LeBron's payback to Durant. James to the Rockets

[KG Living Legend]

 After the Warriors defeat the rockets in six games this year LeBron goes to the Rockets to one-up Durant. Durant stopped any hope of LJ winning another ring in Cleveland, and LJ can do the same thing back to Durant.

 That four man core Of LeBron, Capella, Harden, Paul is arguably better than the Warriors. My only question is is a sign-and-trade possible with Anderson and Gordon that's a combined 33 million or throw in Tucker and that makes it 40 million that's about what LeBron will want.

 Capella is 24
 Harden 28
 LeBron 33
 Paul 33

 That team could win two or three rings easy IMO, where else could LeBron go with a better chance at a ring next year.

[KG Living Legend]

 By the way this should be welcomed as a Celtics fan. It clears the way for us to make it to the finals every year while the Warriors and Rockets battle it out.

[Androslav]

By the way this should be welcomed as a Celtics fan. It clears the way for us to make it to the finals every year while the Warriors and Rockets battle it out.

Yup. Some 9-12 straight finals would be in order.

[gouki88]

I would love having our only competition be Philly and maybe Milwaukee for a while

[KG Living Legend]

 Does anybody else agree. Just can't see him going to the Lakers. I can see him staying in Cleveland, but only if they win it all.

[Surferdad]

By the way this should be welcomed as a Celtics fan. It clears the way for us to make it to the finals every year while the Warriors and Rockets battle it out.

Yup. Some 9-12 straight finals would be in order.

and losing every one to the Rockets.  No thanks.

[Phantom255x]

I could be wrong, but if they add Lebron, I think Capela is gone.

He's a RFA and could command a ton elsewhere.

ALSO, remember, CP3 is getting a max-deal this summer, so you have to factor that in too.

But yeah, if he goes HOU, to me that's good for us and I think Golden State's reign ends.

The East pretty much becomes Philadelphia vs. Boston. Maybe MIL if they can find the right coach AND add another star somehow, or if TOR stubbornly keeps their team together and makes a run.

Meanwhile, if we keep Smart, we have someone who in essence can probably *contain* Harden, and Kyrie > CP3. Obviously Lebron > everyone, but if we assume they do that sign and trade, AND lose Ariza (and Capela?), Houston's bench depth will take a big hit.

[jambr380]

The Rockets absolutely need to go for Lebron if he is available, but it will annihilate their future salary. In 2019, they could have three guys making ~$38M/yr each with Capela pulling up the rear and that # just goes higher with annual raises. I wonder if any of Lebron, Harden, or Paul will take a discount; if they do, it won't and shouldn't be much.

They could put together an awesome team - or at least an awesome top 4 - but we will see if their owner (Fertitta) is willing to go so deep into the tax seeing as how he just spent $2.2B for the team - the highest sales price in NBA history.

[footey]

This makes a lot of sense to me. TP KGLL.

[Fafnir]

To go to the Rockets and keep their core players would require CP3 and LBJ to take pretty big pay cuts iirc based on some salary cap scenario articles.

I don't think it will happen, though LBJ will probably take a meeting.

[Roy H.]

I don’t think that it will be a sign and trade, but I could see some sort of deal where LeBron opts into his contract and then forces a move to Houston.

[ETNCeltics]

How could he force CLE to do anything with Houston? Houston has absolutely nothing of value to send them in return except bad contracts. Why would CLE pick up Ryan Anderson's contract? In exchange for a 2022 protected pick or some such?  Unless they could somehow put Capela into the deal, I don't see why CLE would be inclined to do anything with Houston.

[Moranis]

I could be wrong, but if they add Lebron, I think Capela is gone.

He's a RFA and could command a ton elsewhere.

ALSO, remember, CP3 is getting a max-deal this summer, so you have to factor that in too.

But yeah, if he goes HOU, to me that's good for us and I think Golden State's reign ends.

The East pretty much becomes Philadelphia vs. Boston. Maybe MIL if they can find the right coach AND add another star somehow, or if TOR stubbornly keeps their team together and makes a run.

Meanwhile, if we keep Smart, we have someone who in essence can probably *contain* Harden, and Kyrie > CP3. Obviously Lebron > everyone, but if we assume they do that sign and trade, AND lose Ariza (and Capela?), Houston's bench depth will take a big hit.

Lebron would have to opt in and then be traded to Houston (like they did with Paul).  I could actually see that happening if that is where James wants to end up (though he would have to make that decision before the season flips over).  Something like James and Smith for Anderson, Gordon, Tucker, Onuaku, Qi, and a couple of future 1st's.  Rockets could then re-sign Paul, Capela, Ariza, and other players like Green, Mbah a Moute, etc. to fill out the roster around Harden, James, Smith, and Hilario.  Rockets would thus have a starting 5 of Paul, Harden, Ariza, James, and Capela with Smith, Hilario, Green, Mbah a Moute, and some veteran minimum players on the bench.  Probably the best starting 5 in the league, but a light bench depending on what other moves they made.

The Cavs might do that as it would shave some salary, get them some other younger players, and still allow them to be competitive with their huge salary commitment next year. 

[Roy H.]

How could he force CLE to do anything with Houston? Houston has absolutely nothing of value to send them in return except bad contracts. Why would CLE pick up Ryan Anderson's contract? In exchange for a 2022 protected pick or some such?  Unless they could somehow put Capela into the deal, I don't see why CLE would be inclined to do anything with Houston.

What are CLE’s options?  Lose Lebron for nothing? 

[Boris Badenov]

How could he force CLE to do anything with Houston? Houston has absolutely nothing of value to send them in return except bad contracts. Why would CLE pick up Ryan Anderson's contract? In exchange for a 2022 protected pick or some such?  Unless they could somehow put Capela into the deal, I don't see why CLE would be inclined to do anything with Houston.

What are CLE’s options?  Lose Lebron for nothing?

That's the point ETN is making, I think. Anything the Rockets would send back might be worse than letting him walk.