Yep. IF LeBron is leaving Miami, and now I think it is more likely than less, the competition is Houston, Lakers, Cleveland, Dallas, Chicago. Any others?
I like the look of that. After playing with an old and breaking down Wade, LeBron is smart enough to realize the prospects of playing with now injury prone Kobe or Dirk. Houston can get him, but will have to get help from some other team to do it. Chicago is going hard after Melo and cannot do both.
Sweet. The amazing thing is that we could sign LeBron and still have enough room next summer to sign another max or near max player.
I'd definitely say we're in the mix, and maybe even the favorites. I know, homer bias, but we do have arguably the most to offer, and even if we were 2nd or 3rd, we are in the mix.
The thing is, many of the teams you've listed are making their own moves and sucking up their cap space. Their impatience might ruin their chances to get Lebron.
Will Cleveland have the money? My guess is only if Utah matches, which is likely. If they get Heywood for the max, without crunching the numbers, and knowing that only us and the Lakers could afford two max players, my thought is no, Cleveland wouldn't be in the mix, unless Lebron accepts a non max offer, which he's said he won't.
Lakers? No way. That team is not getting Lebron. Jerry Buss is dead and Jerry West isn't there, and Gasol wants to leave, and he isn't the only Laker likely to leave for greener pastures. Everything points to no. He's not going to sign onto one of the worst teams in the league, if not the worst (upcoming season) simply because of the legacy. The Lakers right now look like they're going to be worse then last year, unless Kobe can average 25-30 points a game for 75+ games.
Houston? Doubt it/depends. They are going after Melo. If they get Melo, they will need to make other moves, which is possible, but unlikely to happen quickly. Also talk of them signing Lowry.
Dallas? Doubt it. Cuban has said he won't be giving out a max contract, and they too are courting Melo. They also are older, but shouldn't be completely discounted.
Chicago? Possible, but they are courting Melo and don't have room for both.
I would have said GS early on as an intriguing possibility, but they haven't made any trades to clear space, haven't gotten Love, and only had an exception they used on Livingston. They have zero flexibility besides trades and it'll be that way for years. Plus they keep saying they don't want to get rid of Klay which will limit their trade options.
Perhaps there is someone else, but I don't see it. I don't see Lebron going to the Knicks if Melo leaves, and even if he stays, I don't see it as likely. Phil Jackson was a great coach. Front office? He might just be a regular Joe. He sure doesn't have ultimate power as ownership showed right after Phil signed on the dotted line.
If you ask me, it's probably between US and Chicago or Houston depending on whoever doesn't sign Melo.
We still are the only ones who don't have to make a move between them, and have much more flexibility then either.
Indeed what Gambo said about how our plan WAS planned to be, and how Sarver changed that to now being patient and waiting for Lebron AFTER their contact with Lebron's agent, may indeed be good news.
Still way too early, but other teams aren't waiting, and each one that doesn't wait by adding a guy, takes them further out of the mix and gives us a better shot to land him. Each guy they or someone else signs, is another guy Miami can't improve with either.
Here's a link to cap space. I don't know how recent it is, but it's pretty recent since it has the Heat with the most indicating it was formulated after the Heat opt-outs.
http://www.spotrac.com/cap-tracker/nba/2014/
Looking at this, Lebron could choose the 76ers, Jazz, Magic, and Pistons. But I don't think anyone expects any of those teams to be legitimately in the mix.
