Lebron/Bulls gossip & rumors (merging)

[lu9]

I dont get why people think thats its an "automatic" that if LeBron goes to NYK, he will lose for the rest of his life. Maybe he wont win next season if he is joined by Bosh @ MSG, but they will be a Playoffs team and will be able to build from there. When you have two stars, one of them being the best player in the league (IMO), you will be in contention for a long time and be able to add pieces down the road. Who wouldnt want to join those two in New York?
By no means Im saying he is going to NYK (I have him re-signing with the Cavs for 3 seasons), but people exagerate (IMO) what would mean for LeBron to join the Knicks.
I just cant see him in Miami.
For me, its a three horse race: Cleveland, Chicago & New York. Thats it.

I'm gonna have to go ahead and agree with this. I will add though... the hope is, he isn't willing to be patient like that. He has been patient in Cleveland. Why roll that dice again? That's what I'm hoping he's thinking anyhow...

I hope he chooses Chicago over both Cleveland and New York because of the "what-ifs". Chicago is the city with less of them.

[lu9]

Also, I'll add.. If I'm a betting man I put $$ on LeBron to Chicago.

[r1terrell23]

Reasons LeBron will be a Knick:

He's a business man! Chicago isn't a big enough market for him!

Toney Douglas>Derrick Rose

Eddy Curry>Joakim Noah

Wilson Chandler = MVP

The Knicks can add Bosh or keep David Lee along with LeBron and keep 4 players on the roster

Did I mention the big market???

Bob Ryan was on Mike and Mike this morning - now Bob is from Boston and admittedly biased, but he had a good point. If Lebron is concerned about winning - there are only two places he can go - Chicago or Miami. If Lebron cares more about his image and building his brand, then the likely spot is NY. Based on where he does go should tell us all we need to know about what type of player Lebron is.

MJ didn't have much of an issue being a mega star and promoting his brand in Chicago and neither will Lebron. In fact playing in Chicago where MJ played hypes his stock even more.
CHICAGO + WINNING > new york + losing.

[Sever82]

Just out of curiousity but doesn't anyone actually think the opposite of what some in NY are arguing? That MJ's shadow will limit Lebron's promotion or endorsement compared to NY where he would have no legacy to follow?

I actually am starting to think that playing on the same team as Michael will promote Lebron even more because we would hear the comparisons more often and he would be under a bigger spotlight and people would pay closer attention to him.

[Red Larrivee]

The point isn't so much that the Knicks will never be a winning team, it is that they are a long way from a title contending team. Bosh and James can give them a 45-50 win team. LeBron has a 60 win team in Cleveland, so why would he move?

Whereas LeBron on the Bulls could equal 55-60 wins right away and more later on.

This is pretty far-fetched.The Knicks talent level sucks. We all agree. But if you add Chris Bosh and LeBron James to any team, they're more than just some 45-50 win team, especially in the Eastern Conference.

The Bobcats and Bucks won 44 and 46 games this year without a top-20 NBA player. Put that in perspective. If The Knicks land Bosh, then sign LeBron and sign a cheap Center with the rest of the money, they're easily one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

I still think the Bulls are a better fit, but New York's situation isn't that dreadful. Anyone who adds LeBron, the pieces will quickly fall into place.

[Shill]

Not sure if this question belongs here, but whatever.

With regard to Bosh wanting a sign-and-trade, what will Toronto hold out for? If Bosh says, "I'm going to the Knicks," would they take Gallo and call it a day? If we were to attempt a sign-and-trade, what would they want?

I'm not really sure what Toronto is trying to accomplish right now. They've got $90 million tied up in Turkoglu, Calderon, and Jack.

[JackFinn]

They've got $90 million tied up in Turkoglu, Calderon, and Jack.

[InsideInfo]

The point isn't so much that the Knicks will never be a winning team, it is that they are a long way from a title contending team. Bosh and James can give them a 45-50 win team. LeBron has a 60 win team in Cleveland, so why would he move?

Whereas LeBron on the Bulls could equal 55-60 wins right away and more later on.

This is pretty far-fetched.The Knicks talent level sucks. We all agree. But if you add Chris Bosh and LeBron James to any team, they're more than just some 45-50 win team, especially in the Eastern Conference.

The Bobcats and Bucks won 44 and 46 games this year without a top-20 NBA player. Put that in perspective. If The Knicks land Bosh, then sign LeBron and sign a cheap Center with the rest of the money, they're easily one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

I still think the Bulls are a better fit, but New York's situation isn't that dreadful. Anyone who adds LeBron, the pieces will quickly fall into place.

I agree that Lebron and Bosh on any team would make them a top 3 or 4 team in the east and a 50+ win team in the reg season. However, I think they would need more then just Bron and Bosh if they want to win in the playoffs.

[Sever82]

Not sure if this question belongs here, but whatever.

With regard to Bosh wanting a sign-and-trade, what will Toronto hold out for? If Bosh says, "I'm going to the Knicks," would they take Gallo and call it a day? If we were to attempt a sign-and-trade, what would they want?

I'm not really sure what Toronto is trying to accomplish right now. They've got $90 million tied up in Turkoglu, Calderon, and Jack.

They'd definitely ask for a 1st round pick and probably a young asset. In chicago's case, they'd probably ask for Taj. Or they can see if they can dump a deal like Turks and swap it for Dengs.

[Ralphb07]

Craig Ehlo thoughts:

"If I were LeBron, and I were considering free agency ... explore your options," Ehlo said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I would consider Chicago one of the first places I would play.

"I think if he went to Chicago and played in Chicago, it would break my heart, because I know he's a Cavalier. If he shows up in Chicago, look at the nucleus he's going to play with and grow with. That's the way I see teams going, that's the way I see something happening for him."

Many believe the Bulls' core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng gives James the best chance to win a title in the shortest amount of time.

"If he does do the free agency thing, he'll go where there's a nucleus already intact," Ehlo said. "Because he doesn't want to wait another four years or five years for a team to come together, and you have it right there in Chicago -- Rose, Noah, Deng all fit in very well with a player like LeBron."

Deng is important is this, a lot of people talk about him being dealt but a core of James-Rose-Deng and Noah is scary good

[Sever82]

Craig Ehlo thoughts:

"If I were LeBron, and I were considering free agency ... explore your options," Ehlo said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I would consider Chicago one of the first places I would play.

"I think if he went to Chicago and played in Chicago, it would break my heart, because I know he's a Cavalier. If he shows up in Chicago, look at the nucleus he's going to play with and grow with. That's the way I see teams going, that's the way I see something happening for him."

Many believe the Bulls' core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng gives James the best chance to win a title in the shortest amount of time.

"If he does do the free agency thing, he'll go where there's a nucleus already intact," Ehlo said. "Because he doesn't want to wait another four years or five years for a team to come together, and you have it right there in Chicago -- Rose, Noah, Deng all fit in very well with a player like LeBron."

Deng is important is this, a lot of people talk about him being dealt but a core of James-Rose-Deng and Noah is scary good

I would be ok with Deng staying here, if he did, i would like it if the bulls move Lebron to the two guard spot. He has the speed and athleticism to do so.

[DanTown8587]

Craig Ehlo thoughts:

"If I were LeBron, and I were considering free agency ... explore your options," Ehlo said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I would consider Chicago one of the first places I would play.

"I think if he went to Chicago and played in Chicago, it would break my heart, because I know he's a Cavalier. If he shows up in Chicago, look at the nucleus he's going to play with and grow with. That's the way I see teams going, that's the way I see something happening for him."

Many believe the Bulls' core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng gives James the best chance to win a title in the shortest amount of time.

"If he does do the free agency thing, he'll go where there's a nucleus already intact," Ehlo said. "Because he doesn't want to wait another four years or five years for a team to come together, and you have it right there in Chicago -- Rose, Noah, Deng all fit in very well with a player like LeBron."

Deng is important is this, a lot of people talk about him being dealt but a core of James-Rose-Deng and Noah is scary good

Sign James
S&T Kirk, 2 #1, Charlotte pick, JJ to Atlanta for JJ on 6/85 deal
SIgn Asik, Craig Smith with cap space available
Sign Vet min backup PG

Rose/JJ/James/Deng/Noah with #1 (likely SG), Gibson, Smith, Asik, Vet min off the bench. That team is deep, can change things up on the drop of a hat, can attack the floor and shoot.

[Ralphb07]

I would be ok with Deng staying here, if he did, i would like it if the bulls move Lebron to the two guard spot. He has the speed and athleticism to do so

That's exactly where LBJ will play. The starting 5 would be Rose-James-Deng-Gibson-Noah. That team can score, rebound, block shots, defend and run the court. Just get some 3 point specialist off the bench and this team is winning the title next year.

[theanimal23]

I wonder how Deng feels in all this -- being that he won't get as many shots if we sign a premiere FA, especially LeBron.

[DuckIII]

The Argument Golic made after Ryan was on, was spot on. He was saying that he disagreed with Ryan that if Lebron wants to blow up his image he has to go to NY. In Fact Golic sounded annoyed and said NY isn't going to get an Endorsement deal lebron couldn't get anywhere else and i totally agree. NY makes a difference for a mid level star but when you're the best player in the NBA, you're going to be big time as long as you win and as long as you continue to play the way you're playing. I'm still skeptical and still dont buy Lebron being a bull but compared to Miami, Chicago's positives outweigh Miami's positives when it comes to sports. If he wants to play in front of packed crowds he should go to Chicago, if he wants a better team situation both now and long term he goes Chicago.

I don't agree. By the way, Golic is from Cleveland.

Regardless, I'm not from Cleveland, and a Bulls fan, and think he's wrong. LeBron is already a mega star. No doubt about it. And he always will be. But he'll be a bigger megastar in New York than he can be anywhere else. That's just a fact. New York, with the possible exception of Paris, is the most prestigious city in the world. And when it comes to athletics, its the biggest by far.

We might not like it, but New York is the gravitational center of the sports universe. It is perceived that way, and it is covered that way. The New York Knicks, as an organization, perfectly illustrates this. Despite a complete lack of relevence and success, they are one of the most globally talked about, famous franchises on the planet and have been my entire sports-watching life (which is over 20 years old). That is because of the words "New York" not the word "Knicks."

Look at Albert Pujols as another example. He is a LeBronian type of baseball player. And, though he does not play in a market the size of Chicago, he plays for the second most storied franchises in the sport, that has a HUGE national following. And he can't eve sniff Derek Jeter's fame and popularity. Can you imagine how big Pujols would be if he were a Yankee?

Yes, LeBron is soooooo big that he overcomes a lot of this regionalism. But he'd be even bigger in New York. That's just the way it is. And if he bases his decision on notoriety moreso than victory, there is absolutely no question at all he'll go to New York. And he'll be right to, if those are his primary goals.

[Ralphb07]

I wonder how Deng feels in all this -- being that he won't get as many shots if we sign a premiere FA, especially LeBron.

Deng will get probably the same amount of points and IMO more effectively. LBJ and Rose are both unselfish guys and they will get Deng the ball on cuts and kicks out. Deng becomes a dangerous player on the Bulls if we get LBJ

[Red Larrivee]

I think it's better to move Deng and have shooters at the 2/4. Troy Murphy is someone who would fit great, no idea on what Indiana is looking for, but he'll stretch the 3 and play off Bron and open up the floor for Noah down low.

Rose-Shooter-LeBron-Shooter-Noah. Of course if Deng can actually develop his high volume 3 this Summer, he'd fit in, but his salary is still a big issue.

[DuckIII]

I wonder how Deng feels in all this -- being that he won't get as many shots if we sign a premiere FA, especially LeBron.

I don't know. But I'd suspect he'd be fine with it. He already got the biggest contract he's ever going to get. And he's a competitor. I suspect he'd trade a few minutes and shots for titles at this point in his career.

Its not like there isn't room for both of them to start and play major minutes.

[NDave79]

I would be ok with Deng staying here, if he did, i would like it if the bulls move Lebron to the two guard spot. He has the speed and athleticism to do so

That's exactly where LBJ will play. The starting 5 would be Rose-James-Deng-Gibson-Noah. That team can score, rebound, block shots, defend and run the court. Just get some 3 point specialist off the bench and this team is winning the title next year.

This is what I'm thinking as well. Plus, oldest player is 25.

[umfan83]

Thank God, I was just wondering what Craig Ehlo thought about all of this. Hopefully someone can get in touch with Hot Rod Williams to get his opinion on the matter.