Lebron Goes To...

[Folster]

Here's an article that breaks down how James could sign with a lot of different teams. I'm sticking with my original choices for Lebron to end up with, Philly, Houston, and San Antonio. This talks about how each move would be possible and more.



https://hoopshype.com/2018/06/08/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-free-agency/

That article really confirms to me that LeBron doesn't have many options if he is intent on inking a max deal.

Most of the teams mentioned would have to send out tens of millions of dollars in salary dumps and not take back any salary in return.

Cap space is a huge asset and teams that do have it aren't standing in line to take awful contracts to help an already good team land LeBron especially when those teams don't have any appealing assets outside of a late first rounder and future picks that are also guaranteed to be at the end of the first.

Looking at the current landscape, I think only Philly and the Lakers are potential landing spots if LeBron is set on a max deal.

 

[elindholm]

Looking at the current landscape, I think only Philly and the Lakers are potential landing spots if LeBron is set on a max deal.

I know we've been told not to discuss the Suns in this context, but why are they a worse choice than the Lakers? Because the Lakers are getting George too? Say what you want about James, but he's no dummy. I can't imagine him signing on to deal with the Balls for this final stage of his career.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Looking at the current landscape, I think only Philly and the Lakers are potential landing spots if LeBron is set on a max deal.

I'd love to see the Lakers sign Lebron to a max deal as long as he promises to hit that wall (soon!). Not that we've seen any sign of him slowing down but he has an awful lot of wear and tear on him. James is only 33 but he's already in the top 20 all time for minutes played and he goes pretty much non-step during those minutes.

 

[GatorAZ]

If that's the case, I hope he goes to the Lakers and signs a fat long term deal like Kobe did at the end of his career.

My first thought was the Kobe deal but he was coming off a severe injury

I know we've been told not to discuss the Suns in this context, but why are they a worse choice than the Lakers? Because the Lakers are getting George too? Say what you want about James, but he's no dummy. I can't imagine him signing on to deal with the Balls for this final stage of his career.

Ball will be traded if he goes there. The Lakers are in much better position to sign Lebron because they can afford two stars and trade for another.

 

[Folster]

I know we've been told not to discuss the Suns in this context, but why are they a worse choice than the Lakers? Because the Lakers are getting George too? Say what you want about James, but he's no dummy. I can't imagine him signing on to deal with the Balls for this final stage of his career.

1. Rich Paul
2. A line-up of Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Lopez ain't too shabby and they could also bring in a max player of LeBron's choice.
3. He and his posse will put the Ball's in their place. In fact LeBron could force Magic to trade him.

 

[Hoop Head]

1. Rich Paul
2. A line-up of Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Lopez ain't too shabby and they could also bring in a max player of LeBron's choice.
3. He and his posse will put the Ball's in their place. In fact LeBron could force Magic to trade him.

I think 1 & 3 are spot on but I disagree with 2. I can't see them keeping their core together with Lebron coming in. Yes, they could make a run for a 2nd star but they'll need to lose one of their young guys to make it happen because they didn't unload Deng's contract this year. They only have money to sign Lebron or Paul George, to get both they need to unload Deng's contract and that will cost them Ingram, Kuzma, or Ball. They'll probably move all of them in a bid to surround Lebron with veterans to make them look like the Cavaliers 2.0. The only way they don't make a lot of moves is if Lebron cares more about how he looks than competing and I don't think he's at that stage right now.

 

[Cheesebeef]

1. Rich Paul
2. A line-up of Ball, Ingram, Kuzma, LeBron, and Lopez ain't too shabby and they could also bring in a max player of LeBron's choice.
3. He and his posse will put the Ball's in their place. In fact LeBron could force Magic to trade him.

even if you throw Paul George into that lineup, that team is mediocre at best in the Western Conference and has no money for any kind of depth.

Only way I see him going to the Lakers is if they somehow trade Ball/Ingram for say... Kawai (or another big time big time disgruntled star), then sign CP3 and LeBron... if that's even possible.

Ball
Paul George
LeBron
Kuzma
Lopez

That team ain't winning jack squat. They're a 4 or 5 seed... 3 at best in the West.

Only way I can POSSIBLY see the Lakers pieces working somehow there is if Westbrook demands out thinking that PG13 is gonna be gone too.

Then, the Lakers could probably give up their entire team for Westbrook and go out and sign two MAX Guys like LeBron and George. Now, THAT team could give the Warriors a run for their money. But that's a TON of different things that would have to go down to happen.

 

[GatorAZ]

even if you throw Paul George into that lineup, that team is mediocre at best in the Western Conference and has no money for any kind of depth.

Only way I see him going to the Lakers is if they somehow trade Ball/Ingram for say... Kawai (or another big time big time disgruntled star), then sign CP3 and LeBron... if that's even possible.

Ball
Paul George
LeBron
Kuzma
Lopez

That team ain't winning jack squat. They're a 4 or 5 seed... 3 at best in the West.

Only way I can POSSIBLY see the Lakers pieces working somehow there is if Westbrook demands out thinking that PG13 is gonna be gone too.

Then, the Lakers could probably give up their entire team for Westbrook and go out and sign two MAX Guys like LeBron and George. Now, THAT team could give the Warriors a run for their money. But that's a TON of different things that would have to go down to happen.

You are really overrating the western conference outside of Golden St/Houston. Lebron and George to the Lakers without any other roster upgrades is easily #3 in the West. LA is already a good defensive team with average offense. Add those two on the wing and they’d matchup well with the Warriors. Lebron/George/Ingram can are long and can shoot/defend.

They could probably trade Lonzo for Kemba or another PG that could shoot.

 

[GatorAZ]

I think 1 & 3 are spot on but I disagree with 2. I can't see them keeping their core together with Lebron coming in. Yes, they could make a run for a 2nd star but they'll need to lose one of their young guys to make it happen because they didn't unload Deng's contract this year. They only have money to sign Lebron or Paul George, to get both they need to unload Deng's contract and that will cost them Ingram, Kuzma, or Ball. They'll probably move all of them in a bid to surround Lebron with veterans to make them look like the Cavaliers 2.0. The only way they don't make a lot of moves is if Lebron cares more about how he looks than competing and I don't think he's at that stage right now.

The article you posted on the last page said they can sign both without unloading Deng but they’d have to renounce Randle. Doesn’t seem like that’d be a problem. Ingram has higher upside than Booker so his trade value is pretty high if they choose to trade him. They can put together a borderline superteam.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Has to be Philly.

 

[sunsfan88]

Gotta be Houston. Not sure why LeBron would want to put his family through having to live in Philadelphia.

 

[Hoop Head]

The article you posted on the last page said they can sign both without unloading Deng but they’d have to renounce Randle. Doesn’t seem like that’d be a problem. Ingram has higher upside than Booker so his trade value is pretty high if they choose to trade him. They can put together a borderline superteam.

I was going off of what's been said about their chances of signing 2 max guys the majority of the season. I didn't read the Lakers entry on that article because I just don't see it as a likely scenario. Maybe they can pull it off while keeping all of their young guys but they'd need to scrap everyone else. I know they'd need to renounce the rights to Brook Lopez though, who was mentioned as part of their team in the post I was responding to. Lopez has a $33 million dollar cap hold so he'd be the first guy to get renounced this summer.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Gotta be Houston. Not sure why LeBron would want to put his family through having to live in Philadelphia.

Philly has some great suburbs. Lived there for three years.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

How? Playing for the minimum?

No it is really easy actually. Renounce all free agents. Trade Eric Gordon and take no salary back.

That gives the Rockets 35.8 million in cap space

 

[Chris_Sanders]

They'd have to find a taker for Ryan Anderson (owed $41.7M over the next two years), abandon Capela, and convince Paul to take a pay cut. Tall order.

Read an article on hoops hype that made it easier. Just need to find a team like the Suns to take Gordon.

 

[Hoop Head]

Read an article on hoops hype that made it easier. Just need to find a team like the Suns to take Gordon.

I've seen this also, with the added idea of doing a sign and trade with Cleveland or Lebron opting into his deal and being traded for Gordon. Houston can pull it off, it's not as easy as Philly but it's definitely possible. The reason they didn't work a deal for Melo is because that's Melo. Anyone would give A LOT more for Lebron.

I don't think OKC should be forgotten either. I know it would be difficult for them to pull off a deal also but if George leaves, they might be able to find a way to do it. Lebron is someone that Westbrook might defer to and there is the Melo connection there also. Not saying it's likely but OKC wasn't a likely destination for Paul George or Melo until they pulled off those deals. Both came out of nowhere, honestly.

 

[Folster]

No it is really easy actually. Renounce all free agents. Trade Eric Gordon and take no salary back.

That gives the Rockets 35.8 million in cap space

This is right except for the huge fact that CP3 would be one of those free agents that would have to be renounced in your scenario. I'm pretty sure CP3 staying in Houston would be a prerequisite for LeBron to sign. If they want to keep CP3 and add LeBron, Anderson and his horrible contract will have to be dumped which is no small task.

Let's not also down play that they would lose Capela in this scenario as well.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

This is right except for the huge fact that CP3 would be one of those free agents that would have to be renounced in your scenario. I'm pretty sure CP3 staying in Houston would be a prerequisite for LeBron to sign. If they want to keep CP3 and add LeBron, Anderson and his horrible contract will have to be dumped which is no small task.

Let's not also down play that they would lose Capela in this scenario as well.

No not Paul.

including Trevor Ariza, Clint Capela and Tarik Black

 

[Folster]

No not Paul.

Go back and read the article.

If we remove Paul from the picture, all Houston would have to do to open up enough cap space for James is renounce the rights to all of their impending free agents, including Trevor Ariza, Clint Capelaand Tarik Black, among others, and find a way to trade Eric Gordon while taking back pretty much zero salary in return.

That would leave the Rockets with around $35.8 million in cap space, enough to sign James to a max deal. They’d also still have the standard mid-level exception available to try and re-sign Ariza (possible) or Capela (unlikely).

The aforementioned moves would leave Houston’s roster a little bare, granted, but a core of Harden and James wouldn’t exactly be difficult to build around.

If we wanted to find a way to get James on the Rockets with his buddy Paul and Harden, that would require for the Rockets to renounce the rights to all of their impending free agents while finding takers for Gordon, Ryan Anderson and PJ Tuckerfor next to nothing in return, salary-wise.

I understand how you missed it. I did at first as well. It was pointless for the author to even explain a scenario that didn't involve Paul.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Correct but they can go over cap because Paul is their free agent. That is why they don't renounce his rights.

You basically have to sign LeBron first and then Paul second. It's how Golden State can keep it's 4 stars.

The cap is basically BS and allows these super teams to form by just little games like this

 

[Folster]

Correct but they can go over cap because Paul is their free agent. That is why they don't renounce his rights.

You basically have to sign LeBron first and then Paul second. It's how Golden State can keep it's 4 stars.

The cap is basically BS and allows these super teams to form by just little games like this

Nope. Paul has a huge cap hold (35M). His Bird rights would have to be renounced or resigned for peanuts prior to signing LeBron.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Yep you are right. They would have to do Lebron as a sign and trade.

 

[Phrazbit]

Philly and LA have a similar problem. Both have point guards who can't hit the broadside of a barn... kind of a useless player to pair with LeBron.

In Philly's case they could move Simmons inside or trade him for a bonanza... dunno what the Lakers could do with Ball. I doubt he is worth a top 10 pick in this draft.

 

[elindholm]

Philly and LA have a similar problem. Both have point guards who can't hit the broadside of a barn... kind of a useless player to pair with LeBron.

In Philly's case they could move Simmons inside or trade him for a bonanza... dunno what the Lakers could do with Ball. I doubt he is worth a top 10 pick in this draft.

Heck, Ball wasn't even worth a top-ten pick in the last draft.

Simmons will be fine. His mechanics are adequate and he knows how to improve.

 

[Chaplin]

Who’s going to take Eric Gordon knowing they are doing so to let Houston become a super team? Even if Gordon has that kind of value around the league?