[OFFICIAL] Russell Westbrook as a Los Angeles Laker thread

Trying to look at this objectively, which is hard for me to do since I hate the Lakers, there wasn't any reason or any trade for the deadline this year regarding AD. So its pass the buck to the off-season. Now, even their brain trust must think the trade thought some time this summer.

The thing is, they are going to want a super star back in any AD that isn't injury prone. Who is giving up a healthy piece for a broken down one? Maybe a team who has a star who will walk this summer?

Like the trade deadline, the Lakers want a lot, but have little to give. AD + the 2027 FRP might get you something. But I doubt that something will be the Lakers franchise player for the next decade (what they are looking for).

But this is how I think it will go,
If AD gets healthy and has a good playoffs, they wont want to trade him.
If AD stays hurt, they wont want to trade him selling low.

So its hard to see a scenario where he gets traded.
Broken down max players can only be traded for like kind.

 

Without AD for the next month, there is no playoff run. If they were smart, there would be a sell-off this summer.

 

AD for embiied after he gets injured in the playoffs again
you pair bron with embiied and you pair harden with ad...its a win win trade

 

Lmao, the Lakers "Brain trust" is LeBron, and he'd be flipping burgers if he wasn't 6'10 and fast. The idea that he can compete mentally with the Daryl Moreys of the world is completely laughable.

He managed the Lakers like a trust fund baby manages a margin account. Sold every real asset he had and paid his dumb ass friends instead.

There is no objectivity on the Lakers. Just nepotism, both genetic and monetary, and as a Rockets fan, I'm loving every minute.

 

You made your Westbrook bed so shut up and sleep in it.

https://theathletic.com/3139321/202...ga-and-mvp-talk-all-star-weekend-revelations/

So apparently LeBron James isn’t retiring as a member of the Lakers. Unless, that is, they somehow find a way to land Bronny James when he enters the NBA draft (likely 2024).

Of all the takeaways from his incredible interview with our Jason Lloyd on Saturday, one that I’m going to dissect here with the hopes of understanding the clever and compelling way that the Lakers star is using his power and influence right now, we’ll start with that unofficial announcement. The 37-year-old who has one more season left on his current contract, and who came to the Lakers in 2018 with an eye on ending his legendary career near Hollywood, made it clear that his desire to play with his 17-year-old is so strong that it will determine where he plays in his final basketball chapter.

But there’s more than meets the eye here in the post-trade deadline landscape, not only in Lloyd’s interview but in James’ press conference that preceded it and on social media in the days leading into All-Star weekend. So. Much. More.

Let us count the ways (that he shared his discontent)…

1. He called the Lakers’ lackluster campaign a “hell-storm of a season” — a true statement that is reflected in their 27-31 record and the fact that they’re fighting for a spot in the play-in tournament (that he once chided) at this point. He lauded all sorts of out-of-nowhere praise on Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti, a move that came in response to a question about Josh Giddey. It was curious at best and passive-aggressive toward Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka at worst.

2. He raved about Cavs general manager Koby Altman, highlighting all the draft picks and trades that have sparked his old team’s renaissance without him. As anyone who paid attention during his Cleveland exit four years ago, this newfound penchant for promoting Altman’s acumen was most assuredly not part of his politics back then.

3. James tweeted about Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead on Wednesday, celebrating his t-shirt that read “**** them picks.” This isn’t Da Vinci Code-level stuff, folks. It’s quite clear that James isn’t thrilled with the way the Lakers’ season has been handled so far.

4. In case anyone forgets, James made it known heading into the Feb. 10 trade deadline that he believed the Lakers’ roster needed some reshuffling. When the Lakers were routed by Milwaukee at home that night, trailing by as many as 24 points in the first half and losing 131-116, he declared that the Lakers weren’t on the defending champions’ level. Yet again, it was an accurate but direct statement that reflected his sober outlook on the Lakers’ state of affairs.

The following morning, there were multiple sourced reports from Lakers beat writers about the players’ perspective on the matter: this roster, they all indicated, wasn’t good enough. But the message, it seemed, fell on deaf ears. Or perhaps defiant ones.

Pelinka did no deals at the deadline, holding onto that 2027 first-round draft pick that is the most prized of their few remaining assets and sending a message that it was up to James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook and all the rest of them to figure this out. After all, it was their plan to put this superstar trio together in the first place.

If only it were that easy.

Anyone who has paid attention to the way James has used his voice these past 19 seasons knows that he’s nothing if not calculated. He may not share exactly what’s on his mind, or explain the things he says and does that inspire all those raised eyebrows, but you can always tell when he’s trying to say something without saying it. And make no mistake, James has been in one of his Morse code moods for quite some time now.

Does it mean he’s considering the prospect of wearing a different jersey down the line, or that he has lost faith in Pelinka as the leader of this Lakers front office? Only he knows.

But uncertainty about what might come next, it seems, is now part of his Laker Land experience.

 

How long until Lebron suffers a season ending "injury"?

 

Now we just need Durant to decide he has a son somewhere he wants to play with.

 

No sooner than he secures this season's scoring title.

 

Klutch sports aka the devil

 

theyr not the only one... every agency must be trying to get involved with how PT is distributed on every team, who is signed, for how much and who is let go....

you think Stephen Silas wont play his agencys players more than the others?
I don think so...

 

the west is tough
in his 4 years as a laker only once lebron was seed no 1 and won a (mickey mouse) ring

once he missed the playoffs
and twice it was the play-in tournament

so he was really really struggling 3 years out of 4

his resume wouldnt look as nearly as good if he were in the west for his entire career

i was always claiming so before when arguing that james harden is a better and more accomplished player than lebron

 

Shut up and dribble!
You put together this roster, now live with it.

Not trading 2027/2029 first round picks for John Wall or Buddy Hield or Julius Randle (or whatever Knicks trash) or Jerami Grant or whatever C+/B level talent.

LerBon might have to go.



LeBron James Put Lakers On Notice That Roster Changes Are Needed

LeBron James All-Star Weekend was a homecoming, as he returned to Cleveland. Throughout the weekend, James made it known he still has affinity for the city, even saying he wouldn't close the door on returning to the Cavaliers at some point. James also said he has every intention of playing in the NBA with his son Bronny before he retires.

But what James really did was put the Los Angeles Lakers on notice that major changes are needed this offseason.

ESPN reports that James was upset the Lakers didn't make a deal leading up to the trade deadline. In addition, James was even more upset when Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka said he was on board with keeping the roster whole. ESPN sources indicate James never agreed to that plan.

The belief is that James will push Los Angeles to make moves to surround him with veteran talent for another title run. And that he may make those roster-change demands before considering signing an extension this summer, when the Lakers can first offer him one.

 

LeBron James is far from perfect when it comes to roster construction. In Cleveland he demanded a lot of questionable moves be made (JR Smith/Thompson as just a couple) and ultimately left after it did not work. He tried to do the same in Miami before Pat Riley told him to take his talents elsewhere... so it isn't a surprise that he is doing in in LA, especially when he is in his upper 30's. If he gets away essentially running a player agency while still playing, it isn't surprising that he gets away with so much involvement in roster construction.

I'll say this for him, he has delivered at least one title everywhere he has been, so thus far he has obviously been worth the headaches. Lets see at what point that ends. He is quietly having an exceptional season at 37 years old and if his knees and back hold up, he could play into his 40's.

The thing I think that rubs some people wrong is that nothing is ever his fault. When he pushes for a coaching change or roster control, and it doesn't work, he never takes any personal responsibility for it and he doesn't modify his behavior. We talk about leadership or greatness taking responsibility and learning from their mistakes - I sure don't see it in the NBA. Jordan, Magic and Bird all made mistakes as players and took zero accountability for it. LeBron is the same way, and we are seeing it with Harden as well. Westbrook is also guilty of it, K. Leonard and others.

The Lakers will be an interesting test study. Does Lakers ownership side with a 37 year old LeBron James and a busted up Anthony Davis or does ownership side with this front office. The Lakers have to know that LeBron is going to leave when his son gets into the league, because they won't have the assets to trade for his son. Do the Lakers not care and just go all in for next year, and then realize they will have almost no assets for 3-4 years?

 

How good is Bronny James supposed to be? I haven't followed that closely, but the rankings I've seen put him in 30s-50s. Take away the pedigree, and that's not a sure fire 1 and done or even first round pick.

 

A lot can change, depending on what happens over the next year. High school rankings for those guys that are not top 2-3 in their class can really go up and down quite a bit. If his handle or shot improve he could be a lottery pick. If they don't, he could never play in the NBA. So it is hard to say.

I know that one team said they thought he would go 30-50 in the draft right now if he had a different last name.

He will go higher than other similar prospects because he grew up around the game, has had exceptional coaching and the belief that he already knows what to expect..... and the biggest reason is whoever drafts him likely gets LeBron for at least a year.

I think he will likely improve before he is draft eligible, he has some strong fundamentals and isn't afraid of pressure. He is also a good athlete.... I personally think he ends up in the lottery because, if nothing else, his dad will play with him.

 

Bryce > Bronny

 

It depends on how LeBron holds up in the next season. Right now he still looks like he has superhuman physical abilities. But if he becomes being ravaged by injuries with slow recoveries, that may change quickly. Such decline is not unthinkable.

If his game or health comes down a few notches, teams may not even want the trouble of having him meddling around his son.