LeBron is using the threat of retirement as LeVerage for the Lakers to sign Kyrie. If it is LeBron retiring or give up depth for Kyrie, the Lakers would rather have LeBron and Kyrie than role players and neither. This makes them a prime fleecing target.
* LAL gets: Kyrie Irving
* PHX gets: DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, Maxi Kleber, JaVale McGee
* CHI gets: Josh Green, Jaden Hardy, Davis Bertans, Reggie Bullock, Chris Paul, #10 pick, 2027 DAL FRP, 2029 LAL FRP
* DAL gets: Zach LaVine, Deandre Ayton, Malik Beasley, Rui Hachimura, Jarred Vanderbilt
Why each team does it:
* Lakers: See above.
* Suns: Retool around Booker and KD by acquiring another star and some depth. Lonzo is salary filler; if he can play again, great. If he can’t, taking his contract is the price to pay for getting a star without giving up picks.
* Bulls: Start rebuilding with two young players with star potential, acquire some picks, clear the books of LaVine’s contract (Bertans, Bullock, and Paul all have various non-guarantees in this year’s and/or next year’s deals).
* Mavs: Replace Kyrie’s scoring, upgrade at the 4 and 5.
Then, hear me out, we sign Dillon Brooks into our MLE. We target backup PGs in free agency (on minimums, of course).
Our roster now looks like this:
* PG: Luka Doncic / minimum
* SG: Zach LaVine / Tim Hardaway Jr.
* SF: Dillon Brooks / Malik Beasley
* PF: Rui Hachimura / Jarred Vanderbilt
* C: Deandre Ayton / Dwight Powell
Not great but probably the best we can do if Kyrie leaves. We’d have two stars, a third player who has the talent to be a star if he locks in, scoring at the wing with improved defense and rebounding, and just need to shore up the guard spots and third stringers with minimums.
[Let me cook, alright? Trade machine says it works…](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/430512613462376459/1110456539346640896/image.png?width=1139&height=671)
by BayonettaBasher
9 Comments
Thank you for the laugh
So basically only way for this happen is Chicago to be on drugs.
uh? he can still make close to a hundred thousand dollars according to hoopshype
https://hoopshype.com/player/lebron-james/salary/
rich people really have no problem turning down that much money?
I hope this is a joke, because if it’s not then you’ve gone full delusional
Lavine wants to be the man and doesnt like sharing shots with demar. Ayton is unmotivated and literally has to be yelled at to try in key moments. Beasley is a lesser THJ who cant get minutes and Vanderbilt is a lock with no offense. Rui has potential but this lineup his opportunities are less.
Lakers get a super core, phoenix becomes a menace especially with a healthy lonzo at the 1,and chicago gets a nice rebuild package / salary dump thatll be waived or traded. Dallas gets hope that turns out to be overgrown, overpaid babies with a attitude who leaves the fans asking if they want to win.
Go to sleep
Fuck outta here
Lavine will be on the Knicks.
Anything else would suprise me. Unless KAT or Embiid will be on the market.
And i am glad he doesn’t end up on the Mavs.
You must have a lot of free time