2018 NBA Playoffs-
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Good question...
So the Cavs roster isn't very flexible and ownership is unlikely (aka too cheap) to pay much in luxury tax. They'd need to wholesale overhaul the roster, or at least the pieces that are moveable, but there are enough immovable pieces that it'll be tough to shape that team up to compete with GSW, HOU, or even BOS next season.
Speaking of BOS, I think that's an interesting play. Ainge is a shark. It's a huge stretch but I could see them dealing Kyrie back to CLE with one of their other young studs to bring in Lebron.
PHI is my hope, plenty of young talent. Simmons and Lebron have a man-crush situation going on and Simmons can bring the ball up the floor. They can move Reddick. Embiid would be an interesting big man to pair with Lebron and undoubtably would become more efficient. Fultz has forgotten how to play basketball so not sure what happens with him, very bizarre situation with him.
SAS could also be an interesting spot. Solid defensive team and would be the first time Lebron plays for a respectable coach in his career. Hell Pop is the only coach in the league that really deserves any respect anyway. Leonard, James, Aldridge, Murray would be an interesting line up.
HOU this seems to be what folks are talking the most about and while they'll have to deal CP3 to make it happen (he's said he won't give the billionaire owners a discount), I don't necessarily see the Harden/James relationship working out. Harden has that Kyrie-esque peculiar personality.
LAL is a team folks talk about a lot for Lebron, partly because he could start building his off court empire there, which he would be well served to do. However, they'd have to concoct a team from scratch, unlike all of the above, and as Lebron learned in Year 1 in Miami (and the Yankees learn every year), chemistry takes time and isn't a guarantee.
Lebron would be well served to wait for a situation like KD found in GSW wherein all of their key players join to lobby him - as opposed to ownership forcing him down the throats of the team. He's the greatest player on the planet and a few drama queens (Harden) might not take kindly to being overshadowed.
As a long-suffering Knicks fan, I have the pipe dream of LBJ coming to New York. Unlikely to happen, but since he's concerned about cementing his legacy, bringing a championship to the Big Apple would certainly do it!
Knicks cap situation is screwed up for like the next decade, literally. The front office should be disbanded and ownership forced out of Dolan's hands.
To lure a superstar to Cleveland and play with LBJ 1) most likely someone who hasn't won a championship and actually cares to win 2)someone that doesn't mind playing in a blue collar city
As far as superstars, those are going to very minimal. They may be able to overpay and get a D. Wade type and hope it works.(which it hasn't yet for them)
As far as superstars, those are going to very minimal. They may be able to overpay and get a D. Wade type and hope it works.(which it hasn't yet for them)
Didn't LA make the moves to make a run at Lebron and Paul George for next season? Still don't think that is enough. Really think his only shot would be to join the 6ers or the Rockets. But the rockets would have to keep CP3 and Harden and have a coach that can manage the egos. Also I thought Kawhi wanted out of the Spurs. So could LA try to get Kawhi, Paul George and LeBron if that's the case? That might be interesting.
What's the status of Kawhi Leonard? If he teamed up with LeBron, that could be pretty special.
Status seems very much up in the air, which as the poster above mentioned, could work to LAL's favor.
Anyone not watching tonight? I’ll probably watch for a few minutes, get bored and move on. The NBA is killing itself (IMO) with these super teams....
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Lakers have some assets they could send to Spurs. That would be interesting if Kawhi and LeBron ended up there with Ingram and Ball.
Brooms are coming out tonight. At least I hope so. Why delay the inevitable.
I suspect K. Love & Company already have their vacation plans booked and private jets will be gassed and ready to take off after the game.
Bron's most recent presser all but signals his awareness that this Cavs team can't beat this Warriors team. Essentially saying the Warriors roster is both more talented and has a higher bball IQ than the Cavs roster (#JRSmith).
He went on to say his initial Cavs team also suffered from a lack of basketball minds, so he saw how DWade and Bosh cerebrally processed the game and linked up with them in Miami. Then came back to CLE with Irving and Love, hoping to accelerate Irving's mental processing of the game (slight jab there). But it's tough to compete w/ a Warriors team that's benefited from Curry taking an undersized contract due to injury enabling them to land KD, ad drafting incredibly well (Curry, Green, Thompson). Creating a roster of players who are both cerebral and talented.
He also said there's a lot of player's in the league who don't want to put in the work it takes to win a title, perhaps an attempt to motivate future teammates to truly bust their butts.
I see nothing wrong w/ stating any of the above, it's obvious fact and would be intellectually dishonest to claim otherwise, and signals to GMs and team presidents what he wants to see in pitches this summer.
He went on to say his initial Cavs team also suffered from a lack of basketball minds, so he saw how DWade and Bosh cerebrally processed the game and linked up with them in Miami. Then came back to CLE with Irving and Love, hoping to accelerate Irving's mental processing of the game (slight jab there). But it's tough to compete w/ a Warriors team that's benefited from Curry taking an undersized contract due to injury enabling them to land KD, ad drafting incredibly well (Curry, Green, Thompson). Creating a roster of players who are both cerebral and talented.
He also said there's a lot of player's in the league who don't want to put in the work it takes to win a title, perhaps an attempt to motivate future teammates to truly bust their butts.
I see nothing wrong w/ stating any of the above, it's obvious fact and would be intellectually dishonest to claim otherwise, and signals to GMs and team presidents what he wants to see in pitches this summer.
Absolutely watching. Looking forward to the Warriors sweeping them.
Lebron should just do today’s NBA and sign with GS this summer. I’m sure he could convince the warriors to sign him up....
I bet he's going to the Lakers. He and Paul George on the Lakers would be strong. GS is about to have to pay the piper...and that ownership isn't going to go too far into luxury tax. I bet they have to let Klay Thompson walk in 2019 - so the Lakers also have a chance of adding Thompson in 2019.
Is KD a free agent this year?
KD has the ability to opt out of his contract next year, but has confirmed that he will stay with GS.
Don't forget, the Lakers still have Isaiah Thomas on their roster. That dude has to get healthy at some point.
Don't forget, the Lakers still have Isaiah Thomas on their roster. That dude has to get healthy at some point.
Klay has begun to give indications that he'll take a discount also.
As things stand barring some personal discord, the big 4 on that team appear to be there for at least 2 more seasons if not longer.
As for Lebron + PG -> LAL .. I dunno, seems Lebron is interested in a situation that can win rings now and not in 2-3 years. LAL doesn't seem like that, too many wild cards: who else they can add, chemistry forming from scratch, PG/IT injury history
I'd think he'll find a situation with established chemistry and talent and plug himself in as the gasoline on the fire.
Is that really the only woman that ABC/ESPN can throw out there to do interviews??
Talk about hard on the eyes and ears...
Talk about hard on the eyes and ears...
The Cavs absolutely mailed it in last night. The quit was obvious. Bad look for the NBA.
Doris actually knows basketball. I’d rather her than a beauty queen with a low IQ.
One of the best in the game. She is better than a lot of the ex-players they have (cough cough reggie miller mark jackson chris miller) calling games.
The Cavs were done sfter JR’s miscue at the end of game one. LeBron looked like he was going to carry the Cavs on his back but just couldn’t get it done. Steph had a better supporting cast!
I see now that James played the series with "a hand contusion." Funny, we didn't hear about that when he scored 51. Excuses, excuses for this guy.
If he said something after game 1, then that would be an excuse. He was still the best player on the floor for his team even with a broken hand. If it had been another player, you'd be praising him for fighting through it. The guy just can't win with some folks.
I just don’t get the point of him bringing it up now. I understand the competitive advantage thing and not letting GS know he was possibly injured but why bother coming out with the cast on and talking about it. If he was able to keep it a secret when all eyes were on him then keeping it a secret when the attention is now on the champs would have been simple.
It's an unfortunate by-product of exploding media/social media. These superstars are scrutinized 24/7/365 now unlike a couple of decades ago and before.
Anyone that still thinks LeBron is better than MJ, please visit Charles Barkley and tell him. ROFLMAO!
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So now it's gone from a "contusion" to a break? When did a bruise require a cast. LOL. Barkley is right.
If you are worth 100's of millions of dollars outside your current profession; why does a max deal matter so much? Lebron has generational wealth, will be successful at whatever his next endeavor is. IMO if winning titles is the end game why not take a little less so you have more talent? Think of the cast money you would save.
Curious about folks in here. If money was never going to be a issue for you and likely generations after your dead. Would you rather get a max deal in your sport or take a little less but have a shot every year at a title? Don't know if it is legal but couldn't team give him a % of ownership in lieu of more cash?
Curious about folks in here. If money was never going to be a issue for you and likely generations after your dead. Would you rather get a max deal in your sport or take a little less but have a shot every year at a title? Don't know if it is legal but couldn't team give him a % of ownership in lieu of more cash?
Would laugh if he took league minimum and joined golden state. They would win the next 4 no problem.
Three things:
1 - not many folks give up significant money to win a title, it is a rare move. Often done by person fearing they may not get one.
B - it really feels like people forget this, but James has won three freakin titles, including one that broke the Cleveland Curse.
III - He has got his team to the last 53 NBA finals so likely feels he can win more titles anywhere, no paycut needed.
I think lost in all this is you have to tip your cap to the Warriors. They have one of the great all time NBA teams with KD and are a dynasty. I have no idea how Cleveland won the one title.
I loathe the idea of players taking pay cuts to create super teams.
It’s bad for the league, bad for labor, bad for the fans.
It’s bad for the league, bad for labor, bad for the fans.
Doesn't the NBA have their best ratings when they have super teams? Lakers, Celtics, Bulls ect ect.
People seem to have passion for or against the super teams throughout the leagues history. That passion is what motivates them to tune in each night.
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