Kawhi wants out of San Antonio

[tlance]

It's 4 years. In 3 the Ws are done anyway

Maybe.

But OKC with Russ PG and Adams will not be the team to take the mantle. Russ and PG don't have playing styles that will last as long as LeBron or KD. And, OKC will be cap strapped and another team or two will emerge.

 

[The Q]

I think George might've been smart.

Sure he looks stupid.

But everyone talking about getting a bigger max in 2 years.

I'm dubious if he's a max player in 2 years.

I know ESPN's Pelton ran some numbers and questioned that as well last summer.

Get your big money now. You still have a championship core in Russ/PG/Adams. It's filling in the other pieces that will be hard.

 

[Heatles84]

The Cavs arem"t the Lakers.

I'm talking about thinking you're going to keep Lebron in-line like the rest of the players. You haven't been paying attention to the last 5 years if you think that way. And if you don't want Lebron, there'll be another team that gives up some control to him.

 

[Heatles84]

LeBron James, IMO is the most powerful man in the NBA. Moreso than commisioner Silver or any owner.

Which is why it's foolish to think any NBA franchise in the league is going to strong arm Lebron while also expecting him to sign. If the Kawhi situation didn't exist, I still don't think Lebron considers them because he knows he won't have much say in the team operations like he does with the Cavs.

 

[Heatles84]

I think George might've been smart.

Sure he looks stupid.

But everyone talking about getting a bigger max in 2 years.

I'm dubious if he's a max player in 2 years.

I know ESPN's Pelton ran some numbers and questioned that as well last summer.

Get your big money now. You still have a championship core in Russ/PG/Adams. It's filling in the other pieces that will be hard.

Yeah, I don't question PG for signing a 4-year deal. Get some security to your contract. I think he'll be around after the 4-year deal is up, but as you've mentioned, with the injury he had will teams view him as a max contract player?

 

[Black Adam]

Not a Lebron fan but if his goal is winning more title right this moment, going to Philly makes much more sense than going to the Lakers with just Kawhi.

That Lakers team would not be good enough to beat the Warriors 4 of 7.

pretty much what i've been saying all along...

 

[The Q]

Which is why it's foolish to think any NBA franchise in the league is going to strong arm Lebron while also expecting him to sign. If the Kawhi situation didn't exist, I still don't think Lebron considers them because he knows he won't have much say in the team operations like he does with the Cavs.

Maybe he respects Magic enough for that to not matter as much.

I mean to show you how good Bron is, I don't disagree with what everyone is saying about Bron and the lakers playoff wise.

But if you added PG to that Laker team, it's a better supporting cast than the one Bron just dragged to the finals.

Now it will have to be Kawhi or or Cousins with Bron. But the same will still hold true.

 

[Beengay fudgepackers]

Why? Does the West play a different style of basketball that I'm not aware of as opposed to the East? I assumed it was just based on all of the talent being out West.

No, there’s just better teams that can deal with 1 really good guy. It’s why OKC is never a contender.

 

[Heatles84]

No, there’s just better teams that can deal with 1 really good guy. It’s why OKC is never a contender.

Outside of the Warriors, which team are you referring to?

Because watching the Warriors, there were 2 games they almost lost in the Finals solely because of Lebron. In 2015, the series went 6 games solely because of Lebron. Basketball isn't like baseball and football where you need a cohesive team to have a modicum of success. One elite player can quickly shift things, and Lebron's the best player in the league by far.

 

[DJ]

Maybe he respects Magic enough for that to not matter as much.

I mean to show you how good Bron is, I don't disagree with what everyone is saying about Bron and the lakers playoff wise.

But if you added PG to that Laker team, it's a better supporting cast than the one Bron just dragged to the finals.

Now it will have to be Kawhi or or Cousins with Bron. But the same will still hold true.

True but the Cavs did what they did in the EC.

Vs a young Pacers team.

And a C's team that was missing their best 2 players.

 

[UK Cowboy]

Would a Sixers team with Kawhi, LBJ, Simmons and Embiid be even money with the Warriors as favorites for the NBA Championship next year?

 

[BigKen]

My take on LeBron is that he is 33 years old. Playing 80 games of competitive professional basketball every year is wearing. You could tell that he was exhausted in the Warriors series. He had some problems with the Celtics. Every human body has its limitations and LeBron has pushed his to the max. He's been able to avoid any serious injury so far but how long can he do that? If he does have knee or hip injury, will that be the end?? He's been the best for the past 5-6 years, but he can't stay on that mantle forever.

Maybe he can get rejuvanated at TB12. Brady's still the MVP at 41.

 

[lebron23james]

Would a Sixers team with Kawhi, LBJ, Simmons and Embiid be even money with the Warriors as favorites for the NBA Championship next year?

They would be the favorites...Plus it's perfect for lebron (nice blend of youth and high talent)...The whole LA thing never made any sense

If they happened to win next year, that would set him on a path for a few more putting him right at 6 with more finals appearances than Jordone.

 

[lebron23james]

He could limit minutes in the regular season as well

 

[Heatles84]

My take on LeBron is that he is 33 years old. Playing 80 games of competitive professional basketball every year is wearing. You could tell that he was exhausted in the Warriors series. He had some problems with the Celtics. Every human body has its limitations and LeBron has pushed his to the max. He's been able to avoid any serious injury so far but how long can he do that? If he does have knee or hip injury, will that be the end?? He's been the best for the past 5-6 years, but he can't stay on that mantle forever.

Maybe he can get rejuvanated at TB12. Brady's still the MVP at 41.

Lebron takes care of his body just as well as Brady does, if not better.

Also, the training regimen that Brady applies doesn't correlate to Lebron as much.

Brady doesn't have to rely on superior athleticism, never has in his career. Lebron's different.

 

[DJ]

They would be the favorites...Plus it's perfect for lebron (nice blend of youth and high talent)...The whole LA thing never made any sense

If they happened to win next year, that would set him on a path for a few more putting him right at 6 with more finals appearances than Jordone.

He already has more Finals appearances.

 

[Retroram52]

If Leonard is traded this year, it will, in all likelihood, be to an Eastern Conference team. Talks with the Lakers have all but ended and the potential deal with the Nuggets that the Lakers were attempting to do to obtain more assets have ended as well. If Leonard is traded this year, the hotspot right now appears to be the Sixers.

 

[lebron23james]

The sixers are going to be stacked if they pull this off...

Can't wait to watch lebron with a dominant center

 

[DJ]

If Leonard is traded this year, it will, in all likelihood, be to an Eastern Conference team. Talks with the Lakers have all but ended and the potential deal with the Nuggets that the Lakers were attempting to do to obtain more assets have ended as well. If Leonard is traded this year, the hotspot right now appears to be the Sixers.

They can always renew talks....

 

[Retroram52]

I doubt it DJ. Popovich so hates the Lakers that after all the talks, he pulled the plug. Popovich wanted the entire kiddie corp (Ingram, Kuzma, Randle, Hart) AND two number ones. Geez, why don't you just send this knucklehead the whole frikin' roster. Magic said no to Kuzma and Hart and his final offer was Ingram and a number one from Denver that they thought they had by shipping Ball and the Deng contract.