Trade & FA 2024-25:

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
LeBron James is willing to take a pay cut for James Harden, Klay Thompson, or Jonas Valančiūnas, per @mcten

“The type of player that James would be willing to make a financial sacrifice for would be an established veteran playmaker like James Harden or Klay Thompson, or an established big man to play alongside Anthony Davis -- like Jonas Valančiūnas, sources told ESPN.”

[Arioch]

If that's accurate, I don't see him giving up 49 million. That would be crazy. Maybe he will, but damn that's a ton of money.

Lebron James is already a billionaire. $49 Million is not a ton of money to him. At this point, he's earning as much on his brand as he is on his NBA salary, and taking a pay cut to contend for another championship (much less winning one more) would only help the brand thing.

[SleepingHero]

I'm starting to think Lebron is in no way actually going to take a paycut and he's just doing this for the optics.

James Harden is NOT taking the MLE to go to the Lakers. Valanciunas might take that, but are the Lakers in desperate need for a big man?

This makes me think Lebron is floating this story of him taking a paycut "for the right guy" just to look good to fans when in reality there won't be anyone "worth" the paycut for.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Turner] Sources: Klay Thompson is intrigued about playing with the Lakers and LeBron James, provided he re-signs with the Lakers. Thompson plans on talking with the Lakers, as well as Dallas

[BigDirk41]

Lebron James is already a billionaire. $49 Million is not a ton of money to him. At this point, he's earning as much on his brand as he is on his NBA salary, and taking a pay cut to contend for another championship (much less winning one more) would only help the brand thing.

49 million is a lot of money, even to a billionaire. That's kind of a silly statement. He didn't become a billionaire by making financial decisions such as this one.

[LukaMVP]

Valanciunas would make better sense for LA. with a legit starting five they can move Davis back to four where he feels more natural and comfortable. harden would be a good addition too, but it's hard to believe harden would accept MLE tbh.

[SleepingHero]

Lebron James is already a billionaire. $49 Million is not a ton of money to him. At this point, he's earning as much on his brand as he is on his NBA salary, and taking a pay cut to contend for another championship (much less winning one more) would only help the brand thing.

Are the Lakers that close to a ring where all they are missing is a James Harden? Klay Thompson? Valanciunas? 

Their current roster:

D'Angelo Russell/Gabe Vincent
Austin Reeves/Jalen Hood-Schifino 
Lebron/Cam Reddish/Knecht
Rui Hachimura/Jarred Vanderbilt
Anthony Davis/Christian Wood/Jaxson Hayes


And all they need is Harden/Klay/Valanciunas to push them over the top?

[Scott41theMavs]

If the Mavericks pay more than we thought they'd have to on a contract and/or give up draft capital and/or a young player other than Green in this deal, I'll feel pretty silly for preemptively defending it.

The nightmare is still that the Mavs somehow get Klay and lose DJJ. That's a net loss, I'm telling you.

[KillerLeft]

Welp, this thread proves one thing beyond a doubt: even when the Mavs have all of their ducks in a row, coming off of a great season, with almost no way to muck things up, we'll still live in abject terror that they'll find a way to disappoint us.

[SleepingHero]

Turner] Sources: Klay Thompson is intrigued about playing with the Lakers and LeBron James, provided he re-signs with the Lakers. Thompson plans on talking with the Lakers, as well as Dallas

Listen even if Thompson doesn't sign with Dallas, the Mavs are still in a great spot and I'm happy how the offseason is going.

I was excited for Klay as a finishing move. It makes a lot of sense to me.

For the first time ever, if the Mavs miss out, they are still more than fine.

[KillerLeft]

The nightmare is still that the Mavs somehow get Klay and lose DJJ. That's a net loss, I'm telling you.

Scott, I don't think you have to tell me (or anyone else) that. 

I haven't seen one, single person in favor of letting Jones walk. Sorry if I missed one. 

Nico Harrison siad re-signing Jones is "priority 1A and 1B," and they've already done the heavy lifting needed to make it happen. I don't think this is a worry you need to entertain.

[SleepingHero]

I am now growing worried about what this might look like.

Are the Lakers being used here to leverage Dallas, or the other way around?

Klay is a California guy who loves his boat. 

I would not be shocked at all that he would want to stay in California and enjoy LA. 


But if he actually wants to win basketball games there is only one serious choice here.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

If both Mavs and Lakers are offering MLE, I think he picks Lakers.

If Mavs offer $20 million+ and Golden State is willing to do a sign and trade, then I dunno.

Lakers franchise and Lebron still have a lot of catcher + he’s from California.

[Deebo]

Who cares about Klay Thompson. Move on. Can’t waste time on old injured guy. Want go lakers. Sure go ahead - get other players. Plenty out there. I rather split out mle and get 2 players with it. .

[SleepingHero]

If both Mavs and Lakers are offering MLE, I think he picks Lakers.

If Mavs offer $20 million+ and Golden State is willing to do a sign and trade, then I dunno.

IF DJJ takes a 4 year/45 mil deal that starts him at about 10.5 

AND 

IF the Warriors value Josh Green over D'Angelo Russell


The Mavs could potentially give Klay as much as 16.5 mil starting while keeping Maxi.

If the Warriors want to take both Maxi and Green, the Mavs could give Klay up to 22.5 mil safely.

[Scott41theMavs]

Not to distract from the plastic gold paint-gilded over the hill former star, but it does sound as though KCP will indeed be out of Denver's price range, and that they will let him walk if so. Denver was already depleted before that - hard to imagine how they improve. The obvious option is to trade Porter Jr. for something, but he's overpaid, so not likely to bring back something nicer.

Is there any combo of players short of Luka/Kyrie/Lively/PJ which could entice the Nuggets to SnT us KCP? Would it be worth it if such a move hard caps us and does not allow to re-sign DJJ? KCP seems like a superior version of Jones.

[Deebo]

IF DJJ takes a 4 year/45 mil deal that starts him at about 10.5 

AND 

IF the Warriors value Josh Green over D'Angelo Russell


The Mavs could potentially give Klay as much as 16.5 mil starting while keeping Maxi.

If the Warriors want to take both Maxi and Green, the Mavs could give Klay up to 22.5 mil safely.

Give Klay 20 million????   Yeah no pass.  I need younger better player.  Our team is young. Get 25/26yo and let’s rock.

[Scott41theMavs]

If the Warriors want to take both Maxi and Green, the Mavs could give Klay up to 22.5 mil safely.

"Safely" - aside from the facts that 1) he could get injured again, 2) his game could fall off a cliff on either or both sides of the ball, and 3) he could become a major locker room problem if things don't work out.

[BigDirk41]

Who cares about Klay Thompson.  Move on.  Can’t waste time on old injured guy.  Want go lakers. Sure go ahead - get other players. Plenty out there.  I rather split out mle and get 2 players with it. .

The MLE is for DJJ. It's not for Klay or anyone else.

[KillerLeft]

Not to distract from the plastic gold paint-gilded over the hill former star, but it does sound as though KCP will indeed be out of Denver's price range, and that they will let him walk if so. Denver was already depleted before that - hard to imagine how they improve. The obvious option is to trade Porter Jr. for something, but he's overpaid, so not likely to bring back something nicer.

Is there any combo of players short of Luka/Kyrie/Lively/PJ which could entice the Nuggets to SnT us KCP? Would it be worth it if such a move hard caps us and does not allow to re-sign DJJ? KCP seems like a superior version of Jones.

I might be off on this one, but I believe part of WHY they're not wanting to pay KCP (or Brown last year) is that they are one of the cheap franchises. 

I don't see a sign and trade happening with them. 

Further, I'd view KCP as sort of a lateral move from Jones. He's a little more 2-way, yes, but I'm not sure their defense is that far apart, and Jones is WAY younger. Plus, you know he's a fit in your culture. Seems to me that internal improvement should be prioritized over that one, although I do like KCP, the player.