Woj: Lakers no longer a slam dunk for Lebron, Sixers are the team to watch **Update currently meeting with sixers**

[jpengland]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

[RCM88x]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

I think Kawhi is a different situation than PG. PG feels very much like an independent decision maker and a bit more "normal" on the spectrum on decision making. This whole Kawhi thing is baffling and far more extreme, and I don't know if anyone knows what will happen with him. At least with PG you're confident he'll play and give it his all. With Kawhi we already know he'll sit out if "he" is unhappy.

[Dupp]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

If fultz can be what he’s suppose to be he’d be a really good fit with Lebron. However how do they get Kawhi and still keep fultz?

I think reddick signs for Peanuts if they get Lebron

[jpengland]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

If fultz can be what he’s suppose to be he’d be a really good fit with Lebron. However how do they get Kawhi and still keep fultz?

I think reddick signs for Peanuts if they get Lebron

Rumour that Fultz untouchable in Leonard talks.

Covington, Saric (both spursy guys), Zaire Smith and a first would be a good price at this point for Spurs.

[jpengland]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

I think Kawhi is a different situation than PG. PG feels very much like an independent decision maker and a bit more "normal" on the spectrum on decision making. This whole Kawhi thing is baffling and far more extreme, and I don't know if anyone knows what will happen with him. At least with PG you're confident he'll play and give it his all. With Kawhi we already know he'll sit out if "he" is unhappy.

Kawhi wants to feel loved and feel like he's being made a 'star'. Philly seems pretty good at that side of things (Embiid and Simmons are already all over the media).

I'd take the risk. A long term core of Simmons, Leonard and Embiid would be obscene. That defense...

If it all falls through, you are left with Simmons, Embiid and a crap ton of cap space to add a star.

[blicka]

Woj has no sources connected to lebron. he's speculating like always when it comes to lebron

[mike76]

I'm not sure that the Celtics can offer a better package than the Sixers, but I would say at least a comparable package. I don't see Brown as superstar potential. I would say they're all pretty close in the following order:

1. Brown (Highest ceiling, good contract)
2. Covington (All NBA defensive team, great contract, 3&D)
3. Saric (High ceiling, great contract)
4. Rozier (Clutch in playoffs, lower ceiling, one more year before pay increase)
...
5. Smart (Good in playoffs, lower ceiling, free agent looking for big pay day)

Then you have other pretty good assets like Smith, SAC Pick, MIA Pick which either team could add.

FYI, I'm considering Kyrie, Hayward, Tatum, Embiid, Simmons, and Fultz off the table. Simmons, Embiid, Tatum should be untouchable. Kyrie, Hayward, Fultz are high risk/high reward with their more value to their respective team than the Spurs.

All this being said, are there reports that BOS is seriously pursuing Leonard?

I think this is kind of spot on. Now which pick do people think is more valuable? Sacramento pick or Miami pick? I can see the case for both. Sacramento pick is very likely to be no worst than 7 in next year's draft. However, it is a relatively weak draft and it is still #1 protected by Philly. And let's be real, the Kings are going to be garbage next year. Miami pick however has a lot more variance (Miami is currently a treadmill, old team whose only young stud is Adebayo so pick can go anywhere from like 1 to 15 realistically) but in what is expected to be a much deeper draft where the one and done rule is expected to be. Could see a case for either one.

Then if Boston throws in Memphis and LAC pick, then advantage Boston with the pick assets.

Also, I'm hearing that Simmons, Embiid, and Fultz are untouchable in a trade which I think it's smart to keep Fultz as an untouchable as Fultz value is currently very low (and probably can't get much lower so I would just try to develop him), it seems however that Philly is very confident in Hanlen helping Fultz get his shot back, and Fultz has the most star upside of Roco, Saric, Smith, and 2021 pick IMO.

[mike76]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

If he's healthy that would be the potential X factor for that team

Simmons
Redick
Kawhi
LeBron
Embiid
With Fultz and ring chasers off the bench would be obscene and potentially beat GSW.

That said, I maintain that if I was Philly I would be giving LeBron the swerve and going hard after Leonard alone. I'd be confident that a la Paul George,after a season playing there, he stays.

I think Kawhi is a different situation than PG. PG feels very much like an independent decision maker and a bit more "normal" on the spectrum on decision making. This whole Kawhi thing is baffling and far more extreme, and I don't know if anyone knows what will happen with him. At least with PG you're confident he'll play and give it his all. With Kawhi we already know he'll sit out if "he" is unhappy.

People are trying to make Kawhi the bad guy here which I don't think that story adds up. He didn't play this season because it hurt him to play. He probably was legitimately hurt. So I think an undersold point on the potential Kawhi deal is that any trade needs to require due diligence on the long term health prospects of Kawhi (otherwise, you get another Bynum situation where you sold the farm for a guy who couldn't play for you). And that goes for any team taking on Kawhi.

[jason bourne]

I'm not sure if the Sixers package is enough, but it beats the Lakers. What else is out there? I can only think of the Celtics finally giving up Tatum. If Philly does get their dream team, then there will be two superteams in the East and two in the West. This will make for an exciting season and no Cavs vs. Warriors V. woot!

[TheNewEra]

I'm not sure if the Sixers package is enough, but it beats the Lakers. What else is out there? I can only think of the Celtics finally giving up Tatum. If Philly does get their dream team, then there will be two superteams in the East and two in the West. This will make for an exciting season and no Cavs vs. Warriors V. woot!

Who’s the second super team in the West?

[sfernald]

Let’s assume Sixers, Celtics and Lakers are competing for Kawhi. The only players worth it to Spurs are Simmons, Saric, Fultz, Tatum, Brown, Ingram, Ball and Kuzma. If you rank them ( IMO and how I see Spurs ranking ) it would be Tatum > Simmons > Brown > Ingram > Saric > Kuzma > Ball > Fultz ( for now ). If you rank draft picks it’s Sac19 > Mem19> Mia21 >>>>>any LAL picks. As far as accessory pieces I’d say Rozier > Covington (due to salary) > Smart > Hart.

If Celtics want Kawhi they offer Brown + Sac19 and that is really tough to beat and they have to consider it to stop Kawhi/Lebron to Philly which could end Boston’s title hopes for 3 years. Sixers would have to offer Simmons to beat that. Lakers will end up offering Ingram+Kuzma and I think that is better than Covington-Saric-Mia21 but Spurs will go with Philly out of spite.

Again I don’t see the realisitc actual trade from the Celtics? They either have to send all their guys over or include one of Hortford, Hayward or Kyrie to match salaries. Smart is a free agent and has to approve any trade and can be taken freely on the market with an overpay. He’s not a spurs type of player at all either (way too much controversy and drama with him all the time)...

So either include Kyrie, Hortford or Hayward in your Celtics trade or don’t really bother. Or check the trade machine and tell me what you can realistically do with the trade yourself?

If I am the Spurs, why would I want any of those huge contracts?

Really?

I think they came out and said they like Kyrie.. Kyrie has listed Spurs as one of the teams he would like to play when leaving Cleveland. So I could see it? Could you see it as a Celtics fan?

[Hero]

Embiid shudda probably kept his mouth shut rather than rip on LeBron (LA is Kobe/Magic's town) yesterday. Things change quick.

Nah, he's letting James know that he ain't running **** if he chooses Philly. He'll be a member of the team, and they'd love to have him, but he needs them just as much as they need him. It was a good message and marker to put down.

He can't even stay healthy and he's putting down markers?

[Iplaytolose]

LeBron is going to go where Kawhi goes. Until Kawhi is off the board it's still wide open.

Sent from my LG-H901 using RealGM mobile app

[LikeABosh]

Woj has no sources connected to lebron. he's speculating like always when it comes to lebron

Lebron isn't the only member of the party here. We're also dealing with 2 front offices and its many staff members. He was the first to announce Lebron even had a meeting with Philly so he obviously has some connection to what's going on

[LikeABosh]

I can only think of the Celtics finally giving up Tatum.

They will never ever do that just for Kawhi. I don't even know if they'd do that if Kawhi signed an extension immediately. A budding superstar on a cheap rookie contract is irreplaceable

[Hoopz Afrik]

Embiid shudda probably kept his mouth shut rather than rip on LeBron (LA is Kobe/Magic's town) yesterday. Things change quick.

Nah, he's letting James know that he ain't running **** if he chooses Philly. He'll be a member of the team, and they'd love to have him, but he needs them just as much as they need him. It was a good message and marker to put down.

Pretty much this

[LakerLegend]

If Fultz is genuinely off limits, that bodes exceptionally well for his shot being back...

No it doesn't, all that means is the Sixers aren't willing to give up on a #1 overall pick after 1 injury plagued season.

[Geddy]

Embiid shudda probably kept his mouth shut rather than rip on LeBron (LA is Kobe/Magic's town) yesterday. Things change quick.

Nah, he's letting James know that he ain't running **** if he chooses Philly. He'll be a member of the team, and they'd love to have him, but he needs them just as much as they need him. It was a good message and marker to put down.

He can't even stay healthy and he's putting down markers?

LeBron is captain of that team once he signs on the dotted line, regardless of what delusional posters think. Embiid and the other young guys will be lining up to carry his bags.

[ILOVEIT]

This is all about Lenard....if Lakers can't make that deal go down...I think LeBron goes to Philly or stays home. BTW...there is no chance now for a team to be built to beat the Warriors OTHER than Philly...with LB.

[laika]

Woj has no sources connected to lebron. he's speculating like always when it comes to lebron

You don't need sources. Lebron has zero loyalty and will go to the team that gives him the best chance to win.

By not acquiring George or Kawhi the Lakers are now significant long shots. It looks barely even possible that Boston, Houston, Denver or whoever could get enough cap space.

Even if the 76ers fail to get Kawhi they still are the most talented team Lebron could sign with. This makes them the clear front runners.