Who is the GOAT

[jfish26]

LeBron's current stats are actually better than his career averages, up and down the bored.
But let's assume father time kicks in a bit, 2.5 years from now, when Bronny is eligible to be drafted.
So 2024 ends with LeBron on the Lakers, and he ends up with averages 24 PPG, 7 APG, 6 RPG on 49% FG.

Let's also say Bronny plays well enough to be one of those guys you might consider drafting at the very end of the 2nd, a fringe kind of pick.

What pick would you use on Bronny to get 2 years of LeBron in the twilight of his career knowing he still could put up numbers around like those above?

If I had all the other pieces in place? 1-1.

I can't agree with this. I think the ceiling is around pick 5 overall. League is pretty balanced, for the moment, at least. I'm not passing up a Ja Morant or even an Evan Mobley.

But that's ignoring the proviso.

Just looking back through 2011 (and based entirely on immediate recall)...

2011 - Do Cavs take him 1-4 (Tristan Thompson) after taking Kyrie 1-1? If not, Warriors at 1-11 (Klay) seems like the floor.
2012 - Warriors at 1-7 (Harrison Barnes) is floor.
2013 - Cavs at 1-1 (Bennett)? Thunder at 1-12 (Steven Adams) seems like the floor (that was a Durant/Westbrook team).
2014 - Cavs at 1-1 (Wiggins, already had Bron)? Celtics at 1-6 (Smart) is floor.
2015 - Can't figure this one out. OKC at 1-14 (Payne)?
2016 - 76ers 1-1 (Simmons)? Celtics 1-3 (Brown)? Celtics 1-16 (Yabusele) is floor.
2017 - 76ers 1-1 (Fultz). Easy call.
2018 - 76ers 1-10 (Bridges, traded pick to PHX)?
2019 - Suns 1-6 (Culver)?
2020 - Warriors 1-2 (Wiseman). Easy call.
2021 - Raptors 1-4 (Barnes).

[CrimsonNBlue]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

[jfish26]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

[Qusdahl]

Did anyone buy that Wiggins Cavs jersey that was for sale on nba.com for all of like 4 hours the night of that draft? Maybe gutter? If one did place an order was it even filled? Would it be worth anything now?

[Cascadia]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

How do you build a team around this though? Who wants to play on this team?

[CrimsonNBlue]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

I agree it's reasonable, but still with risk and guarantees nothing. I think in that context I'd rather roll the dice on a Morant or Doncic on rookie contracts, which still makes a win-now team an attractive destination for free agents (that might even be better than LeBron at that point).

[Deleted User 863]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

How do you build a team around this though? Who wants to play on this team?

NBA players don't hate LeBron as much as some of you do so they are more rational.

[jfish26]

Yes, going to depend year-to-year prospect-to-prospect, but I think you are overselling how much a 40-year-old LeBron means. The league is pretty well balanced and LeBron has played very well in 41 of 57 games for the Lakers, and they are squarely in the play-in tournament.

I think there are at least 1-2 players in each draft whose 5-10 year outlook makes trading it away not worth it.

Then again, LeBron himself has essentially stated the 1-1 pick is worth Kevin Love, so.

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

How do you build a team around this though? Who wants to play on this team?

Depends on the team. Take the Warriors in the year they took Wiseman 1-2. They could definitely have absorbed Bron.

It only takes one...

[Cascadia]

I'm just saying that, nearly every year, there's a mid-or high-lotto team holding someone else's pick that is in win-now mode. And absolutely getting a pedigreed 18-8-8 guy on a minimum or otherwise manageable salary is a reasonable thing for that team.

How do you build a team around this though? Who wants to play on this team?

Depends on the team. Take the Warriors in the year they took Wiseman 1-2. They could definitely have absorbed Bron.

It only takes one...

Wait, you think a championship caliber team is going to take this deal? How do you convince a team that has championship aspirations to play Bronny 25+ minutes night?

[CrimsonNBlue]

How do you build a team around this though? Who wants to play on this team?

Depends on the team. Take the Warriors in the year they took Wiseman 1-2. They could definitely have absorbed Bron.

It only takes one...

Wait, you think a championship caliber team is going to take this deal? How do you convince a team that has championship aspirations to play Bronny 25+ minutes night?

Yeah, considering the ESPN article about Bron being pouty when not getting his way with the front office(s), this could be a legitimate concern.

[jfish26]

Depends on the team. Take the Warriors in the year they took Wiseman 1-2. They could definitely have absorbed Bron.

It only takes one...

Wait, you think a championship caliber team is going to take this deal? How do you convince a team that has championship aspirations to play Bronny 25+ minutes night?

Yeah, considering the ESPN article about Bron being pouty when not getting his way with the front office(s), this could be a legitimate concern.

Until Devonte Graham or some other mid-level player puts him on skates on TNT...

[CrimsonNBlue]

Wait, you think a championship caliber team is going to take this deal? How do you convince a team that has championship aspirations to play Bronny 25+ minutes night?

Yeah, considering the ESPN article about Bron being pouty when not getting his way with the front office(s), this could be a legitimate concern.

Until Devonte Graham or some other mid-level player puts him on skates on TNT...

Maybe, but then you risk getting pouty Bron!

LeBron only saying he will play on the seam team as Bronny. For now.

[pdub]

I think just traveling with his kid and playing together in mop up minutes does not seem out of the question and that'd be enough ( i'm sure Bron haters will disagree ).

He could definitely be a piece to help you win a title, even at 40.
Certainly can't do it himself, ( no AD and shitty Russell Westbrook has him where he is ) which is why you'd want him to be your 3rd guy, who could be your 1st guy at moments.

[Qusdahl]

Lol, watch bron convince some GM he’ll play too if they sign his kid, then the kid never gets called up from the G league anyway.

[Qusdahl]

Actually, can somebody please photoshop Bronny’s face on JR cluelessly dribbling out the clock as Lebron melts down about it?

[jfish26]

I could also absolutely see Bron play with Bronny in China before Bronny enters the draft.

[CrimsonNBlue]

I just assume that LeBron is Chad, Suburban Sports Dad. "My kid should be starting!"

[Cascadia]

I could also absolutely see Bron play with Bronny in China before Bronny enters the draft.

Who, Xing James? Of course.....

[Cascadia]

I just assume that LeBron is Chad, Suburban Sports Dad. "My kid should be starting!"

Carl Henry.

[CrimsonNBlue]

Yep. China is one of the safer places for Bronny to hang out for a year and not get exposed.