2018 NBA offseason

[tlance]

oh absolutely.

he went to LA to sell movies and set up his retirement. If he wants to live there half the time and not get racist epiphets written on his gate like happened there a couple years ago- he has to endear himself to the Lakers fan base which has large contingents that hate him.

If he stayed in Cleveland his whole career and went out to LA when he was done I think it would have been much harder for him to gain acceptance in the community and business community. Now he is laying that ground work and making connections, meeting with actors like Leo and DeNiro as we saw the other day etc. Those off-the court concerns obviously trump the on the court concerns right now for LeBron.

You are making huge assumptions here.

LeBron still cares about winning. That is guaranteed. He knew the future was bleak in Cleveland, so he left for a team with a brighter future. The fact that LeBron gets to make these off court connections is icing on the cake. But, he wasn't beating GS unless he went somewhere like Philly with Kawhi.

 

[tlance]

I think this post could have been made at practically any time in the history of the league ya know? Teams always make stupid moves in free agency and spend too much on players that are too risky. Its just the nature of free agency. In a way- you HAVE to spend the money somewhere.

And it is what it is- Kemba is prob a top 30 or so player right? A max contract of say, 36M a year is a lot, but in the grand scheme of things its kind of what the league has set him up to get. Someone is going to give it to him. Someone is gong to give Tobias Harris a 4 year 100M dollar deal. Someone is going to lose their mind and overpay Khris Middleton.

But, I think all the 1 year deals might be evidence that teams are getting a little smarter. Probably not, but I am hopeful.

 

[WiggyRuss]

I would be surprised if Kemba got a max deal. But he is worth 20-25 a year.

you have to re-adjust how you are thinking about this. What has happened in the past does not matter. Conley got what like 34 million a year a few years ago and the cap has only risen (though not substantially) since then. The SUPER ELITE players are going to be getting 40 or so a year soon - some have already- and that next tier like Kemba are going to be getting AT LEAST 30 a year- if not more.

 

[flyerhawk]

you have to re-adjust how you are thinking about this. What has happened in the past does not matter. Conley got what like 34 million a year a few years ago and the cap has only risen (though not substantially) since then. The SUPER ELITE players are going to be getting 40 or so a year soon - some have already- and that next tier like Kemba are going to be getting AT LEAST 30 a year- if not more.

My numbers are relative to total comp. They may go up as salaries go up.

He isn't getting a max deal. Unless Charlotte goes crazy.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You are making huge assumptions here.

LeBron still cares about winning. That is guaranteed. He knew the future was bleak in Cleveland, so he left for a team with a brighter future. The fact that LeBron gets to make these off court connections is icing on the cake. But, he wasn't beating GS unless he went somewhere like Philly with Kawhi.

yah thats basically what i said- of course if he can have his cake and eat it to he will- but he showed that was most important to him.

If winning championships was most important to him right now he would be in Houston or Philly. That is indisputable. His priorities are different. His priority is his business empire and all the entertainment opportunities he has- and he knew those would most be furthered by being in LA.

You think if Hollywood and all those marketing opportunities were magically moved to say, i dunno Miami or San Francisco that LeBron would be a Laker right now? Of course not.

 

[WiggyRuss]

My numbers are relative to total comp. They may go up as salaries go up.

He isn't getting a max deal. Unless Charlotte goes crazy.

werent you the guy that told me there was no way Reddick would get 12M a year? If you werent i apologize. But I am t telling you that you are thinking about this the wrong way. You have to re-adjust what is a "normal contract" in your head. 2nd tier All Stars like Kemba, or even guys like Middleton and Harris are going to EASILY get 25M a year. Kemba who is better than those other two is gonna get at LEAST 30 a year I will guarantee you.

 

[WiggyRuss]

But, I think all the 1 year deals might be evidence that teams are getting a little smarter. Probably not, but I am hopeful.

that at least keeps flexibility open....but there are some major issues with those 1 year deals.

Take the Lakers for instance. You have Rondo, Stephenseon, Beasley, KCP, McGee all on 1 year deals. All of those guys know they are not in the Lakers long term plans- the Lakers have pretty much said as much publicly. All of those guys know the Lakers will be trying to get a major free agent and that they are little more than stop-gaps for the short term.

When you do not have a contract for next year, you are literally playing for livelihood. Stats matter, playing time matters. All of a sudden you have guys worrying about their next contract rather than what is best for the team. You think that Lance Stephenson is going to be a big brother to Josh Hart and sacrifice for the good of the team when he does not know where he is going to playing next year but is almost certain it wont be for the Lakers?

 

[flyerhawk]

werent you the guy that told me there was no way Reddick would get 12M a year? If you werent i apologize. But I am t telling you that you are thinking about this the wrong way. You have to re-adjust what is a "normal contract" in your head. 2nd tier All Stars like Kemba, or even guys like Middleton and Harris are going to EASILY get 25M a year. Kemba who is better than those other two is gonna get at LEAST 30 a year I will guarantee you.

He got a one year deal. At some point you are going to accept that giving players one year deals instead of multi-year deals increase their cost. IF the Sixers signed him to a 3 year deal, he would not be getting $12 million a year.

Just as KCP isn't worth $12 million a year but if you want him on a 1 year deal you need to pay a premium.

Kemba might get 30+ a year. I really don't know. But that's probably not a path to winning for a team. Except maybe a team like the Lakers who are looking for a star and don't really have a quality perimeter shooting guard.

 

[DJ]

I would be surprised if Kemba got a max deal. But he is worth 20-25 a year.

This.

 

[DJ]

He got a one year deal. At some point you are going to accept that giving players one year deals instead of multi-year deals increase their cost. IF the Sixers signed him to a 3 year deal, he would not be getting $12 million a year.

Just as KCP isn't worth $12 million a year but if you want him on a 1 year deal you need to pay a premium.

Kemba might get 30+ a year. I really don't know. But that's probably not a path to winning for a team. Except maybe a team like the Lakers who are looking for a star and don't really have a quality perimeter shooting guard.

Like Redick got 1 year and 20 million.

 

[flyerhawk]

that at least keeps flexibility open....but there are some major issues with those 1 year deals.

Take the Lakers for instance. You have Rondo, Stephenseon, Beasley, KCP, McGee all on 1 year deals. All of those guys know they are not in the Lakers long term plans- the Lakers have pretty much said as much publicly. All of those guys know the Lakers will be trying to get a major free agent and that they are little more than stop-gaps for the short term.

When you do not have a contract for next year, you are literally playing for livelihood. Stats matter, playing time matters. All of a sudden you have guys worrying about their next contract rather than what is best for the team. You think that Lance Stephenson is going to be a big brother to Josh Hart and sacrifice for the good of the team when he does not know where he is going to playing next year but is almost certain it wont be for the Lakers?

FTR, I don't agree that none of those players will stick with the Lakers. I think it is entirely possible that the Lakers will resign one or two of them but they want the cap flexibility for next year.

 

[DJ]

that at least keeps flexibility open....but there are some major issues with those 1 year deals.

Take the Lakers for instance. You have Rondo, Stephenseon, Beasley, KCP, McGee all on 1 year deals. All of those guys know they are not in the Lakers long term plans- the Lakers have pretty much said as much publicly. All of those guys know the Lakers will be trying to get a major free agent and that they are little more than stop-gaps for the short term.

When you do not have a contract for next year, you are literally playing for livelihood. Stats matter, playing time matters. All of a sudden you have guys worrying about their next contract rather than what is best for the team. You think that Lance Stephenson is going to be a big brother to Josh Hart and sacrifice for the good of the team when he does not know where he is going to playing next year but is almost certain it wont be for the Lakers?

You don't think the players and hear what everybody is saying and want to prove them wrong?

#Playershavepride

 

[flyerhawk]

Like Redick got 1 year and 20 million.

The Sixers had to pay an EXTRA premium on the first Reddick contract because they had been such a bad team.

 

[WiggyRuss]

You don't think the players and hear what everybody is saying and want to prove them wrong?

#Playershavepride

when push come to shove- and there is green on one side and sacrificing for the good of the team on the other, which decision do you think the VAST majority of NBA basketball players make?

 

[DJ]

You are making huge assumptions here.

LeBron still cares about winning. That is guaranteed. He knew the future was bleak in Cleveland, so he left for a team with a brighter future. The fact that LeBron gets to make these off court connections is icing on the cake. But, he wasn't beating GS unless he went somewhere like Philly with Kawhi.

BOOM.

Wiggy is in stage 1.....denial.

 

[WiggyRuss]

FTR, I don't agree that none of those players will stick with the Lakers. I think it is entirely possible that the Lakers will resign one or two of them but they want the cap flexibility for next year.

say they sign Kawhi........who will be eligible for a "Rose Rule" deal or even kemba or cousins. How much is even left? not much unless they Rondo or KCP or Stephensen wants to take the vet. min.

 

[WiggyRuss]

BOOM.

Wiggy is in stage 1.....denial.

denial of what? that does not even make sense.

 

[DJ]

that at least keeps flexibility open....but there are some major issues with those 1 year deals.

Take the Lakers for instance. You have Rondo, Stephenseon, Beasley, KCP, McGee all on 1 year deals. All of those guys know they are not in the Lakers long term plans- the Lakers have pretty much said as much publicly. All of those guys know the Lakers will be trying to get a major free agent and that they are little more than stop-gaps for the short term.

When you do not have a contract for next year, you are literally playing for livelihood. Stats matter, playing time matters. All of a sudden you have guys worrying about their next contract rather than what is best for the team. You think that Lance Stephenson is going to be a big brother to Josh Hart and sacrifice for the good of the team when he does not know where he is going to playing next year but is almost certain it wont be for the Lakers?

Ramona Shelburne said it yesterday......they don't need all 5 to hit.

If 2-3 do, that's great and they could bring them back next season along with a FA.

 

[flyerhawk]

say they sign Kawhi........who will be eligible for a "Rose Rule" deal or even kemba or cousins. How much is even left? not much unless they Rondo or KCP or Stephensen wants to take the vet. min.

Well the question is whether they have a realistic shot at signing two big name players. They would need to deal the Deng contract during the season, IMO.

 

[flyerhawk]

Ramona Shelburne said it yesterday......they don't need all 5 to hit.

If 2-3 do, that's great and they could bring them back next season along with a FA.

3 seems like a very optimistic outcome.