The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[picko]

Say the Lakers get to the Finals and face the Bucks - Can they actually guard the Giannis we saw in the Finals? LeBron stopped him cold on a few possessions in that regular season game, and not sure about AD in the post. Probably much better than the Suns at least, right?

Personnel wise the Lakers are well designed to slow Giannis down and make him work very hard. A fit Davis would guard Giannis as well as anyone.

[LikeABosh]

Say the Lakers get to the Finals and face the Bucks - Can they actually guard the Giannis we saw in the Finals? LeBron stopped him cold on a few possessions in that regular season game, and not sure about AD in the post. Probably much better than the Suns at least, right?

Personnel wise the Lakers are well designed to slow Giannis down and make him work very hard. A fit Davis would guard Giannis as well as anyone.

I imagine Vogel would have AD guard Giannis and if he's having trouble, they'd start sending doubles with whoever is on Lopez, Tucker, and maybe even Holiday. Those 3 could not hit anything during the playoffs and although I don't expect a similar performance from Holiday again, Tucker and Lopez in particular don't seem to be quality catch and shoot 3 guys. Tucker is getting old and even at Lopez's best, he was still below average at them.

But like the Lakers and AD, Giannis at the 5 is the foundation of their best lineups. If they can find a replacement for Portis, then it will be much harder to double Giannis when they go "small"

I'm trying to think if I even want the Lakers and Bucks to meet in the Finals. I probably would hate every second of it

[BobbyPortisFan]

Say the Lakers get to the Finals and face the Bucks - Can they actually guard the Giannis we saw in the Finals? LeBron stopped him cold on a few possessions in that regular season game, and not sure about AD in the post. Probably much better than the Suns at least, right?

They have a better version of bam in davis, the person who stopped him in 2019(gasol), lebron who was playing elite defense before getting injured, ans strong guard defenders in kcp and matthews. Giannis replicating his production vs the suns vs the lakers would take him ascending to shaq level offense

[trickshot]

Say the Lakers get to the Finals and face the Bucks - Can they actually guard the Giannis we saw in the Finals? LeBron stopped him cold on a few possessions in that regular season game, and not sure about AD in the post. Probably much better than the Suns at least, right?

In their december game where Giannis made 5 3s AD defended him well, however when next they met Giannis seemed to have a breakthrough and realised he could outmuscle AD. Had a quick 10 points on 5/5fgs in the first 5 and Lakers had to take AD off. He was on his way to getting bodied. Look up the field goals attempted or even highlights for anyone wondering, the game before the lockdown.

edit actually took another look, Might have exaggerated a bit but he mowed AD quite a couple so coaching went in a different direction and tried others.

[mademan]

Giannis going off in the finals was a function of a poor defensive strategy by the Suns. Everybody thats not guarding Middleton should have a foot in the paint. Bucks dont have anywhere near good enough shooting to make teams pay for packing the paint. It's what made the Nets look like a competent defensive team against them

[Greyhound]

From what I remember Giannis was too much for AD in individual coverage. It looks like a good defensive match up on paper, but it has not been in reality.

The Lakers had the most success against Giannis (defensively) when having LeBron defend him, with AD on Middleton and their second big shading over to contest him at the basket.

[nzahir]

From what I remember Giannis was too much for AD in individual coverage. It looks like a good defensive match up on paper, but it has not been in reality.

The Lakers had the most success against Giannis (defensively) when having LeBron defend him, with AD on Middleton and their second big shading over to contest him at the basket.

Yup, Giannis is too physical for AD 1 on 1

Need Lebron and a big to help

Gasol and Bron should do well vs Giannis

If BKN is healthy, we will have a tougher time with them, mostly because of KD

[kayess]

From what I remember Giannis was too much for AD in individual coverage. It looks like a good defensive match up on paper, but it has not been in reality.

The Lakers had the most success against Giannis (defensively) when having LeBron defend him, with AD on Middleton and their second big shading over to contest him at the basket.

Yup, Giannis is too physical for AD 1 on 1

Need Lebron and a big to help

Gasol and Bron should do well vs Giannis

If BKN is healthy, we will have a tougher time with them, mostly because of KD

I remember the 1v1 possessions with LeBron in the post but idk if LeBron can do that 2 years later (wow it'll have been that long if they do meet in the Finals)

Historically, Year 4 of the LeBron cycle's been when he's at his best offensively (2014, 2018), and when he's had the best jumper. Let's see if he keeps that up with the injuries starting to add up and father time nipping at his heels. I still think a ton of the issues from last year were due to the short layoff so hopefully next year's going to be much better (and hopefully the roster's better oh god no Westbrick please)

[nzahir]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

[LikeABosh]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

Harrell only has value if he opts in for the trade to go through so it's basically Kuzma/#22. Good deal imo.

Losing KCP is not ideal, but I do think it makes the Lakers better. If you can add OPJ then great. You have a small ball lineup even if no other moves are made (assuming Caruso is re-signed)

[nzahir]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

Harrell only has value if he opts in for the trade to go through so it's basically Kuzma/#22. Good deal imo.

Losing KCP is not ideal, but I do think it makes the Lakers better. If you can add OPJ then great. You have a small ball lineup even if no other moves are made (assuming Caruso is re-signed)

Trez must opt in to be moved

That was the old CBA that allowed that (if it did even)

Losing kcp would hurt, good as a chaser and even off ball d

Good open 3 point shooter too

OPJ is likely going to get more, but who knows

Maybe he does a 1+1 (po) to prove himself and contends and goes for the money next year

Batum or Rudy Gay are realistic

Losing hope on Lowry

[LikeABosh]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

Harrell only has value if he opts in for the trade to go through so it's basically Kuzma/#22. Good deal imo.

Losing KCP is not ideal, but I do think it makes the Lakers better. If you can add OPJ then great. You have a small ball lineup even if no other moves are made (assuming Caruso is re-signed)

Trez must opt in to be moved

That was the old CBA that allowed that (if it did even)

Right, that's what I'm saying. Either he opts out and is gone or he opts in and you trade him for what I would imagine isn't a lot. In the case of the Hield trade, I think they only mentioned Harrell as salary filler

[Dupp]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

How’s that steep? Pope, trez and kuzma were all average at best last season. I’d say that’s a steal.


And he’s pope is a lot better than kuz.

[Mos_Heat]

I would rather have KCP than Hield

[MisterHibachi]

With Kuz gone, Lakers would have basically no non-LeBron wing defenders, other than Wes if he comes back. Was really hoping the Buddy trade could be expanded to include Barnes, but there have been no rumors on that so that hope seems dead.

I would not include KCP in any Buddy deal. Lakers need to add shooting, not replace it. And KCP's defense is desperately needed, even if he can't guard bigger wings. He did a great job on Booker this year until he got injured, and he was the team's third best player in the title run last year. And he's younger than Buddy too, so you're not getting any younger or setting yourself up for a post LeBron future.

Only way I would do anything beyond Kuz/pick is if the Kings include Barnes. Lakers need a big wing defender.

[PistolPeteJR]

Say the Lakers get to the Finals and face the Bucks - Can they actually guard the Giannis we saw in the Finals? LeBron stopped him cold on a few possessions in that regular season game, and not sure about AD in the post. Probably much better than the Suns at least, right?

They'd definitely defend him better than the Suns did. The Suns didn't have any big wings and were limited to just Ayton as a big.

[PistolPeteJR]

I really don't know what to expect from the Lakers FO this year. They need shooters, wings, and need to replace Dennis.
They're addressing the shooter concern right now (though trading KCP in this deal would render it non-sensical), but they've got a lot of work to do without having many assets or cap room.

They're gonna need to work some real magic and hope for some real luck when it comes to FAs wanting to come/take paycuts.

[nzahir]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

How’s that steep? Pope, trez and kuzma were all average at best last season. I’d say that’s a steal.


And he’s pope is a lot better than kuz.

It’s still 2 rotation guys and a 1st

Hield is not a great defender either

Trading kcp would be dumb, we need to add more shooters, not replace 1

Hope we can sign Batum with the mle

Not sure what pg we can get to replace Dennis

Dennis, THT?, 2nds for ??

[trickshot]

I would rather have KCP than Hield

No brainer for me, unless the coach is getting fired, KCP won't get benched by gameplanning. Seen enough of Vogel to know he'd lose a series before playing a bad defender. I hear D'antoni is looking for work.

[Mos_Heat]

Looks like we’re closing in on Hield

Kuzma/pope, Trez and our 1st...

Kinda steep

We better be getting back 39 at a minimum

I rather keep Pope over Kuzma

2 questions

1) You guys rather have Kuzma or Pope?

2) You guys good with getting Hield, bringing back Dennis and using the smaller mle for a wing? (Batum, Gay, OPJ? Etc?)

Dennis, Hield, Bron, AD, Gasol
AC, Pope, THT, Mle Wing, Rim running vet C (Dwight/McGee, etc?)

Wes for the min?

Maybe trade Dennis in the season if we can?

How’s that steep? Pope, trez and kuzma were all average at best last season. I’d say that’s a steal.


And he’s pope is a lot better than kuz.

It’s still 2 rotation guys and a 1st

The fact that no one seems interested in Hield other than the Lakers is the answer, why any combination of KCP and 22nd is a steep price