The LeBron James All-NBA (2nd) and Luka Doncic - 24-25 Thread

[trickshot]

If LBJ was gonna go jump on a bandwagon and ring chase he wouldn’t have even gone to LA in the first place.

LA made a lot of sense initially, it was a better basketball situation than Cleveland. Most attractive market in the league, young assets in Ingram, Kuzma, Ball, Hart, Zubac, and plenty of cap space. Cleveland was toast once Kyrie left, it's not like Cleveland is a major free agent destination.

Unfortunately, the front office and ownership in LA is among the worst in the league. Sam Presti in LA wins a minimum of two chips during Lebron's seven years there.

A lot of 2019 LA's value was in the eye of the beholder because many people at the time said the decision meant he was done chasing titles. No one had LA doing anything big. Many of their young players were considered losing or overhyped players no one was afraid of budding into a threatening contender. Then that year they went and put together a meme team in free agency and showed they were what the world thought they were. Even the AD trade was the Klutch connection not some front office masterclass. He would have won at least one more title anywhere he went but it has to be said Lebron was a bit of a fool for choosing that front office, that is if one isn't accounting for offcourt reason.

I don't actually think the window is dead because of the way the new cap has nerfed superteams but better decisions would have put everyone in a better position to capitalise on the new Nba.

[nzahir]

Not sure they would but if Miami wants him they should. I certainly think Miami will target 26 offseason for a free agent and would value Knechts low salary.

Christie, Reaves, Butler, LeBron, Davis
Burks, Reddish, Vando, Wood
Bronny, Larsson, Lewis, Hayes
With $2.4m left for a couple buyouts (under MLE - Reed?)

I think this squad would be far better defensively and a legit contender

We arent moving Knecht or Reaves for an aging Jimmy that wants big money

I think a 1st and a swap is fair

Move Vando, Hayes, and 1-2 2nds for Robert Williams if Portland wants to swap injury risk guys? Its a high upside move for us

Do it all in 1 big trade to make salaries work (Dlo, Rui, Gabe and JHS for Jimmy, Larsson, and Burks/Jrich and then Vando and Hayes for RW3)

Sign Fultz

Reaves, Christie, Butler, Lebron, Davis
Fultz, Burks, Knecht, Wood, RW3
Cam

I like that team

Bro there was a report that Lakers are top of the list to trade for Lonzo...

I don't know if Lakers are actually thinking sensibly or if the reporter just scans these threads for ideas. But either way I'm pretty hopeful.

Maybe they go for Lonzo+Vuc or Lonzo+Smith.

Does CHI value Rui or Vando or wants expirings?

If we go for Lonzo then that takes us out of the running for Butler (doubtful we are in it even) and Lavine ofc

Then need to focus on a 3 and d wing probably and a big

If Jimmy goes to HOU, I would like to go after Brooks

Also wonder if we can get Coby White or if CHI wants to hold on. Can a 1st and some 2nds get us Lonzo and White?

[nzahir]

Yea I’m not even sure I’d want him to leave to ring chase at this point (and I’m still very confident in saying he has no intention to).

Why not? Whats the fun of watching him on an LA team with no real shot to do **** b/c of an incompetant GM

[nzahir]

But why would Cleveland make any moves at this point? They are crushing the league right now. What would be their incentive?

I agree. Let the Cavs roll with what they're doing. Bron is a big name and a guy who will change things in the locker room. He can play a lesser minutes and contribute, he can be an upside. But he can also be bad for the team. At this point it's a gamble I wouldn't take. Bron isn't the same game changer anymore. If they were one piece away from looking great I'd do it... right now it makes no sense to me.

Yeah. LeBron back to the Cavs feels more like a next summer, we won 60+ games but still couldn't beat Boston type of move.

I can see that honestly

[capfan33]

Yea I’m not even sure I’d want him to leave to ring chase at this point (and I’m still very confident in saying he has no intention to).

Why not? Whats the fun of watching him on an LA team with no real shot to do **** b/c of an incompetant GM

Just would feel forced and a bit pathetic to be quite frank at this point where he’s very clearly declined from even last year. If he didn’t have a ring it would be different but just blatantly chasing rings now cheapens the whole experience for me personally.

Moreover he’s seen the LA front office up close for 5 years now, he knows what the situation is. As I’ve said for years now I think it was clear from the beginning he wanted to move to LA and be a Laker; winning was a very important but still secondary consideration. If he left after the 2021 debacle I would get that, but leaving now just seems nonsensical, like he just realized how idiotic the front office is and wants to make a feeble attempt to make up for it.

I’m perfectly content seeing him go for 45k and 2nd in assists while riding off into the sunset. And him getting more rings while ring chasing probably only hurts his legacy at this point so I don’t like it from that angle either.

[Mos_Heat]

From the reporting it looks like LAL won't do anything major

DFS+Sharpe is the most logical trade. It's a very easy trade to execute, so let's watch how the master gonna fumble it

[nzahir]

From the reporting it looks like LAL won't do anything major

DFS+Sharpe is the most logical trade. It's a very easy trade to execute, so let's watch how the master gonna fumble it

Well at least until the deadline

I dont see what only adding DFS and Sharpe does to push us enough. Need another move

Zimpy posted a deal with Sharpe and DFS for a 1st and BKN sending a 2nd to CHI and we also got Lonzo and send them Vando and Wood

1st needs to be protected, not sending an unprotected 29 1st for 2 role guys

Also maybe they should be getting Vando and Vinent and CHi gets Dlo as an expiring

The issue here is our ceiling may not be high enough

Reaves, Christie, DFS, Bron, AD
Vincent, Knecht, Vando, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

Only moving Dlo if we get a pg back, so we would look like this (sign Fultz)

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Fultz, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

I still think I prefer RW3 over Sharpe. Just helps out with the ceiling of the team

[Mos_Heat]

From the reporting it looks like LAL won't do anything major

DFS+Sharpe is the most logical trade. It's a very easy trade to execute, so let's watch how the master gonna fumble it

Well at least until the deadline

I dont see what only adding DFS and Sharpe does to push us enough. Need another move

Zimpy posted a deal with Sharpe and DFS for a 1st and BKN sending a 2nd to CHI and we also got Lonzo and send them Vando and Wood

1st needs to be protected, not sending an unprotected 29 1st for 2 role guys

Also maybe they should be getting Vando and Vinent and CHi gets Dlo as an expiring

The issue here is our ceiling may not be high enough

Reaves, Christie, DFS, Bron, AD
Vincent, Knecht, Vando, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

Only moving Dlo if we get a pg back, so we would look like this (sign Fultz)

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Fultz, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

I still think I prefer RW3 over Sharpe. Just helps out with the ceiling of the team

Push for what? Lakers aren't winning with Lebron and AD

[zimpy27]

We arent moving Knecht or Reaves for an aging Jimmy that wants big money

I think a 1st and a swap is fair

Move Vando, Hayes, and 1-2 2nds for Robert Williams if Portland wants to swap injury risk guys? Its a high upside move for us

Do it all in 1 big trade to make salaries work (Dlo, Rui, Gabe and JHS for Jimmy, Larsson, and Burks/Jrich and then Vando and Hayes for RW3)

Sign Fultz

Reaves, Christie, Butler, Lebron, Davis
Fultz, Burks, Knecht, Wood, RW3
Cam

I like that team

Bro there was a report that Lakers are top of the list to trade for Lonzo...

I don't know if Lakers are actually thinking sensibly or if the reporter just scans these threads for ideas. But either way I'm pretty hopeful.

Maybe they go for Lonzo+Vuc or Lonzo+Smith.

Does CHI value Rui or Vando or wants expirings?

If we go for Lonzo then that takes us out of the running for Butler (doubtful we are in it even) and Lavine ofc

Then need to focus on a 3 and d wing probably and a big

If Jimmy goes to HOU, I would like to go after Brooks

Also wonder if we can get Coby White or if CHI wants to hold on. Can a 1st and some 2nds get us Lonzo and White?

I think they should value Vando or Rui.

Ultimately I think a trade of DLo for a defensive playmaker like Lonzo would be the most impactful trade the Lakers could do without giving up an FRP.

Lakers need to give up an FRP for most decent wings and bigs. I could see a deal like this being very easy:

Bulls get DLo, Vando, LAL29FRP(1-10)
Bulls give Lonzo, Jevon, POR25FRP(1-14)

Lakers give DLo, Vando, Vincent, LAL29FRP(1-10)
Lakers get Lonzo, Jevon, RW3

Blazers get Vincent, POR25FRP(1-14)
Blazers give RW3


Something like this gets lakers some major piece for a well protected FRP. Injury prone pieces that are young.

I do like the Butler trade.

I think LaVine is destined to go to Nuggets for MPJ+Nnaji

[zimpy27]

From the reporting it looks like LAL won't do anything major

DFS+Sharpe is the most logical trade. It's a very easy trade to execute, so let's watch how the master gonna fumble it

Well at least until the deadline

I dont see what only adding DFS and Sharpe does to push us enough. Need another move

Zimpy posted a deal with Sharpe and DFS for a 1st and BKN sending a 2nd to CHI and we also got Lonzo and send them Vando and Wood

1st needs to be protected, not sending an unprotected 29 1st for 2 role guys

Also maybe they should be getting Vando and Vinent and CHi gets Dlo as an expiring

The issue here is our ceiling may not be high enough

Reaves, Christie, DFS, Bron, AD
Vincent, Knecht, Vando, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

Only moving Dlo if we get a pg back, so we would look like this (sign Fultz)

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Fultz, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

I still think I prefer RW3 over Sharpe. Just helps out with the ceiling of the team

I do like RW3 most of all the bigs available. He's a Claxton like player that has health as his main burden. Ceiling is much higher with RW3. If Lakers had a healthy Lonzo and RW3 for playoffs then I have them as strong contender.

PG: Lonzo (26) | Reaves (22)
SG: Reaves (16) | Christie (18) | Knecht (14)
SF: LeBron (38) | Knecht (10)
PF: Davis (16) | Rui (32)
C : RW3 (24) | Davis (24)

16 mins: Lonzo, Reaves, LeBron, Davis, RW3
14 mins: Reaves, Knecht, LeBron, Rui, Davis
10 mins: Lonzo, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Davis
8 mins: Reaves, Christie, LeBron, Rui, RW3

[Tracymcgoaty]

From the reporting it looks like LAL won't do anything major

DFS+Sharpe is the most logical trade. It's a very easy trade to execute, so let's watch how the master gonna fumble it

Well at least until the deadline

I dont see what only adding DFS and Sharpe does to push us enough. Need another move

Zimpy posted a deal with Sharpe and DFS for a 1st and BKN sending a 2nd to CHI and we also got Lonzo and send them Vando and Wood

1st needs to be protected, not sending an unprotected 29 1st for 2 role guys

Also maybe they should be getting Vando and Vinent and CHi gets Dlo as an expiring

The issue here is our ceiling may not be high enough

Reaves, Christie, DFS, Bron, AD
Vincent, Knecht, Vando, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

Only moving Dlo if we get a pg back, so we would look like this (sign Fultz)

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Fultz, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

I still think I prefer RW3 over Sharpe. Just helps out with the ceiling of the team

I do like RW3 most of all the bigs available. He's a Claxton like player that has health as his main burden. Ceiling is much higher with RW3. If Lakers had a healthy Lonzo and RW3 for playoffs then I have them as strong contender.

PG: Lonzo (26) | Reaves (22)
SG: Reaves (16) | Christie (18) | Knecht (24)
SF: Rui (32) | Knecht (10) | LeBron (6)
PF: LeBron (32) | Davis (16)
C : Davis (24) | RW3 (24)

16 mins: Lonzo, Reaves, LeBron, Davis, RW3
14 mins: Reaves, Knecht, Rui, LeBron, Davis
10 mins: Lonzo, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Davis
8 mins: Reaves, Christie, Rui, LeBron, RW3

Now this is a damn good team that would make majority of fans extremely optimistic about this season! I'd take a chance on it providing we dont give up too much.

Which shouldn't be the case considering Zo's and Timelords injury history.

[zimpy27]

Well at least until the deadline

I dont see what only adding DFS and Sharpe does to push us enough. Need another move

Zimpy posted a deal with Sharpe and DFS for a 1st and BKN sending a 2nd to CHI and we also got Lonzo and send them Vando and Wood

1st needs to be protected, not sending an unprotected 29 1st for 2 role guys

Also maybe they should be getting Vando and Vinent and CHi gets Dlo as an expiring

The issue here is our ceiling may not be high enough

Reaves, Christie, DFS, Bron, AD
Vincent, Knecht, Vando, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

Only moving Dlo if we get a pg back, so we would look like this (sign Fultz)

Lonzo, Reaves, DFS, Bron, AD
Fultz, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Sharpe
Cam, Wood

I still think I prefer RW3 over Sharpe. Just helps out with the ceiling of the team

I do like RW3 most of all the bigs available. He's a Claxton like player that has health as his main burden. Ceiling is much higher with RW3. If Lakers had a healthy Lonzo and RW3 for playoffs then I have them as strong contender.

PG: Lonzo (26) | Reaves (22)
SG: Reaves (16) | Christie (18) | Knecht (24)
SF: Rui (32) | Knecht (10) | LeBron (6)
PF: LeBron (32) | Davis (16)
C : Davis (24) | RW3 (24)

16 mins: Lonzo, Reaves, LeBron, Davis, RW3
14 mins: Reaves, Knecht, Rui, LeBron, Davis
10 mins: Lonzo, Christie, Knecht, Rui, Davis
8 mins: Reaves, Christie, Rui, LeBron, RW3

Now this is a damn good team that would make majority of fans extremely optimistic about this season! I'd take a chance on it providing we dont give up too much.

Which shouldn't be the case considering Zo's and Timelords injury history.

Yeah the defense would be able to suffocate teams if you wanted to.

No it wouldn't take much. Most of the pick value would be for taking on Vincent and Vando's extra years giving their output the last 1.5 seasons has been below contract value.

Lakers give DLo, Vincent, Vando, LAL29FRP(top 10 protected)
Lakers get Lonzo, RW3, Jevon Carter

That seems right.

[Ian Scuffling]

Yea I’m not even sure I’d want him to leave to ring chase at this point (and I’m still very confident in saying he has no intention to).

Why not? Whats the fun of watching him on an LA team with no real shot to do **** b/c of an incompetant GM

Just would feel forced and a bit pathetic to be quite frank at this point where he’s very clearly declined from even last year. If he didn’t have a ring it would be different but just blatantly chasing rings now cheapens the whole experience for me personally.

Moreover he’s seen the LA front office up close for 5 years now, he knows what the situation is. As I’ve said for years now I think it was clear from the beginning he wanted to move to LA and be a Laker; winning was a very important but still secondary consideration. If he left after the 2021 debacle I would get that, but leaving now just seems nonsensical, like he just realized how idiotic the front office is and wants to make a feeble attempt to make up for it.

I’m perfectly content seeing him go for 45k and 2nd in assists while riding off into the sunset. And him getting more rings while ring chasing probably only hurts his legacy at this point so I don’t like it from that angle either.

I agree with this take. Unless, it's Cleveland, it will be seen, and rightfully so, as ring chasing. That's because I don't believe he can be a #1 on a contender anymore. Now, if he has some switch he can flip and become a number one on a contender again, I'd be surprised as hell, but, father time is undefeated for a reason. Maybe a #2 on the right team? Hell, Kobe gets ton of love for being a #2 in the Shaq years (though the fanboys say he was a 1B, which is goofy), so who knows.

[LA Bird]

Just noticed if LeBron plays out his contract, he would have 8 seasons on the Lakers just like Shaq.

[zimpy27]

Just noticed if LeBron plays out his contract, he would have 8 seasons on the Lakers just like Shaq.

He's 17 points away from scoring 10,000 as a Laker.


if he plays out contract at current pace he will be 8th highest scoring Laker, 4th most assists, 2nd most 3s.

[Ian Scuffling]

Damn, the scoring and assists is crazy in just 8 years AND in his post prime 8 years.

[Mos_Heat]

It's amazing that Bronny thread immediately died down lol

Lebron looks a bit better in this game

[dcstanley]

Quiet as kept, they're now 13-7 when Lebron, AD, and Reaves all play.

[nzahir]

Quiet as kept, they're now 13-7 when Lebron, AD, and Reaves all play.

Im still optomistic about us with some fixes

Christie and Gabe have been playing better (now is the time to move Gabe if we are getting a defensive minded pg in another deal)

Biggest quick fix is a backup C that can play when AD sits. I hate those non C minutes

I dont want Jonas V. Get a defensive minded guy like Sharpe, RW3 or Kessler

Then it comes down to figuiring out the "bigger move" with the same usual suspects thrown around

Any thoughts on more random names like MPJ or Wiggins if they are traded?

If Den goes after CamJ and or DFS, could we get in on a 3 way deal or go after MPJ after?

If GS goes for Butler or another "star" and Wiggins is moved, can we get it on that/get him after?

[trickshot]

It's amazing that Bronny thread immediately died down lol

Lebron looks a bit better in this game

Because they don't actually care about the morality aspect. It was just a tool to whine or hate. Once decisions start looking good they quietly jump ship. I remember the KCP 18m extension, the supposed horrible AD trade for amazing Ingram and Ball, the Reddick hiring. As much shi as he deserves for influencing the Westbrook deal his offcourt influence has actually had a quietly surprising amount of positives. If bronny actually turns out to be an average 55th pick that too will be crickets. Don't get me wrong it maybe shouldn't have happened and he shouldn't have gotten a guaranteed contract but it's also now overhated because he hasn't technically failed just yet.