RandBall: LeBron to the Lakers was worst-case scenario for Wolves
LeBron James signed with the Lakers on Sunday, which as I wrote a few weeks back was the worst-case scenario for the Timberwolves for a couple of reasons.
First, and quite obviously, it creates another almost guaranteed playoff team (and title contender) in an already loaded Western Conference.
The Wolves, who slipped into the postseason as the No. 8 seed (albeit with an impressive 47 wins) on the last day of the season, would not have made it had the Lakers — not a playoff team a year ago — finished above them. So it will be harder to flat-out make the playoffs next year, and it will certainly be harder to conceive of competing in a more meaningful way with the Lakers figuring to join Golden State and Houston as big-time contenders.
Second, the Lakers already had a salary slot for LeBron. It would have potentially been better for the Wolves had he gone someplace where they needed to create cap room by dealing away potentially enticing players. There could still be a trickle-down effect as teams who hoped to land LeBron turn to other options — particularly in a year where the salary cap is only increasing by $2 million — but more volatility could have helped the Wolves make deals and sign players at discounted rates.
Maybe the only sort of good news, at least for fans, is that LeBron could make two visits to Target Center instead of just one a year now that he’s with the Lakers.
http://www.startribune.com/lebron-to-the-lakers-was-worst-case-scenario-for-wolves/487116861/
Howl Wolves!!
