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I always felt LeBron might return to the Cavs to finish off the career and it looks like he could help them make it passed the 2nd round in the playoffs.

What would a trade of LeBron to Cavs look like?

Lebron needs to take a really sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate/receive a sign and trade...

Godaddycurse wrote:Lebron needs to take a sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate...

Well as long as they end up under 2nd apron during the trade they can do it. Would need a 3rd team but not something overly complicated.

It's more difficult to work out if the Cavs trade Garland, Mitchell or Allen to make it happen.

zimpy27 wrote:

Godaddycurse wrote:Lebron needs to take a sizable paycut since Cleveland is in 2nd apron and can't aggregate...

Well as long as they end up under 2nd apron during the trade they can do it. Would need a 3rd team but not something overly complicated.

It's more difficult to work out if the Cavs trade Garland, Mitchell or Allen to make it happen.

they need to cut like 15M to get under the 2nd apron and thats with filling remaining ~5 roster spots with 2nd rd min contracts... so realistically need to cut like 20M to have proper depth. thats hard to do

I don't see why Cleveland would trade any of their core for a 41 year old with a maximum of two seasons left.

If it's possible to add him to Garland/Mitchell/Mobley/Allen/Hunter then I'm sure they would be open to it.

Dan Gilbert could get antsy if the Cavs lose this 2nd round series to the Pacers.

I also think the Mavs would probably like to reunite Lebron with both AD and Kyrie.

Those situations would be better basketball wise for Lebron and would allow the Lakers to build around Luka. Obviously there would be apron issues to work out.

Lebron for Garland
LeBron for Allen

Don't really see why Cleveland would entertain anything else.

I mean its just not really very doable as a trade. And I don't think he's prepared to go sign for dirt cheap. And I think LA still has plenty of low-hanging fruit to upgrade their current roster that should be explored.

I do think lebron for garland makes a lot of sense for both teams.

Cleveland can't reasonably keep this team together ffinancially much longer. Get a 2 year run before re-tooling around mitchell/Mobley.

Imo lakers will struggle to win even with a center. Luka, lebron, resves is always going to be rough defensively, and lebron is only going to take more and more plays off.

Just for fun, minnesota needs to give Naz a starting spot, reaves + vando + kleber for gobert? They still have knecht/vincent/1st to get another forward cam johnson?

Gobert
Rui
Cam johnson/Dfs
Garland
Luka

Id much prefer this team over keeping lebron and adding whatever center they can get.

it's really tough to match salaries with LeBron's current contract without causing major problems for Cleveland. While he could opt out (next year is a PO) at that point it would be a S&T deal - so Cleveland would have to finish under the 1st apron (and then stay there). Would require LeBron taking a massive pay cut and 3rd team to salary dump.

Away from the Lakers would be nice, but don't see It happening except maybe Dallas.

Bet luka want to resign if the big lakers plan is to get the dude luka dislikes the most

I think a trade for Allen/Okoro would be more natural and better fit the needs...it implies that LeBron takes a pay cut.

Garland/Mitchell/Hunter/LeBron/Mobley

Luka/Reaves/DFS/Hachimura/Allen

go after Lauri the LAKERS

UTA sends: #21 + Cavs 27+29 + Cavs swaps + LAL 1st + John Collins + Sexton + Hendricks
UTA receives: Garland + Okoro
UTA trade for PGOF to go with Lauri and Kessler while keeping their own picks and the valuable Suns 1st.
They need to work the terms of the deal with the Suns and Hawks, maybe LAL.1st to Hawks for the swaps with CLE.

Cavs send: Garland + Hunter + Okoro
Cavs get: LeBron + Hendricks + all their picks back + LAL 1st
Cavs restore all their draft capital, and get an extra future 1st, drop below 2nd Apron and of course, get LeBron.

Lakers send: LeBron + Kleber + Vando
Lakers get: Collins + Sexton + Hunter
Lakers trade LeBron for usable depth, maybe flip Collins to BK for Claxton.

WAS: take Kleber and Vando into exception for #21(or Cavs 26 1st)

Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?

There is no trade to be had here. If LeBron wants to come to Cleveland, he can opt-out of LA and sign as a free agent.

zimpy27 wrote:Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?

This is really, really bad for Cleveland. Garland is a 25 year old All-Star PG. You don’t trade that for a 41 year old that has a year or two left. Adding the Hunter/Allen for Reaves part makes it worse. Allen is a fantastic center, but more to the point, I wouldn’t trade Hunter for Reaves straight up. Hunter has been perfect for Cleveland.

zimpy27 wrote:Lakers get Garland+Allen

Cavs get LeBron+Reaves

3rd team gets Hunter


Could this framework work?

Cleveland would likely have to cut a bit more salary to make it work legally. They'd have a little less than $10m to fill 5 required roster spots. It's doable, but it's definitely not a "championship type doable".

We clearly and badly miss Garland this series. I guess I'd be curious as to why the lesson to take away from that is we should trade him.

jbk1234 wrote:We clearly and badly miss Garland this series. I guess I'd be curious as to why the lesson to take away from that is we should trade him.

Trading Garland is certainly on the table for me, but you need much more than a 41 year old. Garland is a 25 year old all-star PG. Cleveland would need substantial value to move him.