Playoffs - Round 1: Lakers Vs. Wolves

Discussion in 'Lakers Discussion' started by JSM, Apr 13, 2025.

  1. gcclaker

    gcclaker Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    9,420
    Likes Received:
    21,527
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Wherever I am at the moment...
    Offline
    ...that would be a bad mark in his career. Odd if James is keen on leaving a legacy.
     
    sirronstuff likes this.
  2. svtzr

    svtzr - Lakers Starter -

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2016
    Messages:
    3,429
    Likes Received:
    9,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    The way some of you guys think is odd. Why would LeBron James who loves competition and playoff basketball give up. He’s going to have 5 months off soon enough, you’re telling me he won’t give it his all, in what may be one of his last playoffs? Cmon now.

    I think LeBron opts out and signs a 3 year deal. He may not finish that contract, but it’ll give him guaranteed money moving forward for as long as he wants to compete. I think DFS does the same. This will open up the full MLE for us.

    We will look to package Knecht, Gabe, Kleber, Shake and Rui for something in some form or combination.

    There is some interesting UFA and I think multiple teams blow it up. Pelicans, Denver, Bucks, Atlanta, Philly, Memphis, Kings all with a shot.
     
    pika1708 and gcclaker like this.
  3. JDLakersFan2019

    JDLakersFan2019 - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2019
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    Offline
    Yeah I don’t understand the whole let’s hope LeBron retires talk unless he’s unwilling to take a pay cut, which I can’t imagine the guy is one of the richest athletes ever so taking a pay cut won’t hurt him at all financially. The man is still playing defense at an elite level and is still a top 10 or top 15 player at worst. The issue is LeBron is the anchor of our defense and that’s asking too much of a 40 year old player. Get a real defensive anchor at center and lessen that burden on LeBron and I see no reason why we can’t make one more legitimate run with him next year.
     
    Pioneer10 and abeer3 like this.
  4. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Lebron at 40 is still clearly our 2nd best player. Him retiring doesn't give us any real cap relief anyway. We absolutely need Lebron to come back next season or we are burnt toast. Whatever salary we'd have left, must be moved to aquire another superstar caliber player, and after giving them up, will that be enough to still be a contender? NO..unless it's a guy like Zion, who comes with a lot of questions marks on health.

    I wouldn't be mad though, if we could flip Gabe, Kleber and DFS for Ayton. He's only 26,and Luka would get a lot more out of him IMO. Now we still have Rui and Dalton to dangle for an impact player in the low 20's range.
     
    Pioneer10 and Ceteris21 like this.
  5. Ceteris21

    Ceteris21 - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2021
    Messages:
    113
    Likes Received:
    230
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Offline
    Is Ayton a good rim protector?
     
  6. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    He is better than Hayes and he's a legit double digit rebounder for his career.
     
    Ceteris21 likes this.
  7. Weezy

    Weezy Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2014
    Messages:
    19,468
    Likes Received:
    79,839
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Anaheim
    Offline
    It doesn’t matter much at this point, but yeah, the physicality the Wolves have been able to play with has kind of been silly. We can’t make up for that on TOP of not being as athletic

     
    abeer3 and lakerjones like this.
  8. abeer3

    abeer3 - Lakers Legend -

    Top Poster Of Month

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    31,155
    Likes Received:
    85,060
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    mcdaniels is dirty, but he'll get his eventually.
     
    lakerjones likes this.
  9. JDLakersFan2019

    JDLakersFan2019 - Rookie -

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2019
    Messages:
    390
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    San Antonio, TX
    Offline
    Officiating has been bad overall in the playoffs the refs screwed over the Pistons yesterday too.
     
  10. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    We could use a " dirty " player or two ourselves.
     
  11. 432J

    432J - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2014
    Messages:
    7,444
    Likes Received:
    16,808
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    that's exactly why i didn't mind having pat bev. team could really use an enforcer, especially with luka here now

    someone who won't let the opponent get away with s*** like that
     
  12. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5,935
    Likes Received:
    16,017
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    We decided to keep Len instead of Jemison.

    Yeah I know Jemison ain't winning this series but not having a center who could actually mis it up was a mistake. Let Sota set the tond
     
    sirronstuff and Slick2021 like this.
  13. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Finney-Smith was reputed to be one of those type of guys, but TBH I think Vando is more in line with that mentality, than Finney-Smith. Hell Reddish too, I think Cam would have been more useful, than Len has turned out to be.
     
  14. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5,935
    Likes Received:
    16,017
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Yeah Cam you could at least throw.on Ant and not send help.

    No one like to mention it but Lakers pre Luka trade would be winning this series. AD and Max basically solve Minnesota.
     
  15. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Unfortunately this is true, but I can understand the allure of Luka post Lebron. Ironically, the very thing AD complained about, incessantly in some folks opinion. The lack of another quality big, is biting us in the a**.

    How many people around here thought that AD, should have just " manned up"? A lot.
     
    Pioneer10 likes this.
  16. Khmrp

    Khmrp - Lakers Legend -

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2016
    Messages:
    12,239
    Likes Received:
    13,940
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    Rui is next summer...according to hoopshype and we have nearly 40M of dead weight expiring in gabe, vando, klieber maybe throw in Rui into the mix, dfs can opt out n take less per yr but longer contract
     
  17. Pioneer10

    Pioneer10 - Lakers All Star -

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2019
    Messages:
    5,935
    Likes Received:
    16,017
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    I do the Luka trade every time but this was a very good Lakers team pre Luka trade and agree the irony that both really could have used another big is not lost
     
    Slick2021 and svtzr like this.
  18. Slick2021

    Slick2021 - Lakers MVP -

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2021
    Messages:
    10,485
    Likes Received:
    9,642
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Online
    Rui's contract is expiring just like Gabe and Maxi next season.

    https://www.basketball-reference.com/contracts/LAL.html
     
  19. lakerjones

    lakerjones Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2014
    Messages:
    11,109
    Likes Received:
    33,297
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    La La land
    Offline
    Just put Markeef Morris in for five minutes to hunt down McDaniels in pick and roll with Luka. Morris will lay a pick on him he won't be forgetting any time soon.
     
    ElginTheGreat and JSM like this.
  20. Zoyd Wheeler

    Zoyd Wheeler - Lakers 6th Man -

    Joined:
    Nov 7, 2021
    Messages:
    1,343
    Likes Received:
    4,267
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Offline
    We have one (T-J III), but he only gets into the last minute of blowouts.

    I try not to harp on the refs, but a lot of you have already said it, so I'm gonna agree: Julius fouls as an offensive player pretty much every time he touches the ball. And he they don't call it. By now it's under my skin. It does bother me, but I suspect: damage: DONE.
     
    abeer3 likes this.

Share This Page