1.It's a leak by the Spurs to pressure the other teams to improve their offer 2. It's a leak by Kawhi to press the Lakers because it looks like he will be left off 3. Lebron in reality needs 2 other stars there to be convinced to sign. He isn't coming to a roster with Ball and Ingram.
The Spurs will get the deal they want or they won't deal. They're the Spurs. But, they will deal KL. KL will agree to reup with the team he 'agrees' to be dealt to, even not in LaLaLand. I know this, in my own head I know this. LBJ in reality needs to get whatever LBJ determines he needs. Whatever the hey I just said...
Cleveland to pick up Kendrick Perkins' option for 2018-19 My expectation is for Lebron to stay in Cleveland.
Correct me if i'm wrong aelliott, we're going to have pretty much 3/3.5M of the MLE to offer all things considered right?
OMG, Frankie Ice didn't list the Rockets! Don't downplay Frankie Ice now! He was a "legit reporter" when Carmelo was on the 2-yard line. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/ny-sports-lebron-free-agency-isola-20180627-story.html But if the Spurs won't budge on Leonard, LeBron may have to move onto Plan B, assuming the Lakers are Plan A. There are other teams in play; the Sixers, Celtics, Clippers and Miami, but it appears for now to be a two-team race between the Lakers and the hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. LeBron could conceivably opt into his contract or re-sign with the Cavs and become a free agent next summer. That gives the Lakers (and teams like the Knicks) another year to get their acts together.
That's a guy I'd like to hang out with. Gulf fishing would be way better than anything in Ok. Someone send this man photos of Seadrift, Port Lavaca... get him some Reds and Speckled trout for dinner.
Look at Dave mcmenamin Twitter. He says they this to get enough salary in case LeBron decides to stay and they need to add his salary in a trade
I mean, we drafted Melton in hopes that he will someday become as good as Avery Bradley. I'm not worried how we pay or don't pay a 20yr old rookie, if we land 27yr old Bradley for a taxpayer MLE. The more appropriate question, imo, is how do we pay Luc.
The reality of Lebron knows this and knows if he doesn't come here we're getting another great piece or possibly two more get pieces, and he'll then have to build a team to best us, the Warriors, and then a stud Celtic team in the East. The reality is even if KL and PG are able to team up with Lebron now the Lakers will have exhausted their assets and have no contracts they can even trade. So LeBron knows he's looking at the 2011 Heat all over again, except this time he's got at least THREE teams he'll have to go through (GSW, HOU, BOS) who are better than the Spurs and Mavs teams that beat his Big 3 Miami teams. And the further reality is the Lakers will be stuck again next summer with no picks, only the MLE, and the tradeable room MLE contract that the Lakers used this summer to trade for other guys next season. Which means he may NEVER get been to the Finals....much less win one. And finally, the reality is he knows if he comes here after opting in, he can still go to Los Angeles next summer but that this team with him, Harden, Paul, Ariza, and Tucker is the death of the Warriors next season. While we still have Capela's restricted free agency to exploit after we acquire him. The Spurs WILL trade Kawhi to the Lakers provided they get what they want. Which is Ingram, Kuzma, and a great future lottery pick.....without taking back Deng. Or some similar combination of talent and pick. The problem is the Lakers can't trade for Kawhi and then have enough cap to sign both Lebron and George or even enough assets to trade for one of them. Now you're hitting on a great key. And a reason you have to watch for a Capela sign and trade after Lebron. Because the fact is the next iteration typo our offense which weighs make us unstoppable is a big man that can both defend the paint, board, switch, and also run pick and pop and bang down threes. That's the ULTIMATE NBA offense. Two (or three) guys that can penetrate and dish at will with EVERYBODY on the floor being able to catch and shoot the three. The next 3 to 5 years are going to be a lot of fun guys.
Houston is hoping for the Lakers and Cavs to strike out in free agency. Paul George is truly conflicted right now and has given Lebron no commitment. This is obvious. If Lakers don't produce another star Lebron is going to choose between a Cleveland team that won't beat Philly or Boston. Or Houston.