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

[DAF86]

Before the Kawhi drama pretty much every media talking head said Spurs would be the best fit..

Then “drama” leaked and Sixers won 16 games and they all of sudden became the “favorite”. Best case scenario for the Spurs is for the Rockets to beat the Cavs for le..

The entire offseason revolves around Kawhi/LeBron..Windhorst wasn’t lying when he said this would be the case a month or two ago.

Stay tuned

That leaves the chance of Lebron joining Boston, tbh.

Best scenario is Rockets beating Celtics in the finals.

[coachmac87]

That leaves the chance of Lebron joining Boston, tbh.

Best scenario is Rockets beating Celtics in the finals.

Uhhhh no that’s not going to happen

[DAF86]

Uhhhh no that’s not going to happen

How the can you be so sure? Both teams are one win away from the finals.

If anything, the Celtics beating the Cavs seems more plausible than the Rockets beating the Warriors.

EDIT: Or you mean Lebron joining the Celtics? that, to me, makes the most sense for Lebron, if he's real about contending. More even than the Spurs.

[spurraider21]

i cant see pop starting white and bertans... 2 guys he doesnt trust as far as he can throw

[Chinook]

Chinook, come tell me if these scenarios are legally possible:

-Green opts out and signs a longer deal for less money per year (let's say 5 mpy for the next 4 seasons, with a player option).
- Same with Gay (5 mpy for the next three seasons).
-Gasol gets cut or traded for cap space.
-Mills gets trade to the Sixers for Bayless.
-Tony resigns for the minimum.
-Bertans gives the Spurs a discount.
-Anderson is let go.

I think that would open enough cap space to sign Lebron and maybe Milutinovic.

Then you have:

Starting lineup

PG-White (if given the chance, he will rock alongside Lebron and Kawhi)
SG-Kawhi
SF-Lebron
PF-Bertans
C-Aldridge

Bench

PG-Murray
SG-Manu
SF-Green
PF-Gay
C-Milutinovic

Third unit

PG-Tony
SG-Paul
SF-18th pick/Blossomgame/Hilliard
PF-18th pick/Costello/Blossomgame
C-Lauvergne

Bertans doesn't need to take a discount. It also makes more sense to give one of Green/Gay to take the room exception for a year then sign for more. Or let one or both go. I want to say that even with all that, it's still not enough for Nikola. You also didn't say what happens to Bayless.

Best-case would be to trade Murray, 18 Patty and Pau for Lebron and keep Bird rights and the MLE for everyone else.

[FvckMavs]

Bertans doesn't need to take a discount. It also makes more sense to give one of Green/Gay to take the room exception for a year then sign for more. Or let one or both go. I want to say that even with all that, it's still not enough for Nikola. You also didn't say what happens to Bayless.

Best-case would be to trade Murray, 18 Patty and Pau for Lebron and keep Bird rights and the MLE for everyone else.

Patty has 36m/3yrs left. CLE will not take his contract. They probably take one of Green or Gay if they opt in.

[pad300]

Some Cap math. Assuming that we are looking at a CP3 type trade - Lebron opts in and is traded, how much salary do we need to send back?
data From https://hoopshype.com/salaries/

Lebron's Salary (18/19) : $35,607,968

Spurs can take back salaries no more than 125% +$ 100k of those they send out in a trade. Therefore the Spurs must send out a minimum of $28406375

Assuming Pau goes to CLE, that leaves another $11,606,375 of salary to fill in...

The notional starting salary for a #18 pick is $1,966,800.

Possible combinations : a) Patty + Whomever, b) Rudy (assuming he picks up his option) + #18 pick (assuming we pick for the cavs, then the pick counts for capspace) + Whomever , c) Danny + (Lauvergne or White)

We would of course end up including some non-cap assets (future draft picks, rights to players, cash).

[coachmac87]

How the can you be so sure? Both teams are one win away from the finals.

If anything, the Celtics beating the Cavs seems more plausible than the Rockets beating the Warriors.

EDIT: Or you mean Lebron joining the Celtics? that, to me, makes the most sense for Lebron, if he's real about contending. More even than the Spurs.

What do Celtics give up for LeBron??

You really think he asks Kyrie for forgiveness and becomes his teammate again?

Celtics aren’t in the picture and they haven’t been mentioned as an option all year due to the reasons I just stated..

[Chinook]

Patty has 36m/3yrs left. CLE will not take his contract. They probably take one of Green or Gay if they opt in.

They might for 18 and Murray. Mills isn't a bad player by any means. But yeah, swapping Green for Patty and a 2019 first for 18 probably works well enough. Mills, Leonard James a combo-forward at 18 and Aldridge is a great lineup.

[Chinook]

Some Cap math. Assuming that we are looking at a CP3 type trade - Lebron opts in and is traded, how much salary do we need to send back?
data From https://hoopshype.com/salaries/

Lebron's Salary (18/19) : $35,607,968

Spurs can take back salaries no more than 125% +$ 100k of those they send out in a trade. Therefore the Spurs must send out a minimum of $28406375

Assuming Pau goes to CLE, that leaves another $11,606,375 of salary to fill in...

The notional starting salary for a #18 pick is $1,966,800.

Possible combinations : a) Patty + Whomever, b) Rudy (assuming he picks up his option) + #18 pick (assuming we pick for the cavs, then the pick counts for capspace) + Whomever , c) Danny + (Lauvergne or White)

We would of course end up including some non-cap assets (future draft picks, rights to players, cash).

They can use his 2018 salary if they do it before July.

[FvckMavs]

They might for 18 and Murray. Mills isn't a bad player by any means. But yeah, swapping Green for Patty and a 2019 first for 18 probably works well enough. Mills, Leonard James a combo-forward at 18 and Aldridge is a great lineup.

Not sure if Murray and 18 is enough to make CLE eat Patty's 36m and Pau's 23m. They are not contenders any longer once Lebron leaves and obviously don't want to take back contracts that put them way above the tax threshold.

[pad300]

They can use his 2018 salary if they do it before July.

Ok, that would allow them to count Lebron as $33,285,709 in salary, and only send back $26,548,568.

Further, if I understand correctly, various players would have had to make opt in/out decisions by 24 June.

[DAF86]

What do Celtics give up for LeBron??

Hayward

You really think he asks Kyrie for forgiveness and becomes his teammate again?

Lebron just tells Ainge to trade Kyrie the out (*coff, for Kawhi, coff*). Cold blooded Ainge does that in a split second.

Celtics aren’t in the picture and they haven’t been mentioned as an option all year due to the reasons I just stated..

I know, but that doesn't mean they aren't the best option by far.

[Chinook]

Ok, that would allow them to count Lebron as $33,285,709 in salary, and only send back $26,548,568.

Further, if I understand correctly, various players would have had to make opt in/out decisions by 24 June.

Yeah. I don't know if SA would have the heart to trade Danny for Lebron and keep Leonard given that Danny's been sucking up to both of those guys his whole career. If it's at all possible to move Mills instead, I think they do it, even if it's a third team getting him. Then add either Joff (if he doesn't opt out) or guarantee some or all of Paul's second year and to make up the necessary ballast to get this done.

[Chinook]

Not sure if Murray and 18 is enough to make CLE eat Patty's 36m and Pau's 23m. They are not contenders any longer once Lebron leaves and obviously don't want to take back contracts that put them way above the tax threshold.

They'd save significant money by swapping out James' $35 Million for like $27 Million in salary when you factor in cap savings. Then buyout/stretching Hill should be plenty to get them under the tax.

[Phenomanul]

That leaves the chance of Lebron joining Boston, tbh.

Best scenario is Rockets beating Celtics in the finals.

This scenario (LeBron missing the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011) also gives any potential negotiation/offer more time to be developed prior to July 1st. James will be angry and if winning and catching MJ in ring count truly is his ultimate motivator - then it will more likely allow the Spurs to make a move " sooner rather than later". I'm positive that being forced to watch the NBA Finals from home for the first time since forever will be a nagging thorn-on-the-side to him - maybe enough to push him towards, Pop, Kawhi, LMA and Co. On the Spurs side this may help add a sense of urgency to Kawhi's contract situation, and facilitate a quicker resolution than if the Spurs had to wait it out til the end of the NBA Finals to survey any potential options involving LeBron.

[duncan2k5]

Green just said Kawhi told him he wants to stay in SA

[cd98]

Green just said Kawhi told him he wants to stay in SA

He said he "thinks" Kawhi wants to stay. Kawhi last spoke on the subject on March 7, before the meeting with the teammates. After the meeting, he left town and did not comeback until after the Spurs were eliminated. I wouldn't put too much stock in what Danny said. If he knew Kawhi wanted to be here with a strong desire to re-sign, like say Durant has in GS, then that's one thing. But Green was a soft "I think he wants to be in San Antonio."

[Phenomanul]

Green just said Kawhi told him he wants to stay in SA

I will see Green during his upcoming "skills camp" here in Corpus Christi. I'm sure he will be thrilled at having to field any questions concerning the Kawhi situation. That said, if this is true I would be ecstatic... I would be more than willing to forget this horrendous season and move on.

[pad300]

Yeah. I don't know if SA would have the heart to trade Danny for Lebron and keep Leonard given that Danny's been sucking up to both of those guys his whole career. If it's at all possible to move Mills instead, I think they do it, even if it's a third team getting him. Then add either Joff (if he doesn't opt out) or guarantee some or all of Paul's second year and to make up the necessary ballast to get this done.

Yeah, I would expect them to keep Danny if they could (in that scenario), but for example a late June trade would allow them to do Pau, Gay, Lauvergne, Brandon Paul ( + Picks) package just fine...

[Chinook]

Yeah, I would expect them to keep Danny if they could (in that scenario), but for example a late June trade would allow them to do Pau, Gay, Lauvergne, Brandon Paul ( + Picks) package just fine...

I don't think Gay would opt in unless Cleveland agreed to buy him out immediately. Then obviously it's a no-brainer.

[pad300]

I don't think Gay would opt in unless Cleveland agreed to buy him out immediately. Then obviously it's a no-brainer.

That's why it's a late June trade - his option deadline is the 24th (again if I understand correctly). The moratorium starts on July 1, and goes to July 6.
https://www.nbcsports.com/washington...izards-and-nba

[Chinook]

That's why it's a late June trade - his option deadline is the 24th (again if I understand correctly). The moratorium starts on July 1, and goes to July 6.
https://www.nbcsports.com/washington...izards-and-nba

The draft is on the 21st, so it would have to be agreed to before then. I assume Gay would opt in before the in order to make this trade legal (just like James would), and then it would happen. Then the Cavs could release Gay so he could go to Houston or GS. Keep one of 18 or Murray and drop in the 2019 pick and/or Milutinov instead.

[pad300]

The draft is on the 21st, so it would have to be agreed to before then. I assume Gay would opt in before the in order to make this trade legal (just like James would), and then it would happen. Then the Cavs could release Gay so he could go to Houston or GS. Keep one of 18 or Murray and drop in the 2019 pick and/or Milutinov instead.

Depends what the trade is:
Pau, Gay, Lauvergne, Brandon Paul, 2019 1st unprotected, 2021 first top 5 protected, 2023 first top 5 protected
would work for example.

That would leave SAS looking like
LMA/Lebron/Kawhi/Green (opt in)/Murray
as a starting line up, and
Manu, Mills, White, #18, #49, Bird Rights to Anderson, Bird rights to Parker, A full MLE, a Biannual, rights to Milutinov...

[duncan2k5]

He said he "thinks" Kawhi wants to stay. Kawhi last spoke on the subject on March 7, before the meeting with the teammates. After the meeting, he left town and did not comeback until after the Spurs were eliminated. I wouldn't put too much stock in what Danny said. If he knew Kawhi wanted to be here with a strong desire to re-sign, like say Durant has in GS, then that's one thing. But Green was a soft "I think he wants to be in San Antonio."

Don't misrepresent the full content of what he said... He said Kawhi verbally told him he wants to he there... That's MUCH different than him only saying he Think Kawhi wants to be here