20:59-21:41 mark
Let LeBron do this LeBron supposed to drive to the basket every possession and drop 300 by half time.
0fficial 2017-2018 NBA Postseason Thread....NBA Finals Cavs vs Warriors 0-4(dubs back 2 back champs)
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20:59-21:41 mark
Let LeBron do this LeBron supposed to drive to the basket every possession and drop 300 by half time.
LeBron James to the Rockets? Here's how it could happen this summer
If LeBron James' goal this offseason is to join the team that gives him the best chance of knocking off Golden State after back-to-back losses to the Warriors in the NBA Finals, his best hope may be joining the Houston Rockets -- who took the Warriors the distance in this year's conference finals.
Because Houston is already too close to the salary cap to sign James outright before even dealing with new contracts for free agents Chris Paul and Clint Capela, getting LeBron to Houston would almost certainly require a trade. Is such a scenario possible? Let's look at how it might happen.
Step 1: James opts in for 2018-19
If LeBron wants to play for the Rockets, it would probably be necessary for him to go the same route Paul did a year ago: passing on free agency to set up a trade to Houston. Why? Because even if the Rockets were to pull off a sign-and-trade deal for James as a maximum-salary free agent, doing so would hard-cap them at the luxury-tax apron, estimated at $128 million for next season.
Destination LeBron: Where could King James land this summer?
LeBron James is set to be a free agent, and his decision on where to play next season could shake up the NBA once again. So where will the King find his throne? We look at the most likely options.
Max salaries for James and Paul (an unrestricted free agent), plus James Harden, would swallow up more than $100 million of that total. Add in a max salary for Capela (a restricted free agent) and Houston would already be pushing the apron, with 10 roster spots still left to fill.
So unless James or Paul is willing to take a massive pay cut -- unlikely given their leadership roles in the National Basketball Players Association (Paul is president, James is first vice president) -- LeBron opting in is the way to go.
Unlike Paul last season, James wouldn't have to sacrifice much in the way of salary to do so. In fact, his $35.6 million player option is actually worth slightly more than the current max projection for 2018-19 ($35.35 million). And six months after a trade (mid-January, in this scenario), LeBron would be eligible to sign a max extension with the Rockets, meaning he can get to Houston and sign a long-term contract without having to wait until the summer of 2019.
The trick here would be finding a workable trade between the Rockets and Cavaliers.
Ryan Anderson in 2018-19. However, with two years left on Anderson's contract (he'll make $21.3 million in 2019-20) and with him falling largely out of the Rockets' playoff rotation, that's a tough sell. The New York Knicks' unwillingness to take back Anderson was a key factor in Houston's pursuit of Carmelo Anthony falling short of the goal line last summer.
Dealing James for a package centered on Anderson would likely push Cleveland deep into the luxury tax next season, so that idea is probably a nonstarter. Any trade involving Anderson would require a third team with cap space to take on his contract in exchange for future picks, allowing the Cavaliers to cut their payroll. Alas, Houston's first-rounders the next few seasons would have limited value with LeBron on the roster, and there will be more teams looking to shed salary than add it. So it would probably take at least two and maybe three first-rounders to persuade another team to take on Anderson -- without compensating Cleveland.
Instead, the Rockets may have to live with Anderson on their books and find another trade package for James.
Step 3: Building a LeBron trade without Anderson
Matching James' salary without involving Anderson is possible but more painful for Houston, which would have to give up key parts in return. Assuming the Rockets are limited to players currently under contract -- sign-and-trade rules would also be challenging on the Cavs' end of the deal -- Houston would have to trade basically everyone besides Harden and Anderson.
The Rockets would be required to send out at least $28.4 million in matching salary after the end of the July moratorium, and a package of Eric Gordon, Aaron Jackson, Nene, Chinanu Onuaku, PJ Tucker and Zhou Qi would add up to $29.4 million. (Houston would have to guarantee the 2018-19 salaries of Jackson and Zhou first, because otherwise their salaries would not count for trade purposes.)
This version of the trade sends out two of the Rockets' top four players in minutes played in the playoffs, which would hurt their depth. It would also hamper their 3-point shooting; Gordon and Tucker combined for 333 triples during the regular season, more than twice as many as LeBron's career-high 149. Still, those are sacrifices Houston GM Daryl Morey would happily make, just as he did giving up several contributors to land Paul last summer.
After all, James would slide into Tucker's role as starting power forward, and the Rockets would have their taxpayer midlevel exception (estimated at $5.3 million) to sign a backup shooting guard to replace Gordon.
The real question is whether Cleveland would sign off. Adding $29 million in payroll would put the Cavaliers some $16 million into the projected luxury tax for a team unlikely to seriously contend without James. So Cleveland would probably look to flip Gordon and Tucker, who should both have positive trade value because of reasonable contracts.
If the Cavaliers can't easily shed payroll elsewhere, they could probably maneuver their way under the tax line by using the stretch provision. Waiving and stretching George Hill, for example, would save Cleveland $14 million in 2018-19 because Hill's 2019-20 salary is guaranteed for just $1 million.
The Cavs would surely want a couple of future first-rounders for their trouble, after getting two of them, plus a swap option and two second-round picks, for signing-and-trading James to the Miami Heat in 2010 -- a move that did not force Cleveland to take on any salary in return. (A caution to Cavaliers fans: Don't expect a better return if James is traded again, since first-round picks are valued much more highly now than they were in 2010.)
Ultimately, I think Cleveland would sign on in order to get the first-round picks and whatever can be had for Gordon and Tucker. While not ideal, that option is better than James leaving outright in free agency with the Cavaliers getting no draft compensation.
Of course, there are many important variables before the two teams could even begin talking trade. First and most critically, LeBron has to decide Houston is the next place he's taking his talents, and to do so before the June 29 deadline to pick up his player option.
If that happens, however, there appears to be a path for James to join the Rockets.
Yea I just wanted to see how it could happen
200m tied up in harden
Paul gonna want his money
Pella gonna want the max he ain't taking no paycut he's worked too hard to even be in a position to even get a Max to take a paycut
Then LeBron
200m tied up in harden
Paul gonna want his money
Pella gonna want the max he ain't taking no paycut he's worked too hard to even be in a position to even get a Max to take a paycut
Then LeBron
Of course he’s a difference maker. His size alone reduces the number of attempts at the bucket. Points scored are “extra” but not needed. How did the Cavaliers come back from 3-1? Granted the Green suspension IS the answer because that shit would have been over in five. However, Bogut going out took the interior defense down allowing Irving and LeBron to finish at the basket unopposed. Can’t diminsh even the smallest contributions when it’s an integral part of the defensive identity of a team.
Bad decision. Tucker is a very valuable role player and Gordon is fringe starter that will be needed for depth when Harden inevitably chokes and CP3 inevitably gets hurt. Cant lose both of them. And personally i think its a bad deal for Bron if either goes.
Agree
Tucker stays them other niggas can go.
Ill give gerald green a trade he make great tough shots but those shot selections make me cringe
I agree. Around the bucket dude rattles of a quick 6-10 depending on his tosses, hits free throws and alters a few shots. That’s the thing a lot of folks miss. Those plays by second tier players carry weight even if they aren’t scoring.
I agree with everything you said!! does not make any sense for him to go Houston...
They’ll get crushed by GS if he goes. That team was built to be a better version of Golden State. Granted at first glance you say the Paul injury was the deciding factor but reality says we don’t know because of Iguodala’s injury. Either way it’s a competitive match up. LeBron touches the ball way too many times. It would detract from the overall offense. Granted he could adjust but that one on one ball that helped Houston win would suffer. Plus their coach is average as fuck.
Tucker and covington are killas
LeBron is a victim of his own success. If you make it to the Finals with a good record you simply don’t get to pick high enough in the draft to find a difference maker. That is of course if your front office can’t find a diamond in the rough. That’s the drawback from all those consecutive appearances. Got to experience famine before the feast. He may as well play team hopscotch trying to usurp GS. Stay out the West though. Ain’t no guarantee you’ll make it to the Finals. If he does he should go to San Antonio. Aldridge, Leonard, LeBron and Pop? They have roll players. Good mix.
McGhee ain't shit. anyone could ve filled his role.
It carries no weight of you are the Warriors. They too stacked.
This. Think of who the best rookie LeBron got to play with? Daniel boobie gibson?
Other greats got to play and grow with good-great rookies.
Jordan had pippen.
Shaq had Kobe
Kareem had magic
Robinson (while he didnt grow with him had duncan)
Oscar had kareem.
Duncan had Kwai tony parker
Stockton and malone had each other
LeBron gets who? Nobody.
Shit although not a rook but he was a sophmore Oscar had kareem.
Isaiah had joe dumars
Bird almost had len bias
LeBron gets shabazz napier tristan thompson
Isaiah had joe dumars
Bird almost had len bias
LeBron gets shabazz napier tristan thompson
Lets look at some of the rookies clevland got after 2003 the year lebron was drafted
2004 luke cracka Jackson
2005 *Cleveland acquires the draft rights to Martynas Andriuskevicius from Orlando for a 2006 second-round pick and future considerations. Aka another honky.
2006 shannon brown and daniel boobie gibson
2007 crickets***
2008 The Heat traded Darnell Jackson (No 52) to the Cavaliers for the lesser of Cleveland’s two second round picks in 2009 (Cleveland and Chicago’s picks).
2009 Christian Eyenga Congo
Then lebron leaves to miami yeah if i had to play with these bums id leave to go get help too
2004 luke cracka Jackson
2005 *Cleveland acquires the draft rights to Martynas Andriuskevicius from Orlando for a 2006 second-round pick and future considerations. Aka another honky.
2006 shannon brown and daniel boobie gibson
2007 crickets***
2008 The Heat traded Darnell Jackson (No 52) to the Cavaliers for the lesser of Cleveland’s two second round picks in 2009 (Cleveland and Chicago’s picks).
2009 Christian Eyenga Congo
Then lebron leaves to miami yeah if i had to play with these bums id leave to go get help too
Can’t play big with the height and 7 footers don’t grow on trees so the “anyone” comment is a little off. Zaza would be that anyone. Where was he? That’s the point.
They're huge especially since the system is get the best shot. Only time we force feed is if any of the stars are red hot other than that the play is to get a good shot
Wait til Klay is able to dish 6 assists a night
Our record when he gets 6 assists is probably undefeated and we have well over 40 assists in all those games
That's the next step Klay on ball Steph and KD off the ball
Zaza could've plays that same role and they still would've won their title. They were getting titles before McGee got there and they would've got them after him. That's like crediting Udonis Haslem for them Heat rings.
The nigga in the middle offers nothing. Lebron don't want to play for his nonshooting ass lol. Trade Simmons for PG.
Nah Bruh. I know you want to diminsh Javelle’s value a bit but could you a) see him guarding LeBron on the wing and b) knocking down the alley-oop like Javelle? Too flat footed.
Yeah I have to because I can't sit here and act like the Warriors don't win without him. He's a solid player in limited minutes. Anything more and he's exposed.
No he couldnt that's why he didn't play at all this year until garbage time lol.
He ain't the main reason but supporting cast is the difference between rings and no rings
That's the definition of a good role player which teams need
Yeah but not in the Warriors case. Keep it 100 Large.....you know damn well y'all win with or without McGee.
Teams yeah. Warriors? They got 4 all stars and two of them are MVP candidates and Iggy who is a former star......that's all they need.
How come nobody blames Bron for running Kyrie out of town?
It’s hard to say. Hard to measure the negative impact of a loss. You saw the impact of losing Bogut. No interior defense and the next thing you know we’re pretending the Cavs won that shit outright without a suspension/injury.
Yeah but Warriors didn't have KD. That's a big factor.
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