OT: NBA Free Agency

[JaYnYcE]

ESPN saying that if Bosh accepts Houston's offer, that could open the door for Melo to join James and Wade in Miami. Holy crap.

 

[tcf15]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 8m
Yahoo Sources: LeBron James' agent is pushing for the superstar's return to Cleveland. http://yhoo.it/1m8EFAP

 

[intlzncster]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 8m
Yahoo Sources: LeBron James' agent is pushing for the superstar's return to Cleveland. http://yhoo.it/1m8EFAP

I don't know why he'd do that. Sure, they are set up for the future, but they'd still probably need to wait on guys for a couple years. Also, they seem to be run by incompetents. Riley knows what the duckck he's doing. I'll be surprised if LeBron leaves Miami. Riles has to nail this pitch though.

 

[Jerry1714]

Lebron aint playing with Melo, and no way a Lebron/Wade/Melo 3 some happens or works.

 

[tcf15]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 35s
Free agent Danny Granger has agreed to a two-year, $4.2 million deal with the Miami Heat, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

 

[aceboon]

so the Heat are basically signing all of the guys who beefed with Lebron the past few years, first McBob and now Granger

 

[tcf15]

Probably about McRoberts and his "verbal commitment"

Kemba walker ‏@KembaWalker 1m
Damn

 

[JaYnYcE]

Houston offers Bosh the max. Bosh has expressed that he wants a max contract. Very interesting if you're a cHeat fan.

 

[James]

I'll be pretty pissed for napier if bron bounces and bosh goes to houston, and riley gives wade the kobe contract. tank city if that happens. but i still have an inkling the big three will be back. Nobody has answered why would wade leave money on the table if he was uncertain about brons future decision? believe it or not landing morrow (+ mcbob, napier, James Ennis, Granger) does help their bench a ton, towards the end of the playoffs they were running on fumes.

 

[champs99and04]

I still think the most logical thing for LeBron to do would have been opting back in for one more year with the Heat. I understand his apprehension regarding the continued decline of Bosh and Wade (although I think this decline has been exaggerated), but there is something to be said for organizational stability, and from that standpoint, Miami is on one side of the pole and Cleveland is on the other. The infrastructure in place there is proven, and it's been successful.

If LeBron thinks Cleveland is going to contend for a title right away, I believe he's mistaken. The young talent that is in place simply is not all that good yet, and Kyrie Irving - while talented enough to be a franchise player - is an example of somebody who was proclaimed a star prematurely.

And, am I the only one who doesn't think swapping out Bosh for 'Melo makes the Heat better? People were happy to scapegoat the Miami supporting cast for their failures in the finals, and that was true to an extent, but the more glaring problem was the descent of their defense from elite to borderline average (which was a season-long problem). Forget how LeBron and 'Melo co-exist, pairing those two with an aging, occasionally disinterested Dwyane Wade, a couple of unproven point guards, and a cobbled together front court is a recipe for disaster. I often felt like Bosh was the glue that held that Heat team together, and whether or not he is a max player, watching his impact be minimized has been baffling to me. Sometimes the lure of the unknown trumps reliability, and I can't help but wonder if that's what's happening with LeBron.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I still think the most logical thing for LeBron to do would have been opting back in for one more year with the Heat. I understand his apprehension regarding the continued decline of Bosh and Wade (although I think this decline has been exaggerated), but there is something to be said for organizational stability, and from that standpoint, Miami is on one side of the pole and Cleveland is on the other. The infrastructure in place there is proven, and it's been successful.

If LeBron thinks Cleveland is going to contend for a title right away, I believe he's mistaken. The young talent that is in place simply is not all that good yet, and Kyrie Irving - while talented enough to be a franchise player - is an example of somebody who was proclaimed a star prematurely.

And, am I the only one who doesn't think swapping out Bosh for 'Melo makes the Heat better? People were happy to scapegoat the Miami supporting cast for their failures in the finals, and that was true to an extent, but the more glaring problem was the descent of their defense from elite to borderline average (which was a season-long problem). Forget how LeBron and 'Melo co-exist, pairing those two with an aging, occasionally disinterested Dwyane Wade, a couple of unproven point guards, and a cobbled together front court is a recipe for disaster. I often felt like Bosh was the glue that held that Heat team together, and whether or not he is a max player, watching his impact be minimized has been baffling to me. Sometimes the lure of the unknown trumps reliability, and I can't help but wonder if that's what's happening with LeBron.

Bosh has to take the money, because he doesn't deserve max contract money so he should get it while he can, and Houston is a good setup and could make a run at a title. Melo is an out of shape, no defense, ball hog. Let me know how that goes on the Heat. Melo wants the cash, which means he will resign with New York anyway. Granger of 3 years ago would have been the perfect complement, but he is over the hill.

LeBron is finishing his career in Cleveland. I don't know if that will start next year or in 3-4 years, but I am pretty sure that is where he is wrapping it up. I also think Cleveland is a lot closer to good than people give them credit for. Irving, Thompson and Waiters are a good young nucleus. Varejao is good when he is healthy, which is not often. You throw LeBron in that mix, and I bet Irving's shooting % goes up 4-5 percentage points. Also, hasn't Kevin Love said he would love to play in Cleveland with LeBron when his contract is up?

The East is going to suck next year. If the Big 3 split up, and Hibbert and Stephenson leave Indiana, then Washington or Toronto become the favorites in the East unless Derrick Rose miraculously makes it through a season. Seriously.

 

[djct1999]

Bosh has to take the money, because he doesn't deserve max contract money so he should get it while he can, and Houston is a good setup and could make a run at a title. Melo is an out of shape, no defense, ball hog. Let me know how that goes on the Heat. Melo wants the cash, which means he will resign with New York anyway. Granger of 3 years ago would have been the perfect complement, but he is over the hill.

LeBron is finishing his career in Cleveland. I don't know if that will start next year or in 3-4 years, but I am pretty sure that is where he is wrapping it up. I also think Cleveland is a lot closer to good than people give them credit for. Irving, Thompson and Waiters are a good young nucleus. Varejao is good when he is healthy, which is not often. You throw LeBron in that mix, and I bet Irving's shooting % goes up 4-5 percentage points. Also, hasn't Kevin Love said he would love to play in Cleveland with LeBron when his contract is up?

The East is going to suck next year. If the Big 3 split up, and Hibbert and Stephenson leave Indiana, then Washington or Toronto become the favorites in the East unless Derrick Rose miraculously makes it through a season. Seriously.

Cleveland will have to clear cap space to get Lebron. The assumption is Waiters is gone and most likely Thompson or Varejao. There is further speculation that Cleveland would then package Wiggins and future first round picks to land Kevin Love. Basically, when its all said and done Cleveland will have a great potential three in Irving, Lebron, and Love and little else. Its a long game, a long season, and I simply don't see that trio winning titles.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Cleveland will have to clear cap space to get Lebron. The assumption is Waiters is gone and most likely Thompson or Varejao. There is further speculation that Cleveland would then package Wiggins and future first round picks to land Kevin Love. Basically, when its all said and done Cleveland will have a great potential three in Irving, Lebron, and Love and little else. Its a long game, a long season, and I simply don't see that trio winning titles.

How did their cap situation get that bad? I thought dumping Jack and maybe Varejao (reports seem to conflict on this one) would clear enough room to get Lebron, and then they would have to make some more decisions in a year. I like Varejao, but he is never healthy. I would make the Varejao and Wiggins for Love trade in a heartbeat. Love is a superstar in his prime. Wiggins may be good or may be just OK. And I think Cleveland can do better than Varejao and Wiggins for Love, because Love has already said he is living Minnesota.

LeBron staying in Miami is predicated on Chris Bosh turning down a max contract from a title contender in Houston to receive $40MM less over the next 4 years in Miami so LeBron can receive a max contract. Sounds kind of ridiculous, doesn't it? If Bosh leaves, the Heat supporting cast isn't any better than the Cavaliers' supporting cast.

 

[djct1999]

How did their cap situation get that bad? I thought dumping Jack and maybe Varejao (reports seem to conflict on this one) would clear enough room to get Lebron, and then they would have to make some more decisions in a year. I like Varejao, but he is never healthy. I would make the Varejao and Wiggins for Love trade in a heartbeat. Love is a superstar in his prime. Wiggins may be good or may be just OK. And I think Cleveland can do better than Varejao and Wiggins for Love, because Love has already said he is living Minnesota.

LeBron staying in Miami is predicated on Chris Bosh turning down a max contract from a title contender in Houston to receive $40MM less over the next 4 years in Miami so LeBron can receive a max contract. Sounds kind of ridiculous, doesn't it? If Bosh leaves, the Heat supporting cast isn't any better than the Cavaliers' supporting cast.

I agree on most points. I also would trade Wiggins for Love in a heartbeat. I think there is as good a chance that Wiggins never materializes as there is he becomes a superstar. Call me crazy, but I don't think giving three guys max deals is a way to build a championship team. The Spurs won on balance. Neither Miami or Cleveland will have that. Good luck Lebron.

 

[intlzncster]

LeBron staying in Miami is predicated on Chris Bosh turning down a max contract from a title contender in Houston to receive $40MM less over the next 4 years in Miami so LeBron can receive a max contract. Sounds kind of ridiculous, doesn't it? If Bosh leaves, the Heat supporting cast isn't any better than the Cavaliers' supporting cast.

Not necessarily. The Heat have reportedly picked up McRoberts and Granger. Say they miss on Bosh, but manage to sign Gasol. Maybe resign Haslem. If Wade takes a pay cut, that's a really nice lineup. They've got enormous cap flexibility.

 

[Kitaman]

Lebron to Cleveland is like Ali to UConn.

I'll leave it at that.

 

[Jerry1714]

Cleveland will have to clear cap space to get Lebron. The assumption is Waiters is gone and most likely Thompson or Varejao. There is further speculation that Cleveland would then package Wiggins and future first round picks to land Kevin Love. Basically, when its all said and done Cleveland will have a great potential three in Irving, Lebron, and Love and little else. Its a long game, a long season, and I simply don't see that trio winning titles.

Thompson and Varejao are staying to "lure" Lebron.

 

[intlzncster]

Thompson and Varejao are staying to "lure" Lebron.

...no Shabazz.

 

[Dynasty]

Losing Bosh and getting Melo does nothing for the Heat. Their main problem is depth.

 

[traitor71]

NBA free agency is like a train wreck. I don't want to pay attention to it, but I can't help myself. Some of the absurd tweets and reports floating around out there are hilarious, as are the people they come from. Seriously, anyone with a twitter seems to count as a source now. I should hoof over to my old neighbor's house (he works under Pat Riley), badger him for some info, real or otherwise, and just run with it. Then I too can be "a source".

 

[Dynasty]

NBA free agency is like a train wreck. I don't want to pay attention to it, but I can't help myself. Some of the absurd tweets and reports floating around out there are hilarious, as are the people they come from. Seriously, anyone with a twitter seems to count as a source now. I should hoof over to my old neighbor's house (he works under Pat Riley), badger him for some info, real or otherwise, and just run with it. Then I too can be "a source".

I'll have one of my sources get you in touch with Chris Broussard.

 

[traitor71]

I'll have one of my sources get you in touch with Chris Broussard.

 

[intlzncster]

"And I hate gay men. It's a lifestyle choice".

 

[nomar]

"And I hate gay men. It's a lifestyle choice".

Hey, he's got 3 sources for that: The father, the son and the holy ghost. Of course he only got the scoop by reading the Bible after everybody else had already read it.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I think LeBron is going to Cleveland. I think if he has taken it this far, he plans on going. I think he was waiting for Cleveland to get the cap space. It would be really cold if he was just messing with them, because it would have been completely unnecessary. LeBron James doesn't need to play games like this to get leverage. He is LeBron James.

I think he was always going to return home, and I also think he realizes that the Heat are probably not winning a title as constructed. Wade is not getting younger or less beat up, and Bosh is really just a supporting actor and is probably going to Houston anyway. Unless he has a time machine, Danny Granger doesn't solve anything. McRoberts? Allen may be following him to Cleveland anyway.