Written by: Joe Ryan

Twitter: @joeywingspan

Twitter: @wingspansports (follow for all your Sports needs by clicking the @wingspansports handle given there) (we’ll follow back, you won’t regret it)

I am literally sweating right now. Maybe because it’s 95 degrees on Long Island or because LeBron James is going to the Los Angeles Lakers but this is mayhem.

I understand that this was probably a forgone conclusion after the season and into the offseason, but after Paul George went back to OKC, and no deal for Kawhi happened yet, I figured, no way LeBron was going to be the first domino to fall.

Well, I was wrong.

LeBron James is joining the Los Angeles Lakers and leaving his hometown of Cleveland for the second time. This time, he’s leaving after he accomplished his only goal when he returned; winning a title.

Now, it’s time for LeBron to carve out another piece of his legacy. Now it’s time for LeBron to put his family first instead of basketball, like he’s always have. This is a time for LeBron to show why he’s the greatest player to ever play the game.

The Lakers roster is young. They’re solid, but they’re young. When I first saw the news I had a few immediate reactions.

1. LeBron James is not going to his 9th straight finals.

2. The Eastern Conference is a joke.

3. The Lakers may not even be a top 4 seed… yet

Think about it, the Lakers can’t compete with the Warriors and Rockets yet. There is no way. The young players have never played on that stage yet. They’re still so young. It’s going to be a tough adjustment finishing the bottom of the West to trying to compete for a title. But with LeBron there, that’s the expectations.

But, now the next question comes in. Do the Lakers trade for Kawhi? They have room for one more max deal, I’m assuming the Lakers will try and get Demarcus Cousins. Then the question becomes, who can you get for less. Damian Lillard or Kawhi Leonard?

Sure, Leonard is a free agent at the end of the year but he’s already confirmed he wants to be a Laker and will resign with LA long term. That ups the asking prices. But if Portland is looking to rebuild, can they trade Lillard to the Lakers for less than what the Lakers would give up for Kawhi? It’s interesting to think. Do you want to trade everything for Kawhi or have a team of Lillard, LeBron and Cousins with still having Brandon Ingram and the core?

It makes you think

But now, the NBA free agency has started and the first and monumental domino had fallen.

Now, we wait and see what’s next.