According to this post, giving up AR, DK, Rui, Gabe and 2031 frp would still not be enough for Kessler. Then why the heck are we even discussing him?
And we shouldn't even be giving up the few good assets we have left for Kessler. We should be looking for a secondary star (option) for Luka/Lakers longterm.
And doubtful any franchise who just paired their LeBron with Luka would be able to avoid the excitement and revenue playing both together will bring vs looking to trade LeBron for future success _________________ If we don't make it dangerous to be a Nazi
They'll make it dangerous not to be
According to this post, giving up AR, DK, Rui, Gabe and 2031 frp would still not be enough for Kessler. Then why the heck are we even discussing him?
Not exactly sure the "JNotes" are a place to take seriously, but this overvaluing of Kessler is getting out of hand. He's worth an unprotected 1st, unprotecting 27 and maybe a swap. If Dalton is the salary going out, then 27 should be left alone and no swap.
I was, and am, all for Kessler but giving up AR, Rui, etc etc is wild. Clarkson is a has been 6th man and Collins is a good bench big.
Would much rather not pay this uber premium because teams know we're desperate. Dump Shake onto Detroit and sign Bamba. It's like selling your house and then looking for another while the market is on fire and every seller knows you're about to be homeless. Just go rent and wait for market to cool down.
Joined: 12 Mar 2012 Posts: 1924 Location: San Francisco, CA
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:43 pm Post subject:
LakerJedi wrote:
TooMuchMajicBuss wrote:
I've been as critical of LeBron's turnovers as anyone, but that's because he's taking on primary facilitator duties. He's pretty good at it until he starts sucking royally at it, this is where he shows his age.
But I don't believe LeBron playing off ball is going to have this problem, particularly now that we don't need 35 minutes out of him.
And I highly doubt he's extending for another 4 years, not without cutting his salary to, say, $20m. We have a dynasty to build.
Sounds like you're' making excuses for him. He was a turnover machine, even in his prime. He had 10 turnovers in a game in 2005 and again in 2018. Go look at his career stats. You're also assuming that he'll just hand over primary facilitator duties to Luka. He might to an extent but go ask Russ how that went.
LeBron can't play off ball, he doesn't know how, he never has. Also - it doesn't matter if he cuts his salary down to $20 million, that's not the point. As long as he's on the floor, we go nowhere, he is that terrible.
He's literally been playing off ball and letting Austin be the primary ball handler most of this season.
If Luka and Reaves take over primary ballhandling and Bron moves into the Draymond role, we could do well even without a center for the short term.
LeBron is still super strong even though his vertical and reflexes are diminishing.
Yeah and if my brother had big (bleep), he'd be my sister. LeBron can't play the Draymond role, he doesn't have the defensive skills and even if he did, his massive Ego wouldn't let him.
If LBJ wants to stay he needs to adapt to what the team needs.
He's no longer number one. Bron can do almost anything that involves physical strength, he just can't jump as high and his reflexes are slowed.
His brain is still quick but his body fails him sometimes.
I'm just trying to find a way to use him if Jeanie extends him.
If he and Luka are battling over who gets the ball the most, it's not going to be a pretty sight.
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 4502 Location: Lake Nacimiento
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 2:49 pm Post subject:
Day wrote:
LakerJedi wrote:
TooMuchMajicBuss wrote:
I've been as critical of LeBron's turnovers as anyone, but that's because he's taking on primary facilitator duties. He's pretty good at it until he starts sucking royally at it, this is where he shows his age.
But I don't believe LeBron playing off ball is going to have this problem, particularly now that we don't need 35 minutes out of him.
And I highly doubt he's extending for another 4 years, not without cutting his salary to, say, $20m. We have a dynasty to build.
Sounds like you're' making excuses for him. He was a turnover machine, even in his prime. He had 10 turnovers in a game in 2005 and again in 2018. Go look at his career stats. You're also assuming that he'll just hand over primary facilitator duties to Luka. He might to an extent but go ask Russ how that went.
LeBron can't play off ball, he doesn't know how, he never has. Also - it doesn't matter if he cuts his salary down to $20 million, that's not the point. As long as he's on the floor, we go nowhere, he is that terrible.
He's literally been playing off ball and letting Austin be the primary ball handler most of this season.
If i've learned one thing on this board in the last couple of Days it's to simply ignore every post that guy (I'm starting to get the feeling Delonte might have made a new account on here? ) makes. He's on an all out weird Bron revenge tour.
The few others being overly negative at least are somewhat coherent and make some sense even if I don't agree with them.
Rui, AR, Gabe, Vando, 2031 FRP, Pick swaps for Cam Johnson, Nic Claxton and Jalen Wilson _________________ “The main goal for the Lakers is to win a championship. All I care about, all we care about, is to raise another banner in the rafters.“
Luka learned that no matter how much he killed himself for the team that the GM basically regarded him as a monopoly piece that could be moved. Loyalty is a two way streak, the days of players killing themselves to defend their team colors are over. In that sense rivalries will probably never get as deep as in the past because players will play a couple of years and then move on whether because of their decision or managements.
According to this post, giving up AR, DK, Rui, Gabe and 2031 frp would still not be enough for Kessler. Then why the heck are we even discussing him?
Not exactly sure the "JNotes" are a place to take seriously, but this overvaluing of Kessler is getting out of hand. He's worth an unprotected 1st, unprotecting 27 and maybe a swap. If Dalton is the salary going out, then 27 should be left alone and no swap.
I was, and am, all for Kessler but giving up AR, Rui, etc etc is wild. Clarkson is a has been 6th man and Collins is a good bench big.
Would much rather not pay this uber premium because teams know we're desperate. Dump Shake onto Detroit and sign Bamba. It's like selling your house and then looking for another while the market is on fire and every seller knows you're about to be homeless. Just go rent and wait for market to cool down.
It is a situation where there just isn't a really likely way to make a deal. Lakers can't afford to unload everything to get Kessler, and the Jazz aren't likely to move Kessler even if the Lakers offered everything. He is a good, young defensive big still on his rookie deal who fits what they think their rebuilding timeline will be. There just wasn't a likely deal to be had there.
Who is implying that Doncic will not extend his contract and where?
Windhorst just said it wasn’t a given and the aggregators are running wild.
I know you're super happy about the trade, and that's A ok. Because lets be real, Luka is a freaking offensive stud. He is easily a top 5 pick in any all NBA draft. So I get it.
However there are a few legit concerns IMO.
I just watched the PC and Luka looks as I expected. He looks like a death happened in his family. I feel for him. I feel for AD. I know they are millionaires. However Luka in particular seems like he had no idea this was happening.
Wishing him the best. He seems like a good guy. He seemed like he wanted to finish his task in Dallas. Nico did him dirty, but that's the business.
I really really hope if we don't get to the WCF or futher we are able to convince Lebron to a trade. I know it's a long shot, but we really need to get Luka to see he will be paired with someone for the next 4-5 years. And we need Lebron's salary to make that happen. We'll probably need some huge blockbuster that involves Lebron going to NY or GST to get some young star (secondary star that is) to be paired with Luka the next 3-5 years.
Think about him asking Rob in FA. What will I be playing with the next 4 years? And his answer can't be Austin Reaves, Knecht and a FA max plan that will bring Joker. That won't fly. We need to bring in young star talent next to Luka ASAP.
See the thing that we also lost in this deal was the big advantage of the contract extension. Because Nico did him so dirty, there's no longterm advantage financially for Luka to sign a 4 year extension. He can easily wait until 2026 to sign a big deal then. So for us, we really need to get a young star (secondary star doesn't have to be an elite player) and a balanced good team around him ASAP.
I mean yeah we can’t just do nothing for the next 3-5 years and expect him to keep signing contracts. This is true for any star player that we’d acquire. I don’t expect him to sign a 4 year extension either way because that doesn’t make financial sense for him, but I also don’t expect him to be eager to leave this market and this franchise to go…where exactly? What’s the argument here? Should we not get a superstar because we are afraid to lose them? The work is never finished. Having a guy worth building around and trying to get better is the kind of problem you want to have.
Btw the alternative that was at our doorstep was not doing this trade, we remain a non-contender, LeBron retires in a year or two, an AD-led team goes nowhere and we offload him for picks and several years of being terrible so we can try our luck at drafting a player who has almost no chance of being as good as Luka Doncic. I think we should be happy with how things turned out. _________________ 14-5-3-12
If Rob fumbles building around Luka this summer, it is possible Luka walks summer 2027. He has an opt out. Gotta take the chance to get a guy like Luka if it pops up, but there is a lot more work to be done. I personally think it would be really really dumb to make a desperate move this week to try to compete this season. There isn't a lot of time left for the team to gel. Unless something really obvious is available that we haven't seen yet, Lakers should see how Luka plays with guys like Rui, AR, Vando, etc, and move into the off season with a better idea of what to try to fill in around Luka. Lakers would also have an idea of what Lebron wants to do. If he wants to be sign and traded to someone else like the Dubs, then the Lakers can take into account any assets we get from that to make additional moves.
Edit: meant to say it is possible Luka walks summer 2026.
Last edited by mhan00 on Tue Feb 04, 2025 3:13 pm; edited 1 time in total
If Rob fumbles building around Luka this summer, it is possible Luka walks summer 2027. He has an opt out. Gotta take the chance to get a guy like Luka if it pops up, but there is a lot more work to be done. I personally think it would be really really dumb to make a desperate move this week to try to compete this season. There isn't a lot of time left for the team to gel. Unless something really obvious is available that we haven't seen yet, Lakers should see how Luka plays with guys like Rui, AR, Vando, etc, and move into the off season with a better idea of what to try to fill in around Luka. Lakers would also have an idea of what Lebron wants to do. If he wants to be sign and traded to someone else like the Dubs, then the Lakers can take into account any assets we get from that to make additional moves.
It's highly unlikely Luka walks for nothing, for the following reasons:
- He values loyalty, and values being valued
- After being jerked around by the Mavs, he's going to want to choose his destiny. If that's not LA, he would have to let rival teams know to open cap space, or trade for him. So in any case, we would know before Luka walked. There's no version of this where we start a fight with Luka's crew, they get defensive and don't tell us their plans. If we ever get nervous because he doesn't sign a 2+1, we can still trade him.
- He's going to become a global megastar in LA. We haven't seen a union of marketability, prime superstar, and LA since Kobe. He's going to become the face of the league. Just wait until his first game winner in PnG.
- LA is his best chance at recruiting other stars to come to him. We demonstrated that by acquiring him. By 2027, Giannis and Jokic will probably be playing on dead end squads who have no means to improve.
- Even at age 40, LeBron is the best player he's ever played with.
Joined: 16 Apr 2001 Posts: 13237 Location: Pasadena, CA
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 3:35 pm Post subject:
Also, I was thinking about this....
Think of Luka and what he thinks about the Lakers.
It's not just about Dallas moving him, it's the fact that the Lakers moved one of their two stars plus a budding young talent for him.
In other words, it should show Luka, the Lakers were serious about making the move regardless of the backlash from moving Davis.
I also see it that way, from Luka's perspective. He will soon feel massive love in LA.
Hey, I love the trade, but I'm not buying the narratives and until LeFraud is gone, we aren't doing anything with that cancer on the team. Meanwhile we'll waste a few years of Luka's prime in the process.
I want him gone too. Hopefully it is this summer
Sure, hopefully. Fingers crossed. But knowing that narcissist, he'll stay around even longer now and try to win one more with Luka.
So if Lebron wins a ring with luka that means....wait a minute...That means Lakers win a ring?
And this is bad because Lebron wins a ring...But it's good because Lakers win another ring tied with Boston again.
But it's bad because it's Lebron..Good because Lakers! Crap so conflicted about all of this. Do i want Lakers to win if Lebron wins?
Lakers aren't winning a ring with LeBron on the court, period. But that doesn't mean he won't try to hang on for glory.
This isn't the LeBron P&M thread so knock it off. I deleted about 20 of your troll posts in this thread. Stop posting troll hate here or I'll do it for you. _________________ Don't blame me. I voted for Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton.
Joined: 16 Apr 2001 Posts: 13237 Location: Pasadena, CA
Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2025 3:39 pm Post subject:
Megaton wrote:
Seeing him holding that Laker jersey…
Jeez man. I still can’t believe it.
It's nuts. Totally nuts. I told you guys the other day. I am a 45 year Lakers fan. Been through the highs and lows.
I like certain players in the league over the years but ride and die with the Lakers. My two sons asked me who I would pick first to build a team with and I said Luka.
He's here and I am beyond excited. It took me by surprise and I had to think through what was happening and the Davis/Lebron combo was over but I remember saying recently to both my wife and boys, I was getting tired of that combo, especially when they both weren't having A games. The whole team sucks when that happens.
Luka looks like he's going to go on a revenge tour 2025. I see it in his eyes and he is going to play that way on the floor.
It took Dallas almost 6yrs to find the right pieces around Luka just to reach the Finals and get destroyed.
I don’t think Rob has 6yrs to waste here. With not enough assets after Lebron retires or leaves. It will be even harder for Rob. He will need to pull another LukaMagic type of trade or through free agency.
No marquee FA want to go to Dallas. LA and the weather , that’s more enticing as long as we have that cap space. We have to keep AR and that 31 FRP if we want someone like Kyrie post Lebron.
I'll add to this, a lot more marquee FA's are going to jump at the opportunity to play alongside a young Luka than alongside a 40YO LeBron with Clutch dictating the terms. The Lakers just gained a lot of Free Agent pull with this move, and with the clear signal sent by the way it went down.
We can't sign any star until after Lebron's contract is off the book so that's like 2 years of Luka prime wasted right there. 10 years just became 8. Lets see how many teams would let their still coveted FA walk and sign with the Lakers.
Kyrie would be about 35 if and when he signed here.
Only way you can fast track this. Trade Lebron which I don’t think will happen. Or hope Lebron leave after this season.
Then hope Rob can bring in another star who fits around Luka within 2 season or before his option year.
LeBron's option whether to come back next season, but it's the Lakers' option to tell him this is now Luka's team. If Lebron accepts playing off ball, setting picks, and letting Luca be primary ball handler in a 2 man game he could remain pretty effective and be a net positive for Luka and the Lakers. Particularly if we shed someone like Rui and change for Poetl or similar to shore up defense down low.
LBJ's huge salary is gone after next season, and Luka playing alongside LeBron for one and a half seasons in that scenario would not be wasted.
On the other hand, if LeBron can't or won't play effectively alongside Luka? He can start a conversation with Steph, Draymond, KD.
IMO this will be a slow process... I don't think Luka is just coming in here from the jump, and JJ will be like "here's the ball and do you"... JJ has a system in place which Lebron and AR had already adjusted to for half a season.
This will be similar to when Lebron joined the Heat... That first year it was still Wade's team, and they slowly ease Lebron in. Lebron was still able to play his game in other ways. While Wade was still leading the Heat. It was the following season when Wade finally handed the team over to Lebron. But the difference here is that 26yo Lebron, was an all nba team talent on both sides of the court.
If Bron stays that means the partnership has gone well. But if Lebron feels like they are phasing him out. I think he leaves this offseason.
Looking at superstars out there... Only guy really I see who can make it work with Luka... Is Giannis or Jokic maybe Wemby... But man that's like asking for another LukaMagic to happen.
Last edited by miggz23 on Tue Feb 04, 2025 3:46 pm; edited 2 times in total
It's nuts. Totally nuts. I told you guys the other day. I am a 45 year Lakers fan. Been through the highs and lows.
I like certain players in the league over the years but ride and die with the Lakers. My two sons asked me who I would pick first to build a team with and I said Luka.
He's here and I am beyond excited. It took me by surprise and I had to think through what was happening and the Davis/Lebron combo was over but I remember saying recently to both my wife and boys, I was getting tired of that combo, especially when they both weren't having A games. The whole team sucks when that happens.
Luka looks like he's going to go on a revenge tour 2025. I see it in his eyes and he is going to play that way on the floor.
I love that he's here....
That Luka to Lebron alley-oop is gonna hit like crack. _________________ LUKA FREAKING DONCIC WHAT IS THIS TIMELINE?!
jodeke wrote:
I think Bron is in his world playing with Bronny. I wonder if they shower together.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
) makes. He's on an all out weird Bron revenge tour.
