Get ready for a whacky week

[LarBrd33]

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard  ?  42s

League Sources: LeBron James's meeting with the Heat will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Las Vegas. There was no meeting today

Bron, Wade, Bosh previously agreed they'd give Riley a bit of a grace period to make some necessary moves.  They originally were targeting Kyle Lowry, but that didn't work.  Riley has signed Josh McRoberts and Danny Granger... and his face-to-face meeting with LeBron apparently will be tomorrow in Vegas.   LeBron reportedly already met with other teams in Vegas earlier today.

So after giving Riley his good-faith gesture, LeBron will (reportedly) sit down with Riley and probably make a decision some time after that.  As I said in a previous thread... "The Decision" took place on July 8th, 2010... which was the first day free agents could sign that year.  This year, the first day they can sign is July 10th, 2010... so if it follows a similar pattern,  Bron meets with Riley tomorrow (the 9th), signs somewhere on the 10th... and then all hell breaks loose.

If he stays in Miami, they either bring back the whole Big 3 or Bosh could still leave and they'd sign Melo to replace him
If he goes to the Lakers, they probably also add Melo.
If he goes to the Cavs, they trade Wiggins in a package for Love.
Depending on these scenarios, you could see it impact where Melo goes (chicago, LA, Miami, NY).. it could also impact where Love goes (those who miss out on Melo/Bosh/Bron then go all-in on trading for Love... if Cavs don't get Bron, they aren't going to trade Wiggins, because Love will only sign there if Bron is there)...

Meanwhile, our TPE expires on July 12th (Saturday)... so theoretically, Ainge is sweating bullets right now waiting for some of these pieces to shake loose and for Bron to move so 'Sota can make a decision.

Stuff could happen fast...  It could be a wild week.  Gear up.

Then again, maybe Bron takes his sweet time, holds the league hostage for another week, the TPE expires, Boston gets skunked, stand pat... and are forced to trade Rondo at the trade deadline for pennies on the dollar.

[LarBrd33]

Not sure what the best-case scenario is.

I don't want the Lakers getting anyone...

I guess best-case scenario is Chris Bosh saying "F IT!" and signing with Houston... that takes Houston out of the running for Love (not that they are a serious candidate)... but then that means Melo ends up in Miami... which is probably an upgrade for them.

Hmm... that one stinks...

LeBron going to the Cavs means Cavs trade for Love... that would stink...

Any scenario where the Big 3 stays in Miami probably stinks...

Wait... I got it.   Here's the best case scenario....

Bosh signs with Houston...

Bron goes to the Cavs and they decide it would be cheaper doing a sign-and-trade with NYC (to land Melo) than give up Wiggins for Love.   If Melo is threatening to leave, the Knicks probably gladly take a package of Bennett, Thompson and Waiters for Melo... Cavs hang onto Wiggins and have Kyrie, Wiggins, Bron, Melo and Varejao...

Miami brings back Wade and enters irrelevance.

Golden State decide they can't move Klay...

Boston gets Love.

But then again... a tag-team of Love/Rondo doesn't stand a prayor in the east vs that Cavs team.   I think whatever happens, we're kinda screwed.

[saltlover]

I don't see Melo going to Miami if Bosh bolts to Houston.  He'd have to take about $5 million less per year than the Lakers or Knicks are offering unless Wade take a HUGE paycut (no more than $10 mil next year)-- I just don't see him (or Wade) doing that.

If Bosh bolts, Bron goes back to Cleveland, and Melo goes to either NY or LA.  There's no powerhouse team in the East until the Cavs young players put it together.  I don't know how well a Celtics team with Love would do, but they'd have a puncher's chance.

[GreenWarrior]

I honestly don't think bosh has the B's to sign anywhere without knowing what Lebron has decided.

I also think if Lebron actually decides to go to Cleveland he's even more of a clown than I thought he was.

[footey]

yeah, not looking good for our TPE.  TPE, it was good knowing ya.  Thanks, Lebron.

[TeamGreen.dm]

Not sure what the best-case scenario is.

I don't want the Lakers getting anyone...

I guess best-case scenario is Chris Bosh saying "F IT!" and signing with Houston... that takes Houston out of the running for Love (not that they are a serious candidate)... but then that means Melo ends up in Miami... which is probably an upgrade for them.

Hmm... that one stinks...

LeBron going to the Cavs means Cavs trade for Love... that would stink...

Any scenario where the Big 3 stays in Miami probably stinks...

Wait... I got it.   Here's the best case scenario....

Bosh signs with Houston...

Bron goes to the Cavs and they decide it would be cheaper doing a sign-and-trade with NYC (to land Melo) than give up Wiggins for Love.   If Melo is threatening to leave, the Knicks probably gladly take a package of Bennett, Thompson and Waiters for Melo... Cavs hang onto Wiggins and have Kyrie, Wiggins, Bron, Melo and Varejao...

Miami brings back Wade and enters irrelevance.

Golden State decide they can't move Klay...

Boston gets Love.

But then again... a tag-team of Love/Rondo doesn't stand a prayor in the east vs that Cavs team.   I think whatever happens, we're kinda screwed.

I'd say it depends on what players we give up to get Love would determine our chances with that Cavs team

[Quetzalcoatl]

Best case scenario would be:

Bosh going to Houston
Wade getting max money from Miami, killing their team for the next 5 years.
LBJ going to Cavs, but they decide Wiggins and Varejao are untouchable and therefore cannot put a package together for Love
Melo going to LA for a max contract and between him and Kobe, there is no money for anybody else.  They immediately become the Knicks West.
Clips decide Klay is untouchable

Flip Saunders gets drunk at a Timberwolves event and then makes a gross pass at Kevin Love's girlfriend or something like that, so Kevin has the public media 100% behind him on leaving

Flip then is forced into taking Sully + Bogans + Young + Bass + Chris Johnson + our 2015 1st + Weird Philly 1st or 2 2nd rounders picks + our 2016 2nd rounder for Love.

[Vermont Green]

I don't see how Cle could afford both LeBron and Carmelo.  They would both be about $25M and Varejao and Irving total about $17M.  That would be $67M right there.

Bosh to Houston seems plausible.  LeBron and Love in Cle seems plausible.  Kobe and Melo in LaLa too.

Maybe that ends up with Rondo traded to Houston or Lakers for at least quarters on the dollar (vs. pennies).  Quarters on the dollar is still better than the pennies we might get at the deadline or the nothing we get if he just walks (I guess sign and trade is always a possible fall back).

[Rakulp]

Truthfully, I'd like to see it go down like this:

1.  Lebron to the Cavs - as already expressed both here and elsewhere on the web, nothing left to prove in Miami but a legacy to rebuild in Cleveland.  Whether or not Love ends up there is debateable, but for now lets just say he stays in Minnesota until the trade deadline/end of contract.

2.  Bosh to Houston - Seems he's between a rock and a hard place.  Give up a ton of money to allow King James to get his max contract, or be signed to a contract for his own true value with Houston.  I like the possibility of him being a Rocket.

3.  Wade stays in Miami - Is anybody trying to get him?  I haven't heard.

4.  Anthony goes to the Lakers - Yeah, I scream, you scream, we all scream at ice cream and anything that makes the Lakers better...however, for the sake of the NBA, if 1 - 3 happen above, then I would like to see the Lakers having some success again.  They are a historic franchise and being relevant again would help the league a lot (just like when the Celtics return to greatness)...oh, and speaking of Boston....

5.  Love comes to the Celtics at the trade deadline - This gives us time to develop our rooks, let the sophomore class keep getting better, give Brad Stevens even more coaching experience and time to ingrain his methods into his players.  If we miss the playoffs again this year, end up with another lottery pick (and who is to say that we won't be next years Cavs with a 1.7% chance at landing the number 1 pick?)...AND we end up locking up Love (and hopefully Rondo) for the next four years...would that really be a bad year for us?

Rak's bottom line - change is good, but not just for change sake...these changes will help the league more in the long run and make it more entertaining IMO.

Rak

[LooseCannon]

I don't see how Cle could afford both LeBron and Carmelo.  They would both be about $25M and Varejao and Irving total about $17M.  That would be $67M right there.

As 10+ year players, Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony would both have a max of 35% of the salary cap, which would be $22.05m if the cap was $63m.  That would still be close to $61m for four players, so they'd have to do a big sign-and-trade if they want to keep Varejao, but maybe they won't see him as untouchable if Melo becomes a legitimate possibility.

[hwangjini_1]

Best case scenario would be:

Bosh going to Houston
Wade getting max money from Miami, killing their team for the next 5 years.
LBJ going to Cavs, but they decide Wiggins and Varejao are untouchable and therefore cannot put a package together for Love
Melo going to LA for a max contract and between him and Kobe, there is no money for anybody else.  They immediately become the Knicks West.
Clips decide Klay is untouchable

Flip Saunders gets drunk at a Timberwolves event and then makes a gross pass at Kevin Love's girlfriend or something like that, so Kevin has the public media 100% behind him on leaving

Flip then is forced into taking Sully + Bogans + Young + Bass + Chris Johnson + our 2015 1st + Weird Philly 1st or 2 2nd rounders picks + our 2016 2nd rounder for Love.

if you are going to fantasy why go small? always, always, fantasize big!