Lebron MIght Be a Free Agent this Summer

If you're waiting for a ringingendorsement from James on behalf of Blatt, it's not happening.It's much too soon.

"He's our coach, I mean,what other coach do we have?" James said.
There is immense pressure tokeep The King happy.
James, who turns 30today, has no intention of compromising his prime years playingfor a sputtering organization. He can opt out of his contract at the end of theseason and become a free agent.
Given the massive scrutiny hewould endure if he departed Cleveland a second time, if his hand is forced, I'mtold he won't hesitate to make the appropriate business decision if it meansbolting.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/12/its_time_for_cleveland_cavalie.html

LeBronJames is prepared to opt out of his contract after the season if it is theright business decision, according to Chris Haynes of the Cleveland PlainDealer.
James can opt out of his contractand become a free agent after the season and Haynes says the potential backlashfrom leaving Cleveland again won't sway his decision. In a column that examinesthe Cavs' frustrating start to the 2014-15 regular season, Haynes says ofJames, "I'm told he won't hesitate to make the appropriate businessdecision if it means bolting." We'll have to wait for this situation toplay out, but fantasy owners shouldn't worry as James should still return top-5value this season.

(Rotoworld)

I'm sure people can come up with a bunch of possible scenarios where Lebron leaves Cleveland, but in my mind, the chances that he leaves Cleveland again, before he is in the twilight of his career, are zero.

Slim chance he leaves Cleveland and zero chance he ever comes to NY. It was pure business for him to take that short term contract with the Cavs to get a chance for a huge contract with them after the BRI income kicks in with the NBA TV deal.

There is also a huge opportunity for him to cash in on the home town boy returns and wins a championship story, it just might not happen this year. I do expect that Blatt will be fired this year if they don't make it out of the 1st round or if they don't make the playoffs at all.

tiger0330 said:

Slim chance he leaves Cleveland and zero chance he ever comes to NY. .

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I tend to agree, espec the coming to new York... at 30, his window is closing, n I think 'bron is all about winning, so as u say slim he leaves... n should he, I don't see 7th ave as his new home...

Hey guys, leave Lebron alone. He is busy right now. In the middle of his compain of firing his coach that is. When Blatt is gone, not if, then watch James playing the ball again, trying to win Championship in Clevelend before he retires.
As far as coming to NY, he is too smart for that, not gonna happen. I have been his big fan since day one of his nba career, but, he might be getting a reputation of a coach killer here, and he will, should lose a lot of respect for that. He almost got Spoestra fired in Miami, but Pat said no way. Who is going to stand up for Blatt in Cleveland? Gilbert? Lol. He is stupid for hiring the coach before James even got there. That guy is almost as retarded as our own Dolan.

groundpilot said:

Hey guys, leave Lebron alone. He is busy right now. In the middle of his compain of firing his coach that is. When Blatt is gone, not if, then watch James playing the ball again, trying to win Championship in Clevelend before he retires.
As far as coming to NY, he is too smart for that, not gonna happen. I have been his big fan since day one of his nba career, but, he might be getting a reputation of a coach killer here, and he will, should lose a lot of respect for that. He almost got Spoestra fired in Miami, but Pat said no way. Who is going to stand up for Blatt in Cleveland? Gilbert? Lol. He is stupid for hiring the coach before James even got there. That guy is almost as retarded as our own Dolan.

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Its doubtful but there is a slimmer of hope:

1- Kevin love leaves. Did he sign xtension yet? No. Just sayin'
2- lebron constantly reminded what a jerk owner Cavs have
3- lebron too old to feel chummy with young core he joined
4- lebron loathes blah blah blatt
5- Knicks land Okafor
6- we saw with lebron that friends and star power attracts. We have Melo. Lebron on record saying he wants to play With CA. We also have Phil, who can show the rings like Riley did
7- NY one of few places lebron can flee to where he wouldn't be blasted for chasing a title... The challenge and pressure coming to NY would allow him to garner respect if he wins
8- NY can sign more along with him and then have space to lure a Kobe or Durant the next season.
9- NY mktg deals would more than worthy for the king
10- Yankees play near MSG

as much as I would love LeBron to be a Knick, I don't see it happening until he wins a chip with Cleveland, and then not until he's in the twilight of his career (perhaps in PJ's final year?) I really don't want see/hear/read about that 3-ring circus again, with "the decision" and all the surrounding hoopla. however, Mafra's points above are significant reasons for him to come here, especially the proximity to the Yankees...

mafra said:

8- NY can sign more along with him and then have space to lure a Kobe or Durant the next season.
9

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pleases educate ...

next year as it stands our salary is 40.5m (give or take)... and that's for '6' players... presuming we get a top pick, I think we need to pay him 4/5m... which brings us to 45m... if we sign 'bron for 20m (give or take), that brings us to 65m... and while the cap is unknown, prob 67/68m... so we now have '8' players signed and are at the cap... so how do we sign 'more' along with 'bron...???

further the following year the cap will go up, but we will have already used around 60m in salary... and only have '4' players signed.. 'Me-Lo,'bron,jose, and our #1 from this year

so please explain how we sign all the type A FA's...

paris401 said:

pleases educate ...

next year as it stands our salary is 40.5m (give or take)... and that's for '6' players... presuming we get a top pick, I think we need to pay him 4/5m... which brings us to 45m... if we sign 'bron for 20m (give or take), that brings us to 65m... and while the cap is unknown, prob 67/68m... so we now have '8' players signed and are at the cap... so how do we sign 'more' along with 'bron...???

further the following year the cap will go up, but we will have already used around 60m in salary... and only have '4' players signed.. 'Me-Lo,'bron,jose, and our #1 from this year

so please explain how we sign all the type A FA's...

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"The new national TV contracts will reportedly pay $24 billionover nine years.

That is game-changing money.



If the current national TVcontracts pay a constant $930 million, the NBA – based on its current salarycap and projected 2015-16 salary cap – is predicting a 6.6%increase in other revenue from this season to next. I apply that 6.6% growth innon-national-TV revenue for each future season. Maybe that’s too low – theincrease from last season to this season was 9.8%, and the league’s early capprojections tend to be conservative – but I have little data on the NBA’srevenue streams, and I’m using 6.6%.



Here’s what all that would meanfor the salary cap –a with this and past season’s actual cap, the NBA’sprojection for 2015-16 and my projections for future seasons. Years under thecurrent national TV contract are blue, future national TV contracts orange.

• 2014: $58,679,000
• 2015: $63,065,000
• 2016: $66,300,000
• 2017: $87,196,327
• 2018: $94,013,221

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/10/10/projecting-future-nba-salary-caps-under-new-national-tv-contracts/

* Also, maybe owners throw players a bone as the current CBA is coming to an end... preparing for 2017... maybe they raise it significantly in 2015 or 2016... more than a mere 6 percent hike. Who knows.

BUT... let's use 63 million (soft) and 81 (hard) that is being projected now.

Knicks are at 40.5 mil now... But Shumpert will not be here (that's about 4 mil), there's 2 team options (on Acy & Wear) for another 2 mil. Then there's JR (6.3) and Calderon (7.4). 14 million committed next year for those 2 players.

I believe Knicks have 3-5 “commodities” to deal asthe trading season heats up…Amar’e,Bagnani, Calderon, Shumpert, THjr.
Amar’e is a no brainer.He is an interior offensive player who canplay a role and contribute.He has an expiringcontract, has played in big games, and, most importantly, has proven to be theultimate team player.Doesn’t complainabout his minutes, health, playing time.Has dealt with a bad situation and has handled himself.He is playing his best basketball in 2years.Plenty of teams will see him as anice piece for the post season.
Calderon is also a viable role player who can offersomething to playoff teams.His abilityto shoot the 3, move the rock, and not turn it over… He may be attractive to ateam looking for help at PG.His contract (2years - 7.4, 7.7) might scare away teams looking for a stopgap... But all ittakes is one team.
Shumpert has had his share of suitors in the past (Den, PHO,HOU, LAC, SAC)… I believe if he can return and prove he is healthy for 2 weeks…He becomes an option.
Bagnani is an expring contract.Always a plus.AND, if he plays well in Jan… a team mightroll the dice.
THjr is a specialist.But teams always need 3-point shooting and instant offense off thebench.PLUS, look at players like DannyGreen.Young players can and do getbetter with proper coaching.

I think it’s a lock that Amar’e and Shumpert getdealt.I don’t expect much in return…but I do imagine that one thing Phil is looking to get is for somebody to takeJR.Knicks could also get lucky and JRopts out.So I am going to proceed withthis by assuming he isn’t here (at the very least, he is included in a S&Tcome July, b/c he is an expiring contract then).

Calderon, although grossly overpaid, is a piece.I believe we retain his serviced, unless ateam really wants him… in that case, if we can get an asset… we’ll deal him.

THjr is tough b/c the former regime drafted him.Not sure what Phil or Fisher think of him, orif they believe he fits the triangle.But it’s foolish to give up on him yet… CLE did that with DannyGreen.Yikes.So, either a team wants him and offers usreal value… or we keep him.Unless, thatis, Phil doesn’t want him.
I believe the way Larkin, Acy, Wear, and Aldrich haveplayed…I think these are players thatfit the system.So, I will assume we keepall of them.

Finally, tough toknow if Priggs will retire after this season.

ERGO, we have Melo, Calderon, THjr, Early, Larkin, Acy,Wear, and Aldrich on the roster next year.Toss in our #1 pick.9 playersright here probably for about 40 mil.

This means we have plenty to play with.Remember, 65 mil is one thing, but 81 is theother.Since we are under the soft cap…we can pull off sign and trades.Wecould sign Wesley Matthers, Milsap, Drummon for 6 mil each… still be under thecap… then pull off a S&T for Lebron.

Again, not saying it happens… just saying the math wouldwork.

Then, the next year… cap goes up more.Calderon is dealt… we have more than enoughto bring in Kobe… He’ll play for about 8 mil.I’m sure we would be able to find a way to even be under soft cap… tosign Durant.As of now, only Calderonand Melo signed for 2016.
AS YOU SEE… It can happen.I doubt it does… but it could.I wouldn’t want a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] star withLebron and Melo.I would prefer 2-3solid players instead.
Even without Lebron… We could look like this next year:
Dragic-Matthews- Melo-Jefferson-Drummond
Tobias Harris, Okafor, THjr, Larkin, Aldrich, Early,Wear, Acy, Priggs.

• Use Calderon in a S&T to getDraigic. Full MLE on Harris. Sign Matthews-Jefferson-Drummond on deals forabout 8-10 mil each.

mafra ...good read... ..

mafra said:

This means we have plenty to play with.Remember, 65 mil is one thing, but 81 is theother.Since we are under the soft cap?we can pull off sign and trades.Wecould sign Wesley Matthers, Milsap, Drummon for 6 mil each? still be under thecap? then pull off a S&T for Lebron.

Again, not saying it happens? just saying the math wouldwork.

Then, the next year? cap goes up more.Calderon is dealt? we have more than enoughto bring in Kobe? He?ll play for about 8 mil.I?m sure we would be able to find a way to even be under soft cap? tosign Durant.As of now, only Calderonand Melo signed for 2016.
AS YOU SEE? It can happen.I doubt it does? but it could.I wouldn?t want a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] star withLebron and Melo.I would prefer 2-3solid players instead.
Even without Lebron? We could look like this next year:
Dragic-Matthews- Melo-Jefferson-Drummond
Tobias Harris, Okafor, THjr, Larkin, Aldrich, Early,Wear, Acy, Priggs.

• Use Calderon in a S&T to getDraigic. Full MLE on Harris. Sign Matthews-Jefferson-Drummond on deals forabout 8-10 mil each.

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Nice post Mafra. You've mentioned Andre Drummond in a couple of posts but I think you mean Greg Monroe who is unrestricted this off-season and reportedly is looking for a max deal with someone. Detroit was reportedly trying to trade him before the JSmoove deal but were looking for a first round pick for him which may have discouraged potential trading partners for him.

Let's see what Phil can do because he does have some expirings coming off the books but he has a lack of draft choices to incentivize teams to trade for those expirings. I particularly want to see what philosophy PJ takes in rebuilding this team, does he try to hit the home run by paying a max 100M contract to someone like KLove which I think would be a disaster or does he try to bring on some smaller pieces given how many pieces this team seems to need and how long this rebuilding is going to take. I hope he follows the SA model rather than the home run approach that past GMs have done with no success around here and I hope he hires someone to help make these decisions that is not part of the failed Dolan regime.

I think we are in deep doo-doo any way u look at it... the top tier of FA's , if they are walking on Me-Lo street, they will stay with their present team for max $$$... if a ring is more important they will go to teams 1-2 players away from competing...

so we are left with the 2nd/3rd tier FA's... n we will probably have to overpay to get them to consider the team of Me-Lo, JR n friends...

hopefully PJ is much smarter then we r and has a master-plan...

The only way Lebron would come here is if KD agreed to sign with the Knicks in 2016.

I truly doubt Lebron will ever leave Clevland again. No way he's tearing out the heart of Cleveland fans again. Seriously, no way.