The Los Angeles Lakers are surrounding one-in-a-million free agent signing LeBron James with some rather questionable pieces. Laker fans are split right now on the state of the team. Some think the veteran experience + LeBron and the kids will work itself out. Others think these moves make no sense based on how LeBron has succeeded in past iterations of his teams. Here were my various in-the-moment reactions to the recent influx of veterans coming to the Los Angeles Lakers after LeBron James hopped on board. I apologize in advance for the excess of double and triple question marks, cursing, and caps lock.
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Lance Stephenson And Lakers Agree to 1-year, $1.5 million deal mere minutes after signing LeBron
HOLY SHIT WE GOT LEBRON JAMES WE ARE BACK BAYBEE WE ARE BA-
Hold on.....wait...Lance Stephenson?? Like the guy who blew in LeBron's ear and harassed him in the first round this year? Hahahaha Ok that's weird...LeBron is so good he's going to make it work though. It's only one year. Maybe he'll put in a good year but he'll just come off the books next year. He's not really a good defender anymore, but hey that's just one questionable addition. If that's the only one we should be in pretty good shape! LAKESHOW!
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JaVale McGee and Lakers Agree to 1-year deal worth the veteran's minimum about an hour after signing Lance
WHAT?? Javale McGee?? Is this a joke Magic? Are we trying to build a competitive team around LeBron or are we trying to be the Golden State Warriors of Shaqtin-A-Fool?? Lance and Javale on the same fuckin team?? Well hold on, he has some nice length and can run up the floor pretty well. He's obviously not known for his IQ, but he has been deep in the playoffs with the Warriors so he's another veteran who can hopefully impart some wisdom on the kids....but still....Javale McGee?
You guys go out and pick up two of the most questionable people in the league after signing LeBron?? Ok, the LeBron Lakers era is starting off a little weird.
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Lakers re-sign Kentavius Caldwell Pope to a 1-year deal worth $12 million
We brought him back?? Whyyyyyyy???
*Remembers that he's a part of LeBron's agency Klutch Sports Group*
Oh yea that's why.
Well ok. Kentavius had some good games for the Lakeshow when all our guys were getting injured. But overall he isn't that consistent. We need to put more shooters around LeBron and I guess Kentavius strives to be that...but we need like SHARPshooters. He shot 38% from three and 42% overall. His overall percentage doesn't jump out at you, but the three isn't bad. Can he focus on his defense and make some drastic improvements in his consistency this year? He looked like a pile of hot garbage to start the year, but he made some strides at the end. If he sharpens the skills he's supposed to be good at (3-and-D), then maybe he could be a good piece for the team.
Lakers Renounce the Rights to Julius Randle
Julius....nooooooooo not my boy. He was our first lottery pick in this exhausting, emotionally draining era of rebuilding. I had a special spot in my heart for him just because he was the first player to make me feel hope for the future of the franchise. He really made some jumps in his offense this year, particularly finishing around the rim and managing his tunnel vision.
In the years prior, Julius would often barrel his way to the rim with his ox-like body and bang around while his teammates were open - only to toss up an ill-advised brick. This time he would barrel his way to the rim with his ox-like body and it would actually go in most of the time. I'm honestly going to miss him. I think he would've played a nice role next to LeBron. Kinda of like a rich man's Tristan Thompson with more offensive potential.
But I don't think Julius wanted that. He's making the exact same amount of money that we just gave to Rajan Rondo, $9 million a year. Also, New Orleans offered him two years where we would've probably only offered one in order to have maximum flexibility next summer. He might've looked at the LeBron situation and realized that he wasn't going to get nearly as many shot opportunities as last year either. Instead, he's off to New Orleans to blaze a trail with fellow Kentucky big man Anthony Davis. Hopefully, it's the start of something good for him and Davis. I wish him nothing but the best.
Lakers Sign Rajan Rondo to 1-year $9 million deal.
Ok....WHEN THE FUCK ARE WE GOING TO GET SOMEONE WHO CAN SHOOT. Rajan Rondo is nice. I've always liked the player he was going back to the days when we battled him in the Finals as a Celtic. He put up some amazing high-assist performances for the Pelicans en route to their shocking sweep of the Blazers this postseason. He brings a high IQ and excellent vocal leadership to the table. He could be a solid point guard mentor to Lonzo Ball. Instill some toughness in him, help him see the game from an even more advanced perspective. But there's one thing he probably can't teach Lonzo to do:
FUCKING SHOOT THE BALL
You know who needs help shooting the rock? LONZO FUCKING BALL GUYS. I know it isn't Rondo's responsibility to teach him how to shoot, but did we really need to pick up another potentially chemistry-altering guy who can't shoot the dang ball? Rondo shot a Lonzo-esque 54% from the free throw line last year. His overall and 3 point percentages were so-so (46% overall, 33% from three). It all depends on how Rondo plays, but I kind of don't like the idea of him taking minutes from Lonzo either. It can go any which way with Rondo.
Sheesh....well, you certainly can't say next year won't be boring.
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Lance Stephenson and Rajan Rondo. These moves would be amazing if it was 2012 or 13. The NBA man...you get LeBron James one minute then your team surrounds him with people who can't shoot. What is going into the decision process with Magic and Pelinka? In terms of Lance and Rondo, I think they saw them as two players that have stood their ground against LeBron and not backed down. Even though LeBron overcame the individual players and their teams, I think he has a level of respect for these veterans who are tough and won't get pushed around. That's still something that has value in the psychological warfare that is the NBA playoffs.
On the other side, I think in reality what they're doing is waving the white flag this year and gearing up for the free agency class of 2019. Every one of their pickups is on a one-year deal. Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler are key free agents in the summer a year from now. That's a nice thought of all three superstars on the same team. A squad with LeBron, Kawhi, and Jimmy Butler may give the Warriors a run for their money. It's a nice thought. Getting them here is another thing.
But what doesn't sit right with me is us punting this year away given how old LeBron is. He's turning 34 in December and he's got a four-year contract with a player option at year three. His window for the twilight of his prime is closing ever rapidly. What if the guy starts having an amazing season for us like he did with the Cavs last year, and he incurs a freak injury like Kobe with the Achilles in 2012-13? The older you are, it gets harder and harder to come back from serious injuries like that. It seems like such a risk to not compete fully when we have a prime LeBron right now.
Something that occurred to me though is maybe LeBron just wants some god damn rest. Last year, he played the entire regular season and he has endured the long, winding road of the NBA postseason to the very end for eight straight years in a row with more seven-game series in that period than probably anyone else. He has seen the Warriors up close for four straight years in the NBA Finals, and the last two times he ran into the brick wall that was Kevin Durant on top of a squad that already went 73-9. And now the Warriors added Boogie Cousins?? Ha!!! LeBron's probably laughing right now at whoever has to get swept by them in the Finals.
The way the Lakers have made their moves, it doesn't look they're trying to compete and win right now. Maybe management and Lebron know they're outgunned and are waiting in the wings until this garbage Warriors era is over. After all, LeBron and Magic came in agreement that they're looking at the long-term potential of his time with the Lakers.
It's an anti-competitive sentiment that goes against the spirit of sports, but then again so does the concept of tanking and everybody who is smart is doing that! Look at the patron saint of the tank-show - Sam Hinkie. He died (ahem, got fired) doing what he thought was right and Philly has one of the brightest futures in the league with their young stars and assets. It isn't foolproof, it requires a little luck. Your team and picks have to pan out and things can still go wrong, but why not race to the bottom to maximize your chance at top talent.
This free agency tanking strategy by the Lakers isn't a good look at all and comes with serious risks. What if Kawhi doesn't have the same enthusiasm for signing in LA next year, and Jimmy doesn't even consider LA? A lot can go wrong in the time in between, but it might be their best chance at creating a solid championship foundation for LeBron and the Lakers for years to come. For once, LeBron seems ok with playing the waiting game instead of scrambling now and gutting the future. It'll be interesting to see what their patience yields.
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