For the third time in his career, LeBron James has used the power of free agency to switch teams.
But what's interesting about his latest move is it's the first time he's willingly joined a team devoid of a single star. By signing with the Lakers(for four years and $154 million), LeBron, for the first time in almost a decade, now finds himself on a team multiple moves away from contention.
Of course, that doesn't mean he'd be content to watch others collect rings or that Lakers team president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka can now sit back and relax. No, with LeBron comes expectations, and responsibility, so the onus is now on them to surround LeBron with a suitable supporting cast.
The question is how to best do so.
"Go get Kawhi," said an Eastern Conference front office staffer, a sentiment echoed by multiple NBA people Sunday night.
LeBron's willingness to sign a four-year deal (with the final year a player option, according to reports), changes the equation and tilts the power back toward the Lakers.
A few days ago, the question the Lakers were asking themselves was how much to surrender for Leonard; now, it's whether they should surrender any of their young players, or would they be better off waiting a year and signing Leonard next summer?
There's no obvious answer, and recent NBA history doesn't provide any insight. You can point out that the Lakers erred last summer by not trading for Paul George. Or, look back to 2011, when the Knicks sold the farm for Carmelo Anthony instead of waiting a few months to sign him, a move which prevented them from ever surrounding him with a proper supporting cast.
If the Lakers hold off, and limit their free-agent signings to one-year deals, they could have enough cap space next season to sign Leonard. Doing so would hold them back this year, but, thanks to the combination of depth and tradable assets, they'd be better in 2020. The 2019 free-agent class is stuffed with adequate contingency plans—Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson, Jimmy Butler, Al Horford, Kemba Walker—in the event Leonard follows George's path and re-signs with whatever team that trades for him. That road is even more enticing.
Then again, there's something to be said about taking advantage of opportunities the moment they arise, and focusing on the present, in a prudent, non-reckless way. Think of this as the anti-Dallas Mavericksapproach. Mark Cuban, you'll remember, liquidated his title team in the summer of 2011 so that he could clear cap room and go star-chasing. He never got his man, and the Mavericks haven't won a playoff series since. Worse, they wasted the remainder of Dirk Nowitzki's prime.
Which is to say: Just because LeBron's given them a three-year window doesn't mean the Lakers should sit back. They don't have to capitulate to every Spurs demand. That Leonard made it clear he has no intention of playing anywhere else—and that was before the Lakers reeled in LeBron—has already scared off other suitors, meaning the Lakers could probably trade for him without surrendering all their young talent.
Anyway, bringing in Leonard this offseason and pairing him with LeBron—and alongside the re-signed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in a versatile, wing-heavy lineup—would immediately catapult them past the majority of the Western Conference's teams. Leonard, arguably, would be the best player LeBron has ever played with. His prolific wing defense could be unleashed on Kevin Durant and allow LeBron to save his energy for offense. His ability to generate offense would lighten LeBron's load, similar to how Kyrie Irving once did. Leonard also drilled 42.2 percent of his catch-and-shoot triples two years ago, per NBA.com, an important number for playing alongside LeBron.
Of course, Leonard himself wouldn't provide enough help. That's why the Lakers would be wise to roll the dice on Boogie Cousins as well.
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