The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[trickshot]

If they don't make a move to add two good shooters to the starting lineup this is easily a bottom 10 offensive team. What a mind numbingly stupid trade.

It's even more incredible to see all of the clueless casual fans on the general board whining about how unfair this trade is and this being another super team.

Another big name that wont be as good b/c of poor fit and age

But will he be better than 2013 wade, probably

Russ is still really good at getting to the basket and finding guys, especially bigs

Good rebounder, which we may need if AD is at the 5

He is an ok finisher, but not great

He is an awful shooter though, low IQ, and a bad/lazy/low iq defender

I am so pissed off, but I will refrain full judgement until after a week or 2

Depends who we sign and what can we get for Dennis in a sign and trade

It's okay to state your projections. There's a reason Westbrook's teams keep getting dissolved despite having loaded co-stars everywhere he has been. After 2012 the biggest achievement of his playoff career remains going up 3-1 on the Warriors then blowing it. Wizards only had him 1 year and it sounds they prefer to pair Beal with Dimwiddie.

[letskissbro]

You guys better prepare yourselves for the Melo bomb in a few days too

Westbrook
THT
Melo
LeBron
AD

starting lineup incoming

[LikeABosh]

Honestly who’s gonna shoot the ball?

I don't like the trade either, but you're asking this question with like 4 guys on the roster. Let's see what else they put together

[\quote]


That’s it though, four guys on the roster with 3 massive contracts. Buddy is not only a better fit but makes like half the money right?

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

[Bergmaniac]

Absolutely horrible trade for the Lakers, I just don't understand how they ended up giving away a first round pick and KCP to get one of the worst contracts in the league. And I say this as a huge Westbrook fan.

[TheGOATRises007]

I don't get how NBA GMs make trades like this.

Westbrook is one of the worst players to fit next to Lebron.

[thebigbird]

I am absolutely disgusted. Pelinka is the absolute worst GM in the league. Hed be looked at like the clown he is if LeBron hadnt decided to come to LA and gotten AD to join.

[McBubbles]

What in the god damn phuck is going on.

[Dupp]

I don't like the trade either, but you're asking this question with like 4 guys on the roster. Let's see what else they put together

[\quote]


That’s it though, four guys on the roster with 3 massive contracts. Buddy is not only a better fit but makes like half the money right?

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

Isn’t buddy and kcp way better than Westbrook though? Both better or way better shooters and kcp can defend.

I think buddy is better than Westbrook but being able to keep kcp as well? Rough

[trickshot]

I don't like the trade either, but you're asking this question with like 4 guys on the roster. Let's see what else they put together

[\quote]


That’s it though, four guys on the roster with 3 massive contracts. Buddy is not only a better fit but makes like half the money right?

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

I get you, although you also want to avoid a Cavs situation where the contracts are too big to find a buyer if things don't work out. This trade has no eject button.

[LikeABosh]

I don't like the trade either, but you're asking this question with like 4 guys on the roster. Let's see what else they put together

[\quote]


That’s it though, four guys on the roster with 3 massive contracts. Buddy is not only a better fit but makes like half the money right?

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

Isn’t buddy and kcp way better than Westbrook though? Both better or way better shooters and kcp can defend.

I think buddy is better than Westbrook but being able to keep kcp as well? Rough

I think we're arguing two different things here. I obviously prefer Hield/KCP over just Westbrook but the money isn't a concern. $18 million over the cap vs $11 million over the cap....you're not gonna get free agents with cap space in either scenario

[LikeABosh]

I don't like the trade either, but you're asking this question with like 4 guys on the roster. Let's see what else they put together

[\quote]


That’s it though, four guys on the roster with 3 massive contracts. Buddy is not only a better fit but makes like half the money right?

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

I get you, although you also want to avoid a Cavs situation where the contracts are too big to find a buyer if things don't work out. This trade has no eject button.

A fair concern, but I used to think he was untradeable 3 seasons ago. Now he's been traded every off season since and the player receiving him sent a pick out. He is expiring now too so we'll see

[Dupp]

They were already over the cap. The extra $7 million difference (by keeping KCP too) is irrelevant unless you're concerned about the tax bill

Isn’t buddy and kcp way better than Westbrook though? Both better or way better shooters and kcp can defend.

I think buddy is better than Westbrook but being able to keep kcp as well? Rough

I think we're arguing two different things here. I obviously prefer Hield/KCP over just Westbrook but the money isn't a concern. $18 million over the cap vs $11 million over the cap....you're not gonna get free agents with cap space in either scenario

I just brought up the money because it just gives them more flexibility to make moves. I.e keep kcp. Now they’re gonna need more minimum players without a shooter in sight.

[McBubbles]

Casual reminder that Westbrook has not shot above 50% TS in the past 4 post seasons. Not shot above 47% TS in the past 3.

God help us.

[GSP]

Casual reminder that Westbrook has not shot above 50% TS in the past 4 post seasons. Not shot above 47% TS in the past 3.

God help us.

Hes been horrible in the playoffs after Kd left him. Its worrying that even Hardens gravity and playmaking couldnt help him be efficient. And they went all in on micro ball with no bigs too so the floor was completely spread out for him. Washington was one of of the most spaced out teams in the league too

His defense will be the biggest thing to monitor. He was Dpoy in college. Frank will prolly help him play good defense at least

[thebigbird]

I still cannot for the life of me figure out WTF Pelinka was thinking. The Lakers are going to have the worst spacing in the league and LeBron is going to waste the last few years of his career. I guess that’s what he’s going to get for trusting the Lakers organization to know what they’re doing. They’re an incompetent organization that gets by on their location. He should’ve just stayed in Cleveland. At least Gilbert got him shooters.

[trickshot]

Casual reminder that Westbrook has not shot above 50% TS in the past 4 post seasons. Not shot above 47% TS in the past 3.

God help us.

and this is playing beside All Nba MVP candidates throughout his playoff career. You also can't make him efficient because he isn't a play finisher anywhere on the floor. One of the reasons his team ceilings have been capped, he doesn't become better with space.

[TheGOATRises007]

I still cannot for the life of me figure out WTF Pelinka was thinking. The Lakers are going to have the worst spacing in the league and LeBron is going to waste the last few years of his career. I guess that’s what he’s going to get for trusting the Lakers organization to know what they’re doing. They’re an incompetent organization that gets by on their location. He should’ve just stayed in Cleveland. At least Gilbert got him shooters.

He'd have 1 less ring, so the move has still been successful.

But there's no defending this trade.

Some Laker fans are fooling themselves much like Rocket fans did and they fully optimized their roster to fit Westbrook that season.

And Westbrook was still horrific in the playoffs and took more shots than Harden vs the Lakers iirc despite Harden being way more efficient.

[Fadeaway_J]

I still cannot for the life of me figure out WTF Pelinka was thinking. The Lakers are going to have the worst spacing in the league and LeBron is going to waste the last few years of his career. I guess that’s what he’s going to get for trusting the Lakers organization to know what they’re doing. They’re an incompetent organization that gets by on their location. He should’ve just stayed in Cleveland. At least Gilbert got him shooters.

He'd have 1 less ring, so the move has still been successful.

But there's no defending this trade.

Some Laker fans are fooling themselves much like Rocket fans did and they fully optimized their roster to fit Westbrook that season.

And Westbrook was still horrific in the playoffs and took more shots than Harden vs the Lakers iirc despite Harden being way more efficient.

Amazing what a lagging indicator the reputation of being a "star" is in the NBA.

[thebigbird]

I still cannot for the life of me figure out WTF Pelinka was thinking. The Lakers are going to have the worst spacing in the league and LeBron is going to waste the last few years of his career. I guess that’s what he’s going to get for trusting the Lakers organization to know what they’re doing. They’re an incompetent organization that gets by on their location. He should’ve just stayed in Cleveland. At least Gilbert got him shooters.

He'd have 1 less ring, so the move has still been successful.

But there's no defending this trade.

Some Laker fans are fooling themselves much like Rocket fans did and they fully optimized their roster to fit Westbrook that season.

And Westbrook was still horrific in the playoffs and took more shots than Harden vs the Lakers iirc despite Harden being way more efficient.

That’s probably true, just sucks that after such a disappointing finish to this past season the offseason is even worse. It will always boggle my mind how GMs can make trades that the average fan can see are terrible. Three rotation players and a first round pick for a guy whose biggest weaknesses is the thing LA most needed to improve. If a Hield trade really was on the table and Pelinka picked this instead… just WTF

[Fadeaway_J]

I still cannot for the life of me figure out WTF Pelinka was thinking. The Lakers are going to have the worst spacing in the league and LeBron is going to waste the last few years of his career. I guess that’s what he’s going to get for trusting the Lakers organization to know what they’re doing. They’re an incompetent organization that gets by on their location. He should’ve just stayed in Cleveland. At least Gilbert got him shooters.

He'd have 1 less ring, so the move has still been successful.

But there's no defending this trade.

Some Laker fans are fooling themselves much like Rocket fans did and they fully optimized their roster to fit Westbrook that season.

And Westbrook was still horrific in the playoffs and took more shots than Harden vs the Lakers iirc despite Harden being way more efficient.

That’s probably true, just sucks that after such a disappointing finish to this past season the offseason is even worse. It will always boggle my mind how GMs can make trades that the average fan can see are terrible. Three rotation players and a first round pick for a guy whose biggest weaknesses is the thing LA most needed to improve. If a Hield trade really was on the table and Pelinka picked this instead… just WTF

The 2020 roster construction (which wasn't incredible but at least seemed competent and coherent) seems more and more like a fluke in hindsight.

It seems like the overarching plan remains to smush as many star names together as possible and see what happens. Fortunately, LeBron and AD happened to be a GOAT-level star pairing in terms of both talent and fit.