LeBron James 2021-22 Regular Season Thread - Part ?

[RCM88x]

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

Honestly trading DG was probably their first mistake, not sure if that was motivated by LeBron n'camp or what.

But looking back perhaps trading AD when he was at the peak of his value would have been best, obviously that never would have happened.

I do think their one big mistake recently is picking THT over Caruso. But I sort of believe their motives were financial there and future outlook, which was stupid.

All that being said. The team was never really in a great roster at any point. LeBron and AD just were insane that first season together and Rondo played his best basketball in a decade. Everyone else was simply acceptable or worse.

Obviously the Westbrook trade was terrible but he was being pushed to do something and it was the only something that seemed to be acceptable.

If it were me I would probably have just ran the team back w/ Caruso instead of THT and tried to add Monk and McGee instead of Dwight, Ariza, Bazemore and DAJ.

But again maybe those guys were chosen by someone else. Who really knows.

[nzahir]

Who are some buyout options you guys even want?

Who even makes sense

[zimpy27]

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

Honestly trading DG was probably their first mistake, not sure if that was motivated by LeBron n'camp or what.

But looking back perhaps trading AD when he was at the peak of his value would have been best, obviously that never would have happened.

I do think their one big mistake recently is picking THT over Caruso. But I sort of believe their motives were financial there and future outlook, which was stupid.

All that being said. The team was never really in a great roster at any point. LeBron and AD just were insane that first season together and Rondo played his best basketball in a decade. Everyone else was simply acceptable or worse.

Obviously the Westbrook trade was terrible but he was being pushed to do something and it was the only something that seemed to be acceptable.

If it were me I would probably have just ran the team back w/ Caruso instead of THT and tried to add Monk and McGee instead of Dwight, Ariza, Bazemore and DAJ.

But again maybe those guys were chosen by someone else. Who really knows.

Deadline has proved one thing to me. I thought the Lakers chose THT over Caruso but in reality they never wanted to pay Caruso.

Deadline has proved it because they didn't even make small moves to clear the minimum players they have. So when buyouts come along, they will be paying an extra 1.6m salary and 8m tax per player.

Caruso was offered 7m a season for 2 years, he wanted 8m for 4. There was no financial problem based on this years players. That myth can be put to rest. It was simply that Rob did not value Caruso.

[nzahir]

Bembry being cut by BKN

Maybe worth a look

Never felt more defeated tbh

This season is pointless and the contending window is likely over =(

Not sure what they can make happen in the off season

[VanWest82]

Caruso was offered 7m a season for 2 years, he wanted 8m for 4. There was no financial problem based on this years players. That myth can be put to rest. It was simply that Rob did not value Caruso.

You mean Lebron didn’t.

[zimpy27]

Caruso was offered 7m a season for 2 years, he wanted 8m for 4. There was no financial problem based on this years players. That myth can be put to rest. It was simply that Rob did not value Caruso.

You mean Lebron didn’t.

Nah Pelinka is the one that orchestrates the deal size and length. LeBron just says they want the players. Lakers offered a deal for Caruso, he was wanted, just wasn't the price Rob wanted to pay.

[falcolombardi]

Caruso was offered 7m a season for 2 years, he wanted 8m for 4. There was no financial problem based on this years players. That myth can be put to rest. It was simply that Rob did not value Caruso.

You mean Lebron didn’t.

btw how do you feel about lakers this season? i remember you thought they were still contenders in the playoffs

you still think that or have the lakers misfunctionin convinced you otherwise?

[VanWest82]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

[thebigbird]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

[zimpy27]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

If LeBron cut the checks KCP would be on 20m a year
LeBron now responsible for the financial planning of the organization

[trickshot]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

If LeBron cut the checks KCP would be on 20m a year
LeBron now responsible for the financial planning of the organization

Clearly Lebron should have wired Jeannie the extra 20 or so million in luxury taxes she was trying to avoid.

[falcolombardi]

i thinl there is a interesting debate to be had here

lebron does have de-facto veto power over lakers moves (he and ad probably, who knows who lakers would "choose" if they demanded opposite thinghs)

so if lebron really put his foot down (or had not asked for westbrook in the first place) lakers probably pay caruso

so he would have a degree of criticism

at the same time it is not lebron who handles lakers finances nor is lebron responsability to worry about lakers bottom line, thst was 100% on jeanie buss, putting the Blame fully on lebron absolves lakers gerency of their cheapness

what makes caruso situation different thsn westbrook situation is that one is lebron asking for a trade that hurts the lakers, the Blame is that he forced lakers do somethingh they wouldnt have done if he didnt ask for it

in caruso case is the inverse, he is criticized for, essentially, letting lakers Office do what they wanted to do

in other words he is getting criticism for acting as a GM and for NOT acting as a GM, meaning that any lakers bad move will be his responsability for doing it or for -not- doing it

wouldnt that mean he should get the full gm credit for lakers good moves too (like those in 2020) all the Blame = all the praise?

[Tracymcgoaty]

Well this is what Lebron wanted so he gets to enjoy it. Cant believe we blew up a championship team to this clownshow in less than two years. Joke FO.

[falcolombardi]

Well this is what Lebron wanted so he gets to enjoy it. Cant believe we blew up a championship team to this clownshow in less than two years. Joke FO.

.

2021-2022 lakers are the perfect example of why you dont try fix somethingh that is working

[SeniorWalker]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

I dont understand why you pretend to know what LeBron thinks or how he thinks. Like, at all. Why do you speak with such confidence about someone you have probably never come near 5 feet of, let alone have any idea what's in his head? No offense, just saying.

I mean it's fun to guess and we all kind of act like it at times but maybe you're going a bit too far.

[zimpy27]

i thinl there is a interesting debate to be had here

lebron does have de-facto veto power over lakers moves (he and ad probably, who knows who lakers would "choose" if they demanded opposite thinghs)

so if lebron really put his foot down (or had not asked for westbrook in the first place) lakers probably pay caruso

so he would have a degree of criticism

at the same time it is not lebron who handles lakers finances nor is lebron responsability to worry about lakers bottom line, thst was 100% on jeanie buss, putting the Blame fully on lebron absolves lakers gerency of their cheapness

what makes caruso situation different thsn westbrook situation is that one is lebron asking for a trade that hurts the lakers, the Blame is that he forced lakers do somethingh they wouldnt have done if he didnt ask for it

in caruso case is the inverse, he is criticized for, essentially, letting lakers Office do what they wanted to do

in other words he is getting criticism for acting as a GM and for NOT acting as a GM, meaning that any lakers bad move will be his responsability for doing it or for -not- doing it

wouldnt that mean he should get the full gm credit for lakers good moves too (like those in 2020) all the Blame = all the praise?

This is how it would work:
- Rob asks about players AD and LeBron would like to play with.
- Rob fields calls to determine who is gettable and what they need to trade.
- Rob gives LeBron and AD options to get their thoughts knowing they might be able to do all or none.
- With approval ROb goes and tries to get deals done with the sign off from the owners.

[PistolPeteJR]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

If LeBron cut the checks KCP would be on 20m a year
LeBron now responsible for the financial planning of the organization

Don't bother. You know better than to argue with VanBiased lol. Guy's refrain is well known around here.

[PistolPeteJR]

i thinl there is a interesting debate to be had here

lebron does have de-facto veto power over lakers moves (he and ad probably, who knows who lakers would "choose" if they demanded opposite thinghs)

so if lebron really put his foot down (or had not asked for westbrook in the first place) lakers probably pay caruso

so he would have a degree of criticism

at the same time it is not lebron who handles lakers finances nor is lebron responsability to worry about lakers bottom line, thst was 100% on jeanie buss, putting the Blame fully on lebron absolves lakers gerency of their cheapness

what makes caruso situation different thsn westbrook situation is that one is lebron asking for a trade that hurts the lakers, the Blame is that he forced lakers do somethingh they wouldnt have done if he didnt ask for it

in caruso case is the inverse, he is criticized for, essentially, letting lakers Office do what they wanted to do

in other words he is getting criticism for acting as a GM and for NOT acting as a GM, meaning that any lakers bad move will be his responsability for doing it or for -not- doing it

wouldnt that mean he should get the full gm credit for lakers good moves too (like those in 2020) all the Blame = all the praise?

This is how it would work:
- Rob asks about players AD and LeBron would like to play with.
- Rob fields calls to determine who is gettable and what they need to trade.
- Rob gives LeBron and AD options to get their thoughts knowing they might be able to do all or none.
- With approval ROb goes and tries to get deals done with the sign off from the owners.

Please, get out of here with sane rationale. Everyone knows that cheap Jeanie Buss is paying Rob Pelinka millions of dollars to simply do certain players' bidding and nothing more. Just a puppet. One expensive puppet, I must say.

[zimpy27]

Bembry just got waived.. I think he'd be a nice addition

[thebigbird]

I think if Lebron wanted Caruso on the team they would’ve made it happen.

LeBron doesn’t cut the checks. If he was calling the shots like you and many others think he does, Caruso would be on the team, they would’ve traded for Lowry last season, and Ty Lue would be the coach.

I dont understand why you pretend to know what LeBron thinks or how he thinks. Like, at all. Why do you speak with such confidence about someone you have probably never come near 5 feet of, let alone have any idea what's in his head? No offense, just saying.

I mean it's fun to guess and we all kind of act like it at times but maybe you're going a bit too far.

No offense, but I couldn’t care less if you think I’m “going too far,” guy. I don’t see you going after the scores of people throughout this forum on the other end of this spectrum.

We’re not talking about rocket science. Caruso was a valuable piece on their championship team, a guy who happened to play extremely well alongside LeBron, and a guy who LeBron liked as a teammate. You’re right, I don’t know what goes on inside of his head. But common sense and everything we know about LeBron says that he wouldn’t have wanted Caruso to walk for nothing.