Suns
Philly

Orlando

Cavs

I think any of these teams would be instant favorites to win it all if they can sign both Lebron and CA, while even trading for one player and going over the cap to utilize the 5m+ MLE
All of these teams have many picks in this summer and future as well, along with some pieces to start with

Trading Dragic, at his peak value, while keeping both Bledsoe, Archie Goodwin, Ish Smith, and PG's drafted in this summer
While Dragic is the best facilitator among the Suns, with Lebron playing point/forward his skill are expendable while Bledsoe's defensive abilities would multiply with Lebron's ability and Alex Len's/Plumlee's growth, and with MLE/ this summer draft class, along with a steal in Gereld Green (which was actually a negative value because he didn't get to play as a Pacer)

Picks

14
18
27
50

Philly had MCW, Thad Young, Noel, and the most picks in this summers draft, including the 3rd pick and 10th pick of the draft in addition to picks 32, 39, 47, 52

picks

3
10
32
39
47
52

Mavs, like any other Texas and Florida teams, they don't have the STATE tax, however, they also have the bird rights to Dirk and some solid role players like Marion, Carter, Brandon Wright, and 1 year rights in Devin Harris/Dejuan Blairre, Benard James, along with some young players like Monta Ellis, Shane Larkin, Gel Mekal, and Jae Crowder Add in Calderon with a TEAM option in Dalembert *not sure if some is guaranteed if they cut him though* Add in coach Rich Carlise and owner Mark Cuban, making it an attractive decision

Spurs/Heat, with possible retirements for SA and for Heat, both Wade and Bosh taking less *especially Wade cause he is a shell of his former self but could sign deals like 50m for 5 years, instead of the 43m they are owed the next 2 years, Wade likely will not make more than 2m per year after this deal regardless

BOTH CA and LEBRON
========================

Like the "decision", I believe both CA and Lebron both know they have the ball in their court and any team they SIGN with together would be instinct favorites to win it all
CA doesn't want to listen to another year and why should he to be able to be instinct contenders and team up with Lebron whether it is in Miami or elsewhere if max MONEY is not an option to stay in NYK

As for as cap space is concerned,

Utah 16m

Philly 27m with multiple picks

all have the most cap space, while most of the teams above have about 32-35m in salary, with in expected 5m increase of the cap expected to be about 63-64m
moves can easily be made to offload more salary if needed

Dallas has only 27m in committed salary as well, though Dirk and many players are UFA's,

Lakers have about 35m commited in salary but like the Knick's have many picks going out and nothing coming in

Melo
==========

I expect him prioritize winning #1 if NYK doesn't offer him the max extension in contract and years, with a comfortable salary

Lebron
==========

With all the talk about Mount Rushmore, I fully expect him to continue to chase for more rings, till the end of his career, at the very least TIED or more than Kobe
He is on a mission, with all the money he makes in endorsements, he cares less about the contract and more about winning though i don't expect him to sign for anything under 8 digits till 5 years later on his next contract if he wants to chase for more rings depending on his career/injuries and body

I hate listening to their fans drooling over draft picks.
Hopefully, LeQ stays in Miami and loses (Copyright, tkf), and Philly ends up with a bunch of injury prone one-season wonders.

And we (the Knicks) win a chip behind the brilliance of Phil Jackson.

tkf wrote:If teams are smart they will try to build their own. one thing they have seen is that lebron is beatable... actually very beatable and it doesn't take a team full of stars... not sure why any of those teams if they want lebron would need to or even try to drag carmelo anthony along... add lebron to a number of teams alone and they can become instant contenders.. but again, why? some of these teams have done a great job acquiring players, and assets, and cap space. The model should be the spurs, or something along those lines... a proven model with long term success..

I honestly hope lebron stays in miami, and loses....

TFK, ALL TEAMs will be looking to acquire Lebron James by simply signing him if they can, now if you you add him and Melo, without giving up much assets then it would increase the likelihood of building contenders for the end of their contracts

And as much as you may dislike CA's game both on and off the court, you cannot deny he would be a steal if a team doesn't have to trade a farm for him
Now Lebron's games is based on creating/initiating an OFF, not necessary scoring, they are good friends, but their games would compliment each other if they have the foundation/players around them

I agree the model should be like The Spur's in terms of winning/developing/creating a winning environment however, The NBA is also a business
And Lebron James and Melo would be a great story that would build instinct fan bases on a global scale
We are asking Melo to take less in order to build for NYK, however, he can do the same while contending starting this summer, and go to a team with a much stronger foundation and much more assets this summer and in the future, to continue to improve, while we are still paying for the trade for him, along with all the overpaying in *WIN NOW MODE* by overpaying for horrible contracts

At this point it seems as if CA DOES NOT want to wait any longer to compete for a title, however, the teams that he are interest in include
With that said, I think we realize that but we also want to maximize our value if we do part ways with CA
Unfortunately, if these teams makes moves, we would no longer be needed and losing all leverage
For Houston, I don't think it is impossible for them to move both Lin and Asik, as long as they send some assets with them
To a team like Philly, once they try to recruit both CA and Lebron and they don't show much interest, along with an ALL STAR like Kevin Love, they can easily take both their contracts with 1 1st rounder and 1-2 2nd rounders, maybe even the 3m + as incentives, maybe a future 1st round pick if needed or one of Houston younger players like Terrence Jones, if Houston is willing to trade Chandler Parsons, I think many teams would be willing to take a player of his talents/abilities though I think Houston would prefer to keep Parsons, despite him being being a RFA
As for teams taking both Asik and Lin in trades, their combined salary is actually about 8m each in a trade to their traded destinations and not the 15m each player (not sure if it would be on Houston's books or removed completely for greater financial flexibility
Also if they did trade for Melo vs signing him, they would be able to resign Chandler Parsons, and gain the MLE (not sure if it would be the 3.2m mini MLE or the 5m + MLE, depending on who they trade and what they take back, also Philly owns BJ Mullen's early bird rights after the season IF he doesn't opt of his 1m contract, that could be traded to Houston and be the cheap stretch 4/5 as a poor mans Ryan Anderson

Bulls - Melo realizes Tom Thibs system and Bulls defensive roster with Noah, Gibson, Jimmy Butler, the development of Tony Snell (which has all the physical tools to be comparable to Kawaii Leanard but has yet to show that type of potential as a rookie, Dunleavy JR is another under rated G/F that would fit in but likely would need to be moved in order to sign CA on top of either amnestying or trading Boozer
Anyhow the Bulls have the players to hide CA's defensive weakness's and also have Noah who can be arguably a top 3 Center in the entire league and IF Derrick Rose regains 1/2 of his former self, it would be quite a strong team with great depth/versatility

Houston

then

Heat

or

A team that has the ability to sign both Lebron and CA, but also has a solid foundation/assets/draft picks to do some more trades/continue to get better
There are many teams that fit this description
With Suns and Philly being the front runners, if Sun's didn't sign Beasley I believe they would be in a much great position than they are now, utilizing that cap space to sign/trade for a 3rd STAR to go with that team
While these teams can flat out sign both Lebron and CA, they can simply just sign for one of them, while trading for the other with limited assets given their leverage to simply sign them outright
Suns will likely have to ship out either Dragic or Bledsoe (sign and trade), while utilizing the cap space elsewhere, while Dragic is the traditional PG, Bledsoe's youth and ability to be a LOCK DOWN DEFENDER, and great ability to penetrate/facilitate and the physical abilities with the combination of speed/quickness/strength and athleticism FITS Lebron's wants as he is a bit older and slower
While Bledsoe's weakness his ability to facilitate consistently, he gets much help with Lebron's ability to play point forward but his handle is more than adequate to take the pressure of Lebron/Melo consistently while forcing double teams with his ability to finish with contact and create mismatches while drawing double teams and creating open looks for Melo and Lebron
On top of all of this, they have many draft picks this summer and in the future to either draft or use in future trades
Also they have some good contract/young players locked in from

Archie Goodwin (as a PG/SG) his development would be the KEY with his development, had they also kept Kendall Marshall which they got little in return, they would have a great 3-4 rotation to choose from
Kendall Marshall reminds me of Tyler Ennis in this summers draft, though I think Ennis's leadership and intangibles are slightly higher, Marshall's experience and growth has just started
Also Ish Smith is one of the QUICKEST/FASTEST backup PG's in the entire league, especially as a backup/3rd string quality young player
While keeping either Dragic or Bledsoe (depending on what salary he is given but I think he would slightly less if it meant Lebron and CA were going to the Suns
But Dragic's salary at 7.5m is under rated and likely will opt out next summer, last season he just had his career year, he was the engine that nearly got them in the play offs despite a lack of talent/ALL STAR's

At PF/C
Plumlee and Alex Len with their expected growth/development
Channing Frye's ability to spread the floor and has a player option this summer
Add in both Morris brothers as well, with their ability to play both F position and one of them playing as a stretch 5
Also both Gereld Green and PJ Tucker are solid role players that do not hold much CAP space, with the ability to play a starting role or a bench role

Picks in this draft owned

14
18
27

50

Total salary for next year is 36m, though they can easily trade players like both Morris brothers (each making 3.1m) , Gereld Green (contract year at 3.5m)
I think Beasley was waived, eventually signing with Miami Heat, but not sure if they used the stretch provision on him, or just bought him out, however, his contract is still on the books according to Hoopshype.com

Also, though they are not needed, PJ Tucker (UFA, an undersized TOUGH G/F but also used to defend PF's like Blake Griffen) and Channing Frye (player option at 6.8m)

Suns medical staff/training staff have proven to be one of the best if not the BEST, something both CA and Lebron should consider about extending their careers while playing at a high level
This is something that both Lebron and CA should value, they revived both Grant Hill, more recently Channing Frye's career
They did wonders for both Steve Nash and STAT, once they both left, their health placed a great affect on their physical abilities

Picks owned (the 2014 picks they got from trades are in the above already which they got from Pacers)
================================================================================================================

2015 first round draft pick from Minnesota
Minnesota's 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-12 in 2015 or 1-12 in 2016; if Minnesota has not conveyed a 1st round pick to Phoenix by 2016, then Minnesota will instead convey its 2016 2nd round pick and 2017 2nd round pick to Phoenix [Minnesota-New Orleans-Phoenix, 7/27/2012]

2015 first round draft pick from L.A. Lakers
L.A. Lakers' 1st round pick to Phoenix protected for selections 1-5 in 2015, 1-3 in 2016 or 1-3 in 2017 or unprotected in 2018 [L.A. Lakers-Phoenix, 7/11/2012]

Picks traded
====================

NONE