Letters to Sports: LeBron James and Darvin Ham in the Middle of the Lakers Chaos

Is it possible to love the Lakers but wish that LeBron would take his tired performance elsewhere? It's so tiring watching LeBron blame someone else for the team's failure. Being unhappy with every coach the Lakers have had. Running around the field and cursing at the referees the entire game because they either called a foul on him or didn't punish an alleged foul against him. And use the leverage to bring in hand-picked teammates (Russell Westbrook) who get along well with other teams, just not his.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to fund his talent to keep the Lakers successful, especially when they aren't.

Bob Goldstone

Corona del Mar

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LeBron, please leave. Take your “It's all about me” somewhere else. Stop holding Los Angeles hostage to your oversized ego and let's have our Lakers back.

Kip Dellinger

Santa Monica

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I understand why Darvin Ham and the coaches were fired by the Lakers. What I can't understand is why general manager Rob Pelinka, who kept Talen Horton-Tucker and let Alex Caruso go and who traded Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for Russell Westbrook, didn't do this.

Richard Raffalov

Valley Glen

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Darvin Ham was never the problem. It was never his team; It was LeBron James' team. The problem is the owners. Just like the Angels, the Lakers are paralyzed (pun intended) because the owners have no idea what they are doing. Arte Moreno and Jeanie Buss need to sell their teams to owners who have proven knowledge of what it takes to win championships now. In the case of the Lakers, it is no longer due to the previous genius of Jerry Buss, but rather the current incompetence of his offspring.

Tom Stapleton

Glendale

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My father introduced me to the Lakers as a child in 1968-69 and since then I have attended as many games as possible. Fast forward: Granted, LeBron is an incredible basketball player and does special things in the community, no question. However, watching and displaying his immature antics over the years when he disagrees with a request is disgusting, embarrassing and a bad act for a leader. If the Lakers give this guy the max contract extension, I don't care about playing all the games, and if the Lakers sign his son, I'll be gone until they're gone.

I'm sorry, Dr. Buss, Kobe, Chick and all the true Lakers greats.

Paul D. Ventura

Mission Viejo

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It's the little things that win championships: making free throws, limiting the opponent's second chance points, boxing out, limiting turnovers, hitting long balls, making shots in the decisive minute. The Nuggets did all of those things. The Lakers didn't. Season over.

Dave Ring

Manhattan Beach

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Okay, I'm used to getting results a day late, but is there a reason why the Times had three Lakers stories in Wednesday's paper but nothing about what happened in their Game 5 loss on Monday night?

In a game in which neither team led by more than two points in the final nine minutes, there was nothing about two big offensive rebounds by Denver in the final two minutes, nothing about Jamal Murray recovering would burn one day?

Seriously, how many times do we have to read that LeBron hasn't decided yet whether he'll be paid $51 million next season?

Steve Horn

Glendale

Read the memo

Memo to Clippers owner Steve Ballmer:

1–LeBron wants his coach to be Ty Lue.

2–LeBron loves living in LA

3–LeBron's family wants to live in LA

4–LeBron wants to win another NBA championship, which he can't do with the Lakers.

Solution: The Clippers should sign LeBron and Ty Lue to long-term contracts.

Additionally, the Clippers should use a second-round draft pick to select Bronny.

LeBron and Leonard and the rest of the Clippers will win an NBA title in 2025.

Harley Frankel

Santa Monica

Extra, extra! No

Given the Dodgers' record in extra-inning games over the past few years, I make the following recommendation. If the score is tied after nine innings, the game is forfeited and play continues. The extra remainder would be more advantageous than the slim chance that they could win.

Mike Schaller

Temple city

Office renovation

The two Stanley Cup championship teams are in the rearview mirror. Kings fans have now gone through a lengthy rebuild and we have been left with a team that, if they manage to make the playoffs, will not survive the first round. Being a great player does not mean being an effective manager or talent evaluator. Luc Robitaille and Rob Blake were great players, but despite having plenty of time, they didn't put together a competitive team. It is time for a change. Does anyone know what Dean Lombardi is doing these days?

Jeff Davine

West Hills

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The Kings' playoff failure was certainly the third blow for GM Rob Blake and President Luc Robataille. Their trade for Pierre-Luc DuBois was a disaster, as he looked more like the Invisible Man than the dynamic rising star they were hoping for. It's time to change guard and chart a new course for the future.

Mike Gamboa

Buena Park

What the halo?

Every year I write a letter to the Times when the Angels are eliminated from the playoffs. This year it's early. The curse of Rex Hudler lives on! The Angels haven't won a playoff game since the Angels kicked out their popular announcer. Arte, you fired the wrong guy. You should have turned yourself in.

Scott Bryant

Pahrump, Nevada.

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Mike Trout's season may not be over yet, but his time with the Angels should be. The Angels should trade him to the Phillies, a team that would welcome him and is close to where he was born. You should do this for a bunch of agricultural interests.

I wish they could do the same with Anthony Rendon, but no one would want him.

Jack Wishard

Los Angeles

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From 2021 through the end of this season, the Angels will have paid Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout a combined $281 million. This has to be one of the worst returns on investment in baseball history. And Angels fans thought the Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols deals were bad.

Bob Kargenian

Yorba Linda

Ink stain

New Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh fulfilled his promise to get a “15-0” tattoo on his arm if Michigan won last season. I guess “3 years probation for employment violations” wouldn’t fit.

Steve Ross

Carmel

Spring has begun

Just another spring in Southern California (sigh)…

The Oilers eliminate the Kings.

Nuggets eliminate the Lakers.

Angels well under .500.

Dodgers win the NL West.

Nick Rose

Newport coast

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The Los Angeles Times welcomes all expressions of opinion. Letters should be short and should become the property of The Times. They can be edited and republished in any format. Each must contain a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms are not used.

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This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.