LeBron James

[TitleTown]

This is just my opinion, but I'm kinda pissed that KD just put winning over everything like how we all wished LeBron would be.

He took less that he "should/deserved" to allow his team to have even more flexibility.

From the looks of things, in a few years, both KD and LeBron will have the same amount of rings. In a few years after that, who knows, KD can end up with more rings than LeBron.

But hey, at least LeBron really stuck it to Dan Gilbert and made him pay every last penny!!!!!!!!!

I'm sick of the whiny baby shit around this forum.

We have the best team in the East, by FAR. And we are all but guaranteed to be 4 wins from a championship yet again this year.

Have some fucking perspective. LBJ should not be giving ANY paycuts to Dan. Dan should open his fucking checkbook with a goddamn smile on his face with all the money he makes off of Cleveland.

And you know what? Dan does.

Also, the last time I checked, our cap situation is not what is keeping us back from adding talent. It's our lack of assets. That is not LBJ's fault.

 

[Triple-S]

See.

Both Gilbert and LeBron are also at faults for some of the things that has happened and transpired. Dan more so, because our front office decisions, management decisions and draft choices under his ownership has been questionable. LeBron for being a passive-agressive primmadona.

Both of them are alphas and have massive egos. No one is bending to the other.

But inspite of all that, they made it work because both share one thing in common. To WIN.

Its just that, due to KD going to the Warriors, it has created all sorts of chaos. Because prior to that, our roster was constructed perfectly to create a sort of dynasty and win multiple championships. However, after that we have had no proper vision or planning about how we should respond. I am not questioning Dan's desire to win. I think he wants to win. But the decision to let Griff walk at such a crucial stage was really bad. The timing was awful because this free agency was vital for us to re-tool and get ready to face and look to defeat the Warriors again.

But due to Dan's decision not to bring Griff back, we are in all sorts of chaos instead of being focused to achieve one common goal. The good thing for us, there's still plenty of time re-focus and re-tool. We still have the best player in the world and that automatically gives us a chance. There is definite tension within the organization but like the saying "Winning cures everything!".

I think the Warriors can be beaten. It's not going to be an easy task, but if LeBron is sincerely interested in staying here, getting another ring and the like? I think it can happen. It will not be easy. You're gonna see a team in the Warriors that will likely try to going to try to top their own record from 2016. You're going to see a confident, "new" durant from winning the finals. But it CAN be done.

It won't happen with this current roster. It's not also going to happen over this off season. There will need to be some trade deadline magic done, and they're going to have to take some chances. But this is a team that can make it to the show. All you can ask for.

Not attempting to counter the move of Durant in 2016 was a mistake. But I can forgive this team because they were coming off the greatest emotional high in the history of this city, along with this franchise.

 

[buzzdog]

If it's only about the money the Cavs can pay Lebron more than any other team.

If it's about winning the Cavs can put KLove and Kyrie next to him and maybe more. But the only way that should happen is if Lebron commits to a max contract for long term.

If Lebron isn't happy about who the Cavs can recruit to come here then he needs to stop his fuck/fuck games with Dan Gilbert and commit to a long term deal for his max dollars. Then all the ring chasers will be assured he's all in if they come here sacrificing money to get a crack at a ring.

If Lebron doesn't want to send the signal that he's staying in Cleveland then he better just be content with who is on the roster right now. And Gilbert will have every justification to save every tax dollar he possibly can, and plan for a future without Lebron.

 

[Flight479]

Exactly.

That is why I am not worried about him going to Lakers as well. Its pointless going to the Lakers if he wants to add to his legacy, which he values more than anything. Like @gourimoko said, a lot of Lakers fans already don't like him. Going to the Lakers where he won't be revered as much or have a better chance of winning the Championship than us doesn't make any sense.

The only team other than us, where he can go and has a legitimate chance to defeat the Warriors is Spurs really. But there's also another team whom I won't rule out. Philly. They have the young blood and talent to surround LeBron with. They also have the assets which they can turn into good role-players.

So, if LeBron wants to win vs the Warriors there are three teams which give him the best chance unless he takes a major paycut and plays for MLE or something lmao. They are Us, Spurs and Philly.

Which brings me to my last point. LeBron is also a businessman. He is the Vice President of the NBA Players Union and was a key part in constructing the super-max contract which he is eligible for. Next year, he will be 33 and also eligible for that massive super-max contract which would make him the highest paid player in NBA history. That 5-year contract won't be there after next year with the 38-year rule in the new CBA.

So, why would LeBron leave that much money on the table to go to a team where he has lesser chance to win a NBA Championship than we do now?

Being from and currently living in Philly. I can't see him doing it but I do think that Philly will own the East in a few years. As long as everyone stays healthy they'll be dangerous. But, they're so young.

 

[priceFTW]

Being from and currently living in Philly. I can't see him doing it but I do think that Philly will own the East in a few years. As long as everyone stays healthy they'll be dangerous. But, they're so young.

Philly can be THE team lost the Warriors era if they play everything correctly and they stay healthy. People don't realize just how good they were defensively when RoCo and Embiid played and even more so just as long as they didn't play Okafor.

Robert Covington + Embiid on court: 106.4 ORating, 99.9 DRating, NET +6.5 per 100.

Robert Covington + Embiid on court MINUS Okafor: 107.6 ORating, 97.1 DRating, NET +10.5 per 100.

When RoCo and Embiid played together, the Sixers were a top 3 defensive team and a top 10 team overall. IF Embiid can somehow stay healthy and one of Simmons/Fultz pans out, you have the makings of a juggernaut with the right bit of shooting.

 

[The Red Viper]

Philly can be THE team lost the Warriors era if they play everything correctly and they stay healthy. People don't realize just how good they were defensively when RoCo and Embiid played and even more so just as long as they didn't play Okafor.

Robert Covington + Embiid on court: 106.4 ORating, 99.9 DRating, NET +6.5 per 100.

Robert Covington + Embiid on court MINUS Okafor: 107.6 ORating, 97.1 DRating, NET +10.5 per 100.

When RoCo and Embiid played together, the Sixers were a top 3 defensive team and a top 10 team overall. IF Embiid can somehow stay healthy and one of Simmons/Fultz pans out, you have the makings of a juggernaut with the right bit of shooting.

Yep.

They are imo at a similar stage to what OKC were in 2009 after they had drafted Harden.

The only difference is Embiid hasn't had the impact like a KD due to injuries. Same with Simmons with respect to Russ. Whats more crazy is they still have so many assets left that they can easily upgrade their roster immediately. So, if a LeBron goes there, he can be similar to what Kareem was for those Showtime Lakers with young studs like Magic and Worthy around him.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

I'm sick of the whiny baby shit around this forum.

We have the best team in the East, by FAR. And we are all but guaranteed to be 4 wins from a championship yet again this year.

Have some fucking perspective. LBJ should not be giving ANY paycuts to Dan. Dan should open his fucking checkbook with a goddamn smile on his face with all the money he makes off of Cleveland.

And you know what? Dan does.

Also, the last time I checked, our cap situation is not what is keeping us back from adding talent. It's our lack of assets. That is not LBJ's fault.

The audacity of these guys

Lbj gave us years to get our shit together
We got Kyrie and Thompson and that other scrub to show for it

 

[FrontPageNews]

If it's only about the money the Cavs can pay Lebron more than any other team.

If it's about winning the Cavs can put KLove and Kyrie next to him and maybe more. But the only way that should happen is if Lebron commits to a max contract for long term.

If Lebron isn't happy about who the Cavs can recruit to come here then he needs to stop his fuck/fuck games with Dan Gilbert and commit to a long term deal for his max dollars. Then all the ring chasers will be assured he's all in if they come here sacrificing money to get a crack at a ring.

If Lebron doesn't want to send the signal that he's staying in Cleveland then he better just be content with who is on the roster right now. And Gilbert will have every justification to save every tax dollar he possibly can, and plan for a future without Lebron.

Lebron will never commit long term here. Ever. The one time he decided to sign a 3 year deal dan Gilbert goes wild in the offseason and gets rid of the FO that lebron wanted. He'll be on 1+1s till he retires.

 

[fan0283]

A guy taking a paycut isn't a right, it's a privilege. A privilege to the owner, front office and the fans. However said player also benefits from said paycut if it allows management to put more talent around him.

We have no right to expect Lebron to commit or sacrifice but those of us who are rooting for the man's legacy can't deny that the team would have been better off if he was willing to sacrifice and get the others (JR and TT) to do the same. Doing so would have allowed the FO to cram even more talent on the roster. It would have given the FO that extra flexibility in pulling off trades. I mean we all knew that it would be hard to move a guy like JR on that contract when it was signed. It's not like our opening offers were unreasonable either.

Us not having worthwhile trade assets is a direct consequence of those contracts. He's now surrounded by players who pale in comparison to Golden state who are stacked partly because their talent didn't mind sacrificing money for rings.

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

Having a front office who didn't draft the worst player of all time would of helped too

 

[Gus Zing]

So I'll humor the LeBron should be like Durant and take less crowd.

Would that have allowed us to keep Delly last year? Do you think the fact Delly couldn't stay on the floor last year against GS was why he was reluctant to do so?

 

[buzzdog]

Lebron will never commit long term here. Ever. The one time he decided to sign a 3 year deal dan Gilbert goes wild in the offseason and gets rid of the FO that lebron wanted. He'll be on 1+1s till he retires.

Then Lebron has no right to complain if Gilbert treats the situation in a way to protect the franchise in the event Lebron leaves, to preserve options and assets for a post Lebron era, and if he takes measures to avoid the repeater tax.

 

[sleepmaster]

Why would Lebron be complaining about Gilbert protecting assets? Gilbert was okay with trading Love for George which could have been a one-year rental. If it wasn't for Pritchard going behind his owner's back, the trade would have gone through. Gilbert and Lebron were on the same page here.

Lebron would be justified in complaining about roster moves solely to avoid the repeater tax when the team is a championship contender. The repeater tax has hardly anything to do with protecting the franchise.

 

[buzzdog]

Why would Lebron be complaining about Gilbert protecting assets? Gilbert was okay with trading Love for George which could have been a one-year rental. If it wasn't for Pritchard going behind his owner's back, the trade would have gone through. Gilbert and Lebron were on the same page here.

Lebron would be justified in complaining about roster moves solely to avoid the repeater tax when the team is a championship contender. The repeater tax has hardly anything to do with protecting the franchise.

I'm not a cap expert so correct me if I'm wrong. But, if a team can get below a certain cap level for one season doesn't that reset the clock regarding being in the repeater tax, which gives them more flexibility to make roster moves? If so then being below that level for one season would be of huge benefit to the franchise.

From what I've seen if we just clear Shump from the cap with a TPE that goes unused it gets us close to where we'd need to be to get under that cap amount. If we replace Shump's $$$ with another contract and add a MLE signing then that's all out the window.

Without some assurance from Lebron I wouldn't blame Gilbert for managing the budget as though Lebron is leaving. If Lebron wants Gilbert to manage the finances with the assumption he's staying, Lebron needs to let Gilbert know that.

 

[RyanStackAttack]

Like Buzzdog said, there are benefits to getting below or near the tax level for the 2018 offseason outside of just saving Dan Gilbert money.

You replenish your mid-level exceptions and can execute sign-and-trades if your final cap number is within $4M over the tax line.

Cavs would be wise to clear both Shumpert and Smith for expiring deals particularly considering their complete lack of production last year. They'd at least be staring at a clean 2018 cap (around $80M) to make moves around LBJ should he want to return or pivot to fill in the pace between Love and Kyrie.

As it stands now, they'll be in a position much like this year with their hands tied but hoping LeBron just wants to return.