Lebron to Lakers

[tenn_smoothie]

Expected.

Now let’s turn our collective attention to Kawhi.

Let's turn our collective attention to keeping Kawhi as far away from Boston as possible.
He wants to be in LA and currently has a "Posse" of whack-jobs advising him.
Leave him alone.

[Phantom255x]

Question: Anyone know approximately how much cap space Lakers have left as of now?

[hwangjini_1]

So what does LA give up for Kawhi? With LeBron already in the fold the Spurs lost some leverage.

SAS does not have to trade Kawhi immediately to anyone, let alone LA. the price of Kawhi will not go down for a while, and James might force LA's hand if he doesnt get what he wants.

SAS might even start the season with him and let LA see what they have. If LA starts slow, SAS can ask a high price for Kawhi.

as presently constituted, the lakers are going no where important this year.

[jpotter33]

The more I think about this, the more I think this is setting things up so perfectly for Boston to win the title in 2019.

Think about it, if (probably more like when) LA trades for Kawhi, while they won't be the favorites in the West they'll be a really tough out. That top 4 of GS, Houston, LAL, and OKC in the West will be brutal, let alone the likes of Utah, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, and Minnesota.

Boston is the clear favorite in the East, and while Toronto and Philly won't be pushovers, the East is still a much easier route to the Finals than the West. If we stay healthy, we have a really, really good shot of winning the 2019 title.

[celticinorlando]

Don't see Philly v Boston as an opening night game because they play so much in the preseason. Think that game will be Christmas game.

[Sophomore]

So what does LA give up for Kawhi? With LeBron already in the fold the Spurs lost some leverage.

Not sure I agree. LeBron was the best player in the league last year, or maybe tied with KD, but he'll turn 34 in December this year. The year after that, 35, and well, we all know the numbers after that.

Suppose the Lakers lowball the Spurs, the Spurs get sick of it, and someone else offers them a half-decent deal. They trade Kawhi somewhere else. The Lakers are all-in with LeBron, and now he has no sidekick - the year is wasted, or worse. How confident can they be about who/what he'll be at 35, especially if they're riding him the way the Cavs did this year? At some point, all these minutes will catch up to him...

[Jvalin]

Chances are that the C's will play in the NBA Finals next year. We 'll be waiting for the Fakers. Let them come.

After all, we 'd be better off facing the Fakers than the Warriors.

[SparzWizard]

Already hearing Lakers fans saying they're gonna win it all this season. They're gonna sweep the Warriors and Boston yada yada. LeBron going West because he can take down all of the West and prove his haters wrong yada yada.

Ya know this when ya live in LA. 

[Phantom255x]

Something a lot of people are overlooking.

The Sixers have already lost Belinelli and Illyasova. Two of their better "pure shooters" last season and two perimeter threats. They also still run the risk of losing Reddick still.

Those are some underrated losses there especially if PHI strikes out completely on max-FA's and star trade targets. Still think they keep Reddick and sign someone like Evans or Bradley, but yeah, the point still stands.

[coco]

I bet CP3 is regretting signing with Rockets so fast...

Wii be interesting to see who joins LeBron. 

[hwangjini_1]

So what does LA give up for Kawhi? With LeBron already in the fold the Spurs lost some leverage.

Not sure I agree. LeBron was the best player in the league last year, or maybe tied with KD, but he'll turn 34 in December this year. The year after that, 35, and well, we all know the numbers after that.

Suppose the Lakers lowball the Spurs, the Spurs get sick of it, and someone else offers them a half-decent deal. They trade Kawhi somewhere else. The Lakers are all-in with LeBron, and now he has no sidekick - the year is wasted, or worse. How confident can they be about who/what he'll be at 35, especially if they're riding him the way the Cavs did this year? At some point, all these minutes will catch up to him...

good points. from what i am seeing, it seems to me that the LA game plan may be to simply ride out this year without Kawhi. then, sign him, trade anyone and everyone not named lebron for a third star, and then make a serious run at a chamionship.

will lebron be able to carry such a team out of the western conference at 35 years old? we won't know until then.

[celticinorlando]

Can the Cs steal redick?

[Sophomore]

The more I think about this, the more I think this is setting things up so perfectly for Boston to win the title in 2019.

Think about it, if (probably more like when) LA trades for Kawhi, while they won't be the favorites in the West they'll be a really tough out. That top 4 of GS, Houston, LAL, and OKC in the West will be brutal, let alone the likes of Utah, Denver, Portland, New Orleans, and Minnesota.

Boston is the clear favorite in the East, and while Toronto and Philly won't be pushovers, the East is still a much easier route to the Finals than the West. If we stay healthy, we have a really, really good shot of winning the 2019 title.

That all sounds right, although I also would not sleep on the Bucks. They might emerge as our chief rivals. Another year of Giannis' development (I do hope he doesn't develop a jump shot), better coaching from Budenholzer. They took us seven games this year - a tougher out than the Sixers by a good bit.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Something a lot of people are overlooking.

The Sixers have already lost Belinelli and Illyasova. Two of their better "pure shooters" last season and two perimeter threats. They also still run the risk of losing Reddick still.

Those are some underrated losses there especially if PHI strikes out completely on max-FA's and star trade targets. Still think they keep Reddick and sign someone like Evans or Bradley, but yeah, the point still stands.

I agree completely.

[Phantom255x]

Something a lot of people are overlooking.

The Sixers have already lost Belinelli and Illyasova. Two of their better "pure shooters" last season and two perimeter threats. They also still run the risk of losing Reddick still.

Those are some underrated losses there especially if PHI strikes out completely on max-FA's and star trade targets. Still think they keep Reddick and sign someone like Evans or Bradley, but yeah, the point still stands.

I agree completely.

Meanwhile, Celtics bring back Kyrie and Hayward.

Honestly, would PHI even have an answer for Kyrie? They let Rozier run wild on them and a limited Jaylen made an impact, and so unless Fultz comes back healthy and playing well, then YIKES.