A few questions regarding the cap, in a hypothetical summer trade where again hypothetically let’s assume Lebron demands a trade to Cleveland , and obviously assuming the Cavs are open to it.
First off, are the Lakers, with their current cap situation, are they capable of receiving back a player for James as part of a sign and trade? I know in certain situations where teams are hard capped or repeating violators of the luxury tax they can’t.
Secondly, i believe the NBA next calendar year begins in April, so I think i know the answer to this but want to clarify. Lebron’s salary for ‘21/‘22 is a hair under $42,200,000, and his ‘22/23 bumps up to a hair under $44,500,000.
This summer, using the 125% salary rule via trade, the Cavs would have to at least send out 125% if Lebron’s next season’s salary this summer, correct? Which would be approximately $39,000,000 outgoing minimum, versus approximately $37,000,000 going off what would be 125% of this years salary.
Same goes with the Cavs, the salaries outgoing the Cavs would send would be next seasons salaries post April this year, correct?
The reason I ask is because there are some interesting scenarios that may align this summer, regarding this hypothetical scenario.
First being if Lebron demanded a trade to the Cavs, the Lakers would be hamstrung in trying to find the best deal possible with the Cavs soley.
And as we just saw with the Harden/Simmoms swap, very rarely do these NBA superstars not get what they want when they want out.. and Lebron trumps them all with that type of power.
To make sense for both teams, the Cavs have to match both the $ and talent compensation for the lakers to agree.
The lazy idea would be to include Kevin Love, who, will be carrying a very attractive $29,000,000 expiring deal into next offseason, and if the Lakers are interested in a total post Lebron re boot, there won’t be a much more attractive trade piece to start out with then With Love’s expiring, which would put the Cavs roughly 10million away from reaching the minimum required 125%.
Combining his expiring with other salary with intentions on wiping the Lakers cap hold of Lebron plus draft compensation could be one route.
The other scenario, and the one I’m interested in discussing if the Lakers demand young talent back for Lebron, is the point of my post.
This offseason, the #1 priority for the Cavs will be to figure out what to do with Collin Sexton. They almost assuredly, unless dealt, will offer him the qualifying offer of a hair under 9 million as Hes a restricted free agent this summer, or they could lock him up to a long term extension. Under their current cap situation, the Cavs can extend Sexton up to roughly 20 million per year and still remain under the luxury tax.
An interesting thing to note is Sexton just signed with Klutch, Rich Paul’s agency. So he’s highly viewed to be part of that team. Could Sexton possibly be the key in a return of Lebron James to Cleveland? This part is where a few of my questions need answered.
Could the Cavs sign Sexton to a multi year deal for roughly 20 million per season, then sign and trade him to the Lakers and package him with SF Lauri Markkanen and a filler plus draft compensation to land James?
Combining the resigned Sexton with Markkanen would only put the Cavs aroumd 3-4 million short in making the salaries match and work.
Considering the success the Cavs are already having without Sexton, combined with the LaVert acquisition, Sexton could be a huge piece and not affect the current Cavs chemistry amd make up being included. Neither would Markkanen, as he plays the same postion as James and would also make the most sense being included. So in saying this, would the Cavs be willing to sweeten the pot and include Isaac Okuro, if it meant bringing the Cavs Lebron back?
A package of a resigned Sexton (sign n trade), Markkanen, and Okuro would work money wise. Adding in a pick or 2 would be adequate compensation for a guy demanding a trade, demanding out. The only piece the Cavs would be really sacraficing is the upside in Isaac Okuro.. but do you allow that to not bring back the best player in the world back home to direct this young Cavs team to another title?
Financially could make a great deal of sense to the Cavs as well as getting out of Markkanen’s contract, not worrying about resigning Sexton and the chemistry worries adding him to the mix, plus you allow Kevin Love one last year to play alongside James before his 30 million comes off the books the following offseason.
Would you do:
Lebron James
FOR
Collin Sexton/Isaac Okuro/Lauri Markkanen/future 1st?
PG Darius Garland
SG Caris LaVert
SF Lebron James
PF Evan Mobley
C Jarrett Allen
If Love was the centerpiece with the Lakers wanting his expiring instead, could the Cavs offer Sexton the qualifying offer of almost 9 million and then trade him and Love to the Lakers as well, which would again fall just a hair under the $ needed for the 125%?
That way the Lakers could have a year with Sexton to see if he’s their future plans or could let him walk at the end of next year and along with Loves deal off the books create the massive cap room they may want/need?
The intrigue here for me is if somehow James could be brought back without disrupting the young direction and chemistry of this team. If Sexton amd Markkanen were the 2 main salary pieces, that could make that scenario a potential reality.
Lots of moving parts here. Fun to speculate about either way.