Is Lebron A Possiblity?

[WizStorm]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swQOV3KHjAM

Oh God, this is almost scary now. Say it aint so.

LOL ... if it actually happens, she probably could get the Psychic Friends Network back up and running. What a ridiculous notion at the time she made the prediction. Still seems far-fetched to me, but certainly more in the realm of plausibility now.

[Kanyewest]

Before the draft, I'd have agreed with you. But now, I don't know. Wall is a game changer. He could be just as good as Rose in time. Arenas is a legit 25 ppg scorer & Andray Blatche was basically a 20/10 guy the 2nd half of last season.

I guess some of it depends on what the Bulls do with Deng. I don't believe for a second that the Cavs would take Deng's contract in a S&T for LeBron so their division rival can sign another max player like Bosh or Wade to go with their former star. That's about as unrealistic as scenario as one could imagine.

The Wizards could sign LeBron to a max deal, keep the cap holds on Singleton & Livingston AND STILL carve out enough room to sign a veteran FA center at close to $5 mil.

PF Blatche / PF Gibson
SF James / SF James
CE McGee / CE Noah
SG Arenas / SG Hinrich
PG Wall / PG Rose

Honestly, I think the Wizards roster looks FAR more explosive offensively. Add a vet center with the rest of the cap room and its a serious contender that only needs some seasoning. Unless Chicago can somehow flip Deng for another major piece (and I have my doubts), Chicago will be a PF away from truly being legit.

Looking at Chicago, they may choose to go after Dwayne Wade or Chris Bosh rather than LeBron James.

[jmrosenth]

As Dat said, now that we Wall everything changes. Damn right we should go after LeBron, why not? You guys are gonna hold animosity over him for some early round playoff series - please stop, that's idiocy. He may not be Kobe or MJ, but who cares. Wall can be our Mr. Clutch.

I think LeBron is gonna choose btwn Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. The Wizards, and everyone else, are long shots still IMO. Last night eliminated any hope of New Jersey getting him, and please, he isn't going to the Clippers.

What could we sell? First, what about the Calipari rumors? Given Wall's relationship with Calipari, and Calipari's *apparent* relationship with LBJ and Worldwide Wes, could we sell LeBron on a Wall-Calipari combination in DC. I'd throw Flip overboard in a heartbeat.

We have a new owner who made his fortune in business. You don't think he'd be a REAL trusted business advisor to LeBron - not in the LeBron's friends/family sort of way, but in the real, here's how we can market you in today's economy an technological landscape to make you a gazillionaire. Just sayin'.

We are a top 5 TV market, are we not? We aren't as big as Chicago, but doesn't LeBron want to put his stamp on a franchise and not invariably constantly be measured against the GOAT.

All of this conjecture and wishful thinking, but Ernie HAS to at least get on the phone with LBJ's agent. Wall changes everything.

[miller31time]

As Dat said, now that we Wall everything changes. Damn right we should go after LeBron, why not? You guys are gonna hold animosity over him for some early round playoff series - please stop, that's idiocy. He may not be Kobe or MJ, but who cares. Wall can be our Mr. Clutch.

I think LeBron is gonna choose btwn Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. The Wizards, and everyone else, are long shots still IMO. Last night eliminated any hope of New Jersey getting him, and please, he isn't going to the Clippers.

What could we sell? First, what about the Calipari rumors? Given Wall's relationship with Calipari, and Calipari's *apparent* relationship with LBJ and Worldwide Wes, could we sell LeBron on a Wall-Calipari combination in DC. I'd throw Flip overboard in a heartbeat.

We have a new owner who made his fortune in business. You don't think he'd be a REAL trusted business advisor to LeBron - not in the LeBron's friends/family sort of way, but in the real, here's how we can market you in today's economy an technological landscape to make you a gazillionaire. Just sayin'.

We are a top 5 TV market, are we not? We aren't as big as Chicago, but doesn't LeBron want to put his stamp on a franchise and not invariably constantly be measured against the GOAT.

All of this conjecture and wishful thinking, but Ernie HAS to at least get on the phone with LBJ's agent. Wall changes everything.

Well-said. It cannot be overlooked that, on paper, we might have a team that's better than any other option LeBron has.

New York - Wizards are better

LA Clippers - Wizards are better

New Jersey - Wizards are better

Chicago Bulls - It's close but the big selling point for CHI was Rose and now...we have our own Rose, and something CHI doesn't have - a superstar 2nd man, Gilbert Arenas. Agent Zero is the perfect man to play second-fiddle to James since he's an incredible scorer who can stretch the floor. Blatche is a better post scorer than anyone on Chicago and if we can sign a defensive-minded center, that should help alleviate our defensive deficiency.

Cleveland Cavaliers - I just don't see him going back. That team is in a state of turmoil right now.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I rebuke this thread in the name of all that is holy!!! F**k that bit*h ass, queen punk, loser mother*ucker!!

You gotta learn to embrace diversity, JWiz.

I don't care what he's like. He can play. He's not only a great athlete but he's also a smart player. I could learn to appreciate his LBJ monogramed sweaters, his whole momma's boy, "Danny, they're trying to hurt me" act.

James only lost because of guys like Mo Williams and (great guy but I have to say this) Antawn Jamison not being good enough to help him.

The Queen is welcome on my favorite team any day.

[jmrosenth]

Why is MJ lobbying for Chicago to get LeBron? He realize he's now the owner of a different NBA franchise, right?

[willbcocks]

I realize NY NY great city media media JZ INVESTMENTS and all that crap, but NY has no basketball players. Lebron could bring another max sidekick, and from then on it would be MLE signings, trading expiring salary for players (like cleveland did, which brought nothing positive), and middling draft picks.

That team's not going anywhere. If he goes to NY, we know he's not about W & L's but about *'s and $'s.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

As Dat said, now that we Wall everything changes. Damn right we should go after LeBron, why not? You guys are gonna hold animosity over him for some early round playoff series - please stop, that's idiocy. He may not be Kobe or MJ, but who cares. Wall can be our Mr. Clutch.

I think LeBron is gonna choose btwn Cleveland, New York, and Chicago. The Wizards, and everyone else, are long shots still IMO. Last night eliminated any hope of New Jersey getting him, and please, he isn't going to the Clippers.

What could we sell? First, what about the Calipari rumors? Given Wall's relationship with Calipari, and Calipari's *apparent* relationship with LBJ and Worldwide Wes, could we sell LeBron on a Wall-Calipari combination in DC. I'd throw Flip overboard in a heartbeat.

We have a new owner who made his fortune in business. You don't think he'd be a REAL trusted business advisor to LeBron - not in the LeBron's friends/family sort of way, but in the real, here's how we can market you in today's economy an technological landscape to make you a gazillionaire. Just sayin'.

We are a top 5 TV market, are we not? We aren't as big as Chicago, but doesn't LeBron want to put his stamp on a franchise and not invariably constantly be measured against the GOAT.

All of this conjecture and wishful thinking, but Ernie HAS to at least get on the phone with LBJ's agent. Wall changes everything.

Well-said. It cannot be overlooked that, on paper, we might have a team that's better than any other option LeBron has.

New York - Wizards are better

LA Clippers - Wizards are better

New Jersey - Wizards are better

Chicago Bulls - It's close but the big selling point for CHI was Rose and now...we have our own Rose, and something CHI doesn't have - a superstar 2nd man, Gilbert Arenas. Agent Zero is the perfect man to play second-fiddle to James since he's an incredible scorer who can stretch the floor. Blatche is a better post scorer than anyone on Chicago and if we can sign a defensive-minded center, that should help alleviate our defensive deficiency.

Cleveland Cavaliers - I just don't see him going back. That team is in a state of turmoil right now.

JRo for the win.

The way to get Lebron is SIMPLE: Go after Calipari. Sell him on Teddy Billions as a mentor.

Also, resign Mike Miller, who is a friend of James'. Gil and Miller are both friends of James. Wiz should go all in on this.

HERE'S WHAT ELSE THE WIZ COULD DO: Trade McGee and the 30 for DeMarcus Cousins, who went to the Lebron James Skills Acacemy. If James thinks Eddy Curry can help Cleveland he has to KNOW Cousins is a much better C that can help him win multiple championships. Another thing, resign Brendan Haywood. James is scared of Haywood but has to respect him, too. Bringing Haywood back makes a ton of since now, regardless. McGee's defense as C will always be problematic. With Haywood, C is solid for the Wizards.

Lasty: James should be sold by Ted Leonsis that Lebron can do for him what an aged MJ couldn't do in DC. The idea of having a great #23 was a good one, but MJ was too old and the supporting cast too weak. DC's a great city and James knows that. The President can watch his games regularly.

I really think the Wizards can maximize their opportutnites if they make a play for James.

Flip can go, too, J Ro.

[Hoopalotta]

If we sign Bron for the max, we got about $3 million extra.

No Haywood, no Miller.

[verbal8]

Why is MJ lobbying for Chicago to get LeBron? He realize he's now the owner of a different NBA franchise, right?

I think it is probably about Jordan's legacy as a player. If LeBron comes to Chicago and is not as successful as Jordan then it "proves" that Jordan was a better player.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

If we sign Bron for the max, we got about $3 million extra.

No Haywood, no Miller.

Alright, forget Miller. I don't really think he's worth the fuss.

Then that means after talking with Lebron indirectly about Cousins, the Wizards should trade McGee for Cousins if Lebron says what I'm pretty sure he'd say.

Another option would be to see if Ilgauskas would sign for the veteran minimum to be reunited with James, who insisted Cleveland resign him.

[Dat2U]

If we sign Bron for the max, we got about $3 million extra.

No Haywood, no Miller.

The max for LeBron is $16.7 mil right? So wouldn't that give us about $5 mil left over?

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Why is MJ lobbying for Chicago to get LeBron? He realize he's now the owner of a different NBA franchise, right?

I think it is probably about Jordan's legacy as a player. If LeBron comes to Chicago and is not as successful as Jordan then it "proves" that Jordan was a better player.

MJ is probably still very loyal to the Bulls' fans. He knows they win if Lebron goes there. I don't think he wants Lebron to go to the Bulls and fail.

He might be thinking Wade's also going to Chicago. (I think too many chefs can spoil the broth if this happens. Everyone's numbers suffer and who takes the last shot?)

What makes sense to me is for Wade to go to Chicago.

Lebron should seriously consider playing with the Wizards.

[willbcocks]

If we sign Bron for the max, we got about $3 million extra.

No Haywood, no Miller.

The max for LeBron is $16.7 mil right? So wouldn't that give us about $5 mil left over?

Wall's salary is a lot higher than the #5's.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Miami is more dangerous to live in than DC. DC wasn't ranked in the top 15 of most dangerous cities for 2008. I'm not sure where they were ranked in 2009, but crime went down last year. Anyway, we're acting like Lebron is going to be living in Southeast if he came here. VA is his most likely spot.

Even if he lived in SE the only crime around Lebron would be towards Lebron enemies. Lebron would be as safe as Barack Obama if he lived in DC.

Heck, if he became a Wizard, they'd probably change the silly law that got Gil locked up to accomodate Lebron's right to bear arms in DC.

[Hoopalotta]

If we sign Bron for the max, we got about $3 million extra.

No Haywood, no Miller.

The max for LeBron is $16.7 mil right? So wouldn't that give us about $5 mil left over?

Are you plugging Wall in at about $5 million? That's what I have him at in my spreadsheet (I think I plugged in Griffin's numbers).

I've got this under the max signing scenario....

Gilbert Arenas - $17,730,693
MAX Dude - $16,570,600
WAS - 1st - $4,983,480
Andray Blatche - $3,260,331
Al Thornton - $2,814,196
Nick Young - $2,630,503
JaVale McGee - $1,601,040
Quintin Ross - $1,146,337
CLE - 30th Pick - $996,240 (roughly)
WAS - 35th Pick - $473,604.00
Min. Cap Hold - $473,604.00
Min. Cap Hold - $473,604.00

Total - $53,154,232.00

[Hoopalotta]

Hmmm, maybe those rookie numbers are at 125% of the rookie scale deals though, the ones that guys actually sign rather than the July cap hold. So maybe we would have a touch closer to $4-5 million.

I'm not sure about that.

Did the final cap figure ever come out? It was supposed to be $56 million, but then the playoffs were supposed to have bombed in the ratings, so it might get pinched a touch.

[jmrosenth]

Why is MJ lobbying for Chicago to get LeBron? He realize he's now the owner of a different NBA franchise, right?

I think it is probably about Jordan's legacy as a player. If LeBron comes to Chicago and is not as successful as Jordan then it "proves" that Jordan was a better player.

I think it's for MJ selfish reasons, but not for the reason you mentioned. What I got out of it is that yea, LBJ was at the United Center, he saw all the banners hanging in the rafters, what I built here, etc., and because of me, he wants to continue with the Chicago Bulls legacy of winning.

This seems like a Kevin McHale situation with MJ. His heart is clearly still in Chicago, despite being a big time competitor of theirs. Wouldn't shock me to see a Kevin Garnett type of deal down the road btwn Charlotte and Chicago.

Chicago had their chance to get Kobe and wouldn't make the trade because of Luol Deng, right? They've had enough NBA luck to last my lifetime. MJ, Pippen, now Rose. Let's share the wealth.

[Dat2U]

Hmmm, maybe those rookie numbers are at 125% of the rookie scale deals though, the ones that guys actually sign rather than the July cap hold. So maybe we would have a touch closer to $4-5 million.

I'm not sure about that.

Did the final cap figure ever come out? It was supposed to be $56 million, but then the playoffs were supposed to have bombed in the ratings, so it might get pinched a touch.

Looking at Shamsports. the cap holds for the #1 pick were:

08-09: 4,019,000
09-10: 4,152,900
10-11: ???

Looking at those numbers, I'm guessing its going to be about $4.3 mil for us? So I guess we'll have about $3.5 left over (using the $56 mil figure). And that's not including the potential cap holds for Livingston & Singleton.

[pancakes3]

this is such a sophie's choice. welcome :gak: LEBRON or have a shot at multiple championships?

anyway, we have 5 mil before lux tax. to build a contender, we need TALENT and you just cannot win the championship without going over the luxtax. i mean, LA, Boston are 30 mil over lux tax, orlando 20, and phoenix 15. Cleveland for all its economic woes was a whopping 25 mil over lux tax. If we're serious about bringing in Lebron and making a championship run, we need to go over the lux tax, and by a larger margin at that.

We're also SUPER lucky in that Wall is on a rookie contract, blatche is super cheap, and all we really need is to sign Haywood to build a contender. If there ever was a time to splurge, it would certainly be now when we still have blatche for 2 seasons on the cheap and wall is locked into a rookie contract. like Jro said, Wall changes EVERYTHING.

trotting out a lineup like
Wall
Arenas
Lebron
Blatche
Haywood

while only going 10 over the cap while teams are killing themselves financially to put
Nelson | Nash
Vince | JRich
Barnes | Grant Hill
Lewis | Stoudemire
Howard | Channing Frye

!! we have a 2-year window where we could presumably go back-to-back if we play our cards right and all it takes is to fire a coach (after a 19-win season) and go 10 over the cap? i might have to swallow my pride and in the ultimate act of IRONY begrudgingly accept the queen to the 202/301/240/410/703/571.

Plus just think of the BASKETBALL that squad is capable of! With lebron finally playing off the ball, he can really focus on defense and rebounding and realize his potential as a TRUE larry bird player. 24/10/6 is a much better statline than 30/8/8 when viewed with context of the team.