For years, the “secret” formula to being successful with LeBron James on your team was to surround him with capable shooters. The Miami Heat did it with Mike Miller and Ray Allen. The Cavaliers did it in their second stint with James, adding Kevin Love and Kyle Korver amongst others. The Lakers attempted to buck this trend by giving LeBron playmakers instead of shooters. The thought process being that playmakers would be able to create enough shooting opportunities that eventually enough shots will fall. LeBron desperately asked for playmakers when his Cavaliers were flubbing their way through another trip to the Finals.
That…did not work. Evident by the fact the Lakers are going to miss the playoffs and slip deeper into the lottery than they thought. The moves for guys like Rajon Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were always considered puzzling. But after a season of watching the experiment play out, LeBron has his final verdict on it via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin: a fart noise.
Los Angeles attempted to bandage together some shooting at the trade deadline with deals for Reggie Bullock and a swap of Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley for Mike Muscala. On a side note in his short stint with the Lakers, Muscala is shooting 20.8% on three-pointers. Bullock is shooting 31.4% on threes in the purple and gold.
It was reported earlier in the NBA season that Magic Johnson pitched the Lakers signings of Rondo and Stephenson to James with no rebuttal. That sentiment clearly as changed as the NBA Playoffs will be without Lebron James for the first time since the 2004-2005 season.
