Bobcat: Raptors will make a run for LeBron

[theSkinny]

Mona.. The ace in the hole no one is talking about.

Maybe he is interested in playing for a raucous crowd it has been awhile... If he did sign, Jurassic park would be packed even in the regular season.

[whysoserious]

Not a puckhead but not a HUGE basketball fan as you say just because he says he attended UNLV games when he lived in Vegas. Ever hear him discuss the Raptors? It's terrible....a few general comments.....he doesn't follow the team. Loves the Jays though....constantly talking about them.

You're right, my use of HUGE was probably overstating it but he does like basketball and covers it. He's probably more of a casual fan and just because some of his statements are off or claims when it comes to the Raptors doesn't mean he's not a fan. There's a lot of posters on here that are way off in their assessments and we all have our own thought processes, doesn't mean we're not fans just cause we don't all agree.

[SaveTheHens]

This is a thing our franchise should be used to, and not afraid to pursue. It's normal for a big market to make a run for the best player in the league if they'll have the capspace. May not work on Lebron but if we keep trying eventually we can sign a superstar & the myth that no one wants to come here will vanish

[GED Education]

Drake: cmon lebron come play for us.
Lebron: No.
Drake: cmon please!
Lebron: No.
Drake: I'll be your friend..
Lebron: No.
Drake: aww you're mean.

LOL - I know this is a Simpsons reference but I cannot for the life of me remember the scene.

[Geddy]

It's one of the Sideshow Bob episodes

[Mr_NC]

That would be something....

But

#KD2016

Actually

#AnybodyGood2014+

[VSharms]

You guys spend all year bashing hockey analysts and now Bob Mccown who knows nothing about basketball says something and everyone goes wild.

[JShuttlesworth]

Of course Tim Leiweke is going to try to and make a run at Lebron. He is the best player in the game in the game today, you would be stupid not to at least try and lure him in. It's going to be a tough pitch though - but the teams success this year and the support the Raps got from the fans in the playoffs probably helps.

Realistically Lebron wants to be remembered as the best that ever played the game. His trophy case is loaded - 4 MVPs, 2 Finals MVPs, 2 Rings. The only thing that matters at this point are the rings. The best chance he has at insuring he continues to win more rings is to move teams - somewhere young and talented.

Does he come to Toronto? Doubt it - Even though we'd the best team in the league. But I wouldn't be surprised if he moves. I'd think those odds go up if the Heat don't 3Peat

[Zeno]

If Lebron signed here, it would seriously make some folks in the media's head explode. I have a feeling that if KD came here, they'd pass it off as him being afraid of the spotlight of a "big" market. If Lebron came here, they'd be at a complete loss. Actually I'd be at a complete loss too. Proximity to Akron, young roster, lint rolling ambassator and high quality "hosptality" surely doesn't outweigh no state tax, warm weather, a winning tradition.

[KingTdot]

There's a lot more then that between kd and lbj as well.
kd has better offense, shooting and more weapons but lacks post up,and lebrons passing though he isn't a bad passer.
he is also faster.
but if he put on muscle he'd slow himself down so he's good the way he is.

meh, lebron can make 3s now efficiently, he may not be as natural of a shooter as kd but hes still decent at it. I for one, would rather have dunks/ and1's, then just pull up 3s, they are just better percentage shots. 3's are good if you need them, but to win a game you gotta take it to the rack. I don't believe KD is that much better than lebron on offence, lebron wouldn't be elite without his offence either. But its in ones own opinion.

[VanDamme]

TL already had Lebron running errands for Toronto this season alongside Drake in wooing Jermaine Defoe's Mother while she was in Toronto checking out the city before Defoe signed with TFC...

Full Article on how TL makes a pitch...
http://www.thestar.com/sports/soccer/2014/01/24/toronto_fcs_transformation_was_colourful_journey_led_by_tim_leiweke_kelly.html

In regards to Defoe:

“We knew this was our perfect guy,” Leiweke said. “But the club’s telling us he’s not for sale, his agent’s telling us that talking to him is a waste of time.”
Thinking back on it, Leiweke smiles — “So I thought, ‘I like my chances.’ ”

He could not negotiate with the player — that’s tampering (though it’s a widespread practice). So he focused on Defoe’s closest advisor, his mother, Sandra.
MLSE invited Sandra for a week in Toronto in early November. Three staffers were assigned to care for her. She was put up at the Ritz. When she got to her room, there were flowers waiting. From Drake.
“Are these really from Drake?” Sandra asked.
Leiweke assured her they were.

They brought her to the ACC on the morning of Nov. 5 before a Raptors game with the Miami Heat. As part of the tour, Sandra visited the hockey dressing room. A Leafs’ jersey emblazoned with Defoe’s name was hung in every stall.

While there, staffers tried to connect Sandra to her son via Skype. They had trouble getting a steady connection. Eventually, they had to move out onto the ice.
Out in the hallway that runs from the Leafs’ dressing room to the basketball visitors’ quarters, LeBron James was waiting to accidentally bump into Sandra.

Leiweke had reached out to James’ manager, Maverick Carter, to ask for the favour.
Still fiddling with the laptop, she missed her window. James returned to begin his pre-game routine.
He’d do his part later. During a break in play in the Raptors game, he approached Sandra, who was sitting courtside with Leiweke. As he walked toward her, James wagged his finger in a familiar, teasing way. Sandra goggled. The most famous athlete on the continent leaned in to suggest Defoe would be happy in Canada.
Sandra turned again, delighted: “That was LeBron James!”
“Everyone loves Toronto,” Leiweke said.

After Sandra left, Leiweke sent Drake back in. The rap star was out on tour. Leiweke worked out a detailed pitch that Drake would make to Defoe over the phone. Defoe would later describe the call as “surreal.” This holistic come-on worked. Within a week, negotiations became serious.

[Raptolicism]

As I previously coined, if Lebron actually signs here, the team should be rebranded simply as 'LebronTo'.

However, I just cannot see it happening.

[chuckdevlin]

The best chance he has at insuring he continues to win more rings is to move teams - somewhere young and talented.

Does he come to Toronto? Doubt it - Even though we'd the best team in the league. But I wouldn't be surprised if he moves. I'd think those odds go up if the Heat don't 3Peat

1. Really since hes looking for rings, he can only stay in the eastern conference.
2. It will be a team that is in the playoffs. A team that can perform without him as a big role.

Ind - Doubt he'd wanna come to IND after this season's debacle.
Tor - Young. Not in prime yet. A record right up with MIA and IND after the gay trade. He doesnt have to play that much, either at PF or SF depending on matchups. We are stacked with him + a few vets. Val/Lebron/Ross/Derozan/Lowry
Amir/PPat/VET/VET/Vasquez
most stacked team out of all the teams here.
Chi- I doubt he takes his luck with CHI on the chance that rose's knees heal. Possible fit,, but I'd say we're more stacked as of right now. Noah/Lebron/Butler
Wiz - A good fit. Gortat/Nene/Lebron/Beal/Wall.
BKN - Possible if they can use Pierce's contract on someone else. But, too old, and Lebron would want to get as many rings as possible, for as long as possible.
ATL - again, instant contenders. But he wants as many rings as possible, for as long as possible. He wont take a chance on Horford's injuries.

I see Tor and Wiz as the only competitors.

[Yosemite Dan]

WTF is wrong with this board? If somehow Lebron signed here, we would we be in the finals next year in the worst case scenario. Lebron would take the Milwaukee Bucks to the finals. And some of you question whether he is needed or wanted here? Are you afraid of having multiple championships? The Jays bought thier World Series teams and no one complained then.

If you have one ounce of reservation about signing the best player on the planet and will probably end up being the GOAT then stop posting because you are either bipolar or 5 years away from getting your driver's license. Jesus Almighty.

[Troubadour]

If Lebron signed here, it would seriously make some folks in the media's head explode. I have a feeling that if KD came here, they'd pass it off as him being afraid of the spotlight of a "big" market. If Lebron came here, they'd be at a complete loss. Actually I'd be at a complete loss too. Proximity to Akron, young roster, lint rolling ambassator and high quality "hosptality" surely doesn't outweigh no state tax, warm weather, a winning tradition.

Miami's winning tradition = Wade and LeBron.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Troubadour]

WTF is wrong with this board? If somehow Lebron signed here, we would we be in the finals next year in the worst case scenario. Lebron would take the Milwaukee Bucks to the finals. And some of you question whether he is needed or wanted here? Are you afraid of having multiple championships? The Jays bought thier World Series teams and no one complained then.

If you have one ounce of reservation about signing the best player on the planet and will probably end up being the GOAT then stop posting because you are either bipolar or 5 years away from getting your driver's license. Jesus Almighty.

But what about tanking for Jahlil Okafor and the Harrison twins in 2015 haha

Sent from my SGH-I747M using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Troubadour]

They would have to sign another big name to entice Lebron to come here like Zach Randolph which isn't possible.

Yes, perennial All-Star Zach Randolph will be the deciding factor in who gets LeBron.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using RealGM Forums mobile app

[RaptorNews]

Drake: cmon lebron come play for us.
Lebron: No.
Drake: cmon please!
Lebron: No.
Drake: I'll be your friend..
Lebron: No.
Drake: aww you're mean.

LOL - I know this is a Simpsons reference but I cannot for the life of me remember the scene.

One of the all time greatest episodes: Cape Feare from Season 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7thVTlXWus&sns=em

[VinBaker6]

WTF is wrong with this board? If somehow Lebron signed here, we would we be in the finals next year in the worst case scenario. Lebron would take the Milwaukee Bucks to the finals. And some of you question whether he is needed or wanted here? Are you afraid of having multiple championships? The Jays bought thier World Series teams and no one complained then.

If you have one ounce of reservation about signing the best player on the planet and will probably end up being the GOAT then stop posting because you are either bipolar or 5 years away from getting your driver's license. Jesus Almighty.

The Raptors pride themselves on going after character guys. How can you just assume LeBron is one? Its a delicate process. People have every right to have their reservations.

[Mart1546]

I would love if LeBron came here, but I just don't see it happening, he has everything too good in Miami, why would he leave it all for here?