I'm glad that I came across at least one article, via Yahoo!Sports, questioning what all the excitement is about concerning the Lakers' recent moves. The fans have the freedom to express what the mainstream media cannot, that this incoming iteration of LAL is arguably "worse than last season's squad", which is saying a lot.
And in my eyes, that's not even the biggest problem, i.e. the quality of the roster per se, because some offseasons are more successful than others. Nor is the fact that outlets like NBC have actually given the Lakers an offseason "A" for acquiring the likes of Walter Kessler, Quentin Grimes and whoever TF Sandro Mamukelashvili(?) is. Anyone who reads this blog knows that I'm not into dissing players, so that previous sentence is not meant to be a dig against anyone. But this is the Lakers, for crying out loud. In days past, they made headlines for acquiring the likes of Kobe, Shaq, Gasol and Lebron - all-time greats. And now, re-signing Austin Reaves and poaching a C-lister from the Jazz are supposed to be big deals?
As for Kessler, I've only heard positive, or let me more specifically say promising things about him these past couple of years. It also seems that he spent most of last season injured. Why they would want to pair a player with a concerning injury history with Doncic, who knows. But let me say that Walter's name has never been in the headlines more than it has these past couple of weeks. And it's never particularly inspiring when an NBAer is more popular as a free agent than he is as an actual player. Those kind of scenarios usually end with someone being overpaid.
Also, wasn't he restricted? So if he's so great - worthy even to be the center on the Lakers, the franchise that employed the greatest Cs of all time - why isn't anyone asking why the Jazz didn't match the offer?
THREE WHITES DON'T MAKE A RIGHT
Also, let me ask the burning question in my mind - you're actually trying to tell me that LAL is going to start three or four Whiteboys? I don't know who Mamukelashvili is but, based on his last name, I'm presuming he's White(?). Really, Los Angeles? Talk about breaking away from tradition.
I'm actually an Austin Reaves fan. He's the only young player, i.e. draftee I can think of, off the top of my head, who excelled under Lebron - so much so that I'm wondering if he'll continue to do so without him around. But one of the concerns, with both him and Luka in the backcourt, has been defense. Remember, this is now a guard-oriented league. And L.A.'s braintrust totally failed to address that concern, even losing Marcus Smart in the process.
Let me further say, even though it may sound like I've been Luka bashing these last couple of posts, that I'm not. Even from the time he was a rookie, I've been saying that Doncic is the most naturally talented player in the NBA. He isn't the tallest or strongest or fastest, but it's almost as if he was born with a basketball in his hands. Luka Doncis is the Lionel Messi(?) of the NBA. But what became obvious a couple of seasons ago, when the Mavs made the Finals, was that he doesn't have the endurance of a traditional NBA superstar.
I'll admit that towards the end of last season, surprisingly to me, the Lakers did begin looking like contenders. That is until Doncic, once again, found himself on the injury list at the most inopportune time. Shouldn't they have at least tried to address that reality during this offseason? When Luka inevitably goes down, you're trying to tell me that Reaves + Kessler + Grimes is going bring home the gold? LMAO.
DAMN THAT LEBRON
I mentioned Lebron in the title, so you may be wondering what does all of this have to do with him? Well he's the one who, imo, either directly or indirectly, has been most responsible for leading the Lakers down a path whereas, in the next couple of years, they may not be the premiere franchise in the NBA anymore, i.e. the one that children most fantasize playing for. By 2030, that may rather be the Spurs.
LBJ does deserve credit for helping facilitate that championship in 2020 and most notably in that regard, recruiting AD. Amidist all of that, LAL, if I remember correctly, lost Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, D'Angelo Russell and Julius Randle. That was pretty much their future. But, in true GM Lebron fashion, even if those guys had stuck around there's no guarantee they would have a championship, so they had to go. Or put otherwise, King James is definitely more concerned about today than he is tomorrow because, if he was actually concerned for the future of the franchise, he would have tried to develop those young players instead of discarding them.
He did the same thing, if you'll remember, in Cleveland, sacrificing a rookie Andrew Wiggins for Kevin Love. Again, a championship, so what can you say? But after the fireworks were finished, how many years did it take for the Cavs to become competitive again? Lebron seems to know what it takes to win an instant championship, but after that, good luck.
Let's not also forget Miami. If dude actually had patience, it would have been best if he stayed there throughout the years. In 2014, the Big Three Heat had a down season (by their standards), in that they made the Finals and lost. Although there were other factors, I think that, more than anything, is what pushed Lebron away, i.e. believing that he would better off alongside a young Kyrie Irving (who, if I remember correctly, won All-Star MVP that season) and also understanding he would have more personnel influence back home in Cleveland. Either way, the Heat have made the Finals a couple of times since he left (the second time) but have never looked as formidable.
Previously with Cleveland, when Lebron led them to the Finals in 2007, imo that's the greatest achievement of his career (besides his longevity). But he had to leave and come back before they eventually won. And when he left, oh my goodness were the Cavs garbage. They had to get three number one picks in four years(!) before he was able to rationalize coming back.
Lebron has been in L.A. for eight seasons but only won one championship. Idk if that actually classifies as a success story by Lakers' standards. Magic won as a rookie. Shaq + Kobe did it in four years. And Kareem, I think it took him awhile to win in L.A., but by the time it was all said and done, he won five.
And the problem wasn't that King James came to L.A. The problem is that, with his will exerted, they weren't able sustain a formidable roster. Secondly, with Lebron aging and other franchises realizing what time it was in terms of him making and breaking franchises, less and less were compelled to pay the max to acquire him.
THE WANING DAYS OF KOBE
Now, let's compare what's happening with Lebron to the elder Kobe days with the Lakers. By the time Bryant retired, LAL was very much garbage. He was surrounded by young, unproven players, none of them even having B-list status the way I remember it, but he didn't demand out or that the franchise trade them to surround him with other superstars. He understood he was old and embraced it with class, looking towards the next generation instead of trying to win as many championships as possible.
Even if Lebron wins another ring, will it really make a difference? He'll then have five, which still isn't as many as Jordan (or Robert Horry).
Also, is King James really going to play on a veteran's minimum? When I read that, I almost started crying. Or let me say the first thing that came to my mind is that, why doesn't he just retire instead of settling for something like that? Lebron is too great (and rich presumably) to be paid like someone who's lucky to have a contract. He ran the Lakers masterfully during the Second Round, but they had no chance against OKC, even if Luka were healthy.
Anyway, the point being made is that Kobe actually left the Los Angeles better off than Lebron did, because at least after Bryant's retirement, they were still the Lakers that we know and love. You know, they still had hope type shit. They were still the most desirable destination in the NBA - so much so that a prime Lebron signed with them, even though they weren't contenders at the time.
You can't say that shit now, folk. Post-Lebron, we've gone from the days of Shaq + Kobe to Doncic + Kessler, with the media implying that the latter pair is just as promising. That's why sometimes I have a hard time respecting the mainstream, because it feels more like they're telling you what you want to hear (or what they're being paid to say) rather than the truth.
CONCLUSION
But maybe embracing this mediocrity will eventually lead to LAL chasing Wemby, if and when he ever becomes available. And just in case I'm not able to get off another post before LBJ makes his decision, I'm still advocating him going to the Pistons more than any other team.
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