LeBron Opts Out

[Hicks123 [enjin:6700838]]

Lip, just a thought that maybe if this source had thought this information to be so secret and important, that maybe they wouldn't have shared it with some random dude on the street. I think it safe to assume that the person you spoke with would be ok with the 20+ posters on this board to be on the inside of this info. Selfishly, I just would like the whole story here.

[northernhoops [enjin:9491634]]

Lip, just a thought that maybe if this source had thought this information to be so secret and important, that maybe they wouldn't have shared it with some random dude on the street. I think it safe to assume that the person you spoke with would be ok with the 20+ posters on this board to be on the inside of this info. Selfishly, I just would like the whole story here.

Come on Lip :)

[worldK]

I say its either heat or cavs for lebron. Other teams have no shot. I could see bosh and wade taking paycuts for bron, its the only way they can stay a contender by adding pieces around the 3 of them with cap space because wade is almost done and bosh cant be a 2nd banana on a contrnder anymore.

For our sake, i hope bron intends to go back to cavs. It increase the chance of us getting the first pick from them.

#1 jack bennet and gee for love.

Draft wiggins. Offer martin and jack to pistons for monroe sign and trade

Bud / brew
Monroe / bennet
Pek / dieng
Rubio / jj
Wiggins / bazz

13 th pick still with us and draft the bpa there. We can make a few more minor trades and signings to round out the roster. Hopefully add a few shooters. Someone mentioned bud/shve for mayo in another thread. Il do that.

[Volans19]

I say its either heat or cavs for lebron. Other teams have no shot. I could see bosh and wade taking paycuts for bron, its the only way they can stay a contender by adding pieces around the 3 of them with cap space because wade is almost done and bosh cant be a 2nd banana on a contrnder anymore.

For our sake, i hope bron intends to go back to cavs. It increase the chance of us getting the first pick from them.

#1 jack bennet and gee for love.

Draft wiggins. Offer martin and jack to pistons for monroe sign and trade

Bud / brew
Monroe / bennet
Pek / dieng
Rubio / jj
Wiggins / bazz

13 th pick still with us and draft the bpa there. We can make a few more minor trades and signings to round out the roster. Hopefully add a few shooters. Someone mentioned bud/shve for mayo in another thread. Il do that.

That Monroe trade belongs in the far fetched hypothetical trade thread. That is the craziest trade I think I have ever seen on this board.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I don't even want Monroe, honestly.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

I unexpectedly ran into a former NBA head coach downtown Mpls today. I won't identify him, but I can say that he's not to my knowledge working for the Wolves. I'm not sure why he was here today and I didn't ask him. Really good guy. I just said hello and identified myself as a Wolves season ticket holder. I asked if he had a couple minutes and he said sure. We chatted for about 10 minutes.

Among other things, I asked him about LeBron. He said that LeBron is very concerned about his image and has worked really hard to rehabilitate it since being vilified for the way he handled his move to the Heat. He said LeBron is a really good guy. I asked him specifically whether LeBron might sign with the Cavs. He said he thinks LeBron would like to play for the Cavs again and that Cleveland is the one place LeBron can go without any harm to his image. Not a great insight, but interesting to hear it from an NBA insider. He believes LeBron would seriously consider signing with the Cavs if the right pieces were in place. He said Kyrie Irving would not be enough.

I also asked for his evaluation of the top draft prospects. He said Embiid is far and away the best prospect. In fact, he said that every team has Embiid #1 on their draft board as a talent. He added, not surprisingly, that the physical concerns are the only reason Embiid won't be the top pick. He's not sure now far he'll drop.

He said that Smart has been knocking it out of the park in draft workouts around the League. He referred to Smart as having great basketball instincts and leadership qualities that you rarely see in a player that young. He lumps Parker, Wiggins and Exum together as very good prospects, but not in the same category as Embiid.

I asked him about a couple of the possible deals for Kevin Love we've all read about. I'm not going to repeat what he said now just in case his analysis reflects discussions he's had with the Wolves front office. Again, I don't know why he was here and I'd hate screw things up for Flip and get this guy in trouble for talking the time to talk with me.

As for my prediction on where LeBron ends up:

45% Cleveland - would require Cleveland to acquire a Kevin Love caliber player.
45% Miami
10% elsewhere

GREAT stuff, Lipoli! Really cool that the guy (we all know George Karl is in town :) ) took the time to chat with you...gotta believe it was an interesting conversation! I think you're right to keep it private for the time being, although like everyone else I'm dying to know the details. It's good to hear the coach said LeBron is a good guy. I've always thought so, but it's meaningful to hear an insider say so. Did he say whether he thought Love was a good guy?

The James news today really does put #1 in play for the first time. I still think GS is a more likely destination because Chad Ford has always seemed credible to me, and I don't see LeBron making a decision before the draft...too many moving pieces. And I don't think Cleveland gives up #1 without a guarantee from James.

[mjs34]

just going to leave this here

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

Ancient history!

Vegas has the Cavs as the second most likely destination for Lebron at 12%. Miami a 61%.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

just going to leave this here

http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/gilbert_letter_100708.html

I don't follow the playoffs very closely (cuz we're never in them), but I'm curious...anyone know how Gilbert is doing on that pledge he said they could take to the bank?

[Papalrep]

They want Melo instead of KLove

So if they sign Melo and Lebron, they have two small forwards

[northernhoops [enjin:9491634]]

They want Melo instead of KLove

So if they sign Melo and Lebron, they have two small forwards

Both have played at least 1/3 of their time at PF in the last 2 years.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/13/nba-power-forwards-2014_n_4780985.html