The Lebron Thread | 2021 & Offseason

[LikeABosh]

Also, what if kcp gets annoyed they’re trying to trade him and they end up either neither guy?

I'm not sure I've seen anything that says the Lakers are trying to trade him. Only tweets speculating about what's possible

I feel like the Lakers are trying to figure out a way to keep KCP and get Bogi. Otherwise, I don't understand the hold-up. We know Atlanta has the money and wants Bogi, so why hasn't he signed the offer sheet?

[tone wone]

Lou Williams worked magic with Harrell on the pick and roll over the last few years so imagine that action with Lebron now. He was exposed defensively in the Denver series and I’m gonna have to hold my nose to root for him after the Luka fiasco, but at this contract I can’t complain. The scoring punch he will bring off the bench, his energy and fire are all welcome additions. And the fact that this hurts the Clippers is a bonus...

They are having a great offseason. Hope they can land Gasol now for some beef.

They're just gonna switch it just like they did with Brons pnr with Love and AD. I think Schroder pnr with Bron could be money tho

Yep. That's what happens when your ball-handler (Lebron) isn't a pullup threat. Teams just switch and flood paint if you try dump the ball into the post. Now if LA had Cleveland's shooting this would be a lot harder to do cause AD is a elite finisher while Love was a pitiful one.

The Harrell signing is a Luxury signing for a team that still can't shoot. I just don't like offense-only bigs unless they're actual stars or shoot 3's. I hope it doesn't cost them KCP. If it does, I'll go from being mildly annoyed to flat out not liking the signing on any level.

A lot of roster churn regardless . Could be spending the first few weeks out of sorts incorporating a lot new faces...with a quick a turnaround, continuity is supposed to be a champions advantage..

[homecourtloss]

What is the Lakers best defensive lineup if the Bogdan deal goes through?

Caruso
Matthews
Bogdan? Vet min?
Lebron
AD

They would have a lot offensive versatility but would be limited defensively. I don't think any opposing defense would be able to stop them though.

That’s a lineup of five “+” defenders playing 5 out on offense...

[tone wone]

KCP is a fine defender but I thought it was clear to everyone here that the Lakers defense is more about the scheme than about individual guys. I don't mind the bogdan deal although they still need to get a replacement defender for dwight.

You still need guys to play in that scheme. Bradley, Green and KCP were pretty key to that during the regular season and playoffs.

Scheme is great but you still need talented guys.

Right, the Lakers assembled a really talented defensive roster. Full of smart, heady defenders who could adjust on the fly and complimented one another really well. Rondo was the only "bad" defender in their rotation. They've already lost their best post defender in Dwight.

[homecourtloss]

KCP is a fine defender but I thought it was clear to everyone here that the Lakers defense is more about the scheme than about individual guys. I don't mind the bogdan deal although they still need to get a replacement defender for dwight.

If by the scheme you mean do not play bad defenders, then I agree

Rondo and Bradley were net-negative defenders for years by the time they touched down in LA. Hell half the guys the Lakers got last year were castaways that nobody else in the league wanted.

Putting them in Vogel's system with a bought-in LeBron and Davis made them seem so much better than they are.

I just think running it back would've been a mistake, the core was legit getting old. They still need to fill out holes for sure but I can't fault Rob for getting younger and building up to something with a much more balanced attack

League will see this next year. Rondo was garbage defensively for two full years and was a negative defender in the playoffs, which was masked by perhaps fluky Rondo 3pt shooting and AD making every midrange shot though Rondo did do a good job running offense. That was WITH Rondo trying on defense. Watch what happens next year on a no-defense team.

Bradley had turned into a negative defender before last year with people being fooled by his ball pressure and pretty good pick and roll defense. In any case, the Lakers ran roughshod through the playoffs in bubble conditions without him while going up against Lillard, Harden, Murray, and the Heat’s shooters.

Howard...thought that was sizable loss. If they replaced him with a Gasol or Baynes, then I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d prefer a defensive wing and Gasol over Trez, but if they can lock down one of these things, I still like their chances.

[Dupp]

What’s going on with Baynes? Dude was having. great year before he got hurt. Imagine there’s money out there for him

[MyUniBroDavis]

You have to be at least very good on defense if you wanna win, tho. In a vacuum, yes these players are probably better. But LA lost a lot of versatility. And with KCP and Morris back they will be above the apron(can't sign vet mins or recieve additional salary in a trade).

Outside of harrell, matthews is a better man defender than green which is more important if we are talking about versatility, and schroder is a far better one than rondo

I personally think that playff Rondo is a better defender than Schroder

Matthews is better man defender, but he can't guard Luka, Kawhi or KD. He's worse as a team defender, so I'm not so sure they are better on the wing.

Harrell is a huge downgrade from Dwight. I just don't get why would they invest so much resources into their own version of Lou/Harrell

Id say rondo is a better team defender, same with thing with matthews

I get the idea that team D > individual D but its a situational thing. Atm we need wing defenders and matthews fills that role pretty well right now, and hes not horrible as a team defender either, solid enough

Rondo was really bad man to man even in the playoffs but was really good in zone defenses because of iq, but i think schroders actually a good man to man defender so i think it does offset it

[MyUniBroDavis]

If by the scheme you mean do not play bad defenders, then I agree

Rondo and Bradley were net-negative defenders for years by the time they touched down in LA. Hell half the guys the Lakers got last year were castaways that nobody else in the league wanted.

Putting them in Vogel's system with a bought-in LeBron and Davis made them seem so much better than they are.

I just think running it back would've been a mistake, the core was legit getting old. They still need to fill out holes for sure but I can't fault Rob for getting younger and building up to something with a much more balanced attack

League will see this next year. Rondo was garbage defensively for two full years and was a negative defender in the playoffs, which was masked by perhaps fluky Rondo 3pt shooting and AD making every midrange shot though Rondo did do a good job running offense. That was WITH Rondo trying on defense. Watch what happens next year on a no-defense team.

Bradley had turned into a negative defender before last year with people being fooled by his ball pressure and pretty good pick and roll defense. In any case, the Lakers ran roughshod through the playoffs in bubble conditions without him while going up against Lillard, Harden, Murray, and the Heat’s shooters.

Howard...thought that was sizable loss. If they replaced him with a Gasol or Baynes, then I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d prefer a defensive wing and Gasol over Trez, but if they can lock down one of these things, I still like their chances.

Rondos a good defender under specific circumstances, but he has glaring weaknesses still

Id say bradleys a good defender though, he was kinda hobbled other years. Hes not better than caruso on that end but he does the right things and is good at pressuring ball handlers and fighting through screens, but hes not gonna act guard wings i feel

I still say we improved overall, depending on who we get next we might have gotten the biggest boost in the league other than maybe the bucks, for contenders in terms of signings

[A_Biased_Fan]

Thank you Rondo for choosing the Hawks over the Flippers!

[xb3at band1tx]

THE POPE IS BACK!

[LikeABosh]

THE POPE IS BACK!

[LikeABosh]

Just need another vet big

[Mos_Heat]

3/40 for KCP. Starting salary should be somewhere around 12m, which allows them to stay under the apron. Might be their best move so far

[LikeABosh]

So about...$7 million away from the apron I think. Re-signing Kief with a bit of a raise is possible. But obviously the last few minimums would have to be the cheap kind of minimums (can't do three 10 year vet contracts for instance)

[Heej]

If Rob Pelinka actually read the room right on the Harrell deal he could very well be the best GM LeBron's worked under. Pat still got it for now, but Miami made some seriously questionable decisions throughout his time there.

[Fadeaway_J]

Good to get KCP out of the way.

Gasol would be a nice get if you could promise me he wasn't washed - but that's a big if.

[xb3at band1tx]

KCP 3/40 is solid considering Joe Harris is making 4/75

[Mos_Heat]

If Rob Pelinka actually read the room right on the Harrell deal he could very well be the best GM LeBron's worked under. Pat still got it for now, but Miami made some seriously questionable decisions throughout his time there.

Pat was super lazy that time. Especially in the 4th year

[MisterHibachi]

If Rob Pelinka actually read the room right on the Harrell deal he could very well be the best GM LeBron's worked under. Pat still got it for now, but Miami made some seriously questionable decisions throughout his time there.

The willingness to take risks, inject productive young players, and revamp so much of the roster after a title already sets him apart from all the other LeBron GMs. We'll see after this season whether that's in a good or bad way.

[Mos_Heat]

Giles and Craig are young vets. Would cost 3.3m combined