mp3 wrote:Iam just waiting for a team to give the Lakers a lifeline like a Pau Gasol type deal something for next to nothing and my guess is the Pistons offer up Grant to help turn the Lakers season around
Incredibly, it didn't happen this time! I don't think anyone was feeling charitable enough, not to mention the Lakers don't have the picks to trade. Westbrook - the most likely big name to be dealt - didn't exactly help his stock this year, either. At the same time, it's unfair to make him the sole scapegoat. Injuries took their toll, but this season really became about LeBron's chase of the all-time scoring record rather than chemistry and competing.
It was interesting to see the narrative evolve from "the league is trembling, this team could win 70 games!" to "well, they're old, what can you expect?". I mean, the second statement isn't inaccurate, and some people were saying that to begin with, but it also felt like a lot of excuses we made after so much brash talk. That they continued to be the focus of NBA discussion thanks to the Play-In Tournament was frankly a bit disrespectful to the rest of the league and teams that were winning and worth talking about, but I've already made my thoughts on the Play-In clear elsewhere.
Of course, there is some intrigue as to what happens here moving forward. Presumably LeBron stays put and breaks Kareem's record next year, but then opting out to try and join a contender isn't unthinkable either. As I said, the Lakers don't have their picks, and their best trade assets are banged up, lacking in appeal, and with huge contracts. Staying healthy would at least help them be competitive, but I get the feeling it's all about The LeBron Show until he retires or moves on again in a year's time.