2014 NBA draft/off-season thread

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Should we change this to the NBA draft (and offseason) thread?

Anyway,

http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm

For quick looks at the cap situation. Expected cap is $63.2 million, tax level is $77 million.

The LA Lakers have the money to sign LeBron, but there would be no one else. $23 million of the $35 million currently committed is to Kobe Bryant. Another $10 million is for Steve Nash. Only one other player -- Robert Sacre - has a deal set in stone, though Nick Young (haha) has a players' option. The chances of signing LeBron and Carmelo, unless someone takes a discount, are pretty small. The Lakers do have to pay eight other players somehow.

Utah has plenty of money available, but no way in hell LeBron goes. Phoenix is intriguing -- plenty of money available, a very good point guard, and other young pieces on the rise. And, of course, there's Cleveland -- plenty of money, plus Kyrie Irving and maybe Andrew Wiggins. And many awkward moments as fans try to unburn their LeBron jerseys.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

They said on ESPN if they made a trade the Lakers could have $32 or $36 million available for next season. I don't remember exactly what they said the Lakers had to do to free up the money. The impression I got was that if LeBron and Anthony both wanted to be there (A GIGANTIC IF) that there were ways they could pull it off.

Unless Anthony and LeBron are dying to play together, it doesn't seem likely.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

It would seem to me their deals would need to be tailored so they're underpaid in year one, and then the money hiked upward once Steve Nash's $10 million is gone. The Lakers couldn't do a sign-and-trade because all they have is Nash's contract for a chip. That, and they would still have to take on someone else for $10 million, though at least that could fill their bench with live bodies.

Now, more intriguing is if LeBron and Kevin Love can find a way to get to the same place. It appears the Bulls have a far greater interest in Love than Anthony.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

The problem is the Bulls would have to give up a lot to get Love. The Rockets would probably make the most sense for Carmelo. I think all they have to do to get the cap space is trade Osik, which they can probably do pretty easily. I just don't think Carmelo would ever consider going anywhere other than Miami, Chicago, LA or back to NYC.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Lebron is obviously willing to take less money, but he is putting this on Wade and Bosh. He's basically saying to them that they have to opt out if they want him to remain in Miami. Pretty much the only way Miami can get significantly better is for all of them to sign new deals that pay two-thirds of what they are scheduled to make.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

If Wade opts out, it's probably a good sign that LeBron is going back to the Heat, because there is no other logical reason for him to do that because no other team will pay him anything close to what Miami owes him over the next two years.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Miami could give him more money over more years to lower the cap hit from 21. Maybe 4 years 54 to 58 and deal with the back end of that later.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Be funny if Wade opts out and then LeBron signs with another team
and leaves Wade high and dry.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that. It would be in their best interest to do something because otherwise they're paying him $42M over the next two seasons and LeBron will probably be gone.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Unless he's super pissed about something that hasn't been made public, that would surprise me.

If they all opt out and bring in Carmelo, I'll be rooting for it to be as successful as the Lakers were in 2004 when Malone and Payton went there.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

Yup, Wade could sign a new deal worth 4 years, $50M, rather than opting into his 2 years, $40M current deal. Then he can play 2-3 more years and retire. He gets paid more overall but helps the Heat clear more cap space.

 

Re: 2014 NBA draft thread

I wonder if Kobe would do the same thing in LA.