Around the NBA- February 2018

He’s for sure gone, Houston will look pretty good next year with him, Harden, and CP3

 

That's pretty much a foregone conclusion. But where will he go? Houston would be tempting, no doubt, but it's bad enough with TWO ball-dominant players. People are saying Philly, but James and Simmons don't really complement each other. I kinda think he might consider Miami again. That would be funny to just jump back and forth between two franchises. I don't see him going to the Lakers unless they pull a Miami and land two other stars at the same time.
New Orleans would be cool.

 

Question is: would Cleveland ever have the balls to TRADE LeBron? That would be fun - and it would have to happen very quickly.

 

IMO He’s going where he has enough help to beat GS and win another championship, Houston.

 

I believe he has a no trade clause

 

Let's imagine he waived it. What would be the best offer that Cleveland could reasonably get that also makes sense to the team acquiring LeBron (bearing in mind that he could walk at the end of the season)? Be funny if Boston offered Kyrie back...

 

If LeBron was smart he would go to the Sixers. But don't rule out the Spurs. If HOU can find a way to make cap space then so can SA.

 

But that doesn't really make basketball sense, and can Houston afford him as a FA?

 

But one of the Sixers' best players is like LeBron without a jump shot and they don't exactly maximize each other.
(Also, this is contingent on Embiid staying healthy and also Fultz not being a bust.)

 

Spurs do make a lot of sense. It would be funny to see LeBron have a coach who is at least his equal. Be a change for him.

Also contingent on Leonard making a full recovery from his mysterious injury.

 

The Lakers said recently they weren't going after LeBron and the Clippers aren't even being considered by him.
As for the Rockets, I still question CP3 and Harden in the playoffs. Those two are perennial playoff underachievers.
As for the Heat, does LeBron even want to deal with Pat Riley again?
I have no idea abut the Sixers or this bullshit wishful thinking of him going to OKC.
The Spurs seem like a longshot.
The Pelicans would be very interesting because they would have a frontcourt locked and loaded (if healthy). If only they can get shooters though.

Spoiler: Not REALLY a spoiler

Or...he could do the unthinkable and go to the Warriors.

 

I'm somebody who expects the worst, but I just don't see it. (Of course, I didn't see Trump getting elected either.)
Whose team is it? Would LeBron consent to being a role player? The Warriors would have to lose a few key pieces too - at least Iguodala and Klay Thompson - and that would require changing the way they play. Sure it could work, but I can see LeBron and Draymond coming to blows at some point...

 

Lebron could easily go to Boston...for coaching reasons alone...they have assets..his chances of making the finals are much better in the east

 

If he goes to Houston, he will have to leave money on the table. There is no way they will be able to offer him more than MLE.

That said, maybe he is prepared to sacrifice $30M to win another title. He would probably make half of it back by winning it through endorsements and stuff, too.

 

As I stated in a different thread LBJ is worth $400 mil, if it’s about winning championships at this point for lebron I’m sure he could make his nba salary work wherever he wants to go. He makes 55 mil a year alone in endorsements. Taking less money to form the best “Big 3” in the league would make sense. He isn’t beating GS on the sixers, heat, or pelicans.

 

As much as I'd hate it, because fuck OKC, it'd be hilarious for him to go to the team Durant left and win a championship there when Durant never could.

 

He might give up on money to go to Houston and join his mate Paul, he won't leave money to go to Boston to join Kyrie.

 

I just don’t see him FOLLOWING Irving to Boston when he’s bros with Paul.

 

Money isn't just money, it's also status. I don't see James playing for the MLE. Giving up a few million? Perhaps. Not $30M.

Also, I don't know if he wants to be perceived like Durant, jumping onto a fully-formed team. He probably thinks of himself as orchestrating the creation of the Miami and Cleveland teams. That wouldn't be the case in Houston. Durant at least joined as a high-priced free agent--James doing the same, but for the MLE, would invite even greater mockery.

 

Neither do I. In fact, I'm in complete denial that it'll happen. Half of me thinks that as he's getting older, he'd be "okay" with not being a leader, but the other half thinks he'll try to make that team his and destroy the chemistry in the process (which I'm ALL IN FAVOR OF).

The only reason why I could see LeBron join the Cs just to spite the Cavs organization. Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if Bron and Kyrie were conspiring to get out of CLE and team somewhere else.

If LeBron is truly angry at the Cavs organization, I think he'd do whatever is necessary to join a championship team. Of course, he won't play for free (why would he), but is is safe to say that he's set for life?