No, @Nook doesn't and nobody else does either. The most plugged in sources to Lebron are all pretty much unanimous right now in the following: 1) He hasn't made any decisions yet or started that process 2) He doesn't think there is a ready made situation for him to go plug into 3) His family is very important and will be a factor in any decision he makes It's an extreme longshot that he comes here, if for no other reason that his family stuff. If he takes meetings I'm sure we'll get one, but it's an uphill battle.
Lol... Well he plays with them for the reasons we saw in the third quarter last night. He can jack from anywhere with a decent shot of making it.
Just for clarity's sake, and @BimaThug will back this up, this isn't the ONLY way Lebron can come to Houston it's just the most feasible way. There are other ways to make a deal work but they involve pay cuts and there's just no indication that Lebron wants to do that. For example, Lebron could opt out, do FA meetings and then decide he wants to be a Rocket. We could: 1) Do a trade where we combine Ryno and Gordon and sign him for something close to $30 million as part of a sign and trade 2) Trade Ryno to a team (2 1sts) to create a $21 million TPE, use the TPE and some sweetener to acquire Lebron (has to play for $21 million approximately) All of this is complicated because the new league year will complicate trades and signings because of luxury tax calculations. They COULD be done though, just not for his full max. There are rules about the apron that would have to be honored in any of these scenarios and they would mess up our ability to use MLE, etc. If he is adamant about getting a full max, which some say he is, it's nearly impossible to make that work after free agency.
A SIGN-and-trade for LeBron would subject the Rockets to a hard cap, meaning that CP3, Capela and Ariza would have to take huge pay cuts to come back. The Rockets would not be allowed to spend more than ~$6 million above the luxury tax threshold EVEN IF THEY WANTED TO. It would be prohibited by the hard cap. Hence, it is not a very feasible way to acquire LeBron.
Right like I said, feasibility is the issue. It requires some of the fantasy suggestions of pay cuts that get tossed around here. I personally don't believe any of them are likely. Some guys might take small paycuts, but Lebron and Paul aren't going to play for a combined $30 million for example.
I could see Lebron wanting to avoid another round of recruiting pitches and dragging out a decision. Committing early to the Rockets (or any other team) by opting in would look great for his image.
CBA and cap wise this doesn't work. We will operate about above the cap. The Deandre rumors centered on us trading for him. We can't sign him and he has a 24m option.
Capologist, any realistic way we can get Redick? How much would Wayne Ellington amd Belinelli ask for on the market?
From a psychological standpoint, bigger paycuts only make sense, when the team has a certain guarantee of winning the championship (high percentage). It was the case with GS and Durant. They could make the Finals and potentially win it without Durant. They already done that. Houston only closed the gap but no way a championship is guaranteed (and you have to consider injuries/bad shooting/refs). Bigger risk. Older players tend to think about their last big contracts.
But LeBron opting into his deal for next season and being traded here does work, correct? As for Ariza, if we get LeBron, why on earth would we keep him? They play the same position. Just resign Luc for much less and find a replacement for EG. And preferably a better backup center than Nene.
WHATS THE USE FOR ANY OF THAT WHEN IN THIS FAKE SPORT REF`S CONTROL THE GAME MORE THEN OUR PLAYERS ON THE COURT...WE WOULD HAVE LOST WITH ANYONE IN OUR TEAM NOT NAMED LEBRON...BECASUE HE IS THEIR PUPPET THATS MAKING THEM MONEY FROM RETARTED WWF FANS ..WHO ARE USED TO FAKE ****..
When did Cleveland gain the rights to Michael Jordan? Sorry, I couldn't resist. Nice analysis though.
Yes. An opt-in-and-trade would work, without imposing a hard cap. VERY difficult to pull off. But the most plausible way to get LeBron.
"Rumors" generated by this forum. Edit: The RUMORS were: DeAndre was telling the Clippers at the end of the season that he wanted to pick up his option and be a Clipper for life. Then it was he didn't know what he wanted. Please keep in mind that the "rumors" on this board were that we were hot after Milsap! Then it turned out we never spoke to him. This forum generates 100 rumors. If it sounds like fantasy land it usually is. Edit for clarity
People keep saying that Lebron will never leave the East, that it's the easiest road for him to reach the Finals. But if he stays with Cleveland, I don't see him beating the Warriors anytime soon, so why stay?
They got super lucky basically. Curry got less than the max because his FA came up at a time when he had ankle issues. Draymond was an RFA and his max was lower. A one time super cap spike let them sign Durant to near max as an outright free agent. Since then their players have helped them by taking paycuts to make dollars work.
