Where does LeBron need to go to make 2018-2019 NBA season interesting?

[Shaqdaddy11]

Neither did I.

Read about it the next day.

Didn't even do that. I never bother with the press conferences. Everything I need to hear and see happens on court.

 

[Mecca]

I remember seeing an article where they showed a way that it could be done.

Unless I'm mixing up articles. I believe they can get to $22 million if they move Gasol and then would have to get rid of some expiring deals.

Not sure how accurate that is, but I remember seeing that it didn't seem as difficult as I'd have thought.

No, I think I posted it in another thread.

You have it right.

But, it would be just as tough as the Rockets opening up space....imo

 

[Mecca]

I remember seeing an article where they showed a way that it could be done.

Unless I'm mixing up articles. I believe they can get to $22 million if they move Gasol and then would have to get rid of some expiring deals.

Not sure how accurate that is, but I remember seeing that it didn't seem as difficult as I'd have thought.

Here it is...


Tough. But, doable.

However, to open up enough cap room to sign James to a max contract, the Spurs would still have to gut a good bit of their roster, because, at the moment, the five-time championship franchise is projected to carry over $98 million in salaries into 2018-19.

To start, they’d have to renounce Tony Parker’srights and clear his $23.2 million cap hold from their books.

San Antonio will also have to not extend the qualifying offer to Kyle Anderson, further clearing his $6.5 million cap hold. (Of course, that would only happen after an assurance from James that he’s signing with the Spurs. If one doesn’t come or if the situation is foggy for an extended period after free agency opens up, San Antonio could extend the qualifying offer to Anderson and then just revoke it if James then decides to join the team.)

Then, they’re going to have to hope both Danny Green and Rudy Gay opt out of the final year of their deals, something both players are presently considering.

At that point, San Antonio will find itself with $81.5 million on their books for next season, still needing to clear another $15 million to have room for James.

They could get there by finding a taker for Pau Gasol and the guaranteed $22.7 million still owed to him over the next two seasons, while taking zero salary back in return.

It wouldn’t be easy, but one has to imagine Popovich and general manager RC Buford would find a way to make all that happen if it means landing the best player in the league.

 

[ManuForever]

How are the Spurs going to clear cap space for $35M or so? Or, what do they have to complete a trade without touching that 3 player core?

From Project Spurs:

"Financially, the Spurs would have two main routes of trying to get James on their team if both sides had mutual interest. First, if James wanted to exercise his $35.6 million player option and get traded to a team (the Chris Paul path), then the players of that team would have to recruit him before June 29 – which is the last day for him to exercise the player option. This recruitment is mostly on the players’ shoulders because team executives and coaches wouldn’t be allowed to speak with James until July 1 due to tampering rules.

If the opt-in and get traded to San Antonio route was the move James and the Spurs wanted to use, then they would need to see what Cleveland is willing to take back in return. The move works with the contracts of Patty Mills and Pau Gasol, but the Cavs would surely want future assets attached as well, such as the Spurs’ 18th pick in this year’s draft and potentially future first round picks. If picks aren’t enough, the Cavs might want a young player like Murray or Derrick White in return.

If James decided to decline his player option and he became an unrestricted free agent July 1, and let’s say he wanted to sign in San Antonio, then the Spurs would need to find ways to open $35.3 million in salary cap space to sign James to a max contract. That again requires trying to find trade partners for both Gasol and Mills, plus what assets would those trade partners want attached? Picks, Murray, or White? From there, the Spurs would most likely have to say goodbye to one of Rudy Gay or Danny Green. Both players have player options that need to be decided on by June 29. In the event James chose San Antonio and both players opted into their deals, the Spurs would need to find a trade partner for one of their deals."

 

[shopson67]

From Project Spurs:

"Financially, the Spurs would have two main routes of trying to get James on their team if both sides had mutual interest. First, if James wanted to exercise his $35.6 million player option and get traded to a team (the Chris Paul path), then the players of that team would have to recruit him before June 29 – which is the last day for him to exercise the player option. This recruitment is mostly on the players’ shoulders because team executives and coaches wouldn’t be allowed to speak with James until July 1 due to tampering rules.

If the opt-in and get traded to San Antonio route was the move James and the Spurs wanted to use, then they would need to see what Cleveland is willing to take back in return. The move works with the contracts of Patty Mills and Pau Gasol, but the Cavs would surely want future assets attached as well, such as the Spurs’ 18th pick in this year’s draft and potentially future first round picks. If picks aren’t enough, the Cavs might want a young player like Murray or Derrick White in return.

If James decided to decline his player option and he became an unrestricted free agent July 1, and let’s say he wanted to sign in San Antonio, then the Spurs would need to find ways to open $35.3 million in salary cap space to sign James to a max contract. That again requires trying to find trade partners for both Gasol and Mills, plus what assets would those trade partners want attached? Picks, Murray, or White? From there, the Spurs would most likely have to say goodbye to one of Rudy Gay or Danny Green. Both players have player options that need to be decided on by June 29. In the event James chose San Antonio and both players opted into their deals, the Spurs would need to find a trade partner for one of their deals."

Kind of illustrates my point; either way there are a lot of ifs concerning what teams will take in trade to absorb contracts and/or the Cavs will want in trade for Lebron. 2 years of Gasol and 3 of Mills is a sizable amount to absorb just to get a #18 overall pick.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

From Project Spurs:

"Financially, the Spurs would have two main routes of trying to get James on their team if both sides had mutual interest. First, if James wanted to exercise his $35.6 million player option and get traded to a team (the Chris Paul path), then the players of that team would have to recruit him before June 29 – which is the last day for him to exercise the player option. This recruitment is mostly on the players’ shoulders because team executives and coaches wouldn’t be allowed to speak with James until July 1 due to tampering rules.

If the opt-in and get traded to San Antonio route was the move James and the Spurs wanted to use, then they would need to see what Cleveland is willing to take back in return. The move works with the contracts of Patty Mills and Pau Gasol, but the Cavs would surely want future assets attached as well, such as the Spurs’ 18th pick in this year’s draft and potentially future first round picks. If picks aren’t enough, the Cavs might want a young player like Murray or Derrick White in return.

If James decided to decline his player option and he became an unrestricted free agent July 1, and let’s say he wanted to sign in San Antonio, then the Spurs would need to find ways to open $35.3 million in salary cap space to sign James to a max contract. That again requires trying to find trade partners for both Gasol and Mills, plus what assets would those trade partners want attached? Picks, Murray, or White? From there, the Spurs would most likely have to say goodbye to one of Rudy Gay or Danny Green. Both players have player options that need to be decided on by June 29. In the event James chose San Antonio and both players opted into their deals, the Spurs would need to find a trade partner for one of their deals."

Houston took GS to the brink with pretty much just a handful of guys. Now is probably the best time to gut yourself for LeBron.

 

[shopson67]

Houston took GS to the brink with pretty much just a handful of guys. Now is probably the best time to gut yourself for LeBron.

The Spurs have a system though. Houston was just isolation offense. The Spurs need guys familiar with their system to make it work.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

The Spurs have a system though. Houston was just isolation offense. The Spurs need guys familiar with their system to make it work.

The Spurs and Pop always seem to have that "next man up" perform. That's a solid point though.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

The sad part here is we are taking about just two entities, the Warriors and LeBron, to make any excitement or interest in a league of 28 other teams.

In some ways it is a little weird that two parties have the potential to make such a huge impact in the balance of power in the NBA, but LJ is not just any player.

For the league...having him in the east offers the best to balance out the power.

IMO...PHI is the best stop in the east.

If he goes west...imo SA w/ Kawah and Alridge gives him the best chance to unseat GS. That said, LA makes the most sense if his goal is to setup after basketball marketing/biz opportunities. HOU imo is a square peg round hole situation.