NBA Free Agency

[jterrell]

Yes, they could. They could afford LeBron on a max deal next year even after giving Carmelo the hometown max deal.

I've said all along LeBron opting out was about forcing the Heat to make a decision on Dwyane Wade. He cannot win with Wade anymore. By opting out, he forces them to basically choose whether they want him and Bosh (and some other nice pieces like McRoberts, who just signed), or if they want Wade, because if LeBron doesn't stay in Miami, Chris Bosh is a Houston Rocket.

As stated above they "could" give LeBron a max offer while paying 'Melo but not without other moves that emptied the roster.
(presumably they will use the MLE this year on someone and that has to run for more than one season).

The Heat just signed two complete spares. Granger got the binannual exception as a guy who played next to 0 meaningful minutes in the past two years.
His knees and health are worse than DWades.
McBob is basically a spare. He averaged 8.5 and 4.8 last year at 27. That's fairly terrible.
Granger was at 8 points and shot terribly.
He was a complete non-factor in the playoffs.

The Heat certainly aren't making moves good enough to lure LeBron back based on that nonsense.
That team with Wade, Bosh and LeBron isn't elite. More of an also-ran unless Napier is some otherworldy rookie.

The Heat offered Bosh below max deals and his agent got right on the phone with other teams....
I think that signaled the end of the Big 3 era.

 

[casmith07]

As stated above they "could" give LeBron a max offer while paying 'Melo but not without other moves that emptied the roster.
(presumably they will use the MLE this year on someone and that has to run for more than one season).

The Heat just signed two complete spares. Granger got the binannual exception as a guy who played next to 0 meaningful minutes in the past two years.
His knees and health are worse than DWades.
McBob is basically a spare. He averaged 8.5 and 4.8 last year at 27. That's fairly terrible.
Granger was at 8 points and shot terribly.
He was a complete non-factor in the playoffs.

The Heat certainly aren't making moves good enough to lure LeBron back based on that nonsense.
That team with Wade, Bosh and LeBron isn't elite. More of an also-ran unless Napier is some otherworldy rookie.

The Heat offered Bosh below max deals and his agent got right on the phone with other teams....
I think that signaled the end of the Big 3 era.

As well it should. Dwyane Wade is done.

I still think LeBron stays until 2016.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Lakers can't make that trade you suggest because they already traded firsts to PHX to get Nash orignally.
They can't move any firsts out until about 2018 LOL.
You can not trade consecutive firsts.

Just looked it up.....2019 is the earliest they can trade

 

[jterrell]

As well it should. Dwyane Wade is done.

I still think LeBron stays until 2016.

I know it is very possible for LeBron to return to Miami but it makes very little sense given where DWade is and the Heat roster is overall.
Bosh and LeBron both want raises not pay cuts. Miami has very little cash to play with. Assuming DWade will take 10m a year and just forfeited twice that, they'd still be in dire straits for adding talent.

If LeBron chooses CLE it is very likely they end up with a far better roster this year, much less next or in 2016.
They are loaded with high potential former top overall picks.
Kyrie Irving has grown into a top flight guard to handle the ball and allow LeBron some measure of rest.
They could easily get Kevin Love as they have the types of assets Minny wants.

The narrative at the end of this year was one of failure for Miami. Getting tot he finals was an abject failure....
Why would Bron sign back up for that?
In CLE if he takes them to the Finals it is all about the return of the King and then tweaking that group to win it all.

 

[casmith07]

I know it is very possible for LeBron to return to Miami but it makes very little sense given where DWade is and the Heat roster is overall.
Bosh and LeBron both want raises not pay cuts. Miami has very little cash to play with. Assuming DWade will take 10m a year and just forfeited twice that, they'd still be in dire straits for adding talent.

If LeBron chooses CLE it is very likely they end up with a far better roster this year, much less next or in 2016.
They are loaded with high potential former top overall picks.
Kyrie Irving has grown into a top flight guard to handle the ball and allow LeBron some measure of rest.
They could easily get Kevin Love as they have the types of assets Minny wants.

The narrative at the end of this year was one of failure for Miami. Getting tot he finals was an abject failure....
Why would Bron sign back up for that?
In CLE if he takes them to the Finals it is all about the return of the King and then tweaking that group to win it all.

That Cleveland team is not beating the Wizards in a 7 game series in the playoffs. I don't buy it.

And that Cleveland team can't hold a candle to almost every team to make the playoffs out of the West this year, seeds 1 to 8. Portland, LAC, Dallas, Spurs, even Phoenix would give them serious trouble.

 

[jterrell]

That Cleveland team is not beating the Wizards in a 7 game series in the playoffs. I don't buy it.

And that Cleveland team can't hold a candle to almost every team to make the playoffs out of the West this year, seeds 1 to 8. Portland, LAC, Dallas, Spurs, even Phoenix would give them serious trouble.

No idea what that CLE team would look like.
Lots of space beyond LeBron max still and then a couple exceptions.
Tons of tradable assets as well.
CLE has crazy assets to build with.
And LeBron is a draw so once the big free agents are done guys chase LeBron on cheaper deals.

I would easily grade:
Irving
Dion Waiters
Bron
Kevin Love
Varacao/Zeller

better than the Wizards minus (as looks likely) Ariza.

But again that's almost certainly one or two starters short of what they'd have.
They'd remake from a young, building team to one shooting for a title and the roster would reflect that.

 

[Doc50]

One year deals are VERY risky. Especially when you are gambling with 20m a year for 3 or 4 additional seasons.

guaranteed money is very real.

Will be interesting to see what happens. Once Carmelo and LeBron announce the brakes will come off free agency.

I believe Carmelo stays in NY. He's clearly not worried about winning if it means making less money.
That's his right but it also should make him worth LESS money, LOL.
The fact he even met with the Lakers suggests he cares less about winning.

LeBron, I think, ends up in Cleveland.
I feel like he wants to go home and is in a very different place mentally than most other superstars.
He isn't trying to make movies or collect "side chicks".
He's actively raising kids who also play basketball and already spends summers in Ohio.
Cleveland has the young assets to acquire veteran help if he needs it to win. But it has enough young talent to win for a long-time as well.

The Lakers made horrible moves with Kobe and Nash.
They need a full on rebuild and any star signing up for that is probably in Chris Kaman semi-retirement mode.

Makes good sense, JT.

 

[jterrell]

No idea what that CLE team would look like.
Lots of space beyond LeBron max still and then a couple exceptions.
Tons of tradable assets as well.
CLE has crazy assets to build with.
And LeBron is a draw so once the big free agents are done guys chase LeBron on cheaper deals.

I would easily grade:
Irving
Dion Waiters
Bron
Kevin Love
Varacao/Zeller

better than the Wizards minus (as looks likely) Ariza.

But again that's almost certainly one or two starters short of what they'd have.
They'd remake from a young, building team to one shooting for a title and the roster would reflect that.

note i am assuming wiggins and jarrett jack are gone in the above as part of asset gathering and money grab to present LeBron the max.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

That Cleveland team is not beating the Wizards in a 7 game series in the playoffs. I don't buy it.

And that Cleveland team can't hold a candle to almost every team to make the playoffs out of the West this year, seeds 1 to 8. Portland, LAC, Dallas, Spurs, even Phoenix would give them serious trouble.

Lebron on most teams in the East, wins the East, Cleveland included

 

[casmith07]

note i am assuming wiggins and jarrett jack are gone in the above as part of asset gathering and money grab to present LeBron the max.

I think the shedding of assets to get LeBron to the max would be too much of a heavy loss across that roster for them to sustain long term success.

And there is no way in the world I'm taking another point guard in the East right now over John Wall. And certainly not another backcourt than Washington's, at this current juncture. They are the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference by far.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I think the shedding of assets to get LeBron to the max would be too much of a heavy loss across that roster for them to sustain long term success.

And there is no way in the world I'm taking another point guard in the East right now over John Wall. And certainly not another backcourt than Washington's, at this current juncture. They are the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference by far.

John Wall + Bradley Beal may be better than Kyrie Irving + Andrew Wiggins, but the problem is Lebron James plus the rest of Cleveland's spares is better than Otto Porter, Nene and Marcin Gortat

 

[casmith07]

John Wall + Bradley Beal may be better than Kyrie Irving + Andrew Wiggins, but the problem is Lebron James plus the rest of Cleveland's spares is better than Otto Porter, Nene and Marcin Gortat

I disagree on Marcin Gortat. He's a double-double machine and is hitting his stride. I am confident that Trevor Ariza can do a decent enough job on LeBron James that the rest of the Washington cast can do a good job handling business defensively, especially as they continue to grow and mature together.

I think Otto Porter is kind of a crapshoot, though. We haven't seen anything from the guy at all.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

I disagree on Marcin Gortat. He's a double-double machine and is hitting his stride. I am confident that Trevor Ariza can do a decent enough job on LeBron James that the rest of the Washington cast can do a good job handling business defensively, especially as they continue to grow and mature together.

I think Otto Porter is kind of a crapshoot, though. We haven't seen anything from the guy at all.

I'd be very surprised if Ariza resigns and I also think it would be a bad decision to resign him. Gortat is a very good center, but again, I'd take Lebron James+Tristan Thompson+Anderson Verajao over the Wizards front court, mainly off the strength of Lebron James

 

[casmith07]

I'd be very surprised if Ariza resigns and I also think it would be a bad decision to resign him. Gortat is a very good center, but again, I'd take Lebron James+Tristan Thompson+Anderson Verajao over the Wizards front court, mainly off the strength of Lebron James

Varejao!? Come on man!

I hope Ariza doesn't re-sign. (I'm a Wizards fan lol). We need to develop Porter and Glen Rice, Jr. and look to clear space for 2016 to make a run at Kevin Durant -- which would mean parting ways with Nene. And I'm 100% okay with that. Dude can't stay healthy.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Varejao!? Come on man!

I hope Ariza doesn't re-sign. (I'm a Wizards fan lol). We need to develop Porter and Glen Rice, Jr. and look to clear space for 2016 to make a run at Kevin Durant -- which would mean parting ways with Nene. And I'm 100% okay with that. Dude can't stay healthy.

Yea, I live in the DC area and like to see the wizards do well, but they should let Ariza go. But the wizards front court isn't elite, and just having Lebron James makes almost any front court elite, so even though Verajao and Thompson are spare parts, I'd take them if it meant having Lebron.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I think the shedding of assets to get LeBron to the max would be too much of a heavy loss across that roster for them to sustain long term success.

And there is no way in the world I'm taking another point guard in the East right now over John Wall. And certainly not another backcourt than Washington's, at this current juncture. They are the best backcourt in the Eastern Conference by far.

I agree Cas. This just in, Cleveland/Boston/Nets trade for Cavs cap space play:

Boston gets Nets Marcus Thornton and Cavs Tyler Zeller and a future 1st round pick from the Cavs.
Nets get Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev from the Cavs.
Cleveland gets cap space and a future 2nd round pick from either Boston or Brooklyn, depending.

Lots of very good young players just left the Cavs roster.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...eaded-brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics-part-trade

 

[casmith07]

I agree Cas. This just in, Cleveland/Boston/Nets trade for Cavs cap space play:

Boston gets Nets Marcus Thornton and Cavs Tyler Zeller and a future 1st round pick from the Cavs.
Nets get Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev from the Cavs.
Cleveland gets cap space and a future 2nd round pick from either Boston or Brooklyn, depending.

Lots of very good young players just left the Cavs roster.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...eaded-brooklyn-nets-boston-celtics-part-trade

And so you still don't get Kevin Love?

I just think Cleveland is delusional. If LeBron goes back to Cleveland, good for the fans, but I think I would stop rooting for him. After the way Dan Gilbert treated him in that letter for leaving as a free agent (he didn't opt out!) if I were LeBron I would never, ever play for that franchise again as long as Gilbert was the owner.

 

[Jenky]

And so you still don't get Kevin Love?

I just think Cleveland is delusional. If LeBron goes back to Cleveland, good for the fans, but I think I would stop rooting for him. After the way Dan Gilbert treated him in that letter for leaving as a free agent (he didn't opt out!) if I were LeBron I would never, ever play for that franchise again as long as Gilbert was the owner.

Similar thoughts, it would be awkward as ****. If there's any truth to it at all, he's just using Cleveland as leverage.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

And so you still don't get Kevin Love?

I just think Cleveland is delusional. If LeBron goes back to Cleveland, good for the fans, but I think I would stop rooting for him. After the way Dan Gilbert treated him in that letter for leaving as a free agent (he didn't opt out!) if I were LeBron I would never, ever play for that franchise again as long as Gilbert was the owner.

I love Kevin Love but I don't see any way he's a possibility for any of the teams mentioned. Love will end up back on the West Coast. He's pretty much already said that himself.

 

[casmith07]

I love Kevin Love but I don't see any way he's a possibility for any of the teams mentioned. Love will end up back on the West Coast. He's pretty much already said that himself.

The Lakers would be stupid not to be pursuing Kevin Love as their new building block.

I envisioned a scenario where Love and Kyrie joined forces in LA with LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony as the knew nucleus of a new Lakers team, but Jim and Mitch kind of dorked that up when they offered an injured, 35-year-old Kobe Bryant $40M over two years, haha.