if LeBron was to leave... then he should go international...

[RRT]

Ok hear me out before lock, cause I'm a huge Cleveland fan, and I know he's going to stay, but I'm just writing this to stfu all the people thinking he's going to leave.

Alright, Lebron leaving Cleveland would be purely money move, anybody think otherwise is stupid, he has best chance of winning by staying here, and if he's about legacy, leaving will only tarnish it, championship or not. (think if Jordan left after his first ring, it's just not same as 3).

Going to Knicks, (only team it'd make sense to go to), he'll make more money, yes, off endorsements and lil new york kids buying up all the jerseys as long as it's knicks. Whatever, even Nike and McDonalds might pay him more, but how much more could it be? Yeah he also could go to Nets and wait for the year they move to Brooklyn. Which isn't next season and probably isn't even season after that, all that is lost money for someone who's repeating MVPs and is at their prime. Which is also the reason why would he go to a loosing team period? (speaking of nets, I'll laugh when they don't even win the draft lottery, people forget they only have 25% to win, which means it's 3x more likely that they wont).

Ok back to the subject, while (ex) NBA players playing international, actually make less money, keep in mind most of them have minor name in NBA or are way past their prime, and by that time are forgotten about, bottom line Marbury is dumb.

But you got someone like LeBron, playing in a league with no cap space? How much can he ask for? 30 million a season? 50% ownership of the team? The possibilities are endless since they don't have to deal with NBA bs. Tax free (depending on where, or at least less tax). With shorter seasons where he can actually have more time for even more business moves, and pro long his playing career, look at Anthony Parker. All this while still keeping his endorsements, and getting new ones, why not?

Funny thing about that is, it wouldn't even hurt NBA, it'll just be advertisement for NBA in regions where they don't care much for it. LeBron IS NBA, have him playing internationally, you're giving out demos. This would make NBA bigger than ever, pave roads for basketball beyond anything you've seen done in any sport, it's genius, hell if I was Bron I'd do it, if staying in Cleveland wasn't an option, lol...

[Vertical Limit]

Lebron would make the most money staying in Cleveland as they can offer him that 6th year, so there's really no point moving to another team unless there's a sign and trade involved. He's too big of a star to the NBA to go international; clearly NBA history matters to him a lot as he does talk about how much of an honor it is to be in the books.

[RRT]

Lebron would make the most money staying in Cleveland as they can offer him that 6th year, so there's really no point moving to another team unless there's a sign and trade involved. He's too big of a star to the NBA to go international; clearly NBA history matters to him a lot as he does talk about how much of an honor it is to be in the books.

Nah, I mean technically yeah he'd make most money from an NBA team, but he gets more off endorsements than NBA salary anyway. Regardless if he was in Memphis or New York.

And I know that, that's why I know he wont leave.

[Yoshi2kx]

So in other words; you'd give anything not to see LeBron take a **** on the Cavaliers (if you stay a Cavs fan) in the Regular season/playoffs. Understood.

[RRT]

So in other words; you'd give anything not to see LeBron take a **** on the Cavaliers (if you stay a Cavs fan) in the Regular season/playoffs. Understood.

Wow, how stupid, um if Lebron actually leaves there's like 80 players we don't want to see...

and knowing LeBron, he isn't KG and won't act out like he won a ring first time he beats his old team, how lame.

[BossHoggin]

just stop

[IEcelticfan]

simple. best rivalry is celtics and whoever is in 2nd place for most chip banners - sorry, i dont remember who 2nd place is.

anyway .... sign up with the Celts and team up with the Big 4, i'm sure ray2 and/or PP wouldn't mind coming off the bench and lbj can go mano-a-mano with that ballhog out west for the next 2-4 yrs and have at it. best rivalry and exactly what the league, stern, et al. wants - i mean, what more do you want? potential boston vs fakers finals matchup for the next 2-4,5 yrs.

dont go to ny, they dont have any supporting cast for lbj. boston is the perfect fit. sign up for the vet min. he's already got all the $$$ he can ever dream about anyway. just chase them rings and help get # (19?) and beyond ....

that way you can profess to being a part of the greatest and winningest nba franchise.

you can do it, lbj !!!

[Triumph36]

I think LeBron would like to go to a team with some sort of future, so there goes the possibility of Boston.

[CroCop]

I think LeBron would like to go to a team with some sort of future, so there goes the possibility of Boston.

good point, so lets scratch boston and cleveland off the list

[alphad0gz]

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I a NY fan. I am not, however, a LeBron fan. He's great and all that, but I'm just not a fan so I'd just as soon he doesn't come to NY.

However, to say his best chance at winning a title is in Cleveland is wrong, imo. He really doesn't have the great #2 guy there, the centers are ancient, the PF is in his twilight years, the PG is inconsistent, and West is rowing with both oars. Surely there are other teams that offer just as much or more talent? Considering that NY would be able to pair him with another max player (if he chose to go there), and likely the best #3 guy in the league in Gallinari, plus exactly the right kind of PG to play with James, I would think NY is a great spot for him to land. They would have the same void at center that the Cavs are going to have and would be more younger. There was also a legitimate marketing study done that showed that James' NY endorsement money would far surpass any shortfalls encountered by leaving Cleveland. I believe all these to be true but despite all that, I really hope he stays in Cleveland. You drafted him, he saved your franchise...he is yours. I would have hated it if Ewing left in his prime.

That being said, I hope we end up with 'Melo and Chris Paul..... Wouldn't that be fun?

[Geoff35]

and likely the best #3 guy in the league in Gallinari,

........and there goes the opinion's credibility

[Invictus]

Ok hear me out before lock, cause I'm a huge Cleveland fan, and I know he's going to stay, but I'm just writing this to stfu all the people thinking he's going to leave.

Alright, Lebron leaving Cleveland would be purely money move, anybody think otherwise is stupid, he has best chance of winning by staying here, and if he's about legacy, leaving will only tarnish it, championship or not. (think if Jordan left after his first ring, it's just not same as 3).

Going to Knicks, (only team it'd make sense to go to), he'll make more money, yes, off endorsements and lil new york kids buying up all the jerseys as long as it's knicks. Whatever, even Nike and McDonalds might pay him more, but how much more could it be? Yeah he also could go to Nets and wait for the year they move to Brooklyn. Which isn't next season and probably isn't even season after that, all that is lost money for someone who's repeating MVPs and is at their prime. Which is also the reason why would he go to a loosing team period? (speaking of nets, I'll laugh when they don't even win the draft lottery, people forget they only have 25% to win, which means it's 3x more likely that they wont).

Ok back to the subject, while (ex) NBA players playing international, actually make less money, keep in mind most of them have minor name in NBA or are way past their prime, and by that time are forgotten about, bottom line Marbury is dumb.

But you got someone like LeBron, playing in a league with no cap space? How much can he ask for? 30 million a season? 50% ownership of the team? The possibilities are endless since they don't have to deal with NBA bs. Tax free (depending on where, or at least less tax). With shorter seasons where he can actually have more time for even more business moves, and pro long his playing career, look at Anthony Parker. All this while still keeping his endorsements, and getting new ones, why not?

Funny thing about that is, it wouldn't even hurt NBA, it'll just be advertisement for NBA in regions where they don't care much for it. LeBron IS NBA, have him playing internationally, you're giving out demos. This would make NBA bigger than ever, pave roads for basketball beyond anything you've seen done in any sport, it's genius, hell if I was Bron I'd do it, if staying in Cleveland wasn't an option, lol...

His endorsement money would go down dramatically because he wouldn't even play for a team located in the same country as to where the large target markets are (you think lebron is going to successfully sell and market rap albums while playing for a team in lithuania, or that nike would honor their original contract with him since he's not even seen on tv at normal hours of the day, much less playing for a team that the audience can identify with?) that alone outweighs any benefits he would derive from any foreign team, regardless of salary cap.

then there's the whole issue of his kids and family and close circle. i'm sure everyone will be real comfortable being transplanted to shanghai.

and i don't care how much lebron showboats or how much money he's going to make. The NBA is the premier league for basketball talent, worldwide. Lebron leaving the NBA will generate the one of the biggest "What If?" clouds in the history of sports and he will go down in infamy as the greatest bball player in the world not playing in a league of his own talent. His titles would be meaningless because he did it against competition and players that are several levels below that of the NBA. He would never be able to find out just how great he is measured against the likes of jordan etc.

That would destroy him with regret.

[alphad0gz]

I'm guessing you haven't seen much of Gallo. Except for a real established star, he is untouchable. Ask Pierce. Ask Melo. Ask Garnett. He lit these guys up like a Xmas tree while playing great defense. He is very much like Dirk and in Dirk's own words, " he is far better at the same stage". Dirk turned out pretty good, eh?

As far as Gallo, we can come back to it end of next year. As far as James, I hope you keep him..as I said. I didn't come here to attack Cleveland. I just read the OP and thought that many of his points were off the mark.

[TheOUTLAW]

When I've seen Gallinari he's been a stand still shooter with little other real value. You force him to move and he's useless. I've seen way better 3rd options and that's a daggone shame if he's your selling point.

[Tekkenlaw]

When I've seen Gallinari he's been a stand still shooter with little other real value. You force him to move and he's useless. I've seen way better 3rd options and that's a daggone shame if he's your selling point.

I think Bosh is the selling point.

[christian72589]

Lebron SHOULDN'T leave anywhere until maybe the very tail end of his career and then MAYBE go international if he doesn't retire.... do it Beckham style and become an international sensation try and make basketball bigger internationally, whatever... everybody wins.

[starmarbury03]

now im a die hard knick fan and i never post on here. but




lebron knows gallo.

good day

[RRT]

LeBron knows how to stir up media and the fans

[DowJones]

First, in the interest of full disclosure, I a NY fan. I am not, however, a LeBron fan. He's great and all that, but I'm just not a fan so I'd just as soon he doesn't come to NY.

However, to say his best chance at winning a title is in Cleveland is wrong, imo. He really doesn't have the great #2 guy there, the centers are ancient, the PF is in his twilight years, the PG is inconsistent, and West is rowing with both oars. Surely there are other teams that offer just as much or more talent? Considering that NY would be able to pair him with another max player (if he chose to go there), and likely the best #3 guy in the league in Gallinari, plus exactly the right kind of PG to play with James, I would think NY is a great spot for him to land. They would have the same void at center that the Cavs are going to have and would be more younger. There was also a legitimate marketing study done that showed that James' NY endorsement money would far surpass any shortfalls encountered by leaving Cleveland. I believe all these to be true but despite all that, I really hope he stays in Cleveland. You drafted him, he saved your franchise...he is yours. I would have hated it if Ewing left in his prime.

That being said, I hope we end up with 'Melo and Chris Paul..... Wouldn't that be fun?

You are delusional.

[BobCatsFoLife]

and likely the best #3 guy in the league in Gallinari,

........and there goes the opinion's credibility

ditto... LMAO! @alphad0gz is off his rocker!!