lebron has declined to opt in (corrected)

[Fafnir]

Think he has been committed to the Lakers for a bit.

No way, that'd be giving up leverage over their other actions.

[Fafnir]

Cavs reporters have been saying if he opts in it means his camp has a trade lined up already.

[ThaPreacher]

Think he has been committed to the Lakers for a bit.

I think that this is accurate. Everything else is subterfuge.
Lebron is just trying to protect his image. 

[Jvalin]

Hate to say it, but I believe LeBron, George and Kawhi will team up in LA.

[TheSundanceKid]

Yeah it was expected and really doesn't clear up anything except for the possible sign and trade to Houston now being off the table.

so what you’re saying is.... it wasn’t expected. Houston was a popular frontrunner for lebron

Not recently. Its been reported as between Lakers and cavs. And that LeBron doesn't like the city of Houston

[Phantom255x]

Kind of surprised we have barely heard PHI and HOU all summer, even though it seemed like they were the "frontrunners" to land him just a month ago LOL.

Anyways, two things:

1. This was expected since we found out Lebron apparently doesn't want to go Houston, so that eliminates a S&T possibility (only way HOU could acquire him)

2. It's officially down to PHI, LAL, and CLE. That said, I think PHI isn't really an option it seems. Likely between CLE vs. LAL, and it depends if they feel Kawhi and/or George are going there too. Should be an interesting few days ahead.

Remember, just b/c he opted-out, doesn't mean a Cleveland return is off the table (maybe unlikely, but not impossible).

[Surferdad]

Who are the "cerebral" players (LeBron's word) on Philly or LAL that he want to play with?  Ben Simmons? Lonzo Ball?  High BBIQ but not superstar talent.  Can a trio of James/George/Ball compete favorably with GSW? CONTEXT:  I'm convinced SAS is not trading Kawhi to LAL.  They have a blocking mechanism to creating a 2nd super-team in the WC and I bet they use it.

[celticinorlando]

Think he has been committed to the Lakers for a bit.

No way, that'd be giving up leverage over their other actions.

He is recruiting other players to come to the Lakers. He does not have leverage. Only other teams are Philly and the Cavs and the Cavs can’t do anything to improve the situation

[ETNCeltics]

Think he has been committed to the Lakers for a bit.

No way, that'd be giving up leverage over their other actions.

I don't know that he's told the Lakers, but I think he's committed to the idea of going to LA.

[nickagneta]

Just sign with LA. The sooner the Lavar Ball/Lebron drama begins the more entertained I am going to get. Can already hear Lavar wax on for hours about how the King decided to come play with the Big Baller Brand and all the Balls. This is going to be so so much fun.

[BitterJim]

Yesterday David Griffin said he thought Lebron opting in would actually make it more likely he would leave since a trade would have opened up more potential landing spots.  I thought that was strange.  I guess we will see what he does this weekend or early next week.

If he had picked up his option, I would have viewed it as a 100% chance he was leaving. There's no reason to pick up the option to stay with CLE vs. signing a 1+1 deal for more money and some security if he got injured

Depending on the final cap number his option might have actually been more money than a 1 year contract.

True, but only by ~100k (since his max is at least a 5% raise on last year's salary). The extra ETO year would probably be worth more to him

[celticsclay]

Who are the "cerebral" players (LeBron's word) on Philly or LAL that he want to play with?  Ben Simmons? Lonzo Ball?  High BBIQ but not superstar talent.  Can a trio of James/George/Ball compete favorably with GSW? CONTEXT:  I'm convinced SAS is not trading Kawhi to LAL.  They have a blocking mechanism to creating a 2nd super-team in the WC and I bet they use it.

I feel like that would be a very childlike way of the Spurs viewing things. Without Leonard at full health and happy, they are not going to beat Golden State (they would be unlikely even if they had him. It would probably be 50-50 whether they would even beat Houston. Their title odds for next year are currently 75-1 (for context this is the same as the New York Giants). Worse their best player aside from Leonard (Aldridge) will be 33 when the season starts. So why in the world would they care if there is another team in the west that will be headlined by a 34 year Lebron for two years? Its gonna be 3-4 years before they can grow some young players and really compete with the title.

I know some could say Pops is about to retire and would like to go out on top, but unfortunately, barring something really strange like Lebron going to the Spurs there just isn't a viable pass to contention for the next two years for them. They don't have enough star players.

So they could decide they like Fultz and Saric more than Ingram and Ball, but if Leonard maintains he will sign nowhere but the Lakers they won't get an offer from Philly with Fultz in it. They really are screwed regardless of whether they care about helping the Lakers or not.

[KGs Knee]

Just sign with LA. The sooner the Lavar Ball/Lebron drama begins the more entertained I am going to get. Can already hear Lavar wax on for hours about how the King decided to come play with the Big Baller Brand and all the Balls. This is going to be so so much fun.

If LeBron goes to LA, you can be assured it's because Magic has conceded to shipping Lonzo out of town ASAP.  No way LeBron wants a circus in town that might rival his own.

[SHAQATTACK]

Just sign with LA. The sooner the Lavar Ball/Lebron drama begins the more entertained I am going to get. Can already hear Lavar wax on for hours about how the King decided to come play with the Big Baller Brand and all the Balls. This is going to be so so much fun.

lavar will never shut up .   His mega mouth will run night and day

i bet they have duck tape over his mouth now .

[Fafnir]

Think he has been committed to the Lakers for a bit.

No way, that'd be giving up leverage over their other actions.

He is recruiting other players to come to the Lakers. He does not have leverage. Only other teams are Philly and the Cavs and the Cavs can’t do anything to improve the situation

Until he actually signs a contract with the Lakers he has all the leverage in the world.