LeBron: "I'm Going Home"

[Rizzo]

If you haven't heard the news by now, LeBron has decided to sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Crazy news indeed! I've never been a huge LeBron supporter, but I can definitely stand behind him on this one and think he's making the right choice.

[Jake0890]

I like this for my Pacers. No more super team.

[KW]

I like this for my Pacers. No more super team.

Hate to break it to ya, but two years from now, Lebron/Wiggins/Irving/another piece is going to be even better than the Miami Big 3. Definitely the right choice between Miami and Cleveland, though I think Houston should've been choice #1 if he really wanted to win. Howard/Lebron/Harden

[lakeshowak7]

I like this for my Pacers. No more super team.

Hate to break it to ya, but two years from now, Lebron/Wiggins/Irving/another piece is going to be even better than the Miami Big 3. Definitely the right choice between Miami and Cleveland, though I think Houston should've been choice #1 if he really wanted to win. Howard/Lebron/Harden

Not to mention if Indy loses Stephenson.

Plus they've been quietly shopping Hibbert. There could be nearly a brand new team in Indy this coming season.

[Jake0890]

I like this for my Pacers. No more super team.

Hate to break it to ya, but two years from now, Lebron/Wiggins/Irving/another piece is going to be even better than the Miami Big 3. Definitely the right choice between Miami and Cleveland, though I think Houston should've been choice #1 if he really wanted to win. Howard/Lebron/Harden

No doubt man, I completely understand that. But as of THIS SEASON, the only players on that roster with serious playoff experience (or regular season experience, for that matter) are Anderson Varejao and LeBron James. (Better than the Miami big 3 might be a stretch as well, there's no telling how good Wiggins, Waiters and Bennett will turn out)

But where the hell are they getting "another piece" from? Kyrie just signed a max extension, LeBron is getting the max, Tristan Thompson will get a big contract, Waiters will get a big contract, Wiggins gets a huge contract (maybe max if he's as good as everyone says he Is). There's absolutely no room for another piece on that roster. They had to move Jarrett Jack just to get enough cap to sign LeBron in the first place.

Of course, the Pacers need Lance back pretty badly, and it remains to be seen how that team will look next year, but they're still a top 3 seed right next to Cleveland and Chicago.

And re: Hibbert, I doubt they find a suitor. He's got a max contract and played like a minimum player after he didn't get DPOY. His value couldn't possibly get any lower, though I also read the rumor they were "quietly shopping" him.


To be clear, I'm not guaranteeing a championship, but the road to the Finals seems a lot easier given the Heat are now a lottery team.

[Rizzo]

I like this for my Pacers. No more super team.

Hate to break it to ya, but two years from now, Lebron/Wiggins/Irving/another piece is going to be even better than the Miami Big 3. Definitely the right choice between Miami and Cleveland, though I think Houston should've been choice #1 if he really wanted to win. Howard/Lebron/Harden

If Minnesota trades Kevin Love without getting Andrew Wiggins the the Timberwolves are doomed to be a terribly run franchise forever.

[bestnamezRtaken]

I've read that the Wolves want Wiggins in the deal for Love.

[Dylan]

I always respected Lebron. Understood his decision to sign with Miami then and understand it even more now. But today, I gained a whole lot more respect for him.

I think the letter was extremely well written and a very respectful, and peaceful way to do things. He got his point across, made sure everyone knew his reasoning and showed he really wants to be back in Cleveland.

I also think it's a going to be great basketball wise. This group of talented young guys would have flopped with the way Cavs management was run. With Lebron there, as he's now a lot more mature and experienced, everything changes. He'll do a great job of helping the youth develop and turning Kyrie and Andrew Wiggins into true superstars. Also, David Blatt is a great coach.

[KW]

I've read that the Wolves want Wiggins in the deal for Love.

That's unrealistic. Nobody would trade Wiggins for Love a long time ago even when Minnesota had more leverage. They have zero leverage now. Love is leaving in 2015, barring some ridiculous turn of events or if he really wants to draw it out like the Dwightmare, and Cleveland interests him. Golden State isn't even offering Klay Thompson. Teams are bidding low, as they should. Minnesota HAS to take an offer eventually, because they don't just "run the risk of losing him" if they don't trade him. Kevin Love is gone at season's end. Minnesota isn't getting Wiggins. Considering the state of things, they should be lucky a Waiters + Thompson + picks deal is even on the table. That package from Cleveland is probably going to be better than the one Minnesota ends up with, because they dragged it out way too long.

They should have traded him a year ago, maybe when he first spoke up and said he didn't like the direction Minny was headed. They could have traded him for a package involving another star player and/or a really high pick. Now, they will probably receive a large pile of third tier prospects that will never sniff an all-star game, just like the package Dwight Howard landed Orlando. Good talent, but no pieces that will be true franchise cornerstones you can actually build a legit team around. It's a crappy situation to be in, but Minnesota held out way too long on a deal that was inevitable. You think they'd have learned from the Dwightmare.

If Cleveland's smart they will never trade Wiggins for Love. Instead float the package of Waiters, Thompson, Bennett, and the multitude of draft picks saved up over the years and hope Minnesota bites (they'd be crazy not to, at this point). Otherwise, shop that package around all over the league and see what's out there, or simply look towards free agency 2015 and dump Waiters, Thompson, Bennett for future 1sts and go all in for a free agency that involves Kevin Love, Lamarcus Aldridge, Marc Gasol, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Deandre Jordan, Tyson Chandler, and a ton of other names. Cleveland might have $20M in cap space if the cap jumps up by this much again next year.

tl;dr- Minnesota has zero leverage in a Kevin Love deal, none at all. Wiggins isn't going to Minnesota.

If Minnesota trades Kevin Love without getting Andrew Wiggins the the Timberwolves are doomed to be a terribly run franchise forever.

The alternative is losing him for nothing, so...

[Marcos_Beck]

If Minnesota trades Kevin Love without getting Andrew Wiggins the the Timberwolves are doomed to be a terribly run franchise forever.

The alternative is losing him for nothing, so...

The alternative is dealing him to Boston, Chicago, Golden State, or every other team that has a better package to offer.

Wolves have no alternative to losing him for nothing thats for sure. But there are teams with better packages that can make a play for Love too (ex: Bulls can give Gibson + Dunvelavy + 2 1st picks for Love, which I think is better than having Waiters, at least I'd have Bulls package rather than Cavs one). Or Boston can give up something big to pair Love and Rondo. And they've said few times they are willing to deal for Love without an extension.

To be honest Cavs can't lowball with Love. They have 0 space to sign him as FA, Irving's extension kicks in next year, Thompson needs an extension too (so he'll lose lots of value), they won't have a plethora of picks from 2016 or so.. They'd basically have Waiters and Bennet (who can have next to zero value if he does not prove this season that he's not a bust).

To be honest, Love is 25. I'd give Wiggins (potential all-star) for Love (all-star and arguably best PF in the league right now) any day. Specially having LeBron.

I mean, Lebron needs shooters. Wiggins can do lots of things and has LeBron potential but. Love is a proven player, all-star, he's ready to compete. He makes the Cavs favorites to win it all. He's what them need. You have to secure him, even if that means giving up on Wiggins.

Why would Minny deal Love to the Cavs without Wiggins if they have stand still on their belief of not trading Love to the Warriors unless Thompson is coming?

[Jestor]

I have some comments to make on AB and Wiggins after today, actually.

[WillyJakkz]

All I know is after watching Summer League, you don't trade an Andrew Wiggins to gain Kevin Love. Hell no.

No way no how.

Once he gets under LeBron's wing and hits the gym, weight room, and learns the game from him he is gonna be even better than projected he could be... unreal...

[Jestor]

My very brief notes/comments on some of today's players:

Andrew Wiggins
To me, he was the most consistently good of the marquee names. Didn't have as many highlight reel plays as Parker or the Greek Freak, but you can tell the potential is there - just oozing with upside. And the fact that he's looked this consistent already portends good things.

Jabari Parker
Started off very rough and missing shots, but he got better as he went along and really turned it on in the second half with some great plays - my favorite of which was probably the dish to JaJuan Johnson for the easy layup rather than completing the drive.

Anthony Bennett
Slimmed down quite a lot, and as a result, he looks much quicker than he did last year or in college. Looked really good early, but he tired in the final period and didn't have his earlier crispness. Still a ton better than he was at this time last year.

I'll also add a couple more notes of my own on players I really liked.

The Greek Freak
Rightly deserved nickname. Holy shit, with his size and quickness, he's an absolute bitch to go against on either end of the court. Had the most highlight reel plays of the game, and once he and Parker develop, they're going to be absolutely filthy together. What a phenomenal duo to build around.

Jordan Clarkson
Most of the Lakers were so terrible I couldn't stand it. Kevin Murphy looked like he could be a specialty bench scorer maybe, but the rest was trash with the exception of Clarkson, who was the most popular non-MKE/CLE player of the day. Hit a couple 3 pointers early, but he got better and better as the game went on, and really made some sweet plays down the stretch. I'm genuinely excited about his upside and think he can be one of those 2nd round picks who actually makes it as a useful NBA contributor.

Lucas Nogueira
Best.hair.ever. I also thought he really showed flashes of becoming a really solid post player, especially in terms of rebounding and defense. He seemed like a giant among everyone else out there (though the hair probably adds a few inches and makes him look taller than what he is), but he was my favorite player of the non-MKE/CLE, non-Clarkson division to watch today.

[Jake0890]

Jestor, wasnt it you that said thet don't follow the NBA at all? What happened there?

[Dennis]

But he said he follows College Basketball. And I believe Summer league is more connected to College Basketball than to the NBA.

[bestnamezRtaken]

The way I look at Wiggins/LeBron...The Trail Blazers had a chance to have Clyde Drexler AND Michael Jordan...Cleveland has that right now in LeBron and Wiggins. Who better to mentor Wiggins than LeBron? I remember saying how upset I would be if the Lakers landed Wiggins/Parker, because if either of those two got to be mentored by Kobe, holy shit. But the fact that Wiggins gets to learn from LeBron (it never crossed my mind), you know Wiggins is going to be even better than projected. He's on the path to be up there with Durant/LeBron in a couple years.

[Jestor]

Jestor, wasnt it you that said thet don't follow the NBA at all? What happened there?

I live in Las Vegas? Summer League in person attendance yo. I have some pics from yesterday up on FB and am going again on Monday