OT: What happens now to LeBron?

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by alex42083, May 30, 2009.

  1. JE

    JE Suspended

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    If you're looking for reasoning as to why LeBron would leave Cleveland, I can't help you. My core point is, he will either be a Cav or a Knick.
     
  2. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    You're still wrong. There will be SEVERAL teams in the summer of 2010 that will have enough cap space to offer LeBron a max. contract. The Knicks won't be able to offer him a penny more than any of those teams.

    Several teams have made trades specifically to clear cap space to sign free agents during the summer of 2010. LeBron is not the only high profile free agent that will be on the market. So, teams have been planning accordingly. The Pistons made the Billups/Iverson trade specifically to shead salary. The Heat have only 1 guaranteed contract on the books beyond next season. That's D-Wade's contract - and he holds a player option. They also have some team options on some of their younger players, but they could re-sign Wade to a max contract AND still have enough cap room for two additional max. contract players.

    If LeBron leaves the Cavs, he will get the exact same salary from any of the several teams that will be far enough below the cap to offer him a max. deal. So, if the money is equal (and less than Cleveland), he will choose his new team based on other factors - and very high on that list will be the chance to win multiple NBA championships.

    Who knows, he may shun both the Cavs and the Knicks to join fellow Redeem Teamers Wade and Bosh in Miami. Oh, and speaking of money, Florida doesn't have any state income tax. New York has a 6.85% state income tax rate. So, LeBron could end up saving several million dollars in state income taxes, over the life of his contract, if he signs with the Heat instead of the Knicks.

    BNM
     
  3. JE

    JE Suspended

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    Correct.


    Now list the teams that would have any money left over to put a team around him, or even fill out an adequate NBA roster. That narrows the field a bit.

    So they should blow their cap on three players, is what you're saying.

    The Knicks have a couple of subtle advantages in this area.

    1) D'Antoni's offense tends to get the most out of subpar (offensive) players. Case in point, David Lee is not nearly as good as the numbers he put up this past season. Neither is Nate Robinson. Meaning they can sign under the radar guys and expect solid enough contribution from them.

    2) Combine that with the fact that D'Antoni typically only plays seven guys, that is both less money the Knicks have to spend on getting depth around LeBron, and less depth they really need to fill in.

    Aside from LeBron, let's say the team grabs Steve Nash in 2010 as well (because its realistic). Nash could come cheaper than expected, given all the max-contract guys that will be out there. His price could shrink, especially considering what his age will be, due to the fact that no one will be willing to dish out a huge contract to him with much better options available. So he could be signed fairly comfortably. Tyson Chandler could be had as well. Those three (possibly with Gallinari, since he's one of three Knicks with any contract after 2010 and might not be blacklisted like Eddy Curry) provide a good core for the team, and they'll be able to round out the depth chart on the cheap, and expect good results.

    I think denying the Knicks' chances to be title contenders with LeBron is foolish.

    So they should blow their cap on three players, is what you're saying.

    Your own past statements have made the taxes argument moot.
     
  4. Masbee

    Masbee -- Rookie of the Year

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    Plus, New York State just enacted a soak-the-rich income tax surcharge on incomes above $500,000 of 8.97%. The old rate was 6.85%.

    Plus, if he lived in New York City he would pay an additional NYC income tax of 3.648%. Total of 12.62%.

    So, live in South Beach and pay $7,000,000 in federal income tax on $20,000,000 in income. Or, live in Manhattan and pay $9,524,000 in fed and local income taxes.
     
  5. Boob-No-More

    Boob-No-More Why you no hire big man coach?

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    Too many possible scenarios to list. Funny though, the Knicks are one of the teams that are totally gutting their roster, practically giving away players and letting them walk for nothing in order to clear cap space. They will most likely loose both David Lee and Nate Robinson to free agency because they won't pay them what they are worth this summer for fear of losing out on the LeBron sweepstakes next summer.

    So, who exactly are the Knicks going to hasve left under contract after next season? Looks like Eddie Curry at $11.2 million and Jared Jeffries at $6.9 million. That's $18 million tied up in worthless crap. And, they will also hold team options on Danilo Galinari at $3.3 million and Wilson Chandler at $2.1 million. And, this is the "quality" supporting cast that's going to lure LeBron to NY? Yeah, right.

    If those three players are D-Wade, LeBron and Bosh, HELL YES! Christ, that would be like winning the lottery. Any GM in the league would kill to have three players that talented on their roster - and they would all be young enough to keep the team competing for titles for a decade.

    Plus, Miami is in a much better roster situation than the Knicks. They have ZERO bad contracts (See Curry and Jeffries) after next season eating up valuable cap space and payroll dollars. And, they will have affordable team options on Michael Beasley ($4.9 million), Dequan Cook ($2.1 million) and Mario Chalmers ($847K). Who knows, since Wade has a player option at $17 million for the 2010-11 season, he could decide NOT to opt out, allow the Heat to sign LeBron and Bosh to max deals, and then get his own max. 6-year contact starting in 2011-12. The Heat would hold his Bird rights and could go as far over the cap as they want to res-sign him. They could fill out their roster using exceptions - and since the NBA requires all teams to have at least 13 players under contract, they would be able to pick up multiple vets for the veteran's minimum salary (which is based on years in the league). Who wouldn't want to play on a perennial contender with LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh in sunny, tax-free Miami?

    What????? How so? Several NBA players have mentioned they'd rather play for teams in states with low, or no, state income tax. The savings can easily add up to over $10 million over the life of a 5 or 6 year contract. What player in his right mind wouldn't want an extra $10+ million in his pocket?

    The Heat are in a MUCH better situation than the Knicks. They already have one superstar with championship exprience, no bad contracts, better cheap, young talent, better weather and no state income tax. There will be other teams with lots of cap space, but if I was a player looking for the best possible situation, it would be Miami, without a doubt. The Knicks will have cap space, but they won't have shit on their roster, they have no recent history of winning, they have lousy weather, and ultra high state and city taxes.

    BNM
     

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