The Lebron Thread (2015-16 Pt. 4)

[Dr Spaceman]

Wade on the Bulls would be awesome wish though we kept Gasol though as well.

So I guess it's gonna be..

Rondo
Wade
Butler
Gibson
Lopez

Mirotic (autocorrect was moronic) as 6th man?

That looks like an awful, poorly constructed team. I don't understand why the Bulls would have any interest in Wade, considering they have absolutely no hope of being competitive even with him.

[therealbig3]

Rondo and Wade in the backcourt? LOL, worst shooting back court of all time? And Jimmy Butler needs the ball in his hands, and now you put two ball-dominant players next to him?

Wade would be an awful fit in Chicago, they shouldn't have any interest in him.

[therealbig3]

I feel like it's a respect thing...An extra 5 million a year is nothing to Wade, but I think he wants to feel like the organization values him enough to be willing to give him that extra 5 million, especially since he's taken paycuts his entire career to help them field contenders.

[RSCD3_]

I feel like it's a respect thing...An extra 5 million a year is nothing to Wade, but I think he wants to feel like the organization values him enough to be willing to give him that extra 5 million, especially since he's taken paycuts his entire career to help them field contenders.

25 million for 2 year makes him the highest paid player on his team

A rank dwyane wade has never held

[JulesWinnfield]

With all the stuff the heat leaked to lebatard in that article last night, you get the feeling both sides are bracing for the breakup but trying to position themselves to pin blame more on the other side. Micky Arison meeting at the last minute is just the heat covering all their bases to say they gave it their best shot to make it work...

I might be falling for a pump fake here (I wouldn't be the first one with Wade, on the floor or off it) but man, it really seems like he's going to bounce

Also I don't want to hear about Pat Riley ever preaching about loyalty. As a former Knick fan it has made me sick to my stomach for 2 decades. Always been a snake. He's entitled to make the business decision he wants to of course, but don't paint yourself as above that.... this is a strict line in the sand for someone that has meant so much to the organization and sacrificed financially himself. Especially when we aren't talking about some 5 year deal here

[JulesWinnfield]

It's moot now because it really seems dead, but I still figured I'd post this...

[tweet]https://twitter.com/hpbasketball/status/750779021718237184[/tweet]

As an aside, the Bulls meeting got canceled today because they couldn't book a flight or something (weird).... They may or may not see him tomorrow. Don't know what to make of that. Meeting with Denver lasted 2.5 hours. Met with the Bucks but they can't offer as much as Denver or even Miami's current offer barring trades.

[datstockton]

Not saying he's the favorite, but KD going to GS increases LeBron's MVP chances significantly. I can't see anyone from that team winning it. I know LeBron's gonna coast, but if he somehow regains his jumper next year his coasting could still be really good, and possibly enough to win an MVP.

That being said if I had to bet preseason MVP's I'd probably go 1) Kawhi 2) Chestbrook 3) Bron

I also think the Cavs should 100% take a flier on Ray Allen for the minimum if he wants in. At the very least he'll be a great veteran presence, friend of LeBron/James Jones, and LeBron FT coach. At the very best he'll provide elite shooting in spot lineups. Low risk, high reward.

[Basileus777]

I could actually see the Cavs winning 60 games this year with better coaching continuity, a healthier squad, not starting a useless Mozgov half the year, and just improved chemistry. In that case LeBron would probably be the MVP favorite.

[OnlyOneWay2Play]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/EthanJSkolnick/status/750687103042760704[/tweet]

Smart decision. Wade for the MMLE would be awesome. Wade for JR+Frye+Shump (i.e. dumping them) would be terrible.

[MisterHibachi]

Saw the Cavs were trying to get Ariza. Would be a nice addition if it gets done.

[JulesWinnfield]

You listen to woj tell it, the Bulls are serious as hell about Wade and are burning up the phone lines trying to find a taker for Calderon and/or dunleavy to create even more space for him. Other reports are saying they are prepared to go to a 3rd year.

Man... Rewind time back 5 years, come with me to 2011 and tell people that in 2016 Lebron will have already returned to Cleveland and won a ring for them. Derrick Rose would be a Knick. Dwayne Wade and Rondo would be the starting backcourt in Chicago. Oklahoma City will be without Durant, Harden AND likely Westbrook too if he gets dealt (seems likely). Dwight Howard, still a beastly 1st team all NBA player would be working on team number 4. Steph curry would have 2 mvps in the bank...Each of those things would seem preposterous, never mind all of them... This is the most predictable league, but it still takes crazy turns. Only thing that seems constant is San Antonio is going to be in the mix.

[OnlyOneWay2Play]

Saw the Cavs were trying to get Ariza. Would be a nice addition if it gets done.

To get a quality 3+D wing, the Cavs are going to have to trade Love. These guys are at a premium in the NBA right now and none are available for cheap in FA and no one is trading you one for garbage or late first round picks.

The Cavs should absolute trade Love; he was basically terrible in the Finals, and now he'll be COMPLETELY unplayable since he can't hide on Barnes. Literally, the Cavs need to 100% optimize their team to be this new super-Warriors, and they need excellent 3+D wings to do it.

Ariza is off the table now because the Rockets just signed Ryan "poor man's KLove" Anderson at stretch-4 for $80 million over 4 years Remaining options I can think of now include:

- BOS: Crowder + Bradley
- TOR: Demarre Carroll
- DEN: Wilson Chandler + Will Barton
- ATL: Milsap (more of a PF and not a great 3-pt shooter, but good defender overall and could kill KD in the post)
- PHX: Bledsoe
- ORL: Ibaka (stretch 5)

Others you guys can think of?

[MisterHibachi]

Only Millsap on your list is worth trading Love for imo. How does Bledsoe help at all?

[OnlyOneWay2Play]

Only Millsap on your list is worth trading Love for imo. How does Bledsoe help at all?

Agree Bledsoe is not the best fit and is injury prone. But then again, he could play off-guard next to Kyrie and:
(a) defend Steph or Klay with his strength and quickness
(b) has shot an average of 35% from 3 the last 4 years, so he's a threat off-the-ball
(c) can be a secondary or tertiary creator as well as run bench units now that Delly is gone

I strongly disagree however that only Milsap is worth trading Love for. What is Love's value on the Cavs, especially against the Warriors, their overwhelmingly likely Finals opponent? Did you forget how much better the Cavs were with freaking 36-year old RJ instead of Love? How can you not think guys like Demarre Carroll, Wilson Chandler, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley would be hugely valuable against GSW? And the Cavs do NOT need Love to get to the Finals; having a solid 3+D wing in his place is fine in the East when you have LeBron, Kyrie, TT, Frye, etc.

[JulesWinnfield]

Wade to Bulls done, per SI

Wow

Edit: actually woj got it, SI is just citing his report

[Greatness]

Yup, Riley is an absolute snake in the grass.

[MisterHibachi]

Smiling faces with hidden agendas, huh. Godfather **** up.

[MisterHibachi]

Only Millsap on your list is worth trading Love for imo. How does Bledsoe help at all?

Agree Bledsoe is not the best fit and is injury prone. But then again, he could play off-guard next to Kyrie and:
(a) defend Steph or Klay with his strength and quickness
(b) has shot an average of 35% from 3 the last 4 years, so he's a threat off-the-ball
(c) can be a secondary or tertiary creator as well as run bench units now that Delly is gone

I strongly disagree however that only Milsap is worth trading Love for. What is Love's value on the Cavs, especially against the Warriors, their overwhelmingly likely Finals opponent? Did you forget how much better the Cavs were with freaking 36-year old RJ instead of Love? How can you not think guys like Demarre Carroll, Wilson Chandler, Jae Crowder and Avery Bradley would be hugely valuable against GSW? And the Cavs do NOT need Love to get to the Finals; having a solid 3+D wing in his place is fine in the East when you have LeBron, Kyrie, TT, Frye, etc.

I agree they should trade him. But I still think Love is a star and they need a package back that reflects that, imo. Millsap is such a package.

[JulesWinnfield]

Bosh is the only one left from the Heatles era. Boy that was fast. And he may not even play for them again. Whiteside technically spent some time in training camp with them one year but never appeared in a game

[PaulieWal]

Not sure how to process all this. Wade in Chicago......man this NBA season gets weirder and weirder.