11 replies to this topic

[thejohnnygold]

On the Houston Rockets’ Lebron James chase – Part 1

by RAHAT HUQ | JUNE 5, 2018 at 06:56 PM

Let’s just start this up right now because we’re going to get here anyways once the Finals are over. Why wait? The Houston Rockets intend to pursue Lebron James in free agency despite the financial obstacles which may seem apparent. We’ll dig into all of that later. But I’ve been of the opinion that the greatest challenge to acquiring Lebron is not getting him to sign but rather the cap gymanstics which would be involved. I’m not basing this off of anything beyond just a burning desire to make a bold take on the matter. Just kidding – this is just basic logic here. I’ve compiled a list below with some thoughts:

• I keep seeing the argument tossed around that “he wouldn’t want to leave the East.” Why? Why does being in the East present some advantage to Lebron? His goal is to beat the Warriors. It’s not to just have the right to face them and get demolished.
• Now while he may not need to stay in the East, the East does present a good option in the 76ers. Lebron clearly seems to think highly of Ben Simmons so one has to wonder how enticing the prospect of directly mentoring his near-mirror image might be. But while Philly clearly made the jump this year, and Joel Embiid is the game’s best center, how far away are the 76ers? Will they waste a year needing to get through growing pains? I don’t know that mentorship is a life goal when one is running out of time in the way Lebron is. The Houston team is already ready to go, having pushed the Warriors further to the brink than any other team in the Kevin Durant era.
• I’m so grateful the media has finally calmed down on pushing the preposterous Lebron to L.A. prediction. The notion that, even with Paul George, Lebron and a team of guys at least three years from their respective primes could push the Warriors was absurd.
• Chris Paul seems like he could be a very convincing dude. I can imagine him calling Lebron endlessly until the latter finally gives in. Paul knows his legacy is at stake as well and like Lebron, Paul is running out of time. He’ll probably be approaching this summer as relentlessly as he does everything else.

 

[rocketrick]

The Rockets would have to gut their entire roster other than Harden and CP3 to sign LeBron then start from scratch for the most part. PJ is gone, EG is gone, can't sign Capela (he is set for a 4 year, $100 million contract and he deserves every bit of that in my opinion), Ariza probably gone but might agree to a lesser contract than he clearly deserves, everyone else moving on.

 

Morey has done more with less in the past so if LeBron joins the Rockets, of course I am all in! But it would be painful to lose Capela, PJ, EG and Ariza in my opinion. 

[Losthief]

I'm not 100% sure as i am not cap expert...but fairly confident that since Lebron is a 1 and 1 right now he could opt in and do a trade a la CP3.

 

It would have to be for eric and ryan. (only way to work the $) which I can't see Cleveland doing for both (2 years left on both). I mean maybe for E.G.....but how many picks would it take for ryan. (Cause Cleveland would be rebuilding....).

 

But if you include a third team with money/expirings/picks and move e.g. to that team for expirings and a 1st. Then turn those assets plus ryan into the needed money for Lebron I could see rebuilding Cleveland swallowing ryan for two years of rebuild plus like 2 first rounders (one from e.g. trade and one of ours) and new expirings for departing Lebron. (traded for pick worth more than ours in place and sooner (our first tradeable 1st round pick is 2019 (after the draft) i think).

 

Obviously you do this first, then use bird rights to sign capela, ariza, paul. (I mean....expensive....but doable i think under cap rules).

 

Idea Scenario Players:

 

Lebron (opt in and trade)

Harden

Paul (Bird Rights)

Tucker/Ariza (depends on LBJ desire/anti-desire to play PF in our system)

Capela (Bird Rights)

 

Ariza/Tucker (Bird Rights)

Nene

Gerald Green (re-sign at minimum maybe?)

Chinanu Onuaku

Zhou Qi

Joe Johnson (re-sign vets minimum)

 

Plus whatever we find for minimums on the market

 

Lose:

Luc (cause I can't see him signing for minimum..unless that shoulder kills his options in FA, but maybe he would *shrug*)

E.G. (Trade)

Ryan (Trade)

Tarik Black (Expiring)

The back up guards.

 

So, expensive as hell as luxury tax is like 119 million i think so we would crush that (and thus may not be possible) but we don't have picks this year to worry about (cap holds) and I mean...that would be a legit greatest team ever discussion. And Lebron wouldn't have to play all 48 minutes. During year rotate resting Lebron/CP3 (age) against non-top tier teams and get them rest for like 20-25+ games each.

Edited by Losthief, 09 June 2018 - 12:57 AM.

[slick shoes]

How would you guys feel about trading Lebron for James Harden straight up? Lebron signs a 2-3 year deal with CLE and is traded to HOU for Harden. We don't shake up our core roster and we get a guy who is (almost) an unstoppable force in the playoffs. 

 

CP3

Gordon

LBJ

Tucker

Capela

 

What say ye?

[thejohnnygold]

How would you guys feel about trading Lebron for James Harden straight up? Lebron signs a 2-3 year deal with CLE and is traded to HOU for Harden. We don't shake up our core roster and we get a guy who is (almost) an unstoppable force in the playoffs. 

 

CP3

Gordon

LBJ

Tucker

Capela

 

What say ye?

 

As much as I have railed against Harden, I can't agree with this.  

[redfaithful]

As much as I have railed against Harden, I can't agree with this.  

 

Same here, winning is important but identity still matters, and the Rockets' current identity is that bearded guy that just had an MVP season.

[Losthief]

How would you guys feel about trading Lebron for James Harden straight up? Lebron signs a 2-3 year deal with CLE and is traded to HOU for Harden. We don't shake up our core roster and we get a guy who is (almost) an unstoppable force in the playoffs. 

 

CP3

Gordon

LBJ

Tucker

Capela

 

 What say ye?

 

28 vs 33 (both w/o injury history).....no....5 years is a 1/3rd of a elite players window. I'd think about khawi before lebron...assuming health...cause he is only 26.

Edited by Losthief, 12 June 2018 - 12:26 PM.

[thejohnnygold]

Fire up the gossip/rumor mill...

 

Stephen A. Smith said that CP3 told him that Bron said he didn't want to come to Houston.  (which reminds me of this...)

 

 

Assuming this LA Lakers thing starts to take shape where they somehow land Kawhi, George, and LeBron...where does that leave us?

 

I'd be comfortable running it back with the same squad as last year.  Move on from Joe Johnson.  If we can trade Ryno then I'm all for it, but where is that deal?

 

I am starting to think we're cheering for Tyreke Evans this year...and I've made my peace with that.  If we're going to give out a $60M contract to a wing player I'd prefer Evans to Ariza based on the offensive boost.  I think Evans' defense is good enough.  Besides, this assumes we retain Mbah a Moute/Tucker so we can still run some solid small ball line-ups.

 

Paul, Harden, Gordon, Evans, and Capela (or Tucker)...that line-up should give any team fits.  I'm pretty sure I was picturing this a while back...I'm still enamored with it.

 

To me, it makes the most sense and fits in with Morey's M.O.  The question is this: does Evans want to win or to cash a fat check?  Someone else can, and likely will, offer him more money than we can.    

 

Of course, there are the likes of Rudy Gay and Michael Beasley lurking out there...   I still prefer Evans because of his penchant for play-making/passing.

[Cooper]

Yeah Lebron is looking less likely than ever. Evans is probably the most dynamic option available.  Rodney Hoods stock is way down maybe we could afford him. Cory Joseph if they go for a  guard. And guys like Randle and Thad Young could be interesting at forward while likely not having a huge market.

[Mario Peña]

Just going to leave this here:


“NBA free agency rumors: Chris Paul a lock to return to Rockets; recruiting LeBron James his main focus

By Jack Maloney 14h ago
For the first time since 2014, LeBron James could be on the move this summer. And when the best player in the world is a free agent, it's understandable that everyone is going to do their best to recruit him. Unfortunately for most teams, it seems there are only a handful of places where LeBron will actually sign. One of them could be Houston, with the Rockets looking for reinforcements following their Western Conference finals defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul is working diligently to bring his good friend to Houston. In fact, Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that CP3 is more focused on this task than he's been on anything else in his career.”



Here’s the link: https://www.cbssport...his-main-focus/

[thejohnnygold]

Just going to leave this here:


“NBA free agency rumors: Chris Paul a lock to return to Rockets; recruiting LeBron James his main focus

By Jack Maloney 14h ago
For the first time since 2014, LeBron James could be on the move this summer. And when the best player in the world is a free agent, it's understandable that everyone is going to do their best to recruit him. Unfortunately for most teams, it seems there are only a handful of places where LeBron will actually sign. One of them could be Houston, with the Rockets looking for reinforcements following their Western Conference finals defeat at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.

According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, Paul is working diligently to bring his good friend to Houston. In fact, Wojnarowski reported earlier this week that CP3 is more focused on this task than he's been on anything else in his career.”



Here’s the link: https://www.cbssport...his-main-focus/

 

I'll take that news over anything Stephen A. says...well, I'll take just about anything over what Stephen A. says.  Did y'all see that horrible interview he did with "TAB Sports"...wow.  I'm really hoping this was staged, or planned, or anything except what it looks like...

 

 

The worst part of this for me is I now have some emotional attachment to this team.  They're my kind of team.  I am not sure we can get LBJ without pretty much tearing it down.  We'd have CP3, Harden, James, and Capela.  Tucker, Gordon, Anderson (Won't miss him), Ariza, Nene, are all likely gone.  I never got attached to Luc.  I do like Gerald Green, but I think we can keep him.

 

Unless these guys are willing to leave money on the table...it's not likely though.

 

So, the question is this: do you tear apart a team that had the "unbeatable" champs on the ropes until Paul's injury to add past-his-prime-but-still-really-really-good LBJ?  Would LBJ + Harden have been enough to topple the W's in Paul's absence?  Hard to say, but my gut says, "yes".

[Mario Peña]

I think we could have been thrown some smoke and mirrors already. Perhaps they are truths but the LeBron doesn’t like Houston thing mixed with the CP3 wants a max we’re headlines that I feel could likely be going the other way. Maybe LeBron actually thinks Houston is fine and perhaps Chris will take a discount to get LeBron (though maybe get 5 or 6 years of security) and figure he makes it up in post Champion promotion (maybe side gigs with LeBron and maybe he shows up in those great State Farm commercials). Maybe the LeBron IQ talk was about CP3, Harden and Morey? I guess we’ll see but I’m really fine either way. I do enjoy the intrigue.