LeBron James 2021-22 Regular Season Thread - Part ?

[Mos_Heat]

Pelinka makes all his moves before the draft night(Schroder, Westbrook) and then does basically nothing. Very interesting strategy

[nzahir]

We couldn’t even trade for someone like Kenrich Williams?

**** hate Pekinka

Dude should be fired tbh and let a real gm step in

[thebigbird]

I’m not surprised they didn’t trade for anyone. The Lakers are the most incompetent franchise LeBron has played with. I hated that he signed there when it happened, and I still do. Their fan base is insufferable. At least he got a ring out of it, I suppose.

[Greatness]

Probably for the best not to do anything. They must know they aren't going anywhere this season so why waste any potential resources.

[RCM88x]

Pelinka makes all his moves before the draft night(Schroder, Westbrook) and then does basically nothing. Very interesting strategy

Kinda feel bad for Pelinka here I dont think he has much control in these sort of things. Ownership is penny pinching and Lebron is present. Not doing a perfect job but I don't think he's done terrible either.

[zimpy27]

This thread for the rest of the season will be a battle. You should all try some of what I'm smoking

[Mos_Heat]

Pelinka makes all his moves before the draft night(Schroder, Westbrook) and then does basically nothing. Very interesting strategy

Kinda feel bad for Pelinka here I dont think he has much control in these sort of things. Ownership is penny pinching and Lebron is present. Not doing a perfect job but I don't think he's done terrible either.

He's done a terrible job in the last two years, what are you talking about?

[nzahir]

Probably for the best not to do anything. They must know they aren't going anywhere this season so why waste any potential resources.

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

[RCM88x]

Pelinka makes all his moves before the draft night(Schroder, Westbrook) and then does basically nothing. Very interesting strategy

Kinda feel bad for Pelinka here I don't think he has much control in these sort of things. Ownership is penny pinching and Lebron is present. Not doing a perfect job but I don't think he's done terrible either.

He's done a terrible job in the last two years, what are you talking about?

I guess it depends on how much power you think he has. I don't think he has much.

[zimpy27]

Probably for the best not to do anything. They must know they aren't going anywhere this season so why waste any potential resources.

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

That isn't a contender. No point in throwing away future for a slightly more palatable 3 months.

Kenrich would have been worth it though

[Mos_Heat]

Kinda feel bad for Pelinka here I don't think he has much control in these sort of things. Ownership is penny pinching and Lebron is present. Not doing a perfect job but I don't think he's done terrible either.

He's done a terrible job in the last two years, what are you talking about?

I guess it depends on how much power you think he has. I don't think he has much.

No, it doesn't work this way. If your title is a President of Basketball operations or whatever you can't be blameless. After the bubble they were in a very good position but screwed up almost every move since

[trickshot]

Probably for the best not to do anything. They must know they aren't going anywhere this season so why waste any potential resources.

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

That isn't a contender. No point in throwing away future for a slightly more palatable 3 months.

Kenrich would have been worth it though

Makes sense. Consolidating assets for a win now piece is great but consolidating losing assets for a lose-now piece is a different topic. Lebron teams don't have the luxury of giving up on titles but the current situation is unique because it was caused by same and they'd just be making things worse.

All they can do now is marginal improvements like reshaping the rest of the roster so they aren't giving up 70%s hooting against any half decent team. Maybe then they can actually raise their ceiling from 1st round to 2nd round exit.

Also can't be understated how much of a mistake the Bazemore, DJ, Ariza and other washed up signings were because they can't even get any kind of production from those roster spots. It could have been filled with guys that could you know actually play.

[nzahir]

Probably for the best not to do anything. They must know they aren't going anywhere this season so why waste any potential resources.

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

That isn't a contender. No point in throwing away future for a slightly more palatable 3 months.

Kenrich would have been worth it though

Probably not a contender, but could compete with some teams in the West imo

I think that starting 5 is solid and Nunn could replace Monk if he comes back looking like how he usually does

Wood has another year too

We **** up imo

I guess we got to focus on what we can now

I would bring Russ off the bench, hope Nunn can play, pray they get a buyout guy that can play. Gary Harris?

Maybe consider going big again

Sources indicated the Lakers had several potential deals fall through, with players including Toronto’s Khem Birch and Chris Boucher, as well as the Knicks’ Cam Reddish in the mix to come to Los Angeles.

[RCM88x]

He's done a terrible job in the last two years, what are you talking about?

I guess it depends on how much power you think he has. I don't think he has much.

No, it doesn't work this way. If your title is a President of Basketball operations or whatever you can't be blameless. After the bubble they were in a very good position but screwed up almost every move since

As long as you have a boss you can be blameless.

I disagree they were in a good spot after the bubble too. Both of their best players past their prime. Multiple contributors we're on the team for 1 year deals. Not a lot of young players with team friendly contracts.

[Fadeaway_J]

This season is **** anyway. Nothing they had the ability to pull off was changing their destiny in any meaningful way. People underestimate how much last offseason has hampered what little flexibility they might have had beforehand.

[trickshot]

I’ve come to realize you really just can’t criticize LeBron at all in this thread. In the past I’ve argued the opposite when people would come here putting too much blame on him, but now I find myself understanding at least some of it. No one is saying that LeBron’s effort or passive aggressiveness are the reasons the Lakers aren’t contending. The point is that his awful defense, poor body language, and lack of leadership are not helping team chemistry/effort and negatively impact the team on the court, and it’s very clear that this version of LeBron just plays and acts differently depending on how satisfied he is with the roster. When things are going well, he can be the best player in the world and a great leader. When the roster isn’t up to par (even if a big part is by his own doing), he largely doesn’t care and it shows. But whatever, agree to disagree, and I’ll leave the echo chamber now.

Mostly agree with you. However, I don't believe he can play like he did in 19-20. His stamina and athletism regressed significantly

I think his stamina and athleticism was actually already regressed when he won that title in 19-20. It just wasn't the same guy who would have his fingerprints on everything good. AD just picked up the slack.

It's hard to prove but his motor decline started a long time ago. 18 was the last time his motor even resembled its peak. I don't think this version is much different from 20 version because I don't think 20 version was anything special by his own standards.

[Mos_Heat]

I guess it depends on how much power you think he has. I don't think he has much.

No, it doesn't work this way. If your title is a President of Basketball operations or whatever you can't be blameless. After the bubble they were in a very good position but screwed up almost every move since

As long as you have a boss you can be blameless.

I disagree they were in a good spot after the bubble too. Both of their best players past their prime. Multiple contributors we're on the team for 1 year deals. Not a lot of young players with team friendly contracts.

AD 27
KCP 27
Caruso 26
Kuzma 25
THT 19
They had Green's expiring 15m, 1st round pick in 2020(and 2021), full MLE, BIE. That's a lot of flexibility

[zimpy27]

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

That isn't a contender. No point in throwing away future for a slightly more palatable 3 months.

Kenrich would have been worth it though

Probably not a contender, but could compete with some teams in the West imo

I think that starting 5 is solid and Nunn could replace Monk if he comes back looking like how he usually does

Wood has another year too

We **** up imo

I guess we got to focus on what we can now

I would bring Russ off the bench, hope Nunn can play, pray they get a buyout guy that can play. Gary Harris?

Maybe consider going big again

Sources indicated the Lakers had several potential deals fall through, with players including Toronto’s Khem Birch and Chris Boucher, as well as the Knicks’ Cam Reddish in the mix to come to Los Angeles.

There's no POA defender and Kenrich is not an SG so it doesn't fit with that setup.

Wall, Monk, LeBron, Davis, Wood -- Bradley, Reaves, Johnson/Ariza, Melo, Howard

It's relying on Wall being a decent player now and we have no idea. The risk is too great IMO. Wood isn't a great fit with Lakers either but not terrible. I prefer this trade to the Reddish one, Reddish is a bad fit - that's another guy who thinks he is a star and doesn't do the little things.

Boucher and Khem Birch trade is interesting, that could have been cool.

[trickshot]

They say he wanted Westbrook, which I honestly will never believe but that’s beside the point. Losing Caruso was because Jeanie was cheap. Westbrook recruited Ariza. And who knows about the rest of the guys. Pelinka has been terrible at roster construction for years so I blame him.

How do you still not believe this when there's numerous reports stating that Lebron and AD pushed for Pelinka to trade for Westbrook and not Hield?

You're in denial at this point.

Lebron screwed up. It happens.

I’m aware of the reports. I don’t believe them because it makes no basketball sense. Westbrook is the worst player in the NBA to pair next to LeBron. He’s useless without the ball, he can’t shoot, and everything he does ‘well’ LeBron is better at. LeBron got a bird’s eye view of Westbrook in the 2020 bubble. Then he pushed to trade for him a year later? Eh. It doesn’t matter at this point but LeBron allegedly wanting to play with Westbrook is something that will never make any sense to me.

I don't blame you for being in denial but it is what it is. Pelinka isn't blameless because he assembled the garbage currently surrounding his big 3 but the Westbrook trade was on the stars. If it was only Lebron saying trade for Westbrook it might have been easier to resist but when both stars say make the trade you have to do it or be ready to refuse even if it costs you your job. God help you if you don't do it and the team loses the next year. Pelinka isn't blameless but neither is Lebron or anyone for that matter. Everyone should have known better.

[zimpy27]

But why not get a guy like Kenrich Williams for a couple 2nds?

Can play next year too with his deal

Apparently we could have done Russ, THT, 2027 1st for Wood and Wall

If the first was protected and or we got 1-2 2nds back, I’d do it

Monk, Williams, Bron, Wood, AD
Wall, Reaves, Stanley, Melo/Ariza, Dwight

Nunn plays when he’s back

That isn't a contender. No point in throwing away future for a slightly more palatable 3 months.

Kenrich would have been worth it though

Makes sense. Consolidating assets for a win now piece is great but consolidating losing assets for a lose-now piece is a different topic. Lebron teams don't have the luxury of giving up on titles but the current situation is unique because it was caused by same and they'd just be making things worse.

All they can do now is marginal improvements like reshaping the rest of the roster so they aren't giving up 70%s hooting against any half decent team. Maybe then they can actually raise their ceiling from 1st round to 2nd round exit.

Also can't be understated how much of a mistake the Bazemore, DJ, Ariza and other washed up signings were because they can't even get any kind of production from those roster spots. It could have been filled with guys that could you know actually play.

There is only one more way that Lakers could reshape roster.


Lakers orchestrate a buyout of Westbrook and OKC takes him for 15m or another team take him with a TPE for a similar amount. Lakers clear $15m off their books and Jeannie gives green light for Rob to grab every buyout that fits the team.
Main issue with this is that Russ's buyout would count next season too.

I guess it depends on who hits the market.