Source
r/nba•
PhiladelphiaFish

LeBron seems to be more hands-off with the Lakers decisions than many of us expected, right? Where are all the typical LeGM rumors?

When LeBron was in Miami and Cleveland, it felt like there were fairly regular rumors from Windhorst about the perceived-toxicity of his behind the scenes presence with the front office and coaches. Whether or not any of those rumors were true doesn't matter, but why haven't we seen as many since he moved to LA?

Many people thought that he would be super hands-on in LA since he's getting older. With all the mayhem in the Lakers front office over the last two years, I'm surprised we haven't heard way more LeGM rumors from Windhorst and co. We used to constantly hear about "LeBron's opinion on X," whether it was a coach or player or whatever, and how that opinion would factor into big team decisions. I feel like he's been very quiet in Los Angeles so far.

And before you say "what about the HUGE trade with New Orleans?" Obviously LeBron wanted that move, but it was an easy decision for his FO to make regardless. It wasn't like he strong-armed them into that one with media leaks.

Posted Jul 11, 2019, 1:58 AM UTC

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It's because while LeBron has a ton of influence, LeGM is largely a myth.

What Kawhi pulled this offseason is way more LeGM than anything LeBron has ever done.

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LeBron’s a basketball savant, so I would talk to him about players often, and his understanding of what the team needs is as good as anyone you could ever get input from so I would certainly seek it out. LeBron’s not going to anybody’s office and banging the door down saying ‘I want, I need,’ that’s not how he works, and as long as you have the kind of direct relationship with him where he respects you enough to sit there and have conversation with you you get a great deal out of it. You just can’t need to go through an intermediary because that’s when things get confusing.

Source

My interpretation of it is that LeBron is a consultant in an almost Jerry West type role for his team. He is not involved in the minutae of moves but is consulted on major ones.

For example, I remember Griffin mentioning that when the Mozgov deal was about to go down he told LeBron that the Knicks were willing to throw in JR Smith. LeBron said "yeah let's get him", if LeBron said "no I don't like JR" then they would not have gotten him but LeBron had no direct influence on the trade or negotiations.

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PhiladelphiaFishOP76ers•

Yeah good comparison, we're seeing players pull a lot of strings behind the scenes lately and you would think LeBron would be in the thick of that, but we haven't seen his name get leaked much. To me, that means he's being hands-off, because if that Uncle Dennis/Kawhi news was getting leaked then anything in the LeBron camp would easily get leaked as well. Windy was always reporting stuff on his opinions on Blatt, Lue, Spoelstra, etc.

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TheBesttEva•

What Kawhi did was crazy. I dont know how there hasn't been any tampering fines given out

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PM-ME-YOUR-FoUrSKINLakers•

Lebron literally got AD to the Lakers through mere behind the back talks too, they both pulled off insane shit

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lewlkewlCeltics•

He definitely gives him their input, but he's likely not as involved as he was on the cavs. He had the cavs by the balls, the lakers are still the lakers without lebron.

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bbqyakRaptors•

Exactly. Whether or not he's still doing shit who knows, but he will never have as much power in Lakerland as he did in Cleveland. Especially at his age.

A part of me thinks he also trusts the Lakers more than the Cavs.

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lewlkewlCeltics•

A part of me thinks he also trusts the Lakers more than the Cavs.

I think he just hates dan gilbert with a fucking passion and attempted to fuck him over every chance he got. The cavs were very competent with lebron's second stint.

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PhiladelphiaFishOP76ers•

he will never have as much power in Lakerland as he did in Cleveland

Maybe not to the same level, but it's not like the Lakers have had the strongest front office the last few years. They're been turbulent and at one point embarrassing on a national stage due to inside leaks. You would think we would have heard more about LeGM if he was actively trying to do any power moves.

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samfisher83•

The Cavs with Lebron had the 2nd best National TV ratings in the NBA. The Lakers weren't even in the top 5 despite being in the 2nd biggest market.

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lewlkewlCeltics•

The lakers were top 5 in revenue every year after Kobe retired. Cavs i think only made top 5 once. Lakers don't NEED lebron to make money, just by being in LA and being the lakers they print money. The cavs needed Lebron WAY more than the lakers and idk how you can argue against that.

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yoza146Lakers•

You heard about injuries

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chrimewave[UTA] Donovan Mitchell•

literally had a superstar sign to his agency and force a trade to the lakers and lakers only

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HPK_OKCThunder•

Lol you think LeBron can force a player to sign to an Agency now? Lmfaooo

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Sim888r/nba PSBattle Winner•

OP said force the trade not forced to sign to Klutch

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UncleStepback2424[GSW] Stephen Curry•

No but you can spot a player that can’t think for themselves, so you think for them

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fatcocksinmybumCeltics•

Lebron was hands off but Dick in on that decision.

“Sources say James, 34, inserted his penis into Davis’ rectum at a Post All Star Game Party and whispered into Davis’ ear, “you’re going to sign with Rich Paul and come to the Lakers”. James reportedly then licked Davis on his neck and proceeded to have anal intercourse with the former Pelicans star”.

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shia_le_buff•

Username checks out

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Sim888r/nba PSBattle Winner•

Could LeStumps still put up up 27/7/7 tho?!

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LIT-BRO-DADMavericks•

We don’t know what is said or what goes on behind scenes but LeGM anyways

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LongHairedYahoo0Australia•

He's too busy trying to figure out how 2 points isn't 2 points

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rebjebgreed•

Probably taking a nap

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Im_that_guy24•

Kentavious Caldwell Pope is a laker bro

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iHATESTUFF_Lakers•

LOLOLOLOL

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oldkidgrumbleGrizzlies•

Rich Paul/AD have all the power now

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Blacketh•

I think there was a bit from last season with them trying to get AD at that time. Plus so many of the signings before the season started were really weird and def not LeGM worthy. The lakers basically just followed through on what they tried to do in the middle of last season and finally got AD and made smarter roster filling decisions. Cleveland was basically the Lebron show every year but LA is always gonna be big and bright on its own.

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richp1180Cavaliers•

Leverage. They have him signed long term.

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120593GianNBA•

Wait until they lose enough games (or important games such as against LAC for example) for the public perception to become that "LeBron doesn't have enought help" and you'll see LeGM doing what he does. We all seen this before

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ME_REDDITORJazz•

are you dumb he's definitely hands on

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Zoratth•

Yep, that’s why the lakers kept all of their young guys and let them develop rather than going for the win-now move for Lebron. Oh wait.

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PhiladelphiaFishOP76ers•

And before you say "what about the HUGE trade with New Orleans?" Obviously LeBron wanted that move, but it was an easy decision for his FO to make regardless. It wasn't like he strong-armed them into that one with media leaks.

See my address to that take in the OP. Remember when LeBron rumors used to always be about how he wants his coach fired? We haven't seen anything nearly that level in LAL, despite the wasted year. He seemed fine with the young guys behind the scenes, even if he's obviously prefer AD.

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Zoratth•

We can’t know for sure how much of it is on Lebron and how much is on the front office wanting to please Lebron, but within a year of Lebron getting there the young guys have all been traded and the coach has been fired, which also happened in Cleveland the second time Lebron was there. So it could be Lebron doing the same thing or it could be the front office thinking that’s what he wants.

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YutaTabuse[PHO] Yuta Tabuse•

what hurt the LeGM meme was not being able to get his preferred coach hired. so there's clearly limits to his influence.

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BilltheCatisBack•

Nobody thought that Kurt’s wife was such a basketball mind.

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iHATESTUFF_Lakers•

We haven't seen anything nearly that level in LAL

Luke Walton?

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jcw4455Clippers•

Lebron is considered LeGM for when his team makes good moves.

If those moves turn out to be bad, he has no say in basketball related decisions.

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mjshibzCavaliers•

Turn out bad when? 9 straight finals. Kyrie just left and guys got old.

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jcw4455Clippers•

oh i'm not saying any side is true. i'm just saying that's how the narrative changes.

When the Lakers roster seemed promising last year, it was LeGM. When it fell apart, it was "what has magic and pelinka done??"

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PhiladelphiaFishOP76ers•

Not true, plenty of people criticized LeBron for forcing his front office to get "his guys" in Cleveland/Miami.

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Fax_Kellerman•

Facts

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