Will Lebron win his fifth ring with Luka?

[NBAicons]

Will Lebron win his fifth ring with Luka?

[hermanotarjeta]

Luka will win his first ring without LeBron.

[mfw13]

Given how out-of-shape Luka is, and how bad/lazy he is on defense, I think this trade makes the Lakers worse in the short term.

They might be better off in the post-LeBron years with Luka instead of AD, but right now they've got to figure out how to rebuild their offense around two ball-dominant players on the fly, while becoming even worse defensively without AD.

[jcardstore]

In all seriousness….. besides OKC who are you looking at in a playoff series where Lakers don’t have 1 or 2 of the best players?

You gotta figure the lakers aren’t done either. They have a pick and like maybe 1 or 2 more tradable assets. If they can go get some rim protection, they are dangerous in the playoffs

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

In all seriousness….. besides OKC who are you looking at in a playoff series where Lakers don’t have 1 or 2 of the best players?

You gotta figure the lakers aren’t done either. They have a pick and like maybe 1 or 2 more tradable assets. If they can go get some rim protection, they are dangerous in the playoffs

Do you mean where they have the top or the top two players? Or at least 2 of the top 3? Depending on that, there are plenty of answers - Denver, Dallas even Houston/Memphis

I've said, if they can pull 1 or 2 more trade like this where they rob the other team, they can contend.

Right now? They are worse than they were before IMO.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

In all seriousness….. besides OKC who are you looking at in a playoff series where Lakers don’t have 1 or 2 of the best players?

You gotta figure the lakers aren’t done either. They have a pick and like maybe 1 or 2 more tradable assets. If they can go get some rim protection, they are dangerous in the playoffs

Exactly.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Do you mean where they have the top or the top two players? Or at least 2 of the top 3? Depending on that, there are plenty of answers - Denver, Dallas even Houston/Memphis

I've said, if they can pull 1 or 2 more trade like this where they rob the other team, they can contend.

Right now? They are worse than they were before IMO.

Why do you think LA is so bad? Lol

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

Why do you think LA is so bad? Lol

- Negative point differential before the trade
- No interior defense
- Perimeter defense is meh
- Luka and LeBron are both high usage players that don't complement each other that well

I need to see at least two more trades. The DFS for D'Lo was a good start.

[StevieScheffler]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

Exactly.

This. It will tell us a lot if the Lakers make more trades before the deadline to fully compete this year.

But even without a trade, the only teams in the West that can beat a healthy Luka and Lebron imo are Denver and OKC. And if SGA and Jamal Murray both twist an ankle in the playoffs, and Luka goes on a revenge tour...

[jbettis32]

trade the reeves or hachimura for a defensive big, and may make a run this year.... if not, post Lebron era, use the money going for another one (Giannis? for Hollywood) to play with Luka, and no time wasting for rebuilt.

Luka, Knecht, Lebron, Vanderbilt, Defensive Big (Starting)
Milton, Gabe, DFS, Hayes coming out for the bench... doesn't really look that bad

[AwesomeBrian]

There's still just 1 ball right? Not to mention if Lebron really wasn't aware this was happening, he will get his panties in a bunch quickly. If Luka doesn't care when he is the Man, how will he care when Grandpa James is screaming at him?

[cms11]

If the Lakers get Rob Williams from the Blazers then they have a serious shot.

[Orangejello727]

The league should just given everyone a ring as a participation trophy. That way you Luka homies can try and debate GOAT

[rms13]

Will Lebron be on the Lakers past the trade deadline?

[sickmantz]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Given how out-of-shape Luka is, and how bad/lazy he is on defense, I think this trade makes the Lakers worse in the short term.

They might be better off in the post-LeBron years with Luka instead of AD, but right now they've got to figure out how to rebuild their offense around two ball-dominant players on the fly, while becoming even worse defensively without AD.

This guy gets it.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Originally Posted by rms13

Will Lebron be on the Lakers past the trade deadline?

Reports came out today that he would be.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

Why do you think LA is so bad? Lol

I agree.

A lot of talk about how the Lakers suck. But they're in 5th

Pretty ok spot for them to be in

[CubKings]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Given how out-of-shape Luka is, and how bad/lazy he is on defense, I think this trade makes the Lakers worse in the short term.

They might be better off in the post-LeBron years with Luka instead of AD, but right now they've got to figure out how to rebuild their offense around two ball-dominant players on the fly, while becoming even worse defensively without AD.

This is basically my thoughts as well.

[rms13]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Given how out-of-shape Luka is, and how bad/lazy he is on defense, I think this trade makes the Lakers worse in the short term.

They might be better off in the post-LeBron years with Luka instead of AD, but right now they've got to figure out how to rebuild their offense around two ball-dominant players on the fly, while becoming even worse defensively without AD.

I don't buy this out of shape nonsense. Dude was avg 28.1/8.3/7.8 in 35.7 mpg before he got hurt. I don't see how you do that if you are out of shape. If he's healthy he'll be the same Luka he was in the past. Yes they have no D so that probably prevents them from winning the title but who knows. If they do add a Robert Williams and another guard that can defend to Vanderbilt then maybe that's enough to plug defensive holes. Maybe Bronny is just the stopper because they can afford to punt offense at one spot. And you have to imagine Lebron is getting him hooked up with his team immediately and working out with him to get him into the best shape he can be in. If that happens Luka could be scarier then he already is. But I don't think he's ever going to be playing defense except the last 30 seconds in big games.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

I agree.

A lot of talk about how the Lakers suck. But they're in 5th

Pretty ok spot for them to be in

Yep. And I'd pick them easily in a series over Memphis and Houston. OKC still hasn't proven anything and Denver is really thin. Lakers are right up there with the top teams in the West, and they aren't done making moves.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by rms13

I don't buy this out of shape nonsense. Dude was avg 28.1/8.3/7.8 in 35.7 mpg before he got hurt. I don't see how you do that if you are out of shape.

The main reason he got hurt IS because he's out of shape....

And the main reason that the Mavs decided to trade him, by all accounts, is that they didn't want to commit max money on an extension to a guy who is always in questionable shape and who doesn't seem willing to do the hard work needed to get in shape.

[Asian62150]

It's hard to win a chip.

It's even harder to win a chip when your best player, who also happens to have a really high usage rate, is added right before the All-Star break.

And then you're assuming the Lakers can just add another player right before the All-Star break who can raise their defense to a championship-level? Even if the Lakers trade Reaves (one of their better shooters and a terrific secondary/tertiary play maker), covering defensively for at least two subpar defensive players (LeBron, Luka) is a tall task.

That's a lot to ask for this season. Maybe they make some good moves this summer but I don't see it happening this year.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Do you mean where they have the top or the top two players? Or at least 2 of the top 3? Depending on that, there are plenty of answers - Denver, Dallas even Houston/Memphis

I've said, if they can pull 1 or 2 more trade like this where they rob the other team, they can contend.

Right now? They are worse than they were before IMO.

My assumption is that they are not done and make another trade for a tim protector.

Still Luka and Lebron both have playoff magic. I’m taking those 2 against almost any team in the west. Memphis and Houston are cute regular season teams but especially Houston is gonna struggle in the playoffs. That offense is just not good and once you slow them down and force them to beat you in the half court it’s over.

Houston is living on hot shooting from Dillon Brooks right now. Ask yourself if that’s sustainable in the playoffs. Honestly I feel like any team is happy to draw Houston in the 1st round

[sethc1020]

The one thing I hope happens the most is Lebron teaching Luka how to keep his body in shape and Luka being open to it.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

My assumption is that they are not done and make another trade for a tim protector.

Still Luka and Lebron both have playoff magic. I’m taking those 2 against almost any team in the west. Memphis and Houston are cute regular season teams but especially Houston is gonna struggle in the playoffs. That offense is just not good and once you slow them down and force them to beat you in the half court it’s over.

Houston is living on hot shooting from Dillon Brooks right now. Ask yourself if that’s sustainable in the playoffs. Honestly I feel like any team is happy to draw Houston in the 1st round

My thoughts exactly. There's no way LA is done. They know they need rim protection and they have assets to get it. The Thunder is the only team I wouldn't put LA easily past. I love the Thunder, but I'm still taking Luka and Lebron over Shai/JWill in the playoffs.