Stealth free-agent recruit mode activated.
While everyone was zeroing in on the Los Angeles Lakers’ meeting with Carmelo Anthony on Thursday, general manager Mitch Kupchak flew the coop.
Literally.
According to the Los Angeles Times‘ Mike Bresnahan, Kupchak left for Cleveland after speaking with Melo, which presumably means he’s hoping to meet with LeBron James:
Lakers stealth: They said they didn't have meeting set up with LeBron James' agent but Kupchak + Lakers biz VP Tim Harris are in Cleveland.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 4, 2014
Kupchak and Harris flew to Cleveland on a private jet immediately after meeting with Carmelo in Los Angeles this afternoon.
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 4, 2014
Not many organizations are skilled in the art of keeping things close to the vest. The Lakers are an exception. Their interest in LeBron is obvious, just like it is for 29 other NBA teams, but if this were the New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls or Houston Rockets or another club, you would have heard about the Cleveland excursion six weeks, two days, 47 minutes and 23 seconds before it happened.
Stealth.
There’s still no guarantee the Lakers get face time with LeBron, though. His agent has been fielding phone calls and have met with just a few teams—the Cleveland Cavaliers, Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns—while he’s on vacation. If LeBron were seriously interested in leaving the Miami Heat now, he would be present at these meetings instead of fishing off the coast of God-knows-where.
Still, it’s a good thing the Lakers are adding themselves to that exclusive list of would-be suitors. Things could journey south between the Heat and LeBron quick.
They may already have.
From Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski:
After conducting meetings with three NBA teams interested in pursuing free-agent star LeBron James, his agent suggested to owners and executives present that a failure of Miami president Pat Riley to rapidly recruit a strong supporting cast could bring finalists back to meet with James himself next week, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
…
Some executives believe there’s an opportunity because of a disconnect between James and his teammates, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Another executive attending the meeting flatly said, “I think it’s a smokescreen.”
…
James has maintained a desire to take a full max contract with a starting salary of $20.7 million, sources said. Wade and Bosh are still reluctant to take severe cuts in their contracts, sources told Yahoo Sports, creating a financial disconnect among the three.
“There’s clearly a breakdown in communication between LeBron and [Wade and Bosh],” one executive who participated in the meetings over the past two days told Yahoo Sports. “[James is] giving Riley time to go get players for them but if that doesn’t happen in the next few days … LeBron seems ready to explore the market.”
This is probably all a smokescreen, like that one executive told Woj. It puts pressure on Pat Riley to make something happen soon, so LeBron isn’t waiting.
At the same time, Riley understands the urgency of the situation. It’s unlikely he’s sitting around, twiddling his thumbs, watching the free-agent market unfold right before his eyes. He’s been active; he’s attempted to do what LeBron wants: deepen the roster.
If this is anything, it may be a power play. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are apparently unsure whether they want to take pay cuts. Everyone just assumed they would, because it allows them to keep LeBron. He himself was probably certain they would. If their stance has changed, or they’re wavering in any way, this could be a ploy aimed at expediting their decisions.
Whatever this may be, it’s good for the Lakers. It, at the very least, gives them a chance to look at LeBron.
And it never hurts to look.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
