Marc Stein: Christopher Paul is already recruiting Lebron

Philly should be a favorite because of the talent, conference and cap space flexibility. However, Boston's emergence, young talent and return of two All Star level players would make them competitive with the Sixers even with LeBron. If it is about rings, the surest thing (other than Golden State, or Boston) is still probably Houston.

 

I don't understand why people keep touting the Eastern Conference as the main reason he's staying with Cleveland/not going to Houston. Look at what he's doing with that team this year. Look at them last year. Sure he's making the Finals but quite literally everybody who has a baseline level of basketball knowledge knows Cleveland has zero chance against the Warriors. That will never change. What good is making the Finals every year if he's going to get swept or lose in 5?

Cleveland has a mid-lottery pick in the draft to look forward to. That's it. They have no cap-room and every player on LeBron's team (besides Love) is below average. People are ignoring how Boston was 6 minutes away from a Finals birth WITHOUT Kyrie or Hayward. That team can compete with Golden State and will annihilate Cleveland and even Philly (if LeBron comes).

If LeBron wants to win a championship, he's going to have to beat both the Warriors and the Celtics. If he stays East, he will have to face Boston in the Conference Finals and the Warriors in the Finals. If he comes to Houston, he will have to face the Warriors in the Conference Finals and Boston in the Finals. Either way, those are his two obstacles. He needs to surround himself with the best TEAM. Regardless of Conference. Harden and Paul give him the best chance of winning. Period.

 

I think Boston is the real deal in the East going forward, Tatum is comparable to Simmons (at least to some degree), two between Irving, Hayward and Horford are better than Embiid, you also know Ainge is just waiting to go after Davis (or even Kawhi) as soon as he'll be eventually available (and i bet he will) in a couple of years, Stevens and Ainge are also the best gm/coach pair in the nba, they've cleary built a winning enviroment there, and they can get easily better due to age and assets.

If i'm Lebron i totally see Boston as a big threat if i sign with Philly, both Embiid and Simmons are unproven in the playoffs, they have to improve their game in some aspects and they're not even perfect fits with him. They also had worrisome injuries, especially Embiid. Add that at least as today, they don't have a solid organization over there, another thing to consider.

 

Just for fun

Rockets out: Anderson, Gordon and future 1st
Rockets in: Lebron

OKC out: Melo and a future 1st
OKC in: Gordon and Anderson

Cavs in: Melo (buy out and signs with Rockets), 2 1st round picks
Cavs our: LeBron

Rockets gets Lebron, re-sign Capela and CP3 and Melo.

OKC gets rid of Melo and adds great shooters around Russ.

Cavs get assets instead of nothing for lebron.

Heck, add the Lakers and OKC can send PG in exchange for assets.

 

Tatum is much better than Simmons. One guy is a skilled offensive wing that isn’t afraid of the last shot. While Simmons can’t shoot and is useless at the end of the game. He can pass though. Give me Tatum.

 

Boston is a super team.

Kyrie is a high end all star
Hayward is a solid all star
Horford is a low end all star
Tatum looks to be somewhere between Hayward and kyrie right away
Jaylen Brown is probably low end all star level next year whether he can make it or not

Doesn’t even account for their solid role
Players and good draft picks

Boston is stacked and philly probably can’t compete with them

 

Haven't read this thread, but I am going to ask anyway..

How does anyone know if Paul is recruiting Lebron? Is paul walking around showing people his text messages?

 

No one knows and if you read this article (which most didn’t) it’s just stein saying “of course he’s recruiting him”

 

Sign me up for all of that.

 

If this happens just give us the trophy.

 

I reject this deal just on Melo coming here.

 

Why do yall want Melo so bad? He freakin sucks balls and he would not benefit this team.

 

Don't rule out LeBron going to the Lakers. Maybe with PG.

It's between the Sixers/Rockets/Lakers.

 

Melo wouldn’t. Hoodie Melo would.

 

the question is would a Lebron and pg and couple of below average players get them over the warriors? I say no

 

No one wants melo here... except lebron... we just need melo to be bobby brown for the player we really want to keep.

 

I don't think the Sixers are on the list.

Too young and unproven.

It's really Houston or a banana boat in LA

 

Imagine LeBron on a team where 2/3 of the other most talented players can’t shoot outside the restricted circle to save their life.lmao

 

Honestly I don't see anyone outside of cleveland and houston, if he is chasing rings there is only one team capable of beating the warriors which is us, the warriors arent going anywhere for another at least 3 years, even if he goes to the Lakers with another all star it's still wouldn't be enough to beat the warriors, I really don't see him joining the Celtics.