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LeBron James made his first public appearance since signing with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, watching the summer league's version of his new team defeated Detroit Pistons 101-78.
"It will not seem real until I see it at the training camp," said a Lakers leader. not more than 40 feet from the superstar. "It's always hard to believe."
Los Angeles is in full swing since Klutch Sports, led by James's agent, Rich Paul, published a message July 1 that James would head to the Lakers. Just like that, the grand plan of owner Jeanie Buss and executives Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Rob Pelinka has been validated by the NBA's best player
For now, this honeymoon glow has reduced the pressure to add a second star. The team missed Paul George. Kawhi Leonard is a member of the Raptors – and although Chris Haynes reports that ESPN that Leonard is not thrilled to play for Toronto, the franchise has a year to change. notice before he plays in a free agency.
If Leonard does not end up making his way to Los Angeles, the list of targets next July will likely include Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Kemba Walker, DeMarcus Cousins and even Kyrie Irving.
has a lot of work to do for the upcoming campaign, to give James a list capable of challenging the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
As currently built, the Lakers have a lot of guards and wings, but are a little center with JaVale McGee the only free agency addition to the position. Ivica Zubac and rookie Moritz Wagner will have to show that they are ready for regular roles.
Nothing in this trio should inspire confidence. Instead, the best and only choice of the Lakers could be to deploy James as the center of the small ball.
"We may not see this the first day, but the coaches are eager to see our version of Death [Warriors’] Programming with Lonzo [Ball] Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram, [Kyle] Kuzma and LeBron , "said a second Lakers executive
This is an excellent opportunity for young team players to prove that they are ready to win games. James will have a collection of playmakers, scorers and active defensemen with long, active legs. For some, it will be sinking or swimming, but the team is eager to see how this group will manage with James in the middle.
John Locher / Associated Press
"The list we have in October may not be the same in February," continued the executive. "But we love what we have."
"I do not think the Lakers are making the playoffs," said a rival leader of the Western Conference who questioned the experience of their talent outside of James.
"James has been constantly on defense in recent years, now he's going to close the games like the 5 Lakers?" another skeptical executive asked. "Draymond [Green] is the reason why it works for the Warriors."
Golden State flourished with Green in the middle because he's a versatile and motivated defender – and is not responsible for bringing the team offensively.
It remains to be seen how much the Lakers will rely on James at age 33 and he also has the energy to anchor the defense.
Last season, James did not play often at the center for defense. Cleveland Cavaliers (only 1.5 percent of his time on the ground, according to Nylon Calculus). The most productive formation of the Cavs with James in the 5 titles of George Hill, JR Smith, Kyle Korver and Jeff Green. This group played only 22 minutes together, by NBA.com, with a positive average score of 9.3 for 100 possessions
The young Lakers who will surround James may not have the same level of skill. experience but will have a significant sporting advantage. To a certain extent, Johnson and Pelinka have created the central problem by letting the free agent restrict Julius Randle walk to the pelicans of New Orleans and outgoing starter Brook Lopez join the Milwaukee Bucks for $ 3.4 million at instead of the $ 4.4 million that the Lakers have to spend. 19659004] The Lakers did not want to bring back the players who were waiting for significant minutes, according to the second leader of the team. They are more interested in seeing what their younger core can do alongside James.
Could Luol Deng be a small center after sitting most of last season?
The executive said that Deng was semi-retired. He can never play in the NBA unless he has a change of heart.
The Lakers have a place available. Maybe that will go to the star of the summer league Jeff Ayres, who has been an important part of the team's race at the championship game in Las Vegas. The 31-year-old played in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2015-16 and has since played in Japan, Russia and Turkey.
Ayres, who won a title with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, also played for the D-Fenders of Los Angeles in the D-League (now the South Bay Lakers of the G-League). When the Lakers summer team needed a center, the South Bay Lakers president, Joey Buss, and general manager Nick Mazzella brought Ayres, by a third officer
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Ayres is represented by Mitch Frankel of Impact Sports Management. None of Frankel's clients are in the NBA except one: Leonard
The acquisition last year of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who is represented by Paul and Klutch Sports, was a step significant in the landing of James in free agency. The Lakers have had a whole year to establish a relationship with Paul and eventually James – perhaps Ayres gets the last place on the team and a chance to play center in the smaller teams of the team.
the beginning of the 2019-20 season. The Lakers have not signed Ayres to a contract beyond the summer league, but that may be worth watching.
Meanwhile, the Lakers will have to use James in the center, with the hope that he will turn their
James led his team to the final nine times in 15 years, but on the paper , the Lakers should not be considered a favorite this season.
Until they go will be dictated by the development of their many young players.
Regardless of the outcome, the Lakers took a big step towards respectability after five disappointing seasons.
Send Eric Pincus an email to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @EricPincus .
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