02-28-2025, 03:57 AM
(02-28-2025, 03:09 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: I mean as much as I want Luka to fuck the Lakers over in the highest possible fashion, there is historical evidence that Lebron is open and willing to take a paycut to create a superteam. In his prime, he took roughly a 13% paycut to get Bosh+Wade.
On a smaller scale with the Lakers, he took roughly the amount off his contract so they could give his son that money (I suppose you can argue this wasn't a paycut but more a donation, so back to the original point).
You're telling me you are 100% absolutely sure that Lebron won't be open to take a big discount in his final years to get a mega-in-his-prime superstar to pair with his other mega-in-his-prime superstar so they can form a mega superteam? If this was prime Lebron I'd agree, but we'd be talking about 42 year old Lebron. Who's to even say he'd be good enough to command "highest paid" status? I know that might be a stupid thing to say but I mean 42 is still 42 in the NBA.
I'd deem it even likely that Lebron will take a paycut to whatever number is needed to get another superstar. But if I am the Lakers, why would I want to tie up my entire cap space into 3 guys and a bunch of minimums? I don't even think that'd be a great team given you also need depth in the NBA. God forbid Luka gets injured or Lebron is out a signficant time and you're stuck playing Bol Bol 30 minutes a game.
So yeah, I think the Lakers are going to have zero problems getting another star. The real question is, do they even want that?
Good points. As to your final question. They will need and want one, because age will catch up even with LeBron at some point. There is absolutely no problem to have 2 stars on the roster. Still plenty of space left for supporting players. But, key for this is, that LeBron is no longer paid as a star in 2026. Assuming he does eventually start to decline. I mean, if he can keep playing like he is now, he is a star and Lakers don't need another one. But, it is really difficult to imagine this would last through next 4-5 seasons.
LeBron is smart. If Lakers bring in another star, life will be even easier for him and it will be far easier for him to keep up even as he gets even older. Life got much easier for him since they got Luka. He can focus on things he is best at and other guys can "waste" energy on other things and they are good at it. He looks much better now and Lakers are winning.