To get to that Finals team in Dallas, it took them 7 years 2 tanking seasons, Kyrie Trade, PJ, Gaff trade, DJ jr. singing. Trial/Error signings/trades of different players : Javale, C Wood, Holmes, KP, Bretans... Not to mention hitting on Lively & having Luka on rookie scale deals... Lakers should've gone all in the moment Luka landed in LA. But instead they decided "lets make it so uncomfortable for LeBron to push him out the door first. Then we'll start the process from scratch." Logically, it won't work.
@saiyansurvive@KevinOConnor No one is talking about Harden to Lakers. But agreed, that wouldn't fit anyways, especially that they might already have one playoff dropper on a max contract with AR.
Someone suggested this. And it makes sense:
@PelicansNBA : Fred Van Vleet + Picks
@cavs: Dejounte Murray* + signs LeBron*
@HoustonRockets: James Harden
Rockets desperately need playmaking instead of waiting on Reed Shepard to develop. Harden back with KD on the team where he made his mark.
@freemanigers@KevinOConnor That's the same question that was asked about Paul George. Arguable worse player, with terrible contract, and definitely less durable than Harden.
Yeah, I think the Lakers alienated him so much the past 18 months, with their private meetings with Luka about "summer 26."
They've been punishing him with makeshift rosters for 4 seasons for the Russ trade because jeanie's ego led her to beleive that he was getting too much credit for pulling the franchise out the wilderness.
The Suns had their own blunder with Beale and pivoted real quick. Now they have better dept.
If Lakers FO pivoted quickly after Russ, they'd have a deep team Luka can win with. They waited until they pushed LBJ out to begin investing in the roster.
Then you have a segment of Kobe fans/media pinning every bad thing about the team on him.
So leaving was probably best for both parties.
Lakers fan base has a cancer: Kobe stans who think he's a rival to LeBron.
Every star player has a level of say in what players should play with him.
But when LeBron does it is an issue!?
No one in Milwaukee is saying Giannis ruined the Bucks because he advocated for Dame Lillard.
Pushing out a midrange killer, 3 point assassin, playoff riser, coachable, humble dude. I saw JJ, LBJ, Luka tearing him to shreds. He accepts the criticism and knock shots down... For always unhappy Kuminga AKA Cam Reddish 2.0
Every player has flaws. I'd rather live with Rui's flaws than JK.
@hussan95452943@kawhi_ring@Fergycookedd Only difference is LeBron got his rings. And so did Luka's former teammates: Brunson, KP 🤷
But Luka will have a chance to win.
In DALLAS. 3 yrs from now.
@Ralph_MasonJr Rui was being praised as development success by Rob Pelinka. Now you wanna replace him with often disgruntled Kuminga whose gonna be playing for a contract. Rui proved to be a pro and a playoff riser. Letting that kind of talent leave is criminal.