Ric Bucher: Dubs, all this back and forth. Where are we with Love? Both sides know what the deal is. It's not draft related. It doesn't have to happen tonight. I was told both owners have spoken. Everyone knows where the deal is. Joe Lacob understands Thompson has to be in the deal for it to get done. Jerry West spoke up and said what a mistake it would be to trade him. That has given the Warriors pause. Joe Lacob really wants Kevin Love. He has to add Klay. He doesn't want to see Kevin go anywhere else. He's not ready to pull the trigger now. If someone comes to Minnesota with an offer that they cannot pass up or is going to go away, they'll come back to the Warriors and give them one last chance. Kevin's first choice is Golden State. As of right now, Joe Lacob is not being put to the test. Minnesota will be patient. Deal get done tonight? No. Everything I've been told is it's not going to happen tonight. Once tonight passes, there is no urgency. It's not picked related. They're not looking for picks. Everyone is offering picks. It's not picks. Minnesota wants an all-star caliber player and someone who sets up nicely with Rubio. That's what Minnesota is focused on. That's more attractive than anything else that has come their way. Unless something more attractive comes and the Warriors change their mind, I don't see it happening. Houston gets rid of one of the two contracts. Omer Asik goes to New Orleans. It's one of the two moves they've made to open cap space.(Other being declining Parsons' option.) Who is it for? Originally it was for Carmelo. They'll take their shot at LeBron and see if he's interested. From what I know about LeBron and Dwight, I'd be surprised. Howard and LeBron have never been big fans of each other. Dwight was treated like a kid by the group, and Chris Paul too, by the guys known as the super friends. He's never forgotten that. Daryl Morey has to convince Dwight why this is best for everyone involved. He doesn't have that issue with Carmelo. Carmelo was the reason for cap space. I believe Carmelo remains that guy. If they don't get Carmelo, Parsons is highly valued by Minnesota as well and if Golden State stays firm on not including Klay, Houston would be the next likeliest place for Love to show up. Whether Morey risks that Kevin is not...I never heard Houston from him or anyone close to him, that Houston is on his list of preferred destinations. Would Daryl make a deal not knowing? That part I don't know. Houston would go after Kevin Love if not Carmelo Anthony. LeBron James? It's silly season. You'll get six different versions of what's happening. Of course they had lunch and talked. They've spent 4 years together and been through war. They've won 2 rings. To think LeBron will turn his back on those guys and everything they've been through, think about it, it's silliness. He's going to look around but... Can he get the other two to take less? I think he can. Exactly what that will look like is the question. Those guys would like to continue to play together. Wade is the guy with the biggest decision. He will be sacrificing money he can't get back but let's be honest, he's made a lot of money. I have a hard time seeing Wade saying, screw that, I'm getting my money and find a different way of making this happen.
Some poster on rotoreport claims a source close to Lebron said that he is done with management (Heat) and that there is a 99% chance he goes to Houston. http://www.therotoreport.com/lebron-houston-99/ Sorry, its summer.
If this is true then Minnesota is the worst. No player or "All Star" that they receive in a Love trade would be remotely close to the caliber of player that they are letting go. Hell, they've never even made the playoffs with Love on the roster. Losing Love means rebuilding. To rebuild you need PICKS. Not borderline All Stars on bloated contracts. Morey has spoiled us brehs.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Keep in mind w/talk about LeBron to Hou: Dwight/LBJ weren't exactly buds on Team USA. Glowing remarks about Melo weren't by accident.</p>— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) <a href="https://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/482308214709428224">June 26, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Yep and we of course are one pick under Charlotte how HOUSTON is that... just like Teddy Bridgewater.
Ric Bucher hacked? LOL <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Source: Toronto looking to S&T Kyle Lowry to Miami for cash and future picks. Part II: Bosh opts out, returns to Toronto.</p>— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) <a href="https://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/482351575248019456">June 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
So? It's not like WE were going to draft Napier, even to spite Miami. We were always committed to freeing up cap space which means no drafting players in the first round who will actually play this year. And Charlotte was going to take him. They wouldn't have traded the pick if they knew Miami was going to take their guy (and everybody knew Miami wanted Napier). Miami could've gotten him at #26, but they weren't taking any chances.
Like I said before, the Heat aren't in a great position to make one big move. It's going to have to be a bunch of smaller moves, and Napier is part 1. I think LBJ is not committed yet but really wants to make it work. He'll wait and see what else Riley can pull off + what happens w/ Wade and Bosh.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Now hearing that Norris Cole would also be part of the Lowry-to-Miami deal.</p>— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) <a href="https://twitter.com/RicBucher/statuses/482356255982227456">June 27, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
