LMAO

Per JoeSchmo

Expect a comeback from MJ if Melo signs with LA and LeBron returns to Cleveland

Kobe and Melo playing on the same team will be hilarious.#GetChaPopcornReady

I would love it if Wade was left out to die in Miami.

Source: Dwyane Wade to announce retirement if Miami loses out on both LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

I dislike how he seems to have been getting progressively more passive on offense in recent seasons but seems like he would be a perfect fit for the Rockets. If the cap is increasing as projected is it really that bad of an overpay to give Bosh max vs the 16-18M per year he is probably worth?

He probably should. The Heat will be a lottery team if Lebron and Bosh leave

Dumbass can't even embed Twitter posts. Real creditable.

I assumed he made it up.

I am not seeing that on Wojnarowski's Twitter feed

@WojYahooNBA: Longer James has gone w/ minimal contact, more unsettled Bosh/Wade have become on Heat future. "They're reading the tea leafs," source says.

What about everyone else you've retweeted? Lol.

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 4m
Longer James has gone w/ minimal contact, more unsettled Bosh/Wade have become on Heat future. "They're reading the tea leafs," source says.

Source says. LMAO

Although Woj does have actual sources, I'll give him that.

Penbrook needs a thread ban

Or a ban from social media.

I thought the idea of Houston getting Melo made no sense. Bosh makes almost too much sense. Gets him back at Power Forward, frees up Howard, won't piss off Howard when he takes away touches in the post. If anything, helps Howard quite a bit. And Bosh won't have the pressure to be purely an open triggerman for Houston. He would actually have license to create again.

Woj is reliable source for NBA news though. But nothing on his Twitter.

LMAO, did penbrook fall for a fake twitter?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Winds don't carry people back to Ohio from Dade County. Warrants and federal marshals do.</p>&mdash; TEDDY GOOALSEVELT (@edsbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/edsbs/statuses/485984525537660928">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:LOL:

Nick Wright lol
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>LeBron ain&#39;t going to Cleveland, but if he did it&#39;d be awesome because Bosh would probably come here. I&#39;d have to deactivate my Twitter, tho</p>&mdash; nick wright (@getnickwright) <a href="https://twitter.com/getnickwright/statuses/485985806431961088">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I don't understand people who are dismissing this as not a possibility.

Nick Wright sticking to his guns. Thinks Cleveland fans are delusional. Thinks theres almost no way Bron & Cleveland actually happen

Gawd I hope Melo doesn't go to the Lakers. That team already has enough problems.

I don't either. I put it at 60-40 at this point that he is going back to Cleveland. Before FA I would say it was 95-5 that Lebron was staying with the Heat

Lebron to the Thunder. Will agree to terms of 2M a year and will clean Durants house. My sources tell me

LeBron James and his agent will meet with Heat president Pat Riley early this week in person, reports @sam_amick.

I think Lebron knows full well that this doesn't look good on him if he toys with Cleveland without being seriously interested. I don't know which he's leaning. But if his agent met with Cleveland, there is no doubt he's taking the Cleveland option very seriously.

I don't either. Particularly as staying in Miami might involve a team similar to last year.

The Thunder have reportedly asked Lebron if he will take 1.5M for the good of the team and fans are optimistic they might consider amnestying Perkins to increase their offer.

Solid read from the Miami fishwrap

http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/07/0...n-for-the.html

The panoramic view of the Miami Heat’s free agency has been interesting to watch from all angles. Sports agents lie anonymously to manipulate reporters and inflate the dollars market. Under-pressure journalists look for ways to fill the void with something, anything. Rival executives won’t attach their names to information but whisper convenient stuff that plays defense against Miami’s free agent chances by creating a perception of uncertainty. It is speculation and mystery and hope and espionage masquerading as news. It is also not unlike how high school students might gossip about the popular kids.

LeBron James got into a lot of trouble for creating a television show around this fun spectacle four years ago. But we are in the middle of showing you that we’ll create this programming with or without his help.

Nobody from the Heat, meanwhile, has uttered so much as a public syllable since the start of free agency. Miami is one of the most private organizations anywhere in sports, with precious few leaks, Pat Riley surrounded by loyalists and lifers. So the feces storm gathers strength around Miami’s silence, in spite of it, because of it, and the three very famous Heat players have grown so comfortable with this noisy nonsense that they literally vacation right in the middle of it.

Maybe the first night or first week you can’t sleep if the car alarm keeps going off outside your window. But you’ll sleep fine after it has been in your life every night nonstop for four consecutive years.

The words we have from them before this all started? That information doesn’t seem to matter right now, not when cracks and mystery can be perceived, and we can fill the holes where the nonexistent information would go with anonymous hypotheticals that are less boring and intriguing than the three players just returning to Miami as planned. Facts? On-the-record information? Ehhhh, whatever. Sports are just the soap operas males are comfortable admitting they watch. Cue the dramatic music, and let’s go out in search of the sexy and sinister, even if we don’t have proof.

So it doesn’t matter that Heat owner Micky Arison put the chances of retaining the Big 3 at “100 percent.” Doesn't matter that Chris Bosh said publicly again and again that he’d play in Miami, and only Miami, for a discount. Doesn’t matter that they, you know, put their names on that. Doesn’t even matter that Dwyane Wade opted out of $42 million guaranteed dollars he wasn’t going to get elsewhere as confirmation that he’s working to help the team create flexibility, and Udonis Haslem again risked millions out of loyalty to Miami for the same reason.

All that matters now is what LeBron James hasn’t said because that’s where we can invent the cracks — even if it means James would kind of be betraying the people who did these things with and for him, and won championships (plural) doing them with and for him before.

James is by consensus the most unselfish superstar in sports, Ray Allen saying he’s never had a teammate give such great gifts, sharing his corporate sponsorships. James would not merely need to have a better roster option (Houston? Phoenix?) to leave Miami for a city where he doesn’t know the president, general manager and coach. He’d need for it to be better enough that he’d be willing to again be Mercenary Guy with his repaired image and endure some of what he did four years ago … and leave behind his championship friends in doing so.

James’ agent taking meetings? That’s the guy’s job, and this is his first commission, James continuing to empower his friends. See something sinister and scary in it if you like, but his agent better do something to earn that percentage of a max contract. That agent percentage is worth millions and millions of dollars. Taking a few meetings is almost literally the very least his agent could do … and good practice for one of James’ buddies as he has surrounded himself with the crew from Entourage. Heat fans need not worry until James himself is in one of these meetings, but what’s being waved around as news in the interim by nameless sources and needy reporters is what has been said privately by anonymous people who might not be telling the truth instead of what has been said and done publicly by the informed participants because … well, that’s the interesting part, isn’t it?

The transaction often usurps the action in sports in 2014. Tomorrow’s hope can feel better than your team’s today. Everyone is a fantasy general manager, and ratings monstrosities such as the NFL Draft show how we can’t get enough of the abstractions about tomorrow’s team, tomorrow’s changes, tomorrow’s hope. The possibility of James leaving is only 1,000 times juicier than the probability that he’s staying. You’ll notice that none of these reporters using these anonymous sources dares call any team other than Miami a front-runner for James’ services even while constructing the tapestry to frame these stories.

This should be noted, though: Privately, Heat management is not worried. Privately, management would be blindsided by any of the three leaving. Privately, management says nothing has changed in the past week except for the volume of media noise, and nothing unexpected has happened beyond players they might have wanted, such as Jodie Meeks, going for $10 million to $12 million more than expected. Privately, management believes what James has said — that he and his family love Miami — and that he doesn’t take for granted the difficulties and blessings in making four consecutive Finals appearances.

Truth be told, management was a lot more scared in 2010 about what would happen with the Big 3. Back then, management only knew and had a relationship with one of these three players. And 2010 was so loud and scary that Stephen A. Smith — not exactly short on confidence and bombast — vowed to never do it again. He has recused himself from the present mess, refusing to add to a growing noise that management now views as flies around an elephant’s tail.

Still, many people are seeing chaos in this free agency for Miami. They are seeing it because 1) They want to; 2) Miami hasn’t signed anyone yet; 3) The silence is scary; 4) The silence is being replaced by rampant speculation because the media will not abide silence; and 5) The Big 3 breaking up puts more hope on the market for other teams. Those five things create the perception that Riley is working at a disadvantage with uncertainty about how much he has to spend. But that ignores something major:

All this was also so in 2010, the last time Riley pulled this off, before the championships and before building relationships and providing proof for these players. Riley didn’t have firm numbers, and the Big 3 also wanted Mike Miller and Haslem, so Riley worked with them and their discounts to make that so. But he needed to find out what Haslem and Miller needed first, so he could come back to James, Wade and Bosh with those figures. That’s what he’s doing now with Pau Gasol and Luol Deng — finding out just how much they need, same way he did it with Miller and Haslem back when things were actually uncertain.

Riley would be working with James and Bosh on this pre-championships, without knowing them, but not now? What sense does that make when you are running a billion-dollar corporation/partnership with these players? What is seen as a disadvantage in the noisy frenzy of the moment — Riley doesn’t know how much he has to spend! — would be the kind of advantage craved by any of those other executives who have yet to secure even a meeting with James. Riley is the only basketball executive in the world who can call James, Wade and Bosh and ask, “It’ll take about $7 million a year to get Gasol. OKC and the Spurs are offering $5 million. You guys want to make that work?”

All around the silent Heat a noisy media makes it sound like things could be coming apart. But the ability to make that one phone call — an ability available in this climate to one and only one of best closers in the history of sports leadership — is all the time it takes to very quietly and very quickly put this all right back together.

I still think everyone (i.e. Cleveland) is jumping the gun. There have been many "reports" out there, but none of them are substantiated that really matter. Not saying he won't go to Cleveland, but in 2010 there was similar rhetoric until it was made very clear in the end that the big 3 knew where things were going all along. Bosh, Wade and Udonis opting out is still the most important and factual piece of information we have at this point.

They are clearly jumping the gun. But again... I trust that Lebron and his agent are smart enough to realize the sensitivity of giving false hope to Cleveland fans after what happened the last time. I don't see he or his agent having that many talks with Cleveland and not quieting down rumors if there wasn't serious interest. I tend to think it's 60-40 that he leaves, like others have said. I think there's a very good chance that he stays but I'd have to think he's seriously considering Cleveland. Given the sensitivity around that issue, I would think he'd just dismiss those rumors outright if he didn't have interest.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Surprised some books are taking bets like this right now <a href="http://t.co/QCGbuPUZm5">pic.twitter.com/QCGbuPUZm5</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/Kirk_Barton">@Kirk_Barton</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/blonny56">@blonny56</a>)</p>&mdash; darren rovell (@darrenrovell) <a href="https://twitter.com/darrenrovell/statuses/485954689825927169">July 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

@SportsCenter: DEVELOPING: LeBron James & agent planning face-to-face meeting with Pat Riley in next few days. (via ESPN sources & USATODAY Sports report)

He also visits planned with several teams this week, according to ESPN.

Lebron is going to play this out as long as possible lol Its either the Cav's or The Heat we all know that.

If this was any other city but Cleveland I wouldn't expect this to turn out badly, but people forget this is Cleveland. The only city that almost makes KC sports look lucky.

The only difference is Cleavland has had several encounters with almost winning championships and generally more competitive during the KC drought.

LeBron has already said he doesn't need to have a sit down with Riley, he just needs him to upgrade the roster.

Kevin Love has also said he would only sign an extension(if traded to Cleveland) if LeBron was there.

That's true... but all the losses that were so epic they got one word descriptions all happened against Cleveland. The drive, the fumble, the shot... only one play in the history of sports will get those terms, and they all happened against Cleveland. That's amazing.

And that doesn't even include that they were one out from winning a World Series and blew it. I don't know how anyone in Cleveland still watches sports.

Im not sure if I believe the Kevin Love stuff. If Love hates Minneapolis (which is a beautiful city BTW), whats he gonna think of Cleveland?

BUT, if it is true, I dont see why Cleveland would keep Wiggins. I love Wiggins, but Id trade his ass in a heartbeat if it meant getting LBJ and Love. Can a trade with Waiters and Wiggins to Minnesota even happen to make salaries work? Kyrie is still in his rookie contract but would likely need a big contract in a couple years, so dont know if they would even have enough money. Maybe some NBA salary cap guys could help us out

It's not like he's leaving Minneapolis because he doesn't like the city.

Reportedly Love, Melo, and Kobe all played in a pick up game together today in L.A..

Rumor has it Love's high school coach said he's coming to L.A.with Melo

as a laker fan i just don't see love coming this year unless a sign and trade is done

Cavs will have 13m in cap space after they get rid of Deng, hawes, miles. Almost certainly these will be soon and trades which gives the cavs probably more picks and players who can be easily slashed. The cavs will dump Jarrett jack and may even give up a pick to do so. That gives the cavs about 20 mil.

From there, they have a few guys like Varejao, waiters, and Thompson who would undoubtedly be unloaded if they needed room for one player and they're each good for about 6 m in space. Cavs also traded for Brendan haywood so next year, even if the cavs are above the cap, they can cut Hayward and free up 10 mil. Cavs have tremendous cap flexibility to make a move for LeBron and still add to an already pretty talented roster.

Wojnarowski is reporting that LeBron's agent is pushing to get him to go to Cleveland. He's trying to get the Cavs to clear max space. Doesn't say if LeBron actually wants to go there though. Apparently LeBron hasn't been part of the Heat's FA recruiting process at all, which worries some with the Heat.

Jarrett jack looks like he will be moved and the nets will unload Thornton to another team. So it's probably a matter of minutes or hours before we hear official word that the cavs have max cap space.

If LeBron isn't serious about Cleveland, he would be wise to let them know now, before people get emotionally into it again, or else LeBron risks the kind of fallout he had the first time.

I think that ship has already sailed.

I hope LeBron leaves Miami. Shit would be great for trolling.

This is why I don't buy people saying there is no chance he goes back to Cleveland. I think LeBron and his agent are smart enough to know the emotional hurt on Cleveland if he is just trying around. I believe Cleveland are legit contenders because if LeBron had minimal interest, he would not string Cleveland fans along like this.

I don't think he is stringing Cavs fans along I think the media is. Don't blame Lebron or his agent they haven't said shit

Kyrie and the Cavs already agreed to an extension, 5 years 90 million. To be signed July 10th.

Hawes signed with the Clippers and Miles signed with the Pacers.

I'm not blaming them for anything. I said they wouldn't be meeting with the cavs unless lbj was legitimately interested. There are some here saying there is no way lbj is interested.

I also wouldn't blame him nor would too many cavs fans if he still stuck with Miami. In other words, unlike last time, he's handling this correctly.

They have not yet. The point is that this money does not become available until July 10, but we all know their contracts are all gone by then. Including Deng, who has not signed with anyone yet.

I imagine Cavs fans will be pissed once again if he decides to go back to Miami, as tk13 stated that shipped has sailed.

BTW this is all BS. People at UCLA made this up.

David Aldridge @daldridgetnt about 10 minutes ago
No one knows better than LeBron how this is playing in Cleveland. If he isn't seriously considering the Cavs, he has to make that known.

No way I believe that.

It wasn't just out there from fans, it was out there from coaches to assistant AD's. There's no agenda that they would have to lie about who was there and who wasn't.

Looks like the Kevin Love to the Warriors stuff is completely dead. I can't believe Klay Thompson was the hold up.

Wojnarowski said Love wasn't there and the UCLA AD who tweeted it deleted his tweet about it.

WTF?

I thought LBJ was suppose to sign this morning and the world was going to end?

It will be hilarious.

(After receiving a BJ from Cavs fans)

Cavs Fans: "Does this mean we are back together?"
LeBron: "No, but I'll always love you"
Cavs Fans: "I hate you." *cries*
LeBron: "Sorry. I have to go"

(4 years later right before FA begins)

Cavs Fans to NBA Fans: "I'm over it. Never again"
Cavs Fans text to LeBron at 3am that same night: "I miss you"
LeBron: "Come over..." *washes junk*

I still believe the Cleveland talk is all driven by LeBron's agent. He is based out of Cleveland and wants a max deal to help kickstart his new agency he has formed.

Lebron agent is also one of lebrons best friends. He's not just going rogue. Lebron has interest in going back to Cleveland.
Posted via Mobile Device

From what I heard it wasn't Klay Thompson but the Wolves insistence that GS take Kevin Martin in the deal

Well, and Cavs execs and former players flying to South Beach last night.

And Vegas changed the Cavs odds of winning the title next year from 60/1 to 17/1.

The reaction the first time was a lot more about the way he did it, not that he did it. If LeBron handles this respectfully, of course fans would be pissed. They should be. But the reaction won't be nearly as bad.

I know I said this a few months ago, but this year LeBron said he still watches all Cavs games and DVR's all the ones he doesn't see live.

He obviously still cares about them.

His agent and LeBron are smart enough not to use Cleveland as a bargaining chip. This is a business but I can guarantee LeBron was emotionally very hurt by his homecoming. He loves northern Ohio and probably wants nothing more than to visit Akron without people hating him. I do not think his love for Ohio will influence his decision on where he goes. I do think he would never offer Cleveland up as an option unless he was serious about the idea. Even if what he did the first time was inconsiderate, I don't think LeBron is that cold hearted.

Lip.Service.

Chris Broussard @Chris_Broussard 4 minutes ago
Sources: Rockets offer Bosh max deal of 4 yrs, $96 million. After weekend convo with LeBron and low offer from Heat, Bosh considering offer

Bye bye Chris Bosh. Enjoy getting nearly a hundred million to play your correct position again.

Broussard so that means Bosh is coming back to the Heat then. Even though Rockets would be a perfect fit.

Wanna hear something hilarious? Broussard is terrible. Again.

Because Bosh's max is 85 million so lol thanks Chris Broussard.

If Penbook was here, we would already know the deal is done.

heh just reporting what is on ESPN