LeBron James 2021-22 Regular Season Thread - Part ?

[thebigbird]

Lakers fans really exposing themselves after these LeBron comments this afternoon. I hope he leaves them high and dry. They never embraced him in the first place.

i am out of the loop, what happened?

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33330723/lebron-james-door-not-closed-return-cleveland-cavaliers-my-last-year-played-my-son

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2022/2/19/22942515/lebron-james-return-cavaliers-play-with-bronny-leaving-lakers-nba-all-star-weekend-athletic-story

Read on Twitter

?s=21
Also a lot of them see this as a shot at the Lakers’ management. Which, it probably is, which would be well deserved.

[Greyhound]

Isn't Davis at PF more of an injury risk?

Needs to cover more ground and be on the perimeter even more

We need a stretch big then

Wood was the guy....

I wonder if we can convince Russ to do 3 years 60-70M or 2 years 50-55

Open up some cap space

Nunn opts in possibly?

Maybe convince Monk to take a small deal and pay more later with bird rights?

Use the mle if we have it

Need a major turn around with this team

Say we can't move Russ or he actually opts goes for a longer deal with less hit this year, I try to package a 1st with THT

Stanley? Dwight as a backup C maybe? Melo maybe as a deep bench scorer?

Core pieces:
Lebron, AD, Russ, Reaves, Nunn?, Monk

Missing a long defensive wing who can shoot a bit at least

Missing a starting sg

Missing a stretch big

Missing a mobile big

I don’t think it is. He gets to float around and use his length to contest players on the perimeter more.

More then anything, it makes him more comfortable as a player.

He begrudgingly plays center because he does not like jostling with bigger guys. It could be that he plays a more timid style game when faced with bigger opponents. That mindset could plausibly lead to a less aggressive/ reactive play style, more susceptible to getting hurt.

It’s a stretch, but mindset should not be totally discounted.

———-

This was the starting lineup of the bubble champion:

KCP 6’5” (6’8” wingspan)
Green 6’6” (6’10”)
James 6’9” (7’0”)
Davis 6’10” (7’6”)
McGee 7’0” (7’6” wingspan)

That team was huge (not just in the paint, but everywhere). That was their advantage and I would like to see them go back to it for next season.

Isn't moving around more on the perimeter more of an issue for the knees and feet?

Likely more of an injury risk on offense, but smaller risk on defense

Unless AD justs ettles for jumpers, which sucks

We need a stretch big like Wood

I cannot recall Davis ever going down contesting or moving his feet on the perimeter.
Just about all of his injuries happen in the basket area (where he hurts something fighting for position, contesting at the rim, landing on a foot, or has someone fall into him while he is planted near the rim).

He is a goofy guy who seems to lack body control and general strength in his non sexy stabilizer muscles. His length allows him to play far off of guys on the perimeter (which limits physical contact somewhat).

[trickshot]

Lakers fans really exposing themselves after these LeBron comments this afternoon. I hope he leaves them high and dry. They never embraced him in the first place.

It's a tough one. I like Lebron but can surely see why they are triggered. I too would be livid. Maybe keep your plans to dump your current partner on the downlow. Like they aren't supposed to just nod and go along with it. Terrible PR move from a player who has grown to show more media savvy than that. Hopefully can deliver number 18 before the time comes because the season has been a bit of a black eye for locals.

[thebigbird]

Lakers fans really exposing themselves after these LeBron comments this afternoon. I hope he leaves them high and dry. They never embraced him in the first place.

It's a tough one. I like Lebron but can surely see why they are triggered. I too would be livid. Maybe keep your plans to dump your current partner on the downlow. Like they aren't supposed to just nod and go along with it. Terrible PR move from a player who has grown to show more media savvy than that. Hopefully can deliver number 18 before the time comes because the season has been a bit of a black eye for locals.

I mean, in this situation they’re mad about a player leaving when they never wanted said player and never accepted said player in the first place. It’s not like LeBron leaving Cleveland or even Miami. There’s a large contingent of Laker fans who never wanted LeBron because he’s better than their precious Kobe and they don’t like that. Yet they’re also the most vocal right now. It’s like getting dumped by the partner you don’t like and never really wanted to date.

[MartinToVaught]

I'd obviously rather see LeBron cross the hallway and spend the rest of his career owning the Lakers as a Clipper. Not just because I'm a fan of both the Clippers and LeBron, but also because it would cause maximum salt for all the spoiled brat Laker fans who never liked or appreciated him. But him going back to the Cavs again would be fine too. Honestly, there are few other options that would be as bad or worse than him spending the rest of his career on the Lakers. Lakers LeBron has always had Wizards Jordan vibes to me despite him having way more success in LA than Jordan did in DC.

[MartinToVaught]

Lakers fans really exposing themselves after these LeBron comments this afternoon. I hope he leaves them high and dry. They never embraced him in the first place.

It's a tough one. I like Lebron but can surely see why they are triggered. I too would be livid. Maybe keep your plans to dump your current partner on the downlow. Like they aren't supposed to just nod and go along with it. Terrible PR move from a player who has grown to show more media savvy than that. Hopefully can deliver number 18 before the time comes because the season has been a bit of a black eye for locals.

Laker fans have the least room of any fanbase in the league to complain about this stuff. "Player empowerment" has benefited the Lakers far, far more than it's ever hurt them. How do they think Bucks fans felt when Kareem demanded a trade? Or Bulls fans felt when Magic threatened to stay in school if Chicago won the coin flip? Or Orlando fans felt when Shaq left them for nothing in free agency? Or Nets and Hornets fans felt when Kobe colluded his way to LA on draft day? Or Pelicans fans felt when AD forced his way out? Laker fans complaining that this is happening to them for once is like Bill Gates complaining about a parking ticket.

[thebigbird]

I'd obviously rather see LeBron cross the hallway and spend the rest of his career owning the Lakers as a Clipper. Not just because I'm a fan of both the Clippers and LeBron, but also because it would cause maximum salt for all the spoiled brat Laker fans who never liked or appreciated him. But him going back to the Cavs again would be fine too. Honestly, there are few other options that would be as bad or worse than him spending the rest of his career on the Lakers. Lakers LeBron has always had Wizards Jordan vibes to me despite him having way more success in LA than Jordan did in DC.

Ballmer would’ve built LeBron a golden statue if he won the Clippers a ring Jeanie will only be able to afford to build him one out of aluminum foil.

The Lakers were honestly the last team I wanted him to go to in 2018. They were a bad team and I knew their fans wouldn’t accept him. And it didn’t help that their games don’t start until like 10:30 lol. The Clippers would’ve been much better because they were a better team and have a mega rich owner. Philly was my top choice back then though. Of the teams he’s played for, Cleveland was definitely my favorite. It just felt right. I think it’d be cool if he went back there.

[falcolombardi]

so my thought on the lebron stuff

i think lebron is decidedly NOT a media savvy guy, he has always been a guy who says whatever is on his mind not realizing how the media or fans may take it all the way back to the decisión

if he was he would realize how the lakers fans would take the comments and make a big deal out of them even if i think it really was not bad, if anythingh the worse thingh he may have done is telling teams to draft his son so he goes there which feels a bit nepotism like

on the other hand i think this also a good example of lebron over scrutiny

the fact a player saying "when i am 39 i may Explore free agency rather than retire so i can play 1 last year with my kid"
is put in the same level by so many people as players who demanded a trade or threatened to hold out? few players but lebron get that

lebron sometimes receives more criticism for leaving teams in free agency than some players do for forcing trades

personally i would love to see him retire on cavs to join this really nice team they are building and give it a push into a contender (and champion) if he is still able at that age

as much as í would want lebron to win another ring, honestly it would be a bit awkward if he had more rings in the lakers than cavs

specially because as others said, lakers are the only team in the league he can get a championship (or even two) and still be hated by many of them or criticized for only winning one

[Slava]

This thread has become tiresome and no surprise it’s down to the posters who were board banned on the general board spreading their nonsense elsewhere.

[Slava]

Anyways, for all the **** Davis has taken for not playing center until this season, Lebron’s reluctance to play PG full time, is a bit under-discussed, when that was the position he had the most success with the lakers and won a championship. Then it’s been one bad move after another to enable him to play off ball that has gotten us to the Westbrook sized hole in the roster.

[thebigbird]

This thread has become tiresome and no surprise it’s down to the posters who were board banned on the general board spreading their nonsense elsewhere.

Lmao what are you talking about?? I’m not banned anywhere on this site. And you can’t sit here and deny that a large portion of the Laker fanbase never wanted LeBron and never accepted him.

[VanWest82]

I think these comments are way more calculated than you guys are giving him credit for. Follow the fact pattern.

There have been rumors for years that Lebron/Klutch is way more involved in roster decisions than your average star player. He obviously doesn't orchestrate trades and things like that but he meets with AD and Russ and they decide to play together and then Pelinka makes it happen. He recruits guys like Melo, Dwight, Rondo, Gasol, Bradley, Ariza, etc. to play for mins.

Ramona Shelburne - Jeannie's media outlet - reports post deadline that Lakers FO/ownership decided "You guys got yourselves into this...this was your choice of roster and team. We're not going to mortgage our future...Go make it work."

Now you have all the passive aggressive comments about leaving, praising other GMs as MVPs and being smart for trading all their picks for titles. Lakers were previously listening to Lebron on roster decisions and this time they didn't, so Lebron is trying to take back some leverage.

The "cheap owner" stuff is a red herring. Lakers are 27M over the tax line. A 10M contract for Caruso would've cost Jeannie 40M including luxury tax. No one's making that decision for Caruso. Lakers chose THT over Caruso which you can bet Lebron had a voice in. In any event, it does seem like there's a divide growing between Bron and FO/ownership.

[homecourtloss]

Anyways, for all the **** Davis has taken for not playing center until this season, Lebron’s reluctance to play PG full time, is a bit under-discussed, when that was the position he had the most success with the lakers and won a championship. Then it’s been one bad move after another to enable him to play off ball that has gotten us to the Westbrook sized hole in the roster.

He was turning 36 and had a few months off before the new season would start. There was no way he could be the primary offense creator as well as QB the defense again as he did in 2020. It’s much more reasonable to expect a 27-28 year old who should be at his peak powers carrying the burden.

[thebigbird]

I think these comments are way more calculated than you guys are giving him credit for. Follow the fact pattern.

There have been rumors for years that Lebron/Klutch is way more involved in roster decisions than your average star player. He obviously doesn't orchestrate trades and things like that but he meets with AD and Russ and they decide to play together and then Pelinka makes it happen. He recruits guys like Melo, Dwight, Rondo, Gasol, Bradley, Ariza, etc. to play for mins.

Ramona Shelburne - Jeannie's media outlet - reports post deadline that Lakers FO/ownership decided "You guys got yourselves into this...this was your choice of roster and team. We're not going to mortgage our future...Go make it work."

Now you have all the passive aggressive comments about leaving, praising other GMs as MVPs and smart for trading all their picks for titles. Lakers were previously listening to Lebron on roster decisions and this time they didn't, so Lebron is trying to take back some leverage.

The "cheap owner" stuff is a red herring. Lakers are 27M over the tax line. A 10M contract for Caruso would've cost Jeannie 50M including luxury tax. No one's making that decision for Caruso. Lakers chose THT over Caruso which you can bet Lebron had a voice in. In any event, it does seem like there's a divide growing between Bron and FO/ownership.

The Lakers are worth $5.5 billion. Letting a key championship piece walk for nothing when he was willing to give the Lakers a discount is inexcusable. Jeanie did it because she’s cheap. The Lakers didn’t pay the tax for years and now she is cheaping out while they’re trying to win championships.

He didn’t recruit Ariza, Russell Westbrook did. https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2021/8/7/22614725/trevor-ariza-russell-westbrook-started-calling-him-20-minutes-after-lakers-trade

Dwight and Rondo were key parts of their title team, so not sure the issue behind him recruiting them. Bradley was a good player on that team too before he didn’t go to the bubble. And Gasol was great in his role until he fell out of the rotation.

The Lakers are terribly managed. Jeanie owns the team because her dad gave it to her. Magic Johnson had his job because he played for the Lakers. Pelinka is the GM because he was Kobe’s agent. Kurt Rambis and his wife have their positions because his wife is friends with Jeanie. They have no one in their front office who has their job because they’re competent, and it shows.

[trickshot]

Lakers fans really exposing themselves after these LeBron comments this afternoon. I hope he leaves them high and dry. They never embraced him in the first place.

It's a tough one. I like Lebron but can surely see why they are triggered. I too would be livid. Maybe keep your plans to dump your current partner on the downlow. Like they aren't supposed to just nod and go along with it. Terrible PR move from a player who has grown to show more media savvy than that. Hopefully can deliver number 18 before the time comes because the season has been a bit of a black eye for locals.

Laker fans have the least room of any fanbase in the league to complain about this stuff. "Player empowerment" has benefited the Lakers far, far more than it's ever hurt them. How do they think Bucks fans felt when Kareem demanded a trade? Or Bulls fans felt when Magic threatened to stay in school if Chicago won the coin flip? Or Orlando fans felt when Shaq left them for nothing in free agency? Or Nets and Hornets fans felt when Kobe colluded his way to LA on draft day? Or Pelicans fans felt when AD forced his way out? Laker fans complaining that this is happening to them for once is like Bill Gates complaining about a parking ticket.

Oh yeah that's pretty true although from a PR standpoint PR was never about appealing to rationality. It's not like people are counting their privilege or thinking it entitles them to future retribution. Leaving isn't the bad PR, announcing it this early is. Lebron never actually did that before. You still need a dream to sell to your consumers.

[tone wone]

Anyways, for all the **** Davis has taken for not playing center until this season, Lebron’s reluctance to play PG full time, is a bit under-discussed, when that was the position he had the most success with the lakers and won a championship. Then it’s been one bad move after another to enable him to play off ball that has gotten us to the Westbrook sized hole in the roster.

He was turning 36 and had a few months off before the new season would start. There was no way he could be the primary offense creator as well as QB the defense again as he did in 2020. It’s much more reasonable to expect a 27-28 year old who should be at his peak powers carrying the burden.

Lebron as a PG was only supposed to happen as 3rd wheel/connecter to AD & Kawhi. He'd ramp down his scoring to about 20ppg , picking his spots controlling tempo while those 2 did the heavy scoring. That was the plan. Playing PG full-time while scoring 25ppg was NEVER supposed to be permanent. Just something they pivoted to when Kawhi chose the Clippers.

Vogel is still a horrendous offensive coach. Those roleplayers would still be unreliable shooters but now AD is missing half of seasons and when he does play he can't shoot a lick. Lebron playing PG would actually make the situation worse....because he'd be a much less effective scorer. And they would DESPERATELY need his scoring. The Russ trade sucks on multiple levels but bringing in a highlevel ball-handler was 100% the right move...they just chose the wrong player.

[VanWest82]

The Lakers are worth $5.5 billion. Letting a key championship piece walk for nothing when he was willing to give the Lakers a discount is inexcusable. Jeanie did it because she’s cheap. The Lakers didn’t pay the tax for years and now she is cheaping out while they’re trying to win championships.

I'm not going to argue that Jeannie is a good owner but I don't think any of the other owners would've agreed to pay 40M per year for a role player, especially when they were already paying almost 70M in luxury taxes.

He didn’t recruit Ariza, Russell Westbrook did. https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2021/8/7/22614725/trevor-ariza-russell-westbrook-started-calling-him-20-minutes-after-lakers-trade

Dwight and Rondo were key parts of their title team, so not sure the issue behind him recruiting them. Bradley was a good player on that team too before he didn’t go to the bubble. And Gasol was great in his role until he fell out of the rotation.

The Lakers are terribly managed. Jeanie owns the team because her dad gave it to her. Magic Johnson had his job because he played for the Lakers. Pelinka is the GM because he was Kobe’s agent. Kurt Rambis and his wife have their positions because his wife is friends with Jeanie. They have no one in their front office who has their job because they’re competent, and it shows.

Perhaps all this would matter if Lebron wasn't on the team but given he is and the players have been the ones calling the shots re roster decisions, it doesn't matter that Jeannie hired all her friends (unless you're trying to argue a better GM would've given up less for Russ and AD, which...ok maybe). Pelinka did find Stanley Johnson for nothing though and that one has worked out (note: I'm crediting Pelinka for this one only because it was done mid season and presumably Lebron/AD/Russ aren't scouring the waiver wires in the midst of all those games).

Bron has made some good moves and bad ones putting together these last three Laker teams. But my point was more about how his recent comments are likely directly related to Pelinka/Jeannie not doing what he asked this deadline.

[homecourtloss]

Anyways, for all the **** Davis has taken for not playing center until this season, Lebron’s reluctance to play PG full time, is a bit under-discussed, when that was the position he had the most success with the lakers and won a championship. Then it’s been one bad move after another to enable him to play off ball that has gotten us to the Westbrook sized hole in the roster.

He was turning 36 and had a few months off before the new season would start. There was no way he could be the primary offense creator as well as QB the defense again as he did in 2020. It’s much more reasonable to expect a 27-28 year old who should be at his peak powers carrying the burden.

Lebron as a PG was only supposed to happen as 3rd wheel/connecter to AD & Kawhi. He'd ramp down his scoring to about 20ppg , picking his spots controlling tempo while those 2 did the heavy scoring. That was the plan. Playing PG full-time while scoring 25ppg was NEVER supposed to be permanent. Just something they pivoted to when Kawhi chose the Clippers.

Vogel is still a horrendous offensive coach. Those roleplayers would still be unreliable shooters but now AD is missing half of seasons and when he does play he can't shoot a lick. Lebron playing PG would actually make the situation worse....because he'd be a much less effective scorer. And they would DESPERATELY need his scoring. The Russ trade sucks on multiple levels but bringing in a highlevel ball-handler was 100% the right move...they just chose the wrong player.

Yeah the bolded here is true. While creating for everyone and QBing the defense, he also had to score unassisted baskets.

% of FGs made unassisted

2022: 57%
2021: 62.1% (68.5% playoffs)
2020: 71.1% (65.4% playoffs)
2019: 69%
2018: 69% (79% playoffs)
2017: 62% (64% playoffs)
2016: 60% (58% playoffs)
2015: 66% (74% playoffs)
2014: 58% (67% playoffs)
2013 60% (57% playoffs)
2012: 63% (68% playoffs)
2011: 68% (68% playoffs)
2010: 64% (64% playoffs)
2009: 66% (65% playoffs)
2008: 66% (59% playoffs)
2007: 66% (74% playoffs)
2006: 68% (75% playoffs)

[falcolombardi]

The Lakers are worth $5.5 billion. Letting a key championship piece walk for nothing when he was willing to give the Lakers a discount is inexcusable. Jeanie did it because she’s cheap. The Lakers didn’t pay the tax for years and now she is cheaping out while they’re trying to win championships.

I'm not going to argue that Jeannie is a good owner but I don't think any of the other owners would've agreed to pay 40M per year for a role player, especially when they were already paying almost 70M in luxury taxes.

He didn’t recruit Ariza, Russell Westbrook did. https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/platform/amp/2021/8/7/22614725/trevor-ariza-russell-westbrook-started-calling-him-20-minutes-after-lakers-trade

Dwight and Rondo were key parts of their title team, so not sure the issue behind him recruiting them. Bradley was a good player on that team too before he didn’t go to the bubble. And Gasol was great in his role until he fell out of the rotation.

The Lakers are terribly managed. Jeanie owns the team because her dad gave it to her. Magic Johnson had his job because he played for the Lakers. Pelinka is the GM because he was Kobe’s agent. Kurt Rambis and his wife have their positions because his wife is friends with Jeanie. They have no one in their front office who has their job because they’re competent, and it shows.

Perhaps all this would matter if Lebron wasn't on the team but given he is and the players have been the ones calling the shots re roster decisions, it doesn't matter that Jeannie hired all her friends (unless you're trying to argue a better GM would've given up less for Russ and AD, which...ok maybe). Pelinka did find Stanley Johnson for nothing though and that one has worked out (note: I'm crediting Pelinka for this one only because it was done mid season and presumably Lebron/AD/Russ aren't scouring the waiver wires in the midst of all those games).

Bron has made some good moves and bad ones putting together these last three Laker teams. But my point was more about how his recent comments are likely directly related to Pelinka/Jeannie not doing what he asked this deadline.

i am of the opinion that if you have a championship window you have to capitalize on it even if it costs you a lot of money short term

keeping caruso would have helped lakers championship hopes tremendously, and winning rings helps keep lakers as a premier destinatión for players and keep the brand value up

this is specially important with so many big market attractive free agent destinations these days like clippers that already proved their ability to attract superstar free agents, warriors that are now challenging lakers as a brand or nets/miami which have a incredibly attractive locatión

lakers cannot rest on their laurels amd think they will always be THE nba Premier team regardless of results

[VanWest82]

i am of the opinion that if you have a championship window you have to capitalize on it even if it costs you a lot of money short term

keeping caruso would have helped lakers championship hopes tremendously, and winning rings helps keep lakers as a premier destinatión for players and keep the brand value up

Lakers are 27-31, currently in 9th. Let's be honest and admit that Caruso likely wouldn't have saved this team. Your argument would have a lot more merit if they were looking like contenders that were a defensive guard short.