(Lock Thread)The LeBron James- 23-24 NBA Playoffs & Off-Season Thread -(NO PERSONAL ATTACKS & BAITING)

[TroubleS0me]

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[Ian Scuffling]

They just had miserable luck with both injuries and a certain player thinking more highly of himself than he should have

I don't think Kyrie leaving really mattered much in the long run. Even if he stays I don't think they beat GSW in 2018. And then after that LeBron dipped anyway.

Good point, but who's to say that Lebron leaves if Kyrie decides to stay. Meh, it's moot, now.

[rk2023]

Am seeing some speculation around this, and I think such a trade would be a great idea:

LAL and Utah -
• 2024 1.17
• protection removed from 2027 FRP
• Maybe? JHS

• 2024 1.10

Idea is to pick Ron Holland at 10 if he’s there, he’s the best player available in the entire draft for my $.02 - but the league views him a low lower supposedly. He’s consistently been mocked in the 11-20 range, and any team getting him would do so in a steal.

As for other players, at this point - I’d want Dejounte Murray over Russell for a fair-share of reasons (there are some trade offs though don’t get me wrong). I’d hope the MLE is used for Goga Bitadze, and one of Dinwiddie / CP3 / Lowry is signed for really cheap.

At that point, the last priority is consolidating assets (namely Rui, Gabe, Dlo, future first - generally speaking - into better wing defense).

Something like:

DJM - Backup PG
Reaves - Christie
3nD wing - Holland
LeBron - Vanderbilt - Wood
AD - Backup Big

Is what I’d want the rotation to be next year. I don’t know if he’s gettable per-say, but I like Avdija’s fit a ton - and he’s improved a lot as a player.

I’d have to reckon a starting 5 of
Murray - Reaves - Avdija - James - Davis is one of the best in the league.

[eminence]

No chance they could land both Murray/Avdija with just the '29/'31 1sts available.

I could kinda see it for Utah if they liked JHS, but kinda meh, would rather just secure whichever prospect we like the most at #10.

[Colbinii]

Lakers don't have the assets to get Deni Avdija.

[EmpireFalls]

Give up the ghost guys. He’s retiring without a 5th ring, there are no moves available that will change that.

[Cavsfansince84]

Give up the ghost guys. He’s retiring without a 5th ring, there are no moves available that will change that.

I don't think its written in stone anymore now than it was 3-4 years ago. Just depends on where he goes(if he leaves) and how healthy that team is in April/May. I mean the way the league is now there's usually 6-7 teams seen as real contenders and only one wins it all so its an uphill battle to be that one team but if he goes to a good situation he could be on one of those 6-7 teams. I think he needs to take a bit of a pay cut though like Dirk and Duncan were towards the end.

[nzahir]

Lakers don't have the assets to get Deni Avdija.

Huh?

We do but is he even a target?

And he is young, so why would the Wiz move him?

[nzahir]

So now that the finals are done, does this impact how you guys think this team should be built?

Having high iq guys who give effort is probably the route to go

Caruso makes the most sense here. Reminds me of White, but not as good as an offensive player sadly. Better defender though

Any similar guys to White and Holiday that make sense?

Marcus Smart is another (however he takes some bad shots at times), but I dont see Memphis giving up so quickly

Lavine and Caruso makes the most sense if Lavine is seen as a negative/neutral at best due to contract

Even if DLo opts out, Vincent, Vando, Rui, #17, and JHS. Future swap maybe?

Have the tax payer mle to use I think

Cp3 for the vet min?

Lavine, Caruso, ??, Bron, AD,
Cp3, Reaves, Christie, Wood

2 big needs left. A forward next to Bron and AD and a C who can play next to AD and behind him. Rui would be nice to keep if Dlo opts in and add another 1st in the deal, but I think he opts out

Need to use mle on a wing like Oubre, Jones Jr, Caleb Martin, Fontecchio, Royce O neale or a C than can play next to or behind AD

Could also also move Reaves to fill one of the 2 needs?

[ardee]

Give up the ghost guys. He’s retiring without a 5th ring, there are no moves available that will change that.

If he stays in LA, possibly.

If he goes home to Cleveland, everything changes.

I think if you swap Garland for LeBron on this Cleveland team and perhaps trade Allen for a stretch 5, suddenly the Celtics would be in real trouble in a series against them.

[trickshot]

Don't know where to leave this but Kyrie's journey since leaving Cavs and Lebron have been the most brutally humbling journey one couda chosen. Playing with KD and Luka aren't enough, Lebron in the playoffs would exceed their offense rating and still anchor the Cavs otherwise sorry defense.

In fact a lot of Celtic players just got massive one ups on their former teams.

[PistolPeteJR]

Give up the ghost guys. He’s retiring without a 5th ring, there are no moves available that will change that.

If he stays in LA, possibly.

If he goes home to Cleveland, everything changes.

I think if you swap Garland for LeBron on this Cleveland team and perhaps trade Allen for a stretch 5, suddenly the Celtics would be in real trouble in a series against them.

I don't think they'd be in trouble. The Cavs would be though. Who's defending Brown and Tatum? Holiday/White will smoke Mitchell. Who are the Cavs throwing at Tatum and Brown? LeBron is one, but he's no lateral Speedy Gonzales anymore obviously. Who else though?

[Colbinii]

Lakers don't have the assets to get Deni Avdija.

Huh?

We do but is he even a target?

And he is young, so why would the Wiz move him?

Nah, Washington fans consider him untouchable. They wouldn't trade the #1 pick for him.

[homecourtloss]

Lakers don't have the assets to get Deni Avdija.

Huh?
We do but is he even a target?
And he is young, so why would the Wiz move him?

Nah, Washington fans consider him untouchable. They wouldn't trade the #1 pick for him.

To be fair, he would elevate that miserable team, and even changed some betting lines slightly when he played, which is pretty wild. Everyone hates this upcoming draft class but there will be at least two or three really good players that come of it like there is every year though nobody seems to have an idea which players these will be.

[nzahir]

Give up the ghost guys. He’s retiring without a 5th ring, there are no moves available that will change that.

If he stays in LA, possibly.

If he goes home to Cleveland, everything changes.

I think if you swap Garland for LeBron on this Cleveland team and perhaps trade Allen for a stretch 5, suddenly the Celtics would be in real trouble in a series against them.

I don't think they'd be in trouble. The Cavs would be though. Who's defending Brown and Tatum? Holiday/White will smoke Mitchell. Who are the Cavs throwing at Tatum and Brown? LeBron is one, but he's no lateral Speedy Gonzales anymore obviously. Who else though?

What do you mean Holiday and White will smoke mitchell? He isn't a efensive liability (at least from the numbers)

Strus can play some D and Okoro is a very good defender (if he is back), but I think if Bron is heading back, they should probably also be making a move for another defensive guy that can play 2 ways

Unless Mobley is being thrown onto Tatum. But not sure if he is quick enough

I just want some action already

I've been looking up lots of players on EPM and Lebron Database, not a ton of great 3 and d guards and wings available

Mikal Bridges seems a bit overrated, especially for his price, but also his role may be too much on offensive

I wonder if Miles Bridges would consider a 1 year mle deal due to his off court history. Be on a team with a guy like Lebron that should hopefully help his off life stuff as well

I haven't fully given up hope here, we have 3 picks, some swaps, Reaves, Rui, Christie, JHS, and some moveable contracts in Vando and Vincent

The issue is will Pelinka be able to do something with this, 1 last shot

[1993Playoffs]

Don’t know where else to put this but I found a 7 HOUR 2014 LeBron season highlights. Damn lol.

https://youtu.be/57m7B8qvejQ?si=0tMX1Gsx_DUOLdDQ

[Heej]

Don’t know where else to put this but I found a 7 HOUR 2014 LeBron season highlights. Damn lol.

https://youtu.be/57m7B8qvejQ?si=0tMX1Gsx_DUOLdDQ

2014 used to be my choice for peak LeBron before 2017

[PistolPeteJR]

If he stays in LA, possibly.

If he goes home to Cleveland, everything changes.

I think if you swap Garland for LeBron on this Cleveland team and perhaps trade Allen for a stretch 5, suddenly the Celtics would be in real trouble in a series against them.

I don't think they'd be in trouble. The Cavs would be though. Who's defending Brown and Tatum? Holiday/White will smoke Mitchell. Who are the Cavs throwing at Tatum and Brown? LeBron is one, but he's no lateral Speedy Gonzales anymore obviously. Who else though?

What do you mean Holiday and White will smoke mitchell? He isn't a efensive liability (at least from the numbers)

Strus can play some D and Okoro is a very good defender (if he is back), but I think if Bron is heading back, they should probably also be making a move for another defensive guy that can play 2 ways

Unless Mobley is being thrown onto Tatum. But not sure if he is quick enough

I just want some action already

I've been looking up lots of players on EPM and Lebron Database, not a ton of great 3 and d guards and wings available

Mikal Bridges seems a bit overrated, especially for his price, but also his role may be too much on offensive

I wonder if Miles Bridges would consider a 1 year mle deal due to his off court history. Be on a team with a guy like Lebron that should hopefully help his off life stuff as well

I haven't fully given up hope here, we have 3 picks, some swaps, Reaves, Rui, Christie, JHS, and some moveable contracts in Vando and Vincent

The issue is will Pelinka be able to do something with this, 1 last shot

I mean Holiday and White will make life hell on Mitchell as they clamp him. And Strus, Okoro and LeBron on Tatum, Brown, Holiday and White? Yeah the Cs will have a field day.

[IG2]

2014 used to be my choice for peak LeBron before 2017

nba.com has every single game from 2013-2024 available on their website now and you can watch it with a LP subscription. I've watched about half of LeBron's full games from 2013-2018 + 2012 playoffs over the past year and it sure put a lot of misconceptions I used to have to rest. Prior to rewatching those games I would've picked 15-18 LeBron over his Miami self with ease. Yeah, I was wrong. The season where he looks his best, by a pretty wide margin to boot, is 2013. We really didn't appreciate that season in real time like we should have. In hindsight it makes perfect sense that he'd be at the top of his powers in his late 20's as opposed to his 30's. Rewatching him from 2012-2018 made it very obvious that we had already seen his best by 2013 (age 28) and everything that followed, great as he still was, was inferior to his 09-13 self.

[homecourtloss]

Don’t know where else to put this but I found a 7 HOUR 2014 LeBron season highlights. Damn lol.

https://youtu.be/57m7B8qvejQ?si=0tMX1Gsx_DUOLdDQ

2014 used to be my choice for peak LeBron before 2017

Interesting how he slimmed down considerably from the beginning of the season and was very fluid by playoff time. Just too quick and explosive with the ball on a string with these lefty power dribbles.

I forgot that the Heat started 14-3. In these games, James shot 59.8/48.1/80.6