Butch Carter: Lebron will sign with Toronto or Cleveland

[martypython]

I have no idea why Lebron even leaves Miami where he has warm weather, tax advantages, and Pa Riley.

He wants to raise two kids, and Florida education sucks.

[C Court]

I'm in favor of drug testing for guests on PTS.

[VintageVince]

What I don't get is, why don't the three stick in Miami? They have player options for another two years of over 20mil each. They really need that extra few mil? Bosh won't get more than 15 anyway, he'd be losing money if he doesn't use his player's option.

[RIP Kobe]

if we continue to play like this then who knows right?!?!

[VintageVince]

Lets just hope the Heat don't win a championship this year. If they lose in the semis to Pacers, that would be nice. That could give a reason for the big three to split. Heat would be left with Bosh @ 20mil / a year lol. They would have to resign Wade I assume?

[whysoserious]

You are a serious glass half empty kind of guy. I dont mean that as an aggresive insult, seriously, although I know you will read it that way. Grass is not always greener on the other side. Miami is a joke of a city built for the Kim Kardashians of the world coupled with a piss poor fan base. LBJ is a basketball junky, he may be asking himself right now 'why do MIAMI fans deserve my greatness?' whatevs. I'm not going to go point by point, because really, I dont have all the answers and will just be regurgitating myself. Fundamentally, I think Toronto as a city, the raptors as a youthful team, MLSE as an organization and Leiweke / Masai as a management team have a LOT they can offer that would make the overall package very attractive for anyone, even LBJ. We just need to prove a winning culture. Maybe I'm a homer... actually, I am a homer, and proud of it. You may think I'm a hippy, but I am of the mindset that ANYTHING is possible if you believe it and work towards it hard / smart enough. Thats how I live my life, thats how I attack my career. LBJ to Toronto? If I'm Leiweke right now, I'm thinking why the F Not?!?!?!!!!

I stated right in my first response that there's no issue with Lieweke setting goals to go get a Lebron or asking why not us or any of that. That's not the question at hand which was that Butch suggested Lebron would consider Toronto and i'm asking for evidence why he would over the city he's in or going home?

It makes sense for us to inquire and pitch it, how does it make sense for him? There really isn't much to be gained and now you're adding that he's a basketball junkie or that Miami sucks. If Miami sucks so bad as a city and the fan base, why did he go there in the first place?

[Courtside]

Also, he's already regarded as one of the top players of all-time or on that path, why wouldn't he want to keep winning titles in MIami and maybe surpass Jordan?

I'm not saying it can't happen, but do you really think Miami can keep the run going beyond this year and maybe next? Wade's body is breaking down. Bosh isn't getting any younger and there's no guarantee that Riley can replace one or both of those guys with high caliber replacements for the next 3-5 years in order for Lebron to surpass Jordan.

Put James on this Raptors squad and put it up against the current Heat team (with Lebron) and tell me who takes the series? Who is better set up to win for the next 3-5 years?

A 50 win roster of guys one "NBA generation" younger than him starts to look pretty appealing if wins are the #1 criteria. LA would have him and who else? Also, with the dysfunction and questionable management in Cleveland, along with the same owner and limited financial means, does Lebron really look at Cleveland as a team to win with?

[whysoserious]

Also, he's already regarded as one of the top players of all-time or on that path, why wouldn't he want to keep winning titles in MIami and maybe surpass Jordan?

I'm not saying it can't happen, but do you really think Miami can keep the run going beyond this year and maybe next? Wade's body is breaking down. Bosh isn't getting any younger and there's no guarantee that Riley can replace one or both of those guys with high caliber replacements for the next 3-5 years in order for Lebron to surpass Jordan.

Put James on this Raptors squad and put it up against the current Heat team (with Lebron) and tell me who takes the series? Who is better set up to win for the next 3-5 years?

A 50 win roster of guys one "NBA generation" younger than him starts to look pretty appealing.

Even just having Bosh and a ton of role players and Miami is in contention every year. Yes Bosh gets older but he's still only 29 without major injuries. All it takes is for Riley to make one smart move and trade Wade to a team like Cleveland (not them specifically) looking for a star for a few prospects and they retool with some youth around Bosh and Lebron.

I'm not saying it's impossible but people are acting like Miami is done in a year and that's not even close to the truth. Lebron and Bosh are still young enough they could run it for at minimum 4 years, that puts them around 33 years old roughly.

He'd be leaving that to join a young squad hoping that they still develop. There's still a lot of development left from our guys. Again, is it impossible? No, put Lebron in a room with Lieweke and Drake and everything and things could change in a heartbeat. And I have no issue with TL setting his sights that high. It's exciting as a Raptors fan but realistically what is the benefit for Lebron?

He's already in an ideal situation with many factors away from basketball that favour his current situation and the other option is to go home.

[Dr Positivity]

What I don't get is, why don't the three stick in Miami? They have player options for another two years of over 20mil each. They really need that extra few mil? Bosh won't get more than 15 anyway, he'd be losing money if he doesn't use his player's option.

According to Shamsports LBJ/Wade/Bosh are actually team options this summer.

So effectively if Miami and Bosh/Wade are going to resign, they never have to become FAs. Just pick up the option and then extend them for 3 more, which creates a contract length equal to if they become UFAs and signed for 4 years. Lebron is different because he'd get a 5 year max in FA instead of a 1+3 extension.

[Natural11]

Damn, now we're gonna have Lebron and Durant. lol

[GreatWhiteStiff]

Something that could happen to convince an allstar or superstar to sign here is the valley cui cui train playing like an allstar as early as next season...I'm not sure I'd count that out he's been pretty close recently with 13/10 on good shooting and the team playing great defence all around with him playing major minutes he probably deserves some credit for that.

Or maybe not, I have no idea what I'm talking about. We're probably just a treadmill team.

[DatHomieYouHaTe]

Hey, I hope he's right.

[C Court]

Damn, now we're gonna have Lebron and Durant. lol

+ Andrew Wiggins.

Plan the parade now!

[jalenrose#5]

I worked out a scenario that's entirely possible to entice LBJ to sign in Toronto

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1297702

[niQ]

Get 'er Done TL;Dr

[Son Goku 25]

The Toronto Lebrons, I can live with that.

[Mr_NC]

It. Would cement his legacy as a star that did it differently from the Kobe's & MJ, he "wins" everywhere he goes?

I'm not sure the Toronto Drakes bandwagon could handle that much hype tbh lol. I'm still more for KD as opposed to LBJ tho. But somebody has to team up with DDR right?!

[Hypz]

Miami to Toronto..that's quite the uh, upgrade. I wouldn't mind it at all if it did happen though.

[akakalakin]

boredom is a bitch

maybe he thinks Canuck law will hide him from the mama bears stealing his honey

[mtcan]

There's a reason why Butch Carter is not on any NBA coaching staff: the man is **** crazy. Part of that insanity made him a decent coach. But the rest of the insanity makes him a bit of an ego-maniac.