Do you think AD is hinting that Lebron stabbed him in the back ?

[NO-KG-AI]

Thats news to me

https://www.si.com/nba/lakers/news/rich-paul-glad-he-didn-t-know-about-blockbuster-luka-doncic-lakers-trade-01jmfswct5mg#:~:text=Rich%20Paul%2C%20who%20is%20the,upon%2C%20just%20like%20everyone%20else.&text=%E2%80%9C99.9%25%20of%20the%20time%2C,we%20all%20didn't.%E2%80%9D

lol. Do you believe everything you read?

If Bron knew he comes off like a snake that backstabbed AD. So, he has to have a PR angle that he didn’t know. That’s all this is. Of course Paul has to deny knowing, but it makes him look bad so he adds the 99% comment. But he has to bow to Bron, so he falls on his sword a little but I doubt many inside the NBA believe any of it. Seems AD figured it out too.

Soooo... DON'T worry about what's ACTUALLY SAID AND PUT INTO PRINT, worry about 1 of 17 increasingly unlikely interpretations we can IMPLY, with ZERO evidence, becoz: "C'mon, bruh... We KNOW... Like, we KNOW..." Like we "KNOW" he's on illegal performance enhancing drugs, and the ONLY one at that, and we "KNOW" he's a serial love-rat. FORGET EVIDENCE, "WE KNOW"...

I don’t think LeBron did anything wrong, or was a snake or anything else, but like AD implied, he knew. Lol.

[SNPA]

lol. Do you believe everything you read?

If Bron knew he comes off like a snake that backstabbed AD. So, he has to have a PR angle that he didn’t know. That’s all this is. Of course Paul has to deny knowing, but it makes him look bad so he adds the 99% comment. But he has to bow to Bron, so he falls on his sword a little but I doubt many inside the NBA believe any of it. Seems AD figured it out too.

Soooo... DON'T worry about what's ACTUALLY SAID AND PUT INTO PRINT, worry about 1 of 17 increasingly unlikely interpretations we can IMPLY, with ZERO evidence, becoz: "C'mon, bruh... We KNOW... Like, we KNOW..." Like we "KNOW" he's on illegal performance enhancing drugs, and the ONLY one at that, and we "KNOW" he's a serial love-rat. FORGET EVIDENCE, "WE KNOW"...

I don’t think LeBron did anything wrong, or was a snake or anything else, but like AD implied, he knew. Lol.

Yeah. We know. The power structure of the league is the evidence. He is still LeBron James the Laker, he has power if he is pissed about it. He just doesn’t want to deal with public opinion on it so he and his team chose to sidestep the whole thing and say they didn’t know. Yeah, ok. Cool. CYA complete. Next PR matter to handle.

[Lost Angel]

I think LeBron only found out at the last minute, the Lakers never hesitate so once this became a real option they pulled the trigger

[reamily]

In basketball sense..you been traded for luka doncic any gm will jump on every opportunity to trade for him..as if he was traded for enes kanter and doug mcdermott..

I love AD but he got traded for a 25 year old that is top 3-5 player.

He needs to get out of his feelings and realize he would make the same deal. Why wouldn't you trade a hundred dollar bill for 5 hundred dollars. it's simple.

So he's in his feelings because he doesn't believe that others weren't in the know about the trade discussions? He never once implied that he's bitter about the trade or that it doesn't make sense to him. Some of you need better reading comprehension.

No we are just saying that it isnt true that he didnt k ow the trade.. as he has 5 million reasons to inform him beforehand but the way he waive it .. seems more suspicious and contradicts what he is currently saying..

[-Spyda-]

So much hate again on Bron lol
Ridiculous

[Ssj16]

I love AD but he got traded for a 25 year old that is top 3-5 player.

He needs to get out of his feelings and realize he would make the same deal. Why wouldn't you trade a hundred dollar bill for 5 hundred dollars. it's simple.

Unless AD has been speaking out a bunch about the trade, I feel like he had a very measured take and I'm sure he was responding to a question that was asked.

[Ssj16]

Of course he knew. Was that even in doubt before?

i think its really weird that so many people are convinced he knew. what would the purpose of him knowing be? He didnt create the trade and the Lakers clearly were not looking to get the best player to work strictly on LeBrons time line. This idea that LeBron has to give the go ahead on everything is getting pretty carried away at this point.

The purpose of telling him before hand is out of respect and to gain buy in. Lebron is still the most powerful player at his age and if he was blindsided by this trade, he could have made it uncomfortable for the Lakers if he felt like he was betrayed himself.

Remember, Lakers move a little different. They paid Kobe (my fave player) an undeserving contract based on principal and optics, not for basketball reasons.

It would not surprise me in the least they felt they wanted to get Lebron's blessings before officially closing the deal out of common courtesy.

[Ssj16]

I respect AD's perspective on this as he's taking the 'man up' approach.

Also, I 100% believe that LeBron knew ahead of time. About 5 gamesish before the trade went down, Lebron was playing with a pep in his step, looking super young and spry as well as playing on defense.

He was doing this while AD was injured.

Lebron has an m.o. later in his career to take his foot off the gas and preserve his energy for more meaningful games. And if he thought the team was going no where with AD's injury, I would envision him coasting more until AD got back and he could assess if the team was a serious threat.

TLDR, the timeline of when Lebron started playing amazing is highly suspicious.

That makes no sense. Why would he coast when a man is down? That’s the moment you pick up the play and slow down when he’s back.

Lebron has a history of coasting in his older age if he feels the team is not a serious threat to win a chip.

[LakersSquadup]

I respect AD's perspective on this as he's taking the 'man up' approach.

Also, I 100% believe that LeBron knew ahead of time. About 5 gamesish before the trade went down, Lebron was playing with a pep in his step, looking super young and spry as well as playing on defense.

He was doing this while AD was injured.

Lebron has an m.o. later in his career to take his foot off the gas and preserve his energy for more meaningful games. And if he thought the team was going no where with AD's injury, I would envision him coasting more until AD got back and he could assess if the team was a serious threat.

TLDR, the timeline of when Lebron started playing amazing is highly suspicious.

That makes no sense. Why would he coast when a man is down? That’s the moment you pick up the play and slow down when he’s back.

Lebron has a history of coasting in his older age if he feels the team is not a serious threat to win a chip.

Bruh lol Lebron in his history of playing has played harder when he has had less help. Again playing harder waiting for a trade to “Possibly” happen is nonsense because this same guy has sat out crucial down the stretch games to make sure he was healthy. The conspiracy theories are hilarious.

[Raps in 4]

I'll just take it at face value and guess he's talking about Pelinka when talking about "the front office"

Edit: reading it again, yeah there's definitely a strong hint that he at least has suspicions about LeBron too, that's why he's making a point about not believing that no one else knew

Everyone knows LeBron is the GM of that team, not Pelinka.

[syrus3]

One day AD and Draymond will wake up and realize that LeSteroid will use whoever he needs to, to make himself look good.

[NY2k1]

Lol at James not knowing. Come on ya’ll.

Eh, I don't know tbh. I think he knew the night of, but not before.

Ok. But he knew and the whole found out at a restaurant thing was terrible PR BS.

Klutch and the Lakers aren’t trading AD without James signing off.

Let me reiterate: I think they may have told LeBron at the last minute before the trade happened, but told him out of courtesy, not because they wanted to get his approval. This trade was most likely gonna happen with or without Lebron's blessing.

[ryguy613]

Of course he knew. Was that even in doubt before?

i think its really weird that so many people are convinced he knew. what would the purpose of him knowing be? He didnt create the trade and the Lakers clearly were not looking to get the best player to work strictly on LeBrons time line. This idea that LeBron has to give the go ahead on everything is getting pretty carried away at this point.

The purpose of telling him before hand is out of respect and to gain buy in. Lebron is still the most powerful player at his age and if he was blindsided by this trade, he could have made it uncomfortable for the Lakers if he felt like he was betrayed himself.

Remember, Lakers move a little different. They paid Kobe (my fave player) an undeserving contract based on principal and optics, not for basketball reasons.

It would not surprise me in the least they felt they wanted to get Lebron's blessings before officially closing the deal out of common courtesy.

Let me ask you a question... so youre Jeanie Buss and Rob Palinka. You get approached by Nico Harrison to essentially trade AD for Luka straight up. You go to LeBron for his blessing, and he does NOT give it to you... you telling me with a straight face you arent doing the trade because of that? be honest please.

[ryguy613]

lol. Do you believe everything you read?

If Bron knew he comes off like a snake that backstabbed AD. So, he has to have a PR angle that he didn’t know. That’s all this is. Of course Paul has to deny knowing, but it makes him look bad so he adds the 99% comment. But he has to bow to Bron, so he falls on his sword a little but I doubt many inside the NBA believe any of it. Seems AD figured it out too.

Soooo... DON'T worry about what's ACTUALLY SAID AND PUT INTO PRINT, worry about 1 of 17 increasingly unlikely interpretations we can IMPLY, with ZERO evidence, becoz: "C'mon, bruh... We KNOW... Like, we KNOW..." Like we "KNOW" he's on illegal performance enhancing drugs, and the ONLY one at that, and we "KNOW" he's a serial love-rat. FORGET EVIDENCE, "WE KNOW"...

I don’t think LeBron did anything wrong, or was a snake or anything else, but like AD implied, he knew. Lol.

I honestly dont think AD was implying that LeBron knew. As Ive said a few times I dont know why he and Bron would be out there buddy buddy if he was going to be throwing that shade at him specifically. Doesnt really add up.

But this is why I really wish players would stop with these cryptic passive aggressive statements that the media and fans parse every word of to decipher a meaning. Just say what you want to say with your chest and live with the results. Thats not an AD criticism by the way... we all know Bron is more guilty of that than anyone... but its become way too normal in the current NBA culture

[Rust_Cohle]

Lebron absolutely knew, he has the franchise by the balls at a level never before seen in NBA history. Nothing wrong with him knowing either. Of course he would play dumb.

[The High Cyde]

Lebron absolutely knew, he has the franchise by the balls at a level never before seen in NBA history. Nothing wrong with him knowing either. Of course he would play dumb.

Dang, by the balls you say? Lakers management and ownership ship are what, mannequins or something?

[wade44]

They played him like a fiddle simple as

[Beethoven]

That's why you dont make friends with managers especially and coworkers. Draw the line, be courteous and amiable and friendly, but draw the line for professionalism. My manager likes me a lot but at any day can transfer me over to another region so that he can have that guy there come work for him instead of me, and I won't blame him. I'll still keep good relations with everyone.

Not that Lebron is the manager, but he has a lot of political power yes. It is what it is. AD should know better that this is a business (yeah said too many times but it is true) and they are all making millions for what? to win the dam championship for more revenue and more views and more fans. Do what you have to do to make it work for your business which is in a cutthroat relationship with similar businesses all trying to make you fail even though they all fall under the same organization. If AD was lebron he would have done the same exact thing any day of the week and twice on a sunday (yeah, twice on a sunday you know?? twice. ok?? whatever that phrase originated from)
but not saying that Lebron knew

[Rust_Cohle]

Lebron absolutely knew, he has the franchise by the balls at a level never before seen in NBA history. Nothing wrong with him knowing either. Of course he would play dumb.

Dang, by the balls you say? Lakers management and ownership ship are what, mannequins or something?

Big time, LeBron has them giving his son the biggest contract for a second rounder in history, he gets to pick the coach, and the Lakers bow down to him. It's crazy for a franchise so storied, but hey, they are happy to be relevant again.

[The High Cyde]

Lebron absolutely knew, he has the franchise by the balls at a level never before seen in NBA history. Nothing wrong with him knowing either. Of course he would play dumb.

Dang, by the balls you say? Lakers management and ownership ship are what, mannequins or something?

Big time, LeBron has them giving his son the biggest contract for a second rounder in history, he gets to pick the coach, and the Lakers bow down to him. It's crazy for a franchise so storied, but hey, they are happy to be relevant again.

Yeah, and then remember when the Lakers hired Ty Lue and kept Caruso? He was so dumb to trade Zubac for Muscala back then, but it’s hard running a team and an organization, so what can you do. Live and learn!