Windhorst: "LeBron James has informed the Cavs he won’t opt into his contract. This decision is favorable to the Lakers chances, hurts the Rockets chances and the Cavs remain firmly in mix."
Shams Charania: New York Knicks center Enes Kanter plans to exercise his $18.6M player option today to return to the team next season, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
Enes Kanter: God Damn shams I haven’t made any decisions yet.
To me, it’s down to 1. Lakers.To me, it's down to 2. Cavs or Lakers.
If all of Twitter were like NBA Twitter, we'd be living in paradise.There are days when I hate the Twitter-age and other days when I love it. Today falls under the latter.
For sure. He's a Laker. Only question is who will his teammates be.To me, it’s down to 1. Lakers.
I would be overjoyed to see them put together a "superteam" of Cousins and George.Yikes. That would be a disappointment for Lakers fans.
LeBron is already 18th all time in minutes played, which doesn't include playoffs (where he has to be the all time leader on a per-year basis, he's no sure bet to still be LeBron in 3 years. Tom Brady has kept it up, but he's the exception.LeBron is going there, so even a combination of LeBron/Boogie/Ingram/Ball/Kuzma gives them a shot to win the West, then they add a max next year and become favorites the next 3 years probably. Could be worse. Or they get Pop to blink and add Leonard.
LeBron has improved pretty much each year since he entered the league and continues to do so with his numbers up across the board. I'd be surprised if he isn't essentially the same player over the next 3-4 years as he is today. You can't compare technology in training, nutrition, etc to that of years ago...….or compare LeBron's preparation to continue playing with other players just as you can't effectively do so with Brady, Kobe, and others who fully commit their life to preparing their bodies to compete.LeBron is already 18th all time in minutes played, which doesn't include playoffs (where he has to be the all time leader on a per-year basis, he's no sure bet to still be LeBron in 3 years. Tom Brady has kept it up, but he's the exception.
If they do the former, is there a cap path to them adding Leonard in 19-20?LeBron is going there, so even a combination of LeBron/Boogie/Ingram/Ball/Kuzma gives them a shot to win the West, then they add a max next year and become favorites the next 3 years probably. Could be worse. Or they get Pop to blink and add Leonard.
You mention Kobe. LeBron will be 34 next year; Kobe had his last great season at 34. If 2021 LeBron is the same player he is today, he will be doing something that is near unprecedented; the only guys I can find who played at a high level at that age are Duncan and Kareem, who were much different players than LeBron. Maybe he can do it, but I'd say the odds are against him. Father Time remains undefeated.LeBron has improved pretty much each year since he entered the league and continues to do so with his numbers up across the board. I'd be surprised if he isn't essentially the same player over the next 3-4 years as he is today. You can't compare technology in training, nutrition, etc to that of years ago...….or compare LeBron's preparation to continue playing with other players just as you can't effectively do so with Brady, Kobe, and others who fully commit their life to preparing their bodies to compete.
There hasn't been a player ever like LeBron. He's never had a major injury(Kobe tore his Achilles) and his combo of size and strength has allowed himself to take on all the mileage he has.You mention Kobe. LeBron will be 34 next year; Kobe had his last great season at 34. If 2021 LeBron is the same player he is today, he will be doing something that is near unprecedented; the only guys I can find who played at a high level at that age are Duncan and Kareem, who were much different players than LeBron. Maybe he can do it, but I'd say the odds are against him. Father Time remains undefeated.
Oh geez, I thought Deng was done after this season. He has two left lol, so maybe not. It would need to be a Godfather offer for a team to take Deng, but the problem is then Ingram and Ball probably have less value because they are closer to free agency. So, yeah, they might need this to work out with Kawhi (or someone else) this season.If they do the former, is there a cap path to them adding Leonard in 19-20?
Yeah, I think Lebron will have a career arc like Karl Malone* -- he pays a ton of attention to his body and he conserves himself during games which presumably extends to practice.LeBron has improved pretty much each year since he entered the league and continues to do so with his numbers up across the board. I'd be surprised if he isn't essentially the same player over the next 3-4 years as he is today. You can't compare technology in training, nutrition, etc to that of years ago...….or compare LeBron's preparation to continue playing with other players just as you can't effectively do so with Brady, Kobe, and others who fully commit their life to preparing their bodies to compete.
There hasn't been a player ever like LeBron. He's never had a major injury(Kobe tore his Achilles) and his combo of size and strength has allowed himself to take on all the mileage he has.
Wow. Didn’t see that one coming. Lol.
LeBron James’ agent informed the Cavs he will not exercise his $35.6 million option and thus will become an unrestricted free agent, sources told @clevelanddotcom ... Story coming
So, in this analogy, Magic is an elderly man yelling at the game controller?Being GM of the Lakers is like playing a video game on easy mode.
I hope he doesn't. A functional ownership group would make the Knicks much more enticing to players like Kyrie next summer.Bad news- Dolan might be selling the Knicks.
DeadspinVerified account @Deadspin 1h1 hour ago
James Dolan lays groundwork for sale of Knicks and Rangers; MSG stock surges http://deadsp.in/iUcOYr5
Heavy emphasis on might at this point.
A funny pwn would be Dolan selling everything except for the Knicks.I hope he doesn't. A functional ownership group would make the Knicks much more enticing to players like Kyrie next summer.
Actually, he addresses the system’s playoff weakness here. In summary, he concludes that it’s due to what we already knew and discussed here - the system doesn’t account for depth chart changes due to things such as injury (e.g. Curry).Before he figures out those conundra, he should figure out why the CARMELO system that he's still apparently happy with (per his recent comments) had the Warriors as a 4% title shot entering the playoffs.
All I'm hearing is excuses. If he's got a system that doesn't account for injuries and is also a system which had the Warriors at a 4% chance to win the title, it's a broken system.Actually, he addresses the system’s playoff weakness here. In summary, he concludes that it’s due to what we already knew and discussed here - the system doesn’t account for depth chart changes due to things such as injury (e.g. Curry).
No argument there. And I’d actually go further and say that anyone with half a brain could have seen this as a major flaw and predicted bad outcomes eventually.All I'm hearing is excuses. If he's got a system that doesn't account for injuries and is also a system which had the Warriors at a 4% chance to win the title, it's a broken system.
You have to finish ten seasons, not be going into your tenth season.As of July 1st 2019 Paul George will be in his tenth season and eligible for the ten year max.
LA. The Thunder have no realistic pathway to a championship. Lebron always has one.Paul George is discussing his FA journey with DWade. According to this article, the most important thing is "winning a championship."
So let's see - does he have a better chance in OKC with Melo and Westbrook and the rest of the gang or in LA with LeBron and virtually any other 10 NBA players they can find?
Not to get too in the weeds, but CARM-ELO is fundamentally flawed simply by being an ELO based system. This has inherent weaknesses relative to other team-rating systems like SRS (a regression essentially), the most notable of which is that ELO always overweights recent results relative to older results, and is prone to huge fluctuations, essentially because of this:No argument there. And I’d actually go further and say that anyone with half a brain could have seen this as a major flaw and predicted bad outcomes eventually.
But I was responding to someone who said that Silver was happy with the results of that system, when he clearly isn’t.
Seems like a non issue yeah? The injury type seems relatively minor compared to ACL or other types of leg/knee problems.Welp.
Shams CharaniaVerified account @ShamsCharania
Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball has a torn meniscus in his left knee, league sources tell Yahoo. Ball is expected to be ready for training camp next season.
Makes sense. He’s already decided on the Lakers and it improves their chances at getting another guy like George.Russillo said he’s heard more and more chatter about LeBron being the first one in the door in LA.
Short term yes, but long term it could be bad, depending on the extent of the damage. If the tear is repairable or they only need to take a small part of it out, then he should be fine. If a large part needs to get removed he could be looking at a short career. I had a decent chunk of my meniscus taken out at 22 and had osteoarthritis at 24 and was done with sports that required running and/or jumping. ACLs are relatively easy to fix and common surgeries at this point. The rehab and recovery are significantly longer post op for an ACL, but the lack of blood flow into cartilage makes the meniscus harder to “fix” so it can be the beginning of the end for sports.Seems like a non issue yeah? The injury type seems relatively minor compared to ACL or other types of leg/knee problems.
Yup. It can sometimes be a tricky injury. Troy Bell tore his meniscus and it basically sapped his athleticism.Short term yes, but long term it could be bad, depending on the extent of the damage. If the tear is repairable or they only need to take a small part of it out, then he should be fine. If a large part needs to get removed he could be looking at a short career. I had a decent chunk of my meniscus taken out at 22 and had osteoarthritis at 24 and was done with sports that required running and/or jumping. ACLs are relatively easy to fix and common surgeries at this point. The rehab and recovery are significantly longer post op for an ACL, but the lack of blood flow into cartilage makes the meniscus harder to “fix” so it can be the beginning of the end for sports.
So...Lonzo won't notice any difference at all? *rimshot*Yup. It can sometimes be a tricky injury. Troy Bell tore his meniscus and it basically sapped his athleticism.
Shit.Short term yes, but long term it could be bad, depending on the extent of the damage. If the tear is repairable or they only need to take a small part of it out, then he should be fine. If a large part needs to get removed he could be looking at a short career. I had a decent chunk of my meniscus taken out at 22 and had osteoarthritis at 24 and was done with sports that required running and/or jumping. ACLs are relatively easy to fix and common surgeries at this point. The rehab and recovery are significantly longer post op for an ACL, but the lack of blood flow into cartilage makes the meniscus harder to “fix” so it can be the beginning of the end for sports.
Haralabos VoulgarisWindhorst said on PTI that no decision will be made before Lebron meets with the Lakers next week.
So everyone can stop refreshing the page this weekend,