FIRST DOMINO ABOUT TO FALL
Rockets’ only real hope of landing James would be by opt-in and trade
A year to the day after the Rockets pulled off a whirlwind of deals that when the smoke cleared brought Chris Paul to Houston, hope — if there was any — faded that a similar coup was imminent with Paul’s buddy, LeBron James.
James has a deadline of 11 p.m. Friday deadline to opt-in to the final season of his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, a decision he could make to mirror the move Paul made a year ago when he chose to jump to the Rockets and convinced the Los Angeles Clippers to work out a trade be- fore he would become a free agent and sign with the Rockets.
James could remain in Cleveland or move on in the final season of his contract, but he’s getting close to his deadline.
If James chooses to return to free agency for the third time, it would not eliminate the Rockets as a potential suitor, but it would dramatically complicate the efforts to get him.
So far, the only plunge James had taken was during a rockdiving trip with his family that he posted on social media. For the Rockets, the ideal method to add him to a roster with Paul
and James Harden would be if James told the Cavaliers he was leaving one way or another but would opt-in to be traded.
The Rockets still could land the biggest prize of the summer free-agent market even if James lets the Friday deadline pass, but it would not be a good sign if he were to choose to become a free agent.
The final season of James’ contract will be worth roughly the same as the first year of his next contract, so he won’t have an immediate financial reason to become a free agent. Since the opt-in-and-trade scenario would best strengthen James’ next team if that team, as with the Rockets, is over the salary cap, choosing to be a free agent could indicate a preference to join a team with cap room or remain with the Cavaliers.
A complicated process
Given the difficulty in putting together a two-team deal with the Cavaliers, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey likely had to line up possible trade partners for a more complicated deal than he pulled off with the Clippers. If the Rockets can attract James as a free agent and there is not a sign-and-trade with matching salaries, they might have to clear out most of their salaries and renounce rights to most of their free agents to create that kind of cap room.
The Rockets would love to make their pitch when free agency begins, but James does not seem interested in hearing more recruiting presentations.
Oklahoma City star Paul George could be open to the process. He told the Thunder he would forgo the final season of his contract to become a free agent in a decision long expected without tipping his hand whether he’d return to Oklahoma City via a long-term deal or a threeyear contract with a player option in the final season.
While he took that step and James considered whether to make his, teams reportedly moved to topple the first domino to of the free-agency season.
Amid indications that the San Antonio Spurs were ready to weigh the offers for forward Kawhi Leonard, there were multiple reports the Los Angeles Lakers had stepped up efforts to acquire the disgruntled star, a move that would land one of the NBA’s top players and possibly entice James or George to join him.
Spurs at a fork in the road
A San Diego native, Leonard would welcome a return to Southern California, making him a safe bet to sign a long-term deal next summer. But the Boston Celtics have the assets, including as many as four firstround picks next season, to attempt to turn San Antonio’s head.
Just a week since Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said his team’s top priority is to repair the relationship with Leonard, he seemed ready to act on his stated plan to at least explore his options, which include testing the trade waters.
The Spurs have no need to act quickly, but the change in approach since they rebuffed overtures prior to the draft could indicate either that they are ready to make the best deal they can or that the best deal might be had when teams see a potential freeagency benefit to acting now.
Either way, James can make the next move, or no move at all until free agency begins late Saturday night.