(LOCK THREAD) The LeBron James - 22-23 NBA Season Thread -NBA's All-Time Scoring Leader!

[MartinToVaught]

With the Kyrie situation getting worse and worse in Brooklyn maybe they’d be willing to trade him for Westbrook/picks now. Would be a huge help for this team.

I don't think even the Lakers are desperate enough to go anywhere near that mess anymore. Maybe Kyrie can get traded to the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

And honestly, Westbrook seems to be doing better in his new role and isn't even a percentage point of the distraction that Kyrie is despite all the hate he gets. Kyrie's better on paper, but that paper is worthless when he spends more time disgracing himself and his team than actually playing basketball.

[thebigbird]

With the Kyrie situation getting worse and worse in Brooklyn maybe they’d be willing to trade him for Westbrook/picks now. Would be a huge help for this team.

I don't think even the Lakers are desperate enough to go anywhere near that mess anymore. Maybe Kyrie can get traded to the Guangdong Southern Tigers.

And honestly, Westbrook seems to be doing better in his new role and isn't even a percentage point of the distraction that Kyrie is despite all the hate he gets. Kyrie's better on paper, but that paper is worthless when he spends more time disgracing himself and his team than actually playing basketball.

Westbrook has been fine for a couple games but they aren’t winning a title with him on the team. With how low Kyrie’s value is right now they might be able to get him in one deal and other pieces in another deal. It’s risky but I’d do it. I want LeBron to get #5.

[RCM88x]

Westbrook is better than Kyrie now I'll say that much. Kind of unbelievable how he's become such an embarrassment while still being an effective player more or less.

[MartinToVaught]

Westbrook has been fine for a couple games but they aren’t winning a title with him on the team. With how low Kyrie’s value is right now they might be able to get him in one deal and other pieces in another deal. It’s risky but I’d do it. I want LeBron to get #5.

What about Kyrie over the last five years makes you think any team is winning a title with him anymore? Both the Celtics and Nets have already convinced themselves that they could fix him and it's backfired on them in the ugliest possible way.

And even if his production was still theoretically worth the gamble - which it's not, the guy is a part-time player at best now - his behavior has also long since left the realm of flat earth memes and midseason "sabbaticals" and spiraled into outright bigotry that he refuses to apologize for or change. As poorly-run as the Lakers are, I would hope that even they don't want to hitch their bandwagon to an anti-Semite just because they might win a few more basketball games.

[zimpy27]

AD is starting to get a DPOY push from the fans but the Lakers' defense is 4.2 points better with him on the bench so far. Besides last season, when the Lakers weren't playing any bigs and fielded some of the worst perimeter defenders in the league making AD irreplaceable, there's been this consistent trend where he looks like a DPOY candidate but on/off and impact stats do not corroborate that at all. Has anyone been able to pinpoint why this is happening?

Somebody on Twitter made a highlight reel of his awful transition defense against Jokic in their first matchup against the Nuggets. Could that be it?

Kawhi had a similar thing happening for a few years. I think it was suggested that the team kind of rested with him out there as they just trusted that he'd get the job done. Maybe same thing happens with Davis.

[thebigbird]

Westbrook has been fine for a couple games but they aren’t winning a title with him on the team. With how low Kyrie’s value is right now they might be able to get him in one deal and other pieces in another deal. It’s risky but I’d do it. I want LeBron to get #5.

What about Kyrie over the last five years makes you think any team is winning a title with him anymore? Both the Celtics and Nets have already convinced themselves that they could fix him and it's backfired on them in the ugliest possible way.

And even if his production was still theoretically worth the gamble - which it's not, the guy is a part-time player at best now - his behavior has also long since left the realm of flat earth memes and midseason "sabbaticals" and spiraled into outright bigotry that he refuses to apologize for or change. As poorly-run as the Lakers are, I would hope that even they don't want to hitch their bandwagon to an anti-Semite just because they might win a few more basketball games.

They hitched their wagon to Kobe for more than a decade after he, well, you know.

I’m not saying Kyrie isn’t a big risk. He is. But when he’s on he is big time. The Nets were on their way to winning the title until he got hurt. A big risk is what the Lakers have to take if they want to win a title. The roster as constructed is a play-in team at best. His value is at an all-time low right now because he’s such a nut job. Sweep in and steal him. What do the Lakers have to lose?

[zimpy27]

Westbrook has been fine for a couple games but they aren’t winning a title with him on the team. With how low Kyrie’s value is right now they might be able to get him in one deal and other pieces in another deal. It’s risky but I’d do it. I want LeBron to get #5.

What about Kyrie over the last five years makes you think any team is winning a title with him anymore? Both the Celtics and Nets have already convinced themselves that they could fix him and it's backfired on them in the ugliest possible way.

And even if his production was still theoretically worth the gamble - which it's not, the guy is a part-time player at best now - his behavior has also long since left the realm of flat earth memes and midseason "sabbaticals" and spiraled into outright bigotry that he refuses to apologize for or change. As poorly-run as the Lakers are, I would hope that even they don't want to hitch their bandwagon to an anti-Semite just because they might win a few more basketball games.

They hitched their wagon to Kobe for more than a decade after he, well, you know.

I’m not saying Kyrie isn’t a big risk. He is. But when he’s on he is big time. The Nets were on their way to winning the title until he got hurt. A big risk is what the Lakers have to take if they want to win a title. The roster as constructed is a play-in team at best. His value is at an all-time low right now because he’s such a nut job. Sweep in and steal him. What do the Lakers have to lose?

Kyrie the player is great but his off court stuff would be awful to stick to LeBron right now. Dude will probably just retire in the offseason if lumped with this maniac

[MartinToVaught]

They hitched their wagon to Kobe for more than a decade after he, well, you know.

It's a different world now with social media and all the scrutiny that comes with it. I just have a hard time seeing anyone trading for this guy:

Read on Twitter

Especially when he's not remorseful at all about what he's promoting. And never mind the Lakers, does LeBron really want to attach his brand to this? For a guy who already screwed him over and let him take all the blame last time they were teammates?

[letskissbro]

Even ignoring off the court stuff I'd rather have Turner+Hield than Kyrie. The added size and depth makes the Lakers way more versatile.

Anyone else low key having wet dreams of this deal? I've been watching the Pacers a lot since the start of the season and Buddy has been really impressive. He's shooting 43% on 9.4 3PA so far. I feel like he's a better player than he gets credit for. His efficiency has skyrocketed this year and it feels sustainable. Cranjis pointed out that it's a result of him cutting out a lot of the iso and PnR ball handler possessions that dragged down his numbers in the past and replacing them with more spot up, transition, and off screen attempts. He's also averaging 4.6 assists since coming to Indy. The change in environment seems to have sparked an improvement in his playmaking.

He's 25th in the league in O-LEBRON atm. He's evolved into a really nice tertiary offensive player.

[falcolombardi]

Even ignoring off the court stuff I'd rather have Turner+Hield than Kyrie. The added size and depth makes the Lakers way more versatile.

Anyone else low key having wet dreams of this deal? I've been watching the Pacers a lot since the start of the season and Buddy has been really impressive. He's shooting 43% on 9.4 3PA so far. I feel like he's a better player than he gets credit for. His efficiency has skyrocketed this year and it feels sustainable. Cranjis pointed out that it's a result of him cutting out a lot of the iso and PnR ball handler possessions that dragged down his numbers in the past and replacing them with more spot up, transition, and off screen attempts. He's also averaging 4.6 assists since coming to Indy. The change in environment seems to have sparked an improvement in his playmaking.

He's 25th in the league in O-LEBRON atm. He's evolved into a really nice tertiary offensive player.

His issue is essentially defense, but if devin ham can get some passable defense out of him his fit with the lakers starters ks incredibly better than westbrook

[picko]

Even ignoring off the court stuff I'd rather have Turner+Hield than Kyrie. The added size and depth makes the Lakers way more versatile.

Beverley - Hield - LeBron - Davis - Turner

It would be a very solid starting unit and the move I'd make.

If you absolutely need Kyrie, sign the moron for the mid-level this off-season.

[Slava]

I'd look for a smaller piece like Terrence Ross, who could be gotten for Nunn + fillers, if the price is a couple of 2nds. Orlando would always sell those 2nds back to us for a $1M each closer to the draft anyways.

[zimpy27]

Beverley, Nunn, LAL27FRP
For
GTJ, Flynn

Schroeder, GTJ, Reaves, LeBron, Davis
Westbrook, Lonnie, Ryan, Gabriel, Bryant
Flynn, Christie, Brown, JTA, Jones


GTJ is a Klutch client and free agent. He's also the perfect for for this Lakers roster as a 3+D SG/SF

[zimpy27]

Or Nunn+LAL27FRP for Duarte

I think a 3+D SG/SF is the Lakers prime need

[toodles23]

Lebron can't hit a three to save his life this year. If he can't hit 34-35%+ of his threes it's gonna be really tough for him to be an effective scorer at this point in his career.

[IG2]

How did he go from being a decent 3pt shooter for years now to this mess. His shot looks bad from get-go.

The 3pt shot played a huge role in his offense last season. Without it he's just not a dynamic enough player any more to compensate. Scoring is going to be a major struggle for him.

[Mos_Heat]

Another bad game from him. Can't shoot and barely moves on defense

[Tracymcgoaty]

Think it's obvious Lebron has lost a lot this season. Out of all three Lebron has been by far our worst player. Dude is struggling.

[zimpy27]

Think it's obvious Lebron has lost a lot this season. Out of all three Lebron has been by far our worst player. Dude is struggling.

Are you saying he's playing worse than Russ this season?

C'mon man, at least be realistic. He's playing worse than Davis and he's been bad to start the season agreed but no point in hyperbole, doesn't do you any favours.

[zimpy27]

Lakers lost this game on the defensive end. They didn't know who to target on the Jazz.

They needed to play bigger, Jones should have got time out there. Rebounding was key.