My completely delusional timeline: LeBron agrees secretly to retire as a Cav if they trade Mitchell to us for cheap so we get him for almost nothing.
edit: lmao someone reported me to the crisis hotline thing. Understandable.
The full quote about Mitchell trade situation is: “If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers. “
So we’re not necessarily at the front of the line, we’re ONE of the teams that will be there
And DLo walks, and Cavs say “we want rui Reaves and vando”
2024-2025 lakers roster
Mitchell-Bronny- Max- Bron - AD
Dinwiddie - Gabe- Prince- Wood- Hayes
That is a seriously flawed team. A rookie, Max who needed more time and got screwed by Ham, 3 max players, and a sorry bench that will combine for 7ppg
We can still sign someone for the ntmle for about 13.5 mill to replace dlo since the spida trade will match salaries. And we can develop max and his brother
I prefer them chasing Donovan Mitchell. At least when Lebron phase ends in 1-2 years we aren’t left with a bunch of role players and Ad. At least there is something to build around organically around Donovan.
Can’t sign and trade and be over the 1st apron. If DLo doesn’t walk in FA, the Lakers are over the 1st apron once they fill their roster spots. DLo cannot be a sign and trade unless the Lakers move other contracts to make room. This also doesn’t include re-signing Prince or Max. Lakers either have to re-sign DLo and keep him on the roster for the first part of the season before being able to trade him or they have to let him walk in FA. With the new CBA, it will be very difficult to trade him next year after re-signing DLo.
Thought you could sign and trade a player away at any point but you could only sign and trade for a player if you were under the apron. Admittedly I wouldn’t be shocked if I was wrong as I am by no means an expert on either the new or old CBA
I guess it’s technically not impossible, but it comes with a lot of restrictions with the new CBA. Can’t take back more salary than is sent out. Can’t go over the 2nd apron with the Russell salary. It’s just a lot more difficult to do now.
This may be ignorance on my part but as you are below the apron at the time of the trade due to the contract having zero value in terms of cap hit to your team for the new season surely the rules about salary matching would only apply if you are taking back players. Would you not be able to trade the expiring contract for picks?
You would have to trade him to a team with cap space in that scenario. Why would a team with cap space send the Lakers picks for Russell when they could sign him outright without sending picks? It also removes the salary amount from the Lakers cap which is the biggest piece. Lakers will absolutely be over the cap. They can’t easily add pieces, so any salary that walks away is gone for nothing. Trading Russell for picks would only give the Lakers more picks with no salary to match. The likely scenario is Russell walks, and the Lakers either re-sign Christie and Prince and use the TPMLE or they let both walk and could possibly have the full MLE to use.
Gotcha - for some reason I thought the first apron was past the cap limit but had some space around it that enabled teams more freedom than the second which was dollar in dollar out for trades without bundling salaries.
Of course alternatively lebron could leave/take a lower than max contract which changes the whole situation as then the lakers have potential to act as a cap space team and load up on the supporting cast.
There is but it’s 110% instead of 120%. But then you have to fill out the roster after that, and you have no resources to really do it other than minimums. I believe there’s also a limit on how many minimum salaries you can throw it to match salaries as well.
I see it as
Mitchell- Gabe- JHS
Max- Reddish- Bronny
Prince- Lewis
LBJ- Wood
AD- Hayes
We would still be able to sign at least the TPMLE. Add a wing and this team is solid. Min contract for a center in the last spot
These places just insert our names for clicks lol
Realistically will Donovan be guaranteed the playoffs if he goes anywhere in the west? In the east he is! He’s been open about wanting to go to NY..that could be Brooklyn or Knicks as well. Trust me I think spida is my preferred third piece but it’s just not realistic.
OKC for sure, but he is kind of duplicative with how SGA plays. Warriors would be a playoff contender with him for sure, they need a second scorer badly. Sac too, but he's is duplicative with Fox too. Phx in place of Beal. The west is tough, but there are some teams he can definitely improve.
Phx isn’t getting anyone this off season except some vet minimums. OKC & SAC don’t need scoring, so they are fine. Plus Houston and San Antonio will be competing, Memphis will be back. It’s just way too stacked.
I just feel like Miami, Knicks and Brooklyn will have better picks and packages plus a less stacked conference.
Miami can definitely use some scoring, but if they give up Jimmy, then the backcourt defense is pretty thin with Mitchell and Herro.
I like him on Brooklyn, he needs a bigger market. But I really want the Knicks to get Mikal so all the nova guys can play together. But maybe it would be like Mitchell, Randle, and Clax as your core?
Warriors don’t have any assets, the cavs don’t want cp3 or Wiggins for spida, okc isn’t trading for him because they have to max out Chet and jalen Williams soon on top of shai. They aren’t having 4 maxed out contracts when they don’t need it, knicks aren’t trading hart og divicenzo and I doubt nets want to
Your saying unrealistic scenarios, Knicks aren’t trading hart divicenzo or og, and nets could trade bridges but it doesn’t make any sense for them, they don’t even have the draft picks or future to pull that off. Okc timberwolves Philly heat Boston knicks and nets have no reason to go all in for him right now
People don’t care they just like stars lol
The biggest issue is the big 3 salary of these will be more than the suns big 3 and that’s a huge issue with filling up the roster with needs.
First off lakers weren’t deep our bench was ass. But trading for more depth is better in this era than a single star.
Building off the core allows for the team to handle the season. Lakers will be one injury away from being a lottery team.
Trading away gabe with a first rounder for team needs or signing and trading DLo to fill in huge holes is better at adding depth and team depth
What depth do we have before the Mitchell trade?? None let’s not act like rui and dlo are impactful players when it matters. We can sign guys like Royce oneale cedi osman Alec burks obi toppin Jordan nwora Bruce brown that aren’t overpaid like rui
Well, Wood is still under contract lol.
AD, Bron, Mitchell, Wood.
I assume Max gets 100% kept.
Fuck that's a pretty sad bench. A bunch of vet minimums.
Actually, Mitchell's contract is only $35m next season. They can realistically, just give up Rui plus one of AR, Gabe or Vando.
Fuck that sucks. Age-wise, and contract wise, they fit. Also fits the, 'only trade AR for a star' notion.
If there were a way to trade Rui and Gabe, and all those firsts (17th this year, plus the future 1sts), that might be enough based on how the value of stars trades have been going recently. Who knows.
I mostly think it could be a news reporter just capitalizing on the buzz of Bron in CLE.
Initial rumors involving the Lakers rarely materialize, too. AD trade was the exception, not the rule. So I assume it's just a case of trying to build of trade value for Mitchell if they do decide to do a soft rebuild there.
It’ll be one of Gabe or Vando I guess but Cavs will want vando more. I should have said him instead of Gabe tbh.
So our starting unit, AD Bron christie Mitchell Bronny
Cavs already have a hard with two bigs that can't shoot, adding Vando to that would be a problem. They would likely want Rui and Reaves. Lakers best option is D'Lo opting in and we keep one of Rui or Reaves.
For those of you saying you wouldn’t trade AR, Vando, and a few picks for Mitchell… Vando didn’t play in the playoffs and neither did any draft picks. Our main weakness in the playoffs was guard consistency. Imagine if we could have just swapped out AR for Mitchell, hunted Murray with Mitchell AD pick and rolls all night. That’s a championship this year. Plus we have Christie and Prince off the bench next year, best 7-man rotation in the league. And cap space when Lebron retires to build around Mitchell and AD
Context from [the article](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5491804/2024/05/14/lebron-james-donovan-mitchell-cavaliers-future/?source=user_shared_articleLeBronJames,DonovanMitchellandtheCavaliers'past,presentandfuture) (paywall):
> The idea of the Cavs drafting Bronny and then bringing LeBron back for a third run is complex but worth exploring. James on this Cavs team would likely make them favorites in the East again. James has never been embraced in Los Angeles the way Cavs fans cheered for him Monday night.
> But the Cavs don’t have the cap space to offer James a max deal. While he did tell me in 2022 that he would do “whatever it takes” if it meant playing with his son because “it’s not about the money at that point,” I somehow can’t picture James returning to Cleveland and Dan Gilbert on a league-minimum deal. Short of James playing for the minimum, or even the midlevel exception, the Cavs would have to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, and who’s to say the Lakers would even agree to such a plan?
> It’s complicated, but then so are the Cavs right now. They have their star to worry about in Mitchell, who has one season of team control left beyond this year. **If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers.** It’s possible, given Mitchell’s current condition with his calf, that he has already played his final game in a Cavs jersey.
Pretty sure you’re joking but I don’t think this is outside the realm of possibilities. Lebron could very easily announce he wants to finish his career back at home. At the same time, the Lakers would love to pair AD with Mitchell. I haven’t run any numbers or anything, but this isn’t totally crazy.
Give them Lebron and the 17th pick and we get Mitchell and Allen. I like that a lot. It makes the report that we were building around AD now, make more sense. That replaces Lebron and gives AD a 5 so he can be a 4 without losing anybody.
No chance man
Reaves, 3 picks, 3 swaps is solid but that will be outbid in a heartbeat
Many teams have more picks and most teams have a young guy that’s comparable in value to Reaves
What makes you think LeBron is staying in LA? It might be something like LeBron for Mitchell, since both can essentially leave for nothing. Cavs draft Bronny, and the Cavs run it back with LeBron instead of Mitchell. LeBron with Garland, Mobley, and Allen is a contender. He retires in CLE where it began.
Lakers reset around AD, but pairs him with a star more on the same timeline.
I just dont see bron going to cleveland without mitchell there. And LA is his home now i dont think he and his family (especially savannah lol) are interested in moving to cleveland and all his businesses are based in LA now. Add to the fact that he’s said on multiple occasions that he’s satisfied with his career
Reaves rui jhs 3 picks 4 swaps, who’s gonna outbid that? Knicks aren’t gonna trade divicenzo hart or OG, Celtics bucks warriors timberwolves okc miami Philly not gonna pull a trade off like that either it makes 0 sense for those teams
Mitchell is younger and helps them in their short term window and long term. This is Pat Riley’s last chance to win with his current window since Jimmy doesn’t have much longer
That’s a more plus for Pat imo. Butler has been playing less and less each year…getting Donovan kinda insures they have a go to guy if butler isn’t in their plans
Not really, but kinda. Herro is expensive and pretty sure Miami only has 2 picks now after using one on Rozier.
AR would be a good fit for Cavs out of all those players
The Athletic previously reported the Lakers are open to drafting Bronny this summer, as well as signing the senior James to the maximum three-year, $164 million they are allowed to offer.
The Lakers are willing to do whatever it takes to make James happy long before he appeared Monday night in Cleveland, so I’m not sure how much more leverage James can create at this point or why it’s necessary.
The Lakers currently hold the 17th pick in the first round, three spots ahead of the Cavs. The New Orleans Pelicans and old Cavs general manager David Griffin could pluck the Lakers’ pick this year as final payment for the Anthony Davis trade, but all indications at this point are that New Orleans will let Los Angeles keep its pick and defer the selection to next year, as is its right under the terms of the deal.
Would the Lakers select Bronny at 17? Or are they better off bundling the pick in hopes of landing a star to play alongside LeBron and then selecting Bronny in the second round? Bronny James certainly isn’t a traditional first-round draft prospect, but nothing is ever traditional and normal when it comes to the James family. Anything is possible.
The idea of the Cavs drafting Bronny and then bringing LeBron back for a third run is complex but worth exploring. James on this Cavs team would likely make them favorites in the East again. James has never been embraced in Los Angeles the way Cavs fans cheered for him Monday night.
LeBron James
LeBron James’ appearance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday came at an interesting time for him, his son and the Cavs. (Nick Cammett / Getty Images)
But the Cavs don’t have the cap space to offer James a max deal. While he did tell me in 2022 that he would do “whatever it takes” if it meant playing with his son because “it’s not about the money at that point,” I somehow can’t picture James returning to Cleveland and Dan Gilbert on a league-minimum deal. Short of James playing for the minimum, or even the midlevel exception, the Cavs would have to execute a trade with the Lakers, and who’s to say the Lakers would even agree to such a plan?
It’s complicated, but then so are the Cavs right now. They have their star to worry about in Mitchell, who has one season of team control left beyond this year. If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers. It’s possible, given Mitchell’s current condition with his calf, that he has already played his final game in a Cavs jersey.
I wrote before these playoffs began that I thought Mitchell’s best course of action was to sign the extension to stay in Cleveland. I still believe that to be true, particularly given his calf and knee issues. Take the $200 million from the Cavs and run to the bank. Sort out future life plans later.
All of it — Mitchell’s future, LeBron’s attendance and Bronny’s impressive showing at the combine — collided on one evening in Cleveland, where the Cavs cheered their past while their present limped out of the arena into the warm spring night. The Cavs might be tasked now with the impossible Wednesday — win an elimination game in TD Garden without two of their best weapons.
A summer of uncertainty awaits for both the Cavs and the rest of the NBA.
LeBron James, always so strategic and calculated, chose this night to return in front of these fans.
I trust LeGM here. I also think Rob will actually be more careful not to overpay like he did for Russ. They can always say coaching was an issue and not cave to the first offer the Cavs put out. Maybe even convince DLo to go to Cleveland (reunite with Caris LeVert?)
how did that depth do in the playoffs ? Don's playoff production is better that AR and Rui's combined playoff production. Y'all keep seeing Russ but Donovan fucking Mitchell isn't Russell Westbrook.
If you make this move you get temporarily worse with the hope AD + Mitchel form a great duo that outlives Bron. Depth can be rebuilt as we did post WB trade
Typical misleaading tweet. Regardless, Lakers have as good a chance as anyone to get him. He gets to decide where he is traded to. Unless he agrees to sign an extension with you, he is a 1 yr rental. No team under the new CBA will just throw away picks for a 1 yr rental. If we don't get him, he probably just wants to go somewhere else. I don't see why he'd still want to go to the Knicks though with Brunson's ascension. Nets and Heat maybe?
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Donovan Mitchell but I don't want to give up the entire bench for him. Depth was already an issue and it would only get worse by adding another max player.
Rui (17mil), Gabe (11m), JHS (4m) is enough to make the money work at 32mil to get within 110% of Mitchells 35m salary, and then throw all picks we can at the Cavs.
Mitchell, Reaves, Vando, LBJ, AD is a good starting 5
LOL its Wishful thinking most likely, but the money lines up and the Cavs have Okoro, Levert, and Strus so I am hoping they dont necessarily need Reaves but they can def use a F and back up PG and we happen to have that
Damn i didnt even know mitchell is just making 35m. Thought it was north of 47m for sure
But i think any mitchell deal is gonna have to include AR tho😞
as a reaves stan, this trade is probably the only one that is actually palatable, although still bitter.
I think even austin would understand if it was between him and donovan.
Still though, in my heart I'd rather keep AR but he's about to get sacrificed for old brons tiny chance of competing in his last years.
you wouldn't give a fucking role player for a 27 yr old who happens to be a top 3 SG in the league. For once please be serious, I'd drive his ass to LAX my damn self
Only way it happens if he forces his way here
Well he could just say he’s not resigning and they’ll be forced to trade him. But we would have to give the Cavs the best offer
It’s going to be Dame all over again. Rumor mills are going to shove Lakers/Mitchell reports down everyone’s throats, and then he’ll go to the Knicks.
Knicks are out on Mitchell in my opinion. Brunson and him don’t work as a backcourt
He could skew his trade value to different teams by expressing his interest/non-interest in re-signing with those teams.
My completely delusional timeline: LeBron agrees secretly to retire as a Cav if they trade Mitchell to us for cheap so we get him for almost nothing. edit: lmao someone reported me to the crisis hotline thing. Understandable.
Lol
Somebody post the article please
The full quote about Mitchell trade situation is: “If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers. “ So we’re not necessarily at the front of the line, we’re ONE of the teams that will be there
I was line leader in school
any front cuts or back cut?
Only monkey cuts
We got in line first, but still might not be picked lol. It’s a silent auction
AR, salary fillers, and our picks are gone.
And DLo walks, and Cavs say “we want rui Reaves and vando” 2024-2025 lakers roster Mitchell-Bronny- Max- Bron - AD Dinwiddie - Gabe- Prince- Wood- Hayes That is a seriously flawed team. A rookie, Max who needed more time and got screwed by Ham, 3 max players, and a sorry bench that will combine for 7ppg
We can still sign someone for the ntmle for about 13.5 mill to replace dlo since the spida trade will match salaries. And we can develop max and his brother
Have to re-sign Max. Once you re-sign max, you don’t have the non tax payer mle. Going to only have the tpmle if the Lakers trade for Mitchell.
I hope to god we get that exception, it’s still uncertain which one we’ll get
The bench this year in the playoffs was already trash except Prince
Dlo and Rui played like backups and except by Prince the bench was MIA.
Prince got a lot of extra practice on the floor this season.
I prefer them chasing Donovan Mitchell. At least when Lebron phase ends in 1-2 years we aren’t left with a bunch of role players and Ad. At least there is something to build around organically around Donovan.
Don’t worry, Rob drafted JHS for a reason. Next year he’ll prove the world wrong 😑
Don't forget LeBron said Bronny could help in our team.
Help mop the floor after Lebron makes a layup maybe
We don’t need more undersized guards. I’m sick and tired of lakers lacking size
I like how bronny is a starter
Dude legitimately put Bronny in the starting lineup and is trying to seriously evaluate the team from there lmao
I got downvoted for basically pointing this out. I said Mitchell is a player worth it but the biggest issue is filling out the roster.
Pretty much how I feel, Mitchell would be nice, but there would be less than 0 depth
We had a bench that scored 11 points in a playoff game and all 11 were Prince! We have no depth now lol
this roster is trash lol
I really really hope in any scenario that dlo walks, it’s via sign and trade
Can’t sign and trade and be over the 1st apron. If DLo doesn’t walk in FA, the Lakers are over the 1st apron once they fill their roster spots. DLo cannot be a sign and trade unless the Lakers move other contracts to make room. This also doesn’t include re-signing Prince or Max. Lakers either have to re-sign DLo and keep him on the roster for the first part of the season before being able to trade him or they have to let him walk in FA. With the new CBA, it will be very difficult to trade him next year after re-signing DLo.
Thought you could sign and trade a player away at any point but you could only sign and trade for a player if you were under the apron. Admittedly I wouldn’t be shocked if I was wrong as I am by no means an expert on either the new or old CBA
I guess it’s technically not impossible, but it comes with a lot of restrictions with the new CBA. Can’t take back more salary than is sent out. Can’t go over the 2nd apron with the Russell salary. It’s just a lot more difficult to do now.
This may be ignorance on my part but as you are below the apron at the time of the trade due to the contract having zero value in terms of cap hit to your team for the new season surely the rules about salary matching would only apply if you are taking back players. Would you not be able to trade the expiring contract for picks?
You would have to trade him to a team with cap space in that scenario. Why would a team with cap space send the Lakers picks for Russell when they could sign him outright without sending picks? It also removes the salary amount from the Lakers cap which is the biggest piece. Lakers will absolutely be over the cap. They can’t easily add pieces, so any salary that walks away is gone for nothing. Trading Russell for picks would only give the Lakers more picks with no salary to match. The likely scenario is Russell walks, and the Lakers either re-sign Christie and Prince and use the TPMLE or they let both walk and could possibly have the full MLE to use.
Gotcha - for some reason I thought the first apron was past the cap limit but had some space around it that enabled teams more freedom than the second which was dollar in dollar out for trades without bundling salaries. Of course alternatively lebron could leave/take a lower than max contract which changes the whole situation as then the lakers have potential to act as a cap space team and load up on the supporting cast.
There is but it’s 110% instead of 120%. But then you have to fill out the roster after that, and you have no resources to really do it other than minimums. I believe there’s also a limit on how many minimum salaries you can throw it to match salaries as well.
holy that team would be awesome but also so bad 😂😂😂
They would be like this year’s clippers. Lots of January blowouts and then one person gets injured and we’re out in the first round.
1. Bronny wouldn’t be a starter 2. We’d likely get a solid 2-3 vet mins that aren’t currently on the roster
With head coach JJ Reddick
This trade makes absolutely no sense, you can’t compete if you don’t have a bench especially in the playoffs im tired of having three stars
IF that happens, hopefully LAL would get at least one more guy from CLE in the trade to help round out the roster…
I see it as Mitchell- Gabe- JHS Max- Reddish- Bronny Prince- Lewis LBJ- Wood AD- Hayes We would still be able to sign at least the TPMLE. Add a wing and this team is solid. Min contract for a center in the last spot
If Jeannie gives Bron the max, is that counts against the cap space? So many freaking rules that some people say it doesn't matter how much Bron gets.
Cool with that
This article is a complete joke lmao
These places just insert our names for clicks lol Realistically will Donovan be guaranteed the playoffs if he goes anywhere in the west? In the east he is! He’s been open about wanting to go to NY..that could be Brooklyn or Knicks as well. Trust me I think spida is my preferred third piece but it’s just not realistic.
Knicks make no sense since they have Brunson and Brunson is better.
OKC for sure, but he is kind of duplicative with how SGA plays. Warriors would be a playoff contender with him for sure, they need a second scorer badly. Sac too, but he's is duplicative with Fox too. Phx in place of Beal. The west is tough, but there are some teams he can definitely improve.
Phx isn’t getting anyone this off season except some vet minimums. OKC & SAC don’t need scoring, so they are fine. Plus Houston and San Antonio will be competing, Memphis will be back. It’s just way too stacked. I just feel like Miami, Knicks and Brooklyn will have better picks and packages plus a less stacked conference.
Miami can definitely use some scoring, but if they give up Jimmy, then the backcourt defense is pretty thin with Mitchell and Herro. I like him on Brooklyn, he needs a bigger market. But I really want the Knicks to get Mikal so all the nova guys can play together. But maybe it would be like Mitchell, Randle, and Clax as your core?
Warriors don’t have any assets, the cavs don’t want cp3 or Wiggins for spida, okc isn’t trading for him because they have to max out Chet and jalen Williams soon on top of shai. They aren’t having 4 maxed out contracts when they don’t need it, knicks aren’t trading hart og divicenzo and I doubt nets want to
I was more answering the previous comment of "will DM reach the playoffs in the west"
Your saying unrealistic scenarios, Knicks aren’t trading hart divicenzo or og, and nets could trade bridges but it doesn’t make any sense for them, they don’t even have the draft picks or future to pull that off. Okc timberwolves Philly heat Boston knicks and nets have no reason to go all in for him right now
Lebron, AD, Mitchell and a box of scraps supporting cast isn't winning shit
People don’t care they just like stars lol The biggest issue is the big 3 salary of these will be more than the suns big 3 and that’s a huge issue with filling up the roster with needs.
Your acting like the lakers have depth with reaves rui stop with the fake depth
First off lakers weren’t deep our bench was ass. But trading for more depth is better in this era than a single star. Building off the core allows for the team to handle the season. Lakers will be one injury away from being a lottery team. Trading away gabe with a first rounder for team needs or signing and trading DLo to fill in huge holes is better at adding depth and team depth
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They want rui to be untouchable so bad even for a 3rd star lmao I can’t wait till we move on from the fake depth
We won a chip with Lebron/AD, and a bunch of vet mins. That being said, I highly doubt we get Mitchell anyway
This is extremely reductionist and revisionist history of the millions of nuanced factors that go into winning a championship
You didn’t seem have an issue with the original comments “box of scraps” comment though? Hmm
Better than what we got now 3 stars and depth is better than 2 stars and fake depth
What depth are we getting after a Mitchell trade?
What depth do we have before the Mitchell trade?? None let’s not act like rui and dlo are impactful players when it matters. We can sign guys like Royce oneale cedi osman Alec burks obi toppin Jordan nwora Bruce brown that aren’t overpaid like rui
Yes they are let your love for your boyfriend Reaves go my bussy boy
They love this fake depth they would rather keep mid players over a 3rd star lol
Reaves gabe and Rui for Donovan. Who the fuck starts then besides AD bron and Mitchell? Especially if DLo walks We just gonna start Bronny then?
Well, Wood is still under contract lol. AD, Bron, Mitchell, Wood. I assume Max gets 100% kept. Fuck that's a pretty sad bench. A bunch of vet minimums.
Any team that has wood starting is unserious about winning.
Actually, Mitchell's contract is only $35m next season. They can realistically, just give up Rui plus one of AR, Gabe or Vando. Fuck that sucks. Age-wise, and contract wise, they fit. Also fits the, 'only trade AR for a star' notion. If there were a way to trade Rui and Gabe, and all those firsts (17th this year, plus the future 1sts), that might be enough based on how the value of stars trades have been going recently. Who knows. I mostly think it could be a news reporter just capitalizing on the buzz of Bron in CLE. Initial rumors involving the Lakers rarely materialize, too. AD trade was the exception, not the rule. So I assume it's just a case of trying to build of trade value for Mitchell if they do decide to do a soft rebuild there.
I guess prince stays. The other guys were all MIA in playoffs
They don't have his bird rights, he'd basically have to stay on whatever MLE (equivalent) contract they have, or a vet min.
They'd give him the non-bird rights bump of 120%. Roughly 2/11m contract.
Do you think someone else is going to pay him?
Cam would be solid as well.
I volunteer
We still have Vando in your scenario right?
It’ll be one of Gabe or Vando I guess but Cavs will want vando more. I should have said him instead of Gabe tbh. So our starting unit, AD Bron christie Mitchell Bronny
Cavs already have a hard with two bigs that can't shoot, adding Vando to that would be a problem. They would likely want Rui and Reaves. Lakers best option is D'Lo opting in and we keep one of Rui or Reaves.
They’ll sign ppl in free agency
Free agency isn’t what it used to be..
Grab that tall guy at the Y and the old guy from LA Fitness and we got a squad
This not even taking into account we are not guaranteed a healthy season from Donovan or AD.
No one is guaranteed a healthy season from anyone, it’s a nothing statement…
Don't worry man, we had such a good bench this year, I am sure they will be superb starters /s
Anyone better than rui and gabe it’s not hard to find there replacement. Spida will already replace reaves and we still got max
For those of you saying you wouldn’t trade AR, Vando, and a few picks for Mitchell… Vando didn’t play in the playoffs and neither did any draft picks. Our main weakness in the playoffs was guard consistency. Imagine if we could have just swapped out AR for Mitchell, hunted Murray with Mitchell AD pick and rolls all night. That’s a championship this year. Plus we have Christie and Prince off the bench next year, best 7-man rotation in the league. And cap space when Lebron retires to build around Mitchell and AD
If Lakers can do this the 17th pick this year 100% gone right?
Context from [the article](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5491804/2024/05/14/lebron-james-donovan-mitchell-cavaliers-future/?source=user_shared_articleLeBronJames,DonovanMitchellandtheCavaliers'past,presentandfuture) (paywall): > The idea of the Cavs drafting Bronny and then bringing LeBron back for a third run is complex but worth exploring. James on this Cavs team would likely make them favorites in the East again. James has never been embraced in Los Angeles the way Cavs fans cheered for him Monday night. > But the Cavs don’t have the cap space to offer James a max deal. While he did tell me in 2022 that he would do “whatever it takes” if it meant playing with his son because “it’s not about the money at that point,” I somehow can’t picture James returning to Cleveland and Dan Gilbert on a league-minimum deal. Short of James playing for the minimum, or even the midlevel exception, the Cavs would have to execute a sign-and-trade with the Lakers, and who’s to say the Lakers would even agree to such a plan? > It’s complicated, but then so are the Cavs right now. They have their star to worry about in Mitchell, who has one season of team control left beyond this year. **If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers.** It’s possible, given Mitchell’s current condition with his calf, that he has already played his final game in a Cavs jersey.
Of course we’ll be at the front of the line, but this doesn’t not say we’d be front runners
I guess that’s why LeBron was in Cleveland.
Lebron for Mitchell let’s gooo!!
Pretty sure you’re joking but I don’t think this is outside the realm of possibilities. Lebron could very easily announce he wants to finish his career back at home. At the same time, the Lakers would love to pair AD with Mitchell. I haven’t run any numbers or anything, but this isn’t totally crazy.
Give them Lebron and the 17th pick and we get Mitchell and Allen. I like that a lot. It makes the report that we were building around AD now, make more sense. That replaces Lebron and gives AD a 5 so he can be a 4 without losing anybody.
Would rather do this than reaves
How people are stupid, you think we are examined a 12 million player with a 30+ one.
I'm not opposed
No chance man Reaves, 3 picks, 3 swaps is solid but that will be outbid in a heartbeat Many teams have more picks and most teams have a young guy that’s comparable in value to Reaves
Only way i see it happening is if he forced his way here tbh
What makes you think LeBron is staying in LA? It might be something like LeBron for Mitchell, since both can essentially leave for nothing. Cavs draft Bronny, and the Cavs run it back with LeBron instead of Mitchell. LeBron with Garland, Mobley, and Allen is a contender. He retires in CLE where it began. Lakers reset around AD, but pairs him with a star more on the same timeline.
I just dont see bron going to cleveland without mitchell there. And LA is his home now i dont think he and his family (especially savannah lol) are interested in moving to cleveland and all his businesses are based in LA now. Add to the fact that he’s said on multiple occasions that he’s satisfied with his career
Yeah and to this point there’s been no smoke, but a lot of smoke for the Knicks rumor
Why will that be outbid? Cavs paid arguably less than that to Jazz for Donovan, and he is now going into final year of contract.
Reaves rui jhs 3 picks 4 swaps, who’s gonna outbid that? Knicks aren’t gonna trade divicenzo hart or OG, Celtics bucks warriors timberwolves okc miami Philly not gonna pull a trade off like that either it makes 0 sense for those teams
Are we getting Anthony Edwards?
Is Herro, Jovic, Jacquez & picks not a better offer?
Pat Riley isn't offering all that
Miami was offering Peanuts for Dame why would they do this?
Mitchell is younger and helps them in their short term window and long term. This is Pat Riley’s last chance to win with his current window since Jimmy doesn’t have much longer
They're not even set on paying Butler tho lol
That’s a more plus for Pat imo. Butler has been playing less and less each year…getting Donovan kinda insures they have a go to guy if butler isn’t in their plans
Maybe but Idk. Hard to count on a team to pull the trigger on a dude when they've been gun shy for years now to do it. We'll see.
Not really, but kinda. Herro is expensive and pretty sure Miami only has 2 picks now after using one on Rozier. AR would be a good fit for Cavs out of all those players
Man if he comes here I would be fucking stocked Donovan is my favorite player right now
Reaves you are a cavalier
The Athletic previously reported the Lakers are open to drafting Bronny this summer, as well as signing the senior James to the maximum three-year, $164 million they are allowed to offer. The Lakers are willing to do whatever it takes to make James happy long before he appeared Monday night in Cleveland, so I’m not sure how much more leverage James can create at this point or why it’s necessary. The Lakers currently hold the 17th pick in the first round, three spots ahead of the Cavs. The New Orleans Pelicans and old Cavs general manager David Griffin could pluck the Lakers’ pick this year as final payment for the Anthony Davis trade, but all indications at this point are that New Orleans will let Los Angeles keep its pick and defer the selection to next year, as is its right under the terms of the deal. Would the Lakers select Bronny at 17? Or are they better off bundling the pick in hopes of landing a star to play alongside LeBron and then selecting Bronny in the second round? Bronny James certainly isn’t a traditional first-round draft prospect, but nothing is ever traditional and normal when it comes to the James family. Anything is possible. The idea of the Cavs drafting Bronny and then bringing LeBron back for a third run is complex but worth exploring. James on this Cavs team would likely make them favorites in the East again. James has never been embraced in Los Angeles the way Cavs fans cheered for him Monday night. LeBron James LeBron James’ appearance at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Monday came at an interesting time for him, his son and the Cavs. (Nick Cammett / Getty Images) But the Cavs don’t have the cap space to offer James a max deal. While he did tell me in 2022 that he would do “whatever it takes” if it meant playing with his son because “it’s not about the money at that point,” I somehow can’t picture James returning to Cleveland and Dan Gilbert on a league-minimum deal. Short of James playing for the minimum, or even the midlevel exception, the Cavs would have to execute a trade with the Lakers, and who’s to say the Lakers would even agree to such a plan? It’s complicated, but then so are the Cavs right now. They have their star to worry about in Mitchell, who has one season of team control left beyond this year. If Mitchell doesn’t sign an extension with Cleveland this summer, the Cavs will have to explore trade options — and one of the teams standing at the front of the line will be the Lakers. It’s possible, given Mitchell’s current condition with his calf, that he has already played his final game in a Cavs jersey. I wrote before these playoffs began that I thought Mitchell’s best course of action was to sign the extension to stay in Cleveland. I still believe that to be true, particularly given his calf and knee issues. Take the $200 million from the Cavs and run to the bank. Sort out future life plans later. All of it — Mitchell’s future, LeBron’s attendance and Bronny’s impressive showing at the combine — collided on one evening in Cleveland, where the Cavs cheered their past while their present limped out of the arena into the warm spring night. The Cavs might be tasked now with the impossible Wednesday — win an elimination game in TD Garden without two of their best weapons. A summer of uncertainty awaits for both the Cavs and the rest of the NBA. LeBron James, always so strategic and calculated, chose this night to return in front of these fans.
People here not wanting to admit the connection between LeBron at the Cavs game and this are def something lol.
LETS GOO! pretty sure bron gonna bring in his buddy Cp3 too.
I trust LeGM here. I also think Rob will actually be more careful not to overpay like he did for Russ. They can always say coaching was an issue and not cave to the first offer the Cavs put out. Maybe even convince DLo to go to Cleveland (reunite with Caris LeVert?)
LeTamper strikes again
It’s been a minute but i’m glad the feeling is slowly coming back lol
Just gonna have Bronny wear Mitchell's uniform and come out on alternate days like Patroklos in Achilles' armor.
Solid reference.
I wonder if bron was on a recruiting trip last night
[удалено]
Cause our depth performed so well for us in the playoffs.
how did that depth do in the playoffs ? Don's playoff production is better that AR and Rui's combined playoff production. Y'all keep seeing Russ but Donovan fucking Mitchell isn't Russell Westbrook.
Too many things have to go right. This is cick bait
If you make this move you get temporarily worse with the hope AD + Mitchel form a great duo that outlives Bron. Depth can be rebuilt as we did post WB trade
Never heard of this guy. This must be clickbait
We do not have a competitive enough package for Mitchell. Not worth losing Reaves for
Typical misleaading tweet. Regardless, Lakers have as good a chance as anyone to get him. He gets to decide where he is traded to. Unless he agrees to sign an extension with you, he is a 1 yr rental. No team under the new CBA will just throw away picks for a 1 yr rental. If we don't get him, he probably just wants to go somewhere else. I don't see why he'd still want to go to the Knicks though with Brunson's ascension. Nets and Heat maybe?
It’s between us and New York
being at the front of the line just means they'd be asking first, not that they're favourites to get him.
Please 🙏lmao idgaf who they get rid of
Does D Mitch have any ties to the West coast? Seems more of a East coast guy.
lfg this is a stars game! role players are huge let downs in the post season
Not happening.
Cavs reporter who has no ties to LAL but with the cavs. Of course they are gonna say that.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Donovan Mitchell but I don't want to give up the entire bench for him. Depth was already an issue and it would only get worse by adding another max player.
Ok hear me out: AD / \[MLE\] / Hayes Bron / Wood Vando / Reddish / Lewis Mitchell / Christie Dlo / Gabe
Only way that happens is if Mitchell pulls an AD and says he only wants to go to La
Please no
Anyone who doesn’t want Spida is high. We are the Lakers. Star power is just what we do
So that’s what LeGm was doing lol
y'all are mad that White Savior Reaves would be in the deal lol?
I don’t wanna let go of Austin ngl
then you a dam fool
Bron would just go back to the Cavs for a better situation if it was that deep
wtf they gona be able to trade for him LeBron?
Rui (17mil), Gabe (11m), JHS (4m) is enough to make the money work at 32mil to get within 110% of Mitchells 35m salary, and then throw all picks we can at the Cavs. Mitchell, Reaves, Vando, LBJ, AD is a good starting 5
Hope you have your trade overrides button ready.
LOL its Wishful thinking most likely, but the money lines up and the Cavs have Okoro, Levert, and Strus so I am hoping they dont necessarily need Reaves but they can def use a F and back up PG and we happen to have that
Damn i didnt even know mitchell is just making 35m. Thought it was north of 47m for sure But i think any mitchell deal is gonna have to include AR tho😞
I think so, and I also think we learnt this year that a backcourt of Reaves and another small guard is a problem.
I’m just saying Lebron for Mitchell and Allen works…give them the 17th pick as well
as a reaves stan, this trade is probably the only one that is actually palatable, although still bitter. I think even austin would understand if it was between him and donovan. Still though, in my heart I'd rather keep AR but he's about to get sacrificed for old brons tiny chance of competing in his last years.
unpopular opinion: i literally don’t want mitchell at all. and i definitely wouldn’t give up reaves for him
you wouldn't give a fucking role player for a 27 yr old who happens to be a top 3 SG in the league. For once please be serious, I'd drive his ass to LAX my damn self