I love what LeBron/LAL are doing. Feels like he's embracing the villain role from back in his Miami days. GS has built the model team for the league, and keeps adding to it? I'm going to stockpile a core of the knuckleheads and cast-offs that noone else wanted, and beat you with them.
An underrated aspect is that these guys really haven't been idiots of late, and more, they're all dirt dogs -- part of the reason they were difficult was b/c of how competitive they are, and that hasn't changed.
Beasley/McGree don't fit that particular mold like Rondo and Lance, but Beasley was a nice pick-up. He can flat out score the ball from the bench at virtually no cost, and he plays with a ton of generally rational confidence.
Since LeBron's not our problem anymore, I'm looking forward to seeing how these guys fare, especially in the playoffs.
Read through this entire thread and finally found a comment that sees the forest through the trees.
The Lakers have certainly put themselves in a position where they could fail spectacularly, but they have also put themselves in a position where they could be a unique challenge to the elite teams in the league.
Worst case scenario it fails and honestly who cares? They are the premier free agent destination in 2019 and even if they can just keep two to three of these malcontents they could find themselves in a position to challenge the elite of the league.
As currently constructed, Boston is the only teams equipped to dethrone Golden State playing their own game.
Rockets are a threat because they've amassed sheer Talent around an MVP candidate.
Thunder are a threat because they have accepted exactly what they are and have a chance to show the league that it only takes the right personnel to overthrow a dynasty..
I'm even going to include Toronto as a threat because there is nothing that says that replacing DeRozan with Kawhi will be anything short of League shifting
Now the Lakers are the most unlikely Threat by throwing the Golden State strategy in the face of the rest of the league. They have a roster of unstoppable matchups that don't fit into the modern-day Paradigm of what makes good player.
Fascinating times we're living in. I for one hope so the Lakers succeed to show the league that there is more to life than the 3 point shot.