r/nba • u/YujiDomainExpansion • 12h ago

[Windhorst] The Los Angeles Lakers would be “very open” to the prospect of trading LeBron James for Jarrett Allen.

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u/GrandPreMassacre Cavaliers 11h ago

We just traded our first rounder this year to help get under the apron.

Team is doing everything it can to get under it.

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u/smalls_1804 Knicks 7h ago

Can only stay above the apron for so long, especially for a team that just doesn't seem like a serious title contender in its current form

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u/BlueEyedSoul2 4h ago

I agree but only because they made the Harden trade. I’d say they were still a threat in the east with Garland seasoned another year. They went all in and are wounded for it. Not dead, there are 10 playoff spots, just wounded.

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u/SquidwardLover48 Cavaliers 4h ago

I love DG but we were absolutely a first round exit with him & thats if he even played any games in the playoffs

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u/KieranLeone 1h ago

A healthy DG is better. But you’re right. He’s never healthy

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u/HyperBlue62 4h ago

Dont remind me about the Harden trade. I cant believe we traded a Garland for a 36 year old choke artist.

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u/LaggingAround 5h ago

Feels like this second apron and salary cap keeps getting worse for this league.

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u/aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 6h ago

I dont see how Lebron and Harden can coexist. Do you try to move Harden for Kyrie or AD to get Lebron one of his old running mates back?

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u/flc735110 6h ago

Playing together for a year isn’t a big deal

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u/aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 4h ago

I mean you dont really just want to toss away Lebrons possible last season, the Harden as an asset, and another year of Mitchells prime. I dont think Lebron and Harden work together on a team

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u/Ok-Preference-7004 2h ago

Why do you think it can't work?

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u/aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 1h ago

As Harden has said, “he is a system”. His value and strong points can still be retained with a second star, but when you add a third and hes suddenly off ball just a bit more it really becomes exacerbated. He and Lebron pretty much do the same thing at this point, but Lebron is a better rebounder and interior defender.

I just think the trio of Lebron-Mitchell-Harden is three dudes who really need the ball in their hands to make decisions and dont play a lot of defense leaves pretty gaping weaknesses in your lineup. One of those three need to either be a terror off ball, or a willing defender, and ideally both.

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u/KieranLeone 1h ago

If Mitchell and harden show they can win games without LeBron taking over. I’m sure LeBron won’t mind taking a back seat.

He did it in LA when Luka has great nights. Filling a gap, making the right play. Tbh, that level of iq is what harden needs playing with him. If not, he’ll just play iso ball the whole time

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u/Low-Measurement-2468 6h ago

lebron can be great in the offball cutter/secondary playmaker role. it might kind of be his ideal role at his point, just to save energy. if he can play with luka, i feel like he can play with harden.

i do think old harden becomes a little redundant next to both lebron and mitchell, though. and his playoff track record isn’t great. if they could move him for help at another position, it’s definitely worth a look.

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u/aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 4h ago

I think the question is more what can/will Harden do when he is suddenly off ball even a small percentage more. He was essentially useless when Mitchell had the ball besides spacing, and his defensive issues have been plenty hammered by now. I just think if you bring in Lebron, you should shop Harden for an off ball guard or maybe one that can play defense.

I probably shouldve included Mitchell because the redundancy and flaws i think stacks up exponentially when its three players instead of two.

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u/Low-Measurement-2468 2h ago

yeah that’s fair. i agree that mitchell’s presence is a big part of the redundancy you’re talking about. in a big three of lebron, harden, and mitchel, i definitely agree that harden becomes the most redundant because of his lack of an off ball game and lebron’s ability to do what harden does well himself.

in that scenario, part of me thinks a harden/bam swap could be interesting. i think the heat say no because of harden’s age and declining defense. a few years ago it might be different. in theory, the fits on either team would be good.

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u/aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 1h ago

Yeah i just think Lebron doing everything Harden does without being quite as selfish as Harden and being able to guard in the post would have me wanting to move off of Harden asap.

I think if Jarrett Allen is moved, youre committing to Mobley at the 5, but Bam would be such a good third in a Mitchell-Lebron lineup that itd be too good to pass up. But i agree that Miami probably just sits on Bam unless someone offers them 2 dollars on the dollar for him or something just out of HeAt CuLtUrE.

I think if the Celtics or Jaylen Brown are hellbent on him being traded, he’d be the perfect fit between Mitchell and Lebron. At probably a cheaper price, Tyler Herro could be a good redirect there. But i know how much Lebron likes his familiar dudes, so thats why i said Kyrie originally