The 2019-20 NBA season may be on hiatus but there is still plenty to talk about in the world of the Los Angeles Lakers.
On this episode of the Lakers Nation Podcast, they kick things off by diving into the debate comparing Michael Jordan to LeBron James that has been re-ignited since the arrival of “The Last Dance.” While James and Jordan are both historically great players, can they even truly be compared in a meaningful way when they played in different eras? Plus, with their style of play being different, does that inherently make one more attractive to fans than the other?
They also take a look at where Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fit into the discussion and who they would prefer to start a brand new franchise with. While they may never have a way to truly compare apples to apples with these players, it’s worth looking at the difficulties inherent within these kinds of conversations.
Plus, they discuss the latest news swirling around Lakers assistant coach Jason Kidd, which links him to the Brooklyn Nets vacant head coaching job. Would Kidd be a good fit going back to the Nets? Or should they look to someone else on their long list of reported candidates? Plus, what would losing Kidd mean for the Lakers?
From there, they dive into what could be an eventful offseason for the Lakers — whenever it starts. While everyone is keeping their fingers crossed the season has a chance to continue, they take a look ahead at the trade pieces general manager Rob Pelinka will have at his disposal should he decide to make a move.
For example, what kind of value will Kyle Kuzma have around the league? While he hasn’t been the most consistent player this season, he still offers the kind of skill set that NBA general managers are looking for due to his versatility on the wing. With the final year of his rookie deal coming up next season, the Lakers will need to make a decision on him sooner rather than later. Could he be a piece on the move? With big expiring contracts lined up next season like Danny Green and potentially Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (player option), the possibility is there for a deal to be made for an impact player.
It’s probably more likely the Lakers bring back a similar team to this season’s, but opportunities may be available to make a splash.
