And the Rockets only have to "get creative" to unload Lin. Really that means just adding a player or pick(s) with cash that is worth the balloon payment. That isn't going to be crazy hard. It may look ugly (trading a good bench option and young player like Jones for a pick or Euro that will never materialize), but it won't be hard, no matter how much GMs dislike Morey or LeBron's moving to Houston. Asik could be traded for nothing whenever the Rockets want and definitely will bring back something of value, if not a decent protected pick or Euro prospect.
Mannix also listed Kobe Bryant and cap space as positive attributes for the Lakers when those are the two biggest reasons they aren't an option for a star player, so I'm not sure how plugged in he is...
I by no means think it is happening but yeah, some of these "reports"... LeBron and Howard "might not fit"? Houston can't move the necessary pieces out?
>Trade Lin, Asik for cap room >Trade Harden to Philly for 3rd pick >Draft Wiggins >Sign LeBron and Melo Beverley/who cares Wiggins/Daniels LeBron/Parsons Carmelo/T.Jones Howard/Okafor 19 championships confirmed.
Yeah I really like the "teams won't want to help Houston" arguments. Yeah, they won't want to take Asik for basically nothing because it would help the Rockets out.....
Couldn't we just buy out LIN 'S contract and make him a free agent. I would much rather do that than to trade him packaged with our first round pick and I've been hearing that trading him with our pick would be our only option since no one will take Lin straight up.
I cannot believe it but I honestly believe we have a real shot at LBJ. He has two rings. He needs 4 or 5 minimum. Honestly, 6 or 7 has to be in the back of his mind. Where can he go that a 3-4 player core is locked up for a few years? We need to shed Asik and Lin on draft night.
I don't think he'll be that hard to move, but even if he was, it would be worth it. Who are you going to pick with your late first round pick that would be better than Lebron assuming that would be who would sign?
Going back 3 short years ago... Who'd have believed that today we'd have Harden and Howard locked up and be in serious conversation - and be in a position to actually get - either LBJ or Melo? Without even completely decimating the roster? For those of us who watched the Rockets wander through the wilderness ever since John Stockton's dagger through the heart this is a really, really good place to be.
lebron is not going to go anywhere. he's going to stay put with the organization that got him a ring, and trust in pat riley to do his magic.
It would cost us about $2.8M in our offer to a top FA, so it would be silly to do that and not instead send a low 1st round pick or player like Terrance Jones.
That's certainly a possibility but it would mean that he's basically throwing away the next few years on teams that at best will get beat in the finals. Nothing wrong with loyalty, but when he doesn't have the ring count at the end of his career, Kobe fans will point to that in order to justify their favorite player being better.
Lebron could come here. Possible. If Lebron leaves, Houston is the only one team that make sense to him.
Riley won't be able to do much if Wade picks up his option. What does re-upping with MIA alongside Wade and Bosh really accomplish. What sort of player will Wade be in two years? Same question for Bosh? Lebron James can play at an elite level for 5 more years. Saying that about Howard may be a stretch but Harden, Parsons, Bev and our other young assets should be improving during that stretch. Howard/Camby? James/Jones if possible? Parsons/some decent 3 and D guy Harden/Daniels Bev Wins 65 games in my mind. Just scary for the rest of the league.
These writers are horrible. It makes sense to say he, or another top free agent, won't pick us. It's beyond dumb to act like we can't clear the contracts of Lin and Asik.
I think there is zero chance that LeBron comes to a team that asked it's "assets" not to comment on Donald Sterling.
