Lebron opts out

[D.o.s.]

I think its significantly more likely that he stays in Miami than goes to Cleveland.

I also don't understand why a potential Cavs reunion is such a heartwarmer : superstar bails on hometown, only to return after he's secured his personal legacy and is largely beyond reproach for any franchise misfirings and shortcomings?

Maybe it is a fairy tale -- of the Brothers Grimm variety.

[gpap]

I think its significantly more likely that he stays in Miami than goes to Cleveland.

I also don't understand why a potential Cavs reunion is such a heartwarmer : superstar bails on hometown, only to return after he's secured his personal legacy and is largely beyond reproach for any franchise misfirings and shortcomings?

Maybe it is a fairy tale -- of the Brothers Grimm variety.

Sounds more like a Quentin Tarratino film.

[Gomesfan]

I guess it's time for the "THE DECISION part DUECE". ****

[RJ87]

He has more flexibility and can apply the most pressure to Miami this way - but I definitely think he resigns in Miami. Cleveland is a nice fairytale, but the Cavs are still as incompetent as ever. Tristan Thompson, Dion Waiters, and Anthony Bennett were all reaches that haven't paid off yet, not sure Kyrie and the #1 pick this year is enough for Lebron to leave 4 straight Finals appearances in Miami.

[gpap]

Lakers willing to package 7th pick with Nash to help create enough salary cap space to sign Melo and Bron.  Could we use the PTE?  Nash makes $9.7 so the numbers would work. That way we could get a great pick without giving up Rondo.

Yeah, good point.

Keep an eye out for the Lakers.

That's too big of a franchise and market to continue backpedaling and being bad.

They sorta remind me of the Yankees in that the offseason following missing the playoffs, they spend like drunken sailors and get the two biggest free agents on the market.

ALSO, yes Nash would work in being absorbed by our TE.

[knuckleballer]

I guess it's time for the "THE DECISION part DUECE". ****

As in he takes a deuce on Wade and Bosh.

[gar]

Houston is a good fit. Not sure if Chicago could get both LeBron and Melo. But, Cleveland is the only place he could win and get paid. May take a year or two; but they have nice pieces and would allow him to prove he can win without the big 3-4-5-6.

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I'd be totally cool with seeing LeBron go back to the Cavs. I doubt I'd start liking LeBron, but I don't think it would bother me if he won titles there with Irving, Love, and Melo. As long as he's not in Miami or L.A., and not helping Duh-wayne Wade.

[hpantazo]

Lakers willing to package 7th pick with Nash to help create enough salary cap space to sign Melo and Bron.  Could we use the PTE?  Nash makes $9.7 so the numbers would work. That way we could get a great pick without giving up Rondo.

Yeah, good point.

Keep an eye out for the Lakers.

That's too big of a franchise and market to continue backpedaling and being bad.

They sorta remind me of the Yankees in that the offseason following missing the playoffs, they spend like drunken sailors and get the two biggest free agents on the market.

I would certainly take the 7th pick in exchange for taking on Nash's contract. I don't think we would be at the top of the list of teams that the lakers would prefer to ship the 7th pick to though.

[Donoghus]

I think its significantly more likely that he stays in Miami than goes to Cleveland.

I also don't understand why a potential Cavs reunion is such a heartwarmer : superstar bails on hometown, only to return after he's secured his personal legacy and is largely beyond reproach for any franchise misfirings and shortcomings?

Maybe it is a fairy tale -- of the Brothers Grimm variety.

Theoretically, it's a great story.  Star spurns hometown, realizes his mistake years later, and comes back for redemption.  Wins his hometown a championship.

Realistically, I'm not really sure him & Gilbert are ready to reunite.  That bridge seemed pretty burned back in '10. 

[footey]

Lakers willing to package 7th pick with Nash to help create enough salary cap space to sign Melo and Bron.  Could we use the PTE?  Nash makes $9.7 so the numbers would work. That way we could get a great pick without giving up Rondo.

If the Lakers signed Kobe to a more reasonable $15m per year, they could have signed both Melo and Lebron, re-signed Gasol and kept the 7th pick.  The Kobe contract was so dumb.

Sure was.  CBA prohibits restructuring it, right?

[Fafnir]

Wade should sign a 4 year , 42.5 million dollar deal.   Those last two years wont be a big deal if the cap goes up as much as it has been speculated.  Make the first two years lower so they can sign Melo or Lowry.  Something like 9.5, 10, 11, 12 over the course of 4 years.

If you retire, you forfeit the rest of the money left on your deal.  Does Wade really want to stick around for years 3 and 4 in order to get all that cash?

And there's NO WAY Bosh is going to take a contract like that.  He can get 20 million a year the next two years, then probably sign another deal for 6 to 10 mill a year after that.  Bosh would literally be giving up 20 to 40 million dollars.

Mike

By announcing he's opting out LBJ is putting massive pressure on Bosh/Wade to do the same or he's likely leaving as the Heat aren't going to have the flexibility to change the roster much at all.

[D.o.s.]

Lakers willing to package 7th pick with Nash to help create enough salary cap space to sign Melo and Bron.  Could we use the PTE?  Nash makes $9.7 so the numbers would work. That way we could get a great pick without giving up Rondo.

If the Lakers signed Kobe to a more reasonable $15m per year, they could have signed both Melo and Lebron, re-signed Gasol and kept the 7th pick.  The Kobe contract was so dumb.

Sure was.  CBA prohibits restructuring it, right?

Correct -- no restructured contracts in the NBA.

[rondoallaturca]

Lakers willing to package 7th pick with Nash to help create enough salary cap space to sign Melo and Bron.  Could we use the PTE?  Nash makes $9.7 so the numbers would work. That way we could get a great pick without giving up Rondo.

If the Lakers signed Kobe to a more reasonable $15m per year, they could have signed both Melo and Lebron, re-signed Gasol and kept the 7th pick.  The Kobe contract was so dumb.

Didn't bother checking the accuracy of this statement, but a lineup of Stauskas/Kobe/Lebron/Melo/Gasol would be absolutely nuts.

[Quetzalcoatl]

I think its significantly more likely that he stays in Miami than goes to Cleveland.

I also don't understand why a potential Cavs reunion is such a heartwarmer : superstar bails on hometown, only to return after he's secured his personal legacy and is largely beyond reproach for any franchise misfirings and shortcomings?

Maybe it is a fairy tale -- of the Brothers Grimm variety.

Sounds more like a Quentin Tarratino film.

If it were a Tarantino film, he would murder Dan Gilbert.