*NBA THREAD* Abe will be missed (6 Viewers)

[sporthenry]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

Well LeBron isn't worried about money. It is more about ego. He made 72 million after salary and endorsements last year. He alread made 30 million after Beats was sold this year. So if he can't live on that $100 million alone, let alone his previous salaries or endorsements or future earnings, he is doing something wrong. So that $4-8 or even $10 million that he leaves on the table in salary can easily be made up for it elsewhere. And you could argue that more titles will equate to more money long term than that $4-6 million now.

If he is worried about being the first billionaire in sports then the answer lies in Europe or Russia. The NBA with a max salary has definitely cost him and I read another article saying they should get rid of it and it would help more with the competitive balance. B/c then LeBron would have to leave closer to $15-20 million on the table b/c teams would throw him $40 million a year.

 

[sporthenry]

I personally think Cleveland is a team that could win 60-70 games a year for the next 5 years with Lebron.

If I'm Lebron, it's a slam dunk. Wiggins, Kyrie Irving and Lebron....are you kidding me?

Cleveland looks to be in great shape, and I think Lebron takes that team from 40 wins to 60 wins immediately. Once they gel, they could be practically unstoppable.

He won 60 games once with the Heat. Couldn't even get 60 this past year in the vaunted East, granted they coasted a bit. Again, LeBron for Deng is not a 20 win swing. And most of Cleveland's assets are question marks. Even Kyrie has some question marks around his health, defense, and whether he can take the next step in his development.

Obviously LeBron can help a ton. Takes any offensive output off Wiggin's shoulder, some ball handling away from Kyrie and probably opens up a ton down low for Thompson or Bennett. But not seeing how they are instant contenders.

Vegas has them at #6 right now. James signs and they instantly become the EC favorites.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nba/odds/futures/

And if Melo goes to Chicago, they instantly become the EC favorites. But the point is, the Cavs wouldn't be better than the Heat were this year and they were run off the court this year. So how do you go to a worse team and beat the team coming out of the West? Add on top that you'd be relying on some combo of Irving, Wiggins, Bennett, and Waiters to hit shots like Ray Allen did in the finals and I'll fade them.

 

[thecatch]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

 

[timschochet]

Howard + Bosh would be an outstanding front line. Would Dwight be willing to play all defense and let Bosh be a scorer?

 

[got_nugs]

When 2017 rolls around will the cap number just explode or will be be slowly increased? Fox isn't going to give ESPN the NBA without a huge pricetag, right?

Might be a really good idea to be a free agent every year or two until the possible cap jump is determined.

 

[pollardsvision]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

Have you seen the contracts being given out this off-season?

For many franchises, false hope is gold. Rose could represent a lot of it.

For many of these teams, they have money and can't find anyone to take it. Like my Hornets. There are nearly half a dozen players worth $7-10 mill a year that they could offer $15 mill/year (or the max for them) to and still not get this off-season.

 

[Daywalker]

Rose is 25. He'd get the max.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

You don't think the Lakers would give Rose a max deal tomorrow if they could? Appease Kobe, ink the potential heir-apparent, make the fanbase happy, grab headlines, and rake in over $100 million, even if they're wrong. No-brainer for them.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

All it takes is 1.

 

[sporthenry]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

Have you seen the contracts being given out this off-season?

For many franchises, false hope is gold. Rose could represent a lot of it.

For many of these teams, they have money and can't find anyone to take it. Like my Hornets. There are nearly half a dozen players worth $7-10 mill a year that they could offer $15 mill/year (or the max for them) to and still not get this off-season.

The interesting part is that if you had unlimited individual salaries with a hard cap, it would most likely drive down some of those middle type contracts.

 

[thecatch]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

Have you seen the contracts being given out this off-season?For many franchises, false hope is gold. Rose could represent a lot of it.

For many of these teams, they have money and can't find anyone to take it. Like my Hornets. There are nearly half a dozen players worth $7-10 mill a year that they could offer $15 mill/year (or the max for them) to and still not get this off-season.

He hasn't played in two years(ish) and every conversation with a Bulls fan includes the phrase, "If Rose can just give us 75% of what he was..."

 

[metoo]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

If you're looking at money in relative terms, is it better to take $16mm and potentially be happier on a good team than play on a dead-duck team for $20mm a year? Tim Duncan seems to be ok.

Has Duncan taken $20 million a year? Yes, he has. Duncan got his let LeBron get his.

 

[thecatch]

All it takes is 1.

That's fair.

 

[pollardsvision]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

I agree they are underpaid because of the CBA, but Lebron'e not a knee injury away from losing his livelihood.Lakers probably aren't the only team dumb enough to have given Kobe that kind of money. Rose could get a max contract if he were a free-agent this season. Amare's health concerns weren't a secret when he signed this deal.

None of those guys are Lebron either

I don't think anyone is giving rose a max contract if he were a FA today.

Have you seen the contracts being given out this off-season?

For many franchises, false hope is gold. Rose could represent a lot of it.

For many of these teams, they have money and can't find anyone to take it. Like my Hornets. There are nearly half a dozen players worth $7-10 mill a year that they could offer $15 mill/year (or the max for them) to and still not get this off-season.

He hasn't played in two years and every conversation with a Bulls fan includes the phrase, "If Rose can just give us 75% of what he was..."

I didn't say it was smart.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Howard + Bosh would be an outstanding front line. Would Dwight be willing to play all defense and let Bosh be a scorer?

Bosh is outside now anyway.

 

[pollardsvision]

Have there ever even been rumors of the Bulls even trying trade Rose's contract?

Maybe the thought is they wouldn't have any takers, but I seriously doubt it (other than the general difficulty trying to trade big NBA contracts because of trade rules).

I'd bet it's more likely that even those big market Bulls see the value in selling some false hope to the fans. This is a team that could get all-star numbers out of Smush Parker if they played him at PG, and they desperately want to clear space for the mythical big FA that will never come.

Yet, it doesn't seem like they are in any hurry to get out of this albatross of a contract.

 

[thecatch]

What do you think they would get in a trade?

 

[Premier]

Wow. Is that Channing Frye signing worse than the Jodie Meeks signing? I think it may be.

According to the twitters he was paid 6.8 last year and was pretty good. Did you expect him to take a paycut?

Would you rather have 3 Channing Fryes or one kneeless Kobe?

 

[got_nugs]

Wow. Is that Channing Frye signing worse than the Jodie Meeks signing? I think it may be.

According to the twitters he was paid 6.8 last year and was pretty good. Did you expect him to take a paycut?

Would you rather have 3 Channing Fryes or one kneeless Kobe?

If i'm marketing the franchise, Kobe please.

 

[pollardsvision]

Kemba summing up this day perfectly.....

Kemba walker @KembaWalker · 4h
Damn

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

 

[Frostillicus]

The letter was removed years ago from the Cavs.com website, but over the last week, it was discovered that it still existed from this external link to a stagnant archived page

 

[Frostillicus]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

 

[NutterButter]

Excellent piece by Haberstroth on ESPN re: LeBron's truth worth, and why he's demanding to be paid the max this time around.

If you're one of the NBA elite talents, you're already taking a huge discount even when you sign for the max. That's why it's insane for those guys to take significantly less, especially when their careers are so short and they are essentially a knee injury away from losing their livelihood.

Well LeBron isn't worried about money. It is more about ego. He made 72 million after salary and endorsements last year. He alread made 30 million after Beats was sold this year. So if he can't live on that $100 million alone, let alone his previous salaries or endorsements or future earnings, he is doing something wrong. So that $4-8 or even $10 million that he leaves on the table in salary can easily be made up for it elsewhere. And you could argue that more titles will equate to more money long term than that $4-6 million now.

If he is worried about being the first billionaire in sports then the answer lies in Europe or Russia. The NBA with a max salary has definitely cost him and I read another article saying they should get rid of it and it would help more with the competitive balance. B/c then LeBron would have to leave closer to $15-20 million on the table b/c teams would throw him $40 million a year.

So are you saying he isn't asking for the max and that's being incorrectly reported or just that he shouldn't be asking for the max?

 

[tommyGunZ]

Wow. Is that Channing Frye signing worse than the Jodie Meeks signing? I think it may be.

According to the twitters he was paid 6.8 last year and was pretty good. Did you expect him to take a paycut?

Would you rather have 3 Channing Fryes or one kneeless Kobe?

Paraplegic Kobe > 3 Channing Fryes

 

[Premier]

Wow. Is that Channing Frye signing worse than the Jodie Meeks signing? I think it may be.

According to the twitters he was paid 6.8 last year and was pretty good. Did you expect him to take a paycut?Would you rather have 3 Channing Fryes or one kneeless Kobe?

Paraplegic Kobe > 3 Channing Fryes

Uh huh

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

How was I supposed to know?

 

[Eephus]

Wow. Is that Channing Frye signing worse than the Jodie Meeks signing? I think it may be.

According to the twitters he was paid 6.8 last year and was pretty good. Did you expect him to take a paycut?

Would you rather have 3 Channing Fryes or one kneeless Kobe?

The $8M number is fine but the four years is a concern for a 31 year old who's had heart problems. On the other hand, he's a true stretch #4 who probably helps more with spacing than a guy like Meeks. Frye is below average defensively but at least he's tall to help in the paint and grab the occasional rebound.

Maybe the four years isn't that big of an issue either. I think every free agent deal is one year too long but his expiring contract will have some value by that point. $8M may also be chump change in the NBA by 2018-19.

 

[Eephus]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

Damn. I hope somebody saved a screenshot or something.

 

[Insein]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

How was I supposed to know?

Reading this thread?

 

[NutterButter]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

How was I supposed to know?

Reading this thread?

Which page?

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Granger is a nice get bc Lebron likes him and his skill set. Not sure about the Bosh thing but thankfully this will all be over soon. As to the size issue: Bird comes back, Oden is still in the mix (and another year healthier) then there is Dalambert etc etc. Heat for the past 4 years have been searching for a big man. Hasn't stopped them from getting to the finals (or winning 2). Also, the lack of a big man is not the reason they lost to San Antonio

PatMcManamon ‏@PatMcManamon 58m
I’m told LeBron James isn’t really fond of Danny Granger, for whatever that’s worth.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

BTW for all the well deserved attention that Todem is getting in here, I feel that Gatorman's outstanding contributions are being overlooked a bit. #HFL

 

[Juxtatarot]

Have there ever even been rumors of the Bulls even trying trade Rose's contract?

Maybe the thought is they wouldn't have any takers, but I seriously doubt it (other than the general difficulty trying to trade big NBA contracts because of trade rules).

I'd bet it's more likely that even those big market Bulls see the value in selling some false hope to the fans. This is a team that could get all-star numbers out of Smush Parker if they played him at PG, and they desperately want to clear space for the mythical big FA that will never come.

Yet, it doesn't seem like they are in any hurry to get out of this albatross of a contract.

No, never a rumor.

 

[NutterButter]

Granger is a nice get bc Lebron likes him and his skill set. Not sure about the Bosh thing but thankfully this will all be over soon. As to the size issue: Bird comes back, Oden is still in the mix (and another year healthier) then there is Dalambert etc etc. Heat for the past 4 years have been searching for a big man. Hasn't stopped them from getting to the finals (or winning 2). Also, the lack of a big man is not the reason they lost to San Antonio

PatMcManamon ‏@PatMcManamon 58m
I’m told LeBron James isn’t really fond of Danny Granger, for whatever that’s worth.

I think Gatorman was joking b/c he mentioned Oden as a potential contributor. No way anyone could be serious about that.

 

[NutterButter]

BTW for all the well deserved attention that Todem is getting in here, I feel that Gatorman's outstanding contributions are being overlooked a bit. #HFL

Not enough volume. Todem really revitalized this thread with a strong showing today.

 

[Craig_MiamiFL]

Granger. Dude is done. He didn't have a versatile skill set to begin with. Guess he fills the vet you can stick a fork in role vacated by Lewis, James Jones, etc....

I do really like the McBob signing.....If Lebron returns of course.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Granger is a nice get bc Lebron likes him and his skill set. Not sure about the Bosh thing but thankfully this will all be over soon. As to the size issue: Bird comes back, Oden is still in the mix (and another year healthier) then there is Dalambert etc etc. Heat for the past 4 years have been searching for a big man. Hasn't stopped them from getting to the finals (or winning 2). Also, the lack of a big man is not the reason they lost to San Antonio

PatMcManamon ‏@PatMcManamon 58m

Im told LeBron James isnt really fond of Danny Granger, for whatever thats worth.

Yeah, the comment about Lebron respecting Granger's game may or may not be true, but Granger I'd basically the guy that started the Indy/Miami rivalry. He trash talked Lebron and put him on the floor over and over again 3 years ago. Granger is a shell of his former self and desperate for relevance so I'm sure he'd be fine with letting things be water under the bridge. I'm not so sure Lebron would.

 

[pollardsvision]

Granger is a nice get bc Lebron likes him and his skill set. Not sure about the Bosh thing but thankfully this will all be over soon. As to the size issue: Bird comes back, Oden is still in the mix (and another year healthier) then there is Dalambert etc etc. Heat for the past 4 years have been searching for a big man. Hasn't stopped them from getting to the finals (or winning 2). Also, the lack of a big man is not the reason they lost to San Antonio

PatMcManamon ‏@PatMcManamon 58m

Im told LeBron James isnt really fond of Danny Granger, for whatever thats worth.

Yeah, the comment about Lebron respecting Granger's game may or may not be true, but Granger I'd basically the guy that started the Indy/Miami rivalry. He trash talked Lebron and put him on the floor over and over again 3 years ago. Granger is a shell of his former self and desperate for relevance so I'm sure he'd be fine with letting things be water under the bridge. I'm not so sure Lebron would.

McRoberts was last seen delivering an elbow to LeBron's throat.

 

[simmonjm]

First McRoberts, now Granger. Im certain that the next signing for the Heat is going to be Stephenson. Take it to the bank brohans

 

[Captain Quinoa]

Probasketballdraft ‏@Probballdraft 1m
Growing expectation that the purpose of LeBron's meeting with Riley will be to inform Heat of his decision to return to the Cavs.

I'm still at 75% Heat, 25% Cavs

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Why wouldn't Gilbert have taken that letter before today? Now there is a story about it just being taken down. If you're lebron, how do you sign with that idiot? So dumb.

It has been down for years.

How was I supposed to know?

Reading this thread?

Which page?

Espn still showing on their ticker that it came down today.

 

[Gatorman]

you guys are hi-larious. I am only reporting what has been said here in miami by the local guys who follow the team. Lebron respects grangers game, and MIami did make a play for him last year when he signed with the clippers. I have no idea what is going to happen (other than thinking this is all a choreographed dance to not get the heat in trouble like what happened in the ZO-Hardaway days where stern disallowed a signing), but I am hopeful that the band will get back together.

Again, Miami has a few things that some of the other places mentioned do not: 1) a great city 2) one of the best ownership groups, and 3) Riley. I think that over the next few years the knicks with jackson may become the better destination (if phil can be a HOF GM as well as coach), but for now miami has the right mix. LA and NY are better venues, but both teams are in cap hell. Cle? I don't see it. Houston could be, but have you been to houston? It sure ain't miami (or dallas for that matter).

\

This thread is about as good for info than ESPN or twitter, bc no one knows WTF is going to happen.

 

[Captain Quinoa]

First McRoberts, now Granger. Im certain that the next signing for the Heat is going to be Stephenson. Take it to the bank brohans

Lance or Deshawn?

 

[Premier]

Gator > these guys aren't going to re-sign there because Miami has nice beaches. Lebron can fly anywhere in the world he wants, 10 minutes from now. And it's not like they can just walk down south beach and chill. They aren't some anonymous nfl offensive lineman.

Besides, the party comes to Lebron wherever he is. Not the other way around. I highly doubt the actual city is a consideration.

 

[Gatorman]

premier> you are right. However, as battier said when he signed with miami for the minimum :"it was to play with those guys IN MIAMI. I am not sure the wife would have been okay with me to take a pay cut and play in Cleveland"

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Are summer league games played at the YMCA or what?

 

[sporthenry]

premier> you are right. However, as battier said when he signed with miami for the minimum :"it was to play with those guys IN MIAMI. I am not sure the wife would have been okay with me to take a pay cut and play in Cleveland"

Except this all revolves around one guy. And he just might want to play in Cleveland.

 

[Gatorman]

also, as for the granger, mcroberts, stphenson thing. The heat all gave stephenson a hug and all that nonsense after the ECFs. It ain't the 80's where these guys really hated each other. Maybe if Pierce or Garnett came to miami (or J Noah) then that would be eye raising. The rest of these guys all get along to a certain extent.