Los Angeles Lakers: Will Lebron James sign, good cop vs. bad cop

What are the chances the Los Angeles Lakers sign LeBron James this summer? We have a good cop vs. bad cop discussion about it.

As the Los Angeles Lakers watched the NBA Finals come to an end, they moved one step closer to the offseason getting underway. It wasn’t too long after the final buzzer that the LeBron James offseason questions began.

I was inspired by some articles I read from Shea Serrano of The Ringer for this article by the way he portrayed his arguments using the Good Cop-Bad Cop conversation. I felt it was fitting for the rampant amount of Lebron reports we will be hearing over the next month.

So let’s argue about where Lebron James will be taking his talents to this time around.

Good Cop: Lebron James will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. It is happening.

Bad Cop: Lebron James is not signing with the Los Angeles Lakers this season. That is definitely not happening.

Good Cop: Why not? Why wouldn’t he want to leave Cleveland to play for the Lakers!? We’re the greatest franchise in NBA history, Los Angeles is the greatest city in America, and we are an overall smarter option for him than any of the other candidates.

Bad Cop: Literally none of those are true. Except maybe the part about Los Angeles.

Good Cop: You don’t think we are a smarter option than the other teams? How?

Bad Cop: Because, well frankly, you guys suck. You just came off of a 35-win season and your fans are raving about it…You have a roster full of young players still searching for who they want to be in the league. How is that better than teaming up with one of his best friends along with the likely MVP? Or better yet a young team whose young players have already found who they are and can only improve? Or even signing with the Spurs and playing for the best coach in the NBA, Gregg Popovich along with teaming up with who would probably be the best teammate he has ever had.

Good Cop: Well, mainly because we have much more we can offer him than those teams do.

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Bad Cop: How you could you possibly think that?

Good Cop: Because it’s the truth!

Bad Cop: No it’s not! All you have is a Hollywood and a bunch of kids trying to figure out who should be the leading scorer in each game and trolling each other so much with rap songs and social media that the team had to tell you to stop. You’re literally an elementary school class when the teacher accidentally put you and your two best friends next to each other. Why would he want to turn down teams that would be immediate contenders to babysit a bunch of kids by himself.

Good Cop: That’s the thing. It wouldn’t just be LeBron and the kids. We have enough money to sign TWO max players. (Thank you Isaiah Thomas trade). Which means we can also sign….wait for it….

Bad Cop: I know. I know. You can also sign Paul George.

Good Cop: Wait for it….

Bad Cop: I hate you so much.

Good Cop: Paul Freaking George!!!!

Bad Cop: I can’t do this anymore.

Good Cop: Now that is a team that is built to not only compete now but is also set up for a long future. Also, coming to the Lakers and bringing the greatest franchise in NBA history back to its glory is huge curb appeal. Yeah, I said it. We’re coming for you, Boston.

Bad Cop: Can I ask you a question? And really, really think about this before you answer.

Good Cop: Okay, go.

Bad Cop: Why do you want Lebron?

Good Cop: Umm….what?

Bad Cop: Seriously. Why do you want him?

Good Cop: Well, he’s Lebron James! Why wouldn’t you want him? He’s the best player in the universe coming off one of the greatest years of his career and he’s looking to make a move? Sounds pretty appealing to me.

Bad Cop: Okay, but think about it. Adding Lebron, and Paul George for that matter is only going to stunt the growth of your current young core. Brandon Ingram showed legitimate improvement from his rookie year. We didn’t get to see much of Lonzo Ball but what we did see looked promising, especially if he spends more time working on his jumper and less time in the recording studio in the offseason. Kyle Kuzma turned out to be the biggest steal of the draft not named Donovan Mitchell. Why would you want anyone to come and take the ball out of their hands and lead them away from attaining their full potential? Not to mention signing both most likely means the end to Julius Randle’s Lakers career.

Good Cop: I don’t think that adding either of those two will stunt any of their growth. Playing with and learning from superstars like PG and Lebron will only help Ingram become the scorer that he’s capable of being. Lonzo’s game will only thrive with bigger names around him. Imagine a fast break where Lonzo grabs the board and looks up to see Lebron and Kuzma sprinting down one side and PG and Ingram on the other. He would have a field day. Kuzma will be set up for better scoring opportunities and won’t have to spend so much time creating his own shot. And don’t get me wrong, Randle had a great year and we all loved watching him attack the defense like he was Thanos searching for the Infinity Stones but if letting him go is what needs to happen to get those two superstars, well as Lord Fraquaad so eloquently put it:

Bad Cop: Okay. Let’s assume that the Lakers do get Lebron and Paul George, do you honestly think that team can beat the Warriors in a seven-game series?

Good Cop: Sure. They have the athleticism, the offensive and defensive versatility, the star power, and the experience. With a roster like that, they can attract some shooters and veterans to fill out the roster and make a team that can definitely compete with the Warriors. Any team with Lebron has a chance to do anything. So this team definitely has a chance to beat the Warriors in the playoffs.

Bad Cop: Okay but at the end of the day, you are going to sell Lebron on hope and potential? I don’t think that can compete with what Philly, Houston, or San Antonio. We don’t know how many dominant years Lebron has left so why would he waste any more of them on a team that “has a chance” to beat the Warriors instead of a team built to do so?

Good Cop: Well if his decision is going to be a one based more on what’s best for his family than LA has to be the choice.

Bad Cop: Why is that? Wouldn’t it mean staying in Cleveland where they have lived most of their lives?

Good Cop: Not according to Gary Payton….who said in that video that Lebron has enrolled his oldest son at Sierra Canyon High just outside of Los Angeles.

Bad Cop: Objection!!

Good Cop: You do realize we’re not in a courtroom right?

Bad Cop: I don’t care. That is speculation. There is no proof of that and even the high school said they haven’t heard about that thus cannot be used as an argument here. Plus, his kids already live in Cleveland. They’ve grown up and gone to school there. He loves raising his kids there. He said so himself:

Good Cop: I am glad you referenced his acting career. You know what else Los Angeles has? HOLLYWOOD. What better way to get the ball moving on his acting career than spending the rest of his playing days in the city that is the symbol of the entertainment business. He would rule LA and actually be treated like a King.

Bad Cop: I think you are completely undermining Lebron’s desire to win. He has been to eight straight NBA Finals. Do you hear that correctly? EIGHT CONSECUTIVE NBA FINALS. That’s a thing now.

Good Cop: Are you asking if I watch the NBA? Of course, I know that. What does that have to do with what I was saying?

Bad Cop: Becuase going to the Lakers pretty much ends that streak immediately. Let’s say you’re right and everything goes as planned and the Lakers get Lebron and PG, fill out their roster, and the young guys all show tangible improvement. Do you really think that’s all it’ll take to beat the Warriors who have been playing together for over 2 years now, some of them even longer? Do you know how hard it is to win a championship with a newly built team in the first year? Lebron can tell you first hand, it’s no simple task. Let’s not forget in 2011 when Lebron and the newly formed Big 3 in Miami lost to a Dallas Mavericks team that did not even compare talent-wise. Championships require chemistry and compatibility, along with star power and talent. Not by teams whose (most likely) top two scorers were acquired in the prior offseason.

Good Cop: Well, that’s why we love sports right? The unexpected can always happen.

Bad Cop: Which may be true. However, the NBA Playoffs are all seven-game series. The unexpected has to happen four times against arguably the greatest team the NBA has ever seen. I don’t see that happening. Just like I don’t see Lebron in a Lakers jersey next season. So sit tight, and enjoy your young core, because it’s going to be a long road to the top.

Good Cop: Lebron James will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. It is happening.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers Ultimate Guide to 2018 Offseason

Bad Cop: Lebron James will not sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason. It is not happening.