The LeBron Thread

[-Illmatic-]

Wow, Joe Johnson over Wade, Nowitski, Rose, and Stoudemiere. This article is the WOAT.

[Jstarks3]

im sure lebron and his team already have gone over the free agent question hundreds of times before the king interview.

[eviL]

King: Do you lean at all toward the place you know the best? I mean do they have an edge going in...

JAMES: Oh, absolutely.

KING: ...your home team?

JAMES: Absolutely. Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it's comfortable. So I've got a lot of memories here. And - and so it does have an edge.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/01/le ... ree-agent/

[KnickRider]

The biggest part of this article was the 2nd part where they talked about the 4 points to finding the perfect mate.
REBOUNDING BIG WHO CAN SPACE THE FLOOR AND DOESNT NEED THE BALL.

with those given qualifications i only recognize 3, maybe 4 from that list. lee, bosh, dirk and boozer
nobody else in that top 10 makes any sense.

[KnicksScholar24]

You just took a shot at Chicago the city for no apparent reason. But its cool...my position now is the same as it always have been. If LBJ comes to Chicago, we are a contender. If he doesnt, we can look for other ways to build a contender. If NY strikes out on LBJ, its catastrophic. No one worth paying is gonna want to go to NY unless LBJ is there. So for you guys, it really is LBJ or bust. Oh...no wonder everybody here gets so pissed at the thought of him going elsewhere......

How do you figure this? New York can "look for other ways to build a contender" just like the Bulls. It's not a catastrophe if they don't sign James, just less likely to be title contenders in the next 5 seasons.

It might be hard for them to build through the draft, considering Walsh traded the rights to the Knicks' first round picks for the 2011 and 2012 drafts in the McGrady trade, but they'll still have a draft pick in 2011 (Houston's), and they can always buy late first round picks (Dolan's willing to spend). It will then be up to the scouting department to find a steal. If they do keep their two second round picks in this year's draft I feel the Knicks can add two solid players that slipped.

The Bulls' future is a lot less bright than you are willing admit, if they fail to sign James and/or sign-and-trade for Bosh.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Fun little ESPN gimmick that lets you 'play the slots' for FA:

http://espn.go.com/nba/features/freeagentslotmachine

[H20KilledHeat]

the ball dominancy of Bron-Wade is irrelevant because theyd both have plenty oppourtunitys and the nice thing is it would take the pressure off them because theyd have a VERY solid 1a and 1b option.
they only thing is if they can put their ego's behind them in clutch situations

[dTox]

Two-time MVP basketball superstar LeBron James is on the cusp of free agency. In an interview scheduled to air Friday with CNN's Larry King, James said his current team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, has the best chance of keeping him.

King: Do you lean at all toward the place you know the best? I mean do they have an edge going in...

JAMES: Oh, absolutely.

KING: ...your home team?

JAMES: Absolutely. Because, you know, this city, these fans, I mean, have given me a lot in these seven years. And, you know, for me, it's comfortable. So I've got a lot of memories here. And - and so it does have an edge.

James has not talked to the media since the Cleveland Cavaliers were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Boston Celtics.

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/01/lebron-cleveland-has-edge-when-hes-free-agent/

thoughts?

[Bigmo5246]

Anything in Chitown would be magnified in NYC, including global exposure and money making possibilities. That number would probably be like 5-10B in New York. Also just to throw a little more gas to the fire, Joakim Noah was saying that no one goes to Cleveland on vacation. No offense to Chicago, but I don't think too many people vacation in Illinois. How many celebrities, musicians, athletes, international icons have an apartment/live in Chicago. The cities which attract these type of people are NYC, LA and Miami.

Thats a rediculous comment. It really is. Too damn lazy to go and grab a list of athletes/celebs that have places in Chicago...but I shouldnt have too. You are the one that made the idiotic statement without taking the initiative to even support it with anything. Its these types of post that help deteriorate the nature of the discussion and then..when a Bulls fan comes in to refute it, we are called trolls. WTF does vacation spots have to do with whether or not Lebron will go to CHI or NY or MIA or LA or where ever???

You just took a shot at Chicago the city for no apparent reason. But its cool...my position now is the same as it always have been. If LBJ comes to Chicago, we are a contender. If he doesnt, we can look for other ways to build a contender. If NY strikes out on LBJ, its catastrophic. No one worth paying is gonna want to go to NY unless LBJ is there. So for you guys, it really is LBJ or bust. Oh...no wonder everybody here gets so pissed at the thought of him going elsewhere......

Wow.... If Chicago strikes out on Lebron, it is also just as bad. If you really think Chicago can build a contender w/o Lebron, you must be crazy

[Subway Token]

He sounded so un-concrete and with a foot out the door there.

[St Knick]

it is my OPINION that he will say this even if he decides to leave Cavs as a public relations move... the guy lives in Cleveland, is going to be there the next month... i think anyone in his position would say this, b/c it wouldn't look good for him otherwise

call me naive New York if youd like, but i dont view this as doomsday info

[frogfood]

it is my OPINION that he will say this even if he decides to leave Cavs as a public relations move... the guy lives in Cleveland, is going to be there the next month... i think anyone in his position would say this, b/c it wouldn't look good for him otherwise

call me naive New York if youd like, but i dont view this as doomsday info

It's not, and I'm as apprehensive as they come. That's the ONLY answer he can give.

[hatnlvr]

I see Lebron-Bosh made #1 and I honestly think that would be the best killer combo to start off with.

[krustytheclown]

really no big deal most people know its clv or ny with clv having a slight slight edge

[cgf]

i honestly think gallo could be an honorable mention.

huh?

Haven't you heard? Gallo's awful and we'd have to include future superstar Wilson Chandler just to rid us of them.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

Anything in Chitown would be magnified in NYC, including global exposure and money making possibilities. That number would probably be like 5-10B in New York. Also just to throw a little more gas to the fire, Joakim Noah was saying that no one goes to Cleveland on vacation. No offense to Chicago, but I don't think too many people vacation in Illinois. How many celebrities, musicians, athletes, international icons have an apartment/live in Chicago. The cities which attract these type of people are NYC, LA and Miami.

Thats a rediculous comment. It really is. Too damn lazy to go and grab a list of athletes/celebs that have places in Chicago...but I shouldnt have too. You are the one that made the idiotic statement without taking the initiative to even support it with anything. Its these types of post that help deteriorate the nature of the discussion and then..when a Bulls fan comes in to refute it, we are called trolls. WTF does vacation spots have to do with whether or not Lebron will go to CHI or NY or MIA or LA or where ever???

You just took a shot at Chicago the city for no apparent reason. But its cool...my position now is the same as it always have been. If LBJ comes to Chicago, we are a contender. If he doesnt, we can look for other ways to build a contender. If NY strikes out on LBJ, its catastrophic. No one worth paying is gonna want to go to NY unless LBJ is there. So for you guys, it really is LBJ or bust. Oh...no wonder everybody here gets so pissed at the thought of him going elsewhere......

Wow.... If Chicago strikes out on Lebron, it is also just as bad. If you really think Chicago can build a contender w/o Lebron, you must be crazy

The were 4 contenders in the WCF and ECF - none of them had Lebron. Not getting Lebron won't kill any team. It will make it harder - but its not going to automatically eliminate that team from post season success.

[aluball17]

Sounds like the Vegas odds will move dramatically. Good time to buy NY.

[tonyreyes123]

He had to say that.

[Action Paxson]

Who knows FOR SURE. But logic tells me three things that really do back up the argument that the Knicks' chances are stronger than Chicago's and I think they're three very substantial things:

1. The MJ legacy issue is, to me, a very real thing that will probably get in the way. LeBron does not want to hear about Jordan every waking hour for the rest of his career.

Don't you think thats a tad presumptuous? It might not matter to LeBron at all. He might like it. I could tell you in Chicago its not really an issue. If he wins 4 in 5 years or something then it will start being talked about, as it is with every really good player after Jordan, whether in Chicago or not.

The Bulls led the league in attendance. Its not like the city is still hung up on MJ. He's retired. He owns the Bobcats. LeBron would start a new era in Chicago, the same way Magic did in LA and Bird in Boston. Did the greats in LA and Boston leave a shadow? I just think the whole argument is overblown. MJ is the best basketball player ever and every player that comes up that people think can approach his greatness will hear it. I think the NY media would actually make more of comparing the two than the Chicago media would.

2. I really don't see how Rose and LeBron will coexist in a way that will maximize each other's talents. Would they be a load to handle and win ballgames? Yes. But would Rose excel off the ball OR does LeBron like playing off the ball on the wings? No. One of the two would be diminished most likely. It's probably a flawed mix. Bosh is a better fit next to LeBron because you know the two wouldn't get in each other's way. Could Rose and LeBron surprise me and work great? Yes. But the problem is that we wouldn't know that until they play together and they can't play together until he signs. Chicken & egg. Despite the ESPN fools, I really think LeBron would be hesitant to share the ball with Rose and on paper, it's at least an odd, questionable fit.

There are 24 seconds in a shot clock. 48 minutes in the game. LeBron and Rose are both very unselfish and would create a ton of mismatches for eachother. Imagine LeBron driving the lane, the whole defense collapses on him then he gets it to Rose in a one-on-one situation. I don't see how it is a downside that Rose is really good with the ball in his hands. It would be really hard defend having two guys that are that potent off the dribble.

3. The Bulls getting Bosh is a major mountain to climb. I don't think Toronto is going to give him away and take back a bad contract or two. I just don't see it. Without Bosh, Rose, LeBron and Noah has major holes and I don't think it's a title team.

Rose-Hinrich-LeBron-Deng-Noah with Gibson, the 17th pick, Asik, Johnson is a lot closer than the Knicks would be. That team is better than the Cavs team that was favored to win it. Its not a guaranteed championship but they are in the discussion. Also, lets not act like Deng doesn't exist. He's a very good player, just overpaid and a pussy. He would actually work pretty well on a team with LeBron and Rose because the guy can't create his own offense whatsoever. He's great on cuts, curls, and kick-outs, where he would have a lot of opportunities. The Bulls swept the defending champion Heat in 2007 and Deng was the reason why. If he can be 80% of that player then the supporting cast is good enough.

Also, if Rose makes the same type of jump from years 2-3 that other young stars have made, then he's better than any Robin the Knicks can offer. He's 21, Bron recognizes his biggest window for winning championships is with Chicago. This is rarely talked about.

If I were a gambling man I wouldn't bet on LeBron to the Bulls. I'm just saying that your reason why "he won't" sign with Chicago are off. He's going to pick a franchise for a variety of reasons. I don't think he chooses the place with the least amount of negatives, he picks the place with the most positives. This is of course if he has the balls to turn his back on the city of Cleveland.

[Bigmo5246]

with just one month to go now folks, how do you feel about nyks chances with the FA?

I think Lebron has known what he wanted to do for three years now. The Chicago smokescreen is the best thing that could have happened to Lebron and the Knicks. The media has switched from saying he should never leave his roots, to "Lebron has to leave and Chicago would be great". Now when Lebron signs with New York, that "leaving home" argument won't hold much weight. The smokescreen has also worked tremendously in the kNicks favor. The GM's around the league aren't sure who to blacklist. If it was a sure thing that we would sign Lebron, how many teams would be willing to deal us draft picks? Or work out a trade with us??? (A resounding Zero) Chicago has diverted so much attention from New York that Donnie Walsh is free to make a splash in this years draft and Offseason.

Wow... I've never seen anybody as confident as you about NY getting Lebron lol. That is a good thing though