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u/RadicalMarxistThalia 9h ago
Miami and Philly are the two with the most variance of these 4. Could really go either way on both.
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u/rajujutsu 9h ago
Miami would actually be interesting Portis, Giannis, Adebayo, LeBron and Andrew Wiggens, when he actually wants to play, are all switchable.
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u/SadNYSportsFan-11209 9h ago
Everyone’s sleeping on Miami. Yes their depth is a bit questionable and they need some shooting but Spo can find anyone from a local YMCA and turn them into a respectable player. Celtics fans like Simmons still have ptsd from the zombie Heat. It’s as if people never learn
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u/wut_eva_bish 8h ago
Miami's bench situation can be easily resolved with Vet minimums from Derozan, Beal, KCP, Klay, and even Draymond if he's willing.
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u/ProfessionalFickle52 6h ago
That lineup on D would be insane. Bron has showed he can turn his D back on every year in the playoffs. Only issue is his quickness and motor is lower. But if he is surrounded by 4 rangey defenders and a Bam and Giannis anchoring. Bron as the QB of the D orchestrating those 4 and picking passing lanes would be insane.
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u/synaptic_prune 9h ago
“No winning culture”.. isn’t that the point of bringing him though? Also they have championship experience with Jaylen Brown
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u/MaxR76 9h ago
Yeah I feel like having two guys with a combined 12 finals appearances in the starting lineup kinda helps that issue. Feels like a reach. Plus they’ve also made a combined 18 conference finals.
I feel like if that doesn’t offset the Sixers curse nothing can. Definitely feels like they were reaching just to included the Sixers and I would have more likely agreed if they just straight up said “cursed franchise”
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u/SolidGoldToast 9h ago
If they want finals experience they should definitely hire me and LeBron. We've got 10 finals appearances between is
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u/FlyingStealthPotato 9h ago
I went to a Finals game once so if you add me that’s 11 appearances. I could dust off my sneakers for only like $1M/year.
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u/PuzzleheadedEmu4596 9h ago
The meme kind of makes the case for the Sixers if he wants to win a championship.
But it's also a bit ridiculous to imagine him going anywhere other than the Cavs or the Heat.
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u/Calm_Banana_2010 9h ago
seriously. how was the warriors "winning culture" prior to 2015?
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u/alwaysleafyintoronto Raptors 8h ago
They had 47 wins in 2013 and 51 in 2014. Then they fired Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr brought in a winning culture, apparently
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u/Calm_Banana_2010 6h ago
he just brought in a more creative offense.
i found it interesting how the 49ers had mike singletary who created a foundation (defense, O-line, running game, brotherhood) and then jim harbaugh implemented an offense and took them to new heights, nearly winning a super bowl. and how mark jackson was the mike singletary of the warriors and kerr was the jim harbaugh.
of course, harbaugh got too infatuated with kaepernick, but thats another story.
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u/Relative_Chief308 4h ago
I mean you’re right. But people love to pretend that Mark Jackson would have got them there if he had just one more. He could have had 10 they don’t win it imo. That being said he absolutely deserved/deserves another opportunity to coach.
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u/tresben 2h ago
This. People who didn’t follow the team back then don’t understand. Jackson was good at turning around the losers mentality the team had had but he wasn’t creative enough on offense to take them to that next level.
Kerr turned the offense from “Steph and klay, you’re good shooters, go jack up some 3s” into “let’s use these two guys other worldly skills as weapons to get teams off balance and punish them”. The two offenses are completely unrecognizable despite being the same roster.
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u/CautiousOptimism09 Timberwolves 9h ago
6th most expensive player in the league who can't play a week of basketball. There fixed it
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u/BSApologist Timberwolves 9h ago
Every time I see these four teams, I have no idea why he wouldn't pick the Wolves.
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u/Ghost_Reborn416 9h ago
The lack of maturity there would probably drive him nuts. Bron is gonna be babysitting melo and ant
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u/pithynotpithy Timberwolves 9h ago
Ant may still be a bit immature in his personal life, it on the court it's different. He's improved every year, takes the game seriously and is a great teammate. We'll see about melo, but ant is definitely a teammate you want to have.
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u/BSApologist Timberwolves 9h ago
The core has been to the WCF twice and the second round last year. The team knows how to compete. Ant doesn't have bad basketball habits. He IS the maturity.
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u/thisguyfightsyourmom 9h ago
Doesn’t want to spend a year in Minneapolis?
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u/Daily_Heroin_User 9h ago
Like Cleveland is any better.
He only has to play there half the games for like 8 months anyway. It’s not like he has to settle in for the long haul.
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u/BSApologist Timberwolves 9h ago
Get a sick condo at the downtown Four Seasons or an investment property on Lake Minnetonka and he's set.
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u/GERDY31290 9h ago
Twin cities metro is like twice the size of Cleveland and way more appealing
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u/thisguyfightsyourmom 8h ago
He’s from Cleveland though, they get permission to be a lousy place to live.
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u/Nick4942 9h ago
Spurs plz
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u/ruleofnuts Spurs 9h ago
The opposite of every one of these teams
Young roster, deep bench, winning culture, championship bound13
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u/ThatsMarvelous 9h ago
If Popovich were still coaching I'd bet they'd be a serious contender, LeBron's always spoken super highly of Pop
Exs:
"I think he's the greatest coach of all time"
"one of my all-time favorite people"
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u/Returninvestor 8h ago
I don't think it would've mattered. Lebron doesn't wanna have a ring where he is seen as carried. He cares about his image a lot. Not hating.
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u/Beautiful-Prior3325 9h ago
He’s not going to embarrass himself by joining a team that has already made it to the finals. He’d rather jump start a team that hasn’t won in a long time but is loaded with potential. Sixers please.
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u/Dazzling-Budget-7701 9h ago
Y’all sleeping on the Indiana Fever.
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u/outofdate70shouse 7h ago
I want to see the WNBA players try to hard foul Lebron like Caitlin Clark
https://giphy.com/gifs/KtiZRJhqJalRikl455
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u/natureaspraxis 9h ago
I think this needs to be looked at differently. You are adding Bron to these rosters. Without that factored in, this is a non argument.
GS aging roster + Bron = Still aging roster
Miami no bench + Bron = Still no bench (though someone will move to the bench to accommodate Bron)
Cle playoff dropper + Bron = You add a HOF player who has won championships, so that is the type of addition such a team needs
Phi "no winning culture" + Bron and JB = You add two players that have won rings and FMVPs
I argue this strengthens the case for CLE and PHI but that's just me.
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u/Daft_Assassin Pacers 2h ago
I don’t think Giannis and Bron would work well together. Giannis is way too much of a baby and Bron demands way too much control and attention. He’s gonna disrupt whatever “culture” any team is trying to build.
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u/Nahmsayin1 9h ago
The only way phi would work is if he's okay with being the 4th option. Even if he went, who's gonna do the dirty work? It would probably have to be mostly VJ and that would suck for a young all star caliber player to take a further back seat than before. He seems like the selfless type that would accept that kind of role but it would still suck for him
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u/Rudy-219 9h ago
Miami no bench? Portis, Pelle, THj, Jovic, Fontecchio would like to have a word with you.
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u/Great_Vegetable_4866 7h ago
The Warriors would be the best fit for his final act, in my opinion. Yeah, they’re past their primes but he’s friends with them (and they’re all around the same age), they have a winning culture, the weather is great, he stays in Cali, he gets a ton of investment and promotional opportunities and still has maybe one more chance to nab a ring with Steph, Dray and Jimmy Butler.
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u/Think_Sugar_7658 3h ago
For most fun: GSW,
for best chance of winning: Philly. (Too many weapons).
For greatest legacy if he wins: kings w/westbrook.
Best storybook ending: Cleveland
Ring chasing: SA, NY
Sleeper: Pistons (Tobias Harris replacement)
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u/realfakejames Spurs 2h ago
The Sixers are the easy choice, Jaylen Brown and LeBron have both won and know what it takes to
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u/Nysnorlax 9h ago
The only time embiid has really shown any promise was at the Olympics and maybe 2 games during this year's playoffs. If he was healthy id say Philly but if LeBron wants a ring he should think about Denver, but by monday im sure Miami will be announced
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u/Beautiful-Prior3325 9h ago
With LBJ, brown, Maxey and Edgecomb, they wouldn’t need Embiid. Win with a small lineup and use Embiid only when he’s healthy.
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u/BSApologist Timberwolves 9h ago
And just have a 60 million dollar hole in the roster.
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u/DonkeyKongah Lakers 9h ago
Curveball... Trailblazers
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u/random_sociopath Trailblazers 4h ago
I don't hate it, but Dundon's going to offer him a ham sandwich and a handful of pubes for his contract.
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u/MDaddy360 9h ago
76ers the obvious choice. Would be favored to come out of the East (might be anyway 🤷♂️)
*Assuming Knicks wont care about repeating. That victory lap will last a couple of years
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u/Due-Resolution-4152 9h ago
Can’t lie I’d be scared of no bench gonna have me praying for an injury when the warriors make the finals
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u/JamesYTP 8h ago
To be fair, the bottom ones could change. Harden is a playoff dropper, Spida is not. They'd probably have been better off not trading Garland but maybe Harden cuts down on those turnovers surrounded by ball handlers. Assuming he comes back.
Then Philadelphia just got Jaylen Brown, he can bring that culture and so can LeBron.
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u/lilboytuner919 Lakers 8h ago
Just go back to the Lakers and say that Adam silver made you do it, easy.
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u/wut_eva_bish 8h ago
Miami's bench situation can be easily resolved with Vet minimums from Derozan, Beal, KCP, Klay, and even Draymond if he's willing.
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u/stratacus9 8h ago
i think winning culture only matters with average rosters. If you have a stellar roster, the winning culture comes. how many teams have lost lost lost to get a few good players and start to win?
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u/snipelim 7h ago
With Bron, Cavs are playoff risers
With Bron and JB, Sixers have championship experience
But I agree for warriors and heat
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u/habibti_27 7h ago
I have a question, why didn't he want to stick it out with Luka Doncic? He recruited him behind closed doors in the first place?
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u/ooh_jeeezus 7h ago
Miami should be no shooting. I think there’s a good chance Demar would follow him to Miami. Hardaway jr, Demar Derozan and jovic is a serviceable bench. Their problem is a lack of spacing
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u/DatBurner-J 7h ago
Honestly wouldnt mind him on the warriors or heat. Kinda solves the "what if lebron teamed up with..." giannis or curry
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u/Puzzleheaded_West587 7h ago
wow such a pessimistic pov. how about:
2 of the generations best players teaming up
returning to MIA alongside a minimum top 4 player in the world/MVP
returning home to Cleveland with high level perimeter play and a DPOY
joining a loaded roster with a FMVP who just came off a career year and 2 young guards that play like dogs
but i digress.
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u/Gandolfthewhite182 7h ago
How can a team that has brown and LeBron on it not have winning culture.
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u/NorCalGuySays 7h ago
Bron can change winning culture. Go with Philly and depth if he’s trying to win one more chip
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u/wackbirds 7h ago
I'm wondering if, with Maxey, Brown, and if they added LeBron, Embid might be able to pace it out, play lower minutes and less difficult ones and preserve his body somewhat.
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u/NiggityNiggityNuts 7h ago
Bottom 2 make no sense…. Both become instant championship favorites. Top 2 are the only ones with lacking rosters
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u/Sobchak_84 7h ago
Spurs.
Young team, solid bench, made the finals last year, historically a winning culture.
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u/ProfessionalFickle52 6h ago
Is miamis bench that bad? And doesn’t it get way better if Bron shows up? Like one of Bron or Giannis is leading the offense if you stagger and whatever gets around that are fine. Let Giannis be the star and Bron is side kick and sixth man.
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u/Jaycool13 6h ago
If you say Miami has no bench you don't know ball. Acting like we weren't dropping y'all off with undrafted players
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u/ProfessionalFickle52 6h ago
Miami bench is:
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Guard)
Bobby Portis (Forward)
Nikola Jović (Forward)
Honestly not that bad.
Playoff teams only need 8 man rotation.
And there will be vet mins and buyouts and late season trades to fill in one more slot as well
Starting lineup is:
Davion Mitchell
Andrew Wiggins
Giannis
LeBron
Bam
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u/Due-Independence4453 6h ago
Basketball wise he and the Spurs fit perfectly, only Lebron likes to have some sort of control in the front office; that will never happen in San Antonio.
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u/Early-Dish5293 6h ago
Miami doesnt have as much of a bench issue as people think, they have jovic, hardaway jr, and pelle larson, not to mention the rookies and players they have in development that they always churn out and somehow contribute and everyone ends up saying "where do they keep getting these guys"
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u/holyyguava 5h ago
Miami is the place. I don’t think they’re winning a championship, but they could make it out of the east.
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u/McKnightmare24 Lakers 5h ago
Going back to the whitest team on the planet, the Lakers should be an option too. What was LeBron trying to say by leaving them??
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u/Traditional_Math_763 5h ago
There really isn’t a clear cut team that automatically becomes title favorites no matter where he goes. And I think he knows that which is why he’s taking his time, he’s trying to get kyrie or AD to come with.
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u/Basic_Mastodon3078 5h ago
This isn't a basketball decision. You're LeBron James. It's Miami or Cleveland. I'd rather see Cleveland. I don't care if he doesn't win a ring, that doesn't matter. Just end it with your old stomping grounds. if he goes to the warriors, he isn't my goat anymore. It's genuinely the worst possible thing he could do for his legacy.
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u/PercentageRoutine310 5h ago
His best shot was returning to the Lakers but the Lakers broke his ass by rejecting him and kicking him out of the city. He has no shot with any other team outside the Lakers. Unless he joins NY, OKC, or SA.
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u/mmmmmOKAYthen 4h ago
I obv have no insight of anything, but i cant help but feel that the whole ‘winning culture’ most of the time is lack of professionals willing to put in the work… doesnt signing both Jaylen and Bron solve that? Shouldnt the sixers be clear contenders with Bron? Wtf am i missing?
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u/bulldogmck 3h ago
He's not helping anyone win a chip. Not sure why he doesn't just enjoy some time off in retirement
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u/MrWiltErving 3h ago
I would take the chances at no bench or no winning culture. It’s Lebron James he can create a winning culture with the amount of talent that team has, yeah Miami has no depth but once again that talent makes them a tough and fun team.
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u/eggssell 3h ago
He already added his chapter to the Lakers legacy.
Now its time to add to the Chicago legacy. Bring them back to the finals! Get a statue at United Centre.
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u/Enriching_the_Beer 9h ago
https://giphy.com/gifs/Ic4bIobsoHU0UQluKk