Knicksgod said: UPDATE: Nike says that it will not be making a shoe for every free-agent visit.
see, everyone is jumping to conclusions "lebron is a diva" ... "lebron is trying to profit off this, that and the other thing"... blah blah
Everything is falling into place as we hoped.. if anything, we shoudl be more optimistic than ever
1) LeBron has publically shown an affinitey for NY (statements, actual visitin the city, etc.)
2) Walsh went through with a lopsided trade to clear cap for THIS year which appears to have NO benefit unless James was coming to town with a 2nd max
3) Cavs lose in 2nd round (SECOND ROUND!!!!) as his teammates disappear AGAIN after a 1st seeded, 60+ win season...
4) New York is the 1st destination for his free agent tour
5) Bosh (via sources) named NY as one of his destinations, and also said pairing with LeBron is the first preference, and NY is the only team that can sign them outright
these are all facts
Will he return to Cleveland? I really REALLY don't think so... he "quit" on them this playoffs, their team is capped out, devoid of assetts (well, they got big expirings, thats it), and old, fading fast, and has no stars nor the ability to add a star without significant baggage
I believe LeBron would have bolted 3 years ago, but his options were limited as far as teams with projected cap space. Hence, he gave it another 3 years, all before the typical prime age of 27, which also gave other potential teams (cough cough New York) to do what they needed to clear their cap.
That knocks cleveland off the list, who already had 7 chances to build a champ and failed (losing Boozer, signing Hughes/Marshall/Jones, killing flexibility by trading for overpaid, no defense vets)
As for other options, only Chicago poses a legit argument for LeBron. Miami and Clippers aren'ty even locks for his FA visits. New Jersey? shoot me.
I'm going to Bodog tonight to put $500 on LeBron to Knicks, ill take the great odds!!!