Jared Dudley made a bold comparison when asked of the potential effect of Kawhi Leonard choosing to join the Los Angeles Lakers as his next destination.
Dudley, who just agreed to a one-year, $2.6 million deal to join LeBron James, Anthony Davis and the rest of the gang, told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski on The Woj Pod that Leonard's addition would be like the Miami Heat's Big Three, but on steroids.
Via Harrison Faigen of Silver Screen & Roll:
“It compares to the Heat, but a little bit more on steroids. And the reason why I say that is because you arguably have three of the top five best players. I think that Wade and ‘Bron were considered that, I think Bosh was a little bit (outside of that)… AD, a year ago you could’ve argued him as being a top two or three best player in the league. Kawhi Leonard this year, taking his team to winning a championship. LeBron, his accolades speak for themselves.”
Dudley then proceeded to explain the difference between the two scenarios:
“The difference with these other super teams and the way they’ve happened over the years is that Miami in a way was kind of cool, because it was three guys coming together in different situations. Even though they were hated early, then they were beloved. The Golden State superteam, that team was already a superteam, but they were a superteam organically, and then you add Kevin Durant, the cheat code on that one and then they became impossible.”
Dudley even explained why this potential superteam would be good for the league:
“If the Lakers get Kawhi, then yes, you’re right there, you have all the talent. But it’s different because I’m signed for the minimum. You’re going to have minimum guys, you’re going to have to have key veterans step up in big moments and it’s not just gonna be easy if you get someone like that. So I look at it as a possibility that I think is good for the league. When it comes to the revenue, you need the Lakers and Knicks good. Obviously the Knicks couldn’t get it done, and we’ll see what Kawhi decides, man, but it’s better for the league.”
Role players will always defend their situation, but Dudley knows very well, deep in, that Leonard joining the Lakers would put three of the NBA's best five or six players on one roster, which is something neither Golden State nor Miami could claim at any point of their respective coalitions.
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