Offical Free Agency Thread

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Are we also overrating Carmelo? I know he's a great scorer, but is he even a top 10 player? I was just checking out his stats last year per game-6.5 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Played in 77 games last year, but previous years were 67, 55, 27, 50.

[Phenom]

This is starting to turn into a high stakes game of chicken. It seems Melo wants to see if he can play with LeBron in Miami but that only happens if Bosh goes to Houston, which won't happen until LeBron chooses to leave Miami. Meanwhile, the Mavs are trying to throw a wrench in it all by signing Parsons and forcing Houston's hand. Then there is that Kevin Love guy who is at the mercy of this all. Once the first domino falls, it should be entertaining, at least.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I just hope all of our superstars get to be happy and play with their friends :D

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

The Cavs can't afford 3 max deals. Come on people

Go ahead, Alex. Tell us how they can't afford it.

All they have to do is dump Jack or Bennett to open up a max slot for LeBron. Then trade for Love using equal salaries.

But they can't afford it... Okay.

So the trade you proposed has them losing Thompson, Waiters, and Wiggins. They'll also have to give up Jack and a 1st to get the cap room for Lebron.

So Love making 16? Lebron would make 20 mil as a max guy, and Irving will make 18.

54 mil right there.

Varejaro makes 9.

Cap is at 59 mil I think? So they are already over the cap there. So a lineup would look something like

Irving
Karasef?
Lebron
Love
Varejaro

With their only bench player being bennett. So they have the vet's minimum to fill out a bench? Whose left out there that would take that? Unless you think the big 3 plays 48 minutes a night

[Phenom]

The Cavs can't afford 3 max deals. Come on people

Go ahead, Alex. Tell us how they can't afford it.

All they have to do is dump Jack or Bennett to open up a max slot for LeBron. Then trade for Love using equal salaries.

But they can't afford it... Okay.

So the trade you proposed has them losing Thompson, Waiters, and Wiggins. They'll also have to give up Jack and a 1st to get the cap room for Lebron.

So Love making 16? Lebron would make 20 mil as a max guy, and Irving will make 18.

54 mil right there.

Varejaro makes 9.

Cap is at 59 mil I think? So they are already over the cap there. So a lineup would look something like

Irving
Karasef?
Lebron
Love
Varejaro

With their only bench player being bennett. So they have the vet's minimum to fill out a bench? Whose left out there that would take that? Unless you think the big 3 plays 48 minutes a night

That's pretty much what Miami did and it worked out quite well. They took a little less than max so that Haslem and Miller could each get midlevel type money but neither of those guys are special. There will always be talent willing to take the vet minimums and then next year they can use some exceptions if they want. It's certainly possible if Gilbert is willing to pay.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

Are we also overrating Carmelo? I know he's a great scorer, but is he even a top 10 player? I was just checking out his stats last year per game-6.5 boards, 3 assists, 1 steal.

Played in 77 games last year, but previous years were 67, 55, 27, 50.

Yes...I have always thought this. Carmelo is a charismatic volume scorer who also puts butts in the seats, but his peripherals and intangibles are substandard. He's not a winner, and doesn't seem to make his teams better. Denver's success after Anthony's departure speaks volumes I believe.

Frankly, I see a lot of parallels to Love...prolific stat stuffers who can't win.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I am completely baffled by the Hayward max deal at almost $16 million a year! He's a nice player coming off a good year, but will never reach an elite level. Look at his stats last year. A PER of 16.2. 16-5-5 with poor shooting...only 30% on threes and 41% overall. And he turns the ball over almost three times a game. Not to mention he just made Tim Kawakami's NBA no-defense team (along with such defensive stalwarts as Irving, Carmelo, and Harden...all more accomplished offensive players than Hayward). Combine that with only average athleticism, and it in no way adds up to a max player. Can anybody defend this deal?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Nope. Bad offer from Charlotte; even worse match by Utah.

I debated with Zach Harper about Hayward vs Parsons, though. For whatever reason, he seems to think Hayward's the better overall player between the two. Needless to say, I completely disagreed and the stats lean my way heavily.

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I am completely baffled by the Hayward max deal at almost $16 million a year! He's a nice player coming off a good year, but will never reach an elite level. Look at his stats last year. A PER of 16.2. 16-5-5 with poor shooting...only 30% on threes and 41% overall. And he turns the ball over almost three times a game. Not to mention he just made Tim Kawakami's NBA no-defense team (along with such defensive stalwarts as Irving, Carmelo, and Harden...all more accomplished offensive players than Hayward). Combine that with only average athleticism, and it in no way adds up to a max player. Can anybody defend this deal?

Even Rashard Lewis thinks that's too much. :thumb:

[Monster]

One thing that sets Love apart from Melo IMO is he is an elite scorer AND elite rebounder.

Cavs just dumped Jack and Zeller and that Russian guard to get the cap space for Lebron or if not him they could add another guy. Its getting interesting.