The reason why we're a "very long shot" is that we're up against the field. Miami is the team he's already on and has the home court advantage in terms of winning him over given that Lebron already knows his team mates, the management, the ownership, and has 2 rings already. If Riley makes half decent moves or Wade agrees to a pay cut they're in good position to retool the roster. There are MULTIPLE teams with cap space and strong rosters that can make a play for Lebron, especially if Sign and Trade comes into play. The Clippers could move Griffin for Lebron, has Doc Rivers (highly respected) and their new owner has stupid deep pockets (assuming the Sterling thing doesn't get in the way) and will have no compunction about going deep into the luxury tax, especially with a NEW TV Contract negotiation upcoming. GSW has multiple players they could move for Lebron. Mavs has TONS of cap space and has a championship pedigree and a Championship level coach in Carlisle. Chicago can pay Lebron just as much as they're willing to pay Melo. It's essentially Houston vs the Field, which means we're far from the favorites. I put our chances at 15% or less at landing Lebron. And landing Lebron + Melo? Ridiculously long shot...
Rockets don't NEED both Lebron and Melo. Just Lebron is enough. As good as Melo is he is not that much better scorer than Harden. Rockets just do not need an aging scorer especially since the Rockets do not have a problem scoring points. Melo just makes the team older.
The field isn't that deep though. If you cut out teams where he wouldn't have a realistic chance of winning championships with and those who would have to gut their entire rosters to make an offer then cut down that list to teams that could make him an offer and still be in a position to give him a legitimate chance to win you are down to pretty much the Rockets and Bulls and the Bulls is contingent on a broken player miraculously returning to form.
For the purposes of the article and what some NBA insiders are talking, it actually is a good assumption to make
We might as well make the assumption then that Lebron doesn't want to play with Howard because that's been thrown out there as well and is no more or less valid than the rumors about wanting to play with Melo or rumors that he wants to play with Chris Paul. I think the safe assumption is that he wants to win, and making the team worse by shipping out Harden for Melo won't be helping him win.
Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixSI 11m Two themes that have emerged in the last week: Houston wants to sign everybody and Sacramento is willing to trade with anybody. LOL
Houston wants to sign everyone? Come again Chris? Chris, they have no money, remember? Remember how they can't move those contracts? Sign everyone? Good one Chris.
