Monday we will discuss the return of LeBron James and all the ramifications of that move with David Kay of walterfootball.com 6PM EDT on News, Notes & Rumors on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.
First let me say I am delighted that LeBron James, the best basketball player on earth, is coming back to the Cavs in the prime of his career. Now there is pressure on Pat Riley and the Heat. But LeBron also put serious pressure on the Timberwolves.
Decision 2 has eliminated nearly all the possible trade options for the Timberkitties’ only asset—Kevin Love. It has also prevented any chance of a sign and trade with anyone other than the Cavs. Love wants to win a title and he has 0 chance to get that in Minnesota. He will only go to Cleveland. He will not sign an extension with any other team even if he is traded.
Without a chance of an extension, Love’s value in a trade is badly reduced. No team will give up something like Andrew Wiggins for a rental player. So expect the Cavs to try to make a deal now and if it does not succeed at the trade deadline as well. It is in the best interest of both the Cavs and Timberkitties to work out a deal before the season. The Cavs need the cap space to bring in Love and the Timberkitties need to get something for a guy that will walk away at the end of the season.
With LeBron on the roster, the Timberkitties realize that the Cavs can recruit a lot of free agents at a discount. The price that I see them willing to accept would be SG Dion Waiters, PF Tristan Thompson,
and perhaps SF Anthony Bennett plus a couple of 1st round picks. That is a deal the Cavs should jump on.
The Heat are now 100-1 odds to win a title. Expect C Chris Bosh to sign a max deal with Houston and SG Dwyane Wade to return to Miami because he has no place else to go. Then we will really see just how smart Riley is at rebuilding a team. Don’t hold your breath for a comeback by the Heat.
That is what I think. Tell us what you think by commenting here or tweeting me @NNRonDSN.
NOTE: Check out the live News, Notes and Rumors show on Monday, Thursday and Friday at 6 PM Eastern on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. On Samantha Bunten of NBC Sports, former NFL scout Kelron Sykes and I talk football with just a little Indians and Cavs thrown in. The archive is available on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/. Please join us.
Bill Smith is a former coach of several semi-pro teams, has officiated both football and basketball, done color on radio for college football and basketball and has scouted talent. He edits https://fryingpansports.com. He has also published several novels on and a non-fiction work at http://www.merriam-press.com/. Follow him on twitter @NNRonDSN to get the schedule of Special News, Notes and Rumors broadcasts. You can hear the previous shows on https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/ and the live show Mondays at 6 PM Eastern time on .
He also edits .
To keep up with the News, Notes & Rumors podcasts, follow me on twitter @NNRonDSN.