The LeBron James and Luka Doncic - 25-26 Thread

[LikeABosh]

Rui is the most consistent role player on the team. They need to figure out a way to flip Kleber, Vando and Knecht for a back up big or a wing.

Completely against trading Rui unless it's for a high impact player. He's one of two 40% 3 pt shooters on the team. Let's not go back to the LeBron-AD era where they have a bunch of brickmaster roleplayers on the perimeter

[nzahir]

Rui is the most consistent role player on the team. They need to figure out a way to flip Kleber, Vando and Knecht for a back up big or a wing.

Completely against trading Rui unless it's for a high impact player. He's one of two 40% 3 pt shooters on the team. Let's not go back to the LeBron-AD era where they have a bunch of brickmaster roleplayers on the perimeter

I like Rui, but would like to upgrade if we could

Ideally we add to him, but the issue is he needs to guard bigger wings and that is where Lebron and Luka defend (but Luka getting slimmer has helped)

He is a low volme 3 point shooter, so not as much gravity as preferred and teams would still rather him shoot it than allowing a Luka, AR, or Lebron drive, but has been very accurate and making teams pay

[nzahir]

I love Looney, but my first thoughts for backup bigs are guys who can be lob targets for Luka.

They don't have a single big that can semi-reliably anchor the paint on defense. I guess they can go the offense route, but I think the gap on defense is larger. While Looney isn't this otherworldly rim protector, he'd serve very well as a backup.

Dreams of Kessler (at least for this season) are over now with his injury

Realistic backup C options:
Goga
Rw3

I dont think DK, expiring contract Gabe/Kleber, a 1st, 1-2 swaps, and Thiero would be enough for Herb right?

If we could get another first back to tradem that could help

[TroubleS0me]

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[xb3at band1tx]

this to me feel ike the inverse of the 2010’s rn

lakers have a different aura/excitement to them that i haven’t seen in an LA team in a long time (early lob city years compared to the old kobe lakers)

they are so young and gritty

[nzahir]

this to me feel ike the inverse of the 2010’s rn

lakers have a different aura/excitement to them that i haven’t seen in an LA team in a long time (early lob city years compared to the old kobe lakers)

they are so young and gritty

Its a pretty ideal mix for a contender

You cant be too yong or too old to win it all. 14th in avg age, 17th in avg age min (OKC is 7 and 11, but they were pretty young)

Superstar in his prime in Luka in year 8
AR in around his prime, still getting better
Lebron is old but he isn't their number 1 anymore. He may even be their #3 on offense now in certain matchups and that should allow him to focus more on D

Rui in his prime at 27
Ayton should be in his prime around 27

Jake is young at 24
Marcus is 31. Hes the only guy besides Lebron that is past his prime, but still very good
Vando is 26
etc etc

Can they acquire Wiggins or Herb while keeping Rui?

Herb for Gabe/Kleber+Knecht+1st+Thiero+1-2 swaps in 2028 and 2030? Is that enough?
Wiggins would require Vando, Kleber, and Gabe for salaries. So those 3+Knecht+1st (likely a 3 teamer, maybe too tough with salaries)

[nzahir]

this to me feel ike the inverse of the 2010’s rn

lakers have a different aura/excitement to them that i haven’t seen in an LA team in a long time (early lob city years compared to the old kobe lakers)

they are so young and gritty

Its a pretty ideal mix for a contender

You cant be too yong or too old to win it all. 14th in avg age, 17th in avg age min (OKC is 7 and 11, but they were pretty young)

Superstar in his prime in Luka in year 8
AR in around his prime, still getting better
Lebron is old but he isn't their number 1 anymore. He may even be their #3 on offense now in certain matchups and that should allow him to focus more on D

Rui in his prime at 27
Ayton should be in his prime around 27

Jake is young at 24
Marcus is 31. Hes the only guy besides Lebron that is past his prime, but still very good
Vando is 26
etc etc

Can they acquire Wiggins or Herb while keeping Rui?

Herb for Gabe/Kleber+Knecht+1st+Thiero+1-2 swaps in 2028 and 2030? Is that enough?
Wiggins would require Vando, Kleber, and Gabe for salaries. So those 3+Knecht+1st (likely a 3 teamer, maybe too tough with salaries)

Then theres guys a tier lower like DJJ, Naji Marshall, and Max Christie, but doubt either team trades with us

[Doug_12]

this to me feel ike the inverse of the 2010’s rn

lakers have a different aura/excitement to them that i haven’t seen in an LA team in a long time (early lob city years compared to the old kobe lakers)

they are so young and gritty

Its a pretty ideal mix for a contender

You cant be too yong or too old to win it all. 14th in avg age, 17th in avg age min (OKC is 7 and 11, but they were pretty young)

Superstar in his prime in Luka in year 8
AR in around his prime, still getting better
Lebron is old but he isn't their number 1 anymore. He may even be their #3 on offense now in certain matchups and that should allow him to focus more on D

Rui in his prime at 27
Ayton should be in his prime around 27

Jake is young at 24
Marcus is 31. Hes the only guy besides Lebron that is past his prime, but still very good
Vando is 26
etc etc

Can they acquire Wiggins or Herb while keeping Rui?

Herb for Gabe/Kleber+Knecht+1st+Thiero+1-2 swaps in 2028 and 2030? Is that enough?
Wiggins would require Vando, Kleber, and Gabe for salaries. So those 3+Knecht+1st (likely a 3 teamer, maybe too tough with salaries)

We probably would need 2 firsts for Herb (I'd do Vando+Knecht+Thiero+picks rather) and I don't think we can do that. Even if we could, I'm not sure if he is that much of an upgrade. Probably our lineup would be then
Smart / Vincent / Bronny
Reaves / Nick Smith
Doncic / Lebron
Herb / Rui / LaRavia
Ayton / Hayes / Kleber

Well balanced, should be ok for a 2nd round / WCF, but still not a contender. It makes LaRavia redundant also - kind of relegating him to an injury-insurance guy. So altogether it's basically a LaRavia->Herb Jones improvement, costing probably a few picks (plus Vando+Knecht and Thiero). Doesn't worth it imo.

[MacGill]

Why doesn't Luca have his own thread?

[TroubleS0me]

Why doesn't Luca have his own thread?

Him and LeBron play on the same team, its easier. LBJ will be coming back soon.

[nzahir]

Team looked horrible tonight against a depleted Hawks team

Obviously we are depleted too, but felt like we should have won this with Luka playing, o well

When Lebron is back, whats the starting lineup?

AR, Smart, Luka, Lebron, Ayton
Gabe, Laravia, Vando, Rui, Hayes

or
AR, Luka, Bron, Rui, Ayton
Gabe, Smart, Laravia, Vando, Hayes

I prefer the 1st one I think

If we were to get a guy like Wiggins or Herb Jones (that feels like a pipe dream), then I would obviously start one of those

[ball_takes23]

Still early but Luka so far looks like the best player in the NBA...

It's a little later now and he looks like the 3rd-5th best player which is where he's been for a while and probably where he'll stay for the rest of his prime. Other than foulbaiting and dribbling he doesn't do a single thing on offense better than Jokic. And despite the huge box score numbers his impact numbers are still pretty mediocre, likely because he holds the ball for so long that other players like Reaves who need the ball in their hands are unable to get going while Luka is in the game.

Avg time of possession:

Luka: 8.7 minutes
Curry: 4.5 minutes
Jokic: 4.2 minutes

[Mavrelous]

Still early but Luka so far looks like the best player in the NBA...

It's a little later now and he looks like the 3rd-5th best player which is where he's been for a while and probably where he'll stay for the rest of his prime. Other than foulbaiting and dribbling he doesn't do a single thing on offense better than Jokic. And despite the huge box score numbers his impact numbers are still pretty mediocre, likely because he holds the ball for so long that other players like Reaves who need the ball in their hands are unable to get going while Luka is in the game.

Avg time of possession:

Luka: 8.7 minutes
Curry: 4.5 minutes
Jokic: 4.2 minutes

Avg time of possession for an on ball PG is higher than a center and a primarily off ball player.

Here is a list of things Luka does better than Jokic:
Kick out to 3 pt shooter, he's probably the best 3pt shot generator in history.
Run a fast break
Run the P&R as the ball handler, and driving to the basket.



Basically stuff you expect a historically great PG to be better at than historically great center. he is worse in stuff you expect also a PG to be worse than a center.
Luka's impact number have been elite whenever he had the roster to have impact, it's just that people confuse on/off with impact.

[Mavrelous]

Team looked horrible tonight against a depleted Hawks team

Obviously we are depleted too, but felt like we should have won this with Luka playing, o well

When Lebron is back, whats the starting lineup?

AR, Smart, Luka, Lebron, Ayton
Gabe, Laravia, Vando, Rui, Hayes

or
AR, Luka, Bron, Rui, Ayton
Gabe, Smart, Laravia, Vando, Hayes

I prefer the 1st one I think

If we were to get a guy like Wiggins or Herb Jones (that feels like a pipe dream), then I would obviously start one of those

Luka is prune to games where the most plausible explanation is he was out partying and is hung over, this was this kind of game, dreadful showing, which is disappointing given the pressure that's on him.

[Mos_Heat]

Like in the last year they are outperforming point differential. Hopefully when everyone is healthy they would look more consistently good. So far I'm not changing my 1st round exit expectation

[dcstanley]

Not to overreact but it's games like this that remind me just how deficient this team is of athleticism. I think I saw Laravia and Rui get beat on backcuts on three consecutive plays.

[homecourtloss]

Like in the last year they are outperforming point differential. Hopefully when everyone is healthy they would look more consistently good. So far I'm not changing my 1st round exit expectation

Yes, pretty much. Incredibly generous whistle, incredible and probably unsustainable shotmaking from midrange.

They’re doing ok basically on Luka/AR shotmaking (#1 FG% in the league), good playmaking from those two, and a generous whistle. Opponents are getting almost 11 more FGA a game (lakers are last in TOV%, 20th in OREB%, 15th in creating TOV, 19th in DREB%), but the Lakers are shooting 11 more FTs per game, which doesn’t seem sustainable.

This is mostly the same.



+ .7 NRtg. They’ve been unsustainably good in in close games (5-0 in games that within 5 points with 5 minutes left to go).

[Djoker]

They've looked good prior but last night's blowout loss to Atlanta was pretty bad considering they were missing Trae, Porzingis, Jalen Johnson, NAW, Kennard... As some of you guys said, the hot shooting is probably unsustainable. And guys missing so many games so early is kind of worrisome too. One wonders how many games together their top guys will even play.

[Caneman786]

That game was definitely a regression to the mean type of game for the Lakers.

[PistolPeteJR]

That game was definitely a regression to the mean type of game for the Lakers.

If you mean, a regression to the mean type of game for the Lakers without their 2nd and 3rd best players, perhaps.