We should stand pat...

[eyejayem]

This should definately be our worst year in the next 5 years. And the funny thing is now that Cleveland has righted the ship analysts are starting to put Cleveland closer and closer to the top with Greg Anthony stating that they could possibly beat Boston in a best of seven series on 1st and 10 on ESPN the other morning.

Next season we will have a crap load of expirings and the year after we will have even more expirings. We will have all of our draft picks for the first time in awhile. If Ferry is still here and does right within the next two years, Lebron in his last year will have a team around him that he can't walk away from.

The only thing we should do this year is to at least get a draft pick for Newble and determine what we are going to do about offense because Brown is not doing it.

[L&H_05]

I don't think LeBron leaving is mainly predicated on whether or not the team around him is championship caliber... As I don't see the Knicks or Nets being contenders when his contract is up...

And if he was ever to leave, I think those are the only two teams he would consider... The Knicks because it's in New York and the Garden.. An the Nets so he can spend his long nights spooning with Jay-Z in Brooklyn as his heart desires..

I don't think Chicago, Miami and LA have even a remote chance of getting LeBron..

If LeBron leaves, it will be because his heart is set on moving on, and a desire to play in the state of New York regardless of their poor rosters and our increased talent roster..

But I personally don't see him leaving...Although, I certainly don't believe he enjoys playing with these scrubs..

[Benedict_Boozer]

If we still have a team of scrubs, Lebron is gone. He knows his legacy will be defined by championships - I'd imagine that will drive his decision.

[gflem]

LA is enticing no matter what. and dont discount Atlanta either. Lebron was quoted in an interview several seasons ago, maybe his first or second season during an interview when asked who, of his highschool teammates would move the farthest from their hometown of akron. His answer was Lebron James.

Now that might mean 10 yrs from now or not, but dont think his home town allegiance will keep him here if the team isnt close to championship caliber. He wants to be the best ever, and he needs rings to be that. If this team is like what the twolves were to garnett, Lebron will be gone without hesitation.

All that being said, the original post was dead on I think, and even though I have burned on Ferry some for sitting on his hands this offseason, I hope he doesnt deal just to make a deal. This team needs cap flexibility to sign a few big contracts the season before Lebron's contract is up.

That way going over the luxury line to resign Lebron wont be as painful as going over now for a team that really isnt good enough to win it all. As a fan I dont want to wait for Lebron to get some help, but from a team mgt. position if you cant get the player(s) now to get it done, it is better to wait than to go over the luxury line and tie your hands for the future.

[eyejayem]

Expirings

2007-2008 - 3.44 mil (Ira Newble)
2008-2009 - 24.82 mil (31.03mil if you include Varrajao's option)
2009-2010 - 30.15 mil (if Z plays his contract thru,36.36mil if AV plays)

Wow. I think we could easily get more picks and some very servicable players or even a superstar here or there.

[B Mac]

Good work eyejayem. Now we need to look up all of the potential FA's for 09 and 10.

[INKtastic]

we have a bit more in expiring contracts this year - we also have Shannon Brown and Devin Brown at 1 million each as well as Dwayne Jones at 770k

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

LA is enticing no matter what. and dont discount Atlanta either.

Not so much.

What odds would you give LeBron signing with the Hawks? And of all the teams that need a SF the most to complete their all SF rotation..

Cleveland, Brooklyn, or New York. And in the end, it's likely he stays in Cleveland.

[L&H_05]

He wants to be the best ever, and he needs rings to be that.

Not sure if I agree...

Sure, he would like to be the best ever.. But, so would Matt Carroll, Derek Fisher and any other player in the NBA..

With what I've seen from LeBron in his 5 seasons, I can say he has the ability to be the best ever, but I don't think he puts in the effort to do so..

Because if he did, he would have his post game refined, and realize how dominant he could be in the post... He stated he doesn't feel "comfortable" in the post.

If he wanted to be the best ever he would already have his sweet spots on the floor, and understand where his spots are, and how to get there throughout the course of the game..

If he wanted to be the best ever he would have already switched up his shooting form... His current form will not allow him to be the best ever, as he will never be a quality jump shooter with that form.. EVER..

Ih he wanted to be the best ever, he wouldn't have games where he coasts for 30+ minutes, and looks to take over late... Great players look to take it to their opponent for the jump..

LeBron's a great player, and I think he's content with that... Which is fine, but not if you want to be considered the greatest of all time...

[eyejayem]

First, I'm working on a list for future FAs and teams who could possibly be looking to shed weight.

Second, wow.... I can't believe this last thread.
You really think Lebron doesnt want to be the best? He will be measured by championships and teams win championships, not players. He is one of the best team players out there almost to a fault.

Post game. I think he is smart. Not many point guards post unless they are scoring. Lebron is almost always looking to pass but just as well as being stronger than most defenders he is equally faster than them. Keeping his eyes towards the rim or to outlet passing which is greatly compromised when posting.
2nd part about post play. I'm almost certain Lebron is trying to play 20 years and thats no bs. many players will not be able to come in at the age he did. And as long as he avoids extra pounding, the wear and tear won't affect him as badly. Ten and 20 years ago when players primes were in their 30s, players primes are now are late 20s. If he lasts at a high level until his 30s the records will be untouchable.

And about refining his game. I am from New York(yes, born and raised) sorry I am not from Ohio but I love basketball. All summer after FIBA Lebron flew his shooting coach and the reason I say that I'm from NY is because the week he was shooting for Saturday Night Live he was in the gym shooting whenever he wasnt on the set. You think he doesnt know his sweet spots, every player who practices wants the entire court to be his sweet spot. Why limit yourself to a spot?

He wouldnt have game where he coasts? First 4 years he wasnt clutch but he was winning, now he's too clutch? Are you serious.

He shouldnt be considered in the debate as the greatest... maybe... not yet. But name me other players that has done what he has done at 22 (he just turned 23). But let me be fair, who is in the greatest debate that he is not comparable to 5 years into the league? Jordan is my favorite player of all time but he hasnt done what Lebron has done. Jordan didnt make it to the finals until Scottie and Phil we're with him(6-7 years into the league). Lebron took a team on his back at 22. No disrespect to Jordan but I think the kid has a chance.

[L&H_05]

You do need sweet spots on the floor... Malone, Jordan, Bird all had them...

Especially in plays towards the end of games..All I see is deep jumpers, or he calls for a post player to set a screen for a drive..

No, he doesn't have a sweet spot... And if he did, he would look to go there when the game is hanging in the balance as the finals seconds are ticking down...

LBJ prefers to pound the ball non stop, and launch a deep jumper, or just throw something up at the rim on a drive..

Look at a Kobe, Wade, Pierce etc... These guys have their certain spots on the floor, and will use a variety of moves to get there..

When's the last time you've seen LBJ in one fluid motion dribble to a spot, use an up fake to get his defender in the air, and then proceed to swish a jumper in a controlled manner like a Jordan, Wade, Bird, Kobe etc.. ??

I've never seen it...

Why ??? Because he rushes everything at those times, he's not comfortable, and his shooting form doesn't allow for success..

And I never said he doesn't want to be the best... Every player probably wants to be the best... But, it's what they put into it... The fact that we're 5 years in, and LBJ is steal relying on his power, speed and athleticism offensively, as opposed to breaking his man down with an inside/outside game is an indication to me that he's not putting in everything he could possibly put in to be the best ever...

I'm sure he's putting in a fair amount of time surrounding all his other endeavors, coupled with his God given gifts to make his one of the best players in the league, but if you're talking about being the very best, I can't say that I've seen that type of improvement...

When LBJ hits 30 or 30+, and he can't just rely on all that athleticism, where he can just blow by his man, or jump over his man, what part of his particular game is he really going to rely on ??? Jumper ?? post up game ???

He doesn't have those right now... And neither of those are even in their infancy stages with LBJ... So I can't say I see an indication where those will improve, or will be apart of his arsenal in the future... Again, we're 5 years in and he's still playing the same style of game... And he's getting better at that style, but it's not a style that he can live on forever.. If you talk about prolonging his career to 20 years or so, he can't just run fast and jump high forever... He'll need to expand his game.. And like I said, I see nothing even in it's infancy to suggest that the expansion of his game is even on the horizon..

[eyejayem]

Its funny because the same thing was said about Jordan until he broke his foot and worked on his shot an entire season.

It's funny because you talk about Wade who needed the last great year out of Shaq to win a championship and will more than likely never see another finals game in person. The same Wade who scores 65 to 75% of his offense through dunks,layups, and free throws. No bs check statistics.

When you play basketball you may need a sweet spot because you cant shoot from anywhere else. Somewhere where you as long as you can get the shot off you can make it everytime. But I'm simply stating that if you are saying that Jordan or even Bird had sweet spots I kind of dont believe you. I remember seeing these guys play and watching them hit shots from everywhere. They didnt have sweet spots, they were in the zone and learned how to get there. A place where they were unstoppable. Not everyone had it but some shooters can, some scorers can, but not everybody. Lebron has showed us that he can get in the zone.

Maturity comes with age and I'm almost certain when he has help and he's the focused on by entire teams we will see the smooth calm Lebron prevail.... like in the commercials...lol.

[Trynasty]

**Please don't bump old topics.** ~ Exile