If the goal is to build a championship team for the city of Los Angeles, then it should not be going all in for another max superstar.
You need to look for sustainability. Just because the Lakers are a big ticket franchise doesn't mean that you always have to have a big ticket mentality. Remind me again of how Golden State became Golden State.
If the goal is to build a championship to make Lebron happy, then that is what they are going to do. Forego everything to risk another decade of mediocrity in the hopes of getting 1 title while he is here.
I think Lebron just assumed that the average Laker fan in Los Angeles is some hollywood mogul or business tycoon. That they know only of the entertainment value of the sport, and not the actual sport itself. As if winning championships isn't important. Wrong. They are as hard working and blue collar as every average American out there. Just like every paying customer from every other city, big and small.
Kobe knew this. That is why he stayed as far away from Hollywood as possible, until after he retired. And that is why basketball was ALWAYS first to Kobe, even in a city with the temptations of Los Angeles.
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And as far as the record when all 4 were on the court together. That's a nice stat, don't get me wrong. But with young guys, you have to figure that something like that may or may not be sustainable over the long haul of a season.
What you CAN point to is that the club was trending in the right direction. Once can certainly attest to that. ANd if these guys come back next year more motivated and driven in the offseason, and god willing, Brandon is OK, then I can see something good happening next year.
This year was necessary, in my opinion. It showed what happens when one player or conglomerate try to manipulate a franchise, and it doesn't work. It worked for Lebron all these other times, and it didn't know. Let's hope this is a reality check.