AboveLegit Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Several teams' executives have told ESPN.com they believe the Lakers are positioning themselves to make a run at LeBron James in 2014, when the Miami Heat star can choose to become a free agent. In July 2013, Bryant's $30.4 million, Pau Gasol's $19.2 million, Metta World Peace's $7.7 million, Steve Blake's $4 million and Jordan Hill's $3.5 million will come off the books. There likely won't even be any first-round draft picks filling up the cap, either, as the Lakers have already traded their 2013 first-round pick to Phoenix in the Nash deal. Opposing teams that are making their own long-range free agency plans think they see the Lakers' plan coming into focus. As it stands, L.A. will have enough cap space to add a superstar like James. "It's not a mistake that all those deals end the same year Kobe's does. They have probably been planning for their next phase for a while," said one general manager. "The Busses and [Lakers GM] Mitch [Kupchak] are always thinking about the next big deal."http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/8518360/nba-los-angeles-lakers-eying-lebron-james-2014 A lot of this is common sense really, of course if you have a shot at LeBron, you do whatever it takes to get in position to at least throw an offer at him. Besides, this is the Lakers after all, this is what they do. Still, it's an interesting topic, what are the odds that Kupchak and the Buss family pull this off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingfish Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hel be 30 by then? Not sure id want him for the max. I would explore other free agency options first, maybe looking for younger options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I don't hate the Lakers or LeBron...but gtfo. Dwight/LeBron/Kobe(if he's still playing by then) would be just unfair. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hel be 30 by then? Not sure id want him for the max. I would explore other free agency options first, maybe looking for younger options.You're out of your mind if you don't want LeBron. And he'd be 29, the max goes for 6 years, which gives you at the very least, 4 great years out of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 He ain't leaving us boyyyy, he is gonna get us two more titles and be king of Miami. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I don't hate the Lakers or LeBron...but gtfo. Dwight/LeBron/Kobe(if he's still playing by then) would be just unfair. This is under the assumption that Kobe retires by then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 18, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 What was that story, from a LONG time ago, about LeBron giving Jerry Buss tapes of his high school games, hoping the Lakers would find a way to take him in the draft (eventually)? I know it was never posted here, since we opened up in 2005, but I remember the huge talk we had over at JBB...but now I can't find the discussion (on S2). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 18, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 This is under the assumption that Kobe retires by then.That, or he takes less money. He keeps talking about retirement after two seasons, but the truth is, he did previously state 3-5 years, and if it means he continues to play at an all-star level (at least) while winning rings, he'll probably do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AboveLegit Posted October 18, 2012 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 That, or he takes less money. He keeps talking about retirement after two seasons, but the truth is, he did previously state 3-5 years, and if it means he continues to play at an all-star level (at least) while winning rings, he'll probably do it.Yeah, however, I'm not sure how Dwight and LeBron would feel about Kobe being in town then. I know with the Lakers anything is possible, I really didn't think they'd get Dwight, or even have a shot at Nash, but it happened. However, I don't even know how Dwight would take this, because sooner or later, he wants to be the man. There's a long ways to go before the 2013 offseason when Dwight resigns, but if it becomes more pronounced that the Lakers have intentions of going after Bron, I think there's a chance he takes a stronger look at other teams (namely Atlanta). Chris Paul is also tied to this as well, because LBJ is his best friend, and I know how much Bron pushed Dan Gilbert to trade up for him back in 2005. If he goes elsewhere, things will get interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smitty Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 This is under the assumption that Kobe retires by then. Ah, my bad lol. Didn't read it all Still though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 What are the chances of LA pulling this off? lets just say better than any other team in the NBA. Once LA sets their mind on grabbing a player the chances of them grabbing him are VERY good. Look at the Howard situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballorama Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 I hope Cleveland somehow gets him back... if not the Lakers would be nice haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 lol this is so ghetto, he's retiring a Heat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleveland's Finest Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 (edited) It seems now all we want is to see all sorts of mega teams. Chris Paul goes to LAC and all we talk about is what'll happen when his contract expires. LeBron goes to Miami and all we talk about are potential locations for another movement. It's a sad state of affairs in the NBA. No longer is basketball the hot topic, it's how many jerseys one player can wear in his career. The world we live in demands so much quickness that no one is fine with one player staying with a team. Edited October 18, 2012 by Cleveland's Finest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChosenOne Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Well no one is against one player staying with one team. It's just become the nature of the NBA superstar to want to join forces with a couple other stars to win. And honestly you can't blame them for it, why would anyone want to stick with an organization for years and years only to lose and not improve? Take Kevin Love for example his contract is up after 2014 (i think) And if they still are a team that doesn't make the playoffs or are an easy first round out why would he stick around? Shit he really would be a fool to stick around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teletopez Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 Hel be 30 by then? Not sure id want him for the max. I would explore other free agency options first, maybe looking for younger options.You're not serious... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lkr Posted October 18, 2012 Report Share Posted October 18, 2012 It seems now all we want is to see all sorts of mega teams. Chris Paul goes to LAC and all we talk about is what'll happen when his contract expires. LeBron goes to Miami and all we talk about are potential locations for another movement. It's a sad state of affairs in the NBA. No longer is basketball the hot topic, it's how many jerseys one player can wear in his career. The world we live in demands so much quickness that no one is fine with one player staying with a team.It's off season speculation, it isn't anything new to sports journalism Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 What makes you guys think Pat Riley will let Lebron James walk away in 2014? I bet he is already 5 steps ahead of the Lakers management in this. I highly doubt he will leave Miami when he already has all he needs right here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 19, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I bet he is already 5 steps ahead of the Lakers management in this.I honestly doubt anyone is five steps ahead of our GM. We weren't supposed to get Dwight OR Nash, let alone keep Gasol and get Jamison as well. We basically swapped Andrew Bynum for Dwight, Nash and Jamison. I agree that LeBron has all he needs in Miami...now. In two years, how will Wade be playing? Bosh has peaked, in my opinion...and he may not lose much of what he has right now, but he's not going to make up for Wade's losses. LA will lose Gasol and Nash, and Kobe's big contract will come off the books. Whether Kobe takes less money, or retires...well, one will happen (as he has stated multiple times), and that leaves room for the Lakers to afford a max deal AND offer Kobe another $15 million or so (doubt he'd play for less). In 2014, LeBron would be dumb to decline a max deal from LA, if it meant teaming with Howard and Kobe. It's true that Bryant won't be the same player, but he won't be a scrub, either...and he'll still be able to put up all-star numbers. Let me put it this way: LA has raked in a LOT of doubters over the years. People said they couldn't get Garnett...so they found a way to take Gasol, who was pretty good for a consolation prize, and we kept Bynum in the process. We weren't supposed to get Ron Artest, but we did...not the offensive player he was in his prime, but his defense was amazing in our 2010 championship run (ask Pierce). We flipped Walton for Ramon Sessions...which was supposed to be impossible. We could have made a deal to send Vujacic to Chicago, for Kirk Hinrich...but we declined only because of the money. Now, we end up with a superstar that didn't want to follow in Shaq's footsteps, and another franchise player that absolutely hated the Lakers before this summer...basically all because we traded a player that has played just one productive, all-star season since 2005. Most NBA fans laughed at the idea of a Bron/Wade/Bosh trio, also. Even I did. But it happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 I agree that Wade and Bosh will be older, but Wade will retire with us, one way or another, and this knee surgery might give him new life. I have complete trust that Pat Riley has this all planned out, and he won't let Lebron walk away just because the Lakers offer him more money. I don't see why this same trio can't be successful just 2 years down the line, we have a free trip to the finals in the East once Boston dies out...maybe Chicago can beat us, but they haven't scared us yet. The West is a different story, and it would be smart for Lebron to stay East and get a free ride to the finals year after year. I think Lebron has grown up and learned to stick to a city that embraces him, and the management in general treats each player like family...I don't think he can stand being the villain twice in his career. Plus, if its Lakers vs Heat in the finals, and he leaves us for them, the NBA as you know it will be shit fest, no one will be happy aside from the Lakers. Do you think Lebron has the balls to do that again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Check my Stats Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 It would be worth it alone just to see all the Laker haters become stans overnight. They would be saying LBJ > Kobe by the time he was won his first ring in LA. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 It would be worth it alone just to see all the Laker haters become stans overnight. They would be saying LBJ > Kobe by the time he was won his first ring in LA.That brings up another point...you Laker fans don't like Lebron at all. I am sure he knows that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 19, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 he won't let Lebron walk away just because the Lakers offer him more money.That's not the only reason, though. Wade may still be a superstar right now, but in two years, pending Dwight's back injury (he's fine), there will be no doubt that Howard will be the better superstar. The fact that Wade will retire with the Heat could be a bad thing for LeBron down the stretch, because Miami won't toss him aside to make room for another big name, just like Boston has refused to do the same to an aging Pierce. I think Lebron has grown up and learned to stick to a city that embraces him, and the management in general treats each player like family...I don't think he can stand being the villain twice in his career. Plus, if its Lakers vs Heat in the finals, and he leaves us for them, the NBA as you know it will be shit fest, no one will be happy aside from the Lakers. Do you think Lebron has the balls to do that again?He put in one season of maturity. That's all. He was celebrating a fake championship in the summer of 2010, and before that, he was laughing at players on the court, dancing around before and during games, and acting like he was putting in the greatest career we've ever seen. ------- With all of that said, I never stated that he would leave. I'm just saying that it's not that big of a stretch to say it's impossible. I don't see why he would leave a team after four seasons, though...not that they will be bad if Wade shatters his knee, and Bosh ruptures vertebrae in his back...but most superstars, despite their attitude, will put in work on a bad team for at least 2-3 seasons. If he left the Heat, fans would assume he really did jump ship to win a ring, and decades later, that Heat team will be known as Wade's again, despite the numbers James put up. But, if the Lakers make it happen...if he explores free agency, and they convince him to leave, I'm not going to be shocked. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted October 19, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 It would be worth it alone just to see all the Laker haters become stans overnight. They would be saying LBJ > Kobe by the time he was won his first ring in LA.Probably the newer bandwagon fans, but I doubt most of us that have been following Kobe's career since 1996 (or have been Lakers fans pre-Kobe) would say that. Kobe is widely known by our fanbase as being the greatest Laker of all-time now, and most of us were waiting for him to win that fifth ring, and to set Lakers records, before he surpassed Magic. That brings up another point...you Laker fans don't like Lebron at all. I am sure he knows that.You'd be surprised. You've read some of the things I put about LeBron most recently, even before he won it all (but during this season). I'm on record saying he's the best in the league, saying that I am happy he changed his attitude, and that I respect how he finally added a post game (which is one thing that won him that ring, honestly). The Lakers fans who actually care about more than just one team (there aren't THAT many, but I can name a few off the top of my head from LakerNation) have respect for LeBron's game, and growing respect for how he acts (especially how humble he started becoming), and that's what matters to us. We either win a championship, or consider our season a failure. If LeBron and Dwight bring us a ring, that's another banner hanging over our court, and that's really all we care about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRV Posted October 19, 2012 Report Share Posted October 19, 2012 (edited) Sounds good. I don't think Wade will suck horribly as he gets older. I am sure he will know when he is too old to contribute. In the back of my mind I feel like Lebron might give it a thought, but no one man is dumb enough to anger two entire cities, the general NBA fan base, and then walk into a city where most people don't like you to begin with. Our roster is generally old, but we will make moves if necessary, hopefully. If Lebron wants to build his legacy, he has no choice but to stay here or go anywhere but LA. Not much legacy building when you exit two teams to join two superstars, especially walking into LA where he will be too old to make any kind of history there. Edited October 19, 2012 by SRV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.