LeBron James Discussion: Not Returning To The Lakers

Seriously stop it "y'all" . You go from getting 2 top 5 players to fight for a 8th , 9th seed at best ... while the C-bags are getting closer and closer to a title in the meantime .

This is the definition of being screwed by Lakers standards .

 

Rumblings that lebron will meet with Houston tonight

 

Where?

 

Anyone know if it's legit that Cousins will be available by training camp? Is that even realistic?

 

Some rando on a rockets forum, so could be fake. But they're in LA and Amick says they haven't given up.

 

His camp reports that he will be; from a medical perspective, have no clue.

But he he rehabbing 6 days a week and going hard; he is also only 27.

I'd say latest November. IMO.

 

For sure. Thanks.

 

If cousins guaranteed lebron, I'd sign him to whatever was necessary.

Think of it as paying lebron 60 per or something.

 

Balance of the team, if Cousins can come back o 100% would actually be better with Cousins and Lebron than Lebron and George with the current roster.

Cousins
James
Kuzma
Ingram
Ball

That is an interesting lineup.

 

I think it would be the other way around. Cousins would sign here because of Lebron.

 

Yep. Give him a 1+1 salary and take the risk.

 

At this point, I would sign Cousins to a 2 year guaranteed. I think the Lakers need to get out of this "let's save our money for the next free agent period" business. They are failing badly at the moment. Get Lebron and Cousins now and then bring back Randle and the Lakers can trade or whatever from now on if they want to get someone.

 

They are keeping everything hush hush.

 

Basically.

 

Cousins looked good in his rehab videos. Wes Mathews came back pretty quick after his injury. I think it's worth giving Cousins what he wants for 2 years and making a 3rd year team option. The good thing for him on that is that's when the cap will increase and he can actually get more money if he waits. Even if Cousins isnt 100% by January, I am sure Lebron and the gang can hold down the fort until he gets back.

 

I'm reading the tea leaves again, and I don't like what I see.

LeBron likely thought PG was coming until last week when he couldn't get a committment out of him. That caused LeBron to reconsider signing with us, and likely caused the trade chatter with the Spurs for Kawhi several days ago.

The problem is the Spurs demanded the farm, correctly guessing we need a second star like Kawhi to get LeBron to sign, and trade talks went no where. Now we need Cousins who is leaning resigning with the Pelicans, and LeBron probably knows this too.

This is why LeBron is suddenly talking to Philly when a meeting wasn't even originally scheduled. PG is not coming, Kawhi is highly unlikely coming with the Spurs holding leverage, and Cousins may not come either.

I think LeBron will reach out to Philly, see if he likes what he sees, and then reach back out to Cousins after we meet with him. If Cousins doesn't commit and Philly looks attractive, he may decide to go with them purely for competitive reasons.

These next few days are critical, and there is a real chance we end up with nothing again. Let's hope Magic and Rob find a way to make this a successful offseason.