Empire Writes Back
Fansided

The New York Knicks are in better shape than the Lakers

By Andrew Elderbaum

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: RJ Barrett poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: RJ Barrett poses with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted with the third overall pick by the New York Knicks during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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New York Knicks
Anthony Davis, LeBron Jame, Los Angeles Lakers. New York Knicks. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

The end of a proud franchise

The Lakers team that Lebron and his assistant GM Rob Pelinka have put together is more like one of those fantasy camps they used to do in baseball. Old dudes would pay money to have a glorified catch with an out of shape retired player who used to be someone.

Remember Rajon Rondo in Boston? He was awesome! Danny Green and Avery Bradley?? Those are two great 3-and-D players! I think Lebron stopped following NBA basketball in 2013 and just gets guys based on name recognition.

With DeMarcus Cousins continuing on his ultimate path to be Spinal Tap’s next drummer, the Lakers starting five is Javale McGee, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Danny Green, and 35-year-old Lebron James playing point guard. Then there’s Rondo, Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jared Dudley, Alex Caruso, and Troy Daniels coming off the bench. This is a team that’s engaging in talks with Dwight Howard. The only way they’re making the finals is if they’re playing in the Chinese League.

When Lebron gets his inevitable injury and Davis shuts it down for the season (he quit on the Pelicans after all) there a better than 50 percent chance he decides to skip out on a contract extension with Los Angeles.

That would leave the Lakers with about three draft picks in the next decade, no star free agents to add in free agency, and nothing to offer teams in a trade. If that happens and Lebron bolts to chase one last ring with some other team, the murder of that franchise will be complete.

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