LeBron Sweepstakes

[Monster]

It would be interesting to see how Lebron rated each team based on the coaches. He has a previous relationship being coached by Spo so I would guess that is a positive for Miami. He has been coached by Kerr in team USA. How was that? Does he like Nick Nurse? Kenny Atkinson? Chris Finch? I think Lebron knows that in general he isn't at a point in his career that unless something goes horribly wrong (which he probably isn't interested in hoping happens) the coach with those teams is there so that's the coach he will have. Are some of the coaches good coaches but he thinks he might not mix as well with them or fit as well?

What about GMs? Are there any of those guys he is more wary of? He is gonna have to work with them especially if they have a documentary going on.

What about ownership? Is there an ownership group that might be easier or more difficult to work with on some things? I would think Lore and Arod aren't going to be a negative there and Arod as a former athlete might be a positive. I don't like to shit on Glen Taylor because that happens plenty but if he was still the owner I think the chances of the Wolves getting Lebron would drop significantly maybe to next to zero. I think Glen would be less open to all the things coming with Lebron even if they looked each other in the eye over Becky's lasagna. I'd guess that Lore and Arod already have more stuff in place as an organization to make certain this happen than under precious ownership.

[TheGrey08]

Yep. A lot of people are tired of the LeBron saga and just want it to end. But when I was thinking about it earlier today I realized I’ll be disappointed when it’s over. We’re running out of Wolves-related excitement for the summer as we’re heading towards to dog days of August. So I might be alone in hoping this thing keeps going for a while longer.

hahaha you monster

Nice thoughts on the Lebron Saga though. Despite the national pundits being extremely quick to dismiss or ignore the Wolves as a possibility, I will be surprised if we don't hear that they were top 3.

[TheGrey08]

It would be interesting to see how Lebron rated each team based on the coaches. He has a previous relationship being coached by Spo so I would guess that is a positive for Miami. He has been coached by Kerr in team USA. How was that? Does he like Nick Nurse? Kenny Atkinson? Chris Finch? I think Lebron knows that in general he isn't at a point in his career that unless something goes horribly wrong (which he probably isn't interested in hoping happens) the coach with those teams is there so that's the coach he will have. Are some of the coaches good coaches but he thinks he might not mix as well with them or fit as well?

What about GMs? Are there any of those guys he is more wary of? He is gonna have to work with them especially if they have a documentary going on.

What about ownership? Is there an ownership group that might be easier or more difficult to work with on some things? I would think Lore and Arod aren't going to be a negative there and Arod as a former athlete might be a positive. I don't like to shit on Glen Taylor because that happens plenty but if he was still the owner I think the chances of the Wolves getting Lebron would drop significantly maybe to next to zero. I think Glen would be less open to all the things coming with Lebron even if they looked each other in the eye over Becky's lasagna. I'd guess that Lore and Arod already have more stuff in place as an organization to make certain this happen than under precious ownership.

Great questions. We know A Rod and Lebron were seen at a concert talking so I would say it's without question not a negative. I would be surprised if the Wolves ownership, TC & Finchy are not actually positives, especially since Rich Paul mentioned all of them during the white board pod.

Now we wait to see if any tidbits come out today with Ant at Fanatics with Lebron.

[Lipoli390]

Lip, you've really been taken up with this LeBron saga! Love it!

He may have just been saying the typical platitudes in order to keep things open-ended for now. That being said, his comment about sharing all the "tools and knowledge" is interesting. I think we can all be rest assured that Steve Kerr, Draymond Green, and Steph Curry probably don't need his 23-years of knowledge and tutelage, LOL. They could use his outside shot if he can rediscover it!

And like you said Embiid is probably too jaded at this point to take "advice" from LeBron and Jaylen Brown has played in, gulp, 142 playoff games and has a Finals MVP under his belt. What the hell can he learn from LeBron!? And does James freakin' Harden give a shit what LeBron thinks!? I doubt it.

The Spurs would probably be the ideal team for him if it was all about mentoring and sharing wisdom with a real title contender that is still wet behind the ears. But they weren't interested. So that leaves, double gulp, the Wolves!!!!

Yep. A lot of people are tired of the LeBron saga and just want it to end. But when I was thinking about it earlier today I realized I’ll be disappointed when it’s over. We’re running out of Wolves-related excitement for the summer as we’re heading towards to dog days of August. So I might be alone in hoping this thing keeps going for a while longer.

It seemed at one point that people didn't think Lebron would go to Cleveland with Harden. Does anyone know if that's a real thing?

As for how long he is taking to decide...he take take all the time he wants within some sort of reason. I mean if we are a couple weeks from training camp or something then that's too long. Also the draft has already happened FA has played out for the most part. It's not like he is holding teams hostage keeping them from making some major move or signing that I can see. He might still be deciding and as some other people on this board a otherwise have said maybe he is also waiting till other various moves are announced so those players etc have their time and then he can do his thing. It might be a few more days but I'd guess he is going to want to make a decision at some point too. The guy probably wants to have some time where he knows what he is going to do going into the season and get ready for it. If he is doing a documentary he is gonna want to have people have time to get all the logistics situated etc.

Monster - I don’t recall seeing anything specific about LeBron not wanting to play with James Harden. But I have a very strong suspicion that it’s true.

Think about it. LeBron takes basketball very seriously. He’s devoted to the game and to his craft. He keeps his body in phenomenal shape with what has been described as an extraordinary workout routine that he NEVER misses. Contrast that with James Harden who is widely reported to be a guy who frequents bars and strip clubs on a regular basis well into the early morning hours. He was recently arrested downtown Houston for unlawful possession of a weapon. And it’s obvious the guy works out about as much as your best beer-drinking buddy in St. Paul. Then think about the players LeBron chooses to play with - Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade, Anthony Davis — all guys who take their craft very seriously and take care of their bodies even if, as with AD, their bodies don’t hold up.

James Harden strikes me as the antithesis of the sort of player LeBron would want to play with. So I do question whether LeBron will go back to Cleveland. There’s a “been there, done that” thing going on and then there’s also James Harden, the flabby bundle of tremendous talent who seems to like driving around with his gun and frequenting strip clubs as much as he likes the game of basketball.

If I were advising LeBron on this decision and remained objective, I’d tell him not to go to Cleveland in part because of James Harden and also because he’s already gone back there and delivered a championship. I’d suggest avoiding the Sixers because he’d probably have a hard time asserting his leadership there with two experienced and highly accomplished veterans, Embiid and Brown, who are also reputed to have very big egos. I’d tell him he should narrow his choices to Miami, Golden State and Minnesota.

I’d say that Miami makes the least sense from a legacy standpoint because he’s won championships there before. It’s also not a great fit for asserting his leadership and mentorship with Giannis there. On the other hand, he’d probably have fun playing with Giannis and Bam. Unlike James Harden, Giannis and Bam are LeBron’s type of player. They’re both serious, hard-working guys devoted to the game of basketball and winning. Unlike Embiid and Brown, they are both regarded as relatively humble guys who would probably be easy to get along with. So for sake of happiness, I’d advise him to consider Miami. I’d suggest Golden State if he just wants to have a lot of fun with his friends on a sort of glide path to retirement in a location close to home where he can golf all winter. I’d recommend Minnesota as the best place to assert his leadership and mentorship and as the biggest upside play for his legacy.

[FNG]

I'm still in the "less than 20% chance" camp, but let's not overlook what LeBron did last season. He was one of only 5 players who averaged more than 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists...the other 4 were Joker, Luka, Banchero and Jalen Johnson. Yes, Father Time is undefeated...but some of his opponents are more difficult to defeat than others!

Come on, Ant...close that deal today!

[Mnwild1128]

I think he is coming to the wolves cause he is quoted as saying he wants to go to a team that trusts the process. And also said that is not a 76ers thing. Finch always talks about trusting the process. Must have heard him say that 100 times since he has been the coach. I never hear that from those other teams.

[Coolbreeze44]

I think he is coming to the wolves cause he is quoted as saying he wants to go to a team that trusts the process. And also said that is not a 76ers thing. Finch always talks about trusting the process. Must have heard him say that 100 times since he has been the coach. I never hear that from those other teams.

If he doesn't go to Philly I have him landing here.

[Monster]

Nate Bubes was with the Lakers Lebron's first year there. I think that's gonna be what brings Lebron here!

Jon K did a piece on Coach Nate who has been kinda fun to get to know in interviews during summer league.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/744186 ... l-share-ta

[Mnwild1128]

I think he is coming to the wolves cause he is quoted as saying he wants to go to a team that trusts the process. And also said that is not a 76ers thing. Finch always talks about trusting the process. Must have heard him say that 100 times since he has been the coach. I never hear that from those other teams.

If he doesn't go to Philly I have him landing here.

I also think our playoff run against them helps our case. How competitive we are in playoffs. As-in trying really hard. Being aggressive. While at the same time looking like we are having fun doing so. I think that spirit is what brings him here. It is too intoxicating i think from afar, to not want to play here.

[Lipoli390]

I think he is coming to the wolves cause he is quoted as saying he wants to go to a team that trusts the process. And also said that is not a 76ers thing. Finch always talks about trusting the process. Must have heard him say that 100 times since he has been the coach. I never hear that from those other teams.

It’s funny how Sixers fans reacted when they heard about LeBron saying: “I want to join a franchise that kind of shares the same motto as myself and that’s practicing championship habits every day, but trusting the process more than anything . . ..”. Sixers fans took that as a sign he’s going to Philly, but LeBron put that idea to rest dismissively and almost brutally by saying: “I’ve been saying ‘trust the process’ since I was drafted in, like, 2003. I don’t know if Embiid was even born yet. “

LeBron’s not going to the Sixers. I think he’s going to Miami or Minnesota. When he talks about going to a franchise that “practices championship habits every day” I see the words “Miami Heat culture.” The Heat franchise really does have a winning culture there that starts with Pat Riley and finds expression on the court through Spoelstra. The just haven’t had the personnel to turn that culture into championship contention in a long time. But they’re already a much better team with Giannis. Moreover, Giannis clearly embodies that championship ethic LeBron was referring to and I suspect Bam does as well. LeBron apparently liked living in Miami. He can certainly play golf there all winter. I still see the Wolves as the best basketball fit for him and a better bet than the Heat to compete for a championship. I also see the Wolves as a better choice than the Heat to indulge his interest in leadership and mentorship. So I’m still picking Minnesota, but that might reflect my bias. I suspect he would just feel more comfortable with older vets like Giannis and Bam while playing again to coach Spoelstra back in Pat Riley’s Heat culture.