Thoughts in General, Random Rumors and Musings, Blah Blah 14.0 Eddie Najera Edicion

[Devilanche]

Anyone know of a good buyout tracker? OKC has 7m to spend under the cap and I'm wondering what bigs might be out there.

Could also just see them signing Lindy and Sarr to regular deals.

You got one right .

[nzahir]

I like what the Mavs did.

I think they have a good team. Gafford and PJ were good targets and they kept THJ.

Kyrie, Green, Doncic, PJ, Lively
Exum, THJ, DJJ, Kleber, Gafford

Those bigs are all good roll partners for Kyrie and Luka to operate with.

Who is playing defense at the wing spot though and feels like come playoff time they will attack Kyrie and Luka still

But also scary to play them due to those 2 guys

The issue is what picks do they have left to trade? Feel like they are locking themselves into this core

They really should have moved Kyrie for OG and Dennis/another guard. Likely a 3 teamer

Expect PJ and Maxi to see some time at SF if the Mavs end up matched up against the Lakers, Clippers or Suns (maybe even the Nuggets). Move Luka to PF defensively.

I just dont see how they defend a lot of teams with good wing or quicker guards

Honestly I dont see how they defend anybody

PJ and Maxi arent keeping up with any of these guys tbh

[nzahir]

I like what the Mavs did.

I think they have a good team. Gafford and PJ were good targets and they kept THJ.

Kyrie, Green, Doncic, PJ, Lively
Exum, THJ, DJJ, Kleber, Gafford

Those bigs are all good roll partners for Kyrie and Luka to operate with.

Who is playing defense at the wing spot though and feels like come playoff time they will attack Kyrie and Luka still

But also scary to play them due to those 2 guys

The issue is what picks do they have left to trade? Feel like they are locking themselves into this core

They really should have moved Kyrie for OG and Dennis/another guard. Likely a 3 teamer

When you have a talent like Luka , you go all in.

In future there’s always a new year first or swap first to unlock.

It’s all in until you get a title or Luka as out.

Going all in is fine, but they are lacking defenders

They should have gone all in for OG, but who knows if they had enough unless they moved Kyrie

[Devilanche]

Who is playing defense at the wing spot though and feels like come playoff time they will attack Kyrie and Luka still

But also scary to play them due to those 2 guys

The issue is what picks do they have left to trade? Feel like they are locking themselves into this core

They really should have moved Kyrie for OG and Dennis/another guard. Likely a 3 teamer

When you have a talent like Luka , you go all in.

In future there’s always a new year first or swap first to unlock.

It’s all in until you get a title or Luka as out.

Going all in is fine, but they are lacking defenders

They should have gone all in for OG, but who knows if they had enough unless they moved Kyrie

Don’t think they could have outbidded Knicks for OG once you exclude Kyrie . Even if you include , Toronto probably value the duo from Knicks more.

[SkyHook]

What’s the likelihood that Lebron opts out and signs a FA contract with whoever drafts Bronny?

60/40?

[toooskies]

What’s the likelihood that Lebron opts out and signs a FA contract with whoever drafts Bronny?

60/40?

Is Bronny coming out this year?

Does anyone draft Bronny unless they're trying to lure LeBron?

Does Bronny want his dad defining his NBA career?

Is LeBron retiring after this season, or will he have more opportunities in later years?

I put the odds really low for this specific scenario.

[Devilanche]

If he can do a farewell season , playing with his son has to rank up there way above playing back in Cleveland or Miami.

Which team would that be on though .

[Ell Curry]

What’s the likelihood that Lebron opts out and signs a FA contract with whoever drafts Bronny?

60/40?

I think the likelier outcome is that the Lakers either lose a negotiation and Hood-Schiffino is sacrificed for the pick to draft Bronny, or the Lakers win a negotiation and the Lakers 2025 and 2030 2nd rounders go somewhere.

I bet Morey will call LeBron if and see if he's down though. Pick Bronny at 18, sign LeBron and try to win a title. Batum has been a good fit in Philly and I think that shows the fit would be pretty seamless since everything Batum does well is stuff LeBron is even better at.

[nzahir]

If he can do a farewell season , playing with his son has to rank up there way above playing back in Cleveland or Miami.

Which team would that be on though .

Hopefully his son gets taken by a contender or a very solid team that Lebron can push to win it all

Going back to CLE would be cool if his son is there

Cavs at 155m this summer. Salary cap is 141m

Moving Levert and Niang gets you off 25m? Would cost something ofc

Trade Garland for Bridges? Saves you 13m and its a better fit

117m now

Would Bron sign for like 20ishm? They still have Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill making like 2.5m each. Maybe get rid of those guys as well? Also Dean Wade at like 6ishm is fine. Strus can be moved?

Mitchell, Strus, Bridges, Bron, Allen
Dean Wade, Mobley

Have the mle, bi annual?, and vet mins to fill out the bench

[MoneyTalks41890]

Anyone know of a good buyout tracker? OKC has 7m to spend under the cap and I'm wondering what bigs might be out there.

Could also just see them signing Lindy and Sarr to regular deals.

You got one right .

RoLo would be a nice big body to take the 15th spot. Not the ideal backup big but a vet 7 footer good for 6 fouls. And I think he’d fit in well for a few months.

[Devilanche]

Anyone know of a good buyout tracker? OKC has 7m to spend under the cap and I'm wondering what bigs might be out there.

Could also just see them signing Lindy and Sarr to regular deals.

You got one right .

RoLo would be a nice big body to take the 15th spot. Not the ideal backup big but a vet 7 footer good for 6 fouls. And I think he’d fit in well for a few months.

Wondering if he might have a bigger role somewhere.

Rolo probably better than biyombo

[K_chile22]

You got one right .

RoLo would be a nice big body to take the 15th spot. Not the ideal backup big but a vet 7 footer good for 6 fouls. And I think he’d fit in well for a few months.

Wondering if he might have a bigger role somewhere.

Rolo probably better than biyombo

Based on their play this year no, he has looked completely washed

[jbk1234]

If he can do a farewell season , playing with his son has to rank up there way above playing back in Cleveland or Miami.

Which team would that be on though .

Hopefully his son gets taken by a contender or a very solid team that Lebron can push to win it all

Going back to CLE would be cool if his son is there

Cavs at 155m this summer. Salary cap is 141m

Moving Levert and Niang gets you off 25m? Would cost something ofc

Trade Garland for Bridges? Saves you 13m and its a better fit

117m now

Would Bron sign for like 20ishm? They still have Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill making like 2.5m each. Maybe get rid of those guys as well? Also Dean Wade at like 6ishm is fine. Strus can be moved?

Mitchell, Strus, Bridges, Bron, Allen
Dean Wade, Mobley

Have the mle, bi annual?, and vet mins to fill out the bench

People are presupposing a willingness on the part of the Cavs F.O. and ownership to gut their team in order to pay a 40-year old LBJ a bunch of money that I'm not at all sure exists.

He's still worth $20M+, but I'm skeptical there's much appetite for hourglass social media posts, or requests for coaching changes, or requests that good players be traded for guys he believes are a better fit, etc.

If LBJ comes back to Cleveland, it will likely be at the very end of his career where he's reconciled with being a passenger in the vehicle. I don't know that Lebron ever gets there, but he's given zero indication he's there now.

[nzahir]

If he can do a farewell season , playing with his son has to rank up there way above playing back in Cleveland or Miami.

Which team would that be on though .

Hopefully his son gets taken by a contender or a very solid team that Lebron can push to win it all

Going back to CLE would be cool if his son is there

Cavs at 155m this summer. Salary cap is 141m

Moving Levert and Niang gets you off 25m? Would cost something ofc

Trade Garland for Bridges? Saves you 13m and its a better fit

117m now

Would Bron sign for like 20ishm? They still have Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill making like 2.5m each. Maybe get rid of those guys as well? Also Dean Wade at like 6ishm is fine. Strus can be moved?

Mitchell, Strus, Bridges, Bron, Allen
Dean Wade, Mobley

Have the mle, bi annual?, and vet mins to fill out the bench

People are presupposing a willingness on the part of the Cavs F.O. and ownership to gut their team in order to pay a 40-year old LBJ a bunch of money that I'm not at all sure exists.

He's still worth $20M+, but I'm skeptical there's much appetite for hourglass social media posts, or requests for coaching changes, or requests that good players be traded for guys he believes are a better fit, etc.

If LBJ comes back to Cleveland, it will likely be at the very end of his career where he's reconciled with being a passenger in the vehicle. I don't know that Lebron ever gets there, but he's given zero indication he's there now.

Fair point

Cle franchise did most things right from 2014-2015 on to 2016-2017. They got injrued at the worst time in 2015 and went to 6 games in the finals, they won in 2016, and they lost to the greatest team ever imo in 2017

Then the Pacers bailed on a 3 team deal with Denver to help us get PG and Kyrie walked and it was over. And they still went to the finals after that deadline shuffle

The cavs core is pretty young, they could compete post Lebron as well, but I think they would probably need Lebron to truly be a legit top end contender in the top tier/favorite

I think they should move Garland regardless of Lebron or not honestly btw. Probably wouldnt move Mobley yet, but I am not sure if he lives up to the hype and a bad fit next to Allen full time

Lebron will never really be a passenger. He is 39 years old and a top 10 player imo. Now imagine if he was on a loaded team with more spacing and athletic guards? He will always be an all star level guy, even if he plays another 2-3 years.

Lebron has already taken a smaller role in terms of ball handling and that is with Reaves and Dlo being in charge. What if he had a guy like Mitchell?

[jayjaysee]

Presti has the throw away pick to draft Bronny in the lottery..

[jbk1234]

Hopefully his son gets taken by a contender or a very solid team that Lebron can push to win it all

Going back to CLE would be cool if his son is there

Cavs at 155m this summer. Salary cap is 141m

Moving Levert and Niang gets you off 25m? Would cost something ofc

Trade Garland for Bridges? Saves you 13m and its a better fit

117m now

Would Bron sign for like 20ishm? They still have Ty Jerome and Sam Merrill making like 2.5m each. Maybe get rid of those guys as well? Also Dean Wade at like 6ishm is fine. Strus can be moved?

Mitchell, Strus, Bridges, Bron, Allen
Dean Wade, Mobley

Have the mle, bi annual?, and vet mins to fill out the bench

People are presupposing a willingness on the part of the Cavs F.O. and ownership to gut their team in order to pay a 40-year old LBJ a bunch of money that I'm not at all sure exists.

He's still worth $20M+, but I'm skeptical there's much appetite for hourglass social media posts, or requests for coaching changes, or requests that good players be traded for guys he believes are a better fit, etc.

If LBJ comes back to Cleveland, it will likely be at the very end of his career where he's reconciled with being a passenger in the vehicle. I don't know that Lebron ever gets there, but he's given zero indication he's there now.

Fair point

Cle franchise did most things right from 2014-2015 on to 2016-2017. They got injrued at the worst time in 2015 and went to 6 games in the finals, they won in 2016, and they lost to the greatest team ever imo in 2017

Then the Pacers bailed on a 3 team deal with Denver to help us get PG and Kyrie walked and it was over. And they still went to the finals after that deadline shuffle

The cavs core is pretty young, they could compete post Lebron as well, but I think they would probably need Lebron to truly be a legit top end contender in the top tier/favorite

I think they should move Garland regardless of Lebron or not honestly btw. Probably wouldnt move Mobley yet, but I am not sure if he lives up to the hype and a bad fit next to Allen full time

Lebron will never really be a passenger. He is 39 years old and a top 10 player imo. Now imagine if he was on a loaded team with more spacing and athletic guards? He will always be an all star level guy, even if he plays another 2-3 years.

Lebron has already taken a smaller role in terms of ball handling and that is with Reaves and Dlo being in charge. What if he had a guy like Mitchell?

That's actually not why the PG trade fell apart. Gilbert wanted a commitment from PG that he'd extend, PG would only give it if LBJ would, LBJ declined, and the window closed. The Cavs were also talking to the Rockets, who wanted a Mulligan on CP3's contract, about swapping him for Love.

Now, LBJ had every right to play out his contract and leave, but it's not lost on the organization that if LBJ wanted to contend for another 3-4 years in Cleveland, he could've.

Moreover, LBJ would want the roster, and offense, built around him, and I think you have to be very clear eyed as far as whether, at 40-years of age, that's going to be better than what you have now.

[gswhoops]

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[jbk1234]

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I feel like Presti was pennywise and pound foolish at the deadline.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Yeah I would’ve preferred something bigger but I’m ok with what OKC did here. Biz is the kind of large insurance policy I wanted. Granted I also wanted a more playable big man. But this is still this team’s first playoff run together, and the first playoffs for everyone but Shai. Then Presti can assess for the draft and FA with max flexibility.

[Ell Curry]

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I feel like Presti was pennywise and pound foolish at the deadline.

It's hard to say without knowing what the price was. I wonder if Atlanta would have done #10 and expirings for Okongwu, which I would probably do if I was OKC to get a cheap center in the room.

A heavily protected weak first for Nick Richards would have also made a lot of sense. I'm kind of surprised he didn't end up in the Hayward deal.

I guess ultimately Presti is hoping that he can get a better big man on draft day (both 1st rounders this year, Giddey and a juicy other team's unprotected first for Lauri?) or maybe sign someone in free agency (Hartenstein or Claxton).