Iman Shumpert: Gone! Thank God!

[buzzdog]

What Billmac says makes sense. If you put yourself in Gilbert's shoes why would you spend crazy repeater cap money to go all in on short term fixes with no guarantee that Lebron wants to stay in Cleveland long term?

If Lebron wants to build the banana boat in Cleveland he would need to let Gilbert know by committing beyond the next season. Otherwise Gilbert would be just plain stupid to continue burning up every long term asset just to compete year by year when he knows he's going to have to face the Warriors in the finals at the end of the day. Our big 3 can win the East regardless of who else is on the team, so why spend crazy repeater tax dollars to bring in Carmello and DWade if they're all going to pull up stakes and go to the Lakers in another year?

In other words Gilbert is wise to assume Lebron is leaving until Lebron says he is staying and commits. In a way that allows Gilbert to reverse the leverage Lebron has against him with the short term contracts. Make Lebron shit or get off the pot.

If I were DG I'd tell him he could have his banana boat here IF he commits longer term, in which case Gilbert would spare no expense. Otherwise Gilbert needs to protect his franchise against Lebron leaving it in a shambles.

 

[Ohio]

Just checked again.

As of now, Spurs would have a payroll of nearly $35 Million next summer if LMA and Dany Green decide to opt out next summer.

I'd be pretty surprised if LMA declined that option. He'll never get that kind of money again. If he does, he's doing it to re-sign on the cheap so the Spurs can go star chasing.

 

[Ohio]

Also, we need to see what else the Spurs do with their free agents this summer. Dedmon & Simmons in particular. Because if those guys get big deals, we can kiss this Spurs superteam idea goodbye.

The Spurs might honestly be better served sort of punting on this season. Try to sign guys for one year, anyone who wants more just let them leave.

 

[MirORich]

What Billmac says makes sense. If you put yourself in Gilbert's shoes why would you spend crazy repeater cap money to go all in on short term fixes with no guarantee that Lebron wants to stay in Cleveland long term?

If Lebron wants to build the banana boat in Cleveland he would need to let Gilbert know by committing beyond the next season. Otherwise Gilbert would be just plain stupid to continue burning up every long term asset just to compete year by year when he knows he's going to have to face the Warriors in the finals at the end of the day. Our big 3 can win the East regardless of who else is on the team, so why spend crazy repeater tax dollars to bring in Carmello and DWade if they're all going to pull up stakes and go to the Lakers in another year?

In other words Gilbert is wise to assume Lebron is leaving until Lebron says he is staying and commits. In a way that allows Gilbert to reverse the leverage Lebron has against him with the short term contracts. Make Lebron shit or get off the pot.

If I were DG I'd tell him he could have his banana boat here IF he commits longer term, in which case Gilbert would spare no expense. Otherwise Gilbert needs to protect his franchise against Lebron leaving it in a shambles.

If it's about winning, where is LeBron going to go? Because we're not in a toss up league where 6-8 teams all have a good shot at being the one to win the title. GS is there for the next 3-4 years minimum. So I don't see LeBron going to a young team where he has to babysit and wait as 21 year olds figure out how to handle the pressure of playoffs basketball, let alone the NBA Finals against a team like the Warriors

To leave, he either has to sign into cap space or be traded to a team without cap space(while locking that team into a hard cap for the first year)

What situation exists that truly elevates or even equals his chance of reaching the finals and winning the finals than where he is now? Which also can pay him the most. Which also is home. Which also has reached the Finals three straight years.

So where is LeBron going to go? Tell me a team and I'll lay out a solid argument for why its not going to improve his chance of winning against GS.

 

[Jscc]

So where is LeBron going to go? Tell me a team and I'll lay out a solid argument for why its not going to improve his chance of winning against GS.

San Antonio has contracts to make it work. They can ship out Aldridge and Green. A supporting cast is never an issue with Pop coaching.

 

[The Red Viper]

If it's about winning, where is LeBron going to go? Because we're not in a toss up league where 6-8 teams all have a good shot at being the one to win the title. GS is there for the next 3-4 years minimum. So I don't see LeBron going to a young team where he has to babysit and wait as 21 year olds figure out how to handle the pressure of playoffs basketball, let alone the NBA Finals against a team like the Warriors

To leave, he either has to sign into cap space or be traded to a team without cap space(while locking that team into a hard cap for the first year)

What situation exists that truly elevates or even equals his chance of reaching the finals and winning the finals than where he is now? Which also can pay him the most. Which also is home. Which also has reached the Finals three straight years.

So where is LeBron going to go? Tell me a team and I'll lay out a solid argument for why its not going to improve his chance of winning against GS.

Bruh, What if LeBron joins the Warriors?

 

[Ohio]

LeBron on the Spurs would be such an interesting dynamic. Sure he would love playing for the GOAT coach, but they aren't going to put up with his manufactured BS drama every season. His buddies aren't going to be in the organization or having permanent courtside seats to every game. He'd have to play by their rules, which are seemingly much more strict than even Miami's. I'm not sure how much he'd really go for that.

 

[The Red Viper]

LeBron on the Spurs would be such an interesting dynamic. Sure he would love playing for the GOAT coach, but they aren't going to put up with his manufactured BS drama every season. His buddies aren't going to be in the organization or having permanent courtside seats to every game. He'd have to play by their rules, which are seemingly much more strict than even Miami's. I'm not sure how much he'd really go for that.

LeBron is a smart man. If he has to sacrifice certain things to win, he would do that imo!

 

[Ohio]

LeBron is a smart man. If he has to sacrifice certain things to win, he would do that imo!

I'm just imagining LeBron being yelled at by Pop on National TV and how that would go over...

Yeah...we'll see.

 

[MirORich]

San Antonio has contracts to make it work. They can ship out Aldridge and Green. A supporting cast is never an issue with Pop coaching.

That's one of the few from a pure basketball perspective I considered, but...

It's such a specific culture. Not sure if it'd be a fit for LeBron and Pop.
With so much money tied up in LeBron, Kawhi, and LMA all three SF/PFs they would have a hard time filling in quality at PG and SG. If they wanted to move off of the LMA contract, they'd have to trade assets to find a taker.

Mainly though, I just don't see LeBron playing for Pop, don't see Pop holding on that long, and don't see LeBron moving the family to SAS

 

[buzzdog]

If it's about winning, where is LeBron going to go? Because we're not in a toss up league where 6-8 teams all have a good shot at being the one to win the title. GS is there for the next 3-4 years minimum. So I don't see LeBron going to a young team where he has to babysit and wait as 21 year olds figure out how to handle the pressure of playoffs basketball, let alone the NBA Finals against a team like the Warriors

To leave, he either has to sign into cap space or be traded to a team without cap space(while locking that team into a hard cap for the first year)

What situation exists that truly elevates or even equals his chance of reaching the finals and winning the finals than where he is now? Which also can pay him the most. Which also is home. Which also has reached the Finals three straight years.

So where is LeBron going to go? Tell me a team and I'll lay out a solid argument for why its not going to improve his chance of winning against GS.

I agree the Cavs can give him the best chance to win another ring.

But not if Lebron wants to keep fucking around with short term contracts.

If Lebron doesn't make up his mind to make a commitment then if I were Gilbert I'd save every dollar from the repeater tax that I could. I'd trade Shump for tax relief and run with all vet minimum players to fill out the roster. If Lebron wants more money spent on the roster he can send the message that he's staying, in which case Gilbert would need to do everything possible financially to put the best team around him. But not without a long term commitment.

 

[OptimusPrime]

The thing about our situation is that the moves that we should be making are better for the long term but also for right now. We were too fucking old to beat Golden State. We need some younger athletes. They might not be as accomplished as the corpses we dig up and bring in here, but I think we would be a better team now and going forward. Gilbert can do whatever he wants, and running the operation as though LeBron is going to leave is fine, but we still need to try to make some moves, get some younger guys that can run, play defense, and hit an open jumper. If LeBron leaves, so be it, you still need those type of guys after he is gone anyway.

 

[SmudgeHog]

Bruh, What if LeBron joins the Warriors?

Wow. The team could probably save minutes then by just playing 4 players at a time instead of 5.

 

[ice cream man]

I'm just imagining LeBron being yelled at by Pop on National TV and how that would go over...

Yeah...we'll see.

I honestly think at this point LeBron would actually enjoy the structure, accountability, reliability, and trust there. I don't know if he's really ever had all that with his "coworkers." I know he likes attention but he's gotta be sick of some of the shit. His usage rate wouldn't be nearly as high as compared to playing for the Cavs. Plus if they have legit pieces outside of Kawhi it's definitely worth a look.

 

[sailfish]

The only team that makes sense for LeBron to leave Cavs for is Spurs, as of now.

I disagree. I could see LeBron leaving for Houston or OKC (if George & Westbrook re-sign) before he goes to the Spurs. The only other option, as I see it, is Philadelphia, as their LeBron loves Ben Simmons' game and the Sixers young stars are still on rookie contracts.