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Los Angeles Lakers: Imagining Bill Simmons’ star-studded starting lineup

By Gil Alcaraz IV

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 20: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after making a shot against the Utah Jazz at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 20, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MARCH 20: Paul George #13 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after making a shot against the Utah Jazz at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on March 20, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images /

Bill Simmons believes the Los Angeles Lakers could land LeBron James, Paul George, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins during 2018 free agency. Seems rather crazy, but let’s imagine what it would look like.

Maybe it was some sort of satire, but Bill Simmons recently posited that the Los Angeles Lakers could haul in an unprecedented amount of talent during 2018 NBA free agency. It would make the Miami Heat’s super-team creation of 2010 look like child’s play.

On his latest podcast (via The Ringer), Simmons claimed that he believes LeBron James, Paul George, John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins could all sign with the Lakers in 2018. Now it seemed rather ambitious at first, and it still does. However, Simmons did lay out a somewhat feasible plan to make it work financially.

"“Maybe like $96 million [in space] for the four guys,” Simmons says. “LeBron takes less. LeBron takes $20 because they secretly promise him 2 percent of the team after he retires. He’ll make up the money. $20 million, so he leaves, let’s say, $75 million for the other three. They split it up, $25 million a piece.”"

Depending on the 2018-19 salary cap, that’ll leave almost no room for supplemental talent. I’d guess they retain at least a couple of their top prospects, although Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle would need to go. Luol Deng‘s contract would also need to be moved. They could then fill out the bench with minimum deals for aging ring chasers. Either way, they’d be looking at some significant luxury taxes.

In most situations, this would be waved off as another ridiculous hypothetical. And yet, it’s hard to write off Simmons, whose opinion does carry some weight in the NBA. The argument he makes for LeBron taking his talents to Los Angeles also makes a lot of sense. I’m just not sure if the Lakers would be willing to gut their roster to get the job done.

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Regardless, let’s dive a little deeper into what that starting five would look like. I’m sure you can guess that it would look pretty absurd from a talent standpoint. Can you say dynasty?

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