LeBron James saw his shadow, leaving six more weeks of wonder.
On the 23rd day since leaving the Lakers — let’s be honest, they pushed him out the door — James made The Decision, Part 3.
He is signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. Thank goodness. Our long national nightmare is over. NBA commissioner Adam Silver can finally finish up the league schedule. Get ready for ESPN to treat the Sixers like the Yankees as they seek their first championship in 43 years.
James had the right to handle this with patience, but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t driving us nuts.
The hope is that James jumping to his fourth team will unclog the offseason traffic jam. Will the 41-year-old finding a new home finally create some positive momentum for one of the most depressing Nuggets’ offseasons ever?
The Nuggets were long ago removed from consideration for James.
So why bring it up and drizzle Sea Breeze in an open wound?
James held up other NBA moves. There is no way around it. Please, let this be the push that allows the other dominoes to fall.
James’ slow play connects to Nuggets’ restricted free agent Peyton Watson. The other teams chasing James — Cavs, Heat, Warriors — have not been linked to Watson.
But as the losers of the derby might they join the Bucks and Clippers as interested in the forward?
Klutch Sports, which represents James and Watson, had no problem with the turtle pace. Agent Rich Paul wants a big offer sheet for Watson, and that is more likely if his market expands.
The Nuggets have engaged in a stare down. It was a wise decision. They could end the madness by signing Watson to a contract of more than $25 million per season — it has to be more than Christian Braun — but why would they bid against themselves?
But the time for patience is over. The Nuggets need to apply the screws, to move with pace. Yes, it is complicated.
To sign Watson and stay under the apron, the Nuggets must trade Cam Johnson. The problem? The entire league knows this. So while there have been suitors, the offers obviously have not moved the needle. That should change as market clarity forms for Watson and Jalen Duren.
And it is needed to goose Klutch Sports. The agency has drawn out talks with restricted free agents before like Tristan Thompson, Nerlens Noel and Eric Bledsoe, with varying degrees of success. This becomes a moot point if Watson gets an offer sheet. It will force an outcome.
That is ideal. The last thing the Nuggets need is for Watson to hold out. And it cannot be ruled out since it is his greatest leverage to take the negotiations into October and see who blinks.
The Nuggets could pull the ripcord, and move on from Watson with a sign-and-trade.
That would be a mistake. It is one thing to lose out for James. It is another to let his free agent approach contribute to the Nuggets losing Watson.
He is everything this roster needs going forward: young, athletic, defensively-skilled and capable of creating his own shot.
James not making Denver a finalist was a gut punch. It is time for the Nuggets to crawl off the mat and make sure they get Watson back.
Arch of Texas: No college quarterback is under more pressure than Arch Manning. After an uneven first season as a starter, he has taken a leadership role and been surrounded with offensive weapons, namely receiver Cam Coleman, that screams championship or bust. Manning played loose and effective down the stretch last season. Now, he must show he can read defenses without losing his mechanics. The early prediction is that the Browns draft him next season.
Jake of All Trades: Jake Paul turned from an influencer into a boxer. Can we just stop there? Paul believes he could play in the NFL. I would love to see him at camp so a linebacker could light him up like the Vegas strip. The only thing stupider than Paul playing in the NFL is Tom Brady engaging in a cringey, scripted feud with the faux Hulk. Tom, please. You are a sports legend. This stuff should be beneath you.
Rox progress: The Rockies’ record stinks. But they are making progress in a number of areas. Multiple agents this week left impressed after talking with the Rockies before and after the draft. It was a new experience that Colorado nailed their valuations of players. Now, the onus is on the front office to be similarly shrewd with trades. The difference? There is a growing belief that they can pull off a productive deadline, a sentence rarely uttered over the last decade in Colorado.
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