Bima, I am always a fan of your insight. I have a question for you. Under the assumption that Lebron is interested in Dallas and Houston, do you think Cleveland really believes that letting Lebron walk and having the cap room to sign a FA is the way to go? I ask this because their only stars have only ever been drafted. If you look at the past decade, their biggest signings were Damon Jones, Donyell Marshall, and Larry Hughes. Yeah... since Lebron and the all of the Cavs hype; Dwayne Jones, Scot Pollard, David Wesley, Devin Brown, Cedric Simmons, Tarence Kinsey, and Lorenzen Wright. This is not a place that free agents go to. Durant isn't coming and Melo isn't coming. This is a business, with the fallout of Lebron wouldn't they need something to prove to the fans they aren't simply going back to the dark ages. If this team goes back to bottom feeder status, which it would with the Dallas trades, the fans won't support that product. The attendance before Lebron was horrendous (wins have a direct correlation to revenue). To be semi-competitive and still have cap space in 2011 seems to be a better way to go financially. This means lots of picks, young talent and maybe a semi-star that can at least mitigate the lost of Lebron. Kevin Martin, Ariza, Jefferies, Hill, this years pick, next years pick, and the Knicks pick. That gives them Ariza, whom they wanted, Martin to offset the scoring lost, and Jefferies as an expiring. It also gives them young talent in Hill, and more draft picks then Dallas can possibly compete with. Why would Cleveland not prefer this? Cap room won't bring guys to offset Lebron, and they are not getting a player of that caliber in a trade to replace him. Martin, young talent, and picks might be as good as it gets.
THIS. That's exactly how I was thinking about it. Martin is the "Allen" acquisition and Bosh is the "KG" acquisition. I think that's Morey's plan.
The Wizard does it again: King James traded to Houston. It's just a dream. Ariza, Lowry (SnT), Battier, 1st picks, and Hayes for LeBron. Yao / Hill / Andersen Scola / Harris / Jeffries LeBron / Budinger Martin / Taylor Brooks / that PG from greece
Lebron is not coming to Houston if you trade away Yao. No Yao = No China connection = Lebron asks why??
I don't think Lebron will end up in Houston, but if he does, must keep Yao. Lebron without another legit player hasn't really worked out for him. And I don't think KMart or Brooks is good enough to be that "other" guy. And yes, this is assuming Yao will be Yao when he comes back. In addition, if Lebron was to go to Dallas I would fall to the floor is laughter. Dallas...really?....they rule at choking.
I'd say no chance. But if we win the lottery, I think our chances would go up quite a notch. Not happening, I know. But John Wall or Evan Turner could just be enough for Cleveland to S&T Lebron for, if he's not staying. In addition, I think IF(and the odds of that would be 0.0001%) Lebron is onboard, I think Bosh automatically comes. Because he can stick a gun to Toronto's head to come here, and we have enough assets to send back(Brooks and Martin would both be available in that scenario).
Hahaha. Nah, but I did marry my college girlfriend (after playing the field for a couple of years). My point is that, if Chris Bosh and Toronto are ready to consummate (no pun intended) a sign-and-trade ON July 8, even if the slight possibility of getting Lebron remains, I think Morey makes the deal. Neither Miami nor Chicago would do that.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the 2012 Knicks pick IS TOP 5 PROTECTED!!! Therefore, by definition, to the extent that you are referring to an asset that would be owned by the Rockets, that pick is the very OPPOSITE of "top 5 guaranteed". (FYI, the top 5 protection continues until 2015, at which point the Rockets would instead get the Knicks' own 2015 2nd rounder [which would most likely be in the #31 to #38 range] and the Knicks' own 2016 2nd rounder.) Also, the 2011 Knicks pick swap is most definitely not "top 5 guaranteed". Sure, it's only top 1 protected, but in order for the Knicks to pick in the #2 to #5 range, they would either need to (a) finish with one of the two worst records in the league or (b) win the lottery at #2 or #3, but not #1. Just be happy if the 2012 pick is in the #6 to #9 range and if the 2011 swapped pick is in the #4 to #9 range. Or perhaps I should be telling this to Toronto fans.
How can you say you don't support Yao no matter what when you think Yao Ming is as valuable as Lebron James? Let's see: Yao's 30 years old. LBJ's 26. Yao's been injured 4 of the last 5 seasons. LBJ's first nagging injury is his elbow, and it only happened this season. Yao has never been an MVP. LBJ's been MVP twice. Yao just reached the 2nd round last year, and broke his foot when he got there. LBJ's been to the finals, and been to the playoffs almost every year. Yeah, they are equal value
If we made a Bosh move early in the offseason, I wonder If Lebron would take a lonnnnnnng look at Houston. Maybe Bosh could convince him. :grin:
If Morey was willing to empty the cupboard of assets, all at the risk of losing out on Bosh in the interim, then I could possibly see Cleveland finding a Rockets package to be "an offer they couldn't refuse". But I seriously think that Cleveland will take a hard-line stand with Lebron that they will NOT cooperate in any sign-and-trade arrangement. As for Cleveland attracting free agents, you may be right. But in fairness to the Cavs, they've been well above the salary cap for several years now. Had the Cavs (with Lebron) had significant cap room, there would likely have been a line around the block of guys wanting to play there. Sure, without Lebron, that line gets significantly shorter. But in this league, money talks. And money comes with cap room. (Oh, yeah, as for your "wins have a direct correlation to revenue" point, go ask the Atlanta Hawks how that worked out for them this season.) ^But I agree with your point generally.
wouldnt lebron and bosh first need to agree to come here before any idea of a sign and trade is worked out
If we got both Bosh/James are starting 5 would be arguably the best in the NBA, but our 2nd unit would probably be horrific.
