The Grip - WED 7.2.18

The decline of Eastern (Conference) Civilization

July 02, 2018

7.2.18

  Written while listening to 2Pac's To Live & Die in L.A.

LeBron is really, really, really going to L.A.

Have you heard? LeBron James is signing a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, worth $154 million dollars. The fourth year is a player option.

Here is the grammatical nightmare that his agency, Klutch Sports, tweeted out on July 1 at 8:04 p.m. EST:

A few very quick things to point out:

  • Obviously, LeBron, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, newly-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Josh Hart are not enough to beat the Warriors at this point. The Kawhi saga looms large.

  • LeBron will be playing for Luke Walton, who was chosen in the same draft class as him.

  • The three-year commitment from LeBron to the Lakers is a change from his four up-and-down, egg shell-cracking years in Cleveland, when he kept his leverage and showed his hate for Dan Gilbert with three deals in four years.

  • The series of unremarkable coaches that LeBron has played for continues: David Blatt, Ty Lue, Luke Walton, Mike Brown. Erik Spoelstra is objectively the best.

  • What the hell is Kevin Love going to do? It seems like he could be involved in a trade very soon.

  • Twelve of the 15 All-NBA players last season now play in the Western Conference.

  • The Lakers cleared space for LeBron by trading Larry Nance Jr. and Jordan Clarkson to Cleveland.

  • Stephen A. Smith made a great point toward Cleveland on Sportscenter last night: Just shut up and be happy for 11 years of LeBron.

The first time we can clearly remember the LeBron-to-L.A. reports are from the 2017 NBA Finals. 

Was it that obvious all along?

In a random podcast from Bill Simmons within the last few months, he asked: Are we all going to look stupid when LeBron signs with L.A. in July?

It’s a fair question. People in Philadelphia bought billboards. Semi-credible people suggested he sign with OKC (more on Paul George later). The Warriors were floated around. It was said that the Celtics had a seat at the table.

Nope. LeBron spent the week cliff-diving in picturesque tropicana. Then he went to his “decision cave.” It didn’t take long. It was half speculated and half reported that he was in L.A. Saturday. At 9:01 PST Magic Johnson showed up at his Brentwood home. And Sunday, 20 hours into a free agency without Long Island trips or Lee Jenkins-penned letters (he still wrote a detailed account), an unverified Twitter account (it’s since been blue-checked) representing Klutch Sports sent out a poorly edited press release.

The best player in the game, and arguably the best player in the sport’s history, just joined the sexiest team in the NBA and perhaps the most famous team in professional American sports. 

And yet, it doesn’t seem like the bow-wrapped made-for-T.V. chapter of his career that it should be.  

AKA: Ring-chasing LeBron. Whether you think it matters or not, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Hakeem Olajuwon and so on, never changed teams (sans Mike’s Washington years). LeBron is on his third team and his third exit.

He’s also going to be 34 next season. Would it hurt his *legacy* to get bounced by the Warriors or Rockets three times in the next three years? On the other hand, nothing of any value was going to be accomplished with Cleveland next year.

Will Kawhi Leonard put them over the top? Should the Lakers dole out whatever it takes for him? L.A. didn’t want to trade for Paul George because they just thought they’d get him in free agency this year. That didn’t work. You have to believe Magic, who deserves all the credit in the world for this signing, will learn from that.

Where will Kyle Kuzma, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram be next year?

Speaking of which...

Lakers players, who may not be Lakers players soon, react to LeBron going to the Lakers

You’ll look good in black and silver, Kuz!

And your contract and rookie season as a nice throw-in for Kawhi is going to be tempting!

Hope the BBB appreciates the Alamo!

Paul George and Russell Westbrook walk into an Applebees….

Stockholm syndrome, definition: Feelings of trust or affection felt in certain cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim Paul George toward a captor Russell Westbrook.

The midwest is sprawling. There are tumbleweeds. A city appears on a major highway. Then it’s in the rear view. A sign pops up: Next city worth going to: 350 miles.

Cell phone reception is sparse, especially in the downtown Applebee’s that Wesbrook has taken Paul George to every Saturday since his trade from Indiana to OKC last summer.

“Eat your Sizzlin’ Fajita Entree,” Westbrook says on the Saturday before free agency starts. “Remember, Applebee's is closed on Sunday.”

“Sounds good Russ,” says George, faintly remembering a special occasion he once cared about on July 1, 2018. “By the way, is there anything I should know about tomorrow?”

No,” Russ says. “We’re going to my party. Just read the script I wrote for you.”

The two finish their 2 for 20® Applebee's entrees and head to Westbrook’s downtown palace, right next to the shuddered storefront that used to be a Blockbuster. There, Paul George makes his announcement: He’s staying in Oklahoma.  

 Link time

 LeBron reads

  • Lee Jenkins goes deep on the details on last night and the days leading up to LeBron’s decision (Sports Illustrated)

  • Making sense of LeBron James in purple and gold (The Ringer)

  • What LeBron's departure means for the Cavs (Zach Lowe)

  • The Lakers always made the most sense for LeBron (Sports Illustrated)

  • Where do the Cavs go next? (Cleveland Plain-Dealer)

  • Let’s analyze the ripple effects (Vice.com)

  • Winners and losers of LeBron’s Lakers decision (The Ringer)

  • That time LeBron watched Lonzo Ball in summer league last year (USA Today)

 Our podcast pick

  • The Ringer NBA Show is first to the party >>