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LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by therealdeal, Jun 8, 2017.

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Cookie The Dame of Doom Staff Member

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I think Bron and Klutch overplayed their hand and this is just damage control. They are used to getting their way and the lack of moves at the trade deadline pissed them off.

Last edited: Feb 26, 2022

Cookie, Feb 25, 2022

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Helljumper said: ↑

What did Lebron do again?

Didn’t rule out a return to Cleveland at some point. Reiterated his desire to play with his son. Offered praise to a few GM’s.

Is that about right? Some of y’all are acting like Lebron took a piss on a Laker jersey and demanded a trade.

And those comments seem to have singularly shifted us from “This season is a lost cause, but let’s see what we can do this summer to sign players that actually fit and trade some combination of Russ, THT, Nunn, and the 2027 and 2029 first rounders” to “BLOW UP EVERYTHING”.

Just his comments made that shift. No actual changes to the reality of Lebron’s abilities, contract, or long term prospects with the franchise. Even before the ASW, Lebron only had one year left on his contract and I thought it a possibility he leaves after his contract is up. Some of you, upset about the threat that Lebron leaves sooner rather than later, are now clamoring to trade him and overstating how washed he is. But if he’s so washed, did you even want him to stick around long term anyways? Seems kinda circular.

Emotions flying way too high.
Click to expand...

Emotions flying high for sure.
For me, it's about loyalty and integrity. It def feels like pissing on the jersey when he's putting out signals like that. Historically, that's been his pattern when he doesn't like what's around him.

Do I think he's washed? No. He's 29.1 ppg and ripping it up when he wants to. He could do a little more in defense, but washed isn't the word.

I just don't like the antics he's bringing. It feels self-centered and Lakers are a franchise with or without him. IMO, don't care how good you are, why wouldn't you WANT to set the franchise up for a better future if you valued the Lakers name as much as you say you do. Saving the franchise from a championship drought is not saving the franchise when you rip it's future up.

But, all in all, you're right. Lots of emotions, let's just see where it goes. Thx for the reminder

lalalaleeluelela, Feb 25, 2022

#17102

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More on the meeting

For approximately two hours on Tuesday, the most influential people in LeBron James’ Lakers life sat inside the business offices of the team’s practice facility in El Segundo, Calif. and tried to accomplish one shared goal: Clearing the air after reports of rising tensions and power plays had dominated the NBA news cycle of late.

It was his agent, Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul, Lakers owner Jeanie Buss and general manager Rob Pelinka in attendance. And as Paul explained to The Athletic not long after ESPN first reported about the meeting on Friday, it was high time they all got in a room to figure a few things out.

There had been more than two weeks of perceived strife between the two sides, from the Feb. 9 loss to Milwaukee that sparked multiple reports about player frustration with the roster to James’ interview with The Athletic at All-Star weekend in which his choice to discuss a possible return to Cleveland sparked questions about whether he was still happy in Laker Land. In between, with the Lakers’ choice to stand pat at the trade deadline upping the decibel level on this debate, there were myriad messages coming from James that were widely seen as passive-aggressive signs of his discontent.

But Paul strongly refuted the notion that there was any sort of divide between James and the Lakers, or that these were all signs of a grand exit plan that’s yet to come. And when the meeting was all done, one in which Paul said some of the time was even spent “laughing and catching up,” he says they all found themselves in a more productive, peaceful place.

“I just don’t think (communicating indirectly) is the right way of doing business,” Paul, who also represents the Lakers’ Anthony Davis, told The Athletic. “And I don’t think that’s who we are, who LeBron is. We have a great partnership with the Lakers. The Klutch Sports Group and the Lakers don’t have an issue. Rich Paul and Rob Pelinka don’t have an issue. LeBron James and Rob Pelinka don’t have an issue. And Jeanie Buss and LeBron and Rich Paul don’t have an issue. It’s very simple. Very simple. So, you know, whoever put that type of stuff out, and people run with it, I think it’s unfair to the Lakers.”

None of which is to say that all is well with the Lakers, of course.

While James isn’t a free agent until the summer of 2023, he can sign a two-year, $97.1 million extension on Aug. 4 (or, as our John Hollinger chronicles here, do a “1+1”). With those contractual realities nearing, it’s only natural to wonder how James sees his situation both now and going forward. Hence the uptick in analysis when the losing only seemed to compound matters.

As Paul is the first to admit, their 27-31 record and ninth-place standing in the West heading into the break was more than enough to inspire all sorts of internal angst. What’s more, the fact that there were no moves made at the deadline meant there would be no renewing of the collective energy. At least not as a result of a new addition.

The widely-reported possibility of the Lakers trading Russell Westbrook for Houston’s John Wall added yet another layer to this situation, as he is also a client of Paul’s. But Wall hasn’t played all season, meaning the Lakers weren’t able to see the current state of his game and, not surprisingly, weren’t confident about his potential to make a significant impact. Still, the unrest about the roster wasn’t about the Lakers’ choice to retain the 2027 first-round pick that the Rockets were known to be asking for in the Wall-Westbrook deal — or even the 2027 first-round pick swap that sources confirmed would have gotten it done.

It’s more holistic than that.

Beyond the well-chronicled Westbrook struggles, or the fact that Lakers coach Frank Vogel’s decision to go small recently meant Dwight Howard and Deandre Jordan’s roles were suddenly limited and their roster spots were not well-utilized, the season-long absence of free agent addition Kendrick Nunn (right knee bone bruise) certainly hasn’t helped.

Fifth-year guard Malik Monk has been a bright spot, as he was signed on a one-year minimum deal last summer and is averaging 13 points (39.9 percent from 3-point range on 5.6 attempts per game). But those kinds of success stories, the kind that will always play a pivotal part when it comes to any team’s title contention, have been the exception.

Vogel, who has gone from being nearly fired in mid-January to leading this home stretch that they all hope gets so much better, addressed the chatter surrounding James before Friday’s game

“I think that for us internally we’re not paying as much attention to this stuff as you all are in the media,”Vogel said. “We’re all excited to just get back on the floor and make this push. We have 24 games to make this run and try to improve our place in the standings and we haven’t really worried about all that stuff, just taking advantage of the time to get away and taking a break and recharge and (being) excited to be back on the floor.”

“I learned to let the noise be noise and focus on what’s in front of me, which, that’s winning the next game,” he told reporters. “That’s one thing. And focusing on my family during the break. I enjoyed the break with my family. So that’s just noise.
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JSM, Feb 25, 2022

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Cookie said: ↑

I think Bron and Klutch overplayed their hand and this is just damage control. They are not used to getting their way and the lack of moves at the trade deadline pissed them off.
Click to expand...

I also think they completely overestimated their value to the Lakers at this point in LeBron’s career. It’s no secret that for 90% of every game, LeGM only has enough juice to play one side of the floor.

FrontOfJersey22, Feb 25, 2022

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You can see the age so clearly in some games and this was definitely one of them.
I hated and hate the Westbrook trade but it's pretty clear that even Lebron knows he's just going to have games like Portland and this one as much as game like Utah/Cavs so it would be nice if another star could just take over at times.

Pioneer10, Feb 25, 2022

#17105

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Weezy, Feb 25, 2022

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Azndude2190, Feb 25, 2022

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Where are the legs? He had plenty of time off and they weren't there. It was most evident with his 3 ball being short. Game high 6 TOs didn't help either.

JSM, Feb 26, 2022

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Azndude2190 said: ↑

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Bull bleep. Liar. Absolutely was taking shots at the FO through the AS break for not wanting to give up future picks he cares nothing about to bail him out of his lousy GMing.

LTLakerFan, Feb 26, 2022

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I don't trust him

pika1708, Feb 26, 2022

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Carefully listen...Lebron isn't beloved here as he's an outsider like Wilt, we can move on from him.

The Rock, Feb 26, 2022

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Sure let's all listen to a C Bags homer...

Kenzo, Feb 26, 2022

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Yeah I won’t listen to cowturd.

lakerjones, Feb 26, 2022

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Forget WHO said it, how about what the guy said in the video?

Anyways, Lebron's defense was partly to blame for last night's loss too. He's coming from 5 days off so I don't understand this effort.

The Rock, Feb 26, 2022

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The Rock said: ↑

Anyways, Lebron's defense was partly to blame for last night's loss too. He's coming from 5 days off so I don't understand this effort.

Click to expand...

Those kinds of “defensive” plays happened way too much this game and his hand motions towards his teammates are lame. Stop blaming other players.

Cookie, Feb 26, 2022

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Lebron has played the same type of defense all year. His extremely high bball IQ allows him to execute the complex “SE-PK” defensive scheme. For those not in the know, that stands for, “Save energy & pass Kareem”.

Punk-101, Feb 26, 2022

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I think this is the most likely outcome regarding Bronny and Bron

JSM, Feb 26, 2022

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The Rock said: ↑

Carefully listen...Lebron isn't beloved here as he's an outsider like Wilt, we can move on from him.

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This was a great take by Cowherd and a agree 100%.

FrontOfJersey22, Feb 26, 2022

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Cookie The Dame of Doom Staff Member

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JSM said: ↑

I think this is the most likely outcome regarding Bronny and Bron

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I would think this is unethical at best and maybe illegal. As an agent your job is to get your clients the best deal available throughout the league. This would include dealing with ALL the teams in the NBA. If I’m a Klutch client, I don’t care what Bron wants, you are my agent and you represent me. If Klutch refuses to deal with certain teams, that could affect their other clients pocketbook and that BS.

Cookie, Feb 26, 2022

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I hope the LeBron era in Lakerland ends next season. I’m done with the drama and lies. He can go somewhere else to play with his son. His days of winning Chips are over, unless he tags along on the cheap with a contender.
He’s not the first free agent for hire to help us win a Chip and he won’t be the last.

FrontOfJersey22, Feb 26, 2022

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