I get that same vibe. ESPN said he wants this process done by the 5th so I have to believe he has a good idea of what he wants to do.

 

I hope he goes to the Nets.

 

Same here. My reasoing is simple, like you said, he wants it done by the 5th, so that doesn't give these other teams much time, and New Jersey gets 1st crack. Also heard he wasn't meeting with anyone until late this afternoon, which decreases his decision-making time even more.

Because when teams go over the salary cap they have to pay a crazy high luxury tax. The Celtics and Lakers both pay luxury taxes if I am not mistaken. The Cavs cannot afford to pay the luxury tax. The Nets won't have a problem paying the luxury tax for the forseeable future thanks to their new owner.

 

I don't know the Cavs money situation, but I would think they've done some sort of cost analysis regarding Lebron leaving vs. Lebron staying.

 

My question is this, is it possible that Cleveland could come out better financially by going over the luxury tax to sign another player if that's what it took to keep Lebron, as opposed to losing him?

 

How much would the franchise lose in revenue if he leaves? Ticket sales, merchandise, advertising, all of those things would plummet.

 

Say they could get Amare or Bosh and it put them over the luxury tax, but they could still turn a profit. Which would offer them the best bottom line?

I've been on the Cleveland bandwagon from the start, so I'm not changing now. The only thing I'm wondering now is if the Cavs will make a move to bring in someone to complement James. I didn't think that was likely, but now I'm thinking they might pull something off. If they could get one of the big FA's there somehow, you'd have to believe Lebron would definitely return. I'm sure they're trying.

I've been on the Cleveland bandwagon from the start, so I'm not changing now. The only thing I'm wondering now is if the Cavs will make a move to bring in someone to complement James. I didn't think that was likely, but now I'm thinking they might pull something off. If they could get one of the big FA's there somehow, you'd have to believe Lebron would definitely return. I'm sure they're trying.

 

I'm sure they are trying but if these FA's are telling the truth then you are not seeing any of them listing the Cavs as one of their options.

I don't know the Cavs money situation, but I would think they've done some sort of cost analysis regarding Lebron leaving vs. Lebron staying.

 

My question is this, is it possible that Cleveland could come out better financially by going over the luxury tax to sign another player if that's what it took to keep Lebron, as opposed to losing him?

 

How much would the franchise lose in revenue if he leaves? Ticket sales, merchandise, advertising, all of those things would plummet.

 

Say they could get Amare or Bosh and it put them over the luxury tax, but they could still turn a profit. Which would offer them the best bottom line?

 

 

I can't produce a link but I could have sworn that I have heard or read somewhere that Cleveland doesn't have the financial resources like the Celtics, Lakers and Mavericks do. I could be wrong but I know I have heard that and when you see they are only capable of signing LeBron and no one else that kind of proves it.

 

From what I understand the luxury tax is made extremely high to discourage teams from overloading their rosters and with the exception of a few....it works.

Well the Nets are on the clock, meeting with James and Maverick Carter right now. Knicks get their shot in a couple hours.

Why don't the Cavs offer Lebron a percentage of ownership? lol. Are they allowed to do that?

 

He practically runs the organization now.

Why don't the Cavs offer Lebron a percentage of ownership? lol. Are they allowed to do that?

 

He practically runs the organization now.

 

 

I believe they can and I think it's been done before.

I've been on the Cleveland bandwagon from the start, so I'm not changing now. The only thing I'm wondering now is if the Cavs will make a move to bring in someone to complement James. I didn't think that was likely, but now I'm thinking they might pull something off. If they could get one of the big FA's there somehow, you'd have to believe Lebron would definitely return. I'm sure they're trying.

 

I'm no capologist, but I think Cleveland is over the cap. They can't bring in high level free agents like that. Once you have players you can go over it as high as you like to keep them is my understanding. That's why you have to be far enough under to bring in a max guy. Also, people are throwing the number $30M out there that LBJ would give up to leave Cleveland. That's actually false b/c $22M or so is for the 6th year. New teams can only offer him 5 years. He will get a lot of money in that 6th year if he's alive.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Salary_Cap

I can't produce a link but I could have sworn that I have heard or read somewhere that Cleveland doesn't have the financial resources like the Celtics, Lakers and Mavericks do. I could be wrong but I know I have heard that and when you see they are only capable of signing LeBron and no one else that kind of proves it.

 

From what I understand the luxury tax is made extremely high to discourage teams from overloading their rosters and with the exception of a few....it works.

 

Clevelands owner can spend a bunch of money. He has it and he needs LBJ to keep the franchise valuable. The problems are a.) big time free agents don't want to go to Cleveland for a half decade...b.) they don't have the cap space to offer a big contract.

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You have to have space and once you get them in you can go over to keep them. If not Dallas would have 4 titles by now.

Clevelands owner can spend a bunch of money. He has it and he needs LBJ to keep the franchise valuable. The problems are a.) big time free agents don't want to go to Cleveland for a half decade...b.) they don't have the cap space to offer a big contract.

 

You have to have space and once you get them in you can go over to keep them. If not Dallas would have 4 titles by now.

 

Exactly. My brain was saying this but I couldn't word it right. That's what I was trying to say though.:thumb:

Because when teams go over the salary cap they have to pay a crazy high luxury tax. The Celtics and Lakers both pay luxury taxes if I am not mistaken. The Cavs cannot afford to pay the luxury tax. The Nets won't have a problem paying the luxury tax for the forseeable future thanks to their new owner.

 

Cavs already pay the salary tax. They are a high valued franchise with LeBron, I think 5th in the NBA and growing. Gilbert broke even this year because he was still paying the team off, but he would pay the luxury tax in a heartbeat to keep LeBron.

 

I've been on the Cleveland bandwagon from the start, so I'm not changing now. The only thing I'm wondering now is if the Cavs will make a move to bring in someone to complement James. I didn't think that was likely, but now I'm thinking they might pull something off. If they could get one of the big FA's there somehow, you'd have to believe Lebron would definitely return. I'm sure they're trying.

 

I'm feeling he's staying, and someone big name will come there in a S/T.

 

Why don't the Cavs offer Lebron a percentage of ownership? lol. Are they allowed to do that?

 

He practically runs the organization now.

 

I don't think they can offer that. The Knicks were going to offer him stock in MSG but I think the NBA said they couldn't do that.

 

I'm no capologist, but I think Cleveland is over the cap. They can't bring in high level free agents like that. Once you have players you can go over it as high as you like to keep them is my understanding. That's why you have to be far enough under to bring in a max guy. Also, people are throwing the number $30M out there that LBJ would give up to leave Cleveland. That's actually false b/c $22M or so is for the 6th year. New teams can only offer him 5 years. He will get a lot of money in that 6th year if he's alive.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_Salary_Cap

 

1. It's 30 million because of the 22 million for year 6 and he would make more money per year with the Cavs. He could start at about 19 million for the Cavs next year or just under 17 for someone else. The extra 2 million per year makes up the other 8 million dollars.

2. In a sign and trade they could take back about anyone they want if the team they are trading with is satisfied. They own the rights to a few contracts, such as Wally Szczerbiak who could be added into any deal to make the numbers work. Mo Williams and Delonte West's contracts are not guaranteed this year so a team could take them and cut them and save a huge amount of money.

Clevelands owner can spend a bunch of money. He has it and he needs LBJ to keep the franchise valuable. The problems are a.) big time free agents don't want to go to Cleveland for a half decade...b.) they don't have the cap space to offer a big contract.

 

Technically they can offer more money to a FA because of the sign and trade. But, who would want most of the crap on their roster. I could see Toronto taking Hickson and others if Bosh wants to go there, but I don't know if CB would want to come to the beautiful city of Cleveland. I hope he does.