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Windhorst: Lakers might acquire Lebron once Kobe retires in 2014

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by GreatOne1978, Oct 18, 2012.

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GreatOne1978 Member

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http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8518360/nba-los-angeles-lakers-eying-lebron-james-2014

Opposing executives think so. As teams continue their long-range planning and work up opposition strategies, the Lakers remain just as much a threat in the transaction game as they are on the court.

Several teams' executives have told ESPN.com they believe the Lakers are positioning themselves to make a run at LeBron James in 2014, when the Miami Heat star can choose to become a free agent.

Recently, Kobe Bryant told CBSSports.com that he sees himself playing only two more seasons (2012-13 and 2013-14) and then retiring at age 35. Bryant said similar things in an interview with Yahoo! Sports over the summer.

Bryant has two years left on his contract, and next season he is scheduled to become just the second player ever to earn more than $30 million in a season. The other was Michael Jordan.

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But look a little further, to that 2014-15 season, and you'll see something else: The Lakers' projected payroll is almost completely clear. Only Nash is signed for that season, at $9.7 million, though the Lakers will also be paying about $20 million to Howard if they can re-sign him this coming summer.

In July 2013, Bryant's $30.4 million, Pau Gasol's $19.2 million, Metta World Peace's $7.7 million, Steve Blake's $4 million and Jordan Hill's $3.5 million will come off the books. There likely won't even be any first-round draft picks filling up the cap, either, as the Lakers have already traded their 2013 first-round pick to Phoenix in the Nash deal.

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Opposing teams that are making their own long-range free agency plans think they see the Lakers' plan coming into focus. As it stands, L.A. will have enough cap space to add a superstar like James.

"It's not a mistake that all those deals end the same year Kobe's does. They have probably been planning for their next phase for a while," said one general manager. "The Busses and [Lakers GM] Mitch [Kupchak] are always thinking about the next big deal."

No one knows this better than Bryant himself, who has been the beneficiary of the Lakers' aggressive maneuvers for 16-plus years.

"I knew how much the Buss family, Jeanie and so forth, wanted to turn it around," Bryant told CBSSports.com. "I've seen them do it. They rebuilt first by picking up Shaq. ... Then that era was over and they rebuilt again. And now they've rebuilt again. I've seen them do it before."

James is signed through 2016, but he can end his contract in either 2014 or 2015 if he wishes to. He has recently said that he's not thought about his contract decision in 2014, even though he recently switched agents. But observers around the league expect James to opt out of his contract in 2014, no matter what happens with the Heat over the next two seasons. That doesn't mean he won't stay in Miami, but it does mean he might be in play again.

"The agent part probably doesn't matter. LeBron is the best player in the league and he's making less than the max, so unless he's seriously hurt he's going to opt out in 2014, if only because I would assume he wants and deserves to get a true max," said one league executive. "Even if the Heat win the next two titles there's a feeling that LeBron is going to become a free agent in two years no matter what."

Just as during the period from 2008 to 2010, James' free agent plans will probably become a big topic over the next 21 months. They will definitely be a part of various teams' long-term cap planning. Presumably, that list of teams includes the Lakers.

Meanwhile, keep an eye on Chris Paul, LeBron's best friend in the NBA. James has wanted to team up with CP3 for seven years or more.
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#1 GreatOne1978, Oct 18, 2012

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Poor Lakers fans, they'd be forced to cheer for someone they've hated and bashed for years . How will they manage? How will they overcome having to admit that Lebron will be their franchise player? It's tough being a Laker fan.

#2 Ricksmith, Oct 18, 2012

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Ricksmith said: ↑

Poor Lakers fans, they'd be forced to cheer for someone they've hated and bashed for years . How will they manage? How will they overcome having to admit that Lebron will be their franchise player? It's tough being a Laker fan.
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Umm Nash?

#3 GreatOne1978, Oct 18, 2012
REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

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I hope the big one hits and that city falls into the ocean.

Evacuate now The_Yoyo!

#4 REEKO_HTOWN, Oct 18, 2012
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No way will Lebron leave Miami. Pat Riley actually knows what he is doing unlike the Cavs and Miami is FA hotspot. Unless Wade and Bosh severely decline I doubt it.

#5 felixng2012, Oct 18, 2012
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If LeBron and Chris Paul go to the Lakers the fans of the other 29 teams will lose interest. The NBA will be reduced to 13 year old bandwagon Laker fans. The rest of the league will be reduced to the Washington Generals- simply providing a venue for the "Lakest Show on Earth".

#6 da_juice, Oct 18, 2012
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felixng2012 said: ↑

No way will Lebron leave Miami. Pat Riley actually knows what he is doing unlike the Cavs and Miami is FA hotspot. Unless Wade and Bosh severely decline I doubt it.
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it's probably about time we all stop saying the lakers can't do it, can't get whoever, as they typically show what the lakers want, the lakers get...or better

#7 Aleron, Oct 18, 2012

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Devin Ebanks for LeBron sounds about right according to standard Laker Trade Math.

#8 SamFisher, Oct 18, 2012
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Blake Griffin, Deandre Jordan, and Eric Bledsoe for Lebron, Mike Miller, and Joel Anthony. Make it happen Murray.

#9 Ricksmith, Oct 18, 2012
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LeBron is coming to Houston. Book it!

#10 Johndoe804, Oct 18, 2012
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That wouldn't be fun

#11 BigBird, Oct 18, 2012
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He's going, going back, back to Cleveland, Cleveland.

#12 MourningWood, Oct 18, 2012
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Lakers 2014 Lineup
Brandon Jennings (Wants to be in the big city)
Kobe Bryant (Comes out of retirement, signs for cheap)
LeBron James (Heat have just lost two years ago in the semis, Wade and Bosh are injuryprone.)
Kevin Love (Tired of losing, leaves Minnesota)
Dwight Howard

Welp, game over kiddos.

#13 Firebomb525, Oct 18, 2012

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absolutely possible. its like every great player wants to play for the lakers

#14 trowa, Oct 18, 2012
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Firebomb525 said: ↑

Lakers 2014 Lineup
Brandon Jennings (Wants to be in the big city)
Kobe Bryant (Comes out of retirement, signs for cheap)
LeBron James (Heat have just lost two years ago in the semis, Wade and Bosh are injuryprone.)
Kevin Love (Tired of losing, leaves Minnesota)
Dwight Howard

Welp, game over kiddos.
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why kevin love? he is known to grab every teammate's rebounds. greg monroe is much better

#15 trowa, Oct 18, 2012
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trowa said: ↑

why kevin love? he is known to grab every teammate's rebounds. greg monroe is much better
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Love wants to go home. Born in Cali, played for UCLA

It's going to happen. And Stern will be rolling in the money.

#16 Firebomb525, Oct 18, 2012
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Johndoe804 said: ↑

LeBron is coming to Houston. Book it!
Click to expand...

jopat?

#17 vlaurelio, Oct 18, 2012
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Damn...gotta get some of that Lakers stock

#18 supdudes, Oct 18, 2012

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Don't think so, Big Three will stay together for a long time. Not one, not two, not three...

#19 Yung-T, Oct 18, 2012
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I hope that works out for them - and i actually mean it.

It reduces KD/WB destinations by one.

#20 BigBenito, Oct 18, 2012

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