LeBron Free Agency 2010

[Mezotarkus]

I'm not even a Cavs fan and this talk of Lebron to Chicago is annoying me.

Certainly, Chicago fans can get giddy to the point they don't think straight. I called it when the Bulls sign Ben Wallace that it was a huge mistake that they would regret and it was and they did. But Bulls fan ignored the numbers showing Wallace would not make them a better team and bought into the move that squandered their cap space. The delusion is different now though. Lebron is clearly a player the Bulls should love to be able to get. The delusion now is not the quality of the player but rather the idea that he would ever be in a Bulls uniform.

Chicago fans think they can get Lebron in a S&T and then add another piece with their cap space.

First, there is no way in hell Cavs management will agree to a trade that sends Lebron to Chicago no matter what they get back. You don't agree to a trade that sends your franchise's heart and soul to a division rival and enable them to stomp you for the next several years. Ain't gonna happen. No way, no how.

Second, the Cavs do not want Deng and his overpriced contract in return for Lebron.

Third, Lebron will not want to have to play in the shadow of MJ's legacy. The pressure to win a single championship is significant enough. The pressure to win at least or more than SIX championships to match Jordan's legacy is something I am sure Lebron does not want to sign up for.

[TheOUTLAW]

How do you know any of this? Were you on the bench or in the locker room?

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Third, Lebron will not want to have to play in the shadow of MJ's legacy. The pressure to win a single championship is significant enough. The pressure to win at least or more than SIX championships to match Jordan's legacy is something I am sure Lebron does not want to sign up for.

Lebron is compared to Jordan everytime he steps on the court. Whether its in Chicago, Cleveland, or Dubai, Lebron is going to be in Jordan's shadow until he surpasses him.

The great players have ego's and I don't think Lebron is any different. He's not going to care "who played where" before he got there. He'll go to the best situation for him - whether its Cleveland, Chicago, or Miami.

[TheCardinal20]

Realistically, a sign and trade will not net much more than player of Deng's calibre...but any return is worth it if LeBron makes it clear he is not going to play in Cleveland in 2010-2011.

[TheOUTLAW]

See, that's where I differ. I don't think adding a player that merely makes us a middling team adds at all. I still think it's better to be really bad and possibly get a great player than ending up in the middle and getting role players in the draft.

[Ballah]

Lebron is going to take a long hard look at the Cleveland team and ask the question "can i win with this guys". At this point the sad truth is the answer is No. After that he is going to ask himself "can the team improve through the draft or free agency next year", and that is another big emphatic No. When he realizes he would have a much better team elsewhere (chicago or NJ, NOT NY) he is going to decide to leave, and it WILL be a tough decision. I firmly believe that in his heart he would prefer to stay here and if Orlando and Boston hadn't exposed us as a bad TEAM the last two years (Remember Lebron averaged like 40 during the Orlando series and if it wasn't for that game winner in game two we would have likely gotten swept by them) the decision would be very very easy, but at this point he needs to think about his legacy and the fact that this team won't be championship caliber in the near future. Of course if Delonte has been schtuping his mom all of this is completely moot, i wouldn't want that dude with his herpes looking face near my mommy.

[TheOUTLAW]

yeah, and had it not been for some unbelievable shooting by Orlando they probably would have won

I am consistently amused by how overrated the Nets players are. Weren't they actually challenging for the all time worst team in the NBA?

[RussellandFlow]

You are correct that the Nets were historically bad this past season, but at the very least they have a legit, young and talented center in Lopez (which the Cavs do not have) and a solid pg in Harris who is better than Mo Williams, and most likely a top 3 pick in the draft. I do not believe he will go to NJ, but looking at the Cavs roster, and was has transpired the past two seasons in the playoffs, I just do not see him deciding to come back to Cleveland.

[Ballah]

I am consistently amused by how overrated the Nets players are. Weren't they actually challenging for the all time worst team in the NBA?

The nets are good at the point guard and center positions and they will have a really high pick in a historically good draft.

[gflem]

Harris may be better than Mo, but not this past year. Harris was inconsistent at best and looked like he had regressed. Maybe it was not having VC on his team, or maybe it was being on a terrible team but whatever it was he wasnt as good as last year. And he has not played in the playoffs before as far as I remember, and who knows how he react to the pressure, maybe the same way Mo has.
If they draft Wall, Harris will probably be moved, they play the same position and I dont know if Wall can play the 2 in the NBA. Maybe he can but IF Lebron were to go there, he wont get the touches that he would otherwise so that would affect his growth possibly.
As for NJ, or NY as possible places for Lebron to end up, well the tax structure in both places is prohibitive to most anyone who makes over $1 million, while places like Texas and Florida have NO state income taxes. Mia or Dallas would be much better for Lebron to consider as far as ownership, talent, front office, and the tax thing. Playing for Cuban is akin to playing for his current team owner in that the players are treated like royalty (no pun intended), in fact Cuban kind of started that trend.
Chicago is a great city, and I dont know what exactly thier tax situation is, but with the pols there I would have to believe taxes are quite high there as well. And Chicago while having young talent like Noah and Rose, they dont have anyone to match up with Dwight either. If Lebron stays east whether it is here or Chicago there is still that problem to consider.

[Triumph36]

I'm not even a Cavs fan and this talk of Lebron to Chicago is annoying me.

Certainly, Chicago fans can get giddy to the point they don't think straight. I called it when the Bulls sign Ben Wallace that it was a huge mistake that they would regret and it was and they did. But Bulls fan ignored the numbers showing Wallace would not make them a better team and bought into the move that squandered their cap space. The delusion is different now though. Lebron is clearly a player the Bulls should love to be able to get. The delusion now is not the quality of the player but rather the idea that he would ever be in a Bulls uniform.

Chicago fans think they can get Lebron in a S&T and then add another piece with their cap space.

First, there is no way in hell Cavs management will agree to a trade that sends Lebron to Chicago no matter what they get back. You don't agree to a trade that sends your franchise's heart and soul to a division rival and enable them to stomp you for the next several years. Ain't gonna happen. No way, no how.

Second, the Cavs do not want Deng and his overpriced contract in return for Lebron.

Third, Lebron will not want to have to play in the shadow of MJ's legacy. The pressure to win a single championship is significant enough. The pressure to win at least or more than SIX championships to match Jordan's legacy is something I am sure Lebron does not want to sign up for.

I agree with everything but the end. Supposedly people in LBJ's inner circle claim he doesn't care about the whole MJ's shadow thing. Whether that's true or not...I dunno. But I think you're only thinking about one side of LeBron's ego. Consider the opposite. He goes to Chicago, pairs with a young team, and leads them to six championships over his career. With his HUGE ego and selfishness, winning as many titles as MJ IN MJ's city would honestly be the best possible turnout for his career. Better than leading Cleveland to their first championship. Better than leading the Knicks turnaround. He may look at it as a challenge, and I DO think the Bulls are a legit suitor for him.

But everything else you said was spot on. We aren't going to trade him for Deng. Or James Johnson. Or whoever else the Bulls would offer.

[dice]

Lebron is going to take a long hard look at the Cleveland team and ask the question "can i win with this guys". At this point the sad truth is the answer is No.

absurd. that's like flipping a coin and thinking that because it comes up tails it could never come up heads. the cavs had the best record in the league this year and were favorites to win it all as of FOUR DAYS AGO. they didn't rise to the occasion in game five (lebron especially) and couldn't sufficiently bounce back in game six. that is it and that is all

it doesn't matter where lebron decides to spend the next five years. that team will likely win a championship or two

extrapolating the bodog odds, cleveland has a 40+% chance of keeping him right now, w/ chi/NY at 20%+ each

i would be thrilled w/ dwade (or even bosh) coming to chicago and you guys keeping lebron. wouldn't want the hard luck sports town of cleveland suffering its worst loss to date

[boogydown]

Lebron is going to take a long hard look at the Cleveland team and ask the question "can i win with this guys". At this point the sad truth is the answer is No.

absurd. that's like flipping a coin and thinking that because it comes up tails it could never come up heads. the cavs had the best record in the league this year and were favorites to win it all as of FOUR DAYS AGO. they didn't rise to the occasion in game five (lebron especially) and couldn't sufficiently bounce back in game six. that is it and that is all

it doesn't matter where lebron decides to spend the next five years. that team will likely win a championship or two

extrapolating the bodog odds, cleveland has a 40+% chance of keeping him right now, w/ chi/NY at 20%+ each

i would be thrilled w/ dwade (or even bosh) coming to chicago and you guys keeping lebron. wouldn't want the hard luck sports town of cleveland suffering its worst loss to date

There are 3 guaranteed teams that are vastly better than the Cavs being the Celtics, Magic, and Lakers with a few teams just slightly below them. With some players changing teams this year, there should be more competitive teams in the league starting next season. With the Cavs aging, there is no way you can guarantee that Lebron will win a title in Cleveland or not.

[dice]

Lebron is going to take a long hard look at the Cleveland team and ask the question "can i win with this guys". At this point the sad truth is the answer is No.

absurd. that's like flipping a coin and thinking that because it comes up tails it could never come up heads. the cavs had the best record in the league this year and were favorites to win it all as of FOUR DAYS AGO. they didn't rise to the occasion in game five (lebron especially) and couldn't sufficiently bounce back in game six. that is it and that is all

it doesn't matter where lebron decides to spend the next five years. that team will likely win a championship or two

extrapolating the bodog odds, cleveland has a 40+% chance of keeping him right now, w/ chi/NY at 20%+ each

i would be thrilled w/ dwade (or even bosh) coming to chicago and you guys keeping lebron. wouldn't want the hard luck sports town of cleveland suffering its worst loss to date

There are 3 guaranteed teams that are vastly better than the Cavs being the Celtics, Magic, and Lakers with a few teams just slightly below them. With some players changing teams this year, there should be more competitive teams in the league starting next season. With the Cavs aging, there is no way you can guarantee that Lebron will win a title in Cleveland or not.

i certainly wouldn't guarantee it. i just think it's likely. would he have a better shot elsewhere? yeah, probably

[Ballah]

Lebron is going to take a long hard look at the Cleveland team and ask the question "can i win with this guys". At this point the sad truth is the answer is No.

absurd. that's like flipping a coin and thinking that because it comes up tails it could never come up heads. the cavs had the best record in the league this year and were favorites to win it all as of FOUR DAYS AGO. they didn't rise to the occasion in game five (lebron especially) and couldn't sufficiently bounce back in game six. that is it and that is all

it doesn't matter where lebron decides to spend the next five years. that team will likely win a championship or two

extrapolating the bodog odds, cleveland has a 40+% chance of keeping him right now, w/ chi/NY at 20%+ each

i would be thrilled w/ dwade (or even bosh) coming to chicago and you guys keeping lebron. wouldn't want the hard luck sports town of cleveland suffering its worst loss to date

What happened to us this year didn't happen in a vacuum. We've had the best record in the league the last two years, both times we've lost to the first good team we've faced in the playoffs. Saying the only thing wrong is that we stunk it up in one game is just blinding yourself to the truth. Mo, Jamison, Shaq simply did not rise to the occasion, for Mo this is two years in a row he sucks in the playoffs. If Lebron stays he needs a completely different supporting cast around him.

[Mongoose]

Chicago is a great city, and I dont know what exactly thier tax situation is, but with the pols there I would have to believe taxes are quite high there as well. And Chicago while having young talent like Noah and Rose, they dont have anyone to match up with Dwight either. If Lebron stays east whether it is here or Chicago there is still that problem to consider.

Illinois has a flat 3% state income tax. Not exactly back breaking, considering it's about half of what LeBron would pay in Ohio with his tax bracket.

[Chi Dynasty12]

And Chicago while having young talent like Noah and Rose, they dont have anyone to match up with Dwight either. If Lebron stays east whether it is here or Chicago there is still that problem to consider.

...and what other teams in the East have somebody that is better than Noah to guard Dwight? You'd be hardpressed to name them; Noah is going to be an all-defensive second, maybe first team, caliber player next season.

[DEEP3CL]

Cavs fans stay strong and for your own sanity don't get sucked into the media hype. This is an emotional time for your franchise and city. As you guys know we went through this in the summer of 07, what made it worse was that Kobe asked to be traded. Which is the worse feeling to know that your best player doesn't want you anymore.

In LJ's case he's free to take off, being an old school ball guy I don't want LeBron to leave. I'm asking myself what good will it do him ? If he goes somewhere else he still has to start over. Smart guys know it isn't about money, hell LeBron can make a ton of money anywhere in the USA.

In reality the Cavs are close, why would LJ dump that chance for the unknown ? I don't get it, he turned the Cavs into a known team........I don't get why he would leave. Leaving isn't the problem solver. The Lakers had many disappointments before they won, but people forget they kept getting dumped on by the Jazz and Spurs in the early 90's. It takes time, you gotta crawl before you walk.

I know what you guys are feeling, I've been there when the Lakers had a 12 year drought of doing nothing but getting beat when it counted.

Pat Riley said it best years ago......."You gotta be scared before you win big", LeBron will take this and it's going to make him even better. It's going to turn him into the assassin he said he couldn't be. I always remembered that quote by him, and I said he won't win until he becomes one. One this sinks in he's going to wreck everybody in his path........all we'll be able to do is witness it. But nobody is stopping it.

[Darth Celtic]

And Chicago while having young talent like Noah and Rose, they dont have anyone to match up with Dwight either. If Lebron stays east whether it is here or Chicago there is still that problem to consider.

...and what other teams in the East have somebody that is better than Noah to guard Dwight? You'd be hardpressed to name them; Noah is going to be an all-defensive second, maybe first team, caliber player next season.

perkins and the celtics say 'hi'

[The Skyhook]

Cavs fans stay strong and for your own sanity don't get sucked into the media hype. This is an emotional time for your franchise and city. As you guys know we went through this in the summer of 07, what made it worse was that Kobe asked to be traded. Which is the worse feeling to know that your best player doesn't want you anymore.

In LJ's case he's free to take off, being an old school ball guy I don't want LeBron to leave. I'm asking myself what good will it do him ? If he goes somewhere else he still has to start over. Smart guys know it isn't about money, hell LeBron can make a ton of money anywhere in the USA.

In reality the Cavs are close, why would LJ dump that chance for the unknown ? I don't get it, he turned the Cavs into a known team........I don't get why he would leave. Leaving isn't the problem solver. The Lakers had many disappointments before they won, but people forget they kept getting dumped on by the Jazz and Spurs in the early 90's. It takes time, you gotta crawl before you walk.

I know what you guys are feeling, I've been there when the Lakers had a 12 year drought of doing nothing but getting beat when it counted.

Pat Riley said it best years ago......."You gotta be scared before you win big", LeBron will take this and it's going to make him even better. It's going to turn him into the assassin he said he couldn't be. I always remembered that quote by him, and I said he won't win until he becomes one. One this sinks in he's going to wreck everybody in his path........all we'll be able to do is witness it. But nobody is stopping it.

Wise words Deep. I can't disagree. Hopefully Cavs fans can understand where you're coming from.