The Lebron Thread | 2021 & Offseason

[xb3at band1tx]

I disagree. He needs to be smarter off-ball and get the ball in better spots. Fight for position and set up at the elbow or in the post instead of driving into a wall. Jumper is nice, but his primary focus needs to be getting as close to the restricted area as possible.

Giannis needs to start developing a face up game. There is no reason for him not to add that in his repoire. He should watch some old Robinson or Hakeem tape.

Yeah, that too. He doesn't even need a jumpshot if he's close enough. Just be like Shaq and use the one-handed push shot

Yeah, at least polish his face-up/post-game a bit more. We will see though, rn that wall defense is still the thing that keeps him from getting that next level.

[Mos_Heat]

That's the opportunity cost. Schroder souldn't be your first call

It wasn't. They tried to get Jrue

Again, it's not about specific players

[The Master]

Everything what's going on now may be great for Lakers, it puts additional pressure for other Eastern teams to get better no matter what: I don't think Sixers now will be reluctant to give Ben Simmons for Harden.

Irving-Harden-Durant trio would be really dangerous if everything turns out okay for them. Bucks are pretty decent on paper, but I feel they improved their roster to play upgraded version of a basketball they've played last two years, and I don't think that will be enough if Giannis doesn't get better.

[LikeABosh]

That's the opportunity cost. Schroder souldn't be your first call

It wasn't. They tried to get Jrue

Again, it's not about specific players

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

[MyUniBroDavis]

Lots going on. Bucks could end up looking real nice, although still missing a playmaker. Nets could have a **** load of talent.

Jrues a good playmaker, bucks are pretty scary ngl

Even though theyll choke before the finals lmfao

[Mos_Heat]

It wasn't. They tried to get Jrue

Again, it's not about specific players

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

[Dupp]

That's the opportunity cost. Schroder souldn't be your first call

We couldn't send out 3 1sts and 2 swaps for Jrue, so that was out

I would have loved Bogdan though, but not sure if Kuzma has more value than 2 years of DDV

Should we blow up 2021 FA plans now and go for 2022 (Cp3 ufa and Beal PO)

Who is left in 2021? Assuming Giannis, Jrue, Kawhi, and PG stay

Lowry
Dipo
Gobert
Derozan
Hayward
Conley

Many are maybes

Lowrys the one to go after and would fit in so well. Doubt he leaves raptors now though.

[Dupp]

Bucks are gonna be dangerous but I still think their title aspirations still hinges on Giannis getting a serviceable jumper

I disagree. He needs to be smarter off-ball and get the ball in better spots. Fight for position and set up at the elbow or in the post instead of driving into a wall. Jumper is nice, but his primary focus needs to be getting as close to the restricted area as possible.

100%. Bucks downfall is him having to create plays in the half court against good defenses. It just isnt gonna work. Like you said he needs to play off the ball more. He needs to play like AD.

[Dupp]

Everything what's going on now may be great for Lakers, it puts additional pressure for other Eastern teams to get better no matter what: I don't think Sixers now will be reluctant to give Ben Simmons for Harden.

Irving-Harden-Durant trio would be really dangerous if everything turns out okay for them. Bucks are pretty decent on paper, but I feel they improved their roster to play upgraded version of a basketball they've played last two years, and I don't think that will be enough if Giannis doesn't get better.

Nets would be way better with jrue, harden and kd. Adding kyrie to harden and kd is a weird dynamic.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Again, it's not about specific players

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

We couldnt have gotten any of these players

Green + a 28th rounder for schroder is a pretty good deal, potentially really good if schroder plays like he did last year. We might get a third team involved in it as well dont forget

Schroder is a legitimately good effecient scoring guard, with a solid cutting and catch and shoot game, and has some ability to run the pick and roll. Pretty solid defensively last year too.

[LikeABosh]

Again, it's not about specific players

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

Ok, I see what you're saying but I don't agree. Schroder was one of the more valuable players on the market. He wasn't going to be there forver. Given the Lakers' limited assets, I think it was smart to jump on him instead of waiting for someone better. Dinwiddie is going to cost more than Green/#28. Covington cost more Green/#28 (and he's not better than Schroder). Tucker could still be had for cheap and so could Hill.

But none of that really matters. You just don't like Schroder. I do, so we're obviously looking at it differently.

[dreamshake]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just not scared at all of Brooklyn even if they get Harden. I feel like people are imagining the Warriors when in reality I think they're more comparable to the '11 Heat that were running out guys like Bibby & Turiaf along with 2 of their big 3 having less-than-ideal fit. The Warriors had that crazy cap spike and Steph's stupidly cheap contract which gave them both crazy top-end talent AND depth.

Brooklyn would be paying their big 3 like $115M and have $10M tied up in DeAndre Jordan. So they have 2 guards with largely overlapping skillsets who suck at defense and KD coming off an achilles injury with washed-up DeAndre Jordan and what else? Where is the defense coming from? I just don't see it being a recipe for success in the playoffs.

[The Master]

Nets would be way better with jrue, harden and kd. Adding kyrie to harden and kd is a weird dynamic.

They would be great on offense until Kyrie gets mad because of his role, just too much talent, but their defense can be atrocious, 32yo Durant after torn achilles would be their best defender. But their level of talent would be undeniable.

[therealbig3]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just not scared at all of Brooklyn even if they get Harden. I feel like people are imagining the Warriors when in reality I think they're more comparable to the '11 Heat that were running out guys like Bibby & Turiaf along with 2 of their big 3 having less-than-ideal fit. The Warriors had that crazy cap spike and Steph's stupidly cheap contract which gave them both crazy top-end talent AND depth.

Brooklyn would be paying their big 3 like $115M and have $10M tied up in DeAndre Jordan. So they have 2 guards with largely overlapping skillsets who suck at defense and KD coming off an achilles injury with washed-up DeAndre Jordan and what else? Where is the defense coming from? I just don't see it being a recipe for success in the playoffs.

I mean, it's not like they had a lot of defense as it is. Jarrett Allen would be the only one they're shipping out that's a good defender.

They're just doubling down on what they have and will try to out-talent everyone. I'm not of the "championship or bust" mindset. If a team wins a ton of RS games and goes deep into the playoffs, that's a success. Most teams can't do that. And the fact that players like Kyrie, Durant, and Harden are interested in Brooklyn paves the way for stars down the line to look at Brooklyn as a legit free agent destination.

Never mind the fact that if they DO win a title by out-talenting everyone with the 2-3 year window that they have, there's no question they'll be major players in any sort of free agent market when they eventually get their cap space back again.

Brooklyn is building a winning culture right now, which is why they're attracting the big names while their cross-town rivals are an after thought this free agency. That's what getting players like Durant and Harden do for you, regardless of what they produce on the court...but talent usually wins out anyway, regardless of fit problems. The 2011 Heat still made the Finals pretty easily, and it took an epic chokejob for them to lose.

[Mos_Heat]

Bucks are gonna be dangerous but I still think their title aspirations still hinges on Giannis getting a serviceable jumper

I disagree. He needs to be smarter off-ball and get the ball in better spots. Fight for position and set up at the elbow or in the post instead of driving into a wall. Jumper is nice, but his primary focus needs to be getting as close to the restricted area as possible.

100%. Bucks downfall is him having to create plays in the half court against good defenses. It just isnt gonna work. Like you said he needs to play off the ball more. He needs to play like AD.

I would assume he's gonna play C in the crunch now

[dreamshake]

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

Ok, I see what you're saying but I don't agree. Schroder was one of the more valuable players on the market. He wasn't going to be there forver. Given the Lakers' limited assets, I think it was smart to jump on him instead of waiting for someone better. Dinwiddie is going to cost more than Green/#28. Covington cost more Green/#28 (and he's not better than Schroder). Tucker could still be had for cheap and so could Hill.

But none of that really matters. You just don't like Schroder. I do, so we're obviously looking at it differently.

Yeah, I'd honestly prefer Schroder to Dinwiddie. Better 3pt shooter, better defender. Dinwiddie maybe slightly better as a 6th man, but Schroder is a better fit alongside LeBron/AD. And I think he'll be the starter - not backup. And agree they were never gonna be able to afford RoCo. And I think they can still get Tucker, but you don't prioritize 35yo PJ Tucker over Schroder - at least I wouldn't.

[MyUniBroDavis]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'm just not scared at all of Brooklyn even if they get Harden. I feel like people are imagining the Warriors when in reality I think they're more comparable to the '11 Heat that were running out guys like Bibby & Turiaf along with 2 of their big 3 having less-than-ideal fit. The Warriors had that crazy cap spike and Steph's stupidly cheap contract which gave them both crazy top-end talent AND depth.

Brooklyn would be paying their big 3 like $115M and have $10M tied up in DeAndre Jordan. So they have 2 guards with largely overlapping skillsets who suck at defense and KD coming off an achilles injury with washed-up DeAndre Jordan and what else? Where is the defense coming from? I just don't see it being a recipe for success in the playoffs.

I mean, it's not like they had a lot of defense as it is. Jarrett Allen would be the only one they're shipping out that's a good defender.

They're just doubling down on what they have and will try to out-talent everyone. I'm not of the "championship or bust" mindset. If a team wins a ton of RS games and goes deep into the playoffs, that's a success. Most teams can't do that. And the fact that players like Kyrie, Durant, and Harden are interested in Brooklyn paves the way for stars down the line to look at Brooklyn as a legit free agent destination.

Never mind the fact that if they DO win a title by out-talenting everyone with the 2-3 year window that they have, there's no question they'll be major players in any sort of free agent market when they eventually get their cap space back again.

Brooklyn is building a winning culture right now, which is why they're attracting the big names while their cross-town rivals are an after thought this free agency. That's what getting players like Durant and Harden do for you, regardless of what they produce on the court...but talent usually wins out anyway, regardless of fit problems. The 2011 Heat still made the Finals pretty easily, and it took an epic chokejob for them to lose.

I agree with some of what your saying although i think the nets are gonna be so absurd on offense it wont matter, but if they get kyrie harden and durant together its def a championship or bust year. Itd be like not calling the 2011 heat season a failure or the clippers season a failure if they lost to us in the WCF

[Mos_Heat]

I don't understand your criticism then. I gave you an example that Schroder wasn't their first call

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

Ok, I see what you're saying but I don't agree. Schroder was one of the more valuable players on the market. He wasn't going to be there forver. Given the Lakers' limited assets, I think it was smart to jump on him instead of waiting for someone better. Dinwiddie is going to cost more than Green/#28. Covington cost more Green/#28 (and he's not better than Schroder). Tucker could still be had for cheap and so could Hill.

But none of that really matters. You just don't like Schroder. I do, so we're obviously looking at it differently.

I like Schroder as a bench scorer. But small guards like him aren't finishing games at later rounds. I guess, if you value him then it makes sense. But still timing is off for me

[MyUniBroDavis]

You can get a player like schroder any time you want. Now better players are on the market(Dinwedee, Tucker, Covington, or cheaper players like Hill) and you don't have assets, because you threw them away for backup PG

Ok, I see what you're saying but I don't agree. Schroder was one of the more valuable players on the market. He wasn't going to be there forver. Given the Lakers' limited assets, I think it was smart to jump on him instead of waiting for someone better. Dinwiddie is going to cost more than Green/#28. Covington cost more Green/#28 (and he's not better than Schroder). Tucker could still be had for cheap and so could Hill.

But none of that really matters. You just don't like Schroder. I do, so we're obviously looking at it differently.

Yeah, I'd honestly prefer Schroder to Dinwiddie. Better 3pt shooter, better defender. Dinwiddie maybe slightly better as a 6th man, but Schroder is a better fit alongside LeBron/AD. And I think he'll be the starter - not backup. And agree they were never gonna be able to afford RoCo. And I think they can still get Tucker, but you don't prioritize 35yo PJ Tucker over Schroder - at least I wouldn't.

Roco would prolly be the best we could get but theres no way we xould have gotten him, schroder is a better fit than dinwiddie and we wouldnt have gotten him for that, covington would have been insane for us but that wasnt gonna happen

The only thing is im not sure about how hes passing and playmaking is, if hes good in pick and roll with AD we kind of hit a steal

On small guards not finishing games, um, vanvleet?

Solid defensice players are solid defensive players, he'll get mismatched at times but hes a better defender than rondo in the type of situation youre worried about

[Dupp]

I disagree. He needs to be smarter off-ball and get the ball in better spots. Fight for position and set up at the elbow or in the post instead of driving into a wall. Jumper is nice, but his primary focus needs to be getting as close to the restricted area as possible.

100%. Bucks downfall is him having to create plays in the half court against good defenses. It just isnt gonna work. Like you said he needs to play off the ball more. He needs to play like AD.

I would assume he's gonna play C in the crunch now

Still gotta get him the ball in the right way. They look scary though.