Butch Carter: Lebron will sign with Toronto or Cleveland

TheAlchemist · Post #41 » by **TheAlchemist** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:44 pm

At least there's more rumours out there that we are targeting superstar free agents. Aim for the stars regardless, we'll eventually sign one or two.

Might be James Harden types more then Durant/Lebron, but still it isn't a bad thing. For once we're hearing rumours of recruiting Lebron and etc.

Vietbrah · Post #42 » by **Vietbrah** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:46 pm

Get er done

whysoserious · Post #43 » by **whysoserious** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:49 pm

redeye514 wrote:
Fair enough.

Toronto is a WORLD CLASS city, Miami is not. Its south beach. People evolve out of the 'fan fair' of a south beach lifestyle.

Do you not see the amount of flaws in this analysis. We all know that Toronto is a world class city, how does it compare in terms of a market like Miami? What does it offer above Miami that would appeal to a player of Lebrons stature?

Perhaps the appeal of national reach. He will always be 'the guy' in the US, now he can be 'the guy' for 2 countries.

He’s going to have the same issues he always has, he’s not getting full out support from all of Canada. It would be a huge coup, heck he may even lose some fans in the US. But overall this has minimal impact, he’s already the most popular player in the sport and one of the most popular athletes in the world, what does being in Toronto/Canada do to really enhance that?

Perhaps their is some appeal to working with Masai on his African basketball initiatives, becoming the face of some sort of charitable program that gets global appeal and affects an entire continent.

He can do this already if he wanted to, why wouldn’t he do it with his championship team and in a better weather climate with no taxes?

Drake.

What does this do for Lebron? Just throwing his name out there doesn’t mean much. Yes Drake is popular, how does this enhance his brand which is already well established?

He has stated in the past that Toronto is one of his favourite cities to visit.

Great, he likes the city. This one I could see you using as rational but lots of players love Toronto, again, the question is and still remains how is this better than his current situation or going home?

Does a youthful core of Demar / JV / Amir etc become more appealing than aging core in Miami? Does he see the potential for more rings over the next 5 years here in Toronto, or in Miami?[/quote[
We have a nice young core, but not even a single player has reached the level of CB and Wade playing second fiddle to Lebron. But heck, maybe he looks at that, then again Cleveland has a nice young core too so why wouldn’t he go home?

Does being owned by a media empire offer other revenue stream opportunities that none of us are even thinking of?

What are those opportunities? You can’t just throw this out there. MLSE would be pretty limited on a global scale as well as the US market.

Again, I am not hear saying LBJ will sign in Toronto, nor am I saying that any / all of these reasons are reason enough for him to do it. Every point is debatable, obviously. LBJ will likely be focused on Miami or Cleveland, obviously. Toronto would be a super long shot, obviously. But our mentality of 'we're not good enough. We're not appealing enough.' I just don't buy, personally.

I’m glad you admitted this much. But the original message from Butch was Lebron was considering Cleveland and Toronto. That’s what everyone is responding to. Not that we shouldn’t sell ourselves as city to him. The point is simply that this market really doesn’t offer him anything that he doesn’t currently have or can get at home.

TeamMago7 · Post #44 » by **TeamMago7** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:50 pm

I can see it happening. We're already going to be rebranded into the Toronto Drakes, so all that's left is to change the name of the city.

Lebronto Drakes?

UnderdogRaptors · Post #45 » by **UnderdogRaptors** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:50 pm

Well played butch well played

GooniesNeverDie · Post #46 » by **GooniesNeverDie** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:51 pm

lebrons not leaving miami.. elite organization with elite management.. not to mention im sure his family is already settled in there and are comfortable.. warm weather.. taxes...

OakleyDokely · Post #47 » by **OakleyDokely** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:56 pm

nitrous · Post #48 » by **nitrous** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:59 pm

Lemar Lerozan.

I like it.

bape_lovers · Post #49 » by **bape_lovers** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:00 pm

im going to win the lottery tommrow

nitrous · Post #50 » by **nitrous** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:03 pm

MLSE gets an nfl team, make Lebron part owner. Win a championship w/ toronto raptors then play football?

Inevitable · Post #51 » by **Inevitable** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:04 pm

Maybe if Jonas becomes Tim Duncan and Ross becomes Prime Ray Allen.

redeye514 · Post #52 » by **redeye514** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:06 pm

whysoserious wrote:
redeye514 wrote:
Fair enough.

Toronto is a WORLD CLASS city, Miami is not. Its south beach. People evolve out of the 'fan fair' of a south beach lifestyle.

Do you not see the amount of flaws in this analysis. We all know that Toronto is a world class city, how does it compare in terms of a market like Miami? What does it offer above Miami that would appeal to a player of Lebrons stature?
Perhaps the appeal of national reach. He will always be 'the guy' in the US, now he can be 'the guy' for 2 countries.

He’s going to have the same issues he always has, he’s not getting full out support from all of Canada. It would be a huge coup, heck he may even lose some fans in the US. But overall this has minimal impact, he’s already the most popular player in the sport and one of the most popular athletes in the world, what does being in Toronto/Canada do to really enhance that?

Perhaps their is some appeal to working with Masai on his African basketball initiatives, becoming the face of some sort of charitable program that gets global appeal and affects an entire continent.

He can do this already if he wanted to, why wouldn’t he do it with his championship team and in a better weather climate with no taxes?
Drake.

What does this do for Lebron? Just throwing his name out there doesn’t mean much. Yes Drake is popular, how does this enhance his brand which is already well established?

He has stated in the past that Toronto is one of his favourite cities to visit.

Great, he likes the city. This one I could see you using as rational but lots of players love Toronto, again, the question is and still remains how is this better than his current situation or going home?

Does a youthful core of Demar / JV / Amir etc become more appealing than aging core in Miami? Does he see the potential for more rings over the next 5 years here in Toronto, or in Miami?[/quote[
We have a nice young core, but not even a single player has reached the level of CB and Wade playing second fiddle to Lebron. But heck, maybe he looks at that, then again Cleveland has a nice young core too so why wouldn’t he go home?

Does being owned by a media empire offer other revenue stream opportunities that none of us are even thinking of?

What are those opportunities? You can’t just throw this out there. MLSE would be pretty limited on a global scale as well as the US market.

Again, I am not hear saying LBJ will sign in Toronto, nor am I saying that any / all of these reasons are reason enough for him to do it. Every point is debatable, obviously. LBJ will likely be focused on Miami or Cleveland, obviously. Toronto would be a super long shot, obviously. But our mentality of 'we're not good enough. We're not appealing enough.' I just don't buy, personally.

I’m glad you admitted this much. But the original message from Butch was Lebron was considering Cleveland and Toronto. That’s what everyone is responding to. Not that we shouldn’t sell ourselves as city to him. The point is simply that this market really doesn’t offer him anything that he doesn’t currently have or can get at home.

You are a serious glass half empty kind of guy. I dont mean that as an aggresive insult, seriously, although I know you will read it that way. Grass is not always greener on the other side. Miami is a joke of a city built for the Kim Kardashians of the world coupled with a piss poor fan base. LBJ is a basketball junky, he may be asking himself right now 'why do MIAMI fans deserve my greatness?' whatevs. I'm not going to go point by point, because really, I dont have all the answers and will just be regurgitating myself. Fundamentally, I think Toronto as a city, the raptors as a youthful team, MLSE as an organization and Leiweke / Masai as a management team have a LOT they can offer that would make the overall package very attractive for anyone, even LBJ. We just need to prove a winning culture. Maybe I'm a homer... actually, I am a homer, and proud of it. You may think I'm a hippy, but I am of the mindset that ANYTHING is possible if you believe it and work towards it hard / smart enough. Thats how I live my life, thats how I attack my career. LBJ to Toronto? If I'm Leiweke right now, I'm thinking why the F Not?!?!?!!!!

VintageVince · Post #53 » by **VintageVince** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:07 pm

I don't think LeBron would care THAT much about the tax issues. LeBron currently makes 19 mil a year with Chicago, but his total earnings is 60mil a year. So if he loses a few mil to taxes, no big deal if he has a good chance at a championship.

If Miami can keep the three together in Miami, I don't see why he wouldn't stay there. I can't see him going to the Lakers or Cavs.

The Raptors? I thought this was a joke at first, if LeBron himself actually said he would consider Toronto, then I don't see why Toronto wouldn't try to get him. I still HIGHLY doubt LeBron would come here.

BLKMASS · Post #54 » by **BLKMASS** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:08 pm

.......

book it.

Ackshun · Post #55 » by **Ackshun** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:09 pm

Is this a real thing ?

Maybe Drake and LeBron want to eventually buy part of the team.

Other than a long term financial venture, I can't see it

J-Roc · Post #56 » by **J-Roc** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:12 pm

Butch just meant, if he's the coach....

UnderdogRaptors · Post #57 » by **UnderdogRaptors** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:19 pm

There's a better chance he signs with the Lolcats

Duke3D · Post #58 » by **Duke3D** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:23 pm

Was Butch calling from Colorado?

bballsparkin · Post #59 » by **bballsparkin** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:25 pm

Lebron would maybe sign with Toronto...if the NBA was played in the summer.

Zeno · Post #60 » by **Zeno** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:27 pm

Damn it. This is going to screw up the tank for yet another year. This team will never rebuild properly. #treadmill