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How LeBron Impacts the Jazz Thread

If LeBron opts into next year, all Houston has to do is trade those 6 guys. No sign and trade is needed. All that's needed is for LeBron to force a trade from Cleveland (much like Kyrie did) and for Cleveland to figure out how to get the most out of the deal. By that last part, I mean that they will find a 3rd team to send Eric Gordon so they can get an asset because they don't need Gordon. Same with PJ Tucker (if that's the case I want in on Tucker for sure).

Cleveland could potentially avoid the luxury, get a first or two from Houston, get a first for Gordon and get something for Tucker. Better than losing LBJ for nothing...
No Houston picks should be worth facilitating this kind of trade tbh.

I’d wish him well, and essentially limit him to extending with Cleveland or going only to teams that can create that cap space. Let them fight for the right to gut their team to sign him.

If I’m Cleveland, I don’t take back filler salary or trash. Period. I strip it down, hard, and start my painful rebuild right now.
 
CP3 is a FA. What if he teamed up with PG and LBJ in LA? That removes Houston from the mix. And that trio may very well be able to challenge GS.

Boston is an easy trade. Ainge is ruthless. You don't think he trades Hayward in a heartbeat to bring in Lebron? And he absolutely loves Rozier and has talked about keeping Smart. Irving has already said he's not signing an extension. I'll bet Ainge is already fielding trade proposals.
The numbers don’t let LA sign even two max guys this year (if one is LeBron), much less three since they can’t really take on any non-guaranteed salary to dump Deng’s contract.

They could try to extend and stretch him, but I’m pretty sure the NBA would block it for circumnavigating the rules of the CBA. I don’t think they want to have the mess of CP3 getting blocked to them again?
 
Remember, Cleveland ended up trading LeBron to Miami the first time because it got them a pick (better than nothing). This time, once again instead of losing him for nothing, they will get a pick or two from Houston, and then they find teams who want Gordon and Tucker. This is just a crazy example, but just imagine:

Cleveland gets Nene, Onuaku, Jackson, Qi, Houston 2019 1st, Jazz 2019 protected 1st, Dallas 2019 protected 1st
Houston gets LeBron
Jazz get PJ Tucker
Dallas gets Eric Gordon

Something like that. Dallas and our Jazz could get involved to take contracts from Cleveland since they don't need those players or that money. Both Dallas and our Jazz could/would have the cap space to take those contracts. In addition, Cleveland can turn Love into something valuable and get pretty close to avoiding the luxury tax.

I don't think anyone is giving up a first for Tucker, he's an 8 PER player and 33 years old. Gordon, perhaps.
 
Wasn't there a report that said if Lebron left the Cavs would trade Love? That seems to suggest they would have no interest in any Houston package unless a 3rd team is involved.
 
The numbers don’t let LA sign even two max guys this year (if one is LeBron), much less three since they can’t really take on any non-guaranteed salary to dump Deng’s contract.

They could try to extend and stretch him, but I’m pretty sure the NBA would block it for circumnavigating the rules of the CBA. I don’t think they want to have the mess of CP3 getting blocked to them again?
Huh? Stretching a contract isn't against the rules of the CBA. It was made possible by the CBA. Lakers, not counting TO's, QO's and cap holds are at $34.6M. Deduct the $18M for Deng and that's a ridiculous $16.6M for 4 players (Ball, Ingram, Kuzma and Hart). Randle could be traded removing his cap hold. You could theoretically fit Lebron at $30M and PG and CP each at $25M. Like I said, each player takes less (1 yr deals?) and they make it up in future years. That brings the roster to 7 players and $96.6M. The remaining amount under the cap fits 6 players at the minimum.

Or maybe with Ball already at PG, the Lakers could bring in Lebron, George and a 5. Make an offer to Capela? Sign DeAndre? That would be a damn good starting 5 with Ingram off the bench.
 
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If I’m Lebron I’m thinking Jazz, Bucks or another similar team. Bringing the first title to a second city (Cleveland) will make him practically a God in two major cities. He’s getting paid regardless.

Go for a first.
That's been my thought as well. Indiana might be another possibility for him. Hell, even Toronto.
 
I don't think there's any way LeBron aims to bring another small market team a ring. I think he stays put, or completely swings for the fences on a Warriors-esque mega team.
 
The 1st from us for PJ was done while quickly typing craziness. I could see us really wanting PJ in that scenario, but that is too much for him I agree. But you get the jist of what I was saying.

Of course Cleveland would trade Love and they don't want Gordon or PJ. They would probably try to accumulate as many picks as possible and tank. That's what I would do. What's the point of going a year with Love, Gordon, Tucker, TT, JR, Korver, Hill and Cedi?

And actually, an unprotected Houston 1st for like 2022 or 2023 could be very, very valuable. Much better than losing LBJ for nothing.

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Meh. Unprotected 1st from Houston in 2022/23 still likely falls in the Harden, CP3, Lebron years. A pick in the late 20's generally sucks unless the draft is deep like this year's. Maybe PG_AB should call and tell Cleveland if there are 30 kids who look great in middle school right now. Houston scenario would require 1 or 2 more teams to get it done. It's probably the most complicated.
 
So the discussion Cleveland has - get nothing for LeBron or...
Get a 1st or 2 from Houston
Get value from Gordon
Get value from Tucker

All to pay the expiring deals of Nene, Onuaku, Jackson and Qi.

I'm taking the picks over nothing. They did last time.

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
So the discussion Cleveland has - get nothing for LeBron or...
Get a 1st or 2 from Houston
Get value from Gordon
Get value from Tucker

All to pay the expiring deals of Nene, Onuaku, Jackson and Qi.

I'm taking the picks over nothing. They did last time.

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app
But if Lebron really wants to go to Houston, Cleveland has the upper hand. He can't go there without Cleveland making the trade. If I'm Altman, I demand a couple of firsts and try to flip Gordon and Tucker.
 
All those contracts total about $28M. If Lebron picks up his option, I think it barely works. I believe the trade rule is 125% + 100,000.

Another scenario would be to keep Gordon and somehow include Anderson. But I have a hard time believing there are ANY teams that would take on Anderson's salary with two years and $42M left. After getting Lebron, they can re-sign (or match for) Capela and keep CP3. They'd have the MLE, but the rest of the roster after that would need to be rookies and vet minimum players. CP, Harden, Capela, Lebron, Anderson and a roster full of scrubs. I don't think that's enough to compete with GS. Nor do I think Harden and Lebron can co-exist. They're both ball dominant players.

I think he has an easier path to the Finals if he stays in the EC with either Boston or Philadelphia. Boston doesn't need Hayward and Irving is already causing some problems with his talk about salary demands. The Celtics still have a ton of picks and they could send Brown, Hayward and picks to Cleveland in a deal (Lebron just exercises his option). Irving can be dealt to a lot of teams.

Philadelphia could sign him outright. And they could go out and find a PG if they're uncertain of Fultz.

LA if Lebron wants to be close to his son and be in the bright lights of the entertainment industry. Could even team up with George and CP3 if they all take a little less and LA trades or stretches Deng. That's a damn good lineup with Kuzma at PF. I guess they still need a decent 5.

Agreed. If LeBron wants records coming West is not the thing to do. Add him to Boston and they are legit.
 
Side note - if we can find a way to get PJ Tucker, I'm loving him on this roster. He makes around $8 the next two years with a team option for 2020/21.

Sent from my VS995 using JazzFanz mobile app
 
There is a report that Lebron hates Houston. Wont go there.

Also, rumor is his kid has registered for school in LA.

My money is on he goes to LA with Paul George.
 
I'd laugh if the reason they don't want to go to LA is Lavar.
Seriously, who DIDN'T see problems arising for any team drafting Lonzo?

But George, Lebron and Capella or DeAndre joining the Lakers makes the most sense to me if James wants to head West. If I were him, I'd stay in the East.
 
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Art by Nick Jarvis for ESPN.

This needs to happen. All over the state.
 
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