Around the NBA (And Oregon High Schools) - January 2018

Why would Lebron deplete the team he's goes to of talent? He can go wherever he wants in FA. What if was to say... Join PHI... Or NYK?

It would never happen, but what if he came to POR?

 

That’s cool of him to screw over the Cavs one last time. Great guy.

 

Cleveland needs a deep playoff run to recoup their significant payroll investment. LeBron won't "trade himself" to a team that has to give up too much to get him, and Cleveland won't let him go cheap only to be absolutely screwed financially.

 

It will be interesting to see how much money LeBron is willing to sacrifice to win. He has a $35.6 million player option for next season in CLE. No other contender can clear that kind of cap space without seriously depleting their roster.

So, how much less will LeBron take to play for a contender.

Or, conversely, would LeBron instantly make a young team with cap space (like PHI or CHI) good enough to contend for a championship?

BNM

 

It's funny to me how people think this way. Teams have more control over player's careers than the players do. Why is a guy maligned for being in control of his career?

It's like people being upset at Kyrie for wanting to leave. I'm more upset that LeBron went to management and tried to control Kyrie's career mobility than Kyrie taking control.

The bottom line is, when a player is able to choose who he plays for, they should always be open and honest about their intentions, but thinking we should decide for them is a failure IMO.

 

Chicago? No.

Philly? Maybe.

LeBron has found success when he has been paired with a dynamic scoring guard (Wade/Kyrie) and a conventional 20/10 power forward who can stretch the floor (Bosh/Love).

Philly's two stars right now are Simmons and Embiid, so they don't really fit with that mold. Maybe if Fultz ever gets his career on track they could have a decent core, but I don't see LeBron going in there and making them a contender immediately. I think there's too much overlap between Simmons and LeBron in a lot of ways.

Who else has that combo? Dynamic Guard/Stretch four? If New Orleans dealt Boogie for a guard, they would be an ideal fit for him. Let's say Boogie for Kemba, that would give them a real nice core of Kemba/LeBron/Davis. I think that could compete.

I could see Portland wooing him if they were able to get someone like Blake Griffin. Not sure how they'd get him though. Probably have to convince Cleveland to do a sign-and-trade. Dame/LeBron/Blake would be a pretty solid core.

 

Cool. Unfortunately, I think it's his form going the other way that's the problem.

 

I certainly agree, though he did come back and gift them hope and a championship.

 

Oh shit, Boogie might have tore his achilles. That’s roughhhhh.

 

It’s official. Huuuge blow with big implications.

 

To happen right before teh biggest payday of your career is insane.

 

That's exactly what happened to Wes and he got paid.

 

Holy crap. How do you guys think this affects Pelicans this year? They still have Davis. They may still be good. Or are they out of playoffs now?

 

They will be if they trade for Meyers, but don't tell them that.

 

Who replaces Cousins in All Star game? Paul (Chris or George?), Lou, or Drummond?