Where do the Lakers go from here...?

[shopson67]

Yeah, giving each other shit is pretty common and NBD. But players also need to be savvy enough that you don't want it to be public because it creates controversy.

Kuzma probably didn't care about Ball's joke about him not growing up with his father but the outside observer is going to look at that askance.

Yeah, and the Lakers just told them to tone it down a bit.

 

[flyerhawk]

Yeah, and the Lakers just told them to tone it down a bit.

Yup.

My biggest problem, at least with Kuzma's trash talk, was that it wasn't very good.

 

[shopson67]

Yup.

My biggest problem, at least with Kuzma's trash talk, was that it wasn't very good.

Needs some work...

 

[Heatles84]

Welp.....

Report: LeBron James says he doesn’t like Houston as city

Don't blame him. Houston's like Miami without the beautiful scenery and women.

 

[Heatles84]

For anyone thinking that Lebron's taking anything less than the max, sorry that isn't happening. He took slightly less than the max in Miami and he said that's the last time he'll do that. He's about players getting paid. Also, given the season he just went through, I just can't see him not wanting every cent he could churn out of a team that signs him - and he shouldn't play for anything less than that.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah. I don't think it is a big issue.

I was listening to Raymona Shelburne talk about it, however, and she made a pretty interesting point. She was basically saying that this sort of thing is just a bad look for the team. It's fine for Kuz and Ball to play with each other privately but publicly it should be more professional and that it makes the Lakers look a little less professional.

Which is probably why the Lakers told them to pipe down.

I don't love it. But end of the day, not a big deal. But the Lakers have a big off season coming up and probably don't want any distractions.

 

[flyerhawk]

I don't love it. But end of the day, not a big deal. But the Lakers have a big off season coming up and probably don't want any distractions.

Pretty much agree with this. Not a huge deal but also something they should not be doing.

 

[shopson67]

Pretty much agree with this. Not a huge deal but also something they should not be doing.

Yep, just kids being kids, only that now much more public with twitter.

 

[Shanemansj13]

$45M + $4.5M = >$60M?

Lebron has said a lot of things. If he wants all the young pieces intact, splitting the difference with George is a minor thing. Maybe he doesn't care, but we won't know until we get to that point (if we do).

He WON’T take less. He said it over and over, he sacrificed enough over his career and LA has plenty enough money to pay him. Why does he have to sacrifice? Make trades if you need more cap space. He os easily the best player in the NBA, there is no reason to take one, he has done it enough over his career.

 

[Heatles84]

He WON’T take less. He said it over and over, he sacrificed enough over his career and LA has plenty enough money to pay him. Why does he have to sacrifice? Make trades if you need more cap space. He os easily the best player in the NBA, there is no reason to take one, he has done it enough over his career.

You could make the argument given Lebron's workload from just last season alone coupled with results, he was the most underpaid player in the league.

 

[The Q]

You could make the argument given Lebron's workload from just last season alone coupled with results, he was the most underpaid player in the league.

Considering the Cavs are projected to lost like 25% of their value if he leaves, I think that's just a statement of fact.

 

[shopson67]

You could make the argument given Lebron's workload from just last season alone coupled with results, he was the most underpaid player in the league.

...and you could also argue that the highest paid player in the league limits the talent around him by taking up a huge % of the cap.

It just comes down to whether the Lakers decide to trade a prospect to try to get rid of Deng's contract (if Lebron/George are coming), or just move on from Randle (which I can't see, given his growth last year).

 

[Heatles84]

Considering the Cavs are projected to lost like 25% of their value if he leaves, I think that's just a statement of fact.

I think you're being generous with 25%. I could see nearly half.

 

[The Q]

I think you're being generous with 25%. I could see nearly half.

I'm just taking a stat I saw on espn. TV deals alone probably make it impossible for it to be half.

 

[Heatles84]

I'm just taking a stat I saw on espn. TV deals alone probably make it impossible for it to be half.

I don't know. I just remember Cleveland detailing how bad the local economy was once Lebron left.

 

[Heatles84]

...and you could also argue that the highest paid player in the league limits the talent around him by taking up a huge % of the cap.

It just comes down to whether the Lakers decide to trade a prospect to try to get rid of Deng's contract (if Lebron/George are coming), or just move on from Randle (which I can't see, given his growth last year).

Fully aware that happens.

But are you trying to convince me? Or are you trying to convince Lebron to take less than the max?

 

[tlance]

$45M + $4.5M = >$60M?

Lebron has said a lot of things. If he wants all the young pieces intact, splitting the difference with George is a minor thing. Maybe he doesn't care, but we won't know until we get to that point (if we do).

If it is 4.5 million a year over the next 4, then yes.

 

[Mecca]

For anyone thinking that Lebron's taking anything less than the max, sorry that isn't happening. He took slightly less than the max in Miami and he said that's the last time he'll do that. He's about players getting paid. Also, given the season he just went through, I just can't see him not wanting every cent he could churn out of a team that signs him - and he shouldn't play for anything less than that.

It's like, how many more times....

How many more ways....

Does he have to say " no payout"?

 

[tlance]

...and you could also argue that the highest paid player in the league limits the talent around him by taking up a huge % of the cap.

It just comes down to whether the Lakers decide to trade a prospect to try to get rid of Deng's contract (if Lebron/George are coming), or just move on from Randle (which I can't see, given his growth last year).

But, LeBron would be worth a lot more on the open market if there was no max.

While it is true that a super max player limits what the team can add around him, there is nobody more worthy of it than LeBron.

 

[Heatles84]

Sorry, Lakers fans it looks like Lebron was on Mickey Arison's boat.