The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[thebigbird]

I could see KD buying all his jerseys so he looks more popular than he is.

[Baski]

LeBron gets hate for his political stances because he's not genuine about them. He does whatever his corporate overlords tell him to do for his brand building and because in the west it is very easy to take non-stances like "fk trump" and "equality", etc. And many guys do, LeBron is just the biggest one but his legions of fans believe him and that's the travesty.

I have no issue with him or any athlete having a voice or opinion but I'm not going to take them seriously just because they have one. And LeBron has not shown really even a modicum of careful thought on political issues, he really knows zilch and it's really a joke that people compare him to Ali, who was far more serious and informed, and risked it all in a truly hostile environment which popular media was not supportive of him and many of his peers, the total opposite of today.

I think LeBron has gotten a lot of hate. I don't think all of it is fair all of the time but a hell of a lot of it is deserved. His team put a target on his back with a lot of things he said and did and he has to live with that. To his credit, LeBron has had an incredible career and managed to keep his image (with a lot of help) very clean. Good for him, honestly.

Lol you have to be delusional to think he gets hatred because he's not genuine about them. Dude donated money to help people vote, put pressure on the NBA to show more support for BLM, paid for underprivileged kids going to college... Most of the hate is 100% because conservative nutjobs can't take it.

"Not shown really even a modicum of careful thought" LMAO, do you really need "careful thought" on the topics he's supported? Absolutely mind-bogglingly bad hot take.

The only legitimate reason to hate on James for his political stances are his take on the China (absolutely godawful, he should be crucified on that alone), and his inconsistency (supporting BLM but being quiet on SJAX's outspoken support of an anti-semite). On the latter, sure you can argue that he's not obliged to comment on everything, but that was in the wake of the George Floyd stuff and would have sent a powerful message. It's clear he didn't want to step on some toes.

And no, NOT good on him for being able to keep a clean image if that's not what he deserves. All the good and bad have to be taken together, just like Ali. Guy ragged on Joe Frazier and claimed he represented the unheard part of America; imagined doing that when you're a middle-class kid talking to someone who grew up in abject poverty, in **** sharecropper county. But it's ok, it was for "promotion" LMAO. Also made some extremely sexist comments, had a relationship with a 16 year-old (as a 30+ year old), was a philanderer, and had some reaaally questionable views on race (as well as questionable alignments). He's almost the opposite of LeBron, people view his legacy without much criticism, while LeBron gets hated on for (mostly) the wrong things viz his political views, as people have forgotten about his China comments already.

Good point. But Ali got his fair share of both warranted and unwarranted criticism while he was active just like LeBron is getting his now. In 30 years LeBron is gonna be the one remembered as a true advocate for change while the GOAT candidate of the day will be seen as a slave to Nike and the corporate machine.
It may not be clear now but Non-basketball LeBron is going to have a massive footprint in people's memory.

[TroubleS0me]

Watch on YouTube

[Greyhound]

Patty Mills is a much better shooter and he's way cheaper. Lonzo is not helping them in the half court and they are already great in transition, so it's another name hunting type of deal. Even Sexton with all of his flaws would be more useful

Lonzo is a 6’6” defensive (pass first) PG and he shoots 38% from 3 on over 8 attempts a game.

If the Lakers are serious about playing more with AD at the five and LeBron at the four then Lonzo at point guard makes a lot of sense defensively.

Mills would be an excellent shooter off the bench.

[thebigbird]

Honestly I could see Lonzo come back to LA and throw up bricks all season. I know 38% on 8 attempts a game is good, much better than what they got from the pg spot last year, but idk. I just don't trust it.

[nzahir]

Patty Mills is a much better shooter and he's way cheaper. Lonzo is not helping them in the half court and they are already great in transition, so it's another name hunting type of deal. Even Sexton with all of his flaws would be more useful

Lonzo is a 6’6” defensive (pass first) PG and he shoots 38% from 3 on over 8 attempts a game.

If the Lakers are serious about playing more with AD at the five and LeBron at the four then Lonzo at point guard makes a lot of sense defensively.

Mills would be an excellent shooter off the bench.

He is not a great half court creator though

Finishing is bad

His shot has increased, but still very volatile

We are already very good in transition and on D

I still think we need Lebron and AD to mostly have the ball and we need our pg to be able to shoot and create

If we do a sign and trade, Lowry should be the guy

If DD wants a huge discount, like 15m a year, I would do it

But then we need more shooters and more AD at the 5

[Mos_Heat]

Patty Mills is a much better shooter and he's way cheaper. Lonzo is not helping them in the half court and they are already great in transition, so it's another name hunting type of deal. Even Sexton with all of his flaws would be more useful

Lonzo is a 6’6” defensive (pass first) PG and he shoots 38% from 3 on over 8 attempts a game.

If the Lakers are serious about playing more with AD at the five and LeBron at the four then Lonzo at point guard makes a lot of sense defensively.

Mills would be an excellent shooter off the bench.

Meh, defense and average 3pt shooting is not what they need from a PG position

[Dupp]

Another reason Lakers should have traded for Lowry. They wouldn’t be facing losing Schroeder for nothing and have no replacement

[Greyhound]

Patty Mills is a much better shooter and he's way cheaper. Lonzo is not helping them in the half court and they are already great in transition, so it's another name hunting type of deal. Even Sexton with all of his flaws would be more useful

Lonzo is a 6’6” defensive (pass first) PG and he shoots 38% from 3 on over 8 attempts a game.

If the Lakers are serious about playing more with AD at the five and LeBron at the four then Lonzo at point guard makes a lot of sense defensively.

Mills would be an excellent shooter off the bench.

He is not a great half court creator though

Finishing is bad

His shot has increased, but still very volatile

We are already very good in transition and on D

I still think we need Lebron and AD to mostly have the ball and we need our pg to be able to shoot and create

If we do a sign and trade, Lowry should be the guy

If DD wants a huge discount, like 15m a year, I would do it

But then we need more shooters and more AD at the 5

That’s OK.

If Davis is at the five and LeBron is initiating the offense at the four, I assume that some manner of shooting/defending small forward will be in the lineup.

In such an alignment I don’t think they will need Lonzo to do much half-court creation. He can get them easy baskets in transition and on offense he can hit the corners and take those 8-10 threes.

That works.

He knows his place and he will not step on the toes of either LeBron or AD:

Lonzo
KCP
* big wing needed
James
Davis

That will probably be the most switchable defensive lineup in all the NBA.

[thebigbird]

Lakers would never do it but I’m offering up AD the second Dame requests a trade. None of AD’s injury concerns and can actually carry the load when LeBron isn’t on the court. AD will kill the team’s spacing as long as he refuses to play the 5, and I don’t think he’s durable to play the 5 full time.

[Mos_Heat]

Healthy AD is a better player

[mademan]

Another reason Lakers should have traded for Lowry. They wouldn’t be facing losing Schroeder for nothing and have no replacement

This. The whole "we wouldnt have won anyways" thing doesnt matter. Having Lowry's bird rights and not being impeded by the hard cap would be huge right now, especially when the asset cost was only THT. A bad non move at the time, showed it was bad in the playoffs (as i do think they legit have a chance at beating the Suns and, thus, the title, if they had Lowry over THT), and it continues to be terrible now.

[Fadeaway_J]

Healthy AD is a better player

Absolutely.

[LikeABosh]

Another reason Lakers should have traded for Lowry. They wouldn’t be facing losing Schroeder for nothing and have no replacement

And they'd be facing losing Lowry for nothing while giving up assets. He said he didn't want to be in LA. The benefits of that trade are over with

[Dupp]

Another reason Lakers should have traded for Lowry. They wouldn’t be facing losing Schroeder for nothing and have no replacement

And they'd be facing losing Lowry for nothing while giving up assets. He said he didn't want to be in LA. The benefits of that trade are over with

Never new he said that. Thought he’d be happy to compete for titles given his mentality. Fair enough.

[LikeABosh]

AD for Dame is one of the weirdest trade ideas. There's no reason to do it if you're the Lakers. It's not bringing you closer to another title

[Greyhound]

I took my family to see Space Jam (first time in a theater since the pandemic). My kids loved it. I enjoyed it. Taking my kids to see it again tomorrow.

The haters were working overtime trying to smear this film. It’s a goofy kids film with cringy (comical) acting by LeBron.

Exactly what any rational person should have expected (hammy butterball, just like the first one).

It was good family fun, with plenty of enjoyable moments.

…

Looking at the reactions on the general board, it seemed that some of these guys went in expecting the Shawshank Redemption, or something.

LOL

[homecourtloss]

I took my family to see Space Jam (first time in a theater since the pandemic). My kids loved it. I enjoyed it. Taking my kids to see it again tomorrow.

The haters were working overtime trying to smear this film. It’s a goofy kids film with cringy (comical) acting by LeBron.

Exactly what any rational person should have expected (hammy butterball, just like the first one).

It was good family fun, with plenty of enjoyable moments.

…

Looking at some of the reactions on the general board, it seemed that some of these guys went in expecting the Shawshank Redemption or something.

LOL

Don't think they were expecting anything. Lebron made it and is in it, so they’re going to attack it. Really sad.

[zimpy27]

I'm like 80% sure that DeMar goes to the Lakers for Kuzma..

It's too perfect for both sides.
- Spurs needs starting PF, Pop is a fan of Kuz
- DeMar is a fan of LeBron, is from LA, would likely take a discount to play for Lakers and go for a chip
- Lakers report LeBron and Davis moving to 4 and 5 for playmaker, DeMar is only logical player that would force that to happen.

I think DeMar is an interesting fit at the SF position for Lakers, they don't switch much so he should do better defensively. He has also become a very good playmaker and could easily keep on offense humming while LeBron sits.
The big negative is that he doesn't shoot 3s but he still spaces the floor, you have to be close or he'll dribble into a midrange or drive past you. If Lakers don't have any C's that can't shoot the 3 then it would work.

Caruso, KCP, DeMar, LeBron, Davis -- THT, Duarte, Matthews, Markieff, Gasol

Schroeder goes for nothing and the rest of roster after starting 5 and THT will be minimum contracts or close to.

[Mos_Heat]

I'm like 80% sure that DeMar goes to the Lakers for Kuzma..

It's too perfect for both sides.
- Spurs needs starting PF, Pop is a fan of Kuz
- DeMar is a fan of LeBron, is from LA, would likely take a discount to play for Lakers and go for a chip
- Lakers report LeBron and Davis moving to 4 and 5 for playmaker, DeMar is only logical player that would force that to happen.

I think DeMar is an interesting fit at the SF position for Lakers, they don't switch much so he should do better defensively. He has also become a very good playmaker and could easily keep on offense humming while LeBron sits.
The big negative is that he doesn't shoot 3s but he still spaces the floor, you have to be close or he'll dribble into a midrange or drive past you. If Lakers don't have any C's that can't shoot the 3 then it would work.

Caruso, KCP, DeMar, LeBron, Davis -- THT, Duarte, Matthews, Markieff, Gasol

Schroeder goes for nothing and the rest of roster after starting 5 and THT will be minimum contracts or close to.

Even worse spacing and less defense, great. This theoretical "3rd option" should space the floor for AD and Lebron, not the other way around. It's the same reason why signing Trez and trading for Schroder was stupid