Can We Talk LeBron Yet?

[jbk1234]

REaves isn't supermax eligible. Inventing a narrative to then accuse Pelinka of overrating him significantly is weird. Is his impact far more than his current salary? Yes. Ergo, valuable. We don't have to go any further than this lol.

It seems like there's considerable debate, even amongst Lakers fans, as to how much would be too much for Reaves and he's already declined to extend off of his current number. So I'd agree that he has good rental value, but if you're looking at getting into a bidding war with the Nets, Wizards or Hornets next summer, that's about as far as it goes.

[Texas Chuck]

REaves isn't supermax eligible. Inventing a narrative to then accuse Pelinka of overrating him significantly is weird. Is his impact far more than his current salary? Yes. Ergo, valuable. We don't have to go any further than this lol.

It seems like there's considerable debate, even amongst Lakers fans, as to how much would be too much for Reaves and he's already declined to extend off of his current number. So I'd agree that he has good rental value, but if you're looking at getting into a bidding war with the Nets, Wizards or Hornets next summer, that's about as far as it goes.

Why should he extend off his current number when it would be below what he could get on the open market? Or from the Lakers?

And we can always debate how much a guy should get paid or how much his trade value is on his current deal.

But to make up a supermax number and then accuse the Lakers of badly overvaluing him just feels so pointless since its just representative of what reality looks likes.

[Toine85]

As a Knicks fan, I think I'd entertain an OG/Mitch/Kolek for LeBron/Bronny trade as long as you don't extend Bron's contract.

Yes, Knicks would give up their two best defenders, but I think their stagnant offense was more of a killer during this year's playoffs. Even with Mitch and OG, Knicks had horrible defensive games (compounded by horrible offense). I've always adhered to the defensive first mantra, but the top-ranked OKC defense almost lost to the high octane offense Pacers whose defense is not as heralded. Maybe it's time to go all-in on a three headed offensive attack with Jalen-Bron-KAT.

If it doesn't work, then the Knicks have $52M+ coming off the books and have a much cleaner cap situation going forward because I think OG's contract handcuffs them a bit.

Starting lineup for NYK: Jalen-Hart-Bridges-Lebron-KAT with Clarkson, Yabusele, Deuce as first guys off the bench.

On the flip side, I think OG/Mitch would fit in very nicely with Luka. 3-and-D from OG and rim runner/D from Mitch to put alongside Luka.

Starting lineup for LAL: Luka-Reaves-OG-Ayton-Mitch with Rui as the first guy off the bench. Knecht, Vanderbilt, LaRavia, Vincent, Jaxson Hayes there as well.

[jbk1234]

REaves isn't supermax eligible. Inventing a narrative to then accuse Pelinka of overrating him significantly is weird. Is his impact far more than his current salary? Yes. Ergo, valuable. We don't have to go any further than this lol.

It seems like there's considerable debate, even amongst Lakers fans, as to how much would be too much for Reaves and he's already declined to extend off of his current number. So I'd agree that he has good rental value, but if you're looking at getting into a bidding war with the Nets, Wizards or Hornets next summer, that's about as far as it goes.

Why should he extend off his current number when it would be below what he could get on the open market? Or from the Lakers?

And we can always debate how much a guy should get paid or how much his trade value is on his current deal.

But to make up a supermax number and then accuse the Lakers of badly overvaluing him just feels so pointless since its just representative of what reality looks likes.

I agree with most of this, but I don't think Reaves has to get close to 35% of the cap before veering into negative territory. The reality is the Lakers should want to trade LBJ this summer, before he walks next summer, so they can see what Reaves looks like as the 2nd option next to Luka before paying him.

[R-DAWG]

If the Lakers want expirings and not Wiggins, the deal needs to be Highsmith, Powell and Rozier and the deal can’t be completed until Sept for cap rules. Then you need to figure out the draft equity.

Mitchell-Herro-Wiggins-LeBron-Bam
Jakucious-Jacquez—Fontecchio-Jovic-Ware

Coached by Spo

This team could win the east.

I'm really surprised by how high people are on Heat's roster. I don't have them as one player away or even close to one player away.

Not to mention Lebron isn't a "one player away" player anymore.

Ceiling for that roster is play-in/first round exit. Spo is great but he's not that great.

Look at the rest of the East. It’s more about how bad the east that creates a path back to the finals.

But when you look at this roster it’s somewhat similar to the 2023 roster with LeBron in Butlers spot. Of course, you need Bam to be 2023 Bam and not 2025 Bam. But Herro is better than he was in 23. You have Jovic, Jacquez, Mitchell and Ware in place of Strus, Vincent, Martin. In theory you have Wiggins in place of Lowry.

2023 playoff rotation:
Vincent/Strus/Butler/Martin/Love
Lowry/Robinson/Love/Zeller

2026 projected rotation (with Wiggins/Rozier going to LA with draft assets)
Mitchell/Herro/Lebron/Jovic/Bam
Powell/Highsmith/Fontechio/Jacquez/Ware

I kind of feel like the 2026 roster is better, and this version of LeBron is on the same level that butler was on in 23
Mitchell/

[RCM88x]

I'm really surprised by how high people are on Heat's roster. I don't have them as one player away or even close to one player away.

Not to mention Lebron isn't a "one player away" player anymore.

Ceiling for that roster is play-in/first round exit. Spo is great but he's not that great.

Look at the rest of the East. It’s more about how bad the east that creates a path back to the finals.

But when you look at this roster it’s somewhat similar to the 2023 roster with LeBron in Butlers spot. Of course, you need Bam to be 2023 Bam and not 2025 Bam. But Herro is better than he was in 23. You have Jovic, Jacquez, Mitchell and Ware in place of Strus, Vincent, Martin. In theory you have Wiggins in place of Lowry.

2023 playoff rotation:
Vincent/Strus/Butler/Martin/Love
Lowry/Robinson/Love/Zeller

2026 projected rotation (with Wiggins/Rozier going to LA with draft assets)
Mitchell/Herro/Lebron/Jovic/Bam
Powell/Highsmith/Fontechio/Jacquez/Ware

I kind of feel like the 2026 roster is better, and this version of LeBron is on the same level that butler was on in 23
Mitchell/

I don't think 2026 playoff LeBron will be anywhere near 2023 playoff Butler. Nor do Jacquez, Mitchell and Ware measure up to Strus, Vincent, Martin. Those guys played out of their minds the the playoffs at a high two way level I just don't think these new guys are capable of. That team also had Duncan Robinson who was huge in getting them to the finals. Plus Love who was atleast serviceable of the bench at times.

Regular season? Maybe a similar level team at their best, but I'm the playoffs they're so far behind.

Herro is not a playoff player either so as long as he's in the rotation I don't think it's even worth trying.

If Miami could get LA to take Rozier and Herro for LeBron they should do that in a second just to get off that money.

[Michaellam1987]

Another feasible solution is to trade LeBron to LAC?

LeBron + Bronny for Collins + Bogdanovic + DJJ +Christie

LeBron can remain in LA, and join a competitive LAC team.
Harden/Dunn/Kawhi/LeBron/Zubac, with may be CP3/Beal and also Batum & Lopez on the bench should be strong enough to compete in the West.

LAL get some depth back, while keeping the cap space next year, with only DJJ is not expiring, but his 10.5M contract, together with the history of playing with Luka should be fine.

[Apz]

zubac should be the start if lakers trade lebron to clippers

[PistolPeteJR]

Lebron should put his ego aside a bit. He's a 40 year old man, of course its Doncic's team now. Be the secondary ball handler, starting power forward and help Lakers win another Championship, it will still help your "legacy". Be the Kareem to Doncic's Magic.

You clearly didn't watch much of them last season post-Luka trade if you think he didn't adjust to the fact that Doncic was the #1.