There’s a clear path going forward and it doesn’t include Lebron or Klutch.
1. Convince AD to get a new agent. Rich Paul (and Lebron by Proxy) are sullying the sport with the way they like to handle business. It works when you’ve got a once in a lifetime player, but when that guy’s no longer it, you need to stfu and act like a professional. If he won’t, trade him. He’s the only asset they’ve got worth squat anyway.
2. Trade Lebron. Guys get old all the time. Sometimes it’s precipitated by a devastating injury, sometimes it happens gradually over time and the untrained eye fails to even notice. It happens to the best of them. Jordan. Kobe. Even Magic was starting to show signs of age before he had to abruptly retire. Like it or not, Lebron is at that stage. The numbers are often still close to peak, but the wins escape them. The game altering plays don’t happen often enough and are fewer and further in between to move the needle. Nothing feels all that different but the W-L column. Fanboys refuse to acknowledge it. Team management absolutely won’t call it out, but they’re well aware. The media is reticent to call it. The player himself starts with the excuses and finger pointing.
But it plays out the same way every time. The guy just doesn’t have it the way he once did and it’s one of the toughest minefields to navigate in sport – The Aging Superstar. Well he’s not a career Laker. The isn’t Magic, Kobe, Kareem, or even Jerry West (and we all know how that one went). This is a manipulator who wanted to be in LA for his kid’s underwhelming high school career, and that’s coming to a close, coinciding with the last year of his contract. 3 out of 4 seasons have been utterly disappointing. The lone outlier had a well-timed 3 1/2 month layoff that led to what everyone outside the PnG fandom considers a tainted ring. Need I remind anyone that AD was already hurt going into that layoff and with everything we’ve seen, there was certainly no guarantee he’d have been right for the playoffs.
So while I don’t believe there’ll be a team looking to give up any real value for an old Lebron knowing that he’s still comes with his carnival barker/hype man/conflict of interest “agency head” Richie and a set of demands no longer commensurate with level of impact on the court, see if someone else falls for the ropadope. The Lakers deserve better and it starts with getting rid of this clown show.
But it’s a path the Lakers are not going to take.
They will bet on LeBron James, as they should.
You can try to talk or wish something different
But it’s not going to happen.
That’s a bet destined to lose. You can push your toxic positivity on everyone as much as you like, but this ain’t your first rodeo. Teams don’t win with diminishing assets leading the way and you know it. It’s time for a little imagination and some credit to the fan base. There won’t be some mass revolt and empty seats at the arena if they move on. Lebron doesn’t even make you viable on the court at this stage, much less a contender. The more they invest and toss away the future on this, the longer it’ll take to recover. You’ll likely be six feet under by the time they’re back in the hunt should they stay the course. Maybe you’re seeing something I’m not, but this dude just doesn’t have the juice to get it done any more. Why you’d think that’d somehow turn into rings is beyond comprehension. You can try and talk or wish Lebron finding the fountain of youth and bringing another championship to the Lakers given the horrific state of the roster, complete lack of assets, and constraints of the cap and collective bargaining agreement, but it’s not going to happen.
February 25, 2022 5 Comments
They gave it their all and still suck. I stand by my prediction Lebron and AD shut it down before the season ends.
Nice pass to Melo with the game on the line when they’re all must wins. But he’s still the king, right? Makes you appreciate Kobe that much more.
There’s a clear path going forward and it doesn’t include Lebron or Klutch.
1. Convince AD to get a new agent. Rich Paul (and Lebron by Proxy) are sullying the sport with the way they like to handle business. It works when you’ve got a once in a lifetime player, but when that guy’s no longer it, you need to stfu and act like a professional. If he won’t, trade him. He’s the only asset they’ve got worth squat anyway.
2. Trade Lebron. Guys get old all the time. Sometimes it’s precipitated by a devastating injury, sometimes it happens gradually over time and the untrained eye fails to even notice. It happens to the best of them. Jordan. Kobe. Even Magic was starting to show signs of age before he had to abruptly retire. Like it or not, Lebron is at that stage. The numbers are often still close to peak, but the wins escape them. The game altering plays don’t happen often enough and are fewer and further in between to move the needle. Nothing feels all that different but the W-L column. Fanboys refuse to acknowledge it. Team management absolutely won’t call it out, but they’re well aware. The media is reticent to call it. The player himself starts with the excuses and finger pointing.
But it plays out the same way every time. The guy just doesn’t have it the way he once did and it’s one of the toughest minefields to navigate in sport – The Aging Superstar. Well he’s not a career Laker. The isn’t Magic, Kobe, Kareem, or even Jerry West (and we all know how that one went). This is a manipulator who wanted to be in LA for his kid’s underwhelming high school career, and that’s coming to a close, coinciding with the last year of his contract. 3 out of 4 seasons have been utterly disappointing. The lone outlier had a well-timed 3 1/2 month layoff that led to what everyone outside the PnG fandom considers a tainted ring. Need I remind anyone that AD was already hurt going into that layoff and with everything we’ve seen, there was certainly no guarantee he’d have been right for the playoffs.
So while I don’t believe there’ll be a team looking to give up any real value for an old Lebron knowing that he’s still comes with his carnival barker/hype man/conflict of interest “agency head” Richie and a set of demands no longer commensurate with level of impact on the court, see if someone else falls for the ropadope. The Lakers deserve better and it starts with getting rid of this clown show.
But it’s a path the Lakers are not going to take.
They will bet on LeBron James, as they should.
You can try to talk or wish something different
But it’s not going to happen.
That’s a bet destined to lose. You can push your toxic positivity on everyone as much as you like, but this ain’t your first rodeo. Teams don’t win with diminishing assets leading the way and you know it. It’s time for a little imagination and some credit to the fan base. There won’t be some mass revolt and empty seats at the arena if they move on. Lebron doesn’t even make you viable on the court at this stage, much less a contender. The more they invest and toss away the future on this, the longer it’ll take to recover. You’ll likely be six feet under by the time they’re back in the hunt should they stay the course. Maybe you’re seeing something I’m not, but this dude just doesn’t have the juice to get it done any more. Why you’d think that’d somehow turn into rings is beyond comprehension. You can try and talk or wish Lebron finding the fountain of youth and bringing another championship to the Lakers given the horrific state of the roster, complete lack of assets, and constraints of the cap and collective bargaining agreement, but it’s not going to happen.