The LeBron Thread 2021 Off-Season Edition

[nzahir]

Sounding like AD wont start at the 5, but he will play the 5 with more 2nd units and close out the games

Bjelica or a stretch 4/5 would have been nice (Milsap?), but we can also try to get Gasol to shoot those open 3s more often

Russ, Bazemore, Bron, AD, Gasol
Nunn, Monk/Wayne, THT, Ariza/Melo, Dwight

Lot of depth, but not clear who is better than who or who will be used

sounds a lot like last season which is not a good thingh

the theorically improved spacing is cool, but otherwise it seems lots of so-so talent that doesnt move the needle much and/or tries to do more than their role should be (harrdl and schroeder vs Carmelo or nunn)

and on top of it the best dirty work (caruso) or 3 and D (kcp) left

i sound like a doomer but i dont like this team composition

I understand your concerns since I am also a doomer here a good amount of times

I also rather have 8-9 really solid guys who are the clear rotation guys than 4-5 of those guys and tons of other "meh" guys competing

KCP and AC were a very underrated part of this defense and we haven't replaced their dirty work. Maybe Russ, but I don't think he fixes defensive mistakes like those 2

Russ was a positive though last year on D and he can still be very good when he is engaged and not ball watching/lazy

I do like that we at least have shooting and guys like Nunn, Melo and Monk aren't 1 dimensional guys who can just shoot wide open shots

But how much can you play bad defensive guys in real playoff moments vs tough teams?

Still hoping Rob has 1 or 2 more tricks up his sleeve

Iggy? Not a great shooter, but can still play some D

DG or Oubre likely not options, but lets see, some weird deals been going on

Dennis trade or AC tpe still may be available

[The Master]

Nunn is amazing for 10/2.
Westbrook is a do or die type of move, and can ''kill'' Lakers chances, but can work with this roster IMHO
Ellington is decent, although may not work in the playoffs
Bazemore is 8th-9th rotation piece on average team
Melo can be helpful in RS, but needs to be benched once the playoffs come
Ariza is washed up, but these 3&D role players use to find a spark once they arrive to the contender, so I have a hope
THT for a fair salary, but he needs to step up if he wants to be MLE-level worthy
Howard was so so in Sixers and won't work here on bigger minutes due to fit, so he's barely a factor (still better than Harrell)
Monk can be decent for RS, but he's no defender nor high IQ player

Good offseason for the Lakers, I don't think leaving KCP and Kuzma is a factor right now. Caruso, I am afraid, isn't replaced yet.

But they clearly lack players with a safe two-way production in typical playoff rotation. Ellington, Melo, Monk, Nunn, THT are all question marks considering their inexperience/lack of defense.

The dream would be finding some primary defender on 1-2 position to replace Caruso with last vet spots/TPE (Bradley?).

KCP isn't a loss that big because although he was good (and probably better as a player), he's never been really efficient primary defender on 1-2 position, even in '20 it was Caruso who made the biggest damage to Lillard. Lakers certainly lacking this type of a characteristic right now, because it's a reach to expect THT fullfil his D potential in one offseason

For RS:
Westbrook, Ellington, LeBron, Davis, Gasol
Nunn, THT, Bazemore/Melo, LeBron, Dwight
Westbrook, Ellington, Ariza, LeBron, Davis
Westbrook, Monk, Bazemore/Melo, Ariza, Davis

But iit looks much better than last year IMHO, Lakers have a personnel to make work:

1) LeBron-Westbrook-Davis (Ellington, Gasol, or smallball with AD and shooters)
2) 2nd unit around LeBron (Nunn-THT-Bazemore-Dwight)
3) 2nd unit around Westbrook-Davis (Ellington-Ariza-Monk)
4) good depth to give AD fair share as a 4 (Howard)

[Mos_Heat]

Nunn is fine, Patty Mills would've been way useful tho. Still a good signing considering that price, he probably have no trade clause as a negative.

Monk has upside, but I don't think he'll crack rotation.

They have a lot of shooting now, a lot of shot creation and a lot less defense. I still prefer Buddy Hield route, but Pelinka did ok job. Sucks that ownership threw away Caruso, same with Schroder, probably. So other than Mathews for early Bird's(might be too costly), that's their team

[frica]

So glad Lebron is finally getting a PG who can actually shoot 3s.

[trickshot]

Bradley would be the one signing that makes the roster significantly more playoff viable. Vogel only needs a couple defensive pieces to throw together a good perimeter defense. Also certain Melo fans are going to turn Vogel into public enemy once he starts benching their guy. They've always been pretty adamant the rest of the team should be willing to carry him on that end.

[Mos_Heat]

sounds a lot like last season which is not a good thingh

the theorically improved spacing is cool, but otherwise it seems lots of so-so talent that doesnt move the needle much and/or tries to do more than their role should be (harrdl and schroeder vs Carmelo or nunn)

and on top of it the best dirty work (caruso) or 3 and D (kcp) left

i sound like a doomer but i dont like this team composition

Yeah, I'm some what in the middle. They definetely did a decent job with resources they had after the Westbrook trade. But at the same time every player they signed can be squeezed out in a playoff series. Caruso and KCP can give you 25-30 playoff minutes no matter who you play against

[Mos_Heat]

Bradley would be the one signing that makes the roster significantly more playoff viable. Vogel only needs a couple defensive pieces to throw together a good perimeter defense. Also certain Melo fans are going to turn Vogel into public enemy once he starts benching their guy. They've always been pretty adamant the rest of the team should be willing to carry him on that end.

Not a fan of Bradley tbh, their backcourt is already crowded. I would prefer Milsap or maybe a flyer on Winslow

[trickshot]

Bradley would be the one signing that makes the roster significantly more playoff viable. Vogel only needs a couple defensive pieces to throw together a good perimeter defense. Also certain Melo fans are going to turn Vogel into public enemy once he starts benching their guy. They've always been pretty adamant the rest of the team should be willing to carry him on that end.

Not a fan of Bradley tbh, their backcourt is already crowded. I would prefer Milsap or maybe a flyer on Winslow

Fair enough. Imo the Lakers have sorely missed a defensive stopper in the backcourt. Such a great defensive team yet they get shredded by guards in every series because everyone's specialty is more team oriented. Yes yes no one can stop those guys entirely alone but one defensive stopper could make an incremental difference.

[Mos_Heat]

Bradley would be the one signing that makes the roster significantly more playoff viable. Vogel only needs a couple defensive pieces to throw together a good perimeter defense. Also certain Melo fans are going to turn Vogel into public enemy once he starts benching their guy. They've always been pretty adamant the rest of the team should be willing to carry him on that end.

Not a fan of Bradley tbh, their backcourt is already crowded. I would prefer Milsap or maybe a flyer on Winslow

Fair enough. Imo the Lakers have sorely missed a defensive stopper in the backcourt. Such a great defensive team yet they get shredded by guards in every series because everyone's specialty is more team oriented. Yes yes no one can stop those guys entirely alone but one defensive stopper could make an incremental difference.

I just don't see a guy like this on the market. They should get TPE for one of Schroder/Caruso and use it mid season, but that would require willingness to pay a huge tax

[Joao Saraiva]

Malik was a steal. A young shooter for that type of money is definitely hard to find.

[Gooner]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

[Homer38]

Knicks Interested In Dennis Schroder

https://nypost.com/2021/08/03/knicks-free-agent-point-guard-options-dwindling/?utm_source=twitter_sitebuttons&utm_medium=site%20buttons&utm_campaign=site%20buttons

[kayess]

What do the lakers still have? MLE was on Nunn right? Is it just vet mins left?

[Greyhound]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

Gap, that’s cute.
LOL

[Homer38]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

Gap, that’s cute.
LOL

And if the lakers are great he will give no credit and he will find weak excuses why they are great like in the 2019-2020 season when he said the lakers weren't going to make the playoffs before that season.

[PistolPeteJR]

Not a fan of Bradley tbh, their backcourt is already crowded. I would prefer Milsap or maybe a flyer on Winslow

Fair enough. Imo the Lakers have sorely missed a defensive stopper in the backcourt. Such a great defensive team yet they get shredded by guards in every series because everyone's specialty is more team oriented. Yes yes no one can stop those guys entirely alone but one defensive stopper could make an incremental difference.

I just don't see a guy like this on the market. They should get TPE for one of Schroder/Caruso and use it mid season, but that would require willingness to pay a huge tax

TPE and then move for Marcus Smart

[Dupp]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

You’ve certainly been right a lot in the past. All you takes on Giannis for example certainly came to fruition.

[Gooner]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

Gap, that’s cute.
LOL

And if the lakers are great he will give no credit and he will find weak excuses why they are great like in the 2019-2020 season when he said the lakers weren't going to make the playoffs before that season.

Welcome back, I saw you disappeared after Lakers defeat to Phoenix.

[Gooner]

A lot of panic signings by LeBron, this will not close the gap between Lakers and Phoenix, but health will determine a lot as always.

You’ve certainly been right a lot in the past. All you takes on Giannis for example certainly came to fruition.

My stance on Giannis still hasn't changed.

[Homer38]

Gap, that’s cute.
LOL

And if the lakers are great he will give no credit and he will find weak excuses why they are great like in the 2019-2020 season when he said the lakers weren't going to make the playoffs before that season.

Welcome back, I saw you disappeared after Lakers defeat to Phoenix.

Last time I saw you was like 10-12 months ago or so...