LeBron to New York/Brooklyn (or not) thread

[Kobe_not_MJ]

Here we are, July 1, 2008, and we're already knee deep in rumors over what LeBron James is going to do come 2010.

Look, I know I'm only a ballboy, but I think there is really no cause for concern at this point. Cleveland is really only one star away from being a championship team, and LeBron knows this better than anyone. They have the role players in place (Gibson, Pavlovic, Ben Wallace, Z). All they need is another star player, someone who can be Scottie Pippen to LeBron's MJ.

I know what LeBron said about his favorite cities yesterday. Really, who doesn't like New York? I know LeBron's a Yankee fan (yawn). I know Nike's coming out with a pinstriped shoe this year. I know he has escalators in his Nike contract.

LeBron wants to win a championship. He also wants to be a global icon. He can do both in Cleveland. Check out this article: http://sportsline.com/columns/story/10881637. Plus, why does anyone think he would want to leave Cleveland for Manhattan or Brooklyn when the two franchises in question are hopelessly untalented?

The Knicks are the laughingstock of the NBA, while the Nets' firesale clearly demonstrates that they are more interested in the dollar than a championship. The Nets want a draw when they move to Brooklyn in 2010. He won't win a championship with Yi Jianlian as second fiddle, nor will he win one while part of the ongoing soap opera on the other side of the East River. The Nets' trade of Richard Jefferson last week proves that they are willing to tank. Trust me, LeBron wants no part of that, whether Jay-Z owns the team or not and no matter how many sexual favors Beyonce has to perform for him to come to Brooklyn (hehe).

Ignore these rumors. Ignore ESPN and the rest of the talking heads who desperately want and need this to happen. These guys are slobbering like hungry pitbulls over the mere possibility that the world's largest media market could well be getting the first billionaire athlete in 2010. They want this to happen and believe that they can make this happen by excitedly trolling the news that LeBron James will leave Cleveland as soon as he becomes a FA on July 1, 2010. If the Cavs do what the Celtics did last year and get a superstar or two to put around him, he'll be begging to stay if he isn't already. LeBron doesn't want to abandon ship for the Titanic (aka the Knicks or the Nets, LOL).

[rjgraca]

Not really as the following news link suggests:

New Jersey Has Cap Space, The Sky Is Falling: Part I


Everything LeBron has accomplished in his already remarkable life, he has been able to accomplish in Cleveland. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior in high school…..in Ohio. He has appeared on the cover of Fortune Magazine……in Ohio. He has been on the cover of Vogue Magazine…..in Ohio. He has been on the cover of ESPN the Magazine….in Ohio. He has hosted the ESPY’s…..while playing in Ohio. He has hosted Saturday Night Live…..while playing in Ohio. He has assembled an astonishing marketing team and built his image and self into a multi-multi-million dollar enterprise….in Ohio. He managed to get the NBA to send his team to play in China…..from Ohio. He became the highest paid player in the NBA in endorsement and salary…..while playing in Ohio. He has played in the NBA Finals….in Ohio. He has become the image of the NBA…..while playing in Ohio.

Which leads us to the biggest thing the Great Lie doesn’t want you to know, and that is that New York/New Jersey needs LeBron James a heck of a lot more than LeBron James needs New York. The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have. The Knicks weren’t on the brink of an NBA title just 2 years ago. The Cavaliers were. The point is, LeBron James is doing just fine from his global headquarters in Bath, Ohio, just outside of Akron. Sure, LeBron is friends with rapper Jay-Z, who also happens to own a small part of the New Jersey Nets. But playing in Cleveland isn’t stopping LeBron from hanging out with Jay-Z now, and it won’t in the future. LeBron is a savvy businessman and he’s not going to leave millions of dollars on the table just to play for a team his good friend part owns.

http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=1463

[eyejayem]

I wouldnt put any weight into the whole Lebron blabbing about brooklyn. I am from brooklyn and as much as people would love to see it happen here, I dont think it is good for basketball because it makes the NBA look that much more like a business than a sport. I think Lebron staying in Cleveland is better for basketball and is better for the NBA, for his pockets maybe not so much, but when it was all about NY/Bos/Phil/LA in the 80s, Det and Chi made names for themselves as basketball cities, in the 90s more teams as did more teams in the last decade. Cle is on the map now and on Lebrons back and should they win a championship or two, or show the competitiveness against Boston and LA and NY market wise with the best player in the NBA. The NBA will be ready to go global faster than Stern thinks he could with Lebron going to NY. The more cities you put on the map the more it will be recognized as a legit attraction rather that something that has to be put in already big markets.


Sorry for the ramble, so why did he say it? Because there needs to be a fire under Ferry's ass and Lebron can't do it himself, the media has to blow it up and make Ferry and Gilbert fear losing him. Lebron is smarter than that. Ferry and Gilbert will move faster if the pressure of the media and the fans make them think Lebron will go in 2010. Lebron doesnt even know what he will do in 2010.


If he wins a championship dont you think there is as much chance as him leaving as if he doesnt? He got his ring and he wants to be a billionaire so he goes to NY, he already brought a ring to Cleveland, what more do you want. I dont want to think that way but money talks no matter how much players say otherwise and I hate it. If he doesnt win a ring I actually think there is more of a chance of him staying but I have a backwards way of thinking. He already thinks that Cleveland cant lure players to the team even when he is there. I hope that the team will be set up in 2010 so that he cant leave and has no choice but to stay because the team is that promising. The Nets will still have capspace and be able to get one or two max free agents. LBJ and Jay-z will still be friends and we will be talking about this again when he turns 32.

[GOOOOO TRIBE]

i hope your right eyejayem

[Cybulski37]

I agree with the OP. It just really doesn't make much sense to come from a team with no pieces at the beginning, that have surrounded him with a bunch of excellent, tough roleplayers, in need of just one more piece, only to leave for a team that needs to start all over again, when he's like what? 25 or 26? It doesn't make much sense. Plus, Bird Rights mean Cleveland can pay him more-- a lot more, than anyone else. I really really doubt there is an escalator in his contract, as I'm 99.999% sure that is illegal.

[Rise Against]

Reading all these ignorant comments on LeBron going to Brooklyn or New York makes me gain apathy in reading General NBA Discussion forum.. These predictions are beyond ridiculous.

[B Mac]

Its just hilarious to me that a team is basically throwing away two whole seasons in hopes that they might have a slight chance at signing one guy. Unreal.

[CzBoobie]

I don't think it's just about LeBron, there will be so many great free agents in 2010 that teams would be crazy not to try to clear capspace for that...

[HitMan52]

I don't think it's just about LeBron, there will be so many great free agents in 2010 that teams would be crazy not to try to clear capspace for that...

I think you are right. 26 year old LeBron may be the grand prize in 2010 but I would hope my team settles (if you want to call it that) for 28 year old Dwyane Wade, 27-28 year old Amare Stoudemire, 27 year old Chris Bosh. Those are the top four players in FA and you could build a team around any of those guys and chances are that atleast one of them will leave their team if their current team is not successful.

Also does anyone know what the max could be in 2010 I heard it could be up to 6 years 151 million.

[Kobe_not_MJ]

Basically, LeBron is teasing everyone in the media and these gullible shills are falling for it. At this point, he is only bluffing. BTW, Ben Wallace's gynormous deal comes off the books in 2010, so the Cavs will have plenty of room to work with in re-signing LeBron to that max deal.

[B Mac]

Basically, LeBron is teasing everyone in the media and these gullible shills are falling for it. At this point, he is only bluffing. BTW, Ben Wallace's gynormous deal comes off the books in 2010, so the Cavs will have plenty of room to work with in re-signing LeBron to that max deal.

Not only does Ben's but so does Z's and everyone elses. We currently have no one signed after the 2010 season. Of course Hickson, Gibson, and West are about to be, but that will still leave us with a ton of cap. If no other moves are made between now and then, we will have enough cap to make at least one other max offer and then likely enough left to make a small offer to someone as well. Maybe we are the team that is going to not only get LeBron but also get someone like Bosh, Wade, or Amare.

[eyejayem]

Honestly it may come down to one thing and one thing only- support. Cavs know what the situation is and that is the reason why Cle has the upper hand. They have a two year headstart on NJ(Brooklyn). I can understand why Ferry isnt making a big deal or signing anybody. He has two years to get someone of value to help Lebron win. If that doesnt happen by 2010, I see Lebron doing one thing,pulling a Brand and saying he won't resign until he sees some sort of commitment to help by signing another major free agent.

So yes if I was Ferry I would be working my ass off for Mike Miller or Stephen Jax and Al Harrington or even Hedo Turk for our current expirings to give Lebron the short term satisfaction(their contracts end in 2010). But in the long run in 2010 tell Lebron point to which running mates you want us to go after and we will have your Amare,Bosh, Dwade, etc waiting for you when you resign. We may buy high and fall on our faces by getting a Redd or someone with a long deal who doesnt fit (a la Larry Hughes) but if we get a player above we double our chances by getting a 2nd chance in 2010 if it flops or we get a bonus of someone who we have leverage in resigning if they work out.

So when all our contracts are running out in 2010 we have as good a chance of locking a 2nd max player also w/only Boobie,DWest,JJ Hickson and our next two year pickups on contract.

If we can't offer Lebron anything better than Vince Carter and ensemble (which is better than most people are giving credit for) or if they trade Carter for relief then the possiblility of having the same type of situation signing another max or submax player then Lebron is going to have a tough decision.

[RatherUnique24]

I just think as many of you Cleveland fans want to take the rumors as pure speculation and nonsense,in the back of your minds, you can't help be a little afraid of him leaving.

I never seen a superstar athlete that has such a public love for a place he does not play in like LBJ, especially when the superstar is currently playing on his hometown team.

There a lot that can happen before 2010. However, Nets and Knicks are already doing what they do to set themselves up for 2010. The cavs have a hand tied behind their back because they need to: A.Win now B.Free up Cap Space and C. Sign players worthy to LBJ happy.

[eyejayem]

In the 2nd paragraph above I try to address A,B,and C.

[Gordon Bombay]

I just think as many of you Cleveland fans want to take the rumors as pure speculation and nonsense,in the back of your minds, you can't help be a little afraid of him leaving.

I never seen a superstar athlete that has such a public love for a place he does not play in like LBJ, especially when the superstar is currently playing on his hometown team.

There a lot that can happen before 2010. However, Nets and Knicks are already doing what they do to set themselves up for 2010. The cavs have a hand tied behind their back because they need to: A.Win now B.Free up Cap Space and C. Sign players worthy to LBJ happy.

i just cant imagine tanking 2 seasons for the possibilty of getting lbj when that tanking team cant even offer him the most money...it just seems like a pretty big gamble on the part of the nets

lebron loves akron, but akron is no nyc...but just because lbj loves nyc, it does not mean he is going there. i think the fact the lebron listed akron with the calibur of his other favorite cities (i think nyc, dallas and d.c. were mentioned) speaks volumes of how much he loves akron given the fact that akron as a city is nowhere near that of a nyc, d.c. or dallas

[The Penguin]

The Nets could move VC for expirings & a young player, add two very high lotto picks to a core of Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, Yi, Ryan Anderson & Sean Williams and tell Lebron he can choose his Pippen out of Bosh, Wade & whomever might be available. While they may be in a rebuilding mode, they are fully capable and will probably be in a position to dominate for the next decade if they were to add Lebron.

Meanwhile, in 2010 the Cavs could have Boobie, Hickson, whatever rookies they pick in the #20s and (as B-Mac mentioned) could clear out enough room to add a FA, but the majority of their current core will have their best basketball well behind them by then.

It is and always will be easier to attract F/As to places like Brooklyn, Miami or LA compared to convincing someone to spend their winters in Cleveland, OH, regardless of who they get to play with.

[Wizardspride]

Just got done listening to Branson Wright being interviewed on The John Thompson Show.

Wright said that James is as good as gone. Thompson then argued that James wasn't going anywhere.

I don't know how much credence to give this but Wright also offered to talk to Thompson off-air to fill him in on why he knew for a fact that James was gone.

Do you guys give any credence to what Wright said?