LeBron Free Agency 2010

[SHO'NUFF]

The Bulls talent is substantially overrated at this point...

They have a scoring PG... Rose is nice, quick, strong... A true PG he is not-- a PG that works with LeBron he is not... He's in between somewhere...
No shooters (essential with LeBron)
No bench
No low post scorers
No perimeter defense

I just don't get where the Bulls are all that great ? They barely made the playoffs and it took a Raptors collapse to make it happen...

LeBron goes to Miami with Wade and Riley coaching him and it's already a better situation than playing with Derrick Rose, a big man that is all hustle with no skill and a rookie coach...

We really had some bad injury problems this past season. At one point the whole starting line-up was injured. Then when Rose came back....Noah, Deng, and Kirk were injured. We lost 10 in a row during that stretch i believe.

[holyboy2009]

chicago is a cosmipolitan city unlike cleveland. its also a big market. it played well in the second half of the season after it acquired new players via trade. it has a bench. and as an organization its managed well --it didnt tank any seasons to get the opportunity to court Lebron. but it needs shooters. It probably has more to offer than Cleveland. Nevertheless, Cleveland is the favorite because its home and he brings in a lot of money to its economy. He knows he's important to its economy and he'll also have the best deal. As for endorsements? who knows

[kingkungkernitz]

If Lebron leaves the Cavs, do you think they should make a decision to rebuild the way the Thunder have these past few years?

[the edge]

The other clear advantage Cleveland has over Chicago is owner Dan Gilbert.

[tidho]

No.

I don't think Gilbert will have the patience for that. I think we'll shed salary and be bad enough to bring in a quality rookie, but we'll be much quicker to spend on free agents than OKC has been.

[Triumph36]

If Lebron leaves the Cavs, do you think they should make a decision to rebuild the way the Thunder have these past few years?

Without a doubt. In fact, the moment the front office learns LeBron has signed elsewhere, I hope they're on the phone shopping Mo, Jamison, AV....everyone. If LeBron leaves, none of them should be on the Cavs roster when the season begins.

Trying to go about things any other way would just not work and would result in being a mediocre borderline playoff team at best. Unfortunately I am very afraid Gilbert takes that option and Cleveland doesn't come close to a title again for many, many years.

No.

I don't think Gilbert will have the patience for that. I think we'll shed salary and be bad enough to bring in a quality rookie, but we'll be much quicker to spend on free agents than OKC has been.

And that would be a huge mistake that will end up killing the team. No good FA is going to come here unless there is a good team around him. One player is not enough.

[B Mac]

Gotta love LeBron punking the Heat by showing up 45 minutes late and in a white tee and shorts.

[rjgraca]

I can't wait for the Lebron free agent show to be done with. Despite the clumsy image (attention whore) that has been projected by Lebron's posse, I have to believe that Lebron can make up his own mind and put aside the self-interests of some of those so-called friends of his.

LeBron Should Stay Put

LeBron James has no reason to leave Cleveland. First off, as his incumbent team, the Cavaliers can offer him the most money. Why leave $30 million in the table to switch teams, especially when there's no guarantee of a title elsewhere?

That is, sticking it out with the club that drafted you, raising its level of play and ultimately, with the right help, leading the club to a title. That's what Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan and Kobe did. Does anyone think that any one of those guys would enjoy the same legacy if he'd jumped ship to join a quasi-All Star team, and won titles that way?

Sure, viewership on local cable is higher in a bigger market, but that's pretty incidental in the context of LeBron the global tycoon. Really, how much more visible can the guy be? The Cavs' sharp owner, Dan Gilbert (let's not even get into comparing him to the Knicks' James Dolan), is already bringing in Chinese investors as minority shareholders, giving LeBron a toe hold in the NBA's biggest overseas market.

http://blogs.forbes.com/sportsmoney/201 ... elsections

[Triumph36]

Gotta love LeBron punking the Heat by showing up 45 minutes late and in a white tee and shorts.

He wasn't late. The Heat were early.

[bballcool34]

geez, could you imagine going through this for another 3 years. It's not like we've ever really had a break since LeBron reupped from his rookie contract. Ever since then, people have been working on their contracts to try to sign him. I'm not sure I'd want to deal with this crap for another 3 yrs.

You do.

[Pula_86]

Here is a juicy little nugget for you. I heard the Nets proposal was more impressive becaue Jay-Z rapped it. D'Antoni had the heart to battle, but not the skills.

I got this information from Shelley Smith who is outside LeBron's house in the bushes along with Broussard, Stein's and Stephen A. Smith's "sources."

Expect the Cavs to bring Ray Cash, Kid Cudi, & Bone Thugs to rap their proposal with Dan Gilbert playing the role of Flavor flav.

[heathmalc]

For those keeping track at home, there's a change in LeBron James' schedule Saturday: He'll meet with the Cavs first, followed by the Bulls -- a flip-flop of the original schedule. Why?

Well, there are indications that the Bulls, in a pre-emptive strike to force the free-agent dominoes to start tumbling, have told James they want a decision on whether he'll accept their offer by the end of the day Saturday. It's not known if that is the only reason for the change of plans, but it seems to be a sensible explanation.

If true, the Bulls' ultimatum will greatly accelerate decisions by LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chirs Bosh because their futures are all intertwined. They share the same representation, and at least two of them are aiming to play together -- with one pie-in-the-sky scenario that would land all three of them with the Miami Heat, whose contingent, including Pat Riley and his championship rings, met with James Friday in downtown Cleveland. The Clippers, without notorious owner Donald Sterling, met with James, too, on the second day of meetings with the superstar free agent.

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/m ... 3/22947913

[Benedict_Boozer]

If Wade/Bosh signs in CHI we pretty much have Lebron locked up. Of course we would be screwed having to face them in our own division, but we'd still have Lebron to build around.

[heathmalc]

alanhahn

I'm being told Amar'e believes he can help Knicks get LeBron (recall all-star wknd in feb.). He's also texting Tony Parker about teaming up.

[B Mac]

I dont get why the Clippers wasted their time and LeBron's for that meeting today. Did they honestly think they had a shot? Im sure paying for a flight across the country for a one hour meeting with LeBron that everyone knows doesnt mean anything wasnt the most prudent of decisions.

[heathmalc]

I dont get why the Clippers wasted their time and LeBron's for that meeting today. Did they honestly think they had a shot? Im sure paying for a flight across the country for a one hour meeting with LeBron that everyone knows doesnt mean anything wasnt the most prudent of decisions.

Agree!!! But I heard that they did have a good pitch. If not for their horrid owner, they probably would have a shot...as well as any other team trying to take him. They do have the most talent of all the teams with cap-space.


In related news:

According to a source, the Toronto Raptors like some of the pieces the Cavs could use in a sign-and-trade for Chris Bosh. The Cavs, unlike rivals trying to get Bosh such as the Bulls and Heat, can offer a package of prospects, quality veterans, expiring contracts and instant savings.

Because of the depth of the roster, the Cavs can absorb a bad contract or two from the Raptors, which could save Toronto millions of dollars this season and years into the future and help with a rebuilding process after Bosh's departure.

It would all be predicated on Bosh wanting to come to Cleveland, and that would depend on James recruiting him after re-signing. So would all the other major moves the Cavs would look into and show James.

Which is why re-signing him is the first priority, and the plan is to show that to him today.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf ... _to_m.html

[heathmalc]

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The last question got answered, the camera lights went off and Byron Scott's first official news conference as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers was officially over. For a instant, though, you almost expected someone in a beret with a clapboard to pop out, instructing everyone in the room at the team's headquarters in suburban Cleveland to stay right where they were. For "Take 2."

Only this time, the introduction and Q&A session would be held as if LeBron James was not going to be with the Cavaliers next season.

But there was no "Take 2." The Cavs and Scott nailed it in one take. As far as they were concerned, James not only will be back with Cleveland for 2010-11 and beyond, he will be better, more dangerous and headed toward multiple NBA rings.

"I shouldn't say championship -- it's championships," Scott corrected himself at one point, while sharing the ambition he has for himself and his new team. "More than one."

Many in the room wanted to believe. More telling, no one snickered.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/s ... index.html

[Bushy]

I dont get why the Clippers wasted their time and LeBron's for that meeting today. Did they honestly think they had a shot? Im sure paying for a flight across the country for a one hour meeting with LeBron that everyone knows doesnt mean anything wasnt the most prudent of decisions.

Agree!!! But I heard that they did have a good pitch. If not for their horrid owner, they probably would have a shot...as well as any other team trying to take him. They do have the most talent of all the teams with cap-space

UM NO

Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose
Taj Gibson
Joakim Noah
Luol Deng(who would be traded)
ANOTHER top free agent

[TheOUTLAW]

Nope, the Clips still have more talent right now.

[B Mac]

Nope, the Clips still have more talent right now.

Clearly. Too bad they are the Clippers though.