LeBron Watch!: 2014

[MavzMan]

Marc Stein: According to my man @Chris Broussard, LeBron James' agent Rich Paul has informed Heat that LeBron will exercise early termination option Twitter @ESPNSteinLine


Hmmmm, back to Cleveland???

[Underdog]

[tsar]

It won't happen. Just like paying the dumb-tax (lottery): It's fun to dream right? I think one thing we do have that's attractive from Lebrons perspective, is Carlisle - he probably realizes Spoelstra won't cut it no matter how much Riley is running things in the background.

[MavzMan]

Lebron opting out is really weird and especially given that he is doing it on his own without anything coming from The Big Three together. I really wonder if Lebron is doing this in an attempt to force Wade (and Bosh) into opting out also and then sign for less so that they can actually try to get help. It's just a weird situation right now. Lots of quality drama if nothing else.

[grndmstr_c]

Not weird. Entirely predictable. Even if he's fully intending to stay with the Heat.

[jthig32]

Yep. Never understood people wondering about this.

[LonghornDub]

I think there's a greater than negligible chance he goes to Houston (if they can clear the space).

Still, Miami is the favorite by a substantial margin. Dallas has maybe a 1% chance.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

It would be a good story if he went back to Cleveland, but that is a very unlikely scenario. He said his family loves Miami and 4 finals in a row makes little sense to leave.

[BPo001]

Could the Knicks sign Lebron and then go over the cap to resign Melo? Or do the Knicks lose the opportunity to go over resigning Melo since he opted out?

[Dtownsfinest]

Originally Posted by BPo001

Could the Knicks sign Lebron and then go over the cap to resign Melo? Or do the Knicks lose the opportunity to go over resigning Melo since he opted out?

Knicks are over the salary cap WITHOUT Melo's contract. They're just lucky they have his bird rights and they can re-sign him while being over the cap.

[EricaLubarsky]

LeBron isn't coming here, but it will make free agency more interesting.

[Melonhead]

Cant wait for the leak of Cuban's youtube video of Lebron to Dallas. So embarrassing

[sefant77]

This is so 2010

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Yep. Never understood people wondering about this.

For me i thought he maybe plays the rest of the two years with the Heat and Wade and then go as FA to the Lakers after Kobe is gone there

[MavzMan]

I'm one of those people that don't understand why he did it actually. I don't see him opting out just to sign a new, long term deal. Miami is dying with Wade barely able to play half a season now. The only thing that makes sense is that Lebron is trying to FORCE Wade (and Bosh) into opting out as well so that they can get new players.

I don't think he wants to leave but he sees that they have no shot of winning a championship even if he carries them all the way to the Finals.

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by MavzMan

I'm one of those people that don't understand why he did it actually. I don't see him opting out just to sign a new, long term deal. Miami is dying with Wade barely able to play half a season now. The only thing that makes sense is that Lebron is trying to FORCE Wade (and Bosh) into opting out as well so that they can get new players.

I don't think he wants to leave but he sees that they have no shot of winning a championship even if he carries them all the way to the Finals.

I think the opt-out is just a way of putting some pressure on Miami's FO to make some big roster moves. If they go the route LBJ wants, he comes back. If Wade opts in and/or the Heat can't clear enough cap space to go after other significant free agents, I think LeBron wants the option to GTFO.

[MavzMan]

I agree whole-heartedly but the only way Miami can add someone is if Lebron, Wade, and Bosh all take less. Those three plus Haslem (4.6), Birdman (1.4), Cole (2), and Hamilton (.8) are already at $70.2 million. That is 2 players short of a starting 5.

Honestly, I'm hoping he leaves just so that I can watch Wade's Heat do a complete nosedive the next two seasons while he's making his $42 million.

[sefant77]

Its to put pressure on Bosh and specially Wade to opt out and sign for less. Specially Wade is missing half of the season etc

[MavzMan]

This has me the most excited. I'm hoping the MBT can land some quality pieces in a fire sale:

"With LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony officially opting out of their contracts, multiple teams have begun the process of exploring roster moves that would create sufficient salary-cap space to sign 2014's marquee free agents in tandem this summer, according to sources close to the situation."

[sefant77]

And we play Dirk at center and Lebron or Anthony at PF?

[hayth.james.g]

Originally Posted by sefant77

And we play Dirk at center and Lebron or Anthony at PF?

I think MavsMan is echoing what others have said..... that hopefully we are able to the reap the benefits of other teams focusing so much attention on trying to nab the "superstars". There is plenty of room to grown when people are unloading rosters trying to create dream scenarios. I know we lack some of the things people want (early picks, young talent, expiring contracts) when these type of things are going down, but there's always room to hope.

[NewMexiMav]

I, for one, cannot wait for ESPN's production of "The Decision II: This Time It's Personal"

Must See TV! Especially when LeBron utters the sentence, "I'm taking my talents to the banks of the Trinity River."

[j0Shi]

He has so many more options opting out. By the way also taking less money to get another star to Miami. Not the likeliest of all possibilities, but more than he would have had just staying put.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by MavzMan

This has me the most excited. I'm hoping the MBT can land some quality pieces in a fire sale:

"With LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony officially opting out of their contracts, multiple teams have begun the process of exploring roster moves that would create sufficient salary-cap space to sign 2014's marquee free agents in tandem this summer, according to sources close to the situation."

Feeding time.

[yahyes]

I bet this has more to do with how overrated of a coach Spoelstra is.

[Murphy3]

Originally Posted by Underdog

No thanks.

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by Murphy3

No thanks.

LOL

[spreedom]

ESPN.com front page. Story about LBJ potentially joining a team with a ready-built supporting cast.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

LOL the best is the poll in that article.

Which team is Lebron more likely to join?

o Cowboys

o Mavericks

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

LOL the best is the poll in that article.

Which team is Lebron more likely to join?

o Cowboys

o Mavericks

T-Mac with his usual brand of humor.

[yahyes]

Wouldn't hurt to have a face to face with LeBron.

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by yahyes

Wouldn't hurt to have a face to face with LeBron.

LeBron's going to be on Shark Tank??? Sweet! I bet he's invented gyroscopic insoles that help 250-lb. men remain standing after a slight touch.

[Popeye]

So what exactly can Miami do to convince Lebron to stay in the Miami for another 5 years? How much of a paycut would Wade and Bosh have to take to have any flexibility to sign another free agent? And let's say they're somehow able to carve enough space to sign 1 pretty good free agent this year, is that enough for Lebron to commit the next 5 years of his career, which is essentially the rest of his prime?

I think if he was going to stay in Miami he would have just played this year on his current deal to see what they could add around him. The fact that he opted out, to me, means he's likely to leave. It will be interesting.

[yahyes]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

LeBron's going to be on Shark Tank??? Sweet! I bet he's invented gyroscopic insoles that help 250-lb. men remain standing after a slight touch.

Yeah, and he will go to every Cowboys game especially!

[mac222b]

He's taking his talents to Hollywood. The only way I could possibly dislike the guy anymore is for him to hook up with the dirty flopping lying troll Paul, Blake the corporate shell tin man and Weepy hypocrite Doc along with prison goon wannabe neck tatts Barnes. So that's the logical next step of course.

[yahyes]

Originally Posted by mac222b

He's taking his talents to Hollywood. The only way I could possibly dislike the guy anymore is for him to hook up with the dirty flopping lying troll Paul, Blake the corporate shell tin man and Weepy hypocrite Doc along with prison goon wannabe neck tatts Barnes. So that's the logical next step of course.

Doubt they could afford him after giving a whole lot to Paul last year. Though the other LA team could be up for play. But the Lakers don't even have a coach.

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by yahyes

Doubt they could afford him after giving a whole lot to Paul last year. Though the other LA team could be up for play. But the Lakers don't even have a coach.

The Clippers could conceivably clear 20m or so this summer. They absolutely could afford him if that happens.

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by mac222b

The Clippers could conceivably clear 20m or so this summer. They absolutely could afford him if that happens.

Even easier, they could trade Blake and Crawford straight up to Miami and still give LeBron the max or a near-max contract.

[jthig32]

An aspect of this decision is obviously related to putting the pressure on the Heat to improve and spend money (instead of avoiding Luxury Tax which they've done in the past).

And he also clearly will enjoy the freedom to leave if he wants.

But, this is also about a sound fiscal decision and security. If he'd opted in he'd have had 2 years guaranteed remaining. By opting out, he will sign a new deal that gives him either 4 or 5 guaranteed years in the best possible situation of his choosing.

So...even if he's 100% certain he's staying with the Heat, the incredibly obvious move is to opt out and guarantee himself a handful of extra guaranteed years.

To those saying he might have wanted to keep his options open...we've really never seen a star player choose less years to give himself flexibility to change teams (unless it's with the safety of a player option). They are much more concerned about the guaranteed money. Besides, at this point someone like James has to believe he can force a trade anytime he wants.

[yahyes]

Originally Posted by mac222b

The Clippers could conceivably clear 20m or so this summer. They absolutely could afford him if that happens.

Won't happen. Clippers are just trying to put themselves out there like always when free agency hits. Doc Rivers just said he doesn't want Griffin traded. So that would be the key. Who's going to want Dudley's crap contract? He's practically worthless now.