The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[falcolombardi]

doesnt matter because he will carry himself as a superstar

Was this a parody of those delusional **** about Wade's level of play? LMAO

yes lol, i am sure they use the same logic with harden against bucks when talking how great dursnt carry job was....

[Dupp]

Green or Mills would be great but I imagine they’ll get paid more than Lakers can offer. Both have already won titles so I don’t see them chasing that ****, especially green.

[picko]

For what it’s worth, Russ seems unusually excited about this. Players usually don’t commit to any statements until the trade becomes official but he’s already plastered photoshopped pictures of himself in a Lakers jersey on his social media profiles.

A big indication of how happy he is might come with his introductory press conference. If he’s being an usual dick, that’s more of the same Russ but if he goes out of his way to be congenial, maybe it does mean a lot more to him.

Playing for the Lakers as an LA kid is something else though, Derozan was basically begging to find a way to make it happen as well.

I might be clutching onto straws but hope is eternal in August in the NBA fandom.

It makes sense. He hasn't been a title contender in five-years and this is arguably his last shot to do so while still playing at an All-Star level.

Now whether that enthusiasm is still there in January is another matter.

[falcolombardi]

enthusiasm is not the main worry, not even fit is (although is a close second)

the main worry is are and health, westbrook in the rockets was doing well for a long stretch but got injured before the playoffs

after 2017 he has been unable to sustain his best level of play over a full season and is limping by the playoffs, which is why i suspect part of his decline is low key physical/ not being able to stay in full health and play at full motor at the finish line

ruining his jumper (what happened to his free throws post 2017 with the rule change making him change hisbr routineis a study case )and reduced athletism are the other parts

[kayess]

Batum and the Warriors have mutual interest apparently?

What are the chances of the Lakers snapping him up on a minimum? (He might even be worth the MLE)

[LikeABosh]

Batum and the Warriors have mutual interest apparently?

What are the chances of the Lakers snapping him up on a minimum? (He might even be worth the MLE)

Definitely worth the tax payer MLE. Don't think his .400 3 pt shooting is gonna stick around, but he's a solid starter anyways imo

[Mos_Heat]

Melo, Dudley, Bradley, Iggy, Dwight, Mathews. That's just a lot of fried bodies. They have to get something for Schroder and use TMLE smartly.

[dcstanley]

Melo, Dudley, Bradley, Iggy, Dwight, Mathews. That's just a lot of fried bodies. They have to get something for Schroder and use TMLE smartly.

The only players on that list I would be comfortable with are Matthews and maybe Iggy and Dwight. I hope the Melo stuff doesn't materialize, certainly would prefer Gay over him.

[Slava]

Gay, Ariza and Matthews are some able bodied wings that could entertain minimum offers but I think both Gay and Ariza can get the tax payer MLE elsewhere. Otto Porter Jr. is an MLE candidate but his reliability issues scare me when the Lakers need to hit on every possible $ they spend. Bringing back THT & Caruso does add some youth and reliability but neither is a floor spacer. Redick is another MLE candidate but he started experiencing nerve issues last season and that's usually the fat lady singing for any athlete's career and the Lakers have had first hand experience of it with Steve Nash.

Mills would be a solid addition and if he can be signed, I'd think they start him and Westbrook together in the backcourt.

[dcstanley]

I'd be fine with any of Batum, Mills or Porter for the MLE. Porter is a risk but he's still only 28 with shooting ability and size. He would be my choice if there were some guarantees about his health. Westbrook/Mills backcourt might be a little too small but the Lakers are gonna need that level of a shooter.

[Mos_Heat]

Love Patty, but they need a wing badly. That's a top priority

[dcstanley]

https://old.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/ow13f0/fischer_victor_oladipo_could_possibly_be_a_1_year/
Completely missed this yesterday. Is he even gonna be ready for the start of the season? I guess it could be a bargain if he's healthy but he doesn't appear to be.

[nzahir]

So many rumors and smokescreens idk what is real

We better not **** lose AC just to have gotten Russ

Some rumors of AC getting mle offers worry me. We better not let him leave for 10m

I don’t trust Rob or Jeanie to make the right moves sadly

Open up your **** wallet Jeanie and pay up

We should consider sign and trade for THT for a guy who can shoot

But the lakers love “potential”, just like Kuzma

[Mos_Heat]

It's sounds like the Lakers don't wanna go deep into the tax, so Caruso might be out. Their roster gonna look a lot like 2011 Heat, but only one of the big 3 is still in his prime

[GSP]

Looks like Opj is leaning towards Brooklyn.....

Seems like theyre on board trading Deandre too thats worrying. He was just 10 mill rotting on the bench last year.

[nzahir]

Looks like Opj is leaning towards Brooklyn.....

Seems like theyre on board trading Deandre too thats worrying. He was just 10 mill rotting on the bench last year.

Yup, both suck for us

But OPJ’s health concerns are real

Kyrie is very injury prone

It was a miracle KD or Blake didn’t get hurt

Hardens lack of conditioning may also be catching up to him

I want Batum for the mle if we can

Gay for the min

I think mle for Gay may be too much, but who knows

Mills is nice, but too small and I want AC back

I assume THT is back, but I would love to move him for a better fit

[LikeABosh]

Gay is definitely worth the MLE. That's a sick defensive front court with him, LeBron, and AD

Not as good of a shooter as Porter though

[nzahir]

Gay is definitely worth the MLE. That's a sick defensive front court with him, LeBron, and AD

Not as good of a shooter as Porter though

Is he though?

35 this month

His LEBRON AND RPM are negatives

Positive In RAPTOR though

I rather have Batum, but who knows

Maybe him and someone split the mle for like 500k or so bonus from the vet min?

I still see Buddy deal happening, but let’s see tonight

If we open up the wallet we are good

Russ, Hield, Bron, Gay, AD
AC, THT, Wes?, Vet 3/4? Gasol
Rookies, Vet guard, Vet Wing, Dwight/McGee

Dudley as an assistant

I would move THT if needed, not the best fit

[trickshot]

Looks like Opj is leaning towards Brooklyn.....

Seems like theyre on board trading Deandre too thats worrying. He was just 10 mill rotting on the bench last year.

Yup, both suck for us

But OPJ’s health concerns are real

Kyrie is very injury prone

It was a miracle KD or Blake didn’t get hurt

Hardens lack of conditioning may also be catching up to him

I want Batum for the mle if we can

Gay for the min

I think mle for Gay may be too much, but who knows

Mills is nice, but too small and I want AC back

I assume THT is back, but I would love to move him for a better fit

You're my dude but I still can't get my head around you wanting to keep Caruso over THT. They are apples and oranges but from an asset point THT doesn't just have a higher talent ceiling, he has a higher trade ceiling, When the next star is available the other team will be asking for THT and picks not Caruso and picks. Westbrook also just made Caruso surplus. This is where I can sympathise because a lot of winning players will be getting shifted away from their proven winning roles so he can run offense that might not even be that efficient or impactful.

[Mos_Heat]

You're my dude but I still can't get my head around you wanting to keep Caruso over THT. They are apples and oranges but from an asset point THT doesn't just have a higher talent ceiling, he has a higher trade ceiling, When the next star is available the other team will be asking for THT and picks not Caruso and picks. Westbrook also just made Caruso surplus. This is where I can sympathise because a lot of winning players will be getting shifted away from their proven winning roles so he can run offense that might not even be that efficient or impactful.

THT and 1 unprotected pick won't net you a superstar. They will have another pick by the end of the year, but still THT , '27 and '29 is a package for a high end role player(depends on THT's perfomance and contract), not even a star