2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[kraidstar]

Kings fan says draft Bronny and go after LeBron.

G: D Fox, Davion Mitchell
G: K Ellis, M Monk, Bronny
F: K Murray, K Huerter
F: LeBron, H Barnes
C: D Sabonis, A Len

Hmm ... looking at their salary cap. They'd have to move a few salaries. Harrison Barnes, Huerter, T Lyles. They could do it. They could free up enough cash to make LeBron a good offer. Maybe not a max but a good offer. Oh, they'd have to let Monk go as well. Ah, good opportunity for Bronny!

A Big Three of LeBron, Fox, Sabonis with Keegan Murray as a fourth wheel would be a strong core. Get the Kings into title contention.

So Lebron expects a team will expend a draft pick on Bronny and then revamp (and worsen) their team in order to sign LBJ who’ll turn 40 in-season? Not to mention the ensuing side show that will be the father-son spectacle - who at some point will actually have to play on the court together. This one year (maybe two) with Lebron possibly curtails the future of a promising team like the Kings. It’s a substantial risk - but maybe worth it for the increased revenue intake, presuming that would occur. 

I assume there’s a rule prohibiting a star from signing a minimum or exception contract to ring chase… or play with their son. ??

Nothing prevents him from signing for less/the minimum. The only restriction would be if he signed for less salary and then was paid under the table (or by a 3rd party) to circumvent the salary cap

I'd bet anything the Lakers and Clippers set up business deals through third parties to circumvent the cap. IIRC ths Raptors hinted at that a bit with Kawhi.

[Phantom255x]

Cavaliers off to a good start so far

[tazzmaniac]

Kings fan says draft Bronny and go after LeBron.

G: D Fox, Davion Mitchell
G: K Ellis, M Monk, Bronny
F: K Murray, K Huerter
F: LeBron, H Barnes
C: D Sabonis, A Len

Hmm ... looking at their salary cap. They'd have to move a few salaries. Harrison Barnes, Huerter, T Lyles. They could do it. They could free up enough cash to make LeBron a good offer. Maybe not a max but a good offer. Oh, they'd have to let Monk go as well. Ah, good opportunity for Bronny!

A Big Three of LeBron, Fox, Sabonis with Keegan Murray as a fourth wheel would be a strong core. Get the Kings into title contention.

So Lebron expects a team will expend a draft pick on Bronny and then revamp (and worsen) their team in order to sign LBJ who’ll turn 40 in-season? Not to mention the ensuing side show that will be the father-son spectacle - who at some point will actually have to play on the court together. This one year (maybe two) with Lebron possibly curtails the future of a promising team like the Kings. It’s a substantial risk - but maybe worth it for the increased revenue intake, presuming that would occur. 

I assume there’s a rule prohibiting a star from signing a minimum or exception contract to ring chase… or play with their son. ??

Nothing prevents him from signing for less/the minimum. The only restriction would be if he signed for less salary and then was paid under the table (or by a 3rd party) to circumvent the salary cap

The players association would have major beef with Lebron signing for less than his market value.

So what?  Why should Lebron care?  What can the PA do except gripe, and do they really want to get in a confrontation with Lebron? 

Lebron taking the vet minimum would be ridiculous and I certainly don't see him doing that.  But what if he signs on to the team who drafts Bronny for 25M or 30M. 
That's a big discount from his market value but still very good money.  PA would look stupid if they publicly complained about that.

He has a player option next year for 51 million, and he wants to own an NBA team when he retires so has always tried to make as much money as possible. Would be quite a change to give up 26 million in one year to play with his son. I feel like there is a small chance Lebron may try to go somewhere else if the Lakers get swept or lose in 5 to Denver, but I think it would have to be a team that has a better core than the Lakers and can pay him/accept his player option. There don't seem to be a ton of teams that fit this criteria although I guess Philly would.

Lebron's net worth estimate is 1.18 billion.  26 million would make very little difference in buying a NBA team.  Besides he's already said publicly that he'd take less to play with Bronny.   If he does buy an NBA team it will almost certainly be as part of an ownership group.  Or else he could start off buying a minority ownership in a team.  The big question is what teams could be on the market.  I know there have been some recent issues with the TWolves ownership so maybe that is a possibility and they are one of the lowest valued at 1.67 billion. 

As for the Sixers, they've got a ton of cap space.  They could offer Lebron the 39M that they are paying Harris this season and give him a 2nd year player option.  That would leave them a good bit of cap space to pay some role players before they give Maxey his raise.  No denying that Lebron would be a big upgrade from Harris and would seem to be a pretty good fit with Embiid and Maxey.

Interesting thing about the Twolves valuation, they are definitely worth more than 1.67b. Some speculate that is the main reason Taylor took advantage of the option to back out of the deal based on the payments (and why it will probably end up court). They are worth at least 2.5 now and most people think they would go for closer to 3b. Simmons and Rusilo talk about this on the podcast, and say what you will about him, but Simmons has kind of nailed the franchise values over the last 10-15 years. The estimate from last fall was 2.5btw

https://www.forbes.com/teams/minnesota-timberwolves/?sh=5d33f4045075

Also it is probably not just the 26M Lebron loses leaving LA, but marketing and hollywood money too. While sponsorships are certainly national, I would have to imagine he would make less from it in Sacramento.

Interesting.  The 1.67B was from the Forbes 2022 list.  There were 10 teams below 2B.  In the 2024 list, Memphis is the lowest at 2.4B.  That's a lot of growth in one year. 
https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2022/10/27/nba-team-values-2022-for-the-first-time-in-two-decades-the-top-spot-goes-to-a-franchise-thats-not-the-knicks-or-lakers/?sh=576334561cce

[Who]

Cavaliers off to a good start so far

Ah great. I didn't think the playoffs started until tomorrow.

[Phantom255x]

Cavaliers off to a good start so far

Ah great. I didn't think the playoffs started until tomorrow.

Dude I did not either LOL. I opened up ESPN quickly and noticed the Cavs-Magic headline and was like "OH RIGHT it starts at 1 PM".

I knew there was a night game between Nuggets-Lakers today but forgot there was a 1 PM game today lol.

[celticinorlando]

Wagner brothers are so annoying

[Phantom255x]

The irony is, our first round matchup this year might be harder than the 2nd round 

[RJ87]

That's such a weak flagrant on Fultz.

[Who]

That's such a weak flagrant on Fultz.

Yeah, that was ridiculous.

[Phantom255x]

That might be the weakest flagrant I've ever seen. And who the hell does Niang think he is 

(remember, same guy who made contact on Jaylen from the bench in last year's game 7 vs. PHI)

[Who]

Mobley doing good work in the paint offensively.

[SparzWizard]

Cavs need to defend home court but I do have Orlando in 6.

[Who]

Cavs need to defend home court but I do have Orlando in 6.

I went Cleveland in 6 but I am rooting for Orlando. I really enjoy Orlando's young team. I think they are one piece away from being a title. They keep reminding me of the 2003 Pistons before they got Sheed.

[Phantom255x]

Cavs need to defend home court but I do have Orlando in 6.

Great minds think alike   

[RJ87]

Cavs need to defend home court but I do have Orlando in 6.

I went Cleveland in 6 but I am rooting for Orlando. I really enjoy Orlando's young team. I think they are one piece away from being a title. They keep reminding me of the 2003 Pistons before they got Sheed.

Do they have cap space this offseason?