D Wade on a private jet with Lebron and Dan Gilbert?

[cochiseuofm]

wade winning more rings as lebrons sidekick isnt going to move him up the all time list like compared to lebron, all his doing is adding to lebrons legacy...why would he do that?

Maybe because players don't make career decisions based on their all-time legacies like fans seem to think they do? He might want to win another title for himself? Or maybe he just enjoys playing basketball with his friend? Or maybe he thinks his role will be easier on his body on an established title team vs one trying to break out of the middle of the East?

I don't know what his motivations are, just saying there are a number of reasons he could want to leave Miami for Cleveland or another team.

[The Penguin]

I have no doubt there are a lot of emotions involved following the KD fallout. The Cavs just saw their primary rivals significantly improve while the Heat put Wade on the back burner in KD pursuit. When emotions are involved, anything can happen. But in order for this to happen, the two of them would need to forfeit nearly $30 mil this year alone. Dwayne has already lost tens of millions to both accommodate the Heatles and in the fallout of Lebron leaving. Lebron has been on the record about never playing for less than the max again and the importance of players extracting their value when it comes to CBA negotiations. Furthermore it would significantly damage Wade's Heat legacy. Time heals most wounds, but as long as Riley is involved with the Heat, Dwayne would potentially be forfeiting a role and standing similar to Mourning. Made Dwayne is fine with that after the last few contract negotiations, but this is a move with significant ramifications long term beyond just chasing another ring with your friend.

[Froob]

May as well condense the entire east to the Cavs to stop the Dubs. Give em AB, Crowder, and IT for Love.

[jbk1234]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/750307445004787712[/tweet]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/WindhorstESPN/status/750348459287449600[/tweet]

[jbk1234]

wade winning more rings as lebrons sidekick isnt going to move him up the all time list like compared to lebron, all his doing is adding to lebrons legacy...why would he do that?

Maybe because players don't make career decisions based on their all-time legacies like fans seem to think they do? He might want to win another title for himself? Or maybe he just enjoys playing basketball with his friend? Or maybe he thinks his role will be easier on his body on an established title team vs one trying to break out of the middle of the East?

I don't know what his motivations are, just saying there are a number of reasons he could want to leave Miami for Cleveland or another team.

I think beating that Warriors team is a legacy booster.

[Birdie]

May as well condense the entire east to the Cavs to stop the Dubs. Give em AB, Crowder, and IT for Love.

Throw in the 2018 BK pick, we got a deal Froob.

I really can't believe this DWade talk might actually have legs to it. This would be insane if CLE pulled it off without gutting us just to get LBJ's buddy paid.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/750349141205745664[/tweet]

So if MIL is out, who is left and with cap space. I hardy think DEN is in this. Can only leave CLE & MIA.

[yoyoboy]

He's returning to Miami. Wade pulling people's legs just like he did last summer.

[Froob]

May as well condense the entire east to the Cavs to stop the Dubs. Give em AB, Crowder, and IT for Love.

Throw in the 2018 BK pick, we got a deal Froob.

I really can't believe this DWade talk might actually have legs to it. This would be insane if CLE pulled it off without gutting us just to get LBJ's buddy paid.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/750349141205745664[/tweet]

So if MIL is out, who is left and with cap space. I hardy think DEN is in this. Can only leave CLE & MIA.

God I hope you guys improve to match them but, I'd hate to root for Wade. I already don't want to root for LeBron.

[jumpstart]

He should go to Cleveland. This would be a terrific move. After watching Wade last year, the guy still has fuel left in the tank. Go get em Cleveland!

[contentode]

He should go to Miami. This would be a terrific move. After watching Wade last year, the guy still has fuel left in the tank. Go get em Cleveland!

I'm not understanding your post jumpstart. What exactly would you like to see happen?

[sisibilio]

It would make zero sense for Cleveland if it means JR is gone.

[mg]

The NBA has to be hoping this happens. This year's Finals already had 20 year rating highs and now throw in Durant and Wade?

Of course the regular season will be a bit of a joke but the Finals rubber match could be epic.

[Froob]

I'm imagining LeBron's reaction to the KD signing was something like this

[Zenith]

Lebron has been on the record about never playing for less than the max again and the importance of players extracting their value when it comes to CBA negotiations.

He made those comments before he signed a 1 Billion dollar deal with Nike, and before Durant left. If Gilbert promises him Cle ownership when he retires (like Jerry Buss did Magic) then I could see him doing anything.

[ThePersianFreak]

May as well condense the entire east to the Cavs to stop the Dubs. Give em AB, Crowder, and IT for Love.

Throw in the 2018 BK pick, we got a deal Froob.

I really can't believe this DWade talk might actually have legs to it. This would be insane if CLE pulled it off without gutting us just to get LBJ's buddy paid.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/750349141205745664[/tweet]

So if MIL is out, who is left and with cap space. I hardy think DEN is in this. Can only leave CLE & MIA.

God I hope you guys improve to match them but, I'd hate to root for Wade. I already don't want to root for LeBron.

Oh come, you HAVE TO root for LeBron. Not after what GSW did.

[Froob]

Throw in the 2018 BK pick, we got a deal Froob.

I really can't believe this DWade talk might actually have legs to it. This would be insane if CLE pulled it off without gutting us just to get LBJ's buddy paid.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/750349141205745664[/tweet]

So if MIL is out, who is left and with cap space. I hardy think DEN is in this. Can only leave CLE & MIA.

God I hope you guys improve to match them but, I'd hate to root for Wade. I already don't want to root for LeBron.

Oh come, you HAVE TO root for LeBron. Not after what GSW did.

Oh I definitely am, but asking to root for LeBron and Wade is asking a lot. Wade is my least favorite player.

[RCM88x]

It would make zero sense for Cleveland if it means JR is gone.

I agree (would even rather have Frye than Wade TBH). The Cavs' probably know this as well, there are other pieces they can move to get Wade outside of JR.

[Paz]

Spoiler:

Okay thanks for clearing that up. So theoretically wade can take $20m and then re-sign jr and lbj using bird right?

Negative. Lebron and JR have cap holds which woud need to be relinquished in order to sign Wade. Bird right (Which Lebron doesn't have) would go bye bye. They HAVE to re-sign Lebron first. HTey could go over the cap to re-sign JR but his caphold is rather large.

THIS. Thanks Paz for explaining layman's terms of capology 101. I cringe when I see posts about the cap after they've just taken a cursory look at a cap sheet that ESPN may've spit out without taking into account of cap holds, roster charges, dead money, rookie contracts, etc. when speaking about the cap ninjistu CLE would have to undertake to get DWade some cashola. Maybe not the 20mil but damn near close, so, for this exercise, can CLE even get close to getting DWade close to 20mil?

As of now by my best estimation of playing Larry Coons capologist on the most basic level;

CLE roster cap sheet as of 7/5/16 for 2016-2017:
LBJ: 30,300,000 [cap hold]
KLove: 21,165,675
Kyrie: 17,638,063
TT: 15,330,435
Shump: 9,662,921
JR: 9,500,000 [cap hold]
Frye: 7,806,971
Mo: 2,194,500
Dahntay: 1,551,659 [guarantee date sometime in Aug but most likely to be waived]
Sasha: 1,333,420
JJ: 980,431 [cap hold but will also be cap # for 2016-2017 signed vet min contract of 1,551,659]
RJ: 980,431 [cap hold but will also be cap # for 2016-2017 signed vet min contract of 1,551,659]
McCrae: 874,636
Felder: 543,471 [I don't think he holds a cap hold as long as he stays unsigned or what not but his $ is insignificant]

After waiving Dahntay, that adds up to 13 players for 118,310,954 in salary + cap holds. Clearly, no cap space available to be spent as we're 24 mil over the salary cap. OK, so what does Griff have to do?

1) Waive Dahntay

2) Sign LBJ to vet min of 1,551,659 which would be 980,431 cap charge as NBA subsidizes the remaining $$$ for "vet mins". Now the Cavs salary is at 88,991,385

Spoiler:

3) Ask JR to take a haircut this year and do a 1+1 starting at 8mil with a "wink wink", we'll get you big next year. CLE at 87,491,385

3) Trade Shump, Mo and Sasha into somebodies cap space, get useless 2nd rounders back to replenish coffers. Add 2 roster charges of 1,086,942 because Cavs under 12 players. CLE at 74,300,544. So after all that, CLE has 19,699,456 in cap space to offer D Wade. Give him 19.5mil or 17milish if they want to keep Mo.

So, now you have a roster lookin, if he takes 17mil/yr

Kyrie/Mo/Felder
Wade/JR/McCrae
LBJ/RJ/JJ
Love
TT/Frye

Then we'd have access to the full MLE of 5milly, offer that to Norris Cole, use vet min for D West and leaves us with 1 roster spot open AND under the tax threshold. It would be insane to pull off on the surface and I'm very doubtful my capology logic is even legal or right.

Ultimately, I think now that Cuban just ponied up his legacy money for Dirk, MIA is either gonna let DWade walk or pony up that extra $$$ he's looking forward and bite the bullet. I just can't see LBJ taking such a huge paycut or JR...But it was fun to dream of the possibility. Obv, everything is easier if DWade just takes the Room Exception and LBJ/JR still get paid. That's simplest route.

[RoyceDa59]

This would be amazing. James, Irving, Wade, Love vs Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green. Please happen.

[rich316]

If there was any way for Lebron to take a paycut and get Wade on board, it would be from the motivation to take down the Dubs again. He has to know that he would become the 1b GOAT if he actually beat that team in the finals. That kind of opportunity might just be enough for him to consider doing whatever he has to do to bring Wade on board.