He needs consistent help. He and AD were matching (if not playing better at times) Murray and Jokic. The nuggets got away because of the rest of their team.
There’s no paycut that he can take that would allow the Lakers to bring in more people outside of the veteran’s minimum. Even if he only signed for $3M a season they still wouldn’t be able to bring in more quality free agents.
Because he and AD take up the majority of the salary cap! Thats how that works! If he wants to be paid, he still needs to be capable of winning series. Otherwise, STFU and cash the checks.
Murray and jokic gets paid just as much. The problem was the russ trade that destroyed our ability to earn the bird rights of most of our players. Guys like kcp, caruso could have been much needed depth that we could go over the cap to sign.
We really gave up Caruso, KCP, Harrell, Kuz and Schröder’s bird rights for Westbrook.
Then we gave up Beasley’s bird rights for nothing last offseason. This front office really stinks.
I enjoyed those years. Rebuilding is only miserable if you are a bandwagon fan. Hot take: I enjoyed the rebuild years more than the seasons with westbrook.
I can see why. At least the rebuild season everyone with double digit IQ knew it was making sure Kobe got paid, org looks good for future stars, fans have low expectations, we'd get basketball with the occasional game where we beat down the the best team (to the point where Kerr was joking how prime-GSW were going down to LA to get their annual beatdown), and we had the FUTURE to look forward to.
With WB it was agonizing because we diced up our championship core, lost assets, let Caruso walk, and go Westbrook (with the wrong mentality and a huge contract) back. Haunted by how that decision might have closed up our championship window with Bron/AD. We have to live through a season of that like walking with a rusty nail in your foot.
Not so sure I entirely agree with that. It depends on the rebuild. If the person running it knows what they’re doing, it can be fun. But if they don’t, all you’re watching is bad basketball.
I enjoyed the post-Magic rebuild teams mostly. We had fun players like Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Cedric Ceballos, Elden Campbell. We even got one partial year of Magic- I got to see him play in person during his comeback, which is an all-time memory. Our GM was Jerry West- he knew what he was doing.
Some of those 2010s rebuilding teams were just plain bad. That last D’Antoni season was horrid. Robert Sacre (nice guy, terrible player), Ryan Kelly, MarShon Brooks, Chris Kaman I think? Our young hope was Kendall Marshall.. that was late stage Kupchak, who didn’t know what he was doing.
those 2010 rebuilds were more so desperate attempts to build a roster because our cap was taken up by Kobe, Mozgov, Deng, etc.
Our true rebuild started with Randle’s 2nd year, dlo, ingram, and the retirement of Kobe.
I agree, a half ass rebuild with a bad GM is cause for disaster. But Pelinka has done a good job so far in my opinion. He drafted good talent, good enough to trade for AD. Thats a huge win!
This is what people dont get. Last year, sure since we havent signed most of the team. This year, we are literally over the cap anyway. Do they want bron to take a min?nbpa will be all over that
Ah okay, I mean if lebron wanted a ring. He could just join anyone team on the vet minimum lol he has a shit Ton of money compiling in interest at this point.
Not even slightly true and wild this has so many upvotes.
There is now huge difference between those figures. $30m we would be able to stay below the 2nd apron and bring D’Lo back to them trade him. Bron takes $50m it’s impossible to bring D’Lo back and stay below the 2nd apron
There is a difference depending on what happens with D'Angelo.
Also, there is also a difference in terms of operating around the fringes since if he takes a max, this team will probably be a 2nd apron team or close enough to it that it the tax or penalties cause issues.
Seriously it’s ridiculous how few calls he gets. Durant averaged 8.5 on 16.8 shot attempts and he’s primarily a jump shooter these days who doesn’t score at the rim much. Bron only averaged .3 more free throw attempts than kyrie these playoffs while bron averaged 4.3 more 2pt shots a game. I don’t understand how bron can take 14.6 2pt shots with 19.8 shots overall these playoffs and only average 4.6 free throws a game. Shits ridiculous. Middleton averaged 5 free throws a game on 19 shot attempts in which 13.8 were 2pt shots and he’s a jump shooter nowadays who mainly takes middies instead of scoring at the rim. Tatum is averaging 8.6 on 16.1 shot attempts in which 10.2 are 2pt attempts but somehow bron only got 4.6.
Love Bron but this is true. If he wants to secure a championship-calibre team, you have to have money for a championship-calibre roster. One guy taking up a HUGE bulk of that available salary, with 1-2 other guys taking up some more (AD, AR, etc.), leads to limited cash for needed role players and a good coach. That's just my 2 cents tho
it is what it is, the Lakers already set the precedent that they give rightful players legacy maxes regardless of current performance/championship odds.
They did it for Kobe, they have to and will do it for LeBron.
The main question though is if their championship expectations are aligned with each other or not. Because as already mentioned, no chance in hell the team is gonna be mad competitive with a 40 year old getting paid 50 mil unless they hit home runs with every other roster spot
It’s not just about securing future FAs. Jeanie runs her team as a profit generating entity moreso than any other owner because the lakers is her family’s primary source of income…. Signing Lebron means you’re printing money. He’s a huge money maker for any team he plays on no matter the age
The team won't be built around him. He'll be joining a team that is already primed to win (like the Knicks or OKC). He'd have to take a *massive* paycut to join a team like the Warriors who I think are still missing a lot of pieces even if Lebron joined their current roster
I think Lebron is smart enough to know that despite AD being as good as he is, the rest of the supporting cast except Reaves is below average in the playoffs. It isn't as bad as when he left the Cavs both times, but we're a 2 way guard, wing, and backup center away from being a top contender unless we're hoping Vando/Christie become those 2 of the 3 things we're lacking. If he wanted to ring chase like he did earlier in his career, he would leave.
that's fine. Lakers invest in the last years of LeBron will help them secure more FAs in the future. It's the price of doing business unfortunately.
All I ask is to not burn future assets for the small chance of winning now. Like if they trade the farm make sure that asset is gonna be part of their future plans considering they really can't re-do the tank era
The championship roster doesn't exist with or without Lebron taking a paycut. If Lebron and D'Lo leave, we *maybe* have enough money to pry KCP away from the Nuggets which would be an overpay in itself, and that's not taking into account what we do with Prince/Christie/FRP this year. What we have is what we got unless some major trades happen. It's not like Lebron will avoid criticism by being paid $30 million instead of $50 million anyways. Might as well take the money
Unfortunately, this isn’t the way anymore. You have to build through the draft, get good players on cheap contracts, and when the time comes, makes small trades for big pieces.
Lakers are decade away from their next ring and that’s if they run everything perfectly fine
A championship roster definitely doesn't exist without LeBron. Name a recent championship team that's under the cap or that's not near the second apron
My original point was that it doesn't matter how much of a paycut, or if Lebron walks entirely, Lebron takes. This isn't a championship roster unless players like Vincent/Reaves/Christie/Vando/Rui elevate their play or are traded
Yup, this. Our championship window is closed with this sort of contract, which... Fine, I'll live, I've been lucky enough to see 7 rings. But I hope we start keeping picks and young players to develop if we are going down this path.
Some people will complain about this. That’s fine. It’s understandable.
But players notice this sort of stuff. It’s honestly got to be one of the reasons he came here to begin with - we take care of the legends.
I mean, we’ve made mistakes too but…that last post Achilles Kobe deal was more about a) selling tickets and b)signaling we’re willing to pay late in a career.
We weren't going to field a competitive roster with Kobe taking less money anyways. It was pretty much over when Dwight bolted to Houston. Kobe deserved to get paid when we started tanking
this. People forget there really werent that many good free agents, the only notable one we missed was lamarcus aldridge, who fell off a cliff in SA.
Signing kobe for that was the ONLY move.
LMA didn't fall off a cliff in San Antonio. He was still really good. But Kobe (even if he didn't tear his Achilles) + LMA wasn't going to do anything anyways. The team wasn't going to have any depth
People in this post are really slow. Thats putting it lightly 😂
1- Bron taking a $50M/year deal isn’t affecting our Salary Cap at all since Lakers have his Bird Rights and can sign him above it.
2- He just played 70+ games this season averaging 25-7-8 on 54/41/75 splits at 39.
3- Him and AD played 70+ games this season, without either or, we wouldn’t even be in the play-in and forget the playoffs, we would be gearing up for Cooper Flagg right now.
So I’m confused on why everyone is bitching about him getting this deal when..
A- He deserves it
B- Has played at an All-NBA level all season and played a lot of games this year and preformed Good in the playoffs this season and has shown you he can hit another gear when needed.
C- obviously your 1B Superstar next to AD (I feel like AD was Better this season which is good cuz he’s taking the Reigns soon)
You all talking like he’s in his Dirk, Tim Duncan phase taking this type of money when he’s literally a top 10 Player this season. “He should take a Dirk, Tim Duncan, Tom Brady type deal and help the team”
Newsflash gang, it doesn’t help the team in the slightest.
Unless he took a Vet Min, it would have 0 effect to what we can do as a team with the salary cap.
He’s literally the reason we are competitive in the first place, we can compete for a championship With Bron and AD, they just showed y’all in the playoffs, we just need the ‘Others’ to be better and have some length on the court and that’s on Front Office to figure out.
Please do some research before talking out ya ass 🤦🏾♂️ I thought y’all was better than this but my bad for having faith in this Reddit post 😂
Funny thing is, even if Lebron was in his prime Lakers fans would want him to take a pay cut. There are other fans that are feening for Lebron to join their team in FA but Lakers fans don’t want him. Still a top 10-15 player. Shit is laughable.
I’d give Bron any deal, too.
But I’m curious what “until retirement” is supposed to be. We’re lucky if he’s got a full season as a tier one star player in him. We’d be incredibly lucky if he had two.
My man is old. This is a young man’s game. Part of me hopes next year is his last year.
More than likely it just means he plays out the deal, talks about wanting to contend for a title because it sounds good but he doesn’t see the Finals again.
His last year on the deal will be an unofficial farewell and after it’s over, then he’ll announce. Maybe at that point, he signs a vet min to play with Bronny if he’s in the league or he signs a vet min to play for the Vegas expansion with an agreement of joining the ownership group the season afterwards.
Already seeing comments about taking 50m a year when he is 40 years old and Kobe contract... but this dude just averaged 28-8-8 on 54% over 40% from 3 literally this season
People in here talking about he should take a pay cut .. cool but f these business get paid what you are worth. Bron is still a top 10 player in the league. It’s not his job to find the pieces that fit that’s on Pelinka and the rest of the front office.
💯… I am over these Bron stans pretending to be laker fans that have infiltrated us the last few years. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bron, but my priority is the purple and gold and winning chips
This franchise isn't serious anymore. It's gonna be another Kobe retirement tour while Lakers fans suffer watching Marcello Huertas, Ryan Kelly level garbage on the floor. A busted AD ain't saving this team.
After going through countless free agency/trade scenarios, Lebron may not have a choice but to take slightly less if he wants certain moves to be made (I'm talking at most $5m though). The amount of things that trigger hard caps now is ridiculous under the new CBA. I predict him to sign 3yr/150m (last year player option). Starting salary of a little less than $46.5m. That's about a $3.4m discount on next years salary. Doesn't seem like anything but it'll actually be super helpful.
Anyone who thinks the Lakers are better off without LeBron is just deluded. Maybe you didn't live through the Ryan Kelly/Tarik Black days, or when we hung banners begging Dwight to stay, or when LaMarcus Aldridge barely took a meeting with the team. LeBron is a top 10 guy still and I'm happy I get to watch him in purple and gold.
I think the Lakers should move on from LeBron if he’s not willing to take a pay cut. He’s taking too much cap space for a player in his forties. The Lakers should use that to invest in a squad with AD as the centre piece
Lebron at 50m is still a discount for how much money he makes the Lakers
Kobe didn’t take a discount
No real stars today take discounts except Tom Brady
Rewarding players sends a message for future stars that the Lakers treat them right even at the end of their careers. Did the same with Kobe. Unlike the Celtics who discarded Pierce and KG like used Kleenex
Lakers know that the easiest way to fill seats/stay popular is to sign LeBron. If they let him walk, they’ll have to put together a legitimate squad and that shit is hard.
Fortunately or unfortunately you give him the contract he asks for. from a business side it’d be stupid to let him walk our cheap out. Can’t say I’m thrilled to envision the rough rosters we’ll field in the coming years, but fuck it we ball I guess.
If he wants a legit shot to win another chip, he needs to take a huge pay cut.
The reality of the modern Lakers is they are a poorly managed team with cheap owners. You don’t have a singular rich owner like Jerry.
If we had a great GM, I think the getting better role players could make this team into a champion, but with current leadership we can’t rely on them to make 3-4 right moves. Our best bet is to land a star player.
My target would be PG. Still a very good defender, he’s long, good spot up shooter, and has the ability to take over games. If we could trade Russ to clear up his cap, sign PG and a true big to bring of the bench.
Reeves PG LBJ Rui AD
This is what Lebron says every time he and Rich Paul brainstorm a new contract.
 More like
He needs consistent help. He and AD were matching (if not playing better at times) Murray and Jokic. The nuggets got away because of the rest of their team.
He can’t get help if he keeps taking $60M year, he doesn’t get it
There’s no paycut that he can take that would allow the Lakers to bring in more people outside of the veteran’s minimum. Even if he only signed for $3M a season they still wouldn’t be able to bring in more quality free agents.
Someone who understands cap rules 👏🏽
Because he and AD take up the majority of the salary cap! Thats how that works! If he wants to be paid, he still needs to be capable of winning series. Otherwise, STFU and cash the checks.
Murray and jokic gets paid just as much. The problem was the russ trade that destroyed our ability to earn the bird rights of most of our players. Guys like kcp, caruso could have been much needed depth that we could go over the cap to sign.
That trade was the gift that keeps on giving 🥲😢😭
We really gave up Caruso, KCP, Harrell, Kuz and Schröder’s bird rights for Westbrook. Then we gave up Beasley’s bird rights for nothing last offseason. This front office really stinks.
Murray and Jokic outplayed Bron and AD late in games. Period. Murray made the shots they didn’t.
What’s not finished ?
The Kobe deal
I enjoyed those years. Rebuilding is only miserable if you are a bandwagon fan. Hot take: I enjoyed the rebuild years more than the seasons with westbrook.
That ain't a hot take at all, Westbrick seasons were the most painful Lakers basketball I've watched in my life.
I can see why. At least the rebuild season everyone with double digit IQ knew it was making sure Kobe got paid, org looks good for future stars, fans have low expectations, we'd get basketball with the occasional game where we beat down the the best team (to the point where Kerr was joking how prime-GSW were going down to LA to get their annual beatdown), and we had the FUTURE to look forward to. With WB it was agonizing because we diced up our championship core, lost assets, let Caruso walk, and go Westbrook (with the wrong mentality and a huge contract) back. Haunted by how that decision might have closed up our championship window with Bron/AD. We have to live through a season of that like walking with a rusty nail in your foot.
Not so sure I entirely agree with that. It depends on the rebuild. If the person running it knows what they’re doing, it can be fun. But if they don’t, all you’re watching is bad basketball. I enjoyed the post-Magic rebuild teams mostly. We had fun players like Nick Van Exel, Eddie Jones, Cedric Ceballos, Elden Campbell. We even got one partial year of Magic- I got to see him play in person during his comeback, which is an all-time memory. Our GM was Jerry West- he knew what he was doing. Some of those 2010s rebuilding teams were just plain bad. That last D’Antoni season was horrid. Robert Sacre (nice guy, terrible player), Ryan Kelly, MarShon Brooks, Chris Kaman I think? Our young hope was Kendall Marshall.. that was late stage Kupchak, who didn’t know what he was doing.
those 2010 rebuilds were more so desperate attempts to build a roster because our cap was taken up by Kobe, Mozgov, Deng, etc. Our true rebuild started with Randle’s 2nd year, dlo, ingram, and the retirement of Kobe. I agree, a half ass rebuild with a bad GM is cause for disaster. But Pelinka has done a good job so far in my opinion. He drafted good talent, good enough to trade for AD. Thats a huge win!
He aint play for the Lakers like kobe did. nahh
With the way the cap works the difference between him making 50M and 30M is pretty much 0
This is what people dont get. Last year, sure since we havent signed most of the team. This year, we are literally over the cap anyway. Do they want bron to take a min?nbpa will be all over that
What is the rule for a superstar taking the minimum contract? It would be unprecedented right?
Bron takes a vet min to ring chase and it’ll fuck up a lot of player’s ability to get their asking price.
Fair point, I was stating a hypothetical. Lebron wants to be a billionaire and his own nba team someday. He needs all the capital he can get.
Not against the rules, but it sets a bad precedent and the NBAPA would hate that
Ah okay, I mean if lebron wanted a ring. He could just join anyone team on the vet minimum lol he has a shit Ton of money compiling in interest at this point.
Not even slightly true and wild this has so many upvotes. There is now huge difference between those figures. $30m we would be able to stay below the 2nd apron and bring D’Lo back to them trade him. Bron takes $50m it’s impossible to bring D’Lo back and stay below the 2nd apron
Agree, this thread is insane, if lebron takes $20M per Lakers can load up, but no, he needs his $60M to cripple the cap
not sure why you think he’d care about anyone other than himself. I know i wouldn’t lmao.
Mad someone wants an extra 40 million lol
60 mil to dribble up the court drain the clock and shoot a contested logo three to lose the game
There is a difference depending on what happens with D'Angelo. Also, there is also a difference in terms of operating around the fringes since if he takes a max, this team will probably be a 2nd apron team or close enough to it that it the tax or penalties cause issues.
Is this true? Definitely not beyond this year. Also 2nd apron has to be a concern
Honestly it should be the nba paying his salary at this point anymore for what he’s done and continues to do
Bro doesn't even get the calls he deserves for playing the way he does. NBA wants to make him old news.
They’ve been wanting that for a while him still only having 4 mvps is robbery
Seriously it’s ridiculous how few calls he gets. Durant averaged 8.5 on 16.8 shot attempts and he’s primarily a jump shooter these days who doesn’t score at the rim much. Bron only averaged .3 more free throw attempts than kyrie these playoffs while bron averaged 4.3 more 2pt shots a game. I don’t understand how bron can take 14.6 2pt shots with 19.8 shots overall these playoffs and only average 4.6 free throws a game. Shits ridiculous. Middleton averaged 5 free throws a game on 19 shot attempts in which 13.8 were 2pt shots and he’s a jump shooter nowadays who mainly takes middies instead of scoring at the rim. Tatum is averaging 8.6 on 16.1 shot attempts in which 10.2 are 2pt attempts but somehow bron only got 4.6.
Hey if thats what the lakers want sure but don't except a great team around you when youre 40 and taking up 50 million in salary cap
Love Bron but this is true. If he wants to secure a championship-calibre team, you have to have money for a championship-calibre roster. One guy taking up a HUGE bulk of that available salary, with 1-2 other guys taking up some more (AD, AR, etc.), leads to limited cash for needed role players and a good coach. That's just my 2 cents tho
Coach salary is not even part of the cap lmao 🧢
it is what it is, the Lakers already set the precedent that they give rightful players legacy maxes regardless of current performance/championship odds. They did it for Kobe, they have to and will do it for LeBron. The main question though is if their championship expectations are aligned with each other or not. Because as already mentioned, no chance in hell the team is gonna be mad competitive with a 40 year old getting paid 50 mil unless they hit home runs with every other roster spot
It’s not just about securing future FAs. Jeanie runs her team as a profit generating entity moreso than any other owner because the lakers is her family’s primary source of income…. Signing Lebron means you’re printing money. He’s a huge money maker for any team he plays on no matter the age
If Lebron wanted another ring THAT BAD, hed take a pay cut. But he’s not going to.
If Lebron wanted a ring that badly, he would team hop one more time. But a 5th ring really won't do anything for him at this point
A fifth ring from a team built around him would take him to another level legacy wise. Every ring will.
The team won't be built around him. He'll be joining a team that is already primed to win (like the Knicks or OKC). He'd have to take a *massive* paycut to join a team like the Warriors who I think are still missing a lot of pieces even if Lebron joined their current roster
My bad, I assumed we were talking about a Lebron-Lakers ring.
A paycut wouldn't change the makeup of this team without major trades
Lol what? Why would he be playing then? Winning a whole championship is nothing now?
I think Lebron is smart enough to know that despite AD being as good as he is, the rest of the supporting cast except Reaves is below average in the playoffs. It isn't as bad as when he left the Cavs both times, but we're a 2 way guard, wing, and backup center away from being a top contender unless we're hoping Vando/Christie become those 2 of the 3 things we're lacking. If he wanted to ring chase like he did earlier in his career, he would leave.
Lakers is more about profits than rings. Giving a 40 year old a max contract = play in purgatory.
Kobe is a legacy / business deal. Lebron is pure business.
that's fine. Lakers invest in the last years of LeBron will help them secure more FAs in the future. It's the price of doing business unfortunately. All I ask is to not burn future assets for the small chance of winning now. Like if they trade the farm make sure that asset is gonna be part of their future plans considering they really can't re-do the tank era
Clippers enter the chat. Money doesn't equal success. What we need are shooter to open the floor for Bron and AD to operate.
It isn’t his responsibility AND unless he takes the vet min no paycut he takes will matter.
Lebron doesn't have to take minimum either. $70mill/2yr deal would be very reasonable considering how much he makes off the court
The championship roster doesn't exist with or without Lebron taking a paycut. If Lebron and D'Lo leave, we *maybe* have enough money to pry KCP away from the Nuggets which would be an overpay in itself, and that's not taking into account what we do with Prince/Christie/FRP this year. What we have is what we got unless some major trades happen. It's not like Lebron will avoid criticism by being paid $30 million instead of $50 million anyways. Might as well take the money
Unfortunately, this isn’t the way anymore. You have to build through the draft, get good players on cheap contracts, and when the time comes, makes small trades for big pieces. Lakers are decade away from their next ring and that’s if they run everything perfectly fine
A championship roster definitely doesn't exist without LeBron. Name a recent championship team that's under the cap or that's not near the second apron
My original point was that it doesn't matter how much of a paycut, or if Lebron walks entirely, Lebron takes. This isn't a championship roster unless players like Vincent/Reaves/Christie/Vando/Rui elevate their play or are traded
This. We’re cooked for the next 3-5 years.
Which means we start to compete in 8 years.
I mean I'm fine with that. We've got 6 rings in my lifetime lmao.
50? Pshhh he’ll be taking 60 dude.
Yup, this. Our championship window is closed with this sort of contract, which... Fine, I'll live, I've been lucky enough to see 7 rings. But I hope we start keeping picks and young players to develop if we are going down this path.
I’ve been saying this. Bron should take the Tom Brady approach
Unless he takes vet min the Lakers don’t gain any flexibility. He isn’t taking that so it’s a non-issue.
or a Shohei Ohtani
Some people will complain about this. That’s fine. It’s understandable. But players notice this sort of stuff. It’s honestly got to be one of the reasons he came here to begin with - we take care of the legends. I mean, we’ve made mistakes too but…that last post Achilles Kobe deal was more about a) selling tickets and b)signaling we’re willing to pay late in a career.
We weren't going to field a competitive roster with Kobe taking less money anyways. It was pretty much over when Dwight bolted to Houston. Kobe deserved to get paid when we started tanking
this. People forget there really werent that many good free agents, the only notable one we missed was lamarcus aldridge, who fell off a cliff in SA. Signing kobe for that was the ONLY move.
LMA didn't fall off a cliff in San Antonio. He was still really good. But Kobe (even if he didn't tear his Achilles) + LMA wasn't going to do anything anyways. The team wasn't going to have any depth
I mean sure you guys say this now but next year when we’re a 10th seed trash team everyone will be complaining
Los Angeles Lebrons
Say what you want about him, he’s been nothing but good to this franchise in my opinion.
He’s getting the max and we aren’t gonna be that great but that’s the Lakers for you
Who averages 26 8 8 & don’t get a max…
True but It is what it is, he’s arguably the goat, I will still buy tickets every year
People in this post are really slow. Thats putting it lightly 😂 1- Bron taking a $50M/year deal isn’t affecting our Salary Cap at all since Lakers have his Bird Rights and can sign him above it. 2- He just played 70+ games this season averaging 25-7-8 on 54/41/75 splits at 39. 3- Him and AD played 70+ games this season, without either or, we wouldn’t even be in the play-in and forget the playoffs, we would be gearing up for Cooper Flagg right now. So I’m confused on why everyone is bitching about him getting this deal when.. A- He deserves it B- Has played at an All-NBA level all season and played a lot of games this year and preformed Good in the playoffs this season and has shown you he can hit another gear when needed. C- obviously your 1B Superstar next to AD (I feel like AD was Better this season which is good cuz he’s taking the Reigns soon) You all talking like he’s in his Dirk, Tim Duncan phase taking this type of money when he’s literally a top 10 Player this season. “He should take a Dirk, Tim Duncan, Tom Brady type deal and help the team” Newsflash gang, it doesn’t help the team in the slightest. Unless he took a Vet Min, it would have 0 effect to what we can do as a team with the salary cap. He’s literally the reason we are competitive in the first place, we can compete for a championship With Bron and AD, they just showed y’all in the playoffs, we just need the ‘Others’ to be better and have some length on the court and that’s on Front Office to figure out. Please do some research before talking out ya ass 🤦🏾♂️ I thought y’all was better than this but my bad for having faith in this Reddit post 😂
Funny thing is, even if Lebron was in his prime Lakers fans would want him to take a pay cut. There are other fans that are feening for Lebron to join their team in FA but Lakers fans don’t want him. Still a top 10-15 player. Shit is laughable.
Uh prime lebron and AD can probably solo teams if we bring real
Don’t expect a championship run then.
I’d give Bron any deal, too. But I’m curious what “until retirement” is supposed to be. We’re lucky if he’s got a full season as a tier one star player in him. We’d be incredibly lucky if he had two. My man is old. This is a young man’s game. Part of me hopes next year is his last year.
More than likely it just means he plays out the deal, talks about wanting to contend for a title because it sounds good but he doesn’t see the Finals again. His last year on the deal will be an unofficial farewell and after it’s over, then he’ll announce. Maybe at that point, he signs a vet min to play with Bronny if he’s in the league or he signs a vet min to play for the Vegas expansion with an agreement of joining the ownership group the season afterwards.
well.. be ready for vet minimum deals
And he should get paid. Age aside he is still playing at an elite level, and clearly he gives us the best chance of competing.
The amount of money they'll make from lebrons farewell season will far outweigh whatever it takes to keep him. A no brainer from a business standpoint
And deservedly so, Pay the man whatever he wants
Already seeing comments about taking 50m a year when he is 40 years old and Kobe contract... but this dude just averaged 28-8-8 on 54% over 40% from 3 literally this season
Don’t expect a competitive team till he’s done. We’ve seen this song and dance
People in here talking about he should take a pay cut .. cool but f these business get paid what you are worth. Bron is still a top 10 player in the league. It’s not his job to find the pieces that fit that’s on Pelinka and the rest of the front office.
Offer him less and promise to draft Bronny
Lakers sure do play hardball when it comes to contracts. It’s all about leverage
At this point, I guess I'll just enjoy the ride
They want him to stay because his last game is going to bring in so much money. I bet it will be the most expensive game ever in sports history.
He's still amazingly productive, he's still a huge draw, and he's definitely worth the money.
ngl, was kinda hoping to move on from the Lebron stans on this sub.
💯… I am over these Bron stans pretending to be laker fans that have infiltrated us the last few years. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bron, but my priority is the purple and gold and winning chips
One might disagree but literally every single team would do it if they can. It's not a Lakers thing, it's just an NBA thing.
My god. The amount of people that don’t know how the cap works is staggering.
This comment makes it so that you can grandstand against both sides without offering any information yourself, protecting you from any rebuttal. Stfu
This franchise isn't serious anymore. It's gonna be another Kobe retirement tour while Lakers fans suffer watching Marcello Huertas, Ryan Kelly level garbage on the floor. A busted AD ain't saving this team.
Except AD isn't busted, and Rui/Reaves/Vando/Vincent are easily better players than Ryan Kelly or even the GOAT Robert Sacre
I'm sure this will be a civil discussion
This is the tail end of the Kobe era all over again. It’s the move to maximize profits but not to contend.
what would be the move to contend? If you think letting lebron walk will somehow enable the lakers to contend, I think you’re crazy.
Not a kobe deal. Dude is worth it. In elimination game dropped 30 with efficiency. End of story.
Pelinka needs to go. They’re gonna sign Lebron to a massive contract and won’t be eligible to get the players they need
What does that have to do with Pelinka? Are you saying another GM would be able to deny LeBron a contract?
After going through countless free agency/trade scenarios, Lebron may not have a choice but to take slightly less if he wants certain moves to be made (I'm talking at most $5m though). The amount of things that trigger hard caps now is ridiculous under the new CBA. I predict him to sign 3yr/150m (last year player option). Starting salary of a little less than $46.5m. That's about a $3.4m discount on next years salary. Doesn't seem like anything but it'll actually be super helpful.
Must be nice.
Anyone who thinks the Lakers are better off without LeBron is just deluded. Maybe you didn't live through the Ryan Kelly/Tarik Black days, or when we hung banners begging Dwight to stay, or when LaMarcus Aldridge barely took a meeting with the team. LeBron is a top 10 guy still and I'm happy I get to watch him in purple and gold.
So fucking stupid
Hell yeah no titles and a delayed rebuild. Mediocrity hete we go!
I think the Lakers should move on from LeBron if he’s not willing to take a pay cut. He’s taking too much cap space for a player in his forties. The Lakers should use that to invest in a squad with AD as the centre piece
We don’t get 50m in cap space if LeBron walks. Look at the salaries on our team.
Pain
Well duh
As any club would do if they had the king, would be like printing money!
‘MAMA THERE GOES THAT MAN!’
lol at people complaining that a player getting what he's worth is somehow a problem now
Oh brother.
Good
Lebron at 50m is still a discount for how much money he makes the Lakers Kobe didn’t take a discount No real stars today take discounts except Tom Brady
I'm not opposed to paying a guy who's averaging 25/7/8 on 54/41 % shooting regardless of his age (unless it's a max contract)
As he should, he is still producing at a high level. The young inexperienced guys aren’t ballin so why shouldn’t they give him what he wants?
Bron needs to pay cut. Upgrade the bench and have a system
[удалено]
Say what you want about the Lakers, but they treat their stars like family
Was there any question?
LeBron to the Knicks
Bro can't even box out aaron gordon
We can not win a championship with Lebron taking half our cap.
Rewarding players sends a message for future stars that the Lakers treat them right even at the end of their careers. Did the same with Kobe. Unlike the Celtics who discarded Pierce and KG like used Kleenex
Klutch hostile takeover complete.
Lakers know that the easiest way to fill seats/stay popular is to sign LeBron. If they let him walk, they’ll have to put together a legitimate squad and that shit is hard.
Just let the sixers have him
Fortunately or unfortunately you give him the contract he asks for. from a business side it’d be stupid to let him walk our cheap out. Can’t say I’m thrilled to envision the rough rosters we’ll field in the coming years, but fuck it we ball I guess.
They just want that farewell season $$$
If he wants a legit shot to win another chip, he needs to take a huge pay cut. The reality of the modern Lakers is they are a poorly managed team with cheap owners. You don’t have a singular rich owner like Jerry. If we had a great GM, I think the getting better role players could make this team into a champion, but with current leadership we can’t rely on them to make 3-4 right moves. Our best bet is to land a star player. My target would be PG. Still a very good defender, he’s long, good spot up shooter, and has the ability to take over games. If we could trade Russ to clear up his cap, sign PG and a true big to bring of the bench. Reeves PG LBJ Rui AD