Some other potential 2019 free agents... Spoiler Al Horford(Player Option) Kyrie Irving(Player Option) Terry Rozier(RFA) Kemba Walker Dwight Howard Kevin Love(Player Option) Harrison Barnes(Player Option) Paul Millsap(Team Option) Klay Thompson Myles Turner(RFA) DeAndre Jordan Tobias Harris Marc Gasol(Player Option) Goran Dragic(Player Option) Hassan Whiteside(Player Option) Khris Middleton(Player Option) Eric Bledsoe Jimmy Butler(Player Option) Karl Towns(RFA) Jeff Teague(Player Option) Kristaps Porzinis(RFA) Carmelo Anthony Nikola Vucevic Devin Booker(RFA) Kawhi Leonard(Player Option) Jonas Valanciunas(Player Option) Paul George? LeBron James? Kevin Durant?
Agreed. I think Lebron needs to think about himself in this situation. If if wants to be the greatest, rings will do the thing!! The money is a no brain move and a bonus considering his other options!! Thank God for Texas and no state tax!!
At one point I'd have agreed with you, but Paul George going to LA by himself can't be a very enticing offer. He'd be absolutely torn apart being there as a "superstar" on a losing team. If he can't get people to join him, he might be better off at least making the playoffs in OKC on a short term deal than he would being the next Nick Van Exel in LA.
I just don't see how it is better for him to stay in OKC than move to Lakers. We have better prospects for future, more cap space, more flexibility, he'd be the man and he's gonna be paid. And I won't even start with the lifestyle and family thing. On the other side, he's never going to win a ring in OKC as long as this guy name Russell Westbrook is the n#1 option. And I don't know what are you assuming by a "losing team"...the Lakers alone with two second-year players and Ingram are going to win 42 games next season. With George we'll be 7th in West. This narrative that we suck and that the Lakers are bad is not there anymore. We ain't the same team we were 5 years ago and make no mistake, we'll only get better
If LeBron decides to come here it will be for Chris Paul. So he'll want to align his contract with Paul to get Paul his money. But also........to gave optimum leverage with Harden fit cooperation and working together. So if he opts in for one year, cp3 will likely take a one year deal and then they'll both re-up on 4 year deals or whatever they both agree to. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Here's the deal with Lebron guys. Just a little more info. IDEALLY LeBron wants to stay in Cleveland, get other pieces that he knows he can win with and go get his rings. But that's virtually impossible at this point. He needs 4 guys. IF the Cavs were able to pull off...say Hill and #8 for Kemba, that leaves them with three guys, Lebron, Kemba,, and Love. Lebron still needs another guy......a stud interior defender that can protect the paint, switch adequately on the perimeter, and not be a negative offensive player. Enter DJ. It would take a miracle for the Cavs to pull off DJ and Kemba.....or DeMarcus and Kemba or George and Kemba. And then there's no guarantees that that 4 will be good enough. So barring that miracle, the next most ideal scenario would be for Lebron to walk to LA and form his own super team there. He'd be the top dog and the team would be his. But realistically the best case scenario for next season would be him, George, and Kawhi, with Kuzma or Ball as the 4th guy. And that's going to take a miracle to get that done. And then if it gets done he still doesn't know if he'll get past the Warriors and Rockets or not. The third most ideal scenario (BUT THE MOST REALISTIC) is to come to Houston by hook or crook. He knows we're close. And he knows he could put us over the top. The one catch is..........this wouldn't be HIS TEAM exactly. Because our one guy is Harden. LeBron would have to accept co-star status. Harden isn't going to just turn the team over to him. That is the rub and the makings of the third "DECISION". Watch this week to see if the Cavs make a monster move or two for Kemba or George....or both. I don't think it happens. And I think LeBron decides he's opting out and announced it a day or two before the moratorium....unless the Cavs wake up and sense it and start initiating trade talks themselves. You never know whether Gilbert is awake and alert or drunk at the wheel. LeBron already tried to persuade Paul and George to join him in LA. But Paul said no. Lebron knows he's stuck trying to get George and kawhi to LA with him and he knows that's an uphill battle. LeBron also knows we're ready and waiting and he knows we're the Most REALISTIC option to 4 more titles in succession. We represent his greatest chance of beating and disbanding the Warriors. Rox 90% Cleveland 6% Lakers 3% Everybody else 1%
EDIT: Why would LeBron want Paul and George in LA when there is already a point guard that is younger, cheaper and is going to serve 10 years ahead?
The Lakers if they strike out in free agency will probably try to preserve cap space for next summer. Meaning no KCP, Lopez, Randle. That would not be anywhere close to a 42 win team. Even with George, they will trying to save cap space for Kawhi. Won’t even sniff the playoffs in the West. Unless they can convince a bunch of good players to play on one year deals. GS Houston New Orleans Minnesota San Antonio Utah Denver Portland OKC Are still better than the Lakers.
You're wrong. Unless Randle gets offered funny money (and it seems he won't), we're matching Randle. But they will FOR SURE sign several solid players on 1 year deals as the organization wants to preserve the winning culture mentality that we imposed for these two years now. Which is what is needed to do; show the free agent stars that the team can win with natural progression and that they are just a step forward towards a new championship. That means no shitty tanking for picks, no bad contracts. The worst we can do is absorb players like Parsons, Anderson (maybe not the best example but you get the point) or whatever SHORT inflated contract you find in the league for some draft picks. But baring superstars coming to LA, the core of Ball, Kuzma, Ingram, Randle, Hart + 1 year deals is going to stay in Los Angeles. And all of you generally are underrating all of our young guys (Ball and especially INGRAM). He's a stud about to average 20 a game next season. And y'all be surprised. Without a star we're winning 42 games. With George we'll be 7th or 8th in the West. Cite me this time next year on this.
People without a single human contact that works in the NBA, or has any remote connection to LeBron James are really saying that there is a 90% chance of LeBron James coming to the Rockets? And people believe this?
Question: CP3 opting in last year. Was this announced prior to him being traded to the Rockets or was it noted when he was traded to the Rockets?
Lonzo wouldn’t have gotten minutes for the Rockets in the playoffs this year. Lebron is smart enough to know that Paul and Harden are better than Paul George. Lakers aren’t where you go to win a ring. If y’all got Kawhi different story but the Lakers have to hope that the 5 or 6 teams with better offers don’t acrually make offers.
90% is f'n hilarious. You bet the house on that. Why even have a discussion on this anymore? LeBron mine as well be pulling up on polk & labranch as we type according to alcoholic
Because Lonzo Ball is a homeless man’s Jason Kidd who shoots 35% from the field and has a jackass father who can’t keep his mouth shut.
See: Wiggins v Love. Now: see what rookie LBJ has 'allowed' on the court with him in howevermanyyears???
Fun times. http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-los-angeles-clippers-contract-chris-paul-too Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have notified the Los Angeles Clippers they won't pick up the player options in their contracts for next season, sources told ESPN on Friday. The moves, which were expected, will make them unrestricted free agents July 1. The Clippers are regarded as strong favorites to retain Griffin and Paul when they hit the open market, given their financial advantages over competing teams in trying to sign them. But the Clippers' nagging inability to dodge injuries and reach the conference finals even once in Paul's six seasons have given interested suitors such as the San Antonio Spurs hope that he will strongly consider external interest. The Spurs have indeed explored the feasibility of making a free-agent run at Paul, league sources told ESPN last month. Sources said the Clippers regard the threat of San Antonio signing away Paul as a legitimate concern, even though the Spurs, at present, have virtually no salary-cap flexibility. The Clippers will enter free agency knowing they can outbid any suitor for Paul. At 32, Paul is eligible for a five-year deal worth an estimated $205 million from Clippers owner Steve Ballmer this summer, thanks in part to rule changes in the NBA's most recent labor pact that are more favorable to stars in Paul's age bracket. The most the Spurs can offer, by contrast, is a four-year contract worth just over $152 million. The Spurs and Clippers would have the ability to engage in sign-and-trade talks if Paul were to decide he wants to continue his career in South Texas as opposed to Hollywood. Yet it should be noted that Paul, in a sign-and-trade scenario, could not get the five-year, $205 million deal; such a swap would merely allow San Antonio to clear cap space by sending assets back to the Clippers in exchange for Paul. League sources told ESPN that the Houston Rockets also have Paul in their summer sights, as well as Griffin, who would be giving up more than $40 million if he signs with a team other than the Clippers. Griffin's decision to decline his player option was first reported by The Vertical. The Clippers, knowing the free-agent threat posed by San Antonio and Houston is real, hired NBA front-office legend Jerry West away from the reigning champion Golden State Warriors in the first of a series of moves they are hoping will help persuade Paul to stay put.
