2018 NBA offseason thread
- Thread starter DJnVa
- Start date
If Pop takes it. If Philly was assured that it meant getting LeBron and Kawhi, they might ship Simmons to SAS.
This is a very under the radar, great signing for Davis at that price tag. I cannot believe the Blazers didn't match that. Olshey is basically shooting himself in the foot the past 3 seasons and I'll not be shocked if McCollum or Lillard are gone in the next 6 months. This isn't a for sure playoff team coming into the season.
I don't see this. Fultz, Saric, Zhaire Smith, and the 2021 Miami pick are all pretty nifty assets. I'd rather take some combination of pieces there ahead of Ingram and a pick.
FWIW.
"LeBron has made his decision & informed those close to him. Expect the official announcement Tuesday morning"
"LeBron has made his decision & informed those close to him. Expect the official announcement Tuesday morning"
If this is the case, it's not Philly and today's meeting was simply a courtesy. Because there's no way he doesn't go back to LA if Philly blew him away and say "Get Kawhi or I'm gone"
Also, blows the "No Kawhi then I'm not coming" narrative.
If true.
Can’t wait for Miami’s cap to be clear in the summer of 2020 to end this narrative (that only started when Philly acquired it) of the Miami 2021 pick being one of the most valuable assets in sports.
LA has Ball and Kuzma, too. If LeBron says Kawhi or bust, Magic is going all in. It’s LeBron James.
No doubt. Draft picks are way overvalued right now. What happened with the Brooklyn picks is not the norm, both in terms of where the picks ended up, and how they worked out given where they ended up.
It actually makes sense for Magic not to bite since idc what PG did, Kawhi & Uncle Kawhi are leaving after next year.
Although if you believe conspiracy theories, Lebron ghosted PG once Kawhi became available...so I guess there's a chance Lebron could ghost Kawhi too. But Durant or someone like him would have to be available.
Although if you believe conspiracy theories, Lebron ghosted PG once Kawhi became available...so I guess there's a chance Lebron could ghost Kawhi too. But Durant or someone like him would have to be available.
I think Kuzma doesn't move the needle at all - he's a minor piece. I like Ball, but there's a lot of reporting the Spurs don't want the circus. Possible if you get a 3rd team involved still.
I think Danny re-enters Kawhi sweepstakes if that unlikely scenario materializes.
Do you think Lebron will have his reps only meet with Philly, and then we hear he's decided? Without meeting them himself? Without going back to LA and saying "Hey, that was a pretty good presentation Philly did...step up?"
Philly’s presentation should be: you face a tough road to the finals next year in LA, especially without Kawhi. You face a tough road to the finals in Cleveland next year. We think we are competitive for a title just by adding you this year. We have the option of making a huge offer to the Spurs for Kawhi, which would cost us long-term assets but make us favorites next year, but we wouldn’t want to do that without your being here or without your input. Obviously you both could take off for LA next year, but we are hoping that after winning a title you will want to stay.
My dream scenario is still LeBron and Durant forming a new Legion of Evil in LA, with LA turning around and making a sign & trade transaction for the Boogieman. And keeping LaVar Ball, of course.
He hasn't even met LA at all apparently.
The LA case means he's happy not winning any more titles.
He plus Kawhi plus whatever is left is not a warriors/ rockets level.
And the west also has pelicans, nuggets, jazz, thunder
In the east if he goes to Philly it's a team that won the 3rd seed and only has one major contender (the Celtics).
If you want to win games and titles Philly is a better spot. If you want all the trimmings and lower chance of titles Lakers.
We shall see.
Yes, obviously depends on the “whatever is left” being at least marginally serviceable, but LeBron plus a (healthy) Kawhi is pretty damn good... I think you’re wearing some Philly-colored glasses to not see that.
Lebron, Ball, Kuzma, Ingram, sign Cousins, re-sign Randle, get a shooter like JJ Redick. That’s a 50 win team, then sign Kawhi next summer. That’s a championship team in Year 2.
Is everyone still discounting LBJ to Philly like I am or does him taking a meeting change things drastically?
Lebron & a healthy Kawhi could easily take down those choke artists in OKC and not so easily take down HOU--though it will be easier when CP3 is hobbled with whatever and Harden disappears.
Tbh I think Lebron even without Kawhi could take out OKC.
And Lebron + Kawhi might actually make Boogie show up if LeGM wants him.
Tbh I think Lebron even without Kawhi could take out OKC.
And Lebron + Kawhi might actually make Boogie show up if LeGM wants him.
I agree with most of this. I think he may just want to end up in LA and even though the best spot for him next year is Philly (especially if they can get Leonard), it may be hard to not go where he ultimately wants to live.
There's only 3 teams he could go to. I don't think him/his people meeting with all of them is that odd at all. It puts pressure on the others.
I’ve long maintained that Philly is the best play from a pure basketball standpoint. My bet at this point is he ends up in LA on the strength of he and his family wanting to live in LA year-round and the belief that “the Lakers with LeBron” will attract enough talent to contend.
I think the best spot for him (from a basketball perspective) would have been to take his player option and force a trade to Houston. If not Houston, Boston may have been next best if all he cared about was winning.
It seems there is more going into his decision than just winning titles.
I think Philly is only the best from a basketball standpoint of the three remaining teams.
Boston is probably better because the competition factor. A healthy Celtics squad still challenges LeBron on Philly. LeBron on Boston rolls over Philly.
LeBron ($35.6), Ball ($8.7), Kuzma ($2.0), and Ingram ($7.3) are going to cost you a combined $53.6. If Boogie takes the max ($30.3), and Randle gets $15M, then you're at $98.9M for 6 players, meaning you're capped out just from cap holds to fill out your 9 remaining roster spots.
They don't have the cap space to add a shooter, let alone add Kawhi in that scenario. And I'm assuming they've magically gotten rid of Deng's contract by giving away a first rounder or something, rather than stretching him.
I think staying in the East makes way more sense from a basketball standpoint because he would have an easier route to the Finals and Boston was never a realistic option.
Then an equal realistic option to the finals would have been just to stay in Cleveland and force them to try and trade for Kawhi.
Edit - LeBron to the Lakers. Love it.
Outside of Love and the 8 pick Cleveland had no assets. LeBron/Kawhi/filler battles the Celtics. LeBron/Embiid/Simmons/Kawhi would have been the favorite in the East for 5 years.
Moot point anyway, agree with loving LeBron to the Lakers. With PG staying in OKC this probably means Philly rolls the cap space to next year and the Celtics can start resting for the ECF.
Not surprised they kept him, surprised they didn’t let him go to market aside from preserving goodwill. Who could have even offersheeted him? Unlikely the Sixers blow their wad on him, the Lakers used their space already, the Hawks are tanking; I guess the Bulls could have taken a shot.
I'm surprised they just gave him 4/84 on day one of free agency with all the money drying up quickly.
Very rare a team in Orlando will ever much much leverage over anybody, I would've used it here.