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**LA LAKERS THREAD** Sitting on 17! 2023-2024 offseason begins
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by licensed to ball,
- Start date
MIKE LOWERY
formerly chuck finster
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I don't know if this is Bron's doing, Kyrie's, or both.
But clearly, this is the calm before the storm and beginning to force Cuban/Pelinka's hand. Kyrie is trying to get to the Lakers without saying it explicitly. There's no way DAL can get Bron without Luka and that's not happening.
But clearly, this is the calm before the storm and beginning to force Cuban/Pelinka's hand. Kyrie is trying to get to the Lakers without saying it explicitly. There's no way DAL can get Bron without Luka and that's not happening.
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They fasho trynna set up Kyrie to the lakers but they can’t be that overt / open about it
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Either way, even if Cuban is dumb enough to trade Luka for Bron, AD still needs Big Man help.
Luka plus AD still ain't beating Jokic, MPJ, AG, and Jamal if AD has to deal with Denver's frontcourt all by his lonesome with no big man support
Luka plus AD still ain't beating Jokic, MPJ, AG, and Jamal if AD has to deal with Denver's frontcourt all by his lonesome with no big man support
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Yeah. I don’t think this is anything other than Kyrie being Kyrie.
We all know that getting Kyrie to LA is dumb based on what it costs.
If Rob goes that route Cuban won’t let it happen easily either. And Kyrie wants his money.
We all know that getting Kyrie to LA is dumb based on what it costs.
If Rob goes that route Cuban won’t let it happen easily either. And Kyrie wants his money.
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HYPOTHETICALLY, it would be an interesting proposition if Bron wanted out and the Mavs were his option.
Like, could LeBron lose so much foresight that he would allow the Lakers to squeeze the Mavs for what little they have moving forward?
Not that Jeanie would ever trade him, I think.
Like, could LeBron lose so much foresight that he would allow the Lakers to squeeze the Mavs for what little they have moving forward?
Not that Jeanie would ever trade him, I think.
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Would have be #10 pick, 2027 first round, a pick swap of two.
THJr, Kleber, Bullock, McGee or Green to make salaries work.
Zero chance they take on Bertans deal if they traded Bron.
Team would be Bron, Kyrie, Luka, Bertans and like $6mil from luxury tax
THJr, Kleber, Bullock, McGee or Green to make salaries work.
Zero chance they take on Bertans deal if they traded Bron.
Team would be Bron, Kyrie, Luka, Bertans and like $6mil from luxury tax
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Shams out here spreading blasphemy for the clicks
Its gonna be a LOOOOONG summer folks.
Its gonna be a LOOOOONG summer folks.
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Hypothetically: Kyrie, THJ, Bron, Luka, Dwight Powell would still be letting up 130+ every night and fighting for a playoff spot IMO
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With the ghost of Christmas past as their bench. Most likely.
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Just remembered Kyrie was on IG live last week saying to keep his name out of these free agent rumors… and now this.
Gotta love it.
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luka not trying to play with lebron man lol
this just them trying to angle kyrie to lakers somehow someway lol
this just them trying to angle kyrie to lakers somehow someway lol
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Usually when rumors have this much steam, it happens 
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LeBron-Kyrie reunion with Mavs is ‘unrealistic’ and unlikely … but not impossible
The latest wrinkle in the Kyrie Irving–LeBron James reunion saga unfolded on Monday, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting that Irving reached out to James to recruit him to join Irving in Dallas.
Most of the dialogue around James and Irving, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, rejoining forces has been centered on the two superstars playing in Los Angeles. The Lakers can create upwards of $30 million to $35 million in cap space this summer to sign Irving, or could absorb Irving’s salary in a sign-and-trade with Dallas.
James made it known last summer, and ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, that he wanted Irving in Los Angeles next to him and Anthony Davis. The Lakers were one of the teams believed to be a potential suitor for Irving when he and Nets were at an impasse in talks last summer before Irving picked up his player option for 2022-23. The Lakers also emerged as a potential suitor for Irving when he requested a trade ahead of February’s deadline.
This is the first time that the possibility of the former teammates, who played together in Cleveland from 2014 through 2017 and won a championship in 2016, teaming up to play in Dallas has appeared viable from either side. Irving’s recruitment of James seems to indicate that he’s leaning toward re-signing with the Mavericks, who can offer him the most money this offseason.
The Lakers, meanwhile, maintained on Monday that they aren’t interested in adding Irving this summer, according to multiple team sources who aren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
From the moment James hinted at retirement following the Lakers being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, there was a sense among those with and around the organization that his comments were partly a tactic to apply pressure on the franchise to make a significant roster upgrade this offseason. James’ preferred upgrade, many assumed, was Irving. But one team source indicated that James is not using Irving’s interest in playing with him as leverage to try to get the Lakers to trade for Irving this offseason.
The primary takeaway from the Lakers’ perspective is that Irving isn’t interested in taking a discount to sign in free agency. Los Angeles would have to trade for him — at his projected maximum salary starting around $47 million, depending on the final salary-cap numbers — to acquire him.
As for the possibility of James landing in Dallas for next season, one Lakers source characterized it as “unrealistic.” It’s logistically improbable, though technically possible.
Assuming James plays next season, which The Athletic reported remains the team’s stance, the easiest way to get James to Dallas — at least for James, Irving and the Mavericks — would be by trade. But a glance at the Mavericks’ roster and draft picks shows limited assets that wouldn’t appeal to the Lakers in a potential rebuild.
If James were to demand a trade, and the Lakers were to entertain offers, it would take more than a package of, say, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dāvis Bertāns, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft and another future first to get a deal done. The Lakers simply aren’t interested in what Dallas could offer in a trade, according to multiple team sources.
If Dallas is offering Luka Dončić for James, then yes, one would assume the Lakers will listen. But aside from that, the Lakers aren’t going to trade James to the Mavericks. James could try to force their hand, but that would just likely lead to a messy power struggle.
The other avenue to get James to Dallas would be through a buyout, but multiple hurdles make that unrealistic as well.
James agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers in 2022 that will not kick in until this summer. Any player who is bought out could technically be picked up on waivers, but that team would have to be able to fit the player’s entire salary (in this case, James’ $46.9 million) on its cap sheet, not the amount he agrees to in a buyout. It would also require James to take a steep discount — the Lakers would have little to no incentive to have dead money on their cap sheet — and then sign in Dallas for far less than he would’ve been making. James has a player option of $50.7 million for the 2024-25 season, which he would forfeit. In this scenario, Irving would also have to take a significant discount.
James has made nearly $400 million in basketball salary through his NBA career. He’s made hundreds of millions through endorsements, partnerships, his production company and various business endeavors. But asking him to give up tens of millions of dollars still seems impractical.
For what it’s worth, James has a great relationship with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and assistant coach Jared Dudley, who won a championship with James and the Lakers in 2020. James and Dončić also have a good relationship. Dončić said earlier in his career that James was his favorite player growing up, and the two have clear similarities in their style of play – though those same similarities could also make it difficult for them to play together. James has glowingly praised Dončić through the years.
After going 5-11 when Dončić and Irving played together this season and finishing as the No. 11 seed in the West, it’s understandable why the Mavericks would be interested in trading for James and forming the league’s latest attempt at a big three. They are desperate to ensure Dončić remains in Dallas for the long term (he could become a free agent in 2026). But acquiring James before he can be a free agent in 2024 is just not reasonable.
Despite Irving’s recruiting efforts, the cleanest path to James and Irving playing together remains in Los Angeles, either by Irving taking a discount to sign with the Lakers in free agency or by Dallas sending him there in a sign-and-trade.
James to Dallas is possible … but mostly improbable.
The latest wrinkle in the Kyrie Irving–LeBron James reunion saga unfolded on Monday, with The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting that Irving reached out to James to recruit him to join Irving in Dallas.
Most of the dialogue around James and Irving, who is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, rejoining forces has been centered on the two superstars playing in Los Angeles. The Lakers can create upwards of $30 million to $35 million in cap space this summer to sign Irving, or could absorb Irving’s salary in a sign-and-trade with Dallas.
James made it known last summer, and ahead of the Feb. 9 trade deadline, that he wanted Irving in Los Angeles next to him and Anthony Davis. The Lakers were one of the teams believed to be a potential suitor for Irving when he and Nets were at an impasse in talks last summer before Irving picked up his player option for 2022-23. The Lakers also emerged as a potential suitor for Irving when he requested a trade ahead of February’s deadline.
This is the first time that the possibility of the former teammates, who played together in Cleveland from 2014 through 2017 and won a championship in 2016, teaming up to play in Dallas has appeared viable from either side. Irving’s recruitment of James seems to indicate that he’s leaning toward re-signing with the Mavericks, who can offer him the most money this offseason.
The Lakers, meanwhile, maintained on Monday that they aren’t interested in adding Irving this summer, according to multiple team sources who aren’t authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
From the moment James hinted at retirement following the Lakers being swept by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference finals, there was a sense among those with and around the organization that his comments were partly a tactic to apply pressure on the franchise to make a significant roster upgrade this offseason. James’ preferred upgrade, many assumed, was Irving. But one team source indicated that James is not using Irving’s interest in playing with him as leverage to try to get the Lakers to trade for Irving this offseason.
The primary takeaway from the Lakers’ perspective is that Irving isn’t interested in taking a discount to sign in free agency. Los Angeles would have to trade for him — at his projected maximum salary starting around $47 million, depending on the final salary-cap numbers — to acquire him.
As for the possibility of James landing in Dallas for next season, one Lakers source characterized it as “unrealistic.” It’s logistically improbable, though technically possible.
Assuming James plays next season, which The Athletic reported remains the team’s stance, the easiest way to get James to Dallas — at least for James, Irving and the Mavericks — would be by trade. But a glance at the Mavericks’ roster and draft picks shows limited assets that wouldn’t appeal to the Lakers in a potential rebuild.
If James were to demand a trade, and the Lakers were to entertain offers, it would take more than a package of, say, Tim Hardaway Jr., Dāvis Bertāns, Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, the No. 10 pick in the 2023 draft and another future first to get a deal done. The Lakers simply aren’t interested in what Dallas could offer in a trade, according to multiple team sources.
If Dallas is offering Luka Dončić for James, then yes, one would assume the Lakers will listen. But aside from that, the Lakers aren’t going to trade James to the Mavericks. James could try to force their hand, but that would just likely lead to a messy power struggle.
The other avenue to get James to Dallas would be through a buyout, but multiple hurdles make that unrealistic as well.
James agreed to a two-year, $97.1 million extension with the Lakers in 2022 that will not kick in until this summer. Any player who is bought out could technically be picked up on waivers, but that team would have to be able to fit the player’s entire salary (in this case, James’ $46.9 million) on its cap sheet, not the amount he agrees to in a buyout. It would also require James to take a steep discount — the Lakers would have little to no incentive to have dead money on their cap sheet — and then sign in Dallas for far less than he would’ve been making. James has a player option of $50.7 million for the 2024-25 season, which he would forfeit. In this scenario, Irving would also have to take a significant discount.
James has made nearly $400 million in basketball salary through his NBA career. He’s made hundreds of millions through endorsements, partnerships, his production company and various business endeavors. But asking him to give up tens of millions of dollars still seems impractical.
For what it’s worth, James has a great relationship with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd and assistant coach Jared Dudley, who won a championship with James and the Lakers in 2020. James and Dončić also have a good relationship. Dončić said earlier in his career that James was his favorite player growing up, and the two have clear similarities in their style of play – though those same similarities could also make it difficult for them to play together. James has glowingly praised Dončić through the years.
After going 5-11 when Dončić and Irving played together this season and finishing as the No. 11 seed in the West, it’s understandable why the Mavericks would be interested in trading for James and forming the league’s latest attempt at a big three. They are desperate to ensure Dončić remains in Dallas for the long term (he could become a free agent in 2026). But acquiring James before he can be a free agent in 2024 is just not reasonable.
Despite Irving’s recruiting efforts, the cleanest path to James and Irving playing together remains in Los Angeles, either by Irving taking a discount to sign with the Lakers in free agency or by Dallas sending him there in a sign-and-trade.
James to Dallas is possible … but mostly improbable.
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Bron, Kyrie and Luka on the floor at the same time
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If Kyrie really wants to be here just sign for the MLE bro.
Stop wasting our time with this BS
Stop wasting our time with this BS
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that man not giving up 30m man
it would be ideal if he did take some sort of paycut tho cuz i seen a tweet that showed how they can keep ar, rui, vando and get kyrie but even still that roster looks bare af lol
it would be ideal if he did take some sort of paycut tho cuz i seen a tweet that showed how they can keep ar, rui, vando and get kyrie but even still that roster looks bare af lol
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Kyrie been an issue at every stop.
Hall of Fame Player.
He is who he is though.
Hall of Fame Player.
He is who he is though.
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Just by calculation:
Bron, AD, Kyrie. Is almost 100% of the entire cap
So they’d have about $35mil to field the rest of the roster.
Back to the regularly scheduled program:
DLo is the best option at PG to field a championship team next year.
-Kyrie wants to be the highest paid player on the team.
-FVV hard caps them for no gain.
-Other options at PG require renouncing other players to open up more cap space against open roster spots.
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So AR in the FIBA games. Interesting
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Still not wrong.
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Usually when rumors have this much steam, it happens
I assume you are joking.
NBA rumors are the worst.
darthska
Staff member
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