(07-03-2025, 01:39 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: The reason this LeBron thing won't go away is that he opted in, rather than out to sign his customary 1+1. Reading the tea leaves there:

We can reasonably assume he did so because they, the Lakers, were not offering the 1+1. I suppose it's possible that he did so because he's already determined that this is his last season, but knowing what we know about him, and based on last week's Rich Paul kerfuffle, I don't think so.

From there, we can basically assume that this WILL be LeBron's last year in a Lakers uniform, whether he retires or not. If he decides this is his last season, that's probably only mildly annoying to him because he loses a little bit of face in that it's rather obvious that he's not the only one making the decision on when/if he exits the Lakers, but it's still probably best for him to retire a Laker hero, setting up and continuing whatever it is he's got going out there in LA for after basketball (the reasons he went there in the first place, really).

But, if he decides he wants to play another season after this one, or maybe even two more...that's where it gets interesting. If he is going to retire wearing a different jersey, he's going to want to get there as soon as possible, imo, while he's still "LeBron James" on the court. However, it IS a big leap to assume the Lakers will buy him out, just as a thank you. It wouldn't be shocking, really, but they'd really, really have to want to be perceived as the good guys in the situation. There really wouldn't be anything else "in it for them," other than maybe just getting the circus that has been the LeBron James Lakers era behind them. And make no mistake, they are in for a circus of a season if he's a Laker this year.

End of day, I think he's a Laker for one more season and then retires. But part of me thinks his competitive nature will push back against the idea that they, not he, get to decide when he's done. After the Luka trade and MIL stretch-waiving Dame, I don't think anything happening in the NBA will ever shock me again.

(07-03-2025, 12:53 PM)Kidnova Wrote: There a greater than 0 chance that Luka doesn't even reup with them.  Yes, they can pay him more than any other team, but not by much since the supermax is off the table.  If he sees a better opportunity in Brooklyn (random example, and I don't know why anyone would do this) or wants to team up somewhere with Giannis he could theoretically decline his PO next season and just walk.

(07-03-2025, 01:53 PM)FireNicoHarrison Wrote: Wow... A 40yo guy and one of the most overrated guard in the league... I can immagine how is worried Luka about those 2 hahahahahaha

That's because i don't want Reaves here.

(07-03-2025, 02:06 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: I’m trying to think of guys who are good comps for Reaves.

More efficient than THJ and DeAngelo Russell.

Maybe Clarkson, but not as skilled a creator?

Brad Beal? Malcolm Brogdon?

(07-03-2025, 01:58 PM)Jmaciscool Wrote: I agree that it's unlikely he gets bought out, but I can see it happening IF the Lakers are truly ready to be out of the LeBron circus AND they're ready to fully transition to the Luka era AND the reports of their being no trade market for LeBron are accurate.  None of those things seem super far fetched on their own.  The Lakers have to pay the money either way, so maybe to them it would be worth it just to move on, especially with the new ownership coming in.  Fresh start for everyone (relatively speaking).

(07-03-2025, 01:39 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: The reason this LeBron thing won't go away is that he opted in, rather than out to sign his customary 1+1. Reading the tea leaves there:

We can reasonably assume he did so because they, the Lakers, were not offering the 1+1.

(07-03-2025, 02:12 PM)F Gump Wrote: I have assumed LBJ would have been given a 1+1 if he had asked -- ie, I assume he did not ask - because IMO LA will always cater to his wishes, even if absurd (see James, Bronny/draft and /contract). I have no answer as far as why he never asked, but I still believe that was what has happened.

(07-03-2025, 02:12 PM)F Gump Wrote: I have assumed LBJ would have been given a 1+1 if he had asked -- ie, I assume he did not ask - because IMO LA will always cater to his wishes, even if absurd (see James, Bronny/draft and /contract). I have no answer as far as why he never asked, but I still believe that was what has happened.

(07-03-2025, 02:15 PM)omahen Wrote: Or perhaps Lakers had to cater to his wishes before trading for Luka and now they don't need to anymore. Now, they are making it very clearly known, that they are building around Luka.

(07-03-2025, 12:13 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: Cam Whitmore has been linked to the Lakers in a potential sign-and-trade for Dorian Finney-Smith, per @AnthonyIrwinLA

“Another name league sources have linked to the Lakers: Cam Whitmore. If Houston decides to shed a little salary or if they expand the Kevin Durant trade to include their acquisition of Dorian Finney-Smith, Whitmore – who is looking for a larger role than he’d have on that loaded Rockets roster – is considered a candidate to be moved.”

(07-03-2025, 12:53 PM)Kidnova Wrote: There a greater than 0 chance that Luka doesn't even reup with them.  Yes, they can pay him more than any other team, but not by much since the supermax is off the table.  If he sees a better opportunity in Brooklyn (random example, and I don't know why anyone would do this) or wants to team up somewhere with Giannis he could theoretically decline his PO next season and just walk.

(07-03-2025, 02:12 PM)omahen Wrote: And gift LeBron to one of their competitors? I don't see it happening.

(07-03-2025, 02:16 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: That was my initial feeling as well. Since then, absorbing everything out there (much of which is probably BS, admittedly) I have come to believe that it's possible they didn't offer it to him. Stein said something along those lines on today's DLLS podcast, and that's not the first time it occurred to me, but it did confirm it as a possibility (to me, at least).

(07-03-2025, 02:06 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: I’m trying to think of guys who are good comps for Reaves.

More efficient than THJ and DeAngelo Russell.

Maybe Clarkson, but not as skilled a creator?

Brad Beal? Malcolm Brogdon?

(07-03-2025, 02:19 PM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: I tried to point this out back when the trade happened.  LA had no guarantee Luka would stay and no real advantage to keeping him.  That has to be taken into account when determining value.  It isn’t to say Nico got enough necessarily.  It is to say that there was a limit to what he could get given the flight risk once the Super Max was off the table.

(07-03-2025, 02:23 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: Yeah, there is that. 

But, just playing devil's advocate, he has the power to make life for the Lakers completely untenable for the next year. Whether or not they (the Lakers) care what he thinks about anything, people in, around and following the league still do care a lot. They (the Lakers) will absolutely not want him releasing statements like last week's through Rich Paul every couple of weeks this season or giving passive aggressive interviews (which he is quite comfortable doing on a regular basis). At some point, should he choose to, he can make it almost impossible for them to accomplish anything this season without giving him what he wants. 

But, that's assuming we know what he wants, or even that he does, clearly. And, his rep in LA would be bloodied by such a tactic, to be sure. Even if he wants out...he'd have to really, really want out to go down that road. 

It's fun to think about all this, but all roads lead back to him finishing out this year in LA and then retiring, I believe.

(07-03-2025, 02:34 PM)omahen Wrote: On the other hand - by making life miserable to the Lakers, LeBron will also kill any chance he might have this season to compete. And time is certainly not on his side.

(07-03-2025, 02:52 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: edit:  also it's obvious playing with Luka Doncic is a major beating if you're a good offensive player and not a scrub like DFS or DJJ.  Good players want the ball, not to stand around in the corner while some guy plays Harden ball.