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Lebron's contract is up in two years (PO for the year after, which he will almost assuredly decline). By that time there will be two NBA in NYC, the Nets and the Knicks. Disregard all the purposed endorsement incentives. Lebron is a confessed Knicks fan and has strong ties to Jay-Z who is in with the Nets. Both these teams WILL make strong pushes for Lebron. However, they will both need to clear their cap before that year arrives. Both teams have a couple/few BIG deals tying up their cap in that 2010 summer. If I'm either team, I'm doing anything in my power to clear these guys out.

Player (salary in 2010)

Nets:
Vince Carter (17.3)
Richard Jefferson (15.0)

Knicks:
Randolph (17.3)
Curry (11.3)
Crawford (10.1)
Jefferies (6.9)

The Knicks in particular are in awful shape. they can't afford to lose the world's most marketable basketball player to their new crosstown rival after a decade+ of gross incompetence and failure.

That said, either team could definitely take Bobby Simmons whose contract (10.6 million) expires the summer of Lebron's free agency. The question is what will they give up to rid themselves of the salary?

Given a win now direction, I think that we could make a strong offer for Richard Jefferson. Think Simmons + Storey + Villanueva. Then try to trade Yi and our pick along with Mason for Elton Brand and suddenly we're rolling with...

Mo
Redd
Jefferson
Brand
Bogut


If we want to build for the future perhaps the Knicks are the better option. Though that gets very dicey, taking on crap contract while trying to rebuild. Probably better to stay away unless they overwhelm us with assets. I honestly think that this is why Isiah was willing to accept our poo poo platter of crap for Zach Randolph.

I don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.

I think that is really good thinking you have as it relates to the Nets side of the ledger. I hadn't thought about RJ needing to go for an expiring.

They do need to move RJ or VC or both to position themselves to give LeBron a "respectable" contract that would only be $20 to $30mm off what Cleveland can offer.

The only problem is that I don't think NJ would give us RJ for only Simmons/CV. Clearly though I'd ask the question. Where it falls down is that CV needs an extension, so they'd have to shell out some dollars for that.

I think if you added our #1 this year, that would be a done deal on the part of the Nets. But I don't want to part with that much.

I'd also offer Mo/Simmons for Jefferson....that might get them enough salary relief.

one Vince carter is gonnna be traded, and Jay-z the Nets part-owner has close ties to LeBron and add in the new arena in Brooklyn in 2010

You simply refuse to give up on this backcourt.......this backcourt won't win, one or both have to go, its that simple.

Da big3 wrote:one Vince carter is gonnna be traded, and Jay-z the Nets part-owner has close ties to LeBron and add in the new arena in Brooklyn in 2010

thanks for the inside info

xTitan wrote:You simply refuse to give up on this backcourt.......this backcourt won't win, one or both have to go, its that simple.

I'm exploring options.

If you don't think that the team I listed above...

Mo
Redd
Jefferson
Brand
Bogut

...would "win" (whatever that means), well, I'd have to disagree.

I don't know if the team you listed above would win.....The backcourt does need a divorce....

Thinking more about this, the Nets aren't under any pressure to give RJ away until next summer (2009) for an expiring if they had to. But I still like the idea.

If the plan is to win quickly, I think using your logic I'd base the first step of any plan on trying to get RJ.

Kaman/Brand with a Sam Cassell, Cuttino Mobley backcourt and Maggette playing 30 games made the playoffs in the Western Conference and won a series.

I think the team I listed would be a 45-50 win team in this Eastern Conference.

I'm not a big fan of Jefferson, his stats improved this season purely because he was shooting alot more... I love Brand though, it'd be amazing if the team could get him somehow.

Pairing Brand with Bogut would be my #1 goal this summer. Even before splitting the backcourt. They'd complement each other ridiculously well and form a stout defensive frontcourt.

midranger wrote:Pairing Brand with Bogut would be my #1 goal this summer. Even before splitting the backcourt. They'd complement each other ridiculously well and form a stout defensive frontcourt.

i agree but i don't know what that injury will do to him

midranger wrote:Pairing Brand with Bogut would be my #1 goal this summer. Even before splitting the backcourt. They'd complement each other ridiculously well and form a stout defensive frontcourt.

I agree 100%.

I love it. The Mo/Redd backcourt is a sore defensively, but imagine drafting a point guard that's big and can defend to the mix. Mo then could move to a sixth man role.

Brand and Bogut in the front court would form an effective combo offensively and defensively. The question is, would the Bucks cap structure be able to support the salaries of Mo, Redd, Jefferson, Brand, and a re-signed Bogut?

Wise1 wrote:The question is, would the Bucks cap structure be able to support the salaries of Mo, Redd, Jefferson, Brand, and a re-signed Bogut?

Kirby, I think you've just punched the hole in the balloon.

Mo - $8mm
Redd -$16mm
Brand -$16mm
RJ - $15mm
Bogut -$12mm

That's $67mm and over the luxury tax with only five guys......

can't have redd and rj, one of those positions has to be filled with a cheap alternative and then i think we'd be fine

paulpressey25 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Kirby, I think you've just punched the hole in the balloon.

Mo - $8mm
Redd -$16mm
Brand -$16mm
RJ - $15mm
Bogut -$12mm

That's $67mm and over the luxury tax with only five guys......

Figured as much. I just didn't feel like looking the numbers up. Thanks.

In light of this new information, I'd be willing to deal both Redd and Mo for picks if we'd still be able to land Brand and RJ. I'd definitely trade Redd for the rights to OJ Mayo. I don't care about Mayo's offense, I know that he's athletic, has long arms and can defend.

paulpressey25 wrote:Bogut -$12mm

Ugh.

Nowak008 wrote:-= Ugh.

Yeah, I know. But I think his value is at least at the Kaman level. And Kaman got his big deal a year ago, before he really exploded like he has this season. 5-years/$55mm seems about the going rate for better or worse.

Kirby, I agree that if you could get RJ, then Redd goes for Mayo.

is someone going to trade us a pick that will get mayo for just redd though?

midranger wrote:Given a win now direction, I think that we could make a strong offer for Richard Jefferson. Think Simmons + Storey + Villanueva.

I'm usually on board with your stuff man but this just wouldn't happen.

No way they take a leap of faith on that crappy deal just hoping they can land Lebron. What happens if Lebron signs back with the Cavs? The Nets have just flushed their franchise farther down the toilet.

If Lebron really is making it that obvious that he's going to the Big Apple I'm assuming the Cavs make some sort of a trade so that they can at least get back 75 cents for their dollar instead of zero cents. I guess theoretically they could be in contention and they hold on to Lebron for that but I have a hard time seeing him leave if they are in that type of run.

CV31 also has to be re-upped before the Lebron signing. That would probably mean they don't bring him back because he will probably put up numbers in his contract season. That even makes this leap of faith harder to imagine. They drop their best asset(or second best if you consider Carter's score-only mentality an asset) for an NBDL player, a year rental on Tim Thomas II with less defense and a 2 year $10 million/year rental on a body guard to defend your upper management when they order strippers. All because Lebron 2 years in advance says to Jay-Z that he might come there? Nope.




ETA: Forgot about Harris. He is probably their best asset.