Lebron to opt out then resign with Lakers

[snaquille oatmeal]

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[LAKESHOW]

Take more, we get less. Take less, we can get more. Simple

[Landsberger]

The return ownership is paying for is eyeballs... not wins. It's been obvious the last few years.

Let's see in Bron's kid signs for a deal commensurate with his draft position.

[danfantastk32]

So I'm hearing he's looking to go down to $30mil-ish to allow the Lakers to use the full MLE on a player. I suppose the obvious guys they'd try to get is CP3 or Klay. I think P-George wants more than that. I'd think Klay would want more than that, tbh.

I dunno....does Klay really have anything left? He should (should) be able to still drain them from outside. If our rookie turns out ok....we suddenly have alot of outside shooting with Klay.

I see CP3 needing the ball, and he and Lebron not working well together. Always been a fan of Klay....would have loved it if this was 5 years ago. Would be cool to get him....but this still has a feeling of us treading water.

Anyone else? I doubt Derozen takes the MLE. Would PG come if it were for 4 years? Seems like he'd get much better deal from Clippers. Do we want PG for 4 years?

All conjecture at this point. But if this is true, this allows the Lakers to potentially pick up someone decent without using picks. I didn't think Lebron had it in him. I gotta give him kudos if he does this. Still dont think this makes us a title contender....but its a step up, and doesn't ruin our future so badly.

We'll see.

[Up-And-Coming]

My best guess based on fit and the way free agency is panning out is that Klay Thompson signs with the Lakers via the NTP-MLE that Lebron creates with a pay-cut then sequentially the Lakers trade for Bruce Brown Jr via a couple of their contracts (possibly D'Angelo+filler). To me this just makes the most sense with Bruce Brown Jr's fit and versatility as another secondary/tertiary ball-handler in the starting lineup that Redick has hinted at that also provides point of attack defense and rebounding that the starters lacked. He's also not as big a liability on offense in the playoffs like Vanderbilt has been.

Austin Reaves
Bruce Brown Jr
Klay Thompson
Lebron James
Anthony Davis

[LakersSoul]

My best guess based on fit and the way free agency is panning out is that Klay Thompson signs with the Lakers via the NTP-MLE that Lebron creates with a pay-cut then sequentially the Lakers trade for Bruce Brown Jr via a couple of their contracts (possibly D'Angelo+filler). To me this just makes the most sense with Bruce Brown Jr's fit and versatility as another secondary/tertiary ball-handler in the starting lineup that Redick has hinted at that also provides point of attack defense and rebounding that the starters lacked. He's also not as big a liability on offense in the playoffs like Vanderbilt has been.

Austin Reaves
Bruce Brown Jr
Klay Thompson
Lebron James
Anthony Davis

Would be cool to add Klay but not super exited about an offensive wing/PF. I would rather add a good 3&D wing that can be a killer 3 AND D guy.

How great would Holmes have been for us?

Cannot complain about Knecht tho. And resigning Max at 8/per. Now, let’s get a cam or a long wing PLUS backup Center for playoff series against Spurs/OKC/Denver.

[Landsberger]

So I'm hearing he's looking to go down to $30mil-ish to allow the Lakers to use the full MLE on a player. I suppose the obvious guys they'd try to get is CP3 or Klay. I think P-George wants more than that. I'd think Klay would want more than that, tbh.

I dunno....does Klay really have anything left? He should (should) be able to still drain them from outside. If our rookie turns out ok....we suddenly have alot of outside shooting with Klay.

I see CP3 needing the ball, and he and Lebron not working well together. Always been a fan of Klay....would have loved it if this was 5 years ago. Would be cool to get him....but this still has a feeling of us treading water.

Anyone else? I doubt Derozen takes the MLE. Would PG come if it were for 4 years? Seems like he'd get much better deal from Clippers. Do we want PG for 4 years?

All conjecture at this point. But if this is true, this allows the Lakers to potentially pick up someone decent without using picks. I didn't think Lebron had it in him. I gotta give him kudos if he does this. Still dont think this makes us a title contender....but its a step up, and doesn't ruin our future so badly.

We'll see.

None of that list want's anything to do with the Lakers... and it took more than MLE to get any of them.

So... Bron said he "would" lower is price "if".... so we didn't get an impact players so is he going full max now?

See how this works? Players that were never signing for MLE get connected to Bron's supposed calls then he's left in a position of power to negotiate because the Lakers didn't get someone of "impact".

[danfantastk32]

So... Bron said he "would" lower is price "if".... so we didn't get an impact players so is he going full max now?

Yeah, my guess is he takes a 1year deal at the max (or several years with an opt-out next year) to try it again next year.

Frankly I'm glad none of them came here. Band-aids at best.

[danfantastk32]

See how this works? Players that were never signing for MLE get connected to Bron's supposed calls then he's left in a position of power to negotiate because the Lakers didn't get someone of "impact".

I think your overthinking his nefariousness here. He's been in a position of complete power for years. He opted out of his contract, for one, and could have got an extension really at any time. All of which would have been completely ordinary, and acceptable. What's he going to negotiate for now that's above the 3-year super max extension he could have easily got an anytime? And prob anything he wanted after that, tbh. This all seems silly and unnecessary, in the "fight for power" vein......and in fact makes him look, if nothing else, like nobody wants to come play with him - this being "Lebron's team" after all?

Could be wrong....but I think he was just willing to take a cut if they could have landed some decent player at the MLE.

For what it's worth...we prob could have got CP3 for the MLE. Maybe they didnt want him (fine with that). And I think it was pretty close with Klay. Mavericks offered him a bit more....and they are closer to at title than we are currently. But it was certainly worth a shot (in their eyes....I want a rebuild).

[Beethoven]

I'll take it. 2 year contract is fine by me.

[danfantastk32]

Decent length article from Ramona Shelbourne on ESPN about Klay. But I'll throw in the part relevant to this discusiion:

""
The Mavericks were thrilled to get a player of Thompson's ability and experience on such a reasonably priced contract. The team had a great run to get to the Finals this season, but sources said Dallas felt it needed more veteran leadership to build off the performance.

The Thunder also were interested in Thompson but ended up prioritizing big man Isaiah Hartenstein with their cap space.

That left the Lakers. His father's team. His idol's team. LeBron's team. The team ultimately was willing to offer Thompson more years and more money than he accepted from Dallas. Sources said James was willing to take less and the Lakers were trying to make trades that would've cleared four years and nearly $80 million for Thompson.

James had several deep conversations with Thompson about the idea of playing together, sources said.

But something about playing for the Lakers apparently felt too much like playing for the Warriors. As one source close to him put it, "Would this be trading one fishbowl for another?" All Thompson had talked about in the two weeks since he had decided and accepted that his time with the Warriors was over was wanting "new experiences" and a "fresh start."

Dallas seemed like a better place to get that.

Mychal Thompson, who played for the Lakers from 1987 to 1991 and is a radio color commentator for the team, was ecstatic at the thought his son would finish his career with the hometown team. He tried to talk to his son about mooring the boat in Marina Del Rey and living in his new house in Hermosa Beach. "I'm disappointed," the elder Thompson told ESPN. "But maybe playing for the Lakers was more my dream than his."

""

So yeah.....It looks like the Lakers were in discussions with Klay, and Lebron opted out, in an effort to get him here. While it clearly didn't work....from all appearances, Lebron's intentions were noble on this one.

[SlimShady83]

2 more years of this clown show lol - don't know how I'm going to last.

[danfantastk32]

2 more years of this clown show lol - don't know how I'm going to last.

Yeah, I sorta figured as much. Our FO really isn't on the ball. And our squad isn't nearly as appealing as they seem to think it is. I now gotta hope AD stays healthy another year, and plays well (but hopefully they don't make the playoffs). Maybe missing the playoffs while up in the 2nd apron will wake this FO the eff up to the reality here, and a rebuild will happen.

But prob not. They didn't see it here.

Till then, I kinda tune them out for most of the season. Catch a few games at my convenience....but I certainly don't go out of my way to watch this product. once/if they ever stop being jack-asses, they'll get my attention back.

[Danny Darko]

Dude... 2 years with a no trade and player option that will put us in the 2nd apron?

Rob and Jeanie need to go

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40487976/sources-lebron-james-staying-lakers-2-years-104m

[SlimShady83]

Once he retires trade AD ... hopefully get pics ... Build around youth and depth ... Let the stars come here them selves rather then chasing and hoping they will come.

[SlimShady83]

When doing a trade now, you have to send out more salary ... Does this Include cash level deals? Like say for example you trade 2 players for 1 but salary's match, but because you have to include more $$$ can you just send cash rather then say another player or 2?

[LAKESHOW]

It's clear he did not want to win. But actually afraid of Failure. Think about it, knowing his Dad, his dad would clown him if he came up short and lost. Being too close to it, he would be ragged on and hide in his own home town if he ever went 0-10. Westbrook, his favorite team growing up, was booed and made his wife cry and kids cry. Playing at Home ain't no joke. It is a serious matter, can't even go to the store if you bricked an 0-10 like he did last year.
This way, he's got money, but doesn't have to worry about the possibility of a failed attempt

[tamaraw08]

Decent length article from Ramona Shelbourne on ESPN about Klay. But I'll throw in the part relevant to this discusiion:

""
The Mavericks were thrilled to get a player of Thompson's ability and experience on such a reasonably priced contract. The team had a great run to get to the Finals this season, but sources said Dallas felt it needed more veteran leadership to build off the performance.

The Thunder also were interested in Thompson but ended up prioritizing big man Isaiah Hartenstein with their cap space.

That left the Lakers. His father's team. His idol's team. LeBron's team. The team ultimately was willing to offer Thompson more years and more money than he accepted from Dallas. Sources said James was willing to take less and the Lakers were trying to make trades that would've cleared four years and nearly $80 million for Thompson.

James had several deep conversations with Thompson about the idea of playing together, sources said.

But something about playing for the Lakers apparently felt too much like playing for the Warriors. As one source close to him put it, "Would this be trading one fishbowl for another?" All Thompson had talked about in the two weeks since he had decided and accepted that his time with the Warriors was over was wanting "new experiences" and a "fresh start."

Dallas seemed like a better place to get that.

Mychal Thompson, who played for the Lakers from 1987 to 1991 and is a radio color commentator for the team, was ecstatic at the thought his son would finish his career with the hometown team. He tried to talk to his son about mooring the boat in Marina Del Rey and living in his new house in Hermosa Beach. "I'm disappointed," the elder Thompson told ESPN. "But maybe playing for the Lakers was more my dream than his."

""

So yeah.....It looks like the Lakers were in discussions with Klay, and Lebron opted out, in an effort to get him here. While it clearly didn't work....from all appearances, Lebron's intentions were noble on this one.

Lakers Didn’t Miss Out on Klay Thompson; They Dodged a Bullet

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/los-angeles-lakers/klay-thompson-free-agent-dodged-bullet/

Missing out on Thompson — a 4-time NBA Champion — might sting a bit for Lakers fans, but it’s nostalgia taking over for what a clear mind would see as a player with major red flags pointing towards his rapidly declining physical abilities.

Game 6 Klay Thompson Is Gone

Father time comes for us all, and the combination of age (Thompson will turn 35 during the 2024-25 season) and injuries has robbed Thompson of some of the most valuable abilities a shooter needs.

First off, Thompson can’t get to the rim anymore. This is not an uncommon phenomenon, as most players lose a step as they age and begin taking shots from further and further out. Before his injuries, Thompson’s average shot distance came in between 16.1 feet (2014-15) to 17.9 feet (2017-18). His last three seasons have seen him further extend from the basket, from 18.9 to 19.6 and finally 20.3 feet.
The Lakers didn’t miss out, they dodged. Adding Thompson would provide a player to plant on the 3-point line, a proven winner with experience in big games, but one who is far past his prime and will never be anything more than a third or fourth option again.

[tamaraw08]

Dude... 2 years with a no trade and player option that will put us in the 2nd apron?

Rob and Jeanie need to go

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40487976/sources-lebron-james-staying-lakers-2-years-104m

I don't know if I will ever forgive Jeannie for not paying Caruso so she could save some money.
Rob also made some stupid decisions including offering player options to trash players like Cam Reddish and Hayes
But I don't think they are done making moves yet. Rob better find a way to trade D'Lo, attach those trash players for a couple of wing players who can shoot and defend like Cam Johnson and DFS without giving up both picks.
If not, they are in trouble.

[Landsberger]

So... it was reported that Bron would take less if it would result in an MLE signing that would help the team.... so, by taking the max with a no-trade and option he's saying that the team is not getting better but he wants to stay until the end.

Think that through for a second...