Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington react to the Minnesota Timberwolves eliminating the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. The two debate whether it’s time for LeBron James to retire and discuss what changes the Lakers need to make in the offseason to become a true championship-caliber team.
Rob Parker:
"All these analysts that had them going to the Finals now use the term, 'Oh, we’ve got a flawed roster, and this didn’t go right'—all the excuses. Disgraceful. Do not let the Lakers off the hook. Do not let all of these talking heads, radio loudmouths, all these people that were beating the drum... They all picked the Lakers, and now, of course, the Lakers have a flawed roster, and that’s how they save face and protect LeBron James!"
Kelvin Washington:
"He (LeBron James) doesn’t have to retire. What he has to do is acknowledge that he can no longer be the best player. And to be on a championship-caliber team, he can’t even be the second-best player—that’s just not a reality. You can’t depend on him at this point. If you’re Rob Pelinka, you can’t pair a 40-something-year-old who can’t defend like he used to with a guy like Luka, who also can’t defend!"