

Clearly he did have a case because he finished 2nd in voting. I don't trust those defensive stats other than maybe RAPTOR. Where'd he rank in EPM?

Re on/offs...AD carried some pretty suspect Quinn Cook line ups. The fact that Lebron played 2x as much with Dwight might've had something to do with it too. But mainly, Lakers had the same problem that all Lebron teams have which is that there's no offensive structure once he leaves because everything revolves around him, and so they don't score as well which makes it harder to set the defense.

AD was hurt this year and no where near as effective defensively. But when you watched Lakers games last year, did you come away thinking someone other than Davis was Lakers best defender or that Lakers were actually better defensively without him? on/offs can be a good guide but that doesn't mean you disregard what's plainly obvious.

DRAPM looks at every lineup combination.

[VanWest82]

DRAPM looks at every lineup combination.

but doesn't take into account who's doing what. It can't only be about +/-.

Edit: Danny Green is a good player. Good shooter. He wasn't the 3rd best or most important offensive player in the league in 2019. He was just part of 3rd best collection of offensive line ups after adjustments.

[nzahir]

That was an all time great game by KD

His best game ever

Seems like he’s the best player in the world rn

We need way more firepower to compete

[homecourtloss]

Sad that AD can’t/is unwilling to play the 5 as the Lakers have a built-in death lineup the could have played 5 out. Wonder if the Lakers push for it next season or know that AD is too fragile to do it and won’t.

[falcolombardi]

the title hopes for the lakers next year depend on both lebron and davis being healthy

i doubt there is some available lakers team build that could win a ring with injured davis

gotta wish for injury luck next year, may be lebron last shot to win ring as a star

i emphasis star because i can easily see a 40 years old lebron playing a luxury role player role in a contender, but likely wouldnt be given may credit for it (i already think a 5th ring next year with davis winning fmvp would be totally discredited)

[SeniorWalker]

I didn't think a healthy Lakers would have beaten a healthy Brooklyn (by a long shot) this year and next year their chances will be even slimmer. This team needs to be retooled around the fact that LeBron is old now. Not getting older, but actually in the twilight years. Accept it. He's still awesome but I keep telling people that 2018 was the last time you're going to see the guy win a playoff series effectively by himself, as he used to do routinely. Old LeBron was never going the Melo route of washed, he's too good a passer and fairly good in the post now. But he and Davis are not enough in a league where Brooklyn exists.

I think the Lakers definitely need shooting, but you also need a third scorer to take pressure off of the 37 year old. Someone who will reliably get 20 points a game against any level of defense. The cheapest option for that is Derrick Rose because of his injury history but beyond that you'll have to pay a lot more. And I'm not even sold on Derrick, you can't have your 3 top scoring options all be injury prone and/or old.

Lakers have pulled off insane FA moves before. If history is anything to go by, they'll shock the world again. LeBron is still there, don't see them not getting something done.

[nzahir]

I didn't think a healthy Lakers would have beaten a healthy Brooklyn (by a long shot) this year and next year their chances will be even slimmer. This team needs to be retooled around the fact that LeBron is old now. Not getting older, but actually in the twilight years. Accept it. He's still awesome but I keep telling people that 2018 was the last time you're going to see the guy win a playoff series effectively by himself, as he used to do routinely. Old LeBron was never going the Melo route of washed, he's too good a passer and fairly good in the post now. But he and Davis are not enough in a league where Brooklyn exists.

I think the Lakers definitely need shooting, but you also need a third scorer to take pressure off of the 37 year old. Someone who will reliably get 20 points a game against any level of defense. The cheapest option for that is Derrick Rose because of his injury history but beyond that you'll have to pay a lot more. And I'm not even sold on Derrick, you can't have your 3 top scoring options all be injury prone and/or old.

Lakers have pulled off insane FA moves before. If history is anything to go by, they'll shock the world again. LeBron is still there, don't see them not getting something done.

You also may not want all your top 3 scorers to be avg to below average shooters (lebron is above avg, but streaky)

I want Hield or Rozier

Kemba is a risky play with injuries

Dont think we have assets for CJ sadly even with our 2027 1st

[picko]

I'd target guys like Cameron Payne, Buddy Hield and CJ McCullum. The latter two are high volume, high efficiency guys, with Payne a very underrated shooter from both mid-range and three. For bigs, I like the idea of Myles Turner who can space the floor and also contribute strongly defensively.

I think the Lakers do have sufficient assets to pull off a reason trade for a third 'star', particularly if they can pull of a sign-and-trade.

[MisterHibachi]

If not for his contract, Kevin Love would be great next to AD and LeBron.

[falcolombardi]

I'd target guys like Cameron Payne, Buddy Hield and CJ McCullum. The latter two are high volume, high efficiency guys, with Payne a very underrated shooter from both mid-range and three. For bigs, I like the idea of Myles Turner who can space the floor and also contribute strongly defensively.

I think the Lakers do have sufficient assets to pull off a reason trade for a third 'star', particularly if they can pull of a sign-and-trade.

doubtful, what are lakers asset? caruso, schroeder, kuzma, harrel?

if i am a rebuikding team trading a star i only want caruso from that package. schroeder is not a young player with some star potential anymore neither is kuzma

[LikeABosh]

If not for his contract, Kevin Love would be great next to AD and LeBron.

Hmmm....maybe another Cleveland buyout for the Lakers to pick up?

Edit: Still has 2 years left so I guess not

[Greyhound]

I didn't think a healthy Lakers would have beaten a healthy Brooklyn (by a long shot) this year and next year their chances will be even slimmer. This team needs to be retooled around the fact that LeBron is old now. Not getting older, but actually in the twilight years. Accept it. He's still awesome but I keep telling people that 2018 was the last time you're going to see the guy win a playoff series effectively by himself, as he used to do routinely. Old LeBron was never going the Melo route of washed, he's too good a passer and fairly good in the post now. But he and Davis are not enough in a league where Brooklyn exists.

I think the Lakers definitely need shooting, but you also need a third scorer to take pressure off of the 37 year old. Someone who will reliably get 20 points a game against any level of defense. The cheapest option for that is Derrick Rose because of his injury history but beyond that you'll have to pay a lot more. And I'm not even sold on Derrick, you can't have your 3 top scoring options all be injury prone and/or old.

Lakers have pulled off insane FA moves before. If history is anything to go by, they'll shock the world again. LeBron is still there, don't see them not getting something done.

I am not sold on a healthy Lakers team not having a shot against Brooklyn. They are so stylistically different that I think they would have been a tough matchup for Brooklyn. Drummond has also been a terror against Brooklyn this entire season (he swept them, as a matter of fact).

I agree with your main point about LeBron and general team building. That is the main reason I believe it to be a priority to acquire another wing player that can be placed in the starting lineup.

Moving forward I believe the Lakers need to move LeBron back to the point guard role of two seasons ago, where he handles the ball and is able to control tempo (and his energy output).

An aged LeBron would be best utilized as a floor manager and leader (capable of averaging 20 points 10 assists) instead of the off ball wing scorer role they tried this season. He is no longer aggressive enough in his scoring attitude to get the most out of that role (at this point in his career).

LeBron
KCP
*Shooter/defender/ can bring the ball up.
Davis
*Serviceable big

[tone wone]

Point Bron should be dead and buried and never to be talked about again. I hated watching it. Contrary to what you hear, Lebron is a wonderful off-ball player and having that aspect of his game left completely dormant (Like in 2020) is a poor use of his skill-set.

Unless a legit 20+ppg scorer is added, LA is going to need Lebron to score 25ppg in order for this offense to be respectable. As he ages, being on-ball ALL THE TIME makes that harder NOT easier. The more athleticism he loses the more he needs other ball-handlers and playmaker to set him up.

[Mos_Heat]

I like Myles Turner for them, if it's not super costly. He's a guy who can play 30 minutes with AD as a spacer, so he can be a rolling threat again and cook in the mid post. They don't have assets to acquire another high level playmaker, so better double down on defense with the addition of shooting.

Buddy Hield is another Schroder level guy, who looks decent on a bball-reference page, but won't play a lot of minutes in the playoffs. And he's massively overpaid

[Mos_Heat]

But generally they should not jump the gun in the beginning of free agency, like they did last time. Don't trade all your assets for a negative contract like Hield, take your time. There's gonna be a lot of opportunities

[tone wone]

I like Myles Turner for them, if it's not super costly. He's a guy who can play 30 minutes with AD as a spacer, so he can be a rolling threat again and cook in the mid post. They don't have assets to acquire another high level playmaker, so better double down on defense with the addition of shooting.

Buddy Hield is another Schroder level guy, who looks decent on a bball-reference page, but won't play a lot of minutes in the playoffs. And he's massively overpaid

LA would be dumb as hell to spend any capital on a big man. Especially a center. Neither Turner nor AD are high gravity shooters who move the defense with the threat of their 3ball.

No money or assets on centers

[nzahir]

Point Bron should be dead and buried and never to be talked about again. I hated watching it. Contrary to what you hear, Lebron is a wonderful off-ball player and having that aspect of his game left completely dormant (Like in 2020) is a poor use of his skill-set.

Unless a legit 20+ppg scorer is added, LA is going to need Lebron to score 25ppg in order for this offense to be respectable. As he ages, being on-ball ALL THE TIME makes that harder NOT easier. The more athleticism he loses the more he needs other ball-handlers and playmaker to set him up.

So you want scoring Lebron?

We need a guard who can score very well off of iso or catch and shoot

I think CJ is out of our price range, but he would be great

Rozier is good and plays defense, but not sure he is enough

Hield is a great catch and shoot guy who can be used like how Lebron used Korver a lot, but now also has AD so you cant key in on Hield

[Mos_Heat]

I like Myles Turner for them, if it's not super costly. He's a guy who can play 30 minutes with AD as a spacer, so he can be a rolling threat again and cook in the mid post. They don't have assets to acquire another high level playmaker, so better double down on defense with the addition of shooting.

Buddy Hield is another Schroder level guy, who looks decent on a bball-reference page, but won't play a lot of minutes in the playoffs. And he's massively overpaid

LA would be dumb as hell to spend any capital on a big man. Especially a center. Neither Turner nor AD are high gravity shooters who move the defense with the threat of their 3ball.

No money or assets on centers

Turner is a decent 3pt shooter for a C. Better than Brook Lopez for instance. AD isn't, that's why you need either play him at the 5(which isn't happening) or have a guy who can spot up for him.