The market is so low that you go over to the Sixers board, look at the threads that mention Simmons for LeBron and realize the world expects him to be awful.
At this point I think we have to keep him because:
A-do you trust Pelinka to get a good return in negotiations?
B- When I think of aging stars LeBron, to me, is built and plays his game these days like Malone MINUS a lot of the banging Malone took and plus a lot of modern loong range. Now look at the Mailman's numbers from Lebron's current age until he retired at 40:
Karl Malone statsKarl 35-4038 mpg avg
8.7 rebounds
4.2+ assists
23 ppg *I deducted age 40 when he deferred to shaq and kobe and payton to ring change on ppg at 40.
career37.2 mpg
10.1 rpg
3.6 assists
25.5 ppg
The drop off was pretty minimal. I don't think we are about to see Bron go decrepit. On the contrary I think if he's motivated, he'll have numbers close to this years for 5-6 more years. If people actually realized that his market value would be better than after a year with crappy results and a muscle injury (better than cartilage, tendon).
Don't get me wrong, it's depressing to think he will be here through his contract, but I don't think he's about to turn to dust at all.