How likely is LeBron James to join the Spurs this summer?

Can we trade LA+Pau for Lebron?

FWIW, I tried putting LeBron on the Spurs in 2K (while taking out Gasol, Gay, Green, and Parker, which is who the front office will need to get rid of to make the numbers work). And that catapulted the Spurs to #2 in overall team rating, just behind the Warriors (and ahead of the Rockets).

In terms of on-floor simulations, Leonard and James were able to co-exist peacefully and share ballhandling and scoring duties. But the biggest loser was Aldridge, who suffered from a lack of touches.

ProjectSpurs has a good article summarizing the Spurs' cap situation and what moves they would need to make to free up the cap space for a max offer.

Here's an excerpt:

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If the Spurs’ wanted to open max space this off-season, the easiest path would be trading Pau Gasol to a team with the cap space to absorb his contract. The Spurs’ would most likely need to include one or multiple draft picks and a young, talented player, such as Dejounte Murray, for the other team to accept absorbing a $16.8 million dollar contract. Trading Gasol and Murray to shed space next off-season would free San Antonio’s cap space up to $35,950,136, after accounting for roster charges and assuming Ginobili retires and the Spurs’ stretch his contract.

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https://projectspurs.com/2018/01/18/...cap-situation/

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Originally Posted by Uriel

ProjectSpurs has a good article summarizing the Spurs' cap situation and what moves they would need to make to free up the cap space for a max offer.

Here's an excerpt:


https://projectspurs.com/2018/01/18/...cap-situation/

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From January fwiw.

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Originally Posted by DPG21920

Bruh, they won 31 games. Yes, adding PG/Lebron helps but they aren’t good. You aren’t beating SA with Kawhi or GS by adding PG/Lebron to LA.

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31 games in the west and for a young team isn't too bad. Add him and pg. Trade young assets for 3rd star you have a formidable team in the best basketball market on the planet and one where his legacy could grow even more. Seems to check all the boxes. Philly's market and franchise just dont seem as appealing as the Lakers if I'm looking at what Lebron's camp is looking at but Philly and Houston is definitely up there too.

I think he leaves the Cavs looking at how the roster is shaking out. It sucks for Cleveland because they always do everything they can to appease him and will have very little flexibility now.

This offseason is going to be interesting.

National media and bronsexuals melting down because 2 starters combined for 3pts on 1-11 shooting :lol

Wait until Lebron comes here and they realize Delonte and G-League do that every game :lmao

Philly or Houston for Lebron imo.

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Originally Posted by spurs10

From January fwiw.

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That Gasol Contract :bang

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Originally Posted by SpursDynasty85

That Gasol Contract :bang

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Interesting thing about that 'bad' contract is how it can actually help the Spurs get a trade for Lebron. Spurs can actually obtain 125% of the salary they send out. So fast forward to free agency, Lebron meets spurs and says I want to join but want my 33mil. Spurs would have hard a time creating 33mil in cap space. Would require a lot of waiving and salary dumping and would leave the Spurs thin. However, Lebron can request the Cavs to trade him to the Spurs. If Green accepts his opt-in, Spurs can trade Green and Gasol which equal 26mil, and that fits into the 125% rule. Why the Cavs do that? Well, they essentially get 2 expiring contracts, add two second round picks or first, and they get something in return for Lebron bailing. The cavs could dump Green for contending team for a second pick, like the sixers who have cap to absorb. The cavs then could use those picks to drop Tristain/Smith/Hill to restart a mini rebuild and get under the luxury tax. This is a better option than just losing Lebron for nothing and have no extra picks to attached to get out of their bloated contracts.

I think there was a reason why the Spurs offered Gasol that contract. It was like they were unable to guarantee that he will be with them for the 18/19 season. So as an incentive here is an extra 6mil. Gasol probably gets bought out if Spurs to add cash considerations to the lebron trade. Gasol then can play out his last years with his brother at the Grizzlies for a small contract. I have always maintained that the contract wasn't a bad one. I always visioned the spurs using his contract to trade this offseason. It is essentially an expiring contract.

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Originally Posted by BatManu20

Philly or Houston for Lebron imo.

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That seems to be the consensus among NBA fans, with San Antonio at #3.

But I don't see how Houston can maneuver to open up the cap space to sign LeBron, short of a sign and trade. And Cleveland would never agree to that. As for Philly... it's possible, but he has a better shot at a ring in San Antonio.

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Originally Posted by Uriel

That seems to be the consensus among NBA fans, with San Antonio at #3.

But I don't see how Houston can maneuver to open up the cap space to sign LeBron, short of a sign and trade. And Cleveland would never agree to that. As for Philly... it's possible, but he has a better shot at a ring in San Antonio.

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Houston can clear space easily. Lebron is a free agent. Whatever the Cavs want doesn't matter one tiny bit.

Also, core of Embiid, Simmons, & Lebron >>> Aldridge, Anderson, Lebron

Have you seen how much money they gotta pay Ryan Anderson the next 2 years ?

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Originally Posted by TheGreatYacht

Houston can clear space easily. Lebron is a free agent. Whatever the Cavs want doesn't matter one tiny bit.

Also, core of Embiid, Simmons, & Lebron >>> Aldridge, Anderson, Lebron

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Lbj comes to sa only if kiwi stays...so the core would be Lbj - Lma and Kiwi...

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Originally Posted by Chillen

If he really wants an almost guaranteed ring not GSW related sign with the Celtics for a low end 1 year deal. I know won't ever happen because of Irving being there but if they can somehow put their differences aside with that roster and coach I don't see anyone beating them even GSW if healthy.

I agree though I see Philly as the favorite, 2nd Houston and 3rd Spurs. it's the East they have pieces and it's a challenge and it's not that far from Ohio.

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CP3 looks awful. He has some kind of Achilles issue, and was basically limping up and down the floor last night. He's also due a big payday north of $30M this summer. I personally wouldn't give it to him, and I don't see Bron/bin Harden as a great combo.

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Originally Posted by tbdog

Interesting thing about that 'bad' contract is how it can actually help the Spurs get a trade for Lebron. Spurs can actually obtain 125% of the salary they send out. So fast forward to free agency, Lebron meets spurs and says I want to join but want my 33mil. Spurs would have hard a time creating 33mil in cap space. Would require a lot of waiving and salary dumping and would leave the Spurs thin. However, Lebron can request the Cavs to trade him to the Spurs. If Green accepts his opt-in, Spurs can trade Green and Gasol which equal 26mil, and that fits into the 125% rule. Why the Cavs do that? Well, they essentially get 2 expiring contracts, add two second round picks or first, and they get something in return for Lebron bailing. The cavs could dump Green for contending team for a second pick, like the sixers who have cap to absorb. The cavs then could use those picks to drop Tristain/Smith/Hill to restart a mini rebuild and get under the luxury tax. This is a better option than just losing Lebron for nothing and have no extra picks to attached to get out of their bloated contracts.

I think there was a reason why the Spurs offered Gasol that contract. It was like they were unable to guarantee that he will be with them for the 18/19 season. So as an incentive here is an extra 6mil. Gasol probably gets bought out if Spurs to add cash considerations to the lebron trade. Gasol then can play out his last years with his brother at the Grizzlies for a small contract. I have always maintained that the contract wasn't a bad one. I always visioned the spurs using his contract to trade this offseason. It is essentially an expiring contract.

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That's one way to look at it but it was still a bad contract. I would've much preferred the cap room and flexibility to sign free agents and deal our left over assets. Gasol + Aldridge is a failed experiment because Aldridge is a 5 in today's NBA and Gasol can't gaurd the pick and roll anymore.

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Originally Posted by TheGreatYacht

i have posted 27k times and am not a loser

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Lebron will be on the spurs next year... It is between spurs and sixes... Trust me

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Originally Posted by duncan2k5

Lebron will be on the spurs next year... It is between spurs and sixes... Trust me

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Sixers make sense but how do you figure the Spurs have a legit shot? I just don't see it. Philly seems like the way more attractive and logical situation for Lebron if he jumps ship.

Tbh, I give Lebron more of a chance of joining the Spurs than I did two weeks ago. Too much youth and speed in the east. Lebron either has to join one of them or move west.

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Originally Posted by duncan2k5

Lebron will be on the spurs next year... It is between spurs and sixes... Trust me

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What makes you so confident he would pick San Antonio over Philadelphia?

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Originally Posted by TheGreatYacht

Houston can clear space easily. Lebron is a free agent. Whatever the Cavs want doesn't matter one tiny bit.

Also, core of Embiid, Simmons, & Lebron >>> Aldridge, Anderson, Lebron

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How exactly would Houston clear cap space?

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Originally Posted by tbdog

Interesting thing about that 'bad' contract is how it can actually help the Spurs get a trade for Lebron. Spurs can actually obtain 125% of the salary they send out. So fast forward to free agency, Lebron meets spurs and says I want to join but want my 33mil. Spurs would have hard a time creating 33mil in cap space. Would require a lot of waiving and salary dumping and would leave the Spurs thin. However, Lebron can request the Cavs to trade him to the Spurs. If Green accepts his opt-in, Spurs can trade Green and Gasol which equal 26mil, and that fits into the 125% rule. Why the Cavs do that? Well, they essentially get 2 expiring contracts, add two second round picks or first, and they get something in return for Lebron bailing. The cavs could dump Green for contending team for a second pick, like the sixers who have cap to absorb. The cavs then could use those picks to drop Tristain/Smith/Hill to restart a mini rebuild and get under the luxury tax. This is a better option than just losing Lebron for nothing and have no extra picks to attached to get out of their bloated contracts.

I think there was a reason why the Spurs offered Gasol that contract. It was like they were unable to guarantee that he will be with them for the 18/19 season. So as an incentive here is an extra 6mil. Gasol probably gets bought out if Spurs to add cash considerations to the lebron trade. Gasol then can play out his last years with his brother at the Grizzlies for a small contract. I have always maintained that the contract wasn't a bad one. I always visioned the spurs using his contract to trade this offseason. It is essentially an expiring contract.

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why would Danny Green agree to that?!

i'm coming up with 32.33, repeating of course, percentage of acquisition

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Originally Posted by Uriel

How exactly would Houston clear cap space?

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TGY is just making stuff up. HOU is in a very tough spot. With no cap holds and just the fully guaranteed deals, they are at 78M in salaries.

Obviously though, the idea would be to re-sign CP3 so his cap hold would be there and it would put them well over 100M+ in “salaries”.

They would have to find a taker for both Eric Gordon & Ryan Anderson whose contract is infinitely worse than Pau/Mills. Ryan Anderson has 2 years left, fully guaranteed at over 20M per year. Eric Gordon’s deal is virtually identical to Mills but he would no doubt be easier to move.

So if HOU could trade Ryan AND Eric for little to no money back and renounce most of their other free agents they could keep CP3’s cap hold along with Harden and have enough to sign Lebron to a max deal.

But that is not “easy” by any stretch.