LeBron James Has Agreed To A Four Year, $154 Million Dollar Deal With The Lakers

LeBron James Has Agreed To A Four Year, $154 Million Dollar Deal With The Lakers

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LeBron James will be a member of the Los Angeles Lakers next season after it was announced he agreed to a four year, $154 million dollar deal with the team. The news was first revealed by Klutch Sports, whom represent James.

Magic Johnson, Rob Pelinka, as well as Lakers fans worldwide are collectively breathing a sigh of relief now that the deal is done. It was starting to look as though the team wouldn’t land any marquee free agents, let alone the biggest one in James. Lonzo Ball was among the excited people when the deal was announced.

This is the next and final step in LeBron James’ legacy and you know he would not agree to go there unless some type of plan was in place to compete for championships. The Lakers current roster doesn’t scream out contender at all but there are still reports that Kawhi Leonard prefers to be there above anywhere else, as well as the Lakers continued interest in DeMarcus Cousins.

According to Brian Windhorst, the press release from Klutch will be the only statement anyone related to James will make at this time.

The Western Conference just got that much more intense, while numerous general managers and players in the Eastern Conference will be happy to see him go.

Written by @IamJoeSports

Jul 2, 2018 No Comments
What The Thunder Should Do With Carmelo Anthony

What The Thunder Should Do With Carmelo Anthony

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The first 12 hours of the 2018 NBA free agency period have been absolutely massive for Oklahoma City. They re-signed star Paul George on a 4-year, $137 million max contract and were also able to secure Jerami Grant for $27 million over the next 3 years.

This is huge for the Thunder. For the first time in a while, they have a secure core that is locked up for the next several years. Sam Presti and seemingly Russell Westbrook did an amazing job reeling PG back in, and it’s time to build even more from here.

OKC has a good amount of young talent that will continue to develop and mold together extremely well. Think Steven Adams, Grant, and Andre Roberson. In fact, those three will most likely end up as the team’s starting squad alongside Westbrook and George.

This brings up the whole issue with Carmelo Anthony. From a salary cap perspective, with 11 players their payroll for the 2018-19 season is $156 million. Due to the repeater tax penalty, the franchise would owe the largest tax bill in NBA history. They would owe $130 million dollars.

Take a peek at Carmelo’s stats last season. He started 78 games for the Thunder, shooting a split of 40.4-35.7-76.7 while averaging by far a career low 16.6 points per game. It’s the first time his scoring average has gone south of 20, but it’s not like he made up for it by passing more. Melo averaged another career low of 1.3 assists, and at this point it seems like both parties should split.

He opted into his $27.9 million option for next season, which is a hindrance for Oklahoma city. On the bright side, there’s a way out of it all. There’s two actually, and that is for the team to either buy out or stretch the hefty contract.

Buying it out would essentially be ripping off an old Band Aid. They give him his money and both sides go their own separate ways. It doesn’t feel good, but it has to be done. On the side of stretching it out, the Thunder could pay him about $9.3 million each year for the next 3 seasons.

By using the waive-and-stretch method, it would save them $91 million in taxes this year. Remember though, that his $9 or so million still would impact the salary cap over the next several years. It’s a whole lot cheaper than the alternative in one year though, so stretching it might just be the Thunder’s best option.

If the Thunder can convince Melo to take a bench role, besides his contract he would be a positive contributor to the team. He was hesitant last season to lose his starting spot, so who knows. The final option for OKC is to find a trade for him. Almost any trade would be worth accepting immediately, considering few teams would want to take on the burden of his contract while offering up any good pieces.

The Thunder are in a good spot, and correctly handling Carmelo Anthony’s contract by stretching it would put them in a great one. Keeping Paul George was a very important step in the search of a championship, and Presti needs to continue making the right choices if he wants to be holding a Larry O’Brien Trophy within the next few years.

Jul 1, 2018 No Comments
Derrick Rose To Sign One Year Minimum Deal With Minnesota But Adidas Will Pay Him Much More

Derrick Rose To Sign One Year Minimum Deal With Minnesota But Adidas Will Pay Him Much More

NBA

Derrick Rose is no longer the superstar point guard he once was before all the injuries but that doesn’t mean he still isn’t getting paid like one. He will reportedly sign a one year deal with the Timberwolves for the minimum, which on the surface doesn’t sound like much money at all but there is a catch.

By simply being on an NBA roster next season, his contract with Adidas kicks in and they will pay him more than $14.5 million dollars for the 2018-19 season, as per Nick DePaula. Rose will wear the DRose 9 signature sneaker. The money from Adidas doesn’t stop there. His endorsement deal with them was a 14 year deal, meaning as long as he continues to make a roster, the checks in the millions will continue to come in. For the 2019-20 season for example, Rose would be guaranteed $12.5 million from Adidas alone, regardless of what his NBA contract would be.

Add it all up and Rose is still doing very well for himself financially. If only the same could be said about his game on the court. There is still a contingent of fans, myself included, who love Rose and hope he can one day show the flash and skill that turned him into a superstar in the first place. If that never winds up happening, at the very least he can enjoy life knowing generations of his family should never have to worry about money. His negotiated deal with Adidas is recognized as one of the best of all time for an athlete.

Written by @IamJoeSports

Jul 1, 2018 No Comments
2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

2018 NBA Free Agency Tracker

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We are now full on into NBA Free Agency and boy has it been hectic. The deals were flying fast and furious after 12:01am and if you blinked you may have missed something. Check out the Free Agency tracker below to get caught up on all the moves. We will keep this list updated as new deals occur.

Please keep in mind all of these deals have been agreed to in principle, as contracts can not be signed just yet. We have to provide that disclosure because we all know what happened with DeAndre Jordan back in 2015.

The list will be continuously updated as more deals happen:

Kevin Durant – Two year deal for $61.5 million with the Warriors, with player option for second year.

Paul George – Four year deal for $137 million with the Thunder, with player option for fourth year.

Chris Paul – Four year deal for $160 million with the Rockets.

Will Barton – Four year deal for $50 million with the Nuggets, with player option for fourth year.

Nikola Jokic – Five year deal for $148 million with the Nuggets.

Rudy Gay – One year deal for $10 million with the Spurs.

DeAndre Jordan – One year deal for $24.1 million with the Mavericks.

Trevor Ariza – One year deal for $15 million with the Suns.

Derrick Rose – One year deal for $2.1 million with the Timberwolves.

Doug McDermott – Three year deal for $22 million with the Pacers.

Joe Harris – Two year deal for $16 million with the Nets.

Jerami Grant – Three year deal for $27 million with the Thunder, with player option for third year.

Ed Davis – One year deal for $4.4 million with the Nets.

Gerald Green – One year deal for $2.4 million with the Rockets.

Marco Belinelli – Two year deal for $12 million with the Spurs.

Omri Casspi – One year deal with the Grizzlies. Terms undisclosed as of now.

Ersan Ilyasova – Three year deal for $21 million with the Bucks, with third year non-guaranteed.

Aron Baynes – Two year deal for $11 million with the Celtics, with player option for second year.

Fred VanVleet – Two year deal for $18 million with the Raptors.

Nik Stauskas – One year deal for league minimum with the Blazers.

Glenn Robinson III – Two year deal for $8.3 million with the Pistons, with team option for second year.

Salah Mejri – One year deal for $1.6 million with the Mavericks.

LeBron James – Four year deal for $154 million with the Lakers.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – One year deal for $12 million with the Lakers.

Mario Hezonja – One year deal for $6.5 million with the Knicks.

Lance Stephenson – One year deal for $4.5 million with the Lakers.

Elfrid Payton – One year deal with the Pelicans.

Javale McGee – One year deal with the Lakers for the minimum.

J.J. Redick – One year deal for $12-13 million with the Sixers.

Nerlens Noel – Two year deal with the Thunder, with player option for the second year.

Derrick Favors – Two year deal for $36 million + with the Jazz.

Rajon Rondo – One year deal for $9 million with the Lakers.

Julius Randle – Two year deal for $18 million with the Pelicans, with player option for the second year.

DeMarcus Cousins – One year deal for $5.3 million with the Warriors.

Seth Curry – Two year deal for $2.75 million with the Blazers, with player option for the second year.

Avery Bradley – Two year deal for $25 million with the Clippers.

Michael Carter-Williams – One year deal for the minimum with the Rockets.

Tyreke Evans – One year deal for $12 million with the Pacers.

Raul Neto – Two year deal with the Jazz.

Dante Exum – Three year deal for $33 million with the Jazz.

Dwight Howard – One year deal for MLE with the Wizards.

Kevin Looney – One year deal for the minimum with the Warriors.

Raymond Felton – One year deal with the Thunder.

Devin Booker – Five year extension for $158 million with the Suns.

Jeff Green – One year deal for $2.5 million with the Wizards.

Amir Johnson – One year deal with the Sixers.

Kyle O’Quinn – One year deal for $4.5 million with the Pacers.

 

 

Written by @IamJoeSports

 

Jul 1, 2018 No Comments
Lakers Are Reportedly Interested In DeMarcus Cousins On A Short Term Deal

Lakers Are Reportedly Interested In DeMarcus Cousins On A Short Term Deal

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The Los Angeles Lakers struck out on signing Paul George but that doesn’t mean they are giving up on making huge improvements to their team. LeBron James still remains their main target but it is also being reported that they have quite a bit of interest in signing DeMarcus Cousins. It sounds like, at least for now, they are more interested in a short team deal rather than committing money long term. LeBron is a big fan of Cousins and signing him could be another way to entice him to be there as well.

There are likely multiple reasons for only wanting to do a short term deal with Cousins. First, he is coming off a season ending Achilles injury and is currently rehabbing, although he does expect to be ready for training camp. Secondly, the team could want to take a wait and see approach and wait until next season ends to discuss more long term options should they sign him this summer.  One of the things to wait and see about could be seeing what happens with Kawhi Leonard next summer if they aren’t able to strike a deal with the Spurs soon.

Marc Spears of ESPN tweeted that Cousins has received calls on Saturday night from both the Pelicans and Lakers and is expected to meet with both teams very soon. Cousins showed he could play well alongside Anthony Davis but it was also pretty clear that Davis played better later in the season and in the playoffs with Cousins sidelined. That could make a possible deal with the Lakers more likely than not. With that said, don’t expect the Pelicans to just throw in the towel on retaining their twin towers of Cousins and Davis.

Written by @IamJoeSports

 

Jul 1, 2018 No Comments
Paul George To Return To The Thunder On A Huge Four Year Deal

Paul George To Return To The Thunder On A Huge Four Year Deal

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Fans in Oklahoma City can relax in a way they haven’t been able to in quite a while. Paul George will not be going to the Lakers after it was announced he will be staying with the Thunder on a new four year contract, reportedly worth $137 million dollars.

The deal includes three years with a player option for the fourth year. It appears the deal was likely agreed upon well before Saturday night due to the fact George didn’t even bother to meet with any other team.

Saturday night saw Russell Westbrook and Sam Presti throw a huge party in Oklahoma City that was attended by many teammates and was invite only. The party was so serious that anyone attending had to sign a non-disclosure agreement. It was at the party that George let fans know what he was going to do.

You heard the Thunder fans in attendance go wild when George confirmed but that was far from the end of the party. Nas hit the stage and Westbrook along with George were right there with him.

The Thunder now have two star players signed long term, which definitely makes things easier when it comes to future moves to put them in championship contention along with the Warriors and Rockets in the west.

Written by @IamJoeSports

Jul 1, 2018 No Comments