How good would Lakers be if LeBron didn't sign with them?

C3H6N6O6 · Post #1 » by **C3H6N6O6** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 3:56 pm

Before LeBron signed with the Lakers no star free agent wanted to sign with them. Even players like LaMarcus Aldridge didn't sign with them.
He went there and then AD wanted to go there because of him.

Best case scenario would have been Lakers would be Clippers(PG+Kawhi) with worse role players.

Nuggets were the other team which LeBron considered because he has close ties with Mike Malone and Nuggets were already a 46 win team. Nuggets would have had to get rid of Barton and Harris to create cap space for LeBron.

Do you think PG+Kawhi Lakers would have defeated Nuggets with Murray, Jokic and LeBron?

Wallace_Wallace · Post #2 » by **Wallace_Wallace** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:17 pm

C3H6N6O6 wrote:Before LeBron signed with the Lakers no star free agent wanted to sign with them. Even players like LaMarcus Aldridge didn't sign with them.
He went there and then AD wanted to go there because of him.

Best case scenario would have been Lakers would be Clippers(PG+Kawhi) with worse role players.

Nuggets were the other team which LeBron considered because he has close ties with Mike Malone and Nuggets were already a 46 win team. Nuggets would have had to get rid of Barton and Harris to create cap space for LeBron.

Do you think PG+Kawhi Lakers would have defeated Nuggets with Murray, Jokic and LeBron?

The Lakers will be with Ball/Hart/Ingram/Randle and Walton as the head coach. Ingram is a beast and all, but would he take the Lakers to at least the 1st round? I don't think so.

Jokic and LeBron would be rather insane. The overall IQ and the passing would be off the charts. Can you imagine the Joker and the Batman join forces? Assuming Jamal Murray still turned into Jamal Murray of this year's playoffs and also with MPJ developing, dynasty going forward. I don't think any team in the NBA has a chance against that, even assuming the Warriors going back to prime form.

NoZoLakers · Post #3 » by **NoZoLakers** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:17 pm

I dont recall seeing any news bout Den having any shot at Lebron....did he even meet with Dens rep? and as far as LAL having worse supporting cast than LAC with Pg/Kawahi, how do we know that? What if Pg signs straight up in 2019 and they dont have to gut themselves like LAC to get PG? La couldve used Zo n fillers to trade for semi star to pair with a wing trio of Ingram/Pg/Kawahi

Liam_Gallagher · Post #4 » by **Liam_Gallagher** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:18 pm

They'd still have Luol Deng at SF.

Saint Lazarus · Post #5 » by **Saint Lazarus** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:19 pm

They would still be in the lottery.

Fortunately for the Lakers they’re in Los Angeles so everyone wants to play for them.

NoZoLakers · Post #6 » by **NoZoLakers** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:22 pm

Saint Lazarus wrote:They would still be in the lottery.

Fortunately for the Lakers they’re in Los Angeles so everyone wants to play for them.

Bos got Walker, not enough? :lol:

Ckay · Post #7 » by **Ckay** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:25 pm

This statement would have been true.

Liam_Gallagher · Post #8 » by **Liam_Gallagher** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:26 pm

Saint Lazarus wrote:They would still be in the lottery.

Fortunately for the Lakers they’re in Los Angeles so everyone wants to play for them.

The OP literally noted that nobody wanted to play with them for a while.

Edrees · Post #9 » by **Edrees** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:27 pm

About as good as Miami if Pat Riley never joined their organization.

Benedict_Boozer · Post #10 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:31 pm

C3H6N6O6 wrote:Before LeBron signed with the Lakers no star free agent wanted to sign with them. Even players like LaMarcus Aldridge didn't sign with them.
He went there and then AD wanted to go there because of him.

Best case scenario would have been Lakers would be Clippers(PG+Kawhi) with worse role players.

Nuggets were the other team which LeBron considered because he has close ties with Mike Malone and Nuggets were already a 46 win team. Nuggets would have had to get rid of Barton and Harris to create cap space for LeBron.

Do you think PG+Kawhi Lakers would have defeated Nuggets with Murray, Jokic and LeBron?

DEN with Lebron would be a really, really good fit. Great passing/IQ with him and Jokic, Murray can get his off ball and on ball, tons of young wings/depth, that team would be a title favorite IMO.

Lakers wouldn't even be in the playoffs because there is zero chance AD tries to go there without LBJ, maybe if they would have signed Kawhi instead it would attract him, but knowing the Klutch ties LBJ would be just as likely to have AD demand a trade to DEN and DEN has plenty of pieces to trade.

kobe_vs_jordan · Post #11 » by **kobe_vs_jordan** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:34 pm

Almost had Zion with Lebron, I would say we would be a bottom 10 team. Kawhi and PG13 might have been Lakers

gidget24 · Post #12 » by **gidget24** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:40 pm

So many dominos here
- Where does Lebron go, does he stay with the Cav's?
- Do the Lakers trade for AD instead of waiting for free agency
- Does Kawhi then go to the Lakers if there is no Lebron and he feels it is his team.

To many things that can change with that one major move. It is like wondering what would be if TMAC never left the Raptors after 3 seasons or if OKC never traded Harden.

iamworthy · Post #13 » by **iamworthy** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:50 pm

Lottery team waiting for an all-star to sign with us.

Saint Lazarus · Post #14 » by **Saint Lazarus** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:52 pm

Liam_Gallagher wrote:
Saint Lazarus wrote:They would still be in the lottery.

Fortunately for the Lakers they’re in Los Angeles so everyone wants to play for them.

The OP literally noted that nobody wanted to play with them for a while.

My point relates to reality, in which Lebron and Davis joined the Lakers. Not sure what issue you have with my post.

Lakers In 5 · Post #15 » by **Lakers In 5** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:53 pm

Close to being the Western equivalent of the Knicks.

Saint Lazarus · Post #16 » by **Saint Lazarus** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:54 pm

NoZoLakers wrote:
Saint Lazarus wrote:They would still be in the lottery.

Fortunately for the Lakers they’re in Los Angeles so everyone wants to play for them.

Bos got Walker, not enough?

If you’re gonna bait at least come up with a wittier response :lol:

levon · Post #17 » by **levon** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:58 pm

I think one of Kawhi and/or PG would have joined somehow, and they still would've traded kids someone else. Not nearly as good though. Lebron puts all-time pressure on an org. It's like those little rubber martians that grow when you add water.

elchengue20 · Post #18 » by **elchengue20** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 4:58 pm

Worse version of the Pelicans with Lonzo, Ingram, Hart but no Jrue Holiday and probably no Zion.

At this point they were going to be very close of being considered as the western Knicks.Lebron really saved that franchise.

LAKESHOW · Post #19 » by **LAKESHOW** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 5:19 pm

Your lookin at it the wrong way. This is how "THE PROCESS" is supposed to work, and be executed. Philly had Jimmy Buckets for example, and were extremely close...But they couldn't finish the process and even let Jimmy go. We started off with a process, gained the pieces, and cashed in the Chips. Result? Championship

Wigginstime · Post #20 » by **Wigginstime** » Wed Oct 7, 2020 5:22 pm

Kawhi was very vocal about wanting to play for the Lakers when he was on the Spurs until they got Lebron.

In theory you could argue the Lakers end up with the same roster only Leonard instead of Lebron. Given Lebron's age, a Leonard/Davis duo would have had a significantly longer peak.