Paul Millsap would be perfect for the Cavs. Swap Love for Millsap. Salaries are fairly equal.

Building these superstar teams, remember they had a time they sucked - that's how they got the main pieces to make these things work through the draft.

Sucking and then not paying $33 million/season to Mozgov and Deng....

The Lakers had better hope that somebody's willing to take one or both of those deals off their hands in 3 years. They won't bottle up the cap for the next 2 seasons because none of the Lakers key talent requires a new deal for at least 2 seasons, but in years 3 and 4, they're gonna wish they had that money off their books.

The NBA will be awash in cash until about 2025 when the insane deal that ESPN gave them expires (and long after the cable sports bubble has burst). It'll be fascinating to see if the cap contracts when that deal expires or if the CBA gets mangled again.

I have to disagree. Millsap is an inferior rebounder to Love and cannot stretch the floor as well. He's only a passable three point shooter, and while he offers much, much better defense, it's going to be in the form of rim protection, which doesn't matter that much against the Warriors. You need guys with long arms and quick feet to defend them well.

This is what I find fascinating about all of this, and I'm waiting for it to happen in all sports, not just the NBA. All of these teams are massively overvalued right now, which is why it was interesting to sit and listen to Russ Hanneman opine on Any Given Wednesday about how these teams are good investments.

But hey, at least you'll have Jordan Clarkson and Kendall Jenner relationship status updates during your Lakers games.

Wade to the Cavs at the mid-level would be interesting.

Yeah, I agree to some degree. GOod players are good players, but they have to have toughness inside to guard Lebron and other big bruising players. They have let Ezeli go? Honestly it wouldn't have been a bad idea to sign a cheap, defensive minded player like Cole Aldrich but too late.

They are if you have a cap tied to revenues, I suppose.

But it does seem like the days of selling a team tied with a billion dollar TV contract in tow are probably past. If you're DeWitt and can get them sold around 2019; right as that cable money has bumped up their books but before the full onslaught of reduced television deals, you may be wise to do so.

It would be catastrophic for the Cards if he did as the debt service would grossly undermine the team's ability to maintain a competitive payroll, but I wouldn't blame him for a minute.

(But seriously, Bill - the !@#$ing team is paid for and has been for a decade...can you please get us Bryce Harper? Pretty please?)

BTW, does anyone want to do a CP fantasy league next year? Maybe for about $100. Most of my friends are NFL and MLB guys, and don't follow the NBA like I do. Would be nice to be in something to keep my interest in the NBA, especially with Durant leaving my team, OKC :(

That is a better fit for the Cavs. The Cavs didn't need Love to be a stretch shooter, and Love doesn't need to be that either. Love isn't at all comfortable in his role. He is not a stationary player. Bosh learned to evolve into that role. Love has not which is why the Cavs were at their best in the finals when they stopped trying to force touches to Love. And that's bad for Love because he needs to be a volume shooter.

And Love without offense is a liability even if he can rebound, because his defense is atrocious, even though he did make a terrific stop at the end of the GS game. He got knocked around in the post, which is bad, because Tristan Thompson is a completely worthless offensive player unless he's right next to the basket.

I don't think Millsap is ideal for the Cavs, but he's a much, much better fit. If Love wants to play every game like he did game 7 against GS, more power to him. But he will get frustrated as hell if that's how they want to use him. Of course, the better option is to bring in Small Forwards and move Lebron to Power Forward and force him to evolve into a post player. So from that perspective, honestly the Cavs don't need Milsap or Love. Which might actually be one of the more intriguing reasons to trade away Love and consider a Small Forward option like Wade.

Wade to the Bulls.

I'm cool with it, but no spacing with him and Rondo.

So basically the Bulls traded Derrick Rose, Jose Calderon, Dunleavy, and Holliday for Wade, Jerian Grant, and Brook Lopez. Not sure what to think though their high priced chip has a much better shot at playing time.

Don't forget rondo.


ROFL

What a bizarre off-season for the Bulls. WTF are they doing? Hire a coach for the pace and space era, then give him a team more comfortable with early '90's basketball. Bizarre.

Well guess I get to follow the Bulls now. I wonder if I can find all of my old Jordan stuff from my child hood.

Yeah, what the hell?

Dunleavy getting shipped to the Cavs.

So they trade a guy that's always hurt to pay someone more that always hurt and about 10 years older?

I haven't watched him lately but that seems like a solid move. Will be interesting what they do with JR, Jefferson, and shumpert. Might make Jefferson expendable.

The Lakers just traded for Jose Calderon so they have that going for them.

Lakers get Jose Calderon.

Riley has sold a family atmosphere where he emphasizes taking care of their own as his pitch for years.

That won't work anymore. He sold Dragic on taking less last year so he could pay Wade this year. Dragic has to be furious.

That roster is an absolute mess. Whiteside could go off the rails at any time. Bosh is a huge ?

Riley really showed his ass here.

I guess if you're unable to field a competitive American team, might as well build an international one.

WOW. He must have been really really pissed off. I never thought he would leave Miami.

Tough call. I remember when the Yankees did the same dance with Jeter. Even though it was a nice story and feeling to watch Jeter retire a Yankee, they obscenely overpaid for that warm and fuzzy. I don't know that 25m is obscene overpayment. But it's an interesting debate about whether Miami should have let emotion get in the way of a business decision.

Assume they also got some pick out of taking Calderon to help the Bulls sign Wade.

Looks like he got 2/47MM which isn't far off what Miami was offering.

So Riley talking shit about Wade's friend LeBron didn't pay off for him after all. Might be time to retire.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">With Wade and Rajon Rondo in their back court, the Bulls might have one of the worst-shooting back courts in the NBA <a href="https://t.co/qZtpXctrXe">pic.twitter.com/qZtpXctrXe</a></p>&mdash; ESPN Stats &amp; Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/750878802209800193">July 7, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

What a mess that team is.

There is no question in my mind they should have paid him. He took alot of pay cuts over the years to help the team and then when he says it is time to pay the max they give all their money to Whiteside and others. I would be pissed to. He won 3 Championships for them they owed him as far as I am concerned.

I thought Sports Center sa id he got 2/50 Miami was offering 2/47?

I believe he deserved as much too and that it really hurts Rileys rep. But it would definitely be a courtesy contract.

I wonder what other solid veteran will be joining the Warriors for a ring?

This offseason is cray-cray. Durant dumped a lot of money to go to a team that they had down 3-1 in the finals.

Wade dumps Miami because he's pissed at Riley.

And Delavahobo got $10M per

Did you watch the Heat in the playoffs last year? Wade was ALL they had.

I suppose. It is not like he is playing like Kobe did at the end. He is still a very good player and had a good year last year. Can't fault the guy when the worst player in all of pro basketball Delladova gets $40 million. That is what the Heat was offering him. Shit..

Hoiball will be interesting to watch this year.

Like I said, I would have paid him. I wanted him for the Cavs too. But I don't think the heat are in such a win now mode that they want to pay $25m to a 35 year old vet. If they did, it would be out of courtesy, and Wade did way more than enough to earn that courtesy. Shame Riley chose business over emotion.

WTF are the Bulls doing?

wade got lowballed by the heat multiple times

Okay bet back on.

To the people wondering what the Bulls are doing:

I think they're hoping Wade can help recruit two max players like Westbrook/CP3 and Griffin in 2017.

He is still a big name and productive last year so the cost really isn't bad in current cap environment at all for only two years. Somewhat surprised Miami let him go unless Wade chose to leave for similar money. He did get a player option for year two shifting old guy risk to team.

Spacing will be an issue paired with Rondo but seems like they moved things around relatively well given where they started.

I'm not sure a 35 year old guy with a ton of mileage on the legs is going to have as much influence on recruiting a young superstar as you think. The move seems odd to me. The Bulls aren't in a position to win now, yet blew their wad on a guy who gives you a 2-3 year window at best

This is exactly what they're doing and I love it. Wade has serious pull in this league with guys. CP3 is close with him. This is a bridge season to a big offseason spending spree next year. Should help the aura of the Bulls now going forward with stars in this league.

They weren't going to fully blow it up like I wanted so they're trying to go big next offseason with this move. Funny thing is Rose never recruited. Now they get Rondo and he and Butler recruited Wade really hard. That helped land Chicago the big ticket FA they've NEVER been able to land. So I'm cool with it. Always have been a Wade guy. Was mad about 2010 but all is forgiven over time and now he's coming home. Hopefully next year they have space for 2 max contracts along with having Butler, Wade, Valentine, Mirotic, Portis, Taj, McDermott, Lopez. They need to fill out the roster this year with shooters. It's not a great team but it's better than sucking with Rondo and Butler. At least I get to watch one of my favorite players. Yah he's old but he was productive last year in the regular season and the postseason. Plus it's going to help the rep of the Bulls with FAs that's badly needed. I think one other thing that affected this were season ticket holders. Must have been losing some and turning into a worse situation than many realize. They came out and said, "we want to get younger and more athletic." So it just doesn't make sense. But whatever I'll cheer them on.

McBuckets is going to shoot a ton of open 3s for the Bulls this year

I actually like the Calderon pickup for the Lakers.

They needed a backup PG and the market probably demands a multi-year deal in FA. The Lakers get an expiring deal that's about market in terms of AAV for a guy with the range that Calderon has. They get themselves up past the spending floor without jeopardizing any cap space for next season and in the process they got a couple of second round picks for their trouble.

Nice little deal. The NBA has essentially become Golden State, Cleveland and the NBDL at this point so it's not like there are any homerun signings to be made at the moment. This could pay some long-term dividends for them if either of those picks turn into even rotational players for them (and huge dividends if you end up with another Clarkson or Beverley).

Going with emotion over smart business decisions is what gets teams in trouble.

Wade is the greatest player in franchise history, but a 35 year old with bad knees on the downside of his career is not worth $25 million a year.

The Heat will struggle this season, but they are set up nicely for next summer with financial flexibility to sign a top-tier free agent. Also they could end up in the lottery and get a high draft pick in a draft that is shaping up to be strong/deep.

It will be interesting to see how Wade feels about his decision six months from now when Chicago will likely be mediocre and Rondo will be creating his usual drama.

The problem was Riley's shortsightedness last year. He could've had Wade at 3/$45 last season and it would've been a very very nice deal for the team.

Instead he kept trying to go back to the 'lowball Wade because he's bluffing' well.

And I think Wade still has 2 years in the tank. It's not like he was demanding 4 years or anything.

The only way this is anything but a disaster for Riley is if he convinces Westbrook to come to Miami next year. Maybe Griffin, but Blake isn't a cornerstone player, IMO. I guess he's banking on Bosh being forced to retire so he can go to the market looking to bring in 2 max players as a package deal.

It's pretty ham-fisted, IMO.

wonder if the Heat match that gross Nets offer sheet to Tyler Johnson for 50 million

I guess it would make sense to keep a young nucleus of Johnson-Winslow-Whiteside together


they literally have nobody else on the roster worth a crap. Assuming they never clear Bosh to get that space back.

Holy shit. Tyler Johnson got essentially the same deal that Jordan Clarkson did.

Man...am I missing something here? Tyler Johnson's an 8th man, is he not?

There's no way the Heat match that deal, not if the Wade decision was made with an eye on long-term financial flexibility. They'll let him walk and almost certainly be better off for it.

It's a good damn thing the Lakers locked Clarkson up quickly because there's no question he'd be a more appealing get that Tyler Johnson.

The chances of Wade, who turns 35 years old in January staying healthy this season is slim to none.

This past season he managed to stay relatively healthy, and played in 74 games, but the previous two years he missed 20 games and 28 games respectively.

Even if Wade had returned and if he had stayed healthy the Heat are not good enough to get past Cleveland, Boston or Toronto in the East.

He is still alot more valuable and a trillion times better player than Delladova who got $40 million. The market is what it is and the Heat should have paid him out of loyalty. This will hurt the team for a long time especially if Riley sticks around.

Loyalty does not exist in pro sports, even if it should. This is the right move for the Heat, because they are a second round team with Wade. They are better off angling for a franchise player in the draft.

Paying "out of loyalty" rather than making smart business decisions is no way to run a franchise.

If the Heat were loyal to Wade and gave him $25 million/year for the next two years and he ended up missing 30 games a year (a high probability given his age and injury history), the Heat would be stuck in the middle as an average/mediocre team with minimal financial flexibility.

Now they can take their lumps this season, and have significant financial flexibility next summer to sign a top-tier free agent.

Pat Riley/Micky Arison + financial flexibility generally have a good track record of getting results.

Have we learned nothing from the last 3-4 years?

Teams don't get to eat shit and still get FAs to come to town. Now maybe Riley is actually a wizard and the draw of Miami is stronger than the draw of LA or NY (or X player's hometown team). But then again, maybe Riley just ends up clearing the decks and eating shit like several teams before him have done over the last several years.

In the era of superteams that can all offer roughly approximate $$$, nobody wants to cash a check to suck. Riley's gambling big time here and recent history suggests it's a bit of a fools errand.

just checking in to go LOL @ BULLS

wtf

DJ's post sums up nicely IMO about the loyalty issue. I would be very surprised if they landed another top-tier FA after all this. Of course on the flip side being loyal to Kobe hasn't really help attact top-tier FA's to the Lakers.

Throwing that aside does anyone not think a 35-yr old Dwade is $7-10 million dollars better than ****ing Delladova? cmon man..

He won't have to do what he did in Miami and try and carry the team in his late 30s.

Have you seen the Bulls roster?

They have a bunch of guys that can slide between the 2 and 3 position

Jimmy Butler, Tony Snell, Doug McDermott, even Mirotic can play the 3 when they go big. They also drafted Denzel Valentine

Wade can platoon himself with the young shooters on the Bulls because the roster has a ton of position flexibility from it's players besides their defensive center (Lopez).

He can keep himself on a maintenance program in Chicago and most likely stay healthy. The Bulls won't need to ride him into the ground because Bosh is hurt.

Nets had/have(?) a lot of money to spend lol

Wade also lost weight last year and finally ate right. All accounts were that he has been kind of lazy about his weight and it has been reflected in his injuries.

Could be that the Bulls were just trying to not completely lose momentum while ditching Noah and Rose.

Meanwhile, the Cavs get Dunleavy, which is a solid pickup for them.

I actually like the Bulls current roster mix of young and old players same with the Jazz. They are very interesting roster constructions with a ton of different lineup possibilities. They didn't go too old or too young, and both can still be competitive. Granted probably not championship competitive but still will be a tough out and that's really all you can ask for next season if you are not one of the 3 teams that has a shot.

Riley was keeping cap space open in case LeBron had another fall out in Cleveland and Durant was on the market as well. Can't fault them for that.

Heat just need to hit the reset button now. Tank this year, nice draft class ahead of them. Add another blue chipper prospect to go with Whiteside and Winslow, then hit the free agent market next year. Some big name will go to Miami, it's too good of an organization and ownership group not too.

The difference between Miami and the Lakers is that Pat Riley is well respected throughout the league and Jim Buss is not and in many cases, not even in his own building.

I think the Lakers will win 20-30 this year and I don't mind the signings, as their young core isn't ready to compete for a title anyway, but until Buss is gone, the Lakers won't be a top attraction.

Was looking forward to seeing the game at Sprint Center this fall. That's no longer the case.

Ezeli signs with the Blazers, 2/$17M (2nd year team option). That's a smoking deal and a nice fit. Lakers have to be thrilled with the Mozzy deal by comparison.

It's sickening.

Who was bidding on Mozgov? Mitch and Jim Buss really are like Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunn.

The Lakers pets' heads are falling off!!

If Bosh retires or is traded Miami can go after Westbrook and Griffin next year to pair with Whiteside, Winslow, and a lottery pick.

Who's trading for Bosh?

Depends upon if he's cleared.

Jim Buss trading Russell and Ingram for him. :D

Word on the Wade deal is he will get traded to Cleveland in December when he is eligible. Chicago gets Shumpert, Frye and multiple draft picks.

I don't know...

Cavs signed Birdman Birdman!

Ray Allen to the Warriors? Doubt it, bet he can't even run up and down the court anymore.

Can Miami afford Whiteside?

As a Bulls fan I hope that's true, but I'm not exactly holding my breath. I can see the argument for signing either Rondo or Wade, but both of them doesn't make a lot of sense. I don't know how they can get by in the modern NBA shooting 3s that poorly. I guess they could play McDermott as a stretch 4 with Mirotic at 5, but that would probably make them the worst defensive team in the league.

Hoiball. You don't have to shoot threes for Fred's spacing, but his spacing and quick play makes it easier to make 3's.

This roster suits him a lot better than last years.