****The Official 2013-14 NBA Thread****

BTW....Info that I was gonna get on Thursday morning? Not happening. Can't tell you why..but put 2 +2 together.

 

So, something probably going down tomorrow.

 

No. I was meeting with media types tomorrow. I was gonna share info, and get some too.

 

Jeremy Lin tweeting scriptures. This is just sad.

 

Ethan Skolnick agreeing with LeBatard that the Heat's interest in Lowry is being overstated and that their interest in Ariza remains strong.

 

We've been very low key on Ariza whereas everybody knows about our interest in Lowry, et al.

Maybe that's by design.

I have the same question about Ariza that I do Deng? Are they 6th men, or is LBJ making a permanent move to the 4? I see drawbacks to both scenarios.

 

Or do we continue the sort of "positionless" movement if we can get a Gasol and Ariza (or Ariza type) and simply play Wade as the nominal 1

 

I agree. It is sad how the organization he works for, is treating him.

 

They have interest, but I suspect they got turned off immediately after his agent started comparison shopping contracts between teams.

I was specifically told that they would not overpay for Ariza, but they have always had interest. I am lukewarm on him, although he fits perfectly.

 

No..they are 6th men. They are what I consider...Lebron's valet. The guy that gets beat up all year in order to save Lebron from having to take beatings. It's what we used Battier for.

 

Lebby will have Heat info now.

 

Lebby:

The Heat went after Lance Stephenson....Nowhere near on numbers.

Heat's #1 priority now is Trevor Ariza.....

Luol Deng wants to be down here, but not at the price the Heat is offering.

 

Dan says Heat inquired about Lance Stephenson and Ariza is top priority.

Deng wants to be here, but not at price Heat is offering. Will see what happens over the next few days

 

Lebby also confirmed my wishlist a little bit....

Said Heat touched bases with Avery Bradley and Jodie Meeks

 

That is crazy. No way.

 

Lance is getting squeezed by Indy.

If we are really interested his price might come down.

Would be insane, but I actually do see the fit.

 

Since most of it is out there already....

I can reveal the numbers I was given...

I was told:

Wade 55 for 4
Bosh 80 for 5
Lebron 105 for 5 (series of options starting in year 3)

The cap charge for that would be an average of $50mil per season.

 

We could still land one of Ariza or Deng depending on where the market goes the next few days

Gasol isn't rushing anywhere either I don't think

 

Thanks Sec.

Those numbers are completely fair by the way, and we could still be in good cap shape going forward as the cap should rise exponentially in the next few years

 

For LeBron, with his option, they would start after 2 years or after the third year?

 

As for Lance Stephenson...yeah..he is a great basketball player..and would give us an insane closing lineup....

But he is certifiably insane. The Heat culture might be what he needs to get over his mental health issues.

 

So it looks like an either-or thing with Luol Deng and Trevor Ariza, both of whom they need to come down on numbers but for now it looks like Ariza is more likely to do that than Deng (emphasis on 'for now').

 

After 2 years.

 

I cannot see how signing Lance Stephenson makes LeBron happy.

 

Thing is, if he wasn't insane and didn't have those issues, he'd be a near max player who Indy would have already locked up.

That's the only reason he's available.

I hated him as much as anybody during the playoffs but he is the prototypical Heat player. Tough, plays defense, goes for every 50/50 ball, etc. If he sits out there awhile waiting for a big offer that doesn't come and we don;t get one of our other targets I wouldn't mind revisiting the matter.

Assuming LBJ is ok with it, which I assume he is or we wouldn't have made contact in the first place

 

I know we have to do whatever he wants but this constant having one foot out the door for LeBron is annoying.

 

I don't think LeBron hates Lance Stephenson near as much as people believe or want to believe. Even when LeBron got visibly upset at Lance for putting his hand on LJ's face, you could see what he was saying to Lance and it was basically "That's over the line." And there wasn't even much anger in it. After the final game when the Heat beat Indy, LeBron came up and gave Lance a big hug.

I think he actually kind of appreciates what Lance was trying to do, and if anything he'd appreciate the chance to teach him how to do it the right way.

 

Can't get on board with Lance. Sorry, fellas. I'd rather beat him in the playoffs for the next few years.

 

When you are worth as much as he is...and with uncertainty in the CBA looming...he would be an idiot to lock himself in for anything past 2 years.

 

Boik..did you catch my post calming #KnicksTape Nation down?

 

I'd get on board with Fidel Castro at PF with Genghis Kahn at the #5 if it meant winning.

 

Oh, I get it.

It's just annoying.

 

Sam Amico back at it.

Apparently our plan for free agency "isn't coming together"

Thanks Sam!

 

I'm OK with ol' Genghis. He was an alright guy.

 

Per Zach Lowe, after CJ Miles, the Pacers are at $72 million in salary.

Simon has never paid the tax and has repeatedly said that Indy cannot be a tax team. So either they have moved on from Lance (unless his market craters) or they need to do something else, like buying out Scola or making some other cost cutting trade.

I think Lance might have to settle for a one year prove it deal somewhere. Also, I actually wouldn't mind taking a look at scola if he's waived.

 

Ethan's reporting that heat focus is on wings and that Heat has no issues with LeBron's max salary demand and is trying to accommodate him and build around him.

The only thing that I find objectionable about LeBron's demand is that he makes the demand and then simultaneously complains that we can't upgrade the roster.

If the Big 3 is eating up approximately $50 million of the cap, there is only so much we can do. Don't send Riley out on an impossible task and then complain when he doesn't come through. With only $12 million under the cap we simply can't get the best guys.

 

Lance will get his money somewhere. The losers of the Melo sweepstakes will turn to Lance next.

If those numbers are correct for Miami's big three, then I really don't see how, or where Miami can "improve." Granted, they DID make the Finals for the past four years, so they may not have to improve that much. But still, if LeBron is demanding they get better, and then $50 Million is tied up in the same three players, its going to be tough, no?

 

Where would that leave the Heat cap-wise? It would seem that would put them well under that $12 million figure we've been hearing Riles is telling FAs that we have available, no?

I think they can round out the roster with talent still, but you'd lose out on the big fish with Ariza, Lowry, and Deng's reported contract demands.