# LeBron Signs With Lakers **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 2, 2018, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126 "2018-07-02T00:38:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/21 "2018-07-02T11:22:50Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Bill Simmons made an interesting (to me) observation that the Lakers have had 7 of the top 12 players of all time on their team either at or very near their prime: Wilt, West, Magic, Shaq, Kareem, Kobe, and now Lebron. > > Imho, this move was made with an eye towards his post-playing career. He could have mentioned George Mikan too although the franchise was in Minneapolis when Mikan played there. Although who from the list of 12 you are going to throw out to replace Mikan with is tough. But Mikan dominated the 1950s and was a superstar. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/22 "2018-07-02T12:52:06Z")
Elgin Baylor should be on the list. He was the first Dr J or Michael Jordan style explosive player. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/23 "2018-07-02T13:26:58Z")
The Lakers also picked up noted Lebron troll Lance Stephenson. Also, the Lakers are now tied with the Celtics as 2nd best odds to win the next Finals at 7/2 (after Golden State). While this may be simply due to hype, one can argue that this Lakers team as currently constituted is already better than the Cavs team that Lebron just took to the Finals. And Lebron elevates teams and players unlike anyone ever in history. It’s just that they are in the much more difficult West. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/24 "2018-07-02T15:29:34Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > The Lakers right now are James, Deng, KCP, and a bunch of rookies, with an “incredible” $16 million in cap space. Without a massive trade, there’s not a ton of talent still available. Unless the Rockets figure it out, I don’t see anyone keeping the Warriors from the Finals for at least the next season, possibly two, unless the locker room completely implodes. > > I don’t think LeBron’s legacy benefits from the repeated bouncing around in the chase for championships. I’m confused. Isn’t LeBron moving to the Lakers the opposite of chasing a championship? Sure, any team he moves to will have dramatically better odds of winning, but the Lakers are not going to have an easy path. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/25 "2018-07-02T16:02:24Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I’m confused. Isn’t LeBron moving to the Lakers the opposite of chasing a championship? Sure, any team he moves to will have dramatically better odds of winning, but the Lakers are not going to have an easy path. That’s why **JJ** above said that the fact that even though LeBron automatically elevates his teammate’s play, it’s somewhat negated by now being in the Western conference (paraphrasing). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/26 "2018-07-02T16:16:14Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > I’m confused. Isn’t LeBron moving to the Lakers the opposite of chasing a championship? Sure, any team he moves to will have dramatically better odds of winning, but the Lakers are not going to have an easy path. If a championship was the major concern, Lebron would’ve gone to Boston or Golden State. Naw, I believe (and reiterate) that this move was done with an eye towards his post-playing career. Also, being in an ocean of celebrities means his kids and wife can have a life where they automatically aren’t the biggest game in town and can kind of disappear into the crowd, something impossible for them to do in Cleveland. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/27 "2018-07-02T16:17:13Z")
Ahnold welcomes LeBron to LA… [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6jKEKJuSW8) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/28 "2018-07-02T16:52:56Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If a championship was the major concern, Lebron would’ve gone to Boston or Golden State. > > Naw, I believe (and reiterate) that this move was done with an eye towards his post-playing career. **Also, being in an ocean of celebrities means his kids and wife can have a life where they automatically aren’t the biggest game in town and can kind of disappear into the crowd, something impossible for them to do in Cleveland.** I think that his beard, bald head, 6’8" height and abundance of muscles will be a dead giveaway. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/29 "2018-07-02T17:00:55Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > I think that his beard, bald head, 6’8" height and abundance of muscles will be a dead giveaway. People here in Los Angeles don’t care about celebrity. LeBron is just another in a long line of hall of fame Lakers. One thing David Beckham and his Spice Girl wife loved about Los Angeles is that no one bothered them on the street. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/30 "2018-07-02T17:24:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > If a championship was the major concern, Lebron would’ve gone to Boston or Golden State. > > Naw, I believe (and reiterate) that this move was done with an eye towards his post-playing career. Also, being in an ocean of celebrities means his kids and wife can have a life where they automatically aren’t the biggest game in town and can kind of disappear into the crowd, something impossible for them to do in Cleveland. There were three teams that had the cap space for James without moving significant pieces - Lakers, Cavs, and 76ers. He may not need the money, but he’s not playing for vet minimum either. The Celtics don’t have the cap, plus the Kyrie Irving situation. GSW - which All Star do you bench for LeBron? While his preferred playstyle would mesh well with them, there’s just not space on the team. Plus, you know, the cap. I’ll agree that this isn’t just about championships, at least entirely. But if the Lakers aren’t winning the Finals in the next three seasons, LBJ is opting out, whether to go elsewhere or retire. Granted, I swore up and down that James would never leave the East and its easy road to the Finals, so what the hell do I know? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/31 "2018-07-02T18:44:56Z")
Can we just cancel the East now? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/32 "2018-07-02T18:49:39Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Also, the Lakers are now tied with the Celtics as 2nd best odds to win the next Finals at 7/2 (after Golden State). The Celtics? that seems a little ridiculous. There are 3 teams with a shot at the championship, GSW, Houston and LA. A free trip to the finals does not equal a real chance at a championship, Lebron proved that. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/33 "2018-07-02T19:00:21Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > While this may be simply due to hype, one can argue that this Lakers team as currently constituted is already better than the Cavs team that Lebron just took to the Finals. I sure would like to hear that argument. Crapping on Kevin Love is easy and fun, but in 2017-2018 - in a down year and playing out of position - he would still have been the best Laker by a good margin. > [@DigitalC](#): > > The Celtics? that seems a little ridiculous. There are 3 teams with a shot at the championship, GSW, Houston and LA. Now this, I really, really, really disagree with. The Celtics very nearly beat LeBron’s Cavs, who at the very least were not significantly worse than the Lakers are now, and they were without All Star-caliber and All-NBA-caliber players in Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, respectively. They are a very real team with very talented players and an top notch coach. I can’t think of any argument that the Lakers should be favored over the Celtics. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/34 "2018-07-02T19:14:44Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > The Celtics? that seems a little ridiculous. There are 3 teams with a shot at the championship, GSW, Houston and LA. A free trip to the finals does not equal a real chance at a championship, Lebron proved that. Boston is stacked and should have won this year. They will have their injured players back. Thru would be my favorite over an aging GSW. Curry looks like he has chronic leg injuries. It will be interesting. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/35 "2018-07-02T19:50:39Z")
The Cavs didn’t have a “free” pass to the NBA Finals last year; my Pacers pushed them to 7 in the first round. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/36 "2018-07-02T20:22:01Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Hope we trade his sons always injured ass. There’s an opinion in the Washington Post that LaVar Ball will quickly descend into well-deserved obscurity and that Lonzo may stick around for a little while as a second-string point guard. Maybe if Lonzo puts the work into it (hiring a shot coach, for example) and cuts Daddy out of his life he can have a NBA career, but I don’t see him getting paid for any more than the Lakers on the hook for right now. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/37 "2018-07-02T20:35:42Z")
This whole business with him and his dad are a sad joke, really. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/38 "2018-07-02T20:41:31Z")
And he’s the lucky one. LaVar really screwed up his brothers even worse. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/39 "2018-07-02T20:55:42Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Bill Simmons made an interesting (to me) observation that the Lakers have had 7 of the top 12 players of all time on their team either at or very near their prime: Wilt, West, Magic, Shaq, Kareem, Kobe, and now Lebron. > > Imho, this move was made with an eye towards his post-playing career. No love for Elgin Baylor? ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2018, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126/40 "2018-07-02T20:58:52Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > No love for Elgin Baylor? Post 22 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lebron-signs-with-lakers/817126.md?page=3)