LABron James Discussion: The Final Year?

theory there is we trade junk for walker kessler and denver lets watson walk. both of which are unlikely, imo.

but note that it requires lebron taking 20. not 30.


Edit: also struggling with how smart gets 9 and rui gets 15. Would require a schrodinger’s cap of sorts…

 

I didn’t actually sit there and work it out in depth. So I’ll do it quickly now.

Starting:

Luka (49.5) / x / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (20.9) / Smart (5.4) / Knecht (4.2)
x / Adou (2.1) / Jake (6)
Lebron (?) / Rui (?) / Vando (12.4)
x / x / x

So we have about 62.2m to play with (not including cap holds or player options).

Sign Lebron to 18m, Rui to 14.2m. Leaves you with 30 to offer Watson

Luka (49.5) / x / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (20.9) / Smart (5.4) / Knecht (4.2)
Watson (30) / Adou (2.1) / Jake (6)
Lebron (18) / Rui (14.2) / Vando (12.4)
x / x / x

At this point we are out of cap space, you can now sign your vet mins, so bring back Hayes & Kleber, a 3rd string guard (maybe development player) and a backup wing (maybe development player)

You also sign Smart to a 120% non bird right raise and Reaves to his max (almost max).

Now we package 3 firsts, Vando, Jake & Knecht plus 7.4m in returning money to take back Kessler/Duren at 30m.

Lastly we use the Room on Kennard.

Luka (49.5) / Kennard (9.1) / Bronny (2.3)
Reaves (37.3) / Smart (6.5) / Vet Min (2.5)
Watson (30) / Adou (2.1)
Lebron (18) / Rui (14.2) / Vet Min (2.5)
Kessler/Duren (30) / Hayes (2.5) / Kleber (2.5)

That's the best we can do, Lebron has to take 18 and Rui has to take 14.2. So not quite 20 and 15. But close. Smart has to take 6.5m also instead of 9m, but you promise him more the year after. If he wants the room, you lose Kennard and give Lebron and Rui their 20/15 and try to find a vet min guard.

 

But anyway, my team building concept of:

45 for bench and deep bench
50m for Luka as first option
55m for Lebron & Reaves
60m for SF & Center

Is totally possible. You just have to hope Watson can be stolen and Detroit or Utah values 3 firsts.

 

ok, but you're depending on ayton opting out (not at all a sure thing) and then if he does, opposing teams not holding us over a barrel knowing we don't have a starting center (sound familiar?).

and we're also back to denver just letting watson walk (i really don't think that happens--they'll either trade him for something or find a way to match).

and it has lebron under 20, when what kicked this all off was me saying that lebron at 30 basically short circuits any chance at meaningfully improving the team. i just can't imagine the scenario where it doesn't.

anyway, i love that theoretical team, but i just don't think several parts of that are realistic--the two biggest ones first (kessler or duren for dead salary and picks, watson on straight RFA).

 

Lebron doesn't like running the floor on defense. Reeves had a higher plus minus than lebron