LeBron James signs 4-year, $154M deal with Los Angeles Lakers

[PatsFan1283]

He's basically replacing Cousins. To say he isn't because of slight stylistic differences would be semantics.

He's going to fit in better than Cousins despite being 1 of the worst rotation players in the league? That's taking the importance of fit a bit far. If you suck that much, then you just suck. Not sure why he would play over Mirotic if he is that bad.

But he isn't that bad, he's very good. He's a newer version of ZBo. Great rebounder and pounds people downlow. Just not much of a rim protecting center/floor spacer which does make him tough to fit into the way that teams are playing these days. Still dumb to let him go for nothing tho but we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[Mobdeeper7239]

He's basically replacing Cousins. To say he isn't because of slight stylistic differences would be semantics.

He's going to fit in better than Cousins despite being 1 of the worst rotation players in the league? That's taking the importance of fit a bit far. If you suck that much, then you just suck.

like I said it’s situational. Pelicans are looking at last year and saying damn if we get that Randle, he can help us. We play similar styles. And he can go 1 on 1 to help take pressure off Davis. Cousins not very much of a 1 on 1 player unless he is in the post. So yes if you look at the teams Randle fits in better than Cousins. Cousins never fit in New Orleans.

Randle is a 3/4. Can’t play center. Cousins could. They didn’t want Cousins. Hard for me to say he is replacing someone who barely played last year. They had moved on as soon as he tore his Achilles.

 

[PatsFan1283]

Cousins played 50 games last year. Of course he is replacing him. And saying Cousins isn't a 1 on 1 player besides when he posts makes no sense. Posting up is a huge part of his game.

And Randle isn't a 3 at all. He'll probably play like 25% of his minutes at center for them this year I would guess.

 

[Mobdeeper7239]

Cousins played 50 games last year. Of course he is replacing him. And saying Cousins isn't a 1 on 1 player besides when he posts makes no sense. Posting up is a huge part of his game.


And Randle isn't a 3 at all. He'll probably play like 25% of his minutes at center for them this year I would guess.

Thought Cousins got hurt before all star break. So he played a little more than half the year. If Randle is going to backup Davis at center then they better hope and pray Davis doesn’t get hurt.

 

[JoeShmoe]

So what you are saying is the Lakers should've passed on signing LeBron James? That's what you think would've been the correct move because another team is still better?

How is being 1 of the best 5 teams in the league with a capacity to get better being "screwed"

Because now James is locked into a Max contract for the next four years. He's just getting older. No way the Lakers get by GS the next 2 or 3 years. Just won't happen barring major injuries to GS. Now they are still not done, Magic will be trading away their future now, selling their draft picks and youth to get another vet. I think they are screwed. Oh and he will probably fire Luke Walton in the near future.

 

[PatsFan1283]

Because now James is locked into a Max contract for the next four years. He's just getting older. No way the Lakers get by GS the next 2 or 3 years. Just won't happen barring major injuries to GS. Now they are still not done, Magic will be trading away their future now, selling their draft picks and youth to get another vet. I think they are screwed. Oh and he will probably fire Luke Walton in the near future.

If GS maintains current form you could say that for like 27 teams though. Who knows how long they will be good for? Tough to say. Durant a FA after next year and there is a point when you win so much with 1 team that you stop getting credit for it (big reason Kobe wanted his own team after the Shaq years)

I think LeBron will still be a top 5 player for the next 3-4 years as long as he doesn't suffer a major injury. He's just so big and skilled that even if he loses athleticism, he can still play a different game. His passing is never gonna go away.

As far as the Lakers, when they signed LeBron, I liked their spot but they have already made some bad moves. Magic made some very shrewd moves to get LeBron there so I guess it depends how smart/patient him/LeBron can be in terms of building a team. And how well guys like Ingram/Ball/Kuzma develop.

This year though, I'd probably have their win total at like 50ish right now which is a pretty thin margin for error. If these young guys don't make the leap this year then they could conceivably miss the playoffs or be a lower seed given how loaded the West is. But over the next 3-5 years I think they have a decent chance to win a title. Guys will wanna play in LA and with Ball/Kuzma/Ingram on rookie deals, they can go over the cap to re-sign them when the time comes. And obviously paying the luxury tax isn't a big deal for the Lakers because that org. prints $ like the federal reserve.

 

[packer2012]

Because now James is locked into a Max contract for the next four years. He's just getting older. No way the Lakers get by GS the next 2 or 3 years. Just won't happen barring major injuries to GS. Now they are still not done, Magic will be trading away their future now, selling their draft picks and youth to get another vet. I think they are screwed. Oh and he will probably fire Luke Walton in the near future.

Fire Luke to hire someone LeBron can bully. Bronnie has failed miserably at all his "managerial" duties. Cant see Magic giving Bronnie as much control. So probably Bronnie will pout when things get tough..... Like he did the last game and a half of the finals.

The real top guns won't sign on with Bronnie. He's always got to be the center of attention and REAL big dogs don't play that.

Looks to me like Bronnie is just squeezing out all the coin he can.... And waiting to become some big-assed movie guy. He can set records there too. Worse movies ever, but made shitloads of box-office.

 

[5teamparlay]

6-6

[h=1]GAME RECAP: Lakers 101, Kings 86[/h]LeBron James finishes with 25 points and seven rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers improve to .500 on the season by slaying the Sacramento Kings on the road, 101-86.