DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum So, where will LeBron end up

It's just the perfect storm for the Spurs. And I think it starts with Duncan. If Duncan did not have the demeanor he has, if he did not care about winning so much, if he cared about individual accomplishments ... it wouldn't work at all. He's a special player, a special guy. A once in a generation type.

The owner though does have to exhibit patience. In Pop's first year, the whole fan base wanted him replaced with Doc Rivers. He's been bounced in the first round it seems like too many times for a team of that caliber. He made the terrible call of not having Duncan in for the free throw rebound last year. But his positives outweigh his negatives. They stick by him and the continuity pays off.

Duncan allows Pop to be he who he is.

I accidentally posted this story on the wrong thread. (D'oh!)

'Report: LeBron James, annoyed with Micky Arison, not ready to commit to Heat'

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2...partner=ya5nbcs

Dan Feldman Jun 19, 2014, 9:55 AM EDT

LeBron James reportedly doesn’t want to take a salary cut in order to save Heat owner Micky Arison money. That’s apparently not a new concern.

It’s been festering.

The Heat paid the luxury tax the previous two years, and they’ll pay it again this season. But in the last year, they’ve really dialed back their spending.

They amnestied Mike Miller.

Instead of using a draft pick to upgrade their roster, they used it as a sweetener to unload Joel Anthony’s contract.
They didn’t use the mid-level exception, their primary tool for adding another rotation-caliber player.
Miami has allowed its roster to stagnate and age, creating a lack of depth really showed in the Finals.

If the Heat had spent more to build a deeper team, maybe they’d be NBA champions – and not waiting on a mum LeBron.


Brian Windhorst of ESPN:


"a victory for the Heat at this stage likely means getting James to commit for one more season. Again, this is not ideal. When that infamous “not five, not six …” speech was delivered, James was under the impression that he would be staying in Miami for a second long-term contract. Despite a strong and historic run, James isn’t ready to commit to that given the current state of the team.

"The Heat are the favorites; this is not in question. But there is a window of doubt due to the way the season ended, Wade’s health and some bitterness James harbors that Micky Arison put the brakes on spending over the past year.

"That is why his most likely path is to opt out of his contract after the draft so that he will maximize his flexibility while putting teams on the clock.

"This would force the Heat to take action on the free-agent market to improve the roster and, essentially, spend money even though they are facing significant luxury-tax penalties. It would also buy time for James to meet with other teams and examine plans and for rival teams to make trades or signings to potentially make them more attractive. Some deals are more likely to happen in July rather than in late June.


Like Windhorst, I believe LeBron will stay with the Heat, the odds-on favorite to keep him. Nearly all the reasons he signed with Miami in 2010 remain in place.

But this is absolutely a time to apply pressure.

Chasing Carmelo Anthony has been presented as a way to upgrade the roster. But if Miami creates cap room to sign him, there’s nearly no way they’ll pay the luxury tax season. It’s just too difficult, under Collective Bargaining Agreement Rules, to dip that far below the salary cap and then exceed the luxury-tax line within a single year. It’s not coincidence the Heat didn’t pay the tax in their first year with LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Really, a run at Melo is a great stealth way to trim payroll.

In 2015-16, especially if LeBron signs a reduced one-year contract this summer and then sought to re-up for a max deal once Melo was in the fold, the tax hit could be large. But maybe by then, Arison will have found other ways to trim salary. Would LeBron give Arison a year’s cushion on the hope spending increased the following year?

LeBron could opt out now, and that would really apply pressure on the Heat. But if they’re not motivated already, something is wrong.

The big three, especially LeBron, generate a lot of revenue for Arison. That doesn’t mean Arison must spend like the Nets to appease them, but quite likely, being thrifty and losing LeBron would be a net loss.

LeBron is just reminding Arison of that fact. If he opts out to really hammer it home, so be it.



(end)

I still say the final answer is "in hell"

Dito !

Was listening to Dan Patrick the other day, and they were talking about the Pat Riley news conference. They seemed convinced that the things Riley was saying were directed at Lebron. Apparently something was said during the exit interviews that didn't sit well with Pat. He called a news conference (which I guess he hasn't really done much of this year) and started talking about "loyalty" and "sticking with what you started" ... which in and of itself is hysterical. Even Dan Patrick was making fun of it. "Yeah, you stuck a knife into the back of Cleveland and colluded with us to make this team. NOW you have to be "loyal" and stick this out."

I don't know ... I think the chances Lebron leaves now might be a little higher than we think. Another story I hear is that he's annoyed with the Miami owner who isn't really willing to pay luxary tax to help out the team. At least that's something the mean letter-writing Dan Gilbert would do for him.

The original purpose of them signing "smaller" deals to get together was so that they could qualify for Bird rights and then sign larger extensions. Then the NBA came down harder on the salary cap rules and their owner doesn't want to pay the stiffer penalties. So now, Riley is now asking Lebron if he wants to take a pay CUT to make room under the cap for him to fit more bodies. His situation is starting to look like Cleveland, where he's got a bunch of aging vets around him, he's carrying the team, and they've got no maneuverability to get anyone new on the roster.

That said, I still don't see how he comes to Cleveland. We're too young and raw. We have a complete mystery at head coach, and the one guy in the draft that would of really filled out our roster is falling apart. The only way it happens if Lebron grew a major conscience while he was down there and feels he needs to right the wrongs. It would be hysterical if he has a press conference during free agency and says, "Pat Riley is right ... I need to be loyal. Therefore, I'm taking my talents back to Cleveland where I started things."

But I honestly think he's just going to go wherever he can get the most stars around him. People keep talking about how carpetbagging is going to hurt his "legacy" somehow, but it didn't really hurt Shaq all that much.

I think for Lebron to come back, we will need Melo to come here. I don't see Lebron coming back to play with such a young team. There were rumors about Melo coming here for the number 1 pick. If that meant James coming here, I would do that without hesitation.

yea Mtv girl, i know who she is.

The only way the Cavs would or could trade for Anthony is if he told New York 'I want you to send me to Cleveland', which is a phrase no one said, ever.

A few things...
1. I really have no issue with LaBron. I was bummed for a few days when the decision was made but it was always his right and he made the decision that was in his own best interest. I think peoples' expectations and feelings got all mixed up but whatever, he's a self-determined professional and I'm an adult. Cleveland can be such a self-conscious and easily wounded population. Just get over it already.

2. I'd have no issue whatsoever with him returning. Nice fairy-tale ending and I think we'll be in a much better position to support a superstar player this time around. We'd certainly be right in the mix in the playoffs.

3. it's not gonna happen. Too much personal politics and too big a gamble on his part. He gets max contract wherever he goes. He wants rings. He is a personal monopoly. Unlike just about any other player in the league, he can pretty much go and do whatever, wherever. Demand exists in all directions and is only limited by his willingness to be flexible on finances. So he can pick any team he thinks has the combination of coach, support players, youth and experience and culture insert himself. Statistically, going with his best option and odds, I'd say Cleveland is like 4th on that list. His best option is still to stay with the Heat and retool. Buuut... I make an art out of being wrong.

I will go on record (I already did a long time ago) as saying Screw Lebron, I didn't like his rude ass when he was in High School, and I didn't care for him as a person when he played for the Cavs. I will just leave it at that.

I think he could retool in Miami, but Bosh would probably have to go, and Wade would need a reduction in role. He would have to come off the bench. I could see Melo coming in, and Wade pulling a Ginobli, and coming in as a 6th man. But he would have to take a paycut, and I'm not sure he would be up for that. I've always thought the clippers has the best roster for him, great combo of youth, and veterans, just not sure he wants to walk into that mess. Don't think he would ever play with a scrub like Howard. Think it comes down to the Cavs and Heat.

If Lebron tells Wade that he's not coming back, then I see no reason for him to opt out. What other team is going to give him a max deal? He is near the end of his career, and his opportunities for making max deal money are near their end.

Given that the owner has said, basically, that he is through paying luxury taxes, then adding players to the Big 3 seems out of the question. They would have to take a massive pay cut each in order to get under the luxury tax threshold. With the Big 3 at their 2013-14 levels of pay, the Heat had almost an $81 million payroll. That was even with Mike Miller being amnestied.

I believe that the tax is $3.25 for every $1 over the $70 or so million luxury tax cap. That means that their owner paid not only am $80 million salary bill for the team, but also $32 million tax.

He has said that he will not do that again.

The Heat will probably need $25 million to sign support players, unless they want a repeat of this year, where they don't have much on the bench. If they can only spend $70 million total, that means that they can only spend $45 million on star players. That means that the big 3 aren't coming back. How can they?

They are on pace to make roughly $61 million next year. If the owner is not paying the luxury tax, then they would have $9 million to add support pieces. Norris Cole will make $1 million (approx) next year. I think that there is one more player under contract for next year as well. That leaves no more than $8-9 million to fill 11 roster spots. That won't buy much of a bench.

That is why I have to laugh at the idea that Carmelo would join them. The numbers just don't fit. If they need $20 million just to put together the last starter/bench they had this year. That would leave $50 million for the 4 superstar deals in order to stay out of the luxury tax. That's $12.5 million each. I just don't see that happening.

The Heat could be headed for a major step back. They still owe the Cavaliers a 1st rounder, and it is top 10 protected in the 2015 and 2016, but unprotected in 2017. That could become an interesting pick.

I would love to see pat Riley forced to preside over a lottery team for a few years. I don't think that the stars will align in such a way for him to work out a deal like he did with Lebron, Bosh, and Wade anytime soon. (especially if the owner will not pay the luxury tax agan)

How many truly great players are available, who can single handedly jump start a franchise though?

If the owner of the Heat is truly unwilling to go into the luxury tax, then they will be limited to being able to "buy" a maximum of 2 superstars in the future.They won't be able to shortcut it as much as they did with Lebron/Wade/Bosh.

Oh how the steam has picked up on the lebron train, it's gonna happen, one day.

I'd put that return in 2014 at a 12% probability, up a couple perecentage points.

j/c to comment on several points that have been brought up:

--The letter that Gilbert wrote was immature, stupid, and short-sighted. It could keep LeBron from coming back here.

--I know a lot of people hate LeBron, but he would soon be deemed as the returning hero if he comes back.

--Say no to Carmelo. He is not a winner and would suck in the Princeton offense.

--LeBron, on the other hand, would be excellent in the Princeton offense. His passing skills and cutting ability would be a perfect fit. I mean, I don't think you could find a player who is a better fit for this offense.

--I don't know what LeBron is thinking. However, I only see a few places where he would play [but this is just me thinking--not him--LOL]

+Miami: They have won 2 of the last three finals and been there four years in a row. They have more talent than most are giving them credit for. And I believe the area is a plus.

+Cleveland: I think that he has love in his heart for Akron. I think he would love the storybook ending of him coming back and winning a title. He would be the Conquering Hero. That has to be appealing to him and it would help rectify the very large bruise on his reputation that him leaving Cleveland caused.

+Chicago: I know this is a long shot, but they have Rose, Noah, and an excellent coach. I think that it's important to LeBron to be considered the greatest of all-time and winning in Chicago, where Jordan won, might be something that motivates him. On the other hand, it could be nightmare if he doesn't win there. LOL

+Boston: Tradition, great young coach, some strong attributes in place as they move forward. I really don't see this one, but it is at least a possibility.

There are some other destinations that people are talking about, but I don't see them as all that viable.

+Lakers: Many big stars go there. They have tradition and a great market, but it's still Kobe's team. It goes beyond playing ability. It's the culture. Now, if they could get Anthony to sign there, too.......they might have a chance, but I doubt it.

+Knicks: They are always mentioned because of their location, but they stink and no way would I play there. How are they going to get rid of A'mare's contract?

+Houston: They have Hardin, but would you want to play w/Dwight Howard? LMAO...he would hinder LBJ.

+Clippers: I think they would have to sign and trade for him, but I am not positive about that. It would be an exciting trio, but they would probably have to give up one of their stars.

+Charlotte: Yeah, they have money...as do some other teams, but I don't think his base salary is as big of a deal as it would be in football. The guy makes more money from endorsements than he does in salary.

No guys............I think it comes down to Miami or Cleveland. I just wish Gilbert would not have been such a child and written that letter. But, if it was me.........I would want the challenge of returning to my hometown team and righting a wrong. In the end, I think it comes down to one of these two teams.

Quote:

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+Miami: They have won 2 of the last three finals and been there four years in a row. They have more talent than most are giving them credit for. And I believe the area is a plus.

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If Lebron, Wade and Bosh opt out, they will have Norris Cole under contract next year, and maybe Haslem. Cole will make $2 million next year. Chris Andersen, probably their best big, has already said that he's opting out. Can't blame him since he would only make $1.5 million next year under his current deal. He is far more valuable than that to other teams. Haslem is on a player's option at $4.6 million, and I haven't heard his plans. Given that he was down to less than 4 points and 4 boards/game last year, he might well opt in for $4.6 million.

So, with Lebron, Bosh, Wade, Cole, and Haslem under contract, (if they all opt back in) the Heat would spend $69 million. The luxury cap threshold is $70 million, and the owner of the Heat has said that he will not pay the luxury tax again. Can't blame him as the tax is $3.25 for every $1 the Heat exceed $70 million in salary.

So, with 5 players under contract, the Heat have to figure out some way to add 10 players with under $1 million in cap space. (if the 4 player options opt back in)

I don't see much talent on the roster for next year, because they only have 2 players under contract (and potentially 1) besides the big 3.

Miami could be in for a world of hurt. I see no way Lebron stays if the owner wants him to take a pay cut just so he doesn't have to pay luxury tax. If the owner said to him, (I'd like to ask you to tale $5 million less so we can add a (whatever) player", then I could see Lebron doing that. However, he has already said that he won't take a cut just to help the owner avoid the luxury tax.

If Lebron goes, I can't imagine that Bosh wouldn't be close behind. (not necessarily to the same team, but out of what could look very much like a sinking ship) Maybe Wade sticks so he can collect his big contract .... maybe not. However, I can't imagine that he would get a huge deal elsewhere with the way he struggled this year with injuries, and the way his game came apart in the Finals.

So, you are disputing my claim that Miami and Cleveland are the top two choices of LeBron?

I am disputing that they "have more talent than most might expect" ........

They are the big 3, and that's about it for next year. If they opt out, then the heat have nothing. Truly nothing. I don't know any team that would want to start out building around Norris Cole and Udonis Haslem.

Lebron has said that he will not take a pay cut without roster upgrades, and I doubt that he just means adding Melo. (and that just doesn't work financially without huge pay cuts for everyone)

Report: LeBron James won't take paycut without roster upgrades - CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-bask...roster-upgrades

The Heat will not be able to upgrade their roster depth without significant cuts in salary by the big 3, or else by going over the cap again. The 3 make over $60 million next year. Maybe they do take huge cuts to make one more run together.I just wonder if there is any flexibility in the owner's stance on the luxury tax. In order to out any kind of team around the big 3, the Heat will probably need to spend somewhere in the range of $25 million. Will the owner pay a tax, but not what he has the past few years? Possibly.Could the big 3 get down to under a collective $45 million? Will the owner pay a tax, but not what he has the past few years? Possibly. Sure. They already proved that they would take a little less to try to create a dynasty ..... so one more run at a reduced salary isn't out of the question. However, the public stance of the Heat owner is wholly incompatible with James public stance. Throw in Pat Riley's smack down news conference the other day, and I think that odds of James coming back went down slightly. James doesn't want to be publicly abused, and people talk about him being offended by what Gilbert did. Well, that has had time to settle a bit anyway. The Cavaliers graciously hosted James, for example, at Z's uniform retirement ceremony. A small step, no doubt, but possibly a start to a new atmosphere between James and the Cavaliers.

I have to wonder how Riley consolidates his statement that he does not believe that the big 3 will re-sign for less money with the owner's statement that he will not pay the luxury tax. For me, it always comes back to that in the end. I think that Lebron will look around for the roster and situation that best allows him to compete for another championship. This year's Finals became "Lebron and the boys" again. That is not what he wants, and not what he signed on for when he joined Wade and Bosh in Miami. At this point, I don't even see how the Heat add a 1st round guaranteed deal without causing major financial problems.

I just have a hard time seeing how the Heat put together enough of a supporting roster to make James happy, while not also blowing up the budget completely. Maybe they try to add Melo while dropping Wade or Bosh if/when they opt out. Riley has pulled off Magic before, but I just don't see how me makes Lebron happy without blowing the owner's budget all to pieces.

I think that, in some regards, the Heat should be the frontrunners for James ..... but I can just as easily see him bolt town because he doesn't want to again be "Lebron and those guys".

Back to the Cavaliers .... and David Blatt ....

Cleveland Cavaliers embark on a week that could transform them -- Bud Shaw's Blog | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2014/06/cleveland_cavaliers_embark_on_1.html


CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Cavaliers embark on their biggest week since The Decision and Dan Gilbert's letter calling LeBron James departure a cowardly betrayal (you know, in a good way)

It begins with the introduction of David Blatt as head coach Wednesday, shifts to Thursday's NBA draft and serves as the drum beat toward getting Kyrie Irving's name on a multiyear contract.

Compared to July 2010, this week can't help but turn out better. Default aside, there's even reason to believe it could be transformative.

Much of that promise is wrapped up in owning the No. 1 pick in a stacked draft. Talent in the NBA game trumps coaching acumen. But Blatt offers the Cavs the strong possibility of having both.

In following Blatt's career, I go way back to last week. So I can only go by what I hear from the people who have followed him and played for him. It's not enough to say that rare is the discouraging word. He gets rave reviews.

The worst that's said of the Cavaliers' decision is that Blatt's hiring is "unconventional" because he's spent so much time in Europe and zero in the NBA.
"Unconventional" is a relative term, especially in a town where just recently Gilbert's team:

• Made a Canadian lefthander its No. 4 overall pick, only to watch him transform into a Canadian righthander.


• Followed the Tristan Thompson pick by making a Top 5 pick of Syracuse sixth man Dion Waiters.

• Went off the grid by taking UNLV's Anthony Bennett at No. 1 overall.

• Hired the coach they fired two years earlier, then fired him again.

David Blatt is a good enough bet compared to those moves.

Ignoring the hyperbole once again coming from Gilbert, who promises Blatt will "bring some of the most innovative approaches found in professional basketball anywhere on the globe," the hire isn't as out-of-the-box as it seems.

Blatt learned the Princeton offense playing for Pete Carril. He's coached NBA players and coached against them.

It's not as if he's leaving Europe and coming in here with a passing offense that employs the soccer header as a staple.

If as his legion of admirers claim his strength is adapting his offense to the available talent, that's smart not revolutionary.

Following the Spurs' dismantling of the Heat by – crazy as it sounds – moving the ball and passing up good shots for better ones – Blatt should find an attentive audience when he lays out his offensive philosophy.

Talk of his learning curve is legitimate but a bit misleading, too. He gets high grades for game planning from those who've played for him, including former Cavaliers' guard Anthony Parker.

So if he doesn't know the players, teams and coaches he's game planning against that's a disadvantage. No question. But that can be remedied in part by assembling an experienced staff.

One thing he doesn't have to learn is how to be a head coach, how to run training camp, how to reach players and squeeze their best out of them.

Managing egos in the NBA can be a challenge but that also can be overblown. NBA players – with the exception of a few knuckleheads – want to win. They want a coach to show them how it's done.

Blatt doesn't bring NBA rings to the table. But NBA players have been exposed to the international game in various ways for years. If they're not impressed with Blatt's resume, if they somehow believe Europe vs. the NBA is the difference between college intramurals and Division I, they're slow learners.

Blatt can't fight the no-NBA-experience caveat. But Mike Brown was the ultimate retread story. He had NBA experience. With the same team twice. How'd that work out?

The Cavs believe they have found a coach who can reach players and hold them accountable at the same time. At least with Blatt there's a head coaching resume on which to place that belief. Hiring Tyronn Lue or Adrian Griffin, for instance, would've been a projection.

The Cavs weren't so desirable that they could land any coach "on the globe," to borrow Gilbert's phrase. The search had its limitations.

Some coaches no doubt had reservations about working for an owner who fired Brown, hired Byron Scott, fired Scott, hired Brown, fired Brown and (reportedly) offered a kingdom to John Calipari.

In the end, the Cavs made a basketball hire. Not a box office hire.

There were more familiar names. (In fact, Mike Brown was available.)

Instead they've teamed an offensive head coach with a GM in David Griffin who comes from a similar background in Phoenix.

David Blatt has to learn the league. He doesn't have to learn how to be a head coach or how to institute a ball-sharing offense.

That's no small difference.

Solid article, however...

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• Followed the Tristan Thompson pick by making a Top 5 pick of Syracuse sixth man Dion Waiters.

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That statement ALWAYS annoys me. Yeah, Waiters wasn't a "starter" at Cuse, but if people actually pay attention, they'd see that all the Cuse guards basically played the same amount of minutes... But if you do that, you can't really make fun of the Cavs.. so.. yeah..

Hmm ...... very interesting lol

LeBron James' wife Savannah heats up speculation about his future with Instagram post about Akron | cleveland.com
http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2014/06/lebron_james_wife_savannah_hea.html


CLEVELAND, Ohio — LeBron James returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers? This time the speculation has been set off by a surprising source.

A photo posted by James' wife, Savannah, on Instagram late Sunday night drew a quick reaction on social media:

(Picture with "Akron, Oh")


Along with the photo, Savannah James says "Home sweet home!! The countdown is real! #330"

So what does it really mean?


Exactly.

It was revealed last week that James and Savannah are expecting their third child, a girl. They already have two boys, LeBron Jr. and Bryce Maximus. There also was a report last week that James had enrolled his sons in an Ohio school for the upcoming year, but it has been debunked.

So is Savannah James' Instagram photo a reference to LeBron and the Cavs, or somehow about the upcoming birth of their child? That's what folks on Instagram and Twitter are trying to figure out. Check out some comments below, and offer your own thoughts at the end of the story.

I hate that kind of nonsense. Just cant wait til its over one way or another. Too many drama queens.

"Honey, pack your bags! They got Blatt!"

Are they counting down going to Akron or moving there?

There have been a ton of rumors that he's moving his family back to their place in Bath.

I don't think that automatically means he's coming back to the Cavs, but word is that he wants his kids to end up at SVSM.

I'm more worried about Thursday night. The Lebron stuff will play itself out.

Sources said it was more about their summer plans. I read somewhere that if the students at st. v's made a campaign for him to come back, that would weigh heavily on him. I guess that school means a lot to Lebron.

I am a football guy, was never much into basketball until a guy at the Willoughby Fitworks made me start watching the Cavs when Lebron was on our team. Every week I'd see him and every week he'd get on me to watch them. So finally I started watching and boy-oh-boy, was it FUN!!!

With that in mind - and IMHO - basketball will never be the same without Lebron on our team. It was the golden years for our Cavs. It was such a great feeling to have a really good, winning team for once (yes, long-suffering Browns fan here).

During the finals this year I rooted for the Spurs. I wanted Lebron's team to lose. I was shocked, but the Spurs did it and won big time. The king was dethroned.

Would I love Lebron to come back and play for Cleveland again? OF COURSE. But I wouldn't bet on it. It might just be high hopes; wishful thinking. Only time will tell what he's going to do ... or not do.

You are doing it again. Do you just like to argue?

Here was my message. Miami and Cleveland have the best shots of landing LeBron. That was what my post was about. That was the MAIN IDEA.

Instead of dealing w/that, you attack a part of the post. Why?

When I question you, you say this:

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I am disputing that they "have more talent than most might expect" ........

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You then say this:

Quote:

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They are the big 3, and that's about it for next year. If they opt out, then the heat have nothing.

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Are you freaking kidding me, YTown? There is one word in your sentence that makes your entire argument preposterous. You say.............."if..."

Have they all opted out yet?

Do you think that if LeBron signs w/Miami, that the other two will opt out or stay w/the Heat?

Seriously man? You choose to criticize my thinking w/an "if?"

Here it is again, Daman Jr...................I think that Miami and Cleveland are the two favorites to sign LeBron. Do you disagree w/that, or not?

Good God...............it's so hard to have conversations around here w/out all the ignorant challenges that aren't even legitimate.

You said that Miami has more talent that most would expect.

I disagree.

Everyone knows that they have the big 3. There is no dispute of that, and not a single NBA fan on any level who doesn't know that. Beyond that, they have 2 players, Cole and Haslem, under contract for next year.

That's it.

I don't get how that is them "having more talent that most would expect".

Let me ask you ...... what talent do they have under contract for next year who make them better than most would expect?

Miami could have a shot at Lebron, simply because he is established there. However, as I outlined in the rest of my post, if Miami does not again go significantly over the cap into the Luxury tax, then I don't see Lebron being terribly enthused about taking a salary cut. Nor do I see any of the "big 3" doing so. Why would they? If they are going to be expected to take a significant pay cut just to get the team under the luxury tax threshold, I can't see that holding a great deal of appeal for them, individually or collectively, but especially for Lebron.

I think that Miami could quickly take themselves out of things for Lebron. I do not believe that he will be content to take a pay cut just to help the owner's bottom line. He wants to win, and will stay, or go, wherever he feels he has the best chance to do so. If the Heat will not spend the money necessary to upgrade their supporting cast, then I can't see L:ebron coming back at a reduced rate. He left Cleveland because he didn't feel that he had the supporting cast he wanted , and felt that he had to do it all by himself. He was upset last year. for example, when Mike Miller was amnestied, and not replaced with a veteran shooter. If next year is a continuation of this trend, then I could easily see him deciding to move on.

Like I said ..... I think that Miami could be a front runner, but could remove themselves from that position really quickly if they do not make moves he wants and expects them to make. If he has to be "the man", without support from his teammates, he can do that anywhere. Why do it in Miami if he can find a better team elsewhere?

Riley has said that he does not expect the "big 3" to re-sign for less ...... and if they do not, and if their owner sticks to his guns about salary structure and the luxury tax, then I see no way James re-signs. The "Big 3", even without a pay increase, would leave little room below the luxury cap threshold for the Heat to add players. They will have trouble even fitting a 1st round guaranteed deal under the cap.

If the Miami owner sticks to his guns about not paying the luxury tax again, then I see no way Lames returns to Miami again. Why would he? Him, Bosh, Wade, and a bunch of street free agent, D league level bums, are not going to make James enthusiastic about coming back. Once again ..... he had to try and do it all alone this year, which is why he left Cleveland. Why would he stay in Miami to lave to do it all by himself again, only with even less depth than they had this year?

I do not think that he will return to Miami this year. I do not think that Miami will be able to offer him what he wants, which is both a superstar running mate or 2, and roster depth so he does not have to carry the team on his shoulder by himself.

I have gone over this in previous posts, but hopefully I explained my reasoning more clearly this time. I do not think that Miami is a great favorite for James services if they remain unwilling to go over the luxury cap threshold. I believe that they could take themselves out of the running for his services rather quickly.

Players have always known they have "pull." Remember Kareem and Milwaukee? He's what started it imo.

Best team for Lebron is easily Houston. Even though Harden is ball dominant. You can't stop a Dwight Howard and Lebron Pick and Roll. It'd be as lethal as Shaq and Kobe in their primes.

j/c

LeBron officially opts-out of Heat contract.

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/miamiheat/story/_/id/11127329/lebron-james-opt-contract-miami-heat