Stern to LeBron-"Stay in Cleveland"

Franz · Post #1 » by **Franz** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 6:40 pm

http://www.reelsportsfan.com/default.aspx?vidId=3y1ZiAkOCsgOghyjUeVVbA%3d%3d&vidCat=yy15cPdyDX3RtnJpY%2fqoig%3d%3d

calibanPK · Post #2 » by **calibanPK** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 7:59 pm

In before the "Stern rigs the game for Lebron"

mcfly1204 · Post #3 » by **mcfly1204** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:35 pm

It makes sense, LA , Chi and NY will always be big markets. So why not keep the attention in other cities for as long as you can?

Niko23 · Post #4 » by **Niko23** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:37 pm

calibanPK wrote:In before the "Stern rigs the game for Lebron"

Post #5 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:37 pm

But NY is the mecca of basketball. You can tell by how they've dominated the game.

Niko23 · Post #6 » by **Niko23** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:45 pm

TheOUTLAW wrote:But NY is the mecca of basketball. You can tell by how they've dominated the game.

You didn't hear? They are a title team right now. The only missing piece is LeBron

Post #7 » by **TheOUTLAW** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:53 pm

I'm still trying to figure out how they'll do that since it looks like several of their key pieces are going to be on one year contracts and if they are going to sign LeBron and any other significant contracts they'd likely have to renounce their contracts.

Gordon Bombay · Post #8 » by **Gordon Bombay** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 11:59 pm

even if the knicks land a big star, he's going to have to put on an mvp caliber performance every night just for them to have a chance against the league's elite - think lebron in 03-04. the knicks are a middle of the pack team even with a superstar (which they will not get btw). the nets, on the other hand, will be looking at a potential dynasty with a superstar and a high draft pick next season.

all these players want to win championships first and foremost (i.e. not larry hughes). they aren't going to jump ship for the opportunity to guide an 03-04 cavs-esque team just because its new york - especially when all of their current situations are better than the knicks would be with them on the team

rjgraca · Post #9 » by **rjgraca** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:54 am

There are a lot of Knick fans who admit that Lebron is not a realistic option as the primary target for the Knicks in free agency after this season. The Knicks still need to move Curry or Jefferies to get far enough under the cap to get two significant free agents. NO one is going to do them that favor for expiring without requiring Wilson Chandler in return which would significantly reduce their talent. The Knicks are not as deep as some Knick fans believe. Even published reports from New York are talking about Lebron not being a viable option for the Knicks in free agency after this season. I believe Reggie Miller also voiced his opinion that he hopes Lebron stays in Cleveland.

There are even stories about the Miami Heat (with all their cap space after this season) making a play for Lebron or Bosh which would justify their off-season of inaction. Wade staying in Miami is no lock and with his legal issues with former business partners... it makes it more likely that Wade moves on rather than Lebron.

Don't be surprised if LeBron stays put

Because if it doesn't - if the Cavaliers make the NBA Finals or even the conference finals and don't embarrass themselves - James isn't going to leave. This is a guy, after all, who just made a film all about being loyal, about sticking with your friends through thick and thin. If he is going to bail on Cleveland - and by extension nearby Akron where he grew up - he is going to need one heck of a good reason.

There are all kinds of hopeful arguments out there about why James needs to come to New York to realize his full potential as a superstar. My favorite is the one about the supposed mysterious clause in his Nike contract that says it will pay him double if he moves to a major market. No one, however, has proved that clause is anything but wishful fiction and without it playing in a major market might not be the big allure that everyone thinks it is.

This is not the age of Michael Jordan where television and radio rule, where it helped to have access to a big local population of fans. In Forbes' latest list of the top 10 athletes in endorsement dollars, only Kobe Bryant played last season in what would be considered a large market. No one on the list played in the New York market, and five on the list - Jeff Gordon, Michelle Wie, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods - have no home market.

http://www.newsday.com/columnists/barba ... -1.1544182

L&H_05 · Post #10 » by **L&H_05** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 2:08 am

Knicks are garbage.. I don't care how they believe they have talent, cause they don't.. Chandler is a nice player, but he's a nice player on a garbage team, where he can kinda showcase himself a bit..

Would he get minutes here ? Sure, but his numbers would be average at best IMO... 10-11 points, 4 or 5 boards maybe... Average player..

The mini PG Robinson is nothing but a side show.. Again, no winning team is going to take on that type of player and implement him into a winning situation.. He's a one on one, all show, no win type of player..

The Knicks are banking on the Italian dude... lol... :lol:

The only winning player they have is David Lee.. And maybe Duhon.. I can see those guys contributing in roles on winning teams.. The team has no direction, they play no defense, they don't even have the coaching staff in place to fundamentally teach them defense on a high level... And they have limited talent..

Aside from the Italian dude, the Knicks are looking to get LeBron and someone in 2011... :roll:

So, he's going to take a prime year of his career and just piss it away so he can play in "The Mecca"-- The same overrated "Mecca" that no other superstars have ever desired to just go and play there... Honestly, I can't think of one player that had jsut a true desire to go play in New York city... In fact, that franchise has only attracted the insane... Spree, Steph, SJAX wants to play there (here too, unfortunately)

Bottom line, the Knicks fans can rip the Cavs, rip Cleveland, but that organization is hands down the most overrated organization in the league... That team hasn't won anything since the late 60's/early 70's.. They don't attract talent... And they're years away from being relevant once more....Yet, those fans think that franchise is cut from the same cloth as the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, Spurs etc...

Nobody cares about the Knicks...

Triumph36 · Post #11 » by **Triumph36** » Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:05 pm

L&H_05 wrote:The Knicks are banking on the Italian dude... lol...

The only winning player they have is David Lee.. And maybe Duhon.. I can see those guys contributing in roles on winning teams.. The team has no direction, they play no defense, they don't even have the coaching staff in place to fundamentally teach them defense on a high level... And they have limited talent..

THE Italian dude?! How could you disrespect him like that? He's going to be better than Kevin Durant, Knicksgod said so!!!

Also, I'm pretty sure they can't even keep both Lee and Duhon (and they could even lose both), especially if they still plan on signing two major FAs. Apparently the unlimited potential of Gallinari, Chandler, and Hill will attract the elite free agents.