Labron wants to be a Laker

[cstorm]

LeBron a Laker?

February 28, 2010 @ 4:08 pm by Roland Lazenby · Filed under Andrey Bynum, Cleveland Cavaliers, Jeanie Buss, Jerry Buss, Jim Buss, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Michael Jordan

The greatest NBA free agent of all time, LeBron James, is quietly making overtures to the Los Angeles Lakers.

He wants to play for them. And James is not all that concerned whether Kobe Bryant is part of the equation. Bryant, of course, has yet to sign a contract extension with L.A. and could wind up a free-agent himself, albeit one with high mileage.

But the overtures have been made. LeBron wants to wear the purple and gold. Mainly, he wants to wear a championship ring, which means he wants to play for Lakers coach Phil Jackson.

“LeBron wants to win. He’s a smart guy,” explainsone of my best inside sources, a close Jackson associate. “And Phil loves LeBron, absolutely LOVES him.”....

Link to rest of story: HoopsHype.com

 

[TheWileyVet]

who is this Labron you speak of?

 

[Larry89]

Gee this is a really good story...

 

[cstorm]

This sounds story sounds suspiciously like Phil Jackson pulling strings and yanking chains using LaBron as bait to get him a sweet new contract.

I could just be paranoid and have it in for Phil. Him being the devil and all.

 

[GeraldWallace#3]

who is this Labron you speak of?

And this Andrey Bynum?

 

[Bricklayer]

who is this Labron you speak of?

Some guy this really deep NBA insider named Roland Lazenby knows.

Hoopsworld = the epic fail of sports news sites

 

[Löwenherz]

Roland Lazenby:
Author of (among others) The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It (2004).

I question this man's credibility.

 

[NewArena]

HA! Would any of us even be surprised if he went there? I mean...honestly?

 

[cstorm]

HA! Would any of us even be surprised if he went there? I mean...honestly?

I would think he would want to be part of his own dynasty. In LA he would be just another lakerstar in a long history of them. He could get a ring with several teams.

 

[NewArena]

I would think he would want to be part of his own dynasty. In LA he would be just another lakerstar in a long history of them. He could get a ring with several teams.

I know. I dont think he will ever leave the Cavs actually. It wouldn't make much sense. He has already been to the Finals with a much worse team, and will be in contention for years and years.

Why leave? For endorsements? He already has millions of those. For more money? The Cavs can pay him the most. For bigger city/better location? Technically he wouldn't live in NYC or LA anyway. If players want to live in some fancy area, they're better off doing it in the offseason when they actually have time to be there for an extended amount of time.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

HA! Would any of us even be surprised if he went there? I mean...honestly?

The salary cap would make it really hard to get LeBron to LA. The Lakers conceivably have the pieces for a sign-and-trade (Gasol or Bynum?) but I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[DocHolliday]

Lebron James is becoming a Laker....

In other news the Sacramento Kings are reportedly bringing Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan out of retirement to create the most dominant back court known to man.

 

[Gargamel]

Roland Lazenby:
Author of (among others) The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It (2004).

I question this man's credibility.

West was one of Lazenby's sources in those days, RL is one of a few writers who apparently knows the Jerry West away from the pedestal which most others put him on (e.g. David Aldridge says Logo is intimidating to interview). West offered Lazenby the "F Phil Jackson" quote to put in print. He's Phil's mouthpiece now. He was a mouthpiece of Winter before the stroke. Tex gave him a number of inner-sanctum stories from the Shaq/Kobe feud. The Laker book itself is mostly comprised of interviews from anyone and everyone in the org, including Chick, who didn't go on record in books too often, especially about controversial situations (Chick wanted to appear neutral). I don't question that he has more access than many. I do question the veracity of what he was told, he was probably told that specifically for him to put it out there. It might be an overture from LA and not the other way around.

 

[Gargamel]

The salary cap would make it really hard to get LeBron to LA. The Lakers conceivably have the pieces for a sign-and-trade (Gasol or Bynum?) but I'll believe it when I see it.

It would depend on how mercenary Lebron is. Cavs fans better hope he only shares Lyndon Johnson's initials and not his ruthless negotiating skills. He would have to give Danny Ferry no hope and then dictate where he's traded. The notion of something like that happening isn't wholly inconceivable. Kareem nailed the Bucks to the wall. Shaq came here for less than what Orlando offered and left here to Miami Kareem style. Bryant has held Buss hostage -twice-, once giving the Clippers a verbal commitment in 04 and the trade me Summer of 07. He's still not the easiest guy to negotiate with. Uberstars usually aren't, big markets are usually better equipped to deal with them. No way in hell would Kobe have stayed in Charlotte his entire career, book it.

Bron hasn't exactly given Cleveland too many assurances already. I think he's capable of Fing the small market in favor of a big one, Lakers or not. We'll see.

 

[Spike]

Lebron James is becoming a Laker....

In other news the Sacramento Kings are reportedly bringing Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan out of retirement to create the most dominant back court known to man.

It wouldn't work unless you used Magic in the post.

 

[DocHolliday]

It wouldn't work unless you used Magic in the post.

I HIGHLY disagree. Magic was a TRUE PG. While he could score, he was a distributor. James Worthy was a scorer and worked very nicely next to Magic.

 

[FakeInjury]

LAL is the only team other than Cleveland that makes any sense. First, you have 2 championship appearances maybe 3 in 3 years. And in reality, they wouldn't have to give up more than andrew bynum and a couple picks to work a sign and trade with technically ANY team(with sufficient cap) that wants to facilitate LBJ going to a powerhouse. He won't go to an East coast team, because he would have to visit Cleveland 4x a year. Its either LA or CLE imo. NY doesn't have enough clout in the winning department as of late to attract LBJ. Basically we could swing a sign and trade to LAL re-routing Rudy Gay to us and Bynum to Memphis and Thabeet to LA and Memphis gets more LA picks and we get a second round pick or two and the scraps from LAL that may need to be involved as long as they are FA next year. Boom, we get Gay, and probably dump Noc or Beno to add another MAX in 2011. Theoretically Wade can postpone FA untill 2011, so you never know. All i know is that i know nothing. but 1 thing im sure of is that this offseason will dictate the future of every team in the NBA for half a decade.

 

[hrdboild]

LA can't afford Lebron. It would have to be a sign and trade type of situation and there's not much incentive for Cleveland in that situation. Artest, Gasol and Odom are too old to be franchise building players. Would anyone want to take a chance at building a team around Andrew Bynum? I seriously doubt it. Unless the Lakers get another Jerry West chump deal, it's just dreaming.

I don't think there's much motivation for Lebron to go to LA anyway. If he stays in Cleveland he's the face of a franchise. His spot in the hall-of-fame is pretty much locked up already and certainly he wants to win a championship but he doesn't need Kobe to do it, he just needs a solid big man and a bunch of shooters. What's left to be determined is what his legacy will be and there's already a lot of famous faces associated with the Lakers. I can't see him ever going to Chicago for the same reason. He's even changing his number next year to get out of the shadow of #23. You can believe it's just a respect thing if you want, but I think Lebron is way too savvy at marketing himself not to realize the importance of having a number he can make his own.

Aside from Cleveland, the only place that really has a comparable level of incentive is Brooklyn. It's in New York city, but it's also a new franchise in a way so he wouldn't have to compete with past greats for "face of the franchise" status. Not to mention that team is already set up for the biggest one season turnaround in NBA history. You put Lebron next to Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, and a top 5 pick and you've got a playoff team already. And a very young one at that. So you can add "franchise savior" to his list of accolades as well. Than you have Jay-Z involved, a brand new arena in the heart of NY, and the richest owner in the NBA and I think Brooklyn even edges out Cleveland as the best basketball situation to be in. Those are really his two options. I'd be shocked if he went anywhere else.

 

[venom_7]

I know. I dont think he will ever leave the Cavs actually. It wouldn't make much sense. He has already been to the Finals with a much worse team, and will be in contention for years and years.

Why leave? For endorsements? He already has millions of those. For more money? The Cavs can pay him the most. For bigger city/better location? Technically he wouldn't live in NYC or LA anyway. If players want to live in some fancy area, they're better off doing it in the offseason when they actually have time to be there for an extended amount of time.

If he wants to have a legacy as great as Jordans, he won't leave the Cavs. Jordan = the Chicago Bulls franchise. He played there his entire career (lets be honest, the Wizards thing doesn't count). If LeBron wants to be like that, he will stay in Cleveland. Kobe will stay in LA. Because they equal those franchises.

Wade will probably leave, and I don't blame him. Ditto for Bosh. Joe Johnson probably stays in Atlanta.

 

[rexb_kings]

I say, the best situation (as a kingsfans) is Kings James to the Kings!! He can be the King of the Kings! ofcourse i'm dreaming..

 

[Löwenherz]

I don't question that he has more access than many. I do question the veracity of what he was told, he was probably told that specifically for him to put it out there. It might be an overture from LA and not the other way around.

This is exactly what I'm thinking too. I don't at all doubt the writer has the inside scoop from within the Lakers organization and reported it honestly, but his knowledge of LeBron's interests is somewhere between suspect and nonexistent.

 

[KingdomeCome]

Players always say a championship is more important to them then the money. Why not get a one year contract with the Celtics or Lakers for the minimum about of cash and get a championship then? Must be about the money and the ego of how they want it done.

 

[Rookie]

Players always say a championship is more important to them then the money. Why not get a one year contract with the Celtics or Lakers for the minimum about of cash and get a championship then? Must be about the money and the ego of how they want it done.

It doesn't mean as much if you do it that way. That's like tagging along the smartest kid on a team project.

 

[Merdiesel]

Roland Lazenby:
Author of (among others) The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It (2004).

I question this man's credibility.

lol

This guys a tool.

 

[cstorm]

Did anyone else get a sense that this story was the puppetmaster Phil Jackson trying to put it out there that having him as coach increases the chances of landing LeBron (Who LOVES him)? Therefor upping the ante in his upcoming contract negotiations with the Lakers.