Is Lebron Gunna Bolt?

christian72589 · Post #1 » by **christian72589** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:12 am

Do you guys get sick of people (mainly NYK and NJN fans) talking about how they are going after Lebron and he's Going to bolt on you guys in CLE? I was just on the NYK board and saw that they think that they could get Dwight howard in 2011... and it kinda pissed me off. ( I am a magic fan) This was only a minor thought, so i was wondering how you all felt about all of this talk of your marquee player bolting for a "bigger market". Do you think he'll even leave CLE, or just start a bidding war between teams? (I'd do it) Personally, I think he will stay... but thats just me

L&H_05 · Post #2 » by **L&H_05** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 5:50 am

The day LeBron was drafted there was talk that he would eventually land in a more marketable place...

LeBron has said he would like to stay in Cleveland and would like to win here... Nobody ever mentions that... Yet on the other hand LeBron one time said he wants to be a billionaire, and every fan runs with that as a reason why he'll bolt... One fan reads that LeBron has a contract kicker to pay him more, and every fan throws that in a post-- even when it's been known for 3 years that it isn't true..

He wears a Yankees hat--- he's going to leave for New York... He wears an Indians hat, it's never mentioned...He's a Cowboys fan, if he wears a Cowboys hat, it will never be mentioned... But if he puts the Yankees hat back on, he's thinking about playing in New York...

He's friends with Jay-Z, so he's going to go play there because that makes sense... His three best friends in the league who play on other teams are Wade, Melo and CP3-- yet, you don't read or hear about him going to play with them on their teams...He's going to Jay-Z

You don't hear or read about him going to LA or Chi... It's only New York...

I think we're all immune to it now...

Post #3 » by **INKtastic** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:26 am

christian72589 wrote:Do you guys get sick of people (mainly NYK and NJN fans) talking about how they are going after Lebron and he's Going to bolt on you guys in CLE? I was just on the NYK board and saw that they think that they could get Dwight howard in 2011... and it kinda pissed me off. ( I am a magic fan) This was only a minor thought, so i was wondering how you all felt about all of this talk of your marquee player bolting for a "bigger market". Do you think he'll even leave CLE, or just start a bidding war between teams? (I'd do it) Personally, I think he will stay... but thats just me

there can be no bidding war. The most any team can offer him is 30% of the salary cap. And every team who has that much space will offer him that. Cleveland can offer him a larger raise each year and can offer him an extra year, but the extra year is irrelevant because he'll only want a 3 year deal so he can get 35% of the cap in 2013.

Leaving or staying, who knows. Much will have to do with the job the cavs do creating a contender here. Why leave a good thing to go to a team that is struggling (and any team who can clear 30% of the cap for 2010 will likely be struggling)?

I personally think he's likely to stay, but doesn't stop all of the speculation because it's good from a national (and in the case of the greece speculation, global) PR perspective plus ads some extra motivation to the cavs front office to improve the team.

columbussports · Post #4 » by **columbussports** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:34 pm

Fact: Since the Larry Bird rule was put in place several years ago, only one player in the NBA has turned down a max deal from his current deal to sign another one elsewhere. His name? shaquille oneal. I dont think lebron is leaving unless he just really does not like the coach or something. One thing people kinda forget about is that he is very close with his mom and his mom loves ohio and I really dont think lebron wants to leave i think it is more of his personality to be in the spotlight and just go with it. It would really mean alot to the fans if he'd come out and say "yeah I might leave for Jersey or the Knicks, or he can just come out and be say he is staying, he really knows how to use his leverage to get what he wants; a championship, by the threat of him leaving always there, the cavs front office can never rest.

Witness23 · Post #5 » by **Witness23** » Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:06 pm

Ferry has to get him talented young players that will help him win a championship. If the cavs are getting out of the second round the next two years lebron will leave.

Post #6 » by **Icness** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 2:23 am

christian72589 wrote:Do you guys get sick of people (mainly NYK and NJN fans) talking about how they are going after Lebron and he's Going to bolt on you guys in CLE? I was just on the NYK board and saw that they think that they could get Dwight howard in 2011... and it kinda pissed me off. ( I am a magic fan) This was only a minor thought, so i was wondering how you all felt about all of this talk of your marquee player bolting for a "bigger market". Do you think he'll even leave CLE, or just start a bidding war between teams? (I'd do it) Personally, I think he will stay... but thats just me

Well posed question; I thought this was another one of those threads.
I do get tired of it, but in a way I also find it amusing. All these people come out of the woodwork believing Lebron will never stay and that he's too awesome to stay in Cleveland, yet many are the very same people who scream at us all the time that Lebron is overrated and can't win.
I guess it goes with the territory of having a transcendent superstar, really the first one Cleveland has ever had.

I do think he'll leave if a. he wins a title in the next two years or b. if the Cavs have no shot at making the Finals at that point. If A happens, I'll still be buzzed from the title and will wish him well on his way. If B happens I can't really fault him. But if he leaves and the team has just lost in the 7th game of the Finals, I'll never forgive him.

BuLLzDoMaIn · Post #7 » by **BuLLzDoMaIn** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:16 am

L&H_05 wrote:The day LeBron was drafted there was talk that he would eventually land in a more marketable place...

LeBron has said he would like to stay in Cleveland and would like to win here... Nobody ever mentions that... Yet on the other hand LeBron one time said he wants to be a billionaire, and every fan runs with that as a reason why he'll bolt... One fan reads that LeBron has a contract kicker to pay him more, and every fan throws that in a post-- even when it's been known for 3 years that it isn't true..

He wears a Yankees hat--- he's going to leave for New York... He wears an Indians hat, it's never mentioned...He's a Cowboys fan, if he wears a Cowboys hat, it will never be mentioned... But if he puts the Yankees hat back on, he's thinking about playing in New York...

He's friends with Jay-Z, so he's going to go play there because that makes sense... His three best friends in the league who play on other teams are Wade, Melo and CP3-- yet, you don't read or hear about him going to play with them on their teams...He's going to Jay-Z

You don't hear or read about him going to LA or Chi... It's only New York...

I think we're all immune to it now...

so true. im a bulls fan that lives in nyc and this is all you hear

most knick fans are dumb, There like come on its nyc why wouldnt lebron wanna come here
um hello he wont win in nyc if he wants to goto a big market team and win he will goto chicago or Lakers

Rose
Hinrich or gordon if he stays
Lebron
Tyrus or deng
noah /tyrus

lakers PG??
kobe
lebron
pau
andrew

OR!!!

Nate rob or wackbury
crawful
lebron
Z-bo
mac curry

come on and if rose turns out too be the player people hope he alone will bring a superstar to chicago.

i for one think lebron will stay. Lebron is IMO the best player in nba so he only needs like sidekick players people who can get 15ppg few rebounds and help he doesnt need someone who gets 20-30 ppg

old skool · Post #8 » by **old skool** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:27 pm

It will be horrible for the NBA if Lebron leaves the Cavs in his prime.

Half of the NBA franchises are smaller market teams and they survive on the hope that they will land a transcendent superstar. Too often, the superstars find their way to glittery lights. The Hornets traded the rights to Kobe to the Lakers. Shaq bolted Orlando for the Lakers. Garnett forced his way from Minnesota to Boston. Vince Carter forced his trade from Toronto to the Nets. Steve Francis even refused to play for the Vancouver Grizz, proving that even non-superstars can force teams to trade them.

Lebron is from Ohio and apparently likes it there. He already earns millions on and off the court. Cleveland has done an admirable job trying to build a team around him - a difficult proposition with existing salary cap and luxury tax rules.

The conjecture of Lebron's possible departure might upset fans, but it does not hurt the Cavs, unless they over react and make some unnecessary moves out of fear that he might leave otherwise. Cavs management would be smart to discuss things with him on a regular basis to ensure that he wants to stay in Cleveland, and that he recognizes their commitment to winning.

The anticipation over the free agent class of 2010 is generally good for the NBA. It adds hype and gives hope to many teams. With so much money available and so many players able to pick their spot, some player movement is inevitable. I'll bet that the best players stay put and let second tier stars come to them.

oLd sKool

prekazi · Post #9 » by **prekazi** » Thu Sep 4, 2008 10:52 pm

No he won't. Because Cavs will win the NBA championship in 2009 and This is coming from a pessimist guy. It sounds weird but I'm so sure of that I am not hesitating to speak my mind clearly.

Benedict_Boozer · Post #10 » by **Benedict_Boozer** » Fri Sep 5, 2008 3:43 am

prekazi wrote:No he won't. Because Cavs will win the NBA championship in 2009 and This is coming from a pessimist guy. It sounds weird but I'm so sure of that I am not hesitating to speak my mind clearly.

I like your confidence :nod:

Cavs are just one move away IMO...need one more solid piece at SG, or an upgrade at PF

PopAGat · Post #11 » by **PopAGat** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 3:56 am

With Ohio being LeBrons homestate i dont think he'd bolt. Hes close to home and I dont think he'd just dip out on the cavs. Especially with all the success hes having.

What'll make sure he stays is if you bring in another guy like redd or something.

Post #12 » by **NO-KG-AI** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 9:41 am

I'd take 10 million and winning a championship for my home team over 30 million and playing or even winning a championship in a big market like New York.

Cleveland Fan · Post #13 » by **Cleveland Fan** » Sat Sep 6, 2008 1:08 pm

All the talk about Lebron leaving, have you thought about the Cav's adding a big name player in 2010 to go along with him? It looks to me that is what they are setting up to do.

pardon_my_interruption · Post #14 » by **pardon_my_interruption** » Wed Sep 10, 2008 10:50 pm

columbussports wrote:Fact: Since the Larry Bird rule was put in place several years ago, only one player in the NBA has turned down a max deal from his current deal to sign another one elsewhere. His name? shaquille oneal.

While this may or may not be true (perhaps some players got similar amounts in sign and trade deals during that time frame), it is also a FACT that Shaquille O'Neal netted a whole heck of a lot more non-salary money by playing in L.A. with the Lakers versus in Orlando with the Magic.

If you have that economic potential players won't hesitate to leave a few million on the table from a team like Cleveland or Orlando.

Now my squad, Memphis could face a similar situation in a few years if O.J. Mayo turns out to be every bit as good as expected. We as fans just have to be prepared for it, but hope it does not happen.

But you can't act as if it's not understandable and that it does not make sense on some level.

Chubby Chaser · Post #15 » by **Chubby Chaser** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 4:07 am

Wouldn't suprise me one bit if Lebron leaves. I'm actually suprised he's STILL on the cavs. Seriously, who wants to live in Ohio?? I hate to say it. But Lebron is made for the Big Stage.

calibanPK · Post #16 » by **calibanPK** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:14 am

hes so overrated i dont know which team would accept him.

Gordon Bombay · Post #17 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:24 pm

ooooohhh...braylon laying the smacketh down on lebron

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=456094

"It didn't bother me," Edwards said. "As I've gotten to know LeBron, LeBron isn't a Cleveland guy. LeBron only plays for the Cavaliers, and who knows if he even likes the Cavaliers? He doesn't like the Indians. He doesn't like the Browns. He's a guy from Akron who likes everybody but his hometown.

"I don't know how that's possible, but it is what it is, and he is who he is. You know, it's LeBron."

T0R0NT0_RAPT0RS · Post #18 » by **T0R0NT0_RAPT0RS** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:36 pm

columbussports wrote:Fact: Since the Larry Bird rule was put in place several years ago, only one player in the NBA has turned down a max deal from his current deal to sign another one elsewhere. His name? shaquille oneal.

Unfortunately, this is precisely why LeBron could leave. Shaq left a very good team in Orlando (1st in the Atlantic 60-22, lost in the ECF, one year removed from a Finals appearance) and signed as a FA with an average LA Lakers. Four years later, the Lakers start their three-peat.

Shaq's main reason for leaving Orlando for LA was so that he could expand his footprint outside of basketball (movies, music, etc), and it worked. LeBron has always said he wants to be a Global Icon and unfortunately, he can't become that in Cleveland.

Don't get me wrong, I don't want to see LeBron leave the Cavs (I'm all for player/team loyalty), but I also wouldn't be surprised if he does.

L&H_05 · Post #19 » by **L&H_05** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:46 pm

Everyone says Shaq.. Yet, they can't provide one other example except this one from 12 years ago....

T0R0NT0_RAPT0RS · Post #20 » by **T0R0NT0_RAPT0RS** » Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:06 pm

L&H_05 wrote:Everyone says Shaq.. Yet, they can't provide one other example except this one from 12 years ago....

.. it's because a player/personality like Shaq and LeBron does not come around too often. Sure great players come along (Dirk, Duncan, Nash, etc.) but none of them have the multi-media quailty of these two. They'd probably say the same thing about Kobe if we wasn't already playing for the Lakers. Again, I don't wanna see LeBrom leave, but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.