03-04-2026, 11:15 AM
ESPN crew is doubling down on LeBron to Cleveland. That would be easy, if LeBron would accept a vet min. However, I find this unlikely.
Anything above vet min is not easy for Cleveland. They are currently projected to be just below the second apron assuming Harden picks his option and they let Wade and Ellis walk. If they would want to pay LeBron the tax payer exception money, they would need to shed additional salary. Either by dumping Strus or Schroeder to a cap space team (will cost assets), trading Allen for air (more on that later) or by Harden signing a new deal for less money instead of taking his option.
Harden could see value in taking less money on a yearly basis. He has his 42 mil player option, but is also looking for an extension. How much of a discount would he be willing to give to improve the team for a title run (he is still missing a ring) for a longer term deal? It could be that (for example) 60 mil over two years would be worth more to him than 42 mil next season and who knows how much afterwards.
Another part of the equation could be Allen. It is undoubtly that LeBron is a PF at this stage of his career. As long as they have Allen at center, than Mobley is playing a PF, which would be putting LeBron to a SF spot. While Allen-Mobley-LeBron-Mitchell-Harden would look great on paper, the actual on-court fit is questionable. Trading Allen and putting Mobley on center could make more sense for them. Even if they trade Allen in salalry cap of some team, he will surely fetch additional assets in terms of draft compensation, as he is one of the better centers in the league. Cleveland could use those draft assets to perhaps turn Schroeder or Struss to something more useful.
If LeBron would want even more than the tax-payer exception (either full MLE or SnT), the calculation gets more difficult for Cleveland, as they would need to get under the first apron. That is achievable by a combination of Harden signing a new contract for a lower annual value and Cavs cutting salary elsewhere, either by dumping Strus and/or Schroeder or by trading Allen without taking any salary back. If Harden takes 10 mil less and they trade Allen for air (they will surely get additional draft assets in such a trade), they would get a roughly 35 mil cushion below the first apron.
There will be three teams that could have over 30 mil of cap space to take Allen's salary and need a center solution - Chicago, Clippers and Lakers. Allen is young enough to fit in plans of any of those teams.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2540...ree-agency
Anything above vet min is not easy for Cleveland. They are currently projected to be just below the second apron assuming Harden picks his option and they let Wade and Ellis walk. If they would want to pay LeBron the tax payer exception money, they would need to shed additional salary. Either by dumping Strus or Schroeder to a cap space team (will cost assets), trading Allen for air (more on that later) or by Harden signing a new deal for less money instead of taking his option.
Harden could see value in taking less money on a yearly basis. He has his 42 mil player option, but is also looking for an extension. How much of a discount would he be willing to give to improve the team for a title run (he is still missing a ring) for a longer term deal? It could be that (for example) 60 mil over two years would be worth more to him than 42 mil next season and who knows how much afterwards.
Another part of the equation could be Allen. It is undoubtly that LeBron is a PF at this stage of his career. As long as they have Allen at center, than Mobley is playing a PF, which would be putting LeBron to a SF spot. While Allen-Mobley-LeBron-Mitchell-Harden would look great on paper, the actual on-court fit is questionable. Trading Allen and putting Mobley on center could make more sense for them. Even if they trade Allen in salalry cap of some team, he will surely fetch additional assets in terms of draft compensation, as he is one of the better centers in the league. Cleveland could use those draft assets to perhaps turn Schroeder or Struss to something more useful.
If LeBron would want even more than the tax-payer exception (either full MLE or SnT), the calculation gets more difficult for Cleveland, as they would need to get under the first apron. That is achievable by a combination of Harden signing a new contract for a lower annual value and Cavs cutting salary elsewhere, either by dumping Strus and/or Schroeder or by trading Allen without taking any salary back. If Harden takes 10 mil less and they trade Allen for air (they will surely get additional draft assets in such a trade), they would get a roughly 35 mil cushion below the first apron.
There will be three teams that could have over 30 mil of cap space to take Allen's salary and need a center solution - Chicago, Clippers and Lakers. Allen is young enough to fit in plans of any of those teams.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2540...ree-agency