Anthony Davis (2nd Team), LeBron James (3rd Team) Earn All-NBA Honors. Good Sign for Lakers' Future?

The Lakers and their two stars got some good news Wednesday, when the league announced its All-NBA squads for the season. LA was represented by Anthony Davis (2nd Team) and LeBron James (3rd Team). Not super surprising, but still a nice honor for two very worthy players. (You could argue, too, that LeBron deserved Kawhi Leonard's spot on the 2nd Team, were you the type of person who likes these sorts of arguments.)
The question, though, becomes how these performances reflect on the team's larger goals.
On the one hand, the Lakers are going nowhere if those two guys can't perform at an elite level. And this year, they did, and (health aside) there's no reason to expect a big drop off from either guy next season. On the other hand, they had about as healthy a run from both Davis and James that could be reasonably expected, but the Lakers still couldn't manage to get out of the first round. So is the window open a little wider than thought? Shutting faster?
Probably depends on the work Rob Pelinka does this summer. And, to be completely honest, a degree of luck as well. With matchups, with health (for the Lakers and their rivals) and about 500 other things.
Finally, we dip into the mailbag to talk about D'Angelo Russell, the Everlasting Gobstopper of players spending time on the block.
HOSTS: Andy and Brian Kamenetzky
SEGMENT 1: AD and LBJ to the All NBA teams. SEGMENT 2: Are you encouraged or discouraged by the news of the day? SEGMENT 3: The Lakers, again, have a D'Lo Dilemma.
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#Lakers #LosAngelesLakers #LebronJames #AnthonyDavis #NBA

[@PatchesNeddy]

Finally AD is getting some respect after being shit on for the last 2 years! I know, injuries, but he was passed over for All-Star selection in 2023 when he certainly deserved a spot.

[@HandsomePete-xp2sr]

Well said. I agree 💯

[@BCE-111]

Kawhi Leonard over LeBron James? 23.7 PPG vs 25.7 PPG, 6.1 RPG vs 7.3 RPG, 3.6 APG vs 8.3 APG. Plus LBJ played 3 more games. And LBJ was actually better overall than KD. Give the man some respect!

[@hilriekemp]

No Lebron wasn't better than either of those guy's and he's playing alongside a better player than both of them and has a better team. He's just not good enough especially defensively, stats don't translate towards winning just look at Trae Young

[@visibleangle7147]

We know it bro. Crazy isn’t it? Deym! At 39. He the goat no bias

[@cannafarmer]

​@@hilriekemp they both had better teams, just stop it

[@irabonta1874]

💯

[@tristanhuff706]

They didn’t want to put Lebron in second team and curry on 3rd that’s what it looks like

[@benjaminpadilla4857]

20 all NBA for LeBron nobody is gonna beat that .

[@socioisbackapparently661]

Ty for reading my comment 😂. Didnt put into account a 3 yr contract signed by dlo is more tradeable than his last 1+1 becoz of teams not knowing what his move would be. 3 yr 45M, 15/yr or even more = to his current contract can be valuable as a trade chip

[@jolli4116]

AD should be the league MVP.

[@loreds5]

If Pelinka decides to hire JJ and goes south they both get fired, and if it works out, great. Win win outcome imo

[@MrExBearPoker]

I'm not looking at LBJ or AD bottom line. What I'm looking at is what Palinka hasn't done. Yes I'm concerned with his obvious obsession with point guards. Remember Westbrook is actually a point guard. He came out of college he was used at shooting guard. When he got to the pros, the coach at the time moved him to point guard because of his speed and size. Palinka right now is more focused on another point guard instead of addressing the weakness in the middle. They loss in the middle. So much is invested in the middle that everyone else is free to move how they want. The Micheal Porter Jrs and the other dude Aaron Gordon. And they were less going in the next round because that team didn't have to focus all the energy in the middle. The center is the weakest link. You don't address this and we won't move forward.

[@RayBlack-rw4ih]

Do you think it will be a seller's market this summer? If so, why would the Lakers try to make a major trade? Why not look for smaller, rebalancing trades?

[@dmac93065]

As both a Lakers and LeBron fan, I don't want LeBron to come back to LA unless it's to take an MLE to play for the Clippers. Reason being, he's going to cost too much to allow the Lakers enough cap flexibility to build a competitive roster. That said even if LeBron took a pay cut Jeanie and Pelinka have repeatedly proven they don't have sufficient competency to make good roster decisions. LeBron wants to get paid, and Jeanie wants to capitalize on the LeBron brand so they're going to do business together. It's just going to be bad for fans. I don't want to see my GOAT play his last season or two for a fan base that hates him. I also don't want my Lakers bogged down by a bad contract for an old player who can no longer impact wins and losses as much as a player should to be worthy of a max deal.

[@taylormadevibe]

Yup.

[@RayBlack-rw4ih]

I share Brian's concern about Lebron and AD. I think about how AR was at the beginning of the season after he had played on Team USA. He is young, so what will Lebron and AD be after this year's summer olympics.

[@socioisbackapparently661]

Btw I prefer dlo staying too or opting in and trading him for a player with a much needed skill set or as salary matching w/ other contracts for a star but him walking isnt really "losing him for nothing" because you get a full non tax payer mle, at least its something. Love your show btw

[@2LeBron3]

i hope Lakers consider Rajon Rondo as there next Head Coach.. His basketball IQ & championship experience can help a lot for the lakers.. Rondo already played with AD & Lebron and he knows how he can maximize both of them to be more effective.. I prefer him rather than JJ.. If they can get both of them as part of coaching staff that will be great..

[@clive7394]

I want both of them.

[@2LeBron3]

@@clive7394 i agree 100%..

[@deeson27]

He going to jail bro. Unfortunately

[@2LeBron3]

@@deeson27Hahahaha 🤣🤣🤣

[@cannafarmer]

Nba players are wayyyy overpaid, too many expensive guys who are not great

[@buckisz]

The market says different. Worry about what you get paid and quit pocket watching.

[@chirocket4791]

The Lakers and Suns both had 2 players make all nba, yet both out in the first rd exit. The rest of the roster matters.

[@robertwilliams-np6wb]

Reaves hater D Ham is gone. Reaves will be an All-Star next year. Hopefully as a Laker.

[@waideclarke]

What about hiring darvin ham, letting good players walk, over paying for players that are not good, not hiring the wrong coach, dont want to trade to get good players

[@melvino.mercado5795]

LAKERS NEED KAI SOTTO AS THEIR MAIN CENTER TO CREATE TRIO AD,LEBRON,KAI SOTTO THIS THE BEST LINEUP THEY WILL GET..

[@ryedye335]

These guys hate on lebron 24/7

[@buckisz]

You picked wrong Lebron was better than Kawhi and Durant. At 40 or 39 doing it for 21 years. Y'all are down low haters. But it's to be expected.

[@jenisia3600]

Lmao, leonard 2nd team when he barely played, and when he played (Flippers actually were stacked compared to Lakers) Bron put him in jail.

[@waideclarke]

Why they keep talking about westbrook. Didnt they make there conference final. Whats the excuse for last year. The front office making dumb moves thats the problem

[@gregpollard7158]

We need to move on a Coach - The Cavs just fired Their Coach.

[@jamesm4047]

These guys officially don’t like Lebron no ifs and or buts! I listen to you guys sneak diss Lebron all season and now y’all going to tell me a guy (kawhi) who avg less points, assist, and rebs deserves to be over Lebron

[@hieroglyphy6181]

I thought the exact same thing, 100%. Kawhi was only marginally better defensively than LeBron (if that). The stats say no. Eye test tells me he was a little better. That was a cop out. Overall LeBron had a better season. Both by statistics and advanced numbers. The only reason I can see placing Kawhi over him is because Kawhi was the #1 option on his team (with a better record to boot), whereas LeBron was a #2.

[@deddiev1718]

Lebron made himself the number one option. Your delusional

[@robertvalencia7721]

They said you could make the argument that LeBron could replace Kawhi on the second all team. LeBron gets enough flowers. It’s about the organization now, time to separate fan boy views.

[@jamesm4047]

@@hieroglyphy6181 great points! I’m think people give kawhi more credit than he deserves defensively due to his history/reputation. I think Bron & AD both were the number 1 option it just depended on the game. But the unquestioned leader was Lebron no matter what game.

[@jamesm4047]

@@deddiev1718 I think AD & Bron both were the number 1 option, it just depends on the game. Because Lebron has the ball in his hands more I guess you can say Bron may have been number 1 but both those guys were number 1 options in my opinion

[@MrExBearPoker]

Injuries wasn't the true problem for the Lakers. It was coaching. And the second mistake they made, actually Palinka, was not getting a big body center to put on Jokic. Because you get pass Denver and now look. Putting Rui on Jokic is the dumbest 💩 I ever saw. But he had no choice because Davis does not like to play physical. And Austin need stop playing scared when Denver shows up. All them for that matter. They were playing Denver like That's they Daddy lol

[@MrExBearPoker]

My only concern with any of the 2 is LeBron's defense. You get 28 points but your defense allows teams to go on runs, build momentum because of your lack of defense. We may just have to put him in the D Lo category. Only thing he fools us with scoring 28 points 🤣 Because your like,"Well he scored 28 points so I'll forgive the horrid defense. I don't have to go into details, even his most valuable stan knows what it is 🤣🤣

[@adh2298]

2024 DEFENSIVE RATINGS: Brunson: 287 of 572 (bottom 49%) Giannis: 311 of 572 (bottom 46%) KD: 316 of 572 (bottom 45%) Booker: 323 of 572 (bottom 44%) Lebron: 327 of 572 (bottom 42%) Luka: 336 of 572 (bottom 41%) AD: 350 of 572 (bottom 39%) Steph: 390 of 572 (bottom 32%) Sabonis: 415 of 572 (bottom 27%) Haliburton: 460 of 572 (bottom 20%) Funny how 10 of the 15 All NBA players are ranked in the bottom half of the league in defensive rating yet u only single out Lebron. 🤦🏾‍♂️ Mind u, 5 of those players have worse defensive ratings than he does. How about u actually do some research before u start typing retarded statements 🤡

[@taylormadevibe]

More concern than the team build, awful shooting , or bad coaching ? Plz… this is ridiculous. If he goes to a competent franchise we will watch him win a title or make a run. Only reason lakers are in a lot of the games they are in bc of his 4th qtr scoring which he was best in the league at this year.

[@aduasamuel929]

Your argument is stupid. I'm that case, Luka,SGA, and Jokic should not be in the All NBA First Team. Why? Because they don't play defense. What a stupid and inconsistent argument.

[@Musiq_lifestyle]

AD is also the only player this season to be an Allstar, All-NBA, and All Defense. Says a lot about the league 😬

[@belindatrawick9321]

Shouuda coulda woulda

[@aduasamuel929]

The Lakers need to make LeBron their 3rd option player by getting another player that can average 23-26 points a season. In this case, we're 100% certain LeBron will give you an average or 20-25 points a season on average.

[@buckisz]

You don't make a productive player named Lebron a third option. Stop the cap.

[@waideclarke]

Get rid of these bums, stop being infatuated with these role players that are not that good

[@taylormadevibe]

LBJ robbed of 2nd team but him with somethin to prove is never a bad thing. But really? Does Luka ever play defense? No. Does Jokic? No. He’s 40 yrs old ffs and had better everything than Kawhi. But it’s lbj so we AIWAYS judge differently. These guys really wanting LBJ to be chasing heads around the court. Way too many Laker fans are gonna get exactly what they deserve if dude leaves. Kinda hope he does bc the disrespect he gets is crazy by us Laker fans.

[@ronaldoalbano1270]

all nba PITY team thats what ad and lebron received... LeHollywood media power at it again as always 🤣🤣🤣

[@ssnsocalfan]

Are LeBron and Kawhi top 15 players in the league right now?

[@DaReaperGang]

Duh

[@hilriekemp]

What position does Lebron James play? Because he doesn't guard 1,2,3 and 5 and when he is guarding a 4 he's constantly getting beat most possessions or he's playing this weird one man zone leaving his man wide open on the perimeter. And when he is guarding a player outside of the 4 spot it's always the worst offensive player on the floor. Scratch that not the worst offensive player the worst 3pt shooter. he'll give them space and then you'll end up with a 33% shooter making 39/40% against Lebron along teams to catch up or pull ahead. And the amount of defensive responsibility his teammates have to pick up just to cocmver for him is ridiculous. Then he wants to play position less which ends up hurting everyone else around him. He's not worth the hassle it's why he looked so mid in the allstar game because guy's weren't going to sacrifice their game's just so he could be effective and look good. Like the Lakers do every night for him smh. And if we pay him 50 mil a year and trade those picks and depth idc who we get this team is done for the next 6 year's. It took Kobe's passing, an act of God and 3 months off for the Lakers to win a championship. Why is there any hope they can emulate that again especially when there's never any roster continuity. This thing has been dying a long time ago and now it's on life support just sucking up extra resources. There's no endgame or sunrise on the horizon especially if Lebron's still hear trying to cling on to his glory years

[@waideclarke]

Nobody cares if you write a story

[@visibleangle7147]

So your MJs paid fan? So you’re retarded so your message doesn’t count. Bye paid motherfucker! 😂😂😂😂😂 mj’s soooo scared! Damn haha

[@edwardjr3231]

LeBron be having y'all boys writing novels 🤦😂😂😂

[@buckisz]

Is that what you see? He is 40. The Lakers need to have better role players. Those guards just wasn't good enough. And coaching was a detriment.

[@firas.alhamdani]

Finally, someone who has a functioning brain and makes good use of his senses.

[@pinoykayaker]

If LBJ is 3rd team, he should take a paycut. 😂

[@adh2298]

Why?

[@pinoykayaker]

@@adh2298 to help his team to navigate the salary cap. This won't happen of course.