Ball PG-13 Ingram Kuzma Cousins with Nance, KCP and Zu as our bench mob. (This is assuming we used Clarkson and Randle to jettison Deng). I like that team.
My biggest worry with Lebron is how he leaves a franchise. He forces the front office to assemble a team that can contend and signs his friends up to bad contracts. Then bails (or in our case just becomes too old). Does he demand ball/ingram are traded for an established third star like CP3 before he signs? Does he try to get Wade and Melo to ring chase with him and PG? And once the banana boat's 2 year window has passed, are we left with nothing and struggle with a 5-7 year rebuild once more? Cleveland round 1, Miami, Cleveland round 2 are all examples of him wringing all the juice out of an organisation and then leaving them in a bad spot. Whatever we do, we have to keep our young guys so if we do get Lebron we have some kind of core after him too.
I think we have to tell him this won't be the way it works if he signs here, that we are bringing in another Star with him and that's enough, he has to trust management with the rest of the roster. If that means he turns us down, oh well. If he were 28 it'd be different because we'd have a 5+ year window of his prime and in that case you can risk it all for titles. But 34 year old LeBron doesn't get to make these demands, we can't bring him in for maybe 2 good years and then have to start all over rebuilding. Ball and Ingram are going nowhere.
I have to believe we will stand firm on not giving up Ball and probably Ingram as long as he shows progress this season. I think the moves being discussed including Randle and Clarkson are going to be on the table Lebron or no Lebron.
If an aging Lebron came in, demanded control, and influenced us to make moves that hurt us in the long term ... I'd only be a little upset at Lebron. Because most of my emotional energy would be devoted to anger and dread about Magic/Rob's incompetence for letting Lebron do something like that. If I'm Magic, and Lebron even hints towards wanting us to move Lonzo/Ingram during his free agent meeting, I'd cancel the pitch right there.
I think Lonzo is safe but Ingram could be moved for a cheap big man but i highly doubt it. I think the plan is for best of both worlds. Lebron and his PEDs will be just fine when hes here
I said this before but maybe it bears repeating now that LeBron to the Lakers is starting to look like a real possibility: my only opposition to him coming here is my fear that we might win a tainted banner. He is unquestionably the best player in the league right now and he would instantly make us a contender. We might even get a chance to beat the C Bags in the finals with him. If I could be assured that LeBron would never be implicated in any kind of scandal, then I wouldn't think twice about welcoming him with open arms. Perhaps it's unfair, but I'll always have my suspicions and I'll always be worried that a championship won with LeBron is one Deadspin article away from being de-legitimized
Scandal? Where is this coming from? Like PED's type scandal in the NFL? Sexual misbehavior scandal like that dark day in Colorado? Financial scandal like MJ's penchant for gambling? Is there a LBJ scandal out there now or brewing?
I was responding to someone who mentioned the theory thinking if Lebron comes here perhaps Lonzo/Ingram if not both will be moved for surrounding pieces. With that being said im pretty sure Lonzo is for sure off limits and think though i doubt Ingram would get moved,i could see somen for a cheap big man thats on a rookie contract themselves or say Ingram/Deng for a bargain big man on a steal of a contract or on a rookie contract. Why? Not hard to think about if we want to George and Lebron as SG&SF or money to re-sign julius or a 3rd all star. Overall i doubt Lonzo and Ingram will be moved cause i think were going for the win now and have those two still be the future as George starts getting up there..
"Ingram / Deng" is the silliest thing you could possibly think about even hypothetically, let alone type those words.
What if next off season Knicks call us and say they'll take Deng and Ingram for Porzingis or something. I said i doubt it happens... Wow everyone is on a good one today. Were just discussing different scenarios.
Love you sirron...lol. Magic is pulling a Lavar IMO as were seeing with Ingram and i think its bogus hes untouchable lol. I havent watched MUCH of him but did hear/seems hes already about a top 5 young C? Also that IMO would be a way to beat GSW. Shaq wouldve dominated the GSW IMO. Thanks for having my back my dude lol.. I was just saying you never know what can happen.
Rare talent and hard worker. I don't think we'd even consider trading him honestly after hearing Magic's remarks unless totally blown away by an offer.