Getting stale fast

Aloha,

So this whole Lebron saga is getting pretty stale fast. Obviously the communication between the Lakers and Lebron has not been good. Not announcing that Lebron signed the extension was bush. But talking through your agent is totally passive aggressive behavior. And I thought that Lebron not welcoming Ayton was pretty poor. Lebron has been a prima donna his entire career and he got his feelings hurt. Just don’t pretend this is about building a champion because that became much more difficult when he picked up his option. Everyone has the right to get paid but don’t whine about wanting to play for a championship.

The trade option also became really difficult when he picked up that option as well. Currently there are only two teams that could do a trade without gutting their team. The Knicks could send Kat. No thanks. He is the wrong type of center for Luka, and the Pacers won the series by repeatably attacking Kat in the paint. The other would be the Warriors who could send Butler. He’s in decline but still a clutch scorer and good perimeter defender. he trade might make sense for them. Still I would be surprised if anything happens.

The Lakers entered the off season shoot out armed with a butter knife. Want a consolidation trade? That would be great but what team takes on two unwanted contract for a 2032 2nd round pick. Want a star? What team trades one for a single first round pick. Want a player upgrade, you better be prepared to send out all of your remaining assets for them. Everyone wants to screw over the Lakers and we have seen it in the asking prices.

I think the Lakers have done about as much as you can hope for. We landed Luka without giving up the farm. We signed the best center on the market that we could afford, heck, better than many we could have traded for. We signed a young promising forward with upside and we turned the number 55 pick into a 36 and drafted a player that was in the first round on most mocks. I don’t believe in wild click bait trade machine trades illusions, so I don’t see how we could have done much better, given the ridiculous asking prices from some teams. There could be small moves left but nothing that will turn us into the contender Lebron wants. Internal growth will be the key to the season. If Lebron wants to win he should embrace that and help where he can. Ghosting your new teammates is juvenile behavior. Hopefully this is resolved soon. It will be sickening if it lasts to the trade deadline.