LeBron opting out hurts our chances of getting first pick?

[franklin]

A roster that stinks?
Waiters and Thompson are solid. So is Varejao who is coming off an injury. They get Favors AND possibly Burks AND add someone like Gordon with the #5 pick. That's a #1 team in the EC.
Wade and Bosh are declining. Miami is dying. LBJ knows that. He and Varejao are BFF's. I think CLeveland has a solid chance of getting LBJ. But they need support players.
What I'd like to see happen is Utah hold their feet to the fire. IF they want Burks in the deal, they don't get the 5th pick. Alec is now a PROVEN scorer: 14 pts on 46%/35% in 28 mins. He's a legit starter. They can have one or the other, but not both assets.

Salary cap denied.

 

[NUMBERICA]

I think we're all overanalyzing this. If anything I would think it slightly hurts our chances. If their sights are set on LeBron and he wants to win now, the #1 pick is better used in trade efforts to land a bona fide star, a la Kevin Love. I don't think LeBron would be too jazzed about Derrick Favors if he wants a ring next season.

But, really, I don't think LeBron opting out matters any which way. From what I understand it was a foregone conclusion that he would opt out. I think he's back in Miami with the big three + change. Tough to break up a roster that's made 4 straight Finals.

Opting out absolutely matters as it pertains to the Jazz and this draft, right now, regardless of what happens in a month.

 

[♪alt13]

LBJ was angry with Arison about the roster. Sure, they've been to 4 straight Finals. But last year, they needed a SA implosion to win. This season they were wiped off the floor. LBJ knows he's not going to win another title with Miami. Sign a long-term contract and he gets to preside over a team that fades as Wade and Bosh get older and slower.

There is something lame about a guy his age that already has a ring doing this. This sort of behavior should be reserved for ringless guys in their late thirties.

 

[Stifle Tower]

Salary cap denied.

Huh?
They can get under the cap by renouncing the rights to Deng and Hawes. IF they want to keep Varejao, they can trade Jack and Bennett to Utah. Or they can trade Jack and Varejao and keep Bennett. Many, many ways to get Lebron aboard without gutting the roster.

Deng: $14.3M (expiring)
Varejao: $9.0M
Hawes: $6.5M (expiring)
Jack: $6.3M

IINM, Irving has 1 more season on his deal, so even if they give him a MAX extension, he's still on the books for only $6M for next year (similar to Favors' situation).

The deal to Utah, if it includes Burks, is likely for Jack and Varejao. As I said, they have to additional clear cap space. So if they want Burks at $2.2M, Lindsey should tell them he's keeping the #5 but will give them next year's pick with NO restrictions. Or if they want to have the #5, Jazz keep Burks. Cleveland can't dump salary AND get all those additional assets.

 

[Stifle Tower]

There is something lame about a guy his age that already has a ring doing this. This sort of behavior should be reserved for ringless guys in their late thirties.

LBJ Is a competitor. HE wants to win. Kobe did the same thing with LA. After Shaq left and it appeared the Lakers were in "rebuilding" mode, Kobe demanded a trade. Instead, the Lakers went out and got Pau. I don't see Miami doing anything similar; they simply don't have assets. No one wants a $19M/per Bosh who has stated he no longer will play inside. And Wade is on a serious decline.

 

[Hotdog]

I really can't see Lebron going back to Cleveland.

 

[Litany]

You hit the nail on the head. Minnesota would be stupid to pass up the #1 and whatever combo of salary filler for Kevin Love. They aren't getting a better package down the road than a guaranteed #1 in a good draft.

Wolves aren't getting the 1st pick in return for Love. That's a massive overpay for a guy forcing his way out with only a year left on his deal. That why they need to work with us


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[Litany]

I really can't see Lebron going back to Cleveland.

Why? He has a home there still and spends his summers there. If they out together a competitor it's be redemption. He loved attention and being liked. He'd consider it.


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[idiot]

Agree with Core4 here. It is (or should be) about team building. Sure, Lebron can probably strong-arm his way into playing with more big names in Miami, or elsewhere. But after what San Antonio did to him, you'd think he'd have constructing a great team on his mind a bit more than how he can remain with the most stars.

Even just with Favors and a #5 (say Gordon), Cleveland could argue that it's building a smartly designed team that (with Lebron) is both veteran enough to be an immediate contender and young enough to improve rapidly as Lebron himself ages. The roles would make sense (Lebron, Kyrie, Waiters, Favors, Gordon as scoring options 1-5). Favors and Gordon would be great at their roles even early in their careers. Front court defense would be superb. Pick and role possibilities would be incredible if Blatt got Waiters to buy in.

I don't know if this is the best team-building option Lebron could find open to him. But I think it's one that the Cavaliers should be able to sell him as very attractive. I think it's potentially more attractive than selling him a weak-defending Jabari who plays the same position and needs the ball in his hands or a Wiggins who may be great in a few years but does not offer nearly the same role-playing promise as Gordon+Favors do in the meantime.

 

[Jeffrey32]

Lebron isn't going back to Cleveland. He went to the finals four straight years in Miami… why would he leave? He would not be able to do that in Cleveland, unless Bosh and Wade went there too.

 

[♪alt13]

 

[Hotdog]

This draft and free agency speculation is getting nutz. I hope there are some huge trades and shake ups. It will be fun to watch.

Most of the time it's just a big let down. This year could be different I guess. I'm hoping it is.

The Utah Jazz could be right in the middle of all this. Our cap space could play a huge role..