LeBron signs with Lakers

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I get that sort of angle but the market he plays in isn't as important as winning championships. He's making a ton of money from basketball but he's getting that anywhere he plays. Does being in LA really mean he'll get more endorsements? His legacy takes a hit each times he makes a move like this. Part of the appeal to guys before like Kobe, Jordan, Magic, Bird, etc was how they stayed loyal to their team and didn't bail on them. Lebron has done that twice now, to his hometown club, and another time when he left Miami. So his own stock isn't as high as it could be. How is he going to make tens of millions more by living in LA? I just don't see how that happens. Especially now that he's in the twilight of his career and won't be going to the finals this year and it's questionable how close he can get to another title.

We view loyalty as important but you don’t think lebron is god in Miami, Cleveland and now LA? He’s likely higher in multiple markets than any player other than Jordan ever.

 

[Hoop Head]

We view loyalty as important but you don’t think lebron is god in Miami, Cleveland and now LA? He’s likely higher in multiple markets than any player other than Jordan ever.

I just don't see how being in LA really cranks up his earnings that much by being a Laker vs staying in Cleveland or going elsewhere to win more titles, like Philly or Houston. Is being in LA really worth more financially than winning more titles? I don't think it is. Surely no one thinks he's winning a title this year in LA. Maybe if he can win a title there that will help but I really don't think he signed with LA for basketball reasons. Surely he knows being in the West will be harder and he signed with a team who hasn't been to the playoffs for a few years now. They don't have a great roster either. If they brought back everyone from last season and managed to sign Paul George instead of him, are the Lakers a playoff team? I don't think they are. Maybe they sneak in as the 8th seed but that's not a given. Lebron is much better than George so he should get them back to the playoffs but competing is entirely different.

So going to LA may help his brand, but I'm not sure it helps more than winning titles in Philadelphia would have. It's no guarantee he'd win titles there but it's much more likely he'd help them win titles or make it to the finals compared to the Lakers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I hate free agency. I really do. It has ruined the NBA.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Love Jordan but he retired in his prime and cost the Bulls at least 1 and probably 2 titles by doing it.

I still believe he "retired" the first time to avoid a suspension for his ties to a gambling scandal.

 

[Raindog]

Lebron isn't winning anything with the Lakers - not next year anyway. They will be a playoff team, no doubt, and probably a 50+ win team, but that's about it. The supporting talent just isn't there. I see no way that the Spurs trade Leonard to them now, and I don't even see Cousins taking a lower offer to go there either.

Maybe if Kawhi signs as a FA in 2019 and the Warriors are starting to break up, the Lakers are in the conversation then. But aside from the novelty of having Lebron there, the Lakers next season aren't going to really be any more consequential than the Suns, as far as a championship run goes.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Lebron isn't winning anything with the Lakers - not next year anyway. They will be a playoff team, no doubt, and probably a 50+ win team, but that's about it. The supporting talent just isn't there. I see no way that the Spurs trade Leonard to them now, and I don't even see Cousins taking a lower offer to go there either.

Maybe if Kawhi signs as a FA in 2019 and the Warriors are starting to break up, the Lakers are in the conversation then. But aside from the novelty of having Lebron there, the Lakers next season aren't going to really be any more consequential than the Suns, as far as a championship run goes.

LeBron is going to the Lakers to set up his retirement. He will be distracted.

 

[Russ Smith]

I still believe he "retired" the first time to avoid a suspension for his ties to a gambling scandal.

Certainly possible and we'll never know but again even that's a character flaw. When people say LeBron is tarnishing his image I don't get why they don't see some of the stuff Jordan and Kobe did as tarnishing their images too. And again this is from someone who's been pretty clear my issue with leBron is I think he uses HGH. But he's a phenomenal all time great player and I don't think this move should tarnish his image at all.

 

[Covert Rain]

This isn't a basketball decision. Although we know the Lakers are not afraid to make moves. This is Lebron going on cruise control and cashing some check. The advertising opportunities are always higher in big market teams. They have more bargaining power than average teams when it comes to TV rights and things like that. That translates into more marketing and endorsement opportunities.

It's bank account padding time.

 

[Finito]

Sports fans who talk loyalty make me laugh, let Devin Booker get hurt or start falling off and watch how this fan base turns on him.

Loyalty and sports don't go together

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I just don't see how being in LA really cranks up his earnings that much by being a Laker vs staying in Cleveland or going elsewhere to win more titles, like Philly or Houston. Is being in LA really worth more financially than winning more titles? I don't think it is. Surely no one thinks he's winning a title this year in LA. Maybe if he can win a title there that will help but I really don't think he signed with LA for basketball reasons. Surely he knows being in the West will be harder and he signed with a team who hasn't been to the playoffs for a few years now. They don't have a great roster either. If they brought back everyone from last season and managed to sign Paul George instead of him, are the Lakers a playoff team? I don't think they are. Maybe they sneak in as the 8th seed but that's not a given. Lebron is much better than George so he should get them back to the playoffs but competing is entirely different.

So going to LA may help his brand, but I'm not sure it helps more than winning titles in Philadelphia would have. It's no guarantee he'd win titles there but it's much more likely he'd help them win titles or make it to the finals compared to the Lakers.

You really underestimate the power of the large market. Lebron will be revered figure in LA just for coming there and returning them to relevance. LA is at least the number 2, if not number 1, market in the country. Lebron’s marketing value just went through the roof. Moreso than if he just took another team to the championship. He’s got trophies. Now he has LA.

 

[Krangodnzr]

You really underestimate the power of the large market. Lebron will be revered figure in LA just for coming there and returning them to relevance. LA is at least the number 2, if not number 1, market in the country. Lebron’s marketing value just went through the roof. Moreso than if he just took another team to the championship. He’s got trophies. Now he has LA.

Agree. Los Angeles is crazy for the Lakers and with all of the Hollywood glamor and marketing opportunities, none of the other suitors can match that.

I'm not scared of this as a Suns fan though, because I think this is a win now approach and I doubt the Lakers win a title with Lebron. Even with Leonard, I still think the odds highly favor the Warriors. I mean, the Warriors are probably signing Dwight Howard, and while his value is significantly less than it was five years ago, the Warriors player for player are so much better than the Lakers.

I think Pelinka and Magic are being shortsighted; the model for building a sustainable winner is building the team through the draft and keeping young talent. The Lakers are taking the short approach to building a contender and I think it's going to fail in the long run.

 

[Dback Jon]

Agree. Los Angeles is crazy for the Lakers and with all of the Hollywood glamor and marketing opportunities, none of the other suitors can match that.

I'm not scared of this as a Suns fan though, because I think this is a win now approach and I doubt the Lakers win a title with Lebron. Even with Leonard, I still think the odds highly favor the Warriors. I mean, the Warriors are probably signing Dwight Howard, and while his value is significantly less than it was five years ago, the Warriors player for player are so much better than the Lakers.

I think Pelinka and Magic are being shortsighted; the model for building a sustainable winner is building the team through the draft and keeping young talent. The Lakers are taking the short approach to building a contender and I think it's going to fail in the long run.

Especially if LeBron starts showing his age/wear and tear

 

[Cheesebeef]

I hate free agency. I really do. It has ruined the NBA.

no one here thought that when Colangelo was repeatedly doing one year deals plus under the table deals for the absolute best FA in the market back in the mid-90's.

when your team is good... so is FA.

 

[Hoop Head]

Apparently writers are now pushing the idea that Lebron's move may cause the NBA to scrap the East/West playoff format. Not sure when it could happen, if it does, but it would be a good thing for the Suns if they did scrap it. That's their best chance of making the playoffs next year.

https://sports.yahoo.com/big-lebrons-move-l-force-nba-scrap-current-conference-format-173202470.html

 

[JCSunsfan]

Apparently writers are now pushing the idea that Lebron's move may cause the NBA to scrap the East/West playoff format. Not sure when it could happen, if it does, but it would be a good thing for the Suns if they did scrap it. That's their best chance of making the playoffs next year.

https://sports.yahoo.com/big-lebrons-move-l-force-nba-scrap-current-conference-format-173202470.html

I doubt in would impact who would make the playoffs, they would just build brackets based upon overall seeding, disregarding conferences.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I doubt in would impact who would make the playoffs, they would just build brackets based upon overall seeding, disregarding conferences.

Which is a flawed concept. For instance 50 wins for a west team will be far more impressive than an east team because their schedules will be much harder.

I wonder if they’d consider a concept like what baseball does. Have NL/AL type concept where each side has teams from all over the country and divisions separated by location. NFL does this as well.

 

[AZCrazy]

Thoughts:

This won't affect the Suns timeline, but may enhance it. All these overpriced, overpaying teams will fail horribly at the same time all our players turn 24.
Lebron has revealed himself to be a *****. Nothing more. The greats attract people to them, they don't pull shady side deals and try to game the system with their buddies.
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Kobe would have build Cleveland into a perennial winner. ( I bet Lebron even goes back to Cleveland one more time to retire as the Cavalier he always was at heart. Blecch.)
King James can make all the Space Jam II movies he wants. His brand is fluff. Do you know anyone who would buy anything because some athlete is paid to endorse it? Really. Would you?
I really want the Lakers to keep Lonzo just to see LJ and LaVar argue about who should handle the rock.

 

[GatorAZ]

Thoughts:

This won't affect the Suns timeline, but may enhance it. All these overpriced, overpaying teams will fail horribly at the same time all our players turn 24.
Lebron has revealed himself to be a *****. Nothing more. The greats attract people to them, they don't pull shady side deals and try to game the system with their buddies.
Jordan, Bird, Magic, Kobe would have build Cleveland into a perennial winner. ( I bet Lebron even goes back to Cleveland one more time to retire as the Cavalier he always was at heart. Blecch.)
King James can make all the Space Jam II movies he wants. His brand is fluff. Do you know anyone who would buy anything because some athlete is paid to endorse it? Really. Would you?
I really want the Lakers to keep Lonzo just to see LJ and LaVar argue about who should handle the rock.

Magic, Bird and Kobe were drafted into incredible situations. I’ll give you MJ.

 

[hsandhu]

From a suns perspective... I love what the lakers are doing. They just traded randle for rondo!

I'm looking at everything through the prism of which teams in the west will contend with us in 4-5 years. The lakers have dropped one of their young talents. They have ingram/kuzma/ball left and they may trade ingram/kuzma for leonard.

 

[Russ Smith]

I just don't see how being in LA really cranks up his earnings that much by being a Laker vs staying in Cleveland or going elsewhere to win more titles, like Philly or Houston. Is being in LA really worth more financially than winning more titles? I don't think it is. Surely no one thinks he's winning a title this year in LA. Maybe if he can win a title there that will help but I really don't think he signed with LA for basketball reasons. Surely he knows being in the West will be harder and he signed with a team who hasn't been to the playoffs for a few years now. They don't have a great roster either. If they brought back everyone from last season and managed to sign Paul George instead of him, are the Lakers a playoff team? I don't think they are. Maybe they sneak in as the 8th seed but that's not a given. Lebron is much better than George so he should get them back to the playoffs but competing is entirely different.

So going to LA may help his brand, but I'm not sure it helps more than winning titles in Philadelphia would have. It's no guarantee he'd win titles there but it's much more likely he'd help them win titles or make it to the finals compared to the Lakers.

Well an example although it probably doesn't directly benefit LeBron. His Lakers jersey is already the #1 selling jersey on fanatics and their CEO said on CNBC today the first 12 hours of LeBron as a Laker put him as the 6th highest 1 day seller of jerseys in history, with 12 hours to go.

You're taking the best player in the game and putting him as a new player in the biggest market, he's going to sell tons of things with his name on it now.

 

[Hoop Head]

From a suns perspective... I love what the lakers are doing. They just traded randle for rondo!

I'm looking at everything through the prism of which teams in the west will contend with us in 4-5 years. The lakers have dropped one of their young talents. They have ingram/kuzma/ball left and they may trade ingram/kuzma for leonard.

Also the chance they part with someone else in a S&T for Cousins. I'm not sure who, but I would think Deng would be included in that also. Kuzma and Deng for Cousins could work well for New Orleans. If Deng can stay healthy he'd actually be a good SF for them. They started Etwaun Moore there last year who is 6'4. They really don't have many wings and Deng would fill that role. Perhaps they'd have more interest in Ingram, who may disposable with the addition of Lebron.

 

[Chaplin]

Also the chance they part with someone else in a S&T for Cousins. I'm not sure who, but I would think Deng would be included in that also. Kuzma and Deng for Cousins could work well for New Orleans. If Deng can stay healthy he'd actually be a good SF for them. They started Etwaun Moore there last year who is 6'4. They really don't have many wings and Deng would fill that role. Perhaps they'd have more interest in Ingram, who may disposable with the addition of Lebron.

Now that they signed Randle, not sure Kuzma would work for the Pelicans.

 

[PDXChris]

King James can make all the Space Jam II movies he wants. His brand is fluff. Do you know anyone who would buy anything because some athlete is paid to endorse it? Really. Would you?

Not fluff and you really could not be more wrong about endorsements. This subject is what I do for a living and I can tell you that China is still buying Jordan and Kobe in droves and will buy LeBron for years to come once he retires. World wide, these brands are much bigger than you realize. Even Brazil and Argentina, which are soccer markets kill when all of these franchises. KD is also right there in many of these markets right behind LeBron.

 

[GatorAZ]

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Rondo is going to break Lonzo mentally and physically.

 

[Hoop Head]

Now that they signed Randle, not sure Kuzma would work for the Pelicans.

I didn't know they signed Randle, you're right. Last I heard was the Lakers rescinded the QO and he was unrestricted. I didn't think he'd last long. Ingram could still be in play. If Lebron pushes Magic for Cousins I could see it happen, especially if they'll part with Deng in the process. The Lakers are the only team who will pay Cousins close to the max. If he doesn't work, they're not nearly as hurt as other teams because they'll go into the tax zone without thinking twice.