What exactly are the advantages for Miami to get LeBron and Bosh in a S&T?

[mgent]

Okay they get another year, which I think is a player option anyway.  And does it really matter assuming they're probably gonna want to be there longer than 6 years if it works out?

I figured they'd want to hold on to those draft picks.  Why give them away when they could've just signed all 3 by themselves?  Is there some other reason I'm missing?

And also, why give away Beasley for nothing when they knew they were gonna have a little breathing room under the cap?  He's gotta be better than anyone else they can come up with (unless they can get Haslem for real cheap) and I think he's still got a good deal of potential.

[Mike-Dub]

Pat Riley is delusional now after getting LeBron to sign.   

[GreenEnvy]

I thought it was a TERRIBLE idea to do that.

Unless LeBron and Bosh wanted it that way so they didn't TOTALLY screw their old teams over, I don't get it. All Miami did was lose draft picks.

I guess they got them all for an extra year, because FA's can only sign five-year deals right? But players can RE-sign for six.

Still, that group will definitely be stale in 5+ years and they will not have a decent draft pick for years.

Talk about all your eggs in one basket. This could be a COLOSSAL failure (I doubt it, but it wouldn't totally surprise me if things blow up there in a couple years and somebody opts out after year 4).

[Birdbrain]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

[Mike-Dub]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

It even says the Cavs did the deal on their website.  Gilbert did what was best for the team with the sign and trade.  I don't blame him.  LeBron was going to make as much money in Miami as if he resigned in Cleveland anyways.

[Birdbrain]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

It even says the Cavs did the deal on their website.  Gilbert did what was best for the team with the sign and trade.  I don't blame him.  LeBron was going to make as much money in Miami as if he resigned in Cleveland anyways.

I'll have a disagree I think it's a pretty dumb move on his part.  But too each his own.  Didn't that help the Heat the team he's aiming to beat to the Finish line? 

[Mike-Dub]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

It even says the Cavs did the deal on their website.  Gilbert did what was best for the team with the sign and trade.  I don't blame him.  LeBron was going to make as much money in Miami as if he resigned in Cleveland anyways.

I'll have a disagree I think it's a pretty dumb move on his part.  But too each his own.  Didn't that help the Heat the team he's aiming to beat to the Finish line? 

No it didn't help the Heat. 

[Cman]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

It even says the Cavs did the deal on their website.  Gilbert did what was best for the team with the sign and trade.  I don't blame him.  LeBron was going to make as much money in Miami as if he resigned in Cleveland anyways.

I'll have a disagree I think it's a pretty dumb move on his part.  But too each his own.  Didn't that help the Heat the team he's aiming to beat to the Finish line? 

No it didn't help the Heat. 

The Cavs get a $14.5M trade exception, 2 future first round picks (2012 and 2014?) and the right to swap first round picks in some other year.  It was a very good deal from the Cavs POV.  They now have ammunition (trade exception and picks) to rebuild quickly.

They also still have about $13M in cap room this year.

For example, the Cavs could use the existing cap room to get Al Jefferson.  Then use the trade exception on, for example, Rip Hamilton (rumored to be on the block) + a Detroit 1st rounder.  Starting lineup would be Mo Williams, Rip Hamilton, Antawn Jamison, Big Al, Sideshow Bob.  Boobie, Parker and Hickson would be the first three off the bench.  They need another couple of big men, but that's a team that makes the playoffs in the East.

[GreenEnvy]

Has that been announced or are you referencing that rumor from yesterday by the Miami writer?

If that happens Dan Gilbert will have lost all the good will he created with that epic letter.

It even says the Cavs did the deal on their website.  Gilbert did what was best for the team with the sign and trade.  I don't blame him.  LeBron was going to make as much money in Miami as if he resigned in Cleveland anyways.

I'll have a disagree I think it's a pretty dumb move on his part.  But too each his own.  Didn't that help the Heat the team he's aiming to beat to the Finish line? 

No it didn't help the Heat. 

The Cavs get a $14.5M trade exception, 2 future first round picks (2012 and 2014?) and the right to swap first round picks in some other year.  It was a very good deal from the Cavs POV.  They now have ammunition (trade exception and picks) to rebuild quickly.

They also still have about $13M in cap room this year.

For example, the Cavs could use the existing cap room to get Al Jefferson.  Then use the trade exception on, for example, Rip Hamilton (rumored to be on the block) + a Detroit 1st rounder.  Starting lineup would be Mo Williams, Rip Hamilton, Antawn Jamison, Big Al, Sideshow Bob.  Boobie, Parker and Hickson would be the first three off the bench.  They need another couple of big men, but that's a team that makes the playoffs in the East.

I definitely get why the Cavs and Heat did it, something for nothing.

But why did the Heat? Strictly for the 6th year on the deals?

[guava_wrench]

Lebron and Bosh can get 10% raises instead of 8%. The 6th year is also important for the players if the collective bargaining agreement is what people expect.

It also means they still get money if they get hurt.

The point of the raises is the cap space is needed this year to fill the roster. The players are taking lower first year salaries, but max raises the following years when they will be over the cap and have the MLE to sign players. With no MLE this year, they need the cap space (this the lower contracts).

It all actually makes sense.

[Who]

The extra year of guaranteed salary made it easier for LeBron, Wade and Bosh to take pay cuts this season ... which gave Miami cap space to sign Mike Miller + another FA.

That is why Miami pushed for a S+T and gave up those draft picks.

Oh, and because Pat Riley doesn't care much about draft picks because he never knows what he is going to get. That was a definitely a factor too!