AROUND the NBA:

[khaled1987]

Lakers problem this season is LeBron. 

What about every year that wasn't played in the bubble since the passing of Jerry Buss? Was it also Lebron? 

Lakers have been poorly run for over a decade, but got lucky that Lebron wanted to literally just move to the City, and he forced AD trade to partner him and then all his veteran bodies. And I firmly believe that they wouldn't have won of they went through the normsl attrition of a long season. Instead they got 2 months break, and a playoffs that involved zero travel.

Since then it was consistent mediocrity. 

Pelinka isn't a good GM, and most of their fanbase knows that. However, he managed to pull the best possible trade in this decade, getting Luka, so he will earn a big trust that he doesn't deserve. Sort of like what happened with Nico himself. 


They have been communicating that they don't want to gove anything of value for good players. How they would only pay one first for a great starting C only, and not just a good one. At the moment, it feels like Pelinka is in his Danny Ainge phase, he will only make trades that he totally wins.

However, just like Ainge, there comes a point that folks don't want to deal with you. A guy like Herb can easily get 2 firsts from a contender, would Pelinka pays that? Then what? What if Giannis stays instead of asking for trade and there isn't another star player like he hope for? And what happens once Reeves is getting paid? A lot of flexibility is suddenly lost.

There is a path to build contender there with Luka, but I won't bet on it happening with their current management. Not soon at least. They won't pass the likes of Spurs, OKC or even Denver. Who have equally good franchise players, but much more depth around them (and youth in case of the other two).