Why LeBron James is FRUSTRATED w/ Los Angeles Lakers | THE HERD

Why LeBron James is FRUSTRATED w/ Los Angeles Lakers | THE HERD

Welcome back. We’ve had this guy in a lot because the Lakers have been in the news all the time. Yo Buha, formerly of the Athletic. He’s got a new job coming up. He’s got his Booha’s block podcast. Hasn’t invited me on, but whatever. He’s going to open invite whenever you want. He’s going to the summer league tonight to watch within like an hour. I I’m going straight to the airport. Yeah. Bronny vers Cooper flag. Huh? Yeah. Is that how it’s being built? Cooper flag versus a 58th pick. 55th. 55th 55th. Sorry, apologies. We’ll get to that soon. But we’ve got to start obviously with DeAndre Aton giving his first interview since going to the Lakers. And I think people are already past his failures in Portland and forfeiting $10 million to get out of town. He said LeBron has not texted him, but Luca has. Now, you had a great nugget last time that Austin Reeves and Jake Lorravia share an agent. Doesn’t Luca share an agent with DeAndre Jordan? So, maybe that’s like agent Or or is there something should we read something into this? No. So I I I’ve heard they have a good rapport like by NBA standards a good rapport between Luca and DeAndre Aton. So they share an agent. They were the top you know two top three picks in the same draft 2018 draft. Eightton went first, Luca went third. Their families have met each other. Like they have a rapport. So uh Luca, I’ve been told was on board with Aton coming on and like he got the the stamp of approval. So, uh, Luca’s excited to have a pick and roll partner and like DeAndre Aton for all of the discourse around him, we’ll say has been statistically one of the most efficient pick and roll threats, uh, pick and roll finishers, lob threats like over the last few years. So, I think Luca’s excited like he’s certainly an upgrade over Jackson Hayes, we’ll say. So, like I I think like this is a guy who’s been double double every year of his career. Uh, obviously there’s been some questions with the motor and and whatnot, but like yeah, I think the like he’s effectively in a a contract year, so he’s got a lot to prove and he talked about like this situation fueling him and like yeah, I thought the the best line of his whole press conference was, I can’t run from this. Like I picked this platform. I I can’t hide from this now. So this is going to be the most scrutiny and spotlight he’s dealt with in his career playing for the Lakers as their starting center. So, uh, we we’ll see what he’s made of. And and it feels like maybe, you know, he had always been saying, “I just got to get that second contract, the big one.” He got that. So, he’s been paid and now they lost in the finals when he was like 22 in Phoenix. Does he marginally change the Lakers or or significantly change him? Because I mean, again, they had nothing at center last year. I I think it’s probably somewhere in between just because again, like if you go back to the playoffs a couple months ago, they literally could not play a center. Like JJ Reic lost all trust in Jackson Hayes and it got to the point where they were through Maxi Kleba in a game five after he missed like three months with with a foot injury and foot surgery. So it’s like that showed you the level of it’s interesting Jackson Hayes is back and I think as a backup he’s fine. He also does share an agent with uh Luca and DeAndre Aton. So they’re uh yeah I mean but I think these are all positive signs for Luca’s upcoming extension on August 2nd. Okay. So, a lot of Luca talk. Uh, Yoan, uh, you’re you’re not talking about LeBron a lot. Uh, what’s going on? It’s been quiet and, you know, I I came on here and we talked about it like, I don’t think he’s going to get traded. I think this has been just him putting some pressure on the organization because he sees the finish line and he’s trying to get them to move that first round pick to invest in this year’s roster and not look ahead to 2026 or 2027. uh because there was the report by ESPN that uh they’re trying to keep the the cap sheet clean for the summer of 2027 when Giannis could potentially be available or is a Jokic available either for trade or to sign one of those guys. Jokic would still be under contract but like does someone want out at that point and then the Lakers have the flexibility with multiple picks uh some expiring contracts and uh maybe some young players at that point that like you could flip that for the next star post LeBron. So, uh, I think he he’s been trying to put some pressure on them to do something and and we’ll see, I guess, the rest of this month if they do it. Let’s ask, is there a deal to be had right now with their 2026 first? By the way, the 2026 draft class is pretty damn good. A lot of good players. Um, but like Dalton Connect and the first, that’s not getting you much. So, they can’t trade the 2026. It has to be the 2031 or 32. So I guess the upside there is like you are betting on what are the Lakers going to look like in six or seven years which I mean Luca will be I guess what 32 33 should still be in like maybe the tail end of his prime but but still probably in his prime. Uh I think that pick has value. I think the issue has been like we’ve seen teams start to value first round picks again in a way that they hadn’t for the last few years. So, if you look at it, like some of these trades that have happened, like guy the prices for guys have dropped. Uh, with the exception of like the the Michael Porter Jr. trade, but with Cam Johnson, like first round picks aren’t flying around anymore. So, I I do think if they put Dalton Connect and the first on the table, they could get in some conversations that like on paper maybe you wouldn’t expect them to, but it doesn’t seem like they want to do that. It seems like they like having a first going into the season and having that flexibility to maybe make a move or make a move down the road. So, I I’m a little skeptical right now, but uh it’s fluid. So, so you reported LeBron and the Lakers management not getting along great. Is this because maybe LeBron he’s just upset that he’s no longer the guy to build around and it’s Luca? Is this him pouting? I Does he have a player in mind? What I think it’s it’s a little bit of all that, right? Uh like this is the first time you could say in LeBron’s career he hasn’t been the sole focus or or the primary focus of his franchise that he’s been on. Like even with AD, it was all like it was always LeBron trying to pass the baton to AD. Luca just came in and and got the baton right from owner. Like he he was handed it on a on a golden pillow. So uh and understandably so because he’s a top at worst top five player in the league if not top three with the upside to be the best player in my opinion and win an MVP. So like I get it. He’s a guy who’s about to enter his prime. has already led a team to the finals, but uh LeBron’s just I think the big thing is like he sees the finish line whether it’s another year, two years, and he wants to win that fifth ring. And it doesn’t feel like the Lakers are going allin on this year’s roster. They’re trying to kind of split the baby. Not yet. But even if I mean, I guess if they trade the first, I’ll say that’s going all in. But anything short of that, it is kind of like a half measure in terms of like trying to make this year’s roster better, but also keeping that flexibility. Those two things are kind of at odds and and but it seems like they’re prioritizing the the future. Remember with like the James Wiseman two they won a title like they kind of did the best version of it. Obviously the Wiseman pick didn’t work out but they were able to rebuild quickly get back to the finals win a championship and then now obviously you know we’ll see with them. Um so that brings me to Bradley Beal. So the Suns cannot seem to find a taker for him with that contract. So they’ll have to wave and stretch. Yeah. And I was saying at the outset, Beal at 50 mil, not really good. Beal at 5 mil, amazing. Do do you anticipate that to happen to Beal? And then who are the main contenders for him? Sounds like the Clippers are the main above the Lakers. Yeah. Uh because they could offer him a starting spot with the Lakers. It gets a little dicey if you look at like Luca, Austin, Beal, LeBron, a lot of firepower, but defensively that’s going to be But their closing lineup would 100% have Beal eight. again, but then I just think that defense isn’t good enough if you just look at right like but wouldn’t the offense overcompensate for it with Beal and Reeves on the perimeter? Maybe. Uh but I think we we I mean we kind of saw Phoenix try to do that approach with KD Booker and Be and be like, you know, like they tried to go the all-wing offensive approach and it just didn’t really work. So I I’m personally skeptical. Like I I’m of two minds. Be at $5 million, great value and the Lakers, I think, need a talent upgrade. So, like from that perspective, you could talk me into it. I just think he would have to buy into probably a six-man role. Yeah. And and selectively close. Like there might be some matchups where it’s like we need more defense, so you’re not closing tonight. And is he okay with that? I think he’s still trying to get back to being a starter. And because you also got to think about his next contract, right? So, like in the NBA, once you accept a bench role, once you get bought out, like there is like a stamp on you that I think affects like your perception and like your next deal. like very few guys are able to get bought out and like rehab their value. So, I think once you, you know, now you’re making $5 million, now you’re coming off the bench, maybe next contract’s like a mid-level contract. So, I think for him, maybe going to the Clippers or going to like Milwaukee, I think, would be Oh, come on. Not from like a comp like competition perspective, but like he could be the number two guy in Milwaukee and like really show. So, let’s back up. What does Bradley Beiel want? He’s made a I can’t say that word. He’s made a lot of money. A lot of money. Uh, what has he won? Has he been to a conference finals? Not tomorrow. No. Second round with the Wizards. Like, does he want to win or make more money on top of the, you know, he probably made 200 million in his career. I’m just guessing. Probably more than that. Yeah. Do you want to win? Like, also going to the Lakers versus going to the Clippers. Like, the Lakers are going to be on more TV games. They’re the most high-profile team in the league. Yeah. I mean, the money he could make off the court with the Lakers. I I don’t know. Where is his wife from LA? So I I I like I I agree with you like I I understand the arguments for the Lakers. I I just think if the Clippers are offering a starting role in like 30 minutes a night and the Lakers can’t quite match that, I I think at that point, you know, that that’s a potential differentiator. What is the who is the Beal Harden backcourt stopping? I mean, come on. I think we could run some pick and roll against I would like to think so. I just listen. I think Beal at 5 mil Yeah. might be the best contract in the league given what he I mean if he could put up 17 a game he’s still better than like people have given him like I I think he’s gotten a little too much flack because of the contract and because of how much a failure that Phoenix situation was where he’s still averaged like 17 four and four last year 39% three-point shooter like he’s still he’s still good it’s just not $50 million good so basically the in a perfect world the Lakers get eight at eight and be at five two you know awesome rotational players for 13 That would be a home run. They’d get an A. Would that get LeBron, do you think, to buy in and get out of this funk or whatever he’s dealing with right now? I think he’s going to buy in. I think he like I think it’s going to work out. Um I don’t know if that’s enough. Like I I LeBron’s always trade the picks. Like that is like LeBron’s motto is is trade the picks. So, if you don’t trade the picks and you’re not, you know, exhausting all resources to improve the roster, cuz you could still sign Beal and trade the picks and improve the like, you know what I mean? Or trade the pick and and then they got a few pick swaps. So, I think for LeBron, you know, there’s a lot of things going on with the situation, but I think he will be a Laker starting uh whenever late September. All right, let’s get to tonight’s game. Cooper Flag making his debut. Um, it’s against Bronny. Bronnie has been up and down. Fair to say, in the summer, played better lately. I I you know, these guys online just put together clip reels of all the bad moments. That dunk was incredible. The dunk was incredible. Like I see that bounce from him. I just your thoughts on on what flag what what are reasonable expectations tonight? 20. Yeah. I I I like I want to see the the the versatile skill set from him because I think he’s someone um I’ve the more I’ve like studied his game and and tried to come up with like an NBA comp. I think he’s more like an alpha Shawn Marian which which is like Shawn Marian really good player multi-time all-star and Olympian like and but I I said like I think he’s got more of that like number one or number two type scorer gene that that Marion was more of like a number three but he’s got that Marion skill set of like I think he’s going to be a guy at his peak can play three through five uh can do just defend multiple positions can bring the ball up run pick and roll but also attack and and come off screens and stuff. So like he can do a lot of different things. Uh in terms of tonight, uh I mean this is arguably the most exciting day. Hey, tonight it’s a big one since Zion, right? I would say Zion 2019. There was an earthquake that night, so we we’ll see. But uh yeah, 20 20 points we’ll

Jason McIntyre is filling in for Colin Cowherd and is joined by Jovan Buha to react to the latest NBA news. Is LeBron James frustrated with the current Los Angeles Lakers situation? What impact will Deandre Ayton have on the Lakers? What are the biggest takeaways from the Los Angeles Lakers’ free agency? Finally they discuss Bronny James and Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg’s summer league potential.

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