This. If you're trading 1 of top 5 players in the NBA, you are never getting full value, but that is almost FMV. That being said, I think Boston only does it with some kind of assurances. But think about, Kyrie was probably going to bolt anyway = so you are giving up Brown and a 1st (Boston's so it's low) for franchise player? You still (probably) have Smart // Rozier Leonard // Tatum Hayward // Morris Horford // Yabusele Baynes // Monroe (MLE)
As ESPN reported earlier, there's a race to secure Leonard before James is faced with making a decision in free agency, especially with concern that Oklahoma City's Paul George is no longer assured of signing with the Lakers, league sources said. Another James preference that could impact free agency -- assuming he chooses to opt out before Friday's deadline -- is that he wants to make a decision quickly in July free agency, league sources said. The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers and LA Clippers are among teams who have made offers to the Spurs for Leonard, league sources said. The Lakers, the franchise Leonard wants to be traded to, did not have an encouraging initial conversation with the Spurs, ESPN reported recently. If Leonard can convince the rest of the teams interested in trading for him that he'll only be a one-year rental before signing with Los Angeles in 2019, the Lakers could have the most compelling trade package to offer San Antonio. The situation has become similar to where the Lakers were with the Indiana Pacers last year, when George informed the Pacers that he intended to sign with the Lakers as a free agent in 2018. As such, the Lakers never made a substantial offer to Indiana -- such as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 draft, or Brandon Ingram -- as they expected George would come to them this year in free agency. But now, after last summer's trade to Oklahoma City, George is seriously considering a return to the Thunder, as well as the possibility of joining the Lakers or others. Los Angeles could be risking a scenario of James staying in Cleveland or going elsewhere and the Spurs trading Leonard to a destination where he becomes comfortable and hedges on joining the Lakers next year. The Lakers have been weighing the conservation of young assets and future draft picks against the possibility of getting shut out in free agency. The Lakers hoped to lure James and George in free agency, which would give them more leverage in Leonard trade talks, or simply for the ability to wait until next year to sign Leonard. The price for Leonard would be substantial. The Lakers could have to surrender a combination of former first-round picks -- from Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart -- and future first-round picks and perhaps restricted free agent Julius Randle in a sign-and-trade agreement. The Spurs could also push the Lakers to take an unappealing contract off their books. Those are all deal points that would be applicable to leverage, which belongs to the Spurs as long as Lakers president Magic Johnson and general manager Rob Pelinka haven't delivered yet on the promise of a blue-chip free agent. Johnson told reporters in Los Angeles on Tuesday that he'd step down as the team's president of basketball operations if he couldn't deliver superstars via free agency or trade over the next two summers. While James and George have until Friday to exercise their player options on the final years of their contracts and become unrestricted free agents. Leonard can't opt out of his contract until next summer. Thus far, the Spurs haven't been responsive to all teams that have inquired about Leonard, nor have they ruled out the possibility of trading him to any league destination, sources said. James hasn't ruled out a return to Cleveland, but his chances of staying with a reshaped and upgraded roster are murky. The Cavaliers have been working on several trade and salary-cap-clearing possibilities to be aggressive in free agency, but they have been stymied in attempts to meet or discuss scenarios with James, league sources said. James had been clear that he wouldn't engage with the Cavaliers throughout the pre-draft and pre-free-agent process, and he has stayed consistent with that posture. James' unwillingness to commit beyond the 2017-18 season made it challenging for Cavs management to execute a trade for George last summer, because George wanted a James commitment beyond next season to make one of his own, league sources said. One George-to-Cleveland deal fell apart when the Cavs declined to make a future first-round pick unprotected, a concession they felt they couldn't make without assurances from James. It is unlikely that the Cavaliers would've traded Kyrie Irving with James and George together on the Cleveland roster. Now, the longer the Cavaliers go without clear communication with James, the less chance they can find ways to upgrade the roster to James' satisfaction. Cleveland would love to get involved with George's or Chris Paul's free agencies in concert with re-signing James, but because the Cavs are likely to be deep into the luxury tax, they will be barred from receiving players in sign-and-trade deals, which makes getting involved in the free agency of stars nearly impossible. Cleveland has inquired about Leonard, sources said, but the Cavaliers probably don't have the assets to top the rest of the market. Leonard has been adamant that he doesn't want to step into the San Antonio locker room again, and the Spurs have been adamant that they won't be forced into a trade, or a timetable, prior to the February trading deadline, league sources said. No team talking with the Spurs about Leonard has found them to be in a rush to make a deal.
I'm breaking some big news for CLUTCHFANS.COM RON JEREMY AKA VAN GUNDY HAS JUST BE ACCUSED OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT!!!! How this will affect the NBA landscape???? WHO KNOWS> NBA players won't be RAINING DOLLARS in strip clubs if they want to learn from RON JEREMY. WE don't want to see next headline "James Harden accussed of harassment in Strip club" A model working for a local radio station claims that adult film actor Ron Jeremy -- real name Ronald Jeremy Hyatt -- groped her at a promotional event in Tacoma. Both Tacoma City Attorney's Office and Pierce County prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Hyatt, officials confirmed Wednesday afternoon. The lawsuit was filed Friday in King County Superior Court. The alleged assault occurred Sept. 22, 2017, while the 22-year-old plaintiff, Kristin Brodie, was working as a "Rock Girl" for Seattle radio station KISW at a promotional event at the sex shop, Castle Megastore. Meanwhile, Hyatt's attorney claimed in a KOMO radio interview the acts were "consensual" and that Brodie should have spoken up.
Ik people want to **** on the Lakers assets bc they want LeBron to come here but it still funny to see people actually bsay they think fultz is a better prospect than Ingram. Fultz own gm admitted that he was healthy almost all season and that he didn't play bc he was mentally ready. I don't want a guy who has the yips on my team
Is it Saturday, 9pm Pacific time yet??? When do they start breaking the news? 9pm pacific Saturday or does all the big signing get annouced days later? Can't remember with KD and Lebron. But seems like we have to wait till Monday for all the big news like Heyward last year???????????
That Miami pick is unprotected, and in the first year that the 1 and done rule will no longer be in effect. It is extremely valuable and is the main asset there.
Kawhi is only making 20 mil next season not sure who would be left when it’s all said and done, but it’s worth it
If I am the Lakers, I make every player and two first round picks available for Leonard, but give the Spurs until the end of the week, or the offer if off the table. I am I am the Spurs, I string the Lakers along and see if I can get the 76'ers and Celtics involved. The Lakers could either be locked out of the 2019 FA class for Leonard if they land LeBron and George (or another big name), or they could strike out completely. Any development that hints that the Lakers won't be as much of a player for 2019 means that the Sixers, or Celtics would have more incentive to pay a value sufficient for the Spurs to trade Leonard.
The Sixers drafted Villanova product Mikal Bridges with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft Thursday (see story). However, a short time later they sent Bridges to Phoenix for No. 16 pick Zhaire Smith and a 2021 unprotected first-round selection from Miami. https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelp...ns-zhaire-smith-2021-1st-round-pick-nba-draft
At this point we're just hoping for the Lakers to get trolled right? Hard to believe that Lebron is going to tell the Cavs at the last second he is opting in and they need to trade him to the Rockets. The Rockets and Clippers spent what, 2 weeks working on a deal or something like that? If he just opts in and demands a trade to Houston without any work being done before hand the Cavs will be justified to say "Um, hell no lol."
