LeBron Says Luka Energizes Him, Lakers Earn Goodwill With Luka for Trying to Get Mark Williams
During the All-Star Weekend, LeBron James says the addition of Luka Doncic will further energize him this season and the Lakers enter the home stretch of the season. That period will not include Mark Williams, who the Lakers traded for (then rescinded the deal) in an attempt to give Doncic the rim-running center he wants. Disappointing, but not upsetting for the new Lakers superstar.
The Lakers have, for better or worse, made some big swings for their stars over the last few seasons. Williams was a high risk, high reward move done in part to impress Luka. Russell Westbrook was an comically bad idea done in part to service the franchise’s history of star effery, but also to satisfy LeBron.
The actions may not be wise, but the Lakers can definitely say they try.
So far, so good when it comes to building a good relationship with Dončić.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: The Lakers get some benefit from the Williams non-trade, even if they don’t get Williams.
SEGMENT 2: LeBron gets “energy” from Luka.
SEGMENT 3: Tier 2.5, baby!!!
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32 Comments
Luka can recruit, game to game team by team…he could be talking guys he knows that might fit.
Very sorry for Nick Angstad, it's been a really fun run these years with Luka.
The trade took away my love for the Mavs, I don't like Pelinka and Buss…but I am begining to like you and your channel.
Salut desde Barcelona!
Go Lakers
I'm ready for a new adventure can you guys make a pod about the current state of the team, mainly the rooster.
Hopefully, We can finish 20-10 to put US @ 52-30 for The Year!!!
• We need Luka to be Himself = Luka 🪄 Magic!!!
• We need AR to be a “3&Dish” Player when He’s on the Court with Luka (Tough Defense and on Offense: Catch & Shoot/Catch & Pass/Catch & Drive; No Dancing with the Ball!!!
• We need to Balance Out our Starting Lineup – Start DFS & bring Rui off The Bench!!!
• We need Our Coaching Staff to Push & Develop Jaxson/Len/Koloko to give US a Total of 15/15/2 a Game!!!
Alex len literally just needs to play with luka for a little. Both Jackson Hayes and Alex can be serviceable just because of Luka. Luka went like 7/7 with Luka on the floor the first game. All lobs.
Hope he comes back to the Luka that we know after the all star game
Im sorry Luka lebron prodijical son doesnt energize Lebron more than his own real son
Bronny LOL
I’m still really bummed that the Williams trade didn’t work out. For just a moment there it looked like Rob had assembled a squad that had a shot (a long shot, but a shot nonetheless) of contending this year. We still would have needed a lot of things to go right for us & break bad for Boston, Cleveland & OKC to make a title shot viable this year.
It was nice to be able to think that thought again. Better to have loved and lost, right?
i don’t know anything about the results from Mark’s physical, obviously, but I can’t imagine that Rob would have pulled the plug what he did unless there was some REALLY bad ju-ju. If it wasn’t his (and they say it wasn’t) that makes kme wonder if LA identified some kind of degenerative condition in his joints, hips, feet—something like that
If we hadn’t traded that 2031 1st I think it might have been worth it to roll the dice, keep Mark & hope for the best. Since we did, and I canKt imagine Charlotte making the trade without, it was just too much of a risk. I think Rob made the right choice.
I’m still pretty optimistic for next year, though. We have the 1st back & we have AR. Also, LeBron gave up a little money this year and was willing to give up more on his deal foe the right guy. Also, and I didn’t realize this until Trevor points it out on one of his other shows today. Bron’s on a 1+1 deal, not a two year deal.
James wasn’t going to sign without a no-trade clause apparently, but he could potentially give LA some flexibility with his player option for next year. I don’t see LeBron taking a vet minimum contract but now that he’s got Luka has his running mate may he’d be willing to opt out & take less $$$ next year if it opened up the full mid-level exception.
Who knows? If Rob could convince Bron that he’s willing to go balls to the walls to make a hard run at the title next year maybe he’d be willing to exercise that option and renegotiate a contract for next year that could net us something juicier than the mid-level. A fella can dream…
I only wish Dallas was willing to take Knecht and the Lakers kept Christie. Damn, he's going to be a very good player for years to come.
How many rooms do you record in, Brian?😁
Luka will make Alex Len look like Gafford, just wait!
how can you not like Buss im assuming you are talking about jeannie , she is awesome she does her best for the players and the team whats not to like
I’m sorry AR, but we just got Luka freaking Doncic in our team. Give the ball to Luka and wait for the ball for the open shot 🙌🏻
They have Len, work with the guy. Exposition makes many players better. Gafford and PJ are examples, they thrived quickly with Luka.
The juice energizes Lefraud.
As a former Mavs fan that’s spent years watching a lot of Luka, my concern with the center thing is that I don’t believe you can build a true contending defense around Luka without a rim protecting big. I would say that’s more important than an offensive center. Luka can be a serviceable defender when he tries but even in his best shape possible he just athletically doesn’t have the lateral foot speed and will end up letting guys through on the perimeter. People will point towards when he made the WCF starting Dwight Powell at Center in 2022 but the Mavs also got dominated by Kevon Looney that series precisely due to the lack of size and rebounding.
Even in the playoffs just this past year it very quickly became obvious how much better the team looked with Dereck Lively (more of a defensive anchor, rim protector, elite rebounding, high IQ, passer out of the short roll, etc) compared to Gafford (more of an athletic rim running offensive beast, shot blocker but not the best IQ defensively and rebounding)
I couldn't have said it better Andy😂😂😂
NO EGGS ANDY SO NO VEGGIE OMELETTE 😂😂😂
Have people already forgotten that Lebron guarded a prime Jokic at the Olympics?
Luka Doncic was chosen to be LeBron James’s replacement.
The Lakers are no longer interested in feeding the low post from a wing, this making them a full blown perimeter based team. Next season just sign a free agent version of JaVale McGee.
Why every time Bron say something yall subtly call him a liar?
People seem to forget that the Mavs were glacially slow at making a decent team for Luka, until last year (after the trade deadline) all of Lukas teams were at best mediocre and at worst downright atrocious so the Lakers making a move immediately would definitely have earned some goodwill in that regard.
Anthony Davis was the “heart and soul of the defense” and Max Christie was very good as a 1-on-1 perimeter defender at the 2-Guard position. Protecting/hiding point guard Austin Reaves on defense.
“The thrill is gone baby”
Stop it Andy stop it. If a quarter billion dollars isn't enough to let you know a team wants you, i don't know what is.
Who cares what LeBron thinks dude can't even suit for an all star game 😂
Look at the chances Dallas had to make it last year. It’s not the chances it’s the player who a killer in the moment
Now Smith & Vando really become important cuz someone is going to have to play defense & rebound. 😬
He better have enough energy for both of em