James in Phoenix?

[Catlover]

Not a chance. Less than 5% seems generous.

 

[AfroSuns]

Yea....<5%
I agree with others that their opting out is an orchestrated move.
The well can be poisoned though, causing Heat's plans to backfire...

 

[slinslin]

Before the official start of free agency on July 1, Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Miami Heat had "the framework of deals in place" with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem to remain with the team.

"Everybody has their [contract] number and has left a little bit of room to let [Pat Riley] maneuver," one source briefed on the contract discussions reportedly told Wojnarowski.

The NBA's collective bargaining agreement, however, does not allow a team and players to have an "express or implied" deal in place in what essentially becomes a restructured contract.

The risk of loss for some Wade and Haslem would be severe since the contracts they opted out of are considered vastly more lucrative than what they would command as free agents on the open market.

The following text is from Article XIII of the CBA in regards to circumvention:

Section 2. No Unauthorized Agreements.

(a) At no time shall there be any agreements or transactions of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), express or implied, oral or written, or promises, undertakings, representations, commitments, inducements, assurances of intent, or understandings of any kind (whether disclosed or undisclosed to the NBA), between a player (or any person or entity controlled by, related to, or acting with authority on behalf of, such player) and any Team (or Team Affiliate):

(i) concerning any future Renegotiation, Extension, or other amendment of an existing Player Contract, or entry into a new Player Contract;

-----

(c) A violation of Section 2(a) or 2(b) above may be proven by director circumstantial evidence, including, but not limited to, evidence that a Player Contract or any term or provision thereof cannot rationally be explained in the absence of conduct violative of Section 2(a) or 2(b).

Hopefully the NBA investigates

 

[elindholm]

Hopefully the NBA investigates

The probability is zero. The players will just say they worked it out on their own, which is probably true. An agent can tell them what total salary number they have to stay under, and there's nothing in the CBA preventing players from talking about how much money they want to make.

 

[Mainstreet]

Hopefully the NBA investigates

This is my desire as well.

This could be a defiining moment for Adam Silver as to how he views his role as Commissioner. The players in Miami have pushed this to the limit.

 

[slinslin]

Btw there is no way we would be interested in Lebron if there was not a realistic chance that he could come here.

We won't just be wasting time to wait on that decision.

Since Bledsoe and James share the same agent we will know so much from his agent. It would not be in Rich Paul's interest to make us waste time if Lebron was for sure staying in Miami anyway.
If that was the case he would tell us that and we would immediately move on to other free agents to put a better team around Bledsoe before re-signing him.

I find it hard to imagine that they have not talked about this with Rich Paul even before today.

 

[CardsFan88]

But less amazing than Miami.



That's a huge difference. Kind of like saying Silicon Valley has a great night life, just no women.



Tempe/Scottsdale is great but what NBA player would choose that over scantily clad Latin beach booty?

No, the ocean ain't a big thing. It doesn't make that much of a difference.



This is Arizona, we have tons of Mexican women, which is also Latin, so we have the variety as well. I've been to clubs in other cities, supposedly the hottest ones (at the time) in Vegas and Hollywood and they ain't got nothing on us. NOTHING. Scarlet Jo next to us was cute, but actually a downgrade beauty wise from Arizona.

We don't have to be 'best', just great, and we are. So if they like nightlife, we're still a great place.

 

[slinslin]

I don't really think Lebron is interested in partying too much during the regular season and I doubt he would stay during the offseason months.

 

[PDXChris]

I don't really think Lebron is interested in partying too much during the regular season and I doubt he would stay during the offseason months.

This is true. Don't forget, he lives on Akron in the off season instead of staying in Miami.

 

[elindholm]

Btw there is no way we would be interested in Lebron if there was not a realistic chance that he could come here.

?? The Suns made a hard push for Bryant in the summer they signed Nash, even though it was obvious Bryant was staying with the Lakers.

 

[JCSunsfan]

LeBron's agent meeting with Suns regarding LeBron

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on...on-james-agent-to-meet-with-suns-rockets-mavs

 

[Griffin]

?? The Suns made a hard push for Bryant in the summer they signed Nash, even though it was obvious Bryant was staying with the Lakers.

Yeah, it's always good publicity too. In fact, had the Suns not been publicly "pursuing" James, having all this available cap space, they would be heavily criticized by media and fans alike.

 

[slinslin]

?? The Suns made a hard push for Bryant in the summer they signed Nash, even though it was obvious Bryant was staying with the Lakers.

No they did not, they abandoned that plan immediately and met with Nash on the first day. They never met Bryant..

 

[Griffin]

No they did not, they abandoned that plan immediately and met with Nash on the first day. They never met Bryant..

From what I recall, they made him an offer on the first day. The plan was abandoned when the offer was rejected.

 

[elindholm]

LeBron's agent meeting with Suns regarding LeBron

If James has already decided to stay with Miami, why the dog-and-pony show of meeting with other teams? This is just going to irritate everyone again.

Heh, maybe "LeBron's agent" is meeting with the Suns to talk only about Bledsoe.

 

[elindholm]

From what I recall, they made him an offer on the first day. The plan was abandoned when the offer was rejected.

That was widely reported, but maybe slinslin was there and knows otherwise.

 

[slinslin]

They never met Kobe Bryant, how is that the equivalent of going "hard" for him.

 

[elindholm]

They never met Kobe Bryant, how is that the equivalent of going "hard" for him.

They haven't met James either. You're splitting hairs.

 

[slinslin]

They set up a meeting with his agent according to several sources that is much more already that they ever did in the Kobe case where they might have made an offer but at the same time flew to Dallas to convince Nash to sign.

 

[Cheesebeef]

That was widely reported, but maybe slinslin was there and knows otherwise.

Can you find evidence of this widely reported offer that was rejected, because I don't remember anything like that. I remember being specifically furious because we never even called him and went after Nash as our first option the moment FA started.

 

[Mulli]

Can you find evidence of this widely reported offer that was rejected, because I don't remember anything like that. I remember being specifically furious because we never even called him and went after Nash as our first option the moment FA started.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832381

 

[slinslin]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1832381

A source told ESPN's David Aldridge that the Suns are prepared to offer Los Angeles Lakers free agent guard Kobe Bryant a six-year deal in excess of $100 million.

So that is all?^^..

 

[Mulli]

So that is all?^^..

Ha, isn't it enough?

 

[slinslin]

That would be equivalent to Woj reporting on Sunday that the Suns would go for Carmelo and Lebron.

Now the Suns only need to fly to some other free agent and sign him instead and never go for Lebron at all.

 

[Mulli]

That would be equivalent to Woj reporting on Sunday that the Suns would go for Carmelo and Lebron.

Now the Suns only need to fly to some other free agent and sign him instead and never go for Lebron at all.