Facilitating Lebron to Cavs

[Karmaloop]

I guess Lebron would have to take 25 mil first year salary in that scenario though I'm not totally ruling it out, it's not the MLE at least

Otherwise they could try a 3 way deal where a 3rd team gets Allen

When LeBron actually takes a massive paycut, I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong. He's already been pretty vocal that he's not going to.

[tidho]

With LeBron already winning a title for Cleveland , I don’t really see coming back home as much of a big draw for him .

Umm it's his home.

The man is Ohio don't get it twisted. Lala land will be there after basketball. His basketball roots are in Ohio.

It used to be. His home is LA now. How many times does he have to leave for that to sink in?, lol. He doesn't want to be here. Fine with people pretending he'll come back, but can we collectively at least be honest about what he is?

LeBron is a PF not a SF. He's a PF that's going to give you next to zero defensive effort in the regular season and, turning 40 by New Years, probably doesn't play more than three times a week for much of the year even if he's healthy. So you have to make sure there's enough team left, after matching his salary, to make up for that until the playoffs arrive.

[toooskies]

I guess Lebron would have to take 25 mil first year salary in that scenario though I'm not totally ruling it out, it's not the MLE at least

Otherwise they could try a 3 way deal where a 3rd team gets Allen

When LeBron actually takes a massive paycut, I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong. He's already been pretty vocal that he's not going to.

He was vocal ten years ago on that, that it's a bad example for other superstars in their prime to take less money.

As a player who's still playing after 99% of the league would've already retired and he's the only player in history to be performing as close to his peak at his age, he has no one left to be setting an example for.

That said-- Cleveland would surely throw in LeVert, Niang, and Jerome to meet LeBron's salary expectations. Possibly with compensation. Maybe even Strus.

[Dr Positivity]

Is this legal:

Cavs get:
Lebron S&T

Lakers get:
#20
#29 (OKC pick via Utah)
Lowest of 2027 MIN/UTA/LAL/CLE 1sts
LeVert
Niang

Utah gets:
Allen

Utah could trade Collins to the Pistons or something to avoid paying so much for frontcourt, and get the Chandler to Markkanen's Dirk. Lakers get two low picks for Allen but the 27 has value to them by restoring tradability. Frankly this looks like a decent outcome for the Lakers compared to running back the current core until Lebron is done. I think it if it was going to happen for this older version of the Lakers it would have in 23 or 24 when both guys made it through the season.

[Karmaloop]

He was vocal ten years ago on that, that it's a bad example for other superstars in their prime to take less money.

As a player who's still playing after 99% of the league would've already retired and he's the only player in history to be performing as close to his peak at his age, he has no one left to be setting an example for.

That said-- Cleveland would surely throw in LeVert, Niang, and Jerome to meet LeBron's salary expectations. Possibly with compensation. Maybe even Strus.

Again, when LeBron actually takes a substantial paycut we can discuss the possibility. Until then, it's just a stretch at best.

The problem isn't just matching salaries. There's just no incentive for the Lakers to take back useless salary in return. At the very least, if LeBron walks they dip under the luxury tax threshold. So unless they're getting something useful in return in order to pivot for a co-star for Anthony Davis, they'd almost be better off letting him walk rather than taking useless money and not receiving anything in return that they can use long-term.

[toooskies]

He was vocal ten years ago on that, that it's a bad example for other superstars in their prime to take less money.

As a player who's still playing after 99% of the league would've already retired and he's the only player in history to be performing as close to his peak at his age, he has no one left to be setting an example for.

That said-- Cleveland would surely throw in LeVert, Niang, and Jerome to meet LeBron's salary expectations. Possibly with compensation. Maybe even Strus.

Again, when LeBron actually takes a substantial paycut we can discuss the possibility. Until then, it's just a stretch at best.

The problem isn't just matching salaries. There's just no incentive for the Lakers to take back useless salary in return. At the very least, if LeBron walks they dip under the luxury tax threshold. So unless they're getting something useful in return in order to pivot for a co-star for Anthony Davis, they'd almost be better off letting him walk rather than taking useless money and not receiving anything in return that they can use long-term.

I did mention compensation, and they're rotation-level players. (Maybe not Jerome or Niang on the playoffs.)

[Warriorfan]

If LeBron was going back to Clev he wouldn't want to lesson his chances

He would opt out do 1 and 1 with a promise of a Max year.