2014 Official FA Thread 3: The Hunt For LeBron Continues...

[bwgood77]

I really wonder what we talked about with Lebron.

I expect we certainly have offered the opportunity to acquire him and either Melo or Bosh but I also think we may have put the following on the table.

Current signed roster (Assuming we sign rookies)

Center - Plumlee, Len
PF - Markieff
SF - Marcus, TJ Warren
SG - Goran, Green, Goodwin
PG - Ennis, Ish

I think our maximum roster is 15 so that leaves 5 more available spots to fill. I would drop Ish to give us 6 spots.

I would tell him that we want to keep all of these guys and we would like to sign the following players to fill out the roster. I think we would have a very deep and talented roster while not mortgaging the future.

Lebron - yeah that's you
Frye - at a reasonable price

Now it is your turn Lebron - take your choice as long as we stay under the cap and maximum roster.

Ray Allen, Mike Miller or Rashard Lewis - (all on short term deals). If you do not want those guys then give us some other names and we will get on the phones right now. He reportedly was really disappointed when the Heat let Miller go and Ray Allen has said "I will follow him". I just throw out Rashard's name as another potential shooter that is still available.

After that process is completed we will go over the cap by signing both Bledsoe and Tucker.

We would then try to put together a package to acquire Kevin Love either prior to the season or at the trade dealine. If we cannot make the deal and he becomes a free agent we would then clear room next summer to add him as a free agent.

Basically I am saying and really believe that we are better off signing Lebron by himself and using the money that would be used for Bosh or Melo to add additional resources at this time.

Lebron may disagree, so be it.

Just my opinion.

I agree. I'd rather keep our depth and make a play for Kevin Love mid season. Maybe we could add a lower tier $10 million guy (this way we could use our space before it disappears, but would not have to dump guys like Len, Green and the twins, like we'd have to do to get Bosh/Melo) and adding that lower tier $10 million guy, or just a couple of lower level role players gives us more ammunition for a Love trade.

[bwgood77]

I see a lot of ppl suggesting wiggins for love straight up so the cabs add that second star but I find it highly unlikely that that would happen. I'm pretty sure if that deal could have happened it would have happened before the draft.

There's no guarantee that LeBron even goes back to Cleveland though. That would be stupid to trade Andrew Wiggins for Love only for Lebron to Re-sign with Miami and Kevin Love walks next year

They wouldn't trade for Love until after they signed LeBron.

[RunDogGun]

I don't understand why LeBron hasn't committed yet. We're the only team that offers the opportunity to play with Bogdan Bogdanovic.

Extremely underrated factor, can't believe no one is talking about that.

It's because James could opt out before Double Bogey even comes over.

[GOGI_4_MVP]

So you live in AZ? I figured Europe with the Gogi in your name!

Yup. Born and raised. I have always liked the Gogi nickname for Dragic, that's why it's in my name!

Kinda weird, seeing that you work for Safelite Glass in Columbus Ohio and all...........

I do work for safelite glass but in the contact center in Chandler Arizona. Why would I lie about living in Arizona?

[bwgood77]

OK, I just read some more stuff on the Melo to LA thing, and I guess they offered him the full max, so if he were to take that, I think that just between him and Kobe, that would be close to $46 million in salaries, so I revise my earlier statement and do not think LeBron would go there (unless of course they just both decide to take a little less to play together, starting just below $20 each).

But I guess their lineup would look something like Marshall?/Kobe/Melo/Randle/Pau (hear there is a very good chance he would re-sign if they get Melo).

One plus if he signed there is that I don't think Love could sign there (though I guess I don't know what a max contract for him will look like...he makes $15.7 this next year, and there may be like a max raise for his next contract of 4.5%, capping his starting salary at like $16.4). Then they would again have to get rid of Pau and Randle to fit him, so it would be extremely unlikely Love ends up there.

That Kobe contract is REALLY killing them. If he would have just taken like $15, they'd have all sorts of options.

[ImNotMcDiSwear]

OK, I just read some more stuff on the Melo to LA thing, and I guess they offered him the full max, so if he were to take that, I think that just between him and Kobe, that would be close to $46 million in salaries, so I revise my earlier statement and do not think LeBron would go there (unless of course they just both decide to take a little less to play together, starting just below $20 each).

But I guess their lineup would look something like Marshall?/Kobe/Melo/Randle/Pau (hear there is a very good chance he would re-sign if they get Melo)

That's a solid squad. Injury prone. Bad defensively. Thin. Not great shooting. But talented. They'd probably miss the playoffs. But I guess Melo likes his prospects upon Kobe's retirement.

He must not have been impressed by Chicago at all.

[bwgood77]

OK, I just read some more stuff on the Melo to LA thing, and I guess they offered him the full max, so if he were to take that, I think that just between him and Kobe, that would be close to $46 million in salaries, so I revise my earlier statement and do not think LeBron would go there (unless of course they just both decide to take a little less to play together, starting just below $20 each).

But I guess their lineup would look something like Marshall?/Kobe/Melo/Randle/Pau (hear there is a very good chance he would re-sign if they get Melo)

That's a solid squad. Injury prone. Bad defensively. Thin. Not great shooting. But talented. They'd probably miss the playoffs. But I guess Melo likes his prospects upon Kobe's retirement.

He must not have been impressed by Chicago at all.

Yeah, when Kobe retires, they will go all out for Durant in the summer of 2016. Doubt he would go, and not sure how well him and Melo would play together. Odd all these great players today are small forwards. Even Paul George, and maybe Wiggins and Parker though they could arguably play 2 and 4.

[Cutter]

Listening to Saturday afternoon sports talk radio and the speculation is that Luol Deng is going to be the free agent that gets LeBron to stay in Miami. Riley is going hard after him, but Deng is sticking firm so far that he isn't going to take a paycut to play in Miami. Stand firm Luol!

[WeekapaugGroove]

OK, I just read some more stuff on the Melo to LA thing, and I guess they offered him the full max, so if he were to take that, I think that just between him and Kobe, that would be close to $46 million in salaries, so I revise my earlier statement and do not think LeBron would go there (unless of course they just both decide to take a little less to play together, starting just below $20 each).

But I guess their lineup would look something like Marshall?/Kobe/Melo/Randle/Pau (hear there is a very good chance he would re-sign if they get Melo).

One plus if he signed there is that I don't think Love could sign there (though I guess I don't know what a max contract for him will look like...he makes $15.7 this next year, and there may be like a max raise for his next contract of 4.5%, capping his starting salary at like $16.4). Then they would again have to get rid of Pau and Randle to fit him, so it would be extremely unlikely Love ends up there.

That Kobe contract is REALLY killing them. If he would have just taken like $15, they'd have all sorts of options.

wouldn't the Lakers need to renounce gasols bird rights to get far enough under the cap to sign melo to a max deal? After that I think all they could offer gasol would be the mle. Maybe he'd take it but seems like he'd be leaving a good amount of cash on the table.

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[Blackification]

Listening to Saturday afternoon sports talk radio and the speculation is that Luol Deng is going to be the free agent that gets LeBron to stay in Miami. Riley is going hard after him, but Deng is sticking firm so far that he isn't going to take a paycut to play in Miami. Stand firm Luol!

Would it even matter if Bosh doesn't take a paycut?

[toucansma]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo 1m
Suns & RFA Eric Bledsoe's agent Rich Paul in early stages of contract talks, a source said.Other suitors in limbo until LeBron & Melo decide

[SSOL]

Hmm, I wonder if that means we're out.

Also, where does that info. come from? The Suns are air tight as is Bledsoe's/Lebron's agent.

[PassWarden]

Who knows. At this point, I'm along for the ride. And truth be told, if you asked me at the end of last season if I'd be happy retaining Bledsoe and adding some more rookie talent to the roster, I'd have told you that was fine by me.

[Saberestar]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo 1m
Suns & RFA Eric Bledsoe's agent Rich Paul in early stages of contract talks, a source said.Other suitors in limbo until LeBron & Melo decide

Great news, I think we will see a fair contract here.

[matt131]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo 1m
Suns & RFA Eric Bledsoe's agent Rich Paul in early stages of contract talks, a source said.Other suitors in limbo until LeBron & Melo decide

Great news, I think we will see a fair contract here.

If he signs for less than the max, would we be able to sign LeBron and Bosh to max contracts without losing anyone on our current roster?

[QuickLikeTheo]

I see a lot of ppl suggesting wiggins for love straight up so the cabs add that second star but I find it highly unlikely that that would happen. I'm pretty sure if that deal could have happened it would have happened before the draft.

There's no guarantee that LeBron even goes back to Cleveland though. That would be stupid to trade Andrew Wiggins for Love only for Lebron to Re-sign with Miami and Kevin Love walks next year

They wouldn't trade for Love until after they signed LeBron.

Oh no I meant that after he signed. Or use it as part of the pitch to him.


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[WeekapaugGroove]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo 1m
Suns & RFA Eric Bledsoe's agent Rich Paul in early stages of contract talks, a source said.Other suitors in limbo until LeBron & Melo decide

of course the suns and Bledsoe are talking contract that's not a surprise. They can agree to a deal and delay signing it and still preserve space until the big free agents decide.

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[Saberestar]

Marc J. Spears ‏@SpearsNBAYahoo 1m
Suns & RFA Eric Bledsoe's agent Rich Paul in early stages of contract talks, a source said.Other suitors in limbo until LeBron & Melo decide

Great news, I think we will see a fair contract here.

If he signs for less than the max, would we be able to sign LeBron and Bosh to max contracts without losing anyone on our current roster?

No, in that case we can sign only one.
But Bledsoe can agree on terms but not sign until we have our other FA adquisitions, that is not a problem.

[bwgood77]

OK, I just read some more stuff on the Melo to LA thing, and I guess they offered him the full max, so if he were to take that, I think that just between him and Kobe, that would be close to $46 million in salaries, so I revise my earlier statement and do not think LeBron would go there (unless of course they just both decide to take a little less to play together, starting just below $20 each).

But I guess their lineup would look something like Marshall?/Kobe/Melo/Randle/Pau (hear there is a very good chance he would re-sign if they get Melo).

One plus if he signed there is that I don't think Love could sign there (though I guess I don't know what a max contract for him will look like...he makes $15.7 this next year, and there may be like a max raise for his next contract of 4.5%, capping his starting salary at like $16.4). Then they would again have to get rid of Pau and Randle to fit him, so it would be extremely unlikely Love ends up there.

That Kobe contract is REALLY killing them. If he would have just taken like $15, they'd have all sorts of options.

wouldn't the Lakers need to renounce gasols bird rights to get far enough under the cap to sign melo to a max deal? After that I think all they could offer gasol would be the mle. Maybe he'd take it but seems like he'd be leaving a good amount of cash on the table.

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Yes, I think with Nash, Kobe, Sacre and Randle, and a Melo max, they'd be at like $58 or something. So they could try to trade Nash and give up a pick to do so, but it would probably be more likely they would just stretch him, and reduce his cap hit to like $3.23 million, which would bring their cap commitment down to like 52, and they could give Pau around $10 million.

[bwgood77]

Listening to Saturday afternoon sports talk radio and the speculation is that Luol Deng is going to be the free agent that gets LeBron to stay in Miami. Riley is going hard after him, but Deng is sticking firm so far that he isn't going to take a paycut to play in Miami. Stand firm Luol!

I don't see how Deng makes that team any better at all. Maybe better defensively, but the Heat became dangerous when they stretched the floor, and often times played better without Wade because he didn't have the ability to do that. Neither does Deng.