As Carmelo Anthony leans toward leaving New York, Chicago and Houston emerge as frontrunners

Recap?

 

Get Melo, ged rid of all the cap space we can, send the 3 stars to recruit lebron, everyone take a paycut. Championship.

 

It's Dan Patrick. He teases a guest for an hour or two saying "on next."

He's on now.

 

The rockets would have the no.1, 2, 3 picks on the same team if Melo is going to join us, this could never happen to a NBA team. Just let Melo know this.

 

Pop and Duncan retiring?

They're gonna keep going. They don't want to break up what they have. No rush to get on with the rest of their lives. I've been told Pop would love to go another 4-5 years, past Duncan, unless Duncan is still there. You'll see this whole group back. What would stop them from winning another one?

DP: I was told, if someone was leaving it would be Bosh in a SnT. Do they recruit or abandon ship?

Tough question. Biggest problem for LeBron is where doe he go? Where is the ready made team that he leaves Miami for? I know many will say Cleveland. Cleveland is about going home, not about winning titles. He doesn't want to lose 2-3 years waiting on a young group in Cleveland. I still think they all sign back up. Most logical is to opt in this year because next summer you have more options: New York, he can wait to see what Wade looks like. That's the most logical thing. They may opt out and get their deals. Riley will not help anyone with a sign and trade, especially LeBron. He'll have to take salary cap space. One team to watch is Houston. Houston is going after Carmelo. They can create space. Will it appeal to LeBron to go play with Howard and Harden? I don't know that it would but Houston will try to be in the mix. ... His preference would be to stay in Miami but he knows he can't do it alone. In the end, I think he trusts Riley and Spoelstra will help him figure out a way and he'll trust the track record in Miami and I do think he re-ups there.

Kevin Love?

I think it's possibly settled by the draft. He's embarrassed Flip Saunders. He's gone out of his way to show them up. If they're gonna get max value, they're gonna do so by getting picks. In the end, I think there is a deal done by draft time and could be any number of teams. I think they walk out with picks and maybe a player. Minnesota, as much as they don't want to, have to work with Love on where he wants to go. No one will give up assets unless they know they can re-sign him. Phoenix is the dark horse. They have lots of picks and good young players. They have to convince Love he has a future there. Love wants to be in a situation where he starts winning. Boston intrigues him. Golden State is the team that will stay in there. Thompson might be the best young player the Wolves can get.

'Melo? Houston? Chicago?

It increases every day (that he walks). He does not like the way Phil Jackson has handled this, especially publicly. He knows he's not winning in NY anytime soon. Houston is ready made for him to walk in and be ready good and so is Chicago. Miami is not a consideration unless they let one of the other guys go. He's not gonna be one of the four and not taking a pay cut down to 50 million in Miami.

 

Woj on Patrick Recap:

On Pop and Duncan retiring: They are going to keep going. They don't want to break up this thing. Woj has been told that Pop wants to coach another 4 to 5 years. The whole group will be back.

Patrick points out Heat being the favorites for next year in Vegas: It's amazing that the Spurs have "outlasted" the Heat Big 3. We don't know what's about to happen with the Heat. They may break up.

On the Heat breaking up, Dan Patrick has heard that Bosh may leave, Lebron looked around last night and felt alone, what do they do: Woj says it's a tough question. Biggest problem for Lebron is where would we go. Where is a ready made team that he WANTS to go to that is ready to win. Cleveland is not ready to win. Lebron doesn't want to lose time to wait for a young team to mature. He believes all 3 will sign back up in Miami. Possibility that Lebron will just opt in for one more year and then try free agency next year. Riley will not help anyone with a sign and trade.

One team to watch for in with Lebron is Houston. They will try to get in mix. Not sure if Lebron wants to play in Houston.

Patrick points out Lebron would get killed if he leaves to go join another team: Woj agrees and says the preference for Lebron is to stay. Looking around team though and wonders what Wade has left. Lebron can't do it alone. He needs help. In the end he trusts Pat Riley and Spo to help figure out way to win. Trusts the track record. He reups.

Patrick brings up "Summer of Love." Can't demand trade, when is this settled: Woj says it may be settled by the draft. Flip is embarrassed. Love is going out of his way to force his way out. To get maximum value, they need picks in this loaded draft. Lots of teams dying to get him. In the end, Woj thinks a deal gets done by draft. Lots of teams in the sweepstakes, Minnesota walks away with lots of picks.

Is Philadelphia a darkhorse? Lots of picks and young talent: Minnesota has to work with Love on where he wants to go. No team will give up huge haul if Love isn't going to resign. PHX is the darkhorse. Lots of picks and young players. They have to convince Love he has a future there. He wouldn't win in Philly. Boston is a team that intrigues Love. Woj wrote that he was really looking into Boston and then he went over there. Golden State is going to stay in the sweepstakes. Klay Thompson best player.

Melo. If he doesn't stay in NY, doesn't go to Miami, where does he go?: Odds increase he is leaving NY every day. Doesn't like the way Phil Jackson has handled it. Calling for him to take a paycut, etc. He knows he won't win in NY until maybe 2016. Houston is ready made for him to walk in and be really good, so is Chicago. Those are the two choices for him. Miami is not a consideration. He is not going there as one of four guys, taking a paycut. He's not going to take the paycut necessary to be part of a big four.

 

Nothing new from Wojo. Said Melo not happy with the stuff Phil Jackson has said publicly. Houston and Chicago still likely.

 

Haha. Dan just finished, and I was going to write a summary about 1/10th this length.

For the short attention span guys:

- Houston will try to get in the mix with LeBron. Only team mentioned.
- In Woj's opinion, opting in and leaving in 2015 makes more sense for LeBron (NYK mentioned)
- Riley won't help on a SnT
- Love will likely get dealt around the draft. PHX is darkhorse. Houston not mentioned.
- Houston is ready-made for Melo. NOT going to Miami.

 

If Lebron opts out and Morey dumps Asik and Lin, Lebron might be a possibility.....

 

My dream scenario is Melo going to Chicago and Lebron coming to Houston. What will most likely happen is Melo goes to Houston and Lebron stays in Miami. What I don't what to see happen is Melo goes to Chicago, Love goes to Golden State/Pheonix, Lebron stays in Miami and we get stuck with Deron Williams and Paul Pierce.

 

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...nd-ahead-and-what-next-for-lebron/#24055101=0

 

It's funny that if Houston is "ready made" for Melo like they say then we should also be "ready made" for Lebron. Both 3-4's that can run, and post up. Lebron can run better though, defend much better and also pass great. Melo only has a slightly more consistent outside shot.

 

Best hope is Love traded to Chicago and then Houston swings for the fences for Lebron and likely misses ends up with Melo.

If the Rockets miss on Melo I think we end up with Lowry. I'd also be curious if Morey would consider a swap of Lin for Larry Sanders.

 

I don't see Lowry coming here. I still think he re-ups with Toronto.

 

If the money is the same why would he want to play for a non contender?

 

But wouldn't Lebron and his brand get roasted for making that move? I think that's why Hou is just not a 'ready made' situation considering his past even though it truthfully is.

 

True, but other than going back to Cleveland he will get roasted for going anywhere so we'd be no more than any other. Actually I think Lebron gets ragged on no matter what he does like this postseason. Just a product of this day and age plus the whole Bron-MJ thing. People always take shots at the best. More now than ever.

 

I can't believe we just got a Lebron mention from WOJ.

If we got Lebron....my god.....just wow.

Our 2013-2014 team performed nearly identically to this years Heat team.

Offense: 4th. vs. 5th.
Defense: 13th. vs. 11th

Adding Lebron to this team would be like having two Lebrons in Miami.

 

You could be right, but IIRC, he spoke out near the end of the season about how much he wishes he had handled his final season here in Houston with a little more maturity. He almost made it sound as if he wouldn't mind a second chance to make it right.

Assuming the Rockets don't land a big fish this year, Kyle + a couple of roster tweaks might not look terribly bad. I can't imaging that not holding more appeal than the prospects up in Toronto.

 

Because he likes it in Toronto. They just had their most successful season in a very long time. The city is abuzz and he's in the center of it all. I can see Lowry going either way if he has a choice between us and Toronto.