On Lavine-to-LA, the idea that he would take less than the max is not consistent with everything he has said he is expecting. Reportedly, he thinks he has been underpaid, and is of the belief he deserves and will get every last penny available this time. He wants a max deal. He has earned it. It's a really big deal to him.
CHI can put 5 yrs 212M on the table (and is expected to do so).
In your planned scenario, LAL wouldn't be able to even offer him a max deal. In fact, none of the teams being mentioned seem like someone with a realistic way to entice him - some (like DAL) are just as absurd of an idea financially as LA.
And you think he's still headed to LA? I don't. I think LA is at most just a smokescreen for him to ensure he will get what he wants from CHI, or some writers sharing speculations (by Ball and others) on a slow news day.
CHI can put 5 yrs 212M on the table (and is expected to do so).
In your planned scenario, LAL wouldn't be able to even offer him a max deal. In fact, none of the teams being mentioned seem like someone with a realistic way to entice him - some (like DAL) are just as absurd of an idea financially as LA.
And you think he's still headed to LA? I don't. I think LA is at most just a smokescreen for him to ensure he will get what he wants from CHI, or some writers sharing speculations (by Ball and others) on a slow news day.