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

[Ian Scuffling]

Nice 2018 recap.

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[Tracymcgoaty]

I think many of you just forget how Vando makes this team look. He's coming back soon, by March you will be singing a different tune.

He just fits LeBron, Davis, Rui so well.
He will be great with DFS too.

It sounds silly because he will be a 18-20mpg guy but he impacts the intensity so well.

I remember that Vando was an offensive liablity the last time he played in the playoffs. Assuming he's even the same guy after a year on the shelf, I don't expect him to be changing much in the games that matter.

Im gonna say the same thing i said to people on lakersground. I dont know where this Vando being the messiah comes from. Reality going to hit hard.

[zimpy27]

I think many of you just forget how Vando makes this team look. He's coming back soon, by March you will be singing a different tune.

He just fits LeBron, Davis, Rui so well.
He will be great with DFS too.

It sounds silly because he will be a 18-20mpg guy but he impacts the intensity so well.

I remember that Vando was an offensive liablity the last time he played in the playoffs. Assuming he's even the same guy after a year on the shelf, I don't expect him to be changing much in the games that matter.

Im gonna say the same thing i said to people on lakersground. I dont know where this Vando being the messiah comes from. Reality going to hit hard.

It's because he rebounds at the rate of a center, he's a good passer and cutter, he can defend 1-5, he's spent time as backup C, starting SF and PF.

Just such a useful player to have and helps with size issue that people keep worrying about in here.

[trickshot]

Don't blow up this thing just yet. New tax has anyone with 2 max players unable to build a well rounded team. You have a bunch of top heavy teams with compromised rosters and a bunch of genuinely great teams with talent spread too even to be matchup proof. Out in the west there are nights teams on losing streaks climb the rankings because no one else can find momentum. The league right now is aggressively mediocre and the champion will go down to luck of seeding and health.

[nzahir]

Random source from Cris Davis, probably very likely bull

Sources: The Toronto Raptors and Los Angeles Lakers have engaged in trade discussions centered around a potential deal sending Bruce Brown to L.A. in exchange for Rui Hachimura, Gabe Vincent, and multiple 2025 second-round picks. The Lakers are looking to shed salary, while adding Brown's championship experience for a boost in the short term.

I would be furious if we moved Rui for Bruce Brown. If Jakob is in there, it helps, but I dont want Bruce Brown really. Hes an athletic versatile guy that can maybe be the 3rd guard, but not a floor spacer really and a risk off the knee surgery

But even then, not many wings who will shoot 40% from 3 that are available to replace Rui.

Non shooters or not good shooters: Vando, Bruce Brown, Jakob, AD? Thats a lot of non shooters. Need a stretch C at a minimum then

[TheGOATRises007]

Don't blow up this thing just yet. New tax has anyone with 2 max players unable to build a well rounded team. You have a bunch of top heavy teams with compromised rosters and a bunch of genuinely great teams with talent spread too even to be matchup proof. Out in the west there are nights teams on losing streaks climb the rankings because no one else can find momentum. The league right now is aggressively mediocre and the champion will go down to luck of seeding and health.

Not sure how you can say that when there's 3 teams with 9+ SRS.

The league was more mediocre 3 years ago when the Warriors won the title.

[trickshot]

Don't blow up this thing just yet. New tax has anyone with 2 max players unable to build a well rounded team. You have a bunch of top heavy teams with compromised rosters and a bunch of genuinely great teams with talent spread too even to be matchup proof. Out in the west there are nights teams on losing streaks climb the rankings because no one else can find momentum. The league right now is aggressively mediocre and the champion will go down to luck of seeding and health.

Not sure how you can say that when there's 3 teams with 9+ SRS.

The league was more mediocre 3 years ago when the Warriors won the title.

It's still just SRS against an underwhelming contender pool. A really strong team is going to look historically great against a bunch of mediocre contenders. It's just the cost of league parity. I even think you're correct the field was weak when the Warriors won it. Those three takes aren't contradictory at all.

[capfan33]

Don't blow up this thing just yet. New tax has anyone with 2 max players unable to build a well rounded team. You have a bunch of top heavy teams with compromised rosters and a bunch of genuinely great teams with talent spread too even to be matchup proof. Out in the west there are nights teams on losing streaks climb the rankings because no one else can find momentum. The league right now is aggressively mediocre and the champion will go down to luck of seeding and health.

Not sure how you can say that when there's 3 teams with 9+ SRS.

The league was more mediocre 3 years ago when the Warriors won the title.

It's still just SRS against an underwhelming contender pool. A really strong team is going to look historically great against a bunch of mediocre contenders. It's just the cost of league parity. I even think you're correct the field was weak when the Warriors won it. Those three takes aren't contradictory at all.

I don't think there's anything mediocre about the Thunder, Celtics, or Cavs, and regardless the Laker's specifically have 0 chance of beating them lol. I get wanting Lebron to get more chips, but uh, it's over guys. Unless he decides to ring chase which I've said for years isn't happening.

[trickshot]

Not sure how you can say that when there's 3 teams with 9+ SRS.

The league was more mediocre 3 years ago when the Warriors won the title.

It's still just SRS against an underwhelming contender pool. A really strong team is going to look historically great against a bunch of mediocre contenders. It's just the cost of league parity. I even think you're correct the field was weak when the Warriors won it. Those three takes aren't contradictory at all.

I don't think there's anything mediocre about the Thunder, Celtics, or Cavs, and regardless the Laker's specifically have 0 chance of beating them lol. I get wanting Lebron to get more chips, but uh, it's over guys. Unless he decides to ring chase which I've said for years isn't happening.

Maybe because this is a Lebron thread but my point is more general and directed to Curry and the Warriors, Jokic and the Nuggets, KD and the Suns, Sixers, Bucks and all the other organisations with top 15 players on underwhelming teams. One of them will take out one or two of these high SRS teams. I think the Cavs and Celtics are the most poised to be the champions but by no means should they have anyone blowing up their organisations. On the other coast no one wants to bet their mortgage on their personal picks for western conference finalists. No offense to any of the top seeds but this year I'm taking the field. They can prove me wrong and I'll gladly take a pie to the face.

Regarding Lakers and Lebron title teams, they have set such a high bar for so long that people forgot this is what it means to be part of the field. Which is, You're not favourites, maybe not even contenders, instead you're looking to be competitive, stay healthy and get lucky with matchups for one more lucky push, all hopes, zero expectations.

[zimpy27]

Would you guys do this trade...?

Lakers get RW3, Banton
Lakers give Vincent, JHS, unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)

Blazers get Vincent, JHS, CLE25FRP
Blazers give RW3, Banton

Jazz get to unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)
Jazz give CLE25FRP


I think it's a reasonable compromise as I think Banton is actually quite underrated

Reaves, Christie, DFS, LeBron, Davis
Banton, Knecht, Rui, Vando, RW3
Milton, Bronny, Reddish, Wood, Hayes

[nzahir]

Would you guys do this trade...?

Lakers get RW3, Banton
Lakers give Vincent, JHS, unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)

Blazers get Vincent, JHS, CLE25FRP
Blazers give RW3, Banton

Jazz get to unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)
Jazz give CLE25FRP


I think it's a reasonable compromise as I think Banton is actually quite underrated

Reaves, Christie, DFS, LeBron, Davis
Banton, Knecht, Rui, Vando, RW3
Milton, Bronny, Reddish, Wood, Hayes

If we are going only with a small move and being stingy with our 1sts, sure. A great deal for Portland too honestly. I dont think Rw3 is worth a 1st. WIth it being #29 or #30 and adding Banton though, its close enough.

Banton does have some size, but pretty sure hes not good enough as a #3 playmaker on a serious team

But I am a fan of Rw3 and think hes our best backup C choice if we arent going to be able to push in chips for Kessler or Turner. He is a ceiling raiser and if hes healthy (or at least healthy enough), then hes a game changer when he plays. Even if its only 10-15 min

Cant believe we let Scotty Pippen Jr walk, a type of guy we can really use right now

This is more of a realistic trade sadly than most of what we have been posting or hoping for

We just wont be good enough I think with this team to really oompete

[dcstanley]

Read on Twitter

Lavine would have been the perfect fit offensively

[zimpy27]

Read on Twitter

Lavine would have been the perfect fit offensively

His 5 year history, which is a 10 times larger sample, tends to say otherwise. His salary is very high and he's defensively limited. He also had one playoff run in his career and it was a dud.

[dcstanley]

Read on Twitter

Lavine would have been the perfect fit offensively

His 5 year history, which is a 10 times larger sample, tends to say otherwise. His salary is very high and he's defensively limited. He also had one playoff run in his career and it was a dud.

He's been over 61 TS% in 4 of the last 5 seasons. 39% three point shooter on his career. His contract would have made acquiring him without giving up draft capital feasible (DLO/Rui/Vincent would have sufficed). The Lakers have nobody who can consistently put pressure on the rim from the perimeter while also requiring teams to go over screens. He'd be the best shooter on the team by a wide margin and he can play on and off ball. By far the best fit offensively of any player on the market.

His defense is a problem but he's athletic enough to be better on that end with a reduced role offensively. I think he's a better defender than Reaves and Reaves is fine when he's the worst defender on floor.

[zimpy27]

Read on Twitter

Lavine would have been the perfect fit offensively

His 5 year history, which is a 10 times larger sample, tends to say otherwise. His salary is very high and he's defensively limited. He also had one playoff run in his career and it was a dud.

He's been over 61 TS% in 4 of the last 5 seasons. 39% three point shooter on his career. His contract would have made acquiring him without giving up draft capital feasible (DLO/Rui/Vincent would have sufficed). The Lakers have nobody who can consistently put pressure on the rim from the perimeter while also requiring teams to go over screens. He'd be the best shooter on the team by a wide margin and he can play on and off ball. By far the best fit offensively of any player on the market.

His defense is a problem but he's athletic enough to be better on that end with a reduced role offensively. I think he's a better defender than Reaves and Reaves is fine when he's the worst defender on floor.

He's never had great impact stats. He provides scoring and secondary playmaking. But the lack of defense for his pay is just going to hurt the Lakers more than help.

They don't really need offense, they need defense. If Zach cost $30m I'd be for it but that extra $13m really does make a difference in the modern NBA.

[nzahir]

Read on Twitter

Lavine would have been the perfect fit offensively

His 5 year history, which is a 10 times larger sample, tends to say otherwise. His salary is very high and he's defensively limited. He also had one playoff run in his career and it was a dud.

He's been over 61 TS% in 4 of the last 5 seasons. 39% three point shooter on his career. His contract would have made acquiring him without giving up draft capital feasible (DLO/Rui/Vincent would have sufficed). The Lakers have nobody who can consistently put pressure on the rim from the perimeter while also requiring teams to go over screens. He'd be the best shooter on the team by a wide margin and he can play on and off ball. By far the best fit offensively of any player on the market.

His defense is a problem but he's athletic enough to be better on that end with a reduced role offensively. I think he's a better defender than Reaves and Reaves is fine when he's the worst defender on floor.

If we arent willing to move 1sts, then Lavine is still an idea. Vincent, Vando, Rui, and Hayes works on nba trade machine somehow, but were taking a bit more. If thats wrong, then we add JHS and get back Phillips

The issue is the defense and the bench is destroyed

He and Reaves together wont be good enough I think defensively

Reaves, Lavine, DFS, Bron, AD
Christie, Reddish, Wood

Can we trade JHS+2nds/swap or still unprotect Utah's 1st and get back CLE's 1st to get at least a backup C like Sharpe? Also backup forward is not great

[trickshot]

If report posted was true pick will be used to hunt a deal that flips Rui's contract for an improvement but also cap saving solution.

[zimpy27]

If report posted was true pick will be used to hunt a deal that flips Rui's contract for an improvement but also cap saving solution.

Which report?

[zimpy27]

Would you guys do this trade...?

Lakers get RW3, Banton
Lakers give Vincent, JHS, unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)

Blazers get Vincent, JHS, CLE25FRP
Blazers give RW3, Banton

Jazz get to unprotect LAL27FRP(1-4)
Jazz give CLE25FRP


I think it's a reasonable compromise as I think Banton is actually quite underrated

Reaves, Christie, DFS, LeBron, Davis
Banton, Knecht, Rui, Vando, RW3
Milton, Bronny, Reddish, Wood, Hayes

If we are going only with a small move and being stingy with our 1sts, sure. A great deal for Portland too honestly. I dont think Rw3 is worth a 1st. WIth it being #29 or #30 and adding Banton though, its close enough.

Banton does have some size, but pretty sure hes not good enough as a #3 playmaker on a serious team

But I am a fan of Rw3 and think hes our best backup C choice if we arent going to be able to push in chips for Kessler or Turner. He is a ceiling raiser and if hes healthy (or at least healthy enough), then hes a game changer when he plays. Even if its only 10-15 min

Cant believe we let Scotty Pippen Jr walk, a type of guy we can really use right now

This is more of a realistic trade sadly than most of what we have been posting or hoping for

We just wont be good enough I think with this team to really oompete

To follow up it seems like all team fans on the trade board are happy with this trade.

It does seem realistic and I'm thinking something like this really doesn't cost the Lakers more. All it does mean is that the 2027 FRP is going in 2027 and not in 2028. Lakers do have a chance to lose a great pick but by adding RW3 and Banton you're expecting them to be decent.

26-27 Lakers team:
Reaves, Christie, Knecht, Vando, Davis
Banton, Bronny, RW3

And they'd have $50m capspace in 2026 offseason if LeBron retires. They'll still be good enough to try for playoffs if they get a free agent.

[trickshot]

Feels like Ainge keeps trying to make a Kessler deal happen. I've never seen so many trade updates on a player with zero market. They just got out of Gobert hell and he's raising their floor under a GM that traditionally has his teams tank hard for higher ceiling talent. He needs to get real on who's doing who the favour. I think he'll take any asset still available in February.

If report posted was true pick will be used to hunt a deal that flips Rui's contract for an improvement but also cap saving solution.

Which report?

some report about tax savings being a goal. Makes sense or Dlo's contract would have been a more valued asset to the FO if the goal was to be cap aggressive. For once I can't blame them because every team not named Phoenix is trying to trade down the tax ladder.