2014 NBA Free Agency and Draft

[koonja]

Money or championships?

Hopefully he takes the Championships

But he's not even considering Chicago is he? I thought he was down to LA or NY?

Glad boozers gone. I can't stand watching him play, although he is on the all name team.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

This was of course after ESPN spent all week trying their hardest to keep him from Cleveland.

 

[KPENN]

This was of course after ESPN spent all week trying their hardest to keep him from Cleveland.

Seriously.

 

[SoIll]

Bosh will be the highest paid player next season.. One hell of a reason to stay put

 

[SaltyND24]

They have over $28M in cap space. They had enough room to sign Lebron if he had interest. Again, name me a player they had interest in that they would have needed to do trades to accommodate?

Take a look at the cap link I posted above. The Lakers are in a very solid cap position. Kobe isn't effecting them barely at all.

This may take a minute to read:

In my previous post, I didn't go into detail as to why I said what I said. I'll do that now. I feel that Kobe is one of the greatest of all-time, that's something that goes without saying. However, given his age, his recent (serious) injuries, and the state of the Western Conference, in order for the Lakers to have a legitimate shot, they were going to need to bring in another star (max deal kind of player) and build up their bench up with quality veterans who aren't necessarily entering the last stages of their careers. The Lakers typically like to make free agent splashes which would result in signing a player to a max or near-max deal. While they have plenty of cap space as you pointed out, let me paint this picture.

Salary Cap: $63.2 mil
With Kobe being due almost 1/3 of the cap space for the next year ($23.5 mil), if the Lakers were to re-sign Pau at a discount, say $15 mil and say they had gotten Melo at a max deal ($18-20mil in the first year), the Lakers would be taking up anywhere from $56.5 mil to $58.5mil between just those three players. Add the contracts of Steve Nash, Marshall, and Sacre and the Lakers are already over the salary cap. That's not even including the $2-4 mil due to Randle and minimum to Clarkson. With that being the case, it would leave them with the league minimum and mid-level exceptions as the only available options to sign free agents if I'm correct. If I were any of the marquee guys, I wouldn't sign with the Lakers knowing, that even with all that "Cap Space", the moves that could be made would be extremely limited and add no depth to a team that already lacked depth.
Tim Duncan just opted back in for $10mil, Manu is making $7mil, and TP is making $12.5 mil. This allows for them to add quality free agents that fit their system and make competitive offers to free agents.

Now, I should've stated that Kobe's contract isn't the only reason why the Lakers are going to be hurting in the near future. But Kobe seriously couldn't have expected to get the help he so desperately needs at this stage in career with his current contract. It just isn't, as is, an attractive destination with players that want to win now. The Lakers biggest issue is their lack of patience. The last two coaches, including one that Kobe said he wanted, were brought in with rosters that didn't necessarily fit their style of play. It makes no sense to bring in D'Antoni with the type of roster we had and it doesn't make sense to this ship him out two years later because we're looking for a quick fix. Lakers' fans have been spoiled but I think times are changing. Durant isn't coming here. Love isn't coming here any time soon. Westbrook MAY come here one day. Lakers need to switch up their approach in the front office, but that's unlikely to happen with Baby Bitch Buss (Jim).

 

[GBdomer]

But he's not even considering Chicago is he? I thought he was down to LA or NY?

Glad boozers gone. I can't stand watching him play, although he is on the all name team.

He's down to NY and Chicago with Chicago picking up momentum

I still think he ends up in NY though

 

[IrishLax]

Lol Houston got hosed sooooooo hard. That's kinda fucked up by Bosh, but not really. Leveraged them so hard that they actually traded Lin and got the heat to offer 20+ mil a year.

 

[dang227]

No offense to Cleveland fans because this is truly an exciting day for you but I do believe that you basically sold your soul for a chance at a championship.

Most rational Cavs fans understood why he left. Ferry did an abysmal job surrounding him with talent. The funny part is the Cavs would never have the awesome young talent they have if he wouldn't have left.


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[TheTurningPoint]

Most rational Cavs fans understood why he left. Ferry did an abysmal job surrounding him with talent. The funny part is the Cavs would never have the awesome young talent they have if he wouldn't have left.


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People outside of NE Ohio/Ohio might think Cleveland fans are out of control for how happy we are today, but they don't understand what LeBron means to us. When I think of LeBron, i remember watching him for the first time as a 15 year old and being blown away by how good he was. I remember watching him at state when Dru Joyce hit 7 3s. I remember him growing 5 inches over the summer and coming back as a legit freak of nature. I remember when he became the # 1 high school player in the country and we were all so proud bc he was from Ohio. I remember the Hummer. I remember draft lottery night, the draft, watching his first game with my dad, watching his first playoff game (triple double) against the Wiz with my best friends in college. I'll never forget his game winner against the Magic, his dunk on KG or his ECF game 5 against Detroit. Most of all though, my memories of him include all of my best friends and family. We used to have a player and a team that kept us glued to the tv and now we have both back. Now I am so excited for all of the future memories that he will bring us... memories that i will share with my best friends and family forever. Its similar to ND football, you guys remember where you were during the 2012 Pitt game, the 2012 season, for the older guys the 88 season, etc. LeBron has a special place in most of Ohio's hearts. He hurt some Cavs fans, but like LAX said, any rational person cant fault him for it. He did what he needed to do and it paid off. Now he gets to come back and finish what he started.

 

[dang227]

It is a special day. Even my wife was listening to the local sports talk radio while I was at work! I am the happiest for the city of Cleveland and what this means to the local economy. Where did you grow up TP?


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[Sherm Sticky]

My understanding is that Bosh's family really likes Miami and be most likely didn't want to uproot them.

 

[gkIrish]

People outside of NE Ohio/Ohio might think Cleveland fans are out of control for how happy we are today, but they don't understand what LeBron means to us. When I think of LeBron, i remember watching him for the first time as a 15 year old and being blown away by how good he was. I remember watching him at state when Dru Joyce hit 7 3s. I remember him growing 5 inches over the summer and coming back as a legit freak of nature. I remember when he became the # 1 high school player in the country and we were all so proud bc he was from Ohio. I remember the Hummer. I remember draft lottery night, the draft, watching his first game with my dad, watching his first playoff game (triple double) against the Wiz with my best friends in college. I'll never forget his game winner against the Magic, his dunk on KG or his ECF game 5 against Detroit. Most of all though, my memories of him include all of my best friends and family. We used to have a player and a team that kept us glued to the tv and now we have both back. Now I am so excited for all of the future memories that he will bring us... memories that i will share with my best friends and family forever. Its similar to ND football, you guys remember where you were during the 2012 Pitt game, the 2012 season, for the older guys the 88 season, etc. LeBron has a special place in most of Ohio's hearts. He hurt some Cavs fans, but like LAX said, any rational person cant fault him for it. He did what he needed to do and it paid off. Now he gets to come back and finish what he started.

I understand everything you're saying but you're really understating how butthurt Cavs fans were in 2010. It was really bad. I experienced it all first-hand in Ohio as an outside observer. You may not have been angry at Lebron but literally 95% plus of fans were.

I remember throwing a party at my house that happened to coincide with Lebron's return to Cleveland. When the game started, everyone was glued to the TV and said some things I literally can't repeat in front of other adults.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

My understanding is that Bosh's family really likes Miami and be most likely didn't want to uproot them.

I would really like Detroit if my dad made $20 million a year......

 

[greyhammer90]

No offense to Cleveland fans because this is truly an exciting day for you but I do believe that you basically sold your soul for a chance at a championship.

Explain.

 

[itchyBEAR]

if neither gasol or carmelo come to LA, the lakers are going to suuuuck.

 

[SaltyND24]

Pau turned down a 2yr/$20mil deal...as he should, Lakers have been fucking with Pau for the longest.

 

[KPENN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Let’s try again: At <a href="https://twitter.com/YahooBDL">@YahooBDL</a>: Photo: The LeBron-is-coming-home front page of Saturday's Plain Dealer is fantastic. <a href="http://t.co/eG5VpMrLHn">http://t.co/eG5VpMrLHn</a></p>— Dan Devine (@YourManDevine) <a href="https://twitter.com/YourManDevine/statuses/487676522048663552">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[SaltyND24]

How are the lakers going to sign Jordan Hill for 2yr/$18mil and then offer Pau 2yr/$20mil??? That's a fucking joke

 

[itchyBEAR]

Pau turned down a 2yr/$20mil deal...as he should, Lakers have been fucking with Pau for the longest.

WTF is wrong with the lakers?

@WojYahooNBA: Free agent forward Jordan Hill has agreed to a two-year, $18M deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Kevin Bradbury tells Yahoo.

 

[KPENN]

WTF is wrong with the lakers?

@WojYahooNBA: Free agent forward Jordan Hill has agreed to a two-year, $18M deal to return to the Los Angeles Lakers, agent Kevin Bradbury tells Yahoo.

Brutal

 

[koonja]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"So now I've made you run away from 2 teams now by kicking your ass in the Finals? But yea. You're the GOAT"

-Timmy <a href="http://t.co/iaBaNDBO3f">pic.twitter.com/iaBaNDBO3f</a></p>— Luke Duckett (@lduckett31) <a href="https://twitter.com/lduckett31/statuses/487641501027934208">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[itchyBEAR]

@WojYahooNBA: Suns and Kings are finalizing a sign-and-trade deal on a four-year, $27M contract for Isaiah Thomas, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

does this mean that Bledsoe is out in PHX? I sure hope not cause that was really fun backcourt to watch last year when healthy

 

[zelezo vlk]

@WojYahooNBA: Suns and Kings are finalizing a sign-and-trade deal on a four-year, $27M contract for Isaiah Thomas, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.

does this mean that Bledsoe is out in PHX? I sure hope not cause that was really fun backcourt to watch last year when healthy

No. They just want crazy depth in the backcourt.

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[Rizzophil]

I have to think the heat offer land Stevenson $10mil a year. Bring back Wade at a huge discount. And get another starter in F/a

 

[koonja]

I have to think the heat offer land Stevenson $10mil a year. Bring back Wade at a huge discount. And get another starter in F/a

IMO, they need to get a center with the change of the team. Can't have Bosh as the big man.

 

[GBdomer]

Really like the move the Suns made

 

[rtrn2glory]

good move for bosh to get paid, but imo he's not even a top 10 player in the league...have never been impressed with him

 

[Luckylucci]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>"So now I've made you run away from 2 teams now by kicking your ass in the Finals? But yea. You're the GOAT"

-Timmy <a href="http://t.co/iaBaNDBO3f">pic.twitter.com/iaBaNDBO3f</a></p>— Luke Duckett (@lduckett31) <a href="https://twitter.com/lduckett31/statuses/487641501027934208">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

This is freaking awesome.

 

[GoldenDomer]

Wish he went out West so the Spurs could keep him out of the finals... I dont hate Lebron but he should not be the biggest story right now.

 

[KPENN]

good move for bosh to get paid, but imo he's not even a top 10 player in the league...have never been impressed with him