The LeBron James Thread

[ehh]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Plus there's also the comedy factor of the Knicks tanking for half a decade for one offseason and then not even getting the players they tanked for.

That's prob a big part of it. Talking about this for two years, putting pretty much all our eggs in this basket - naturally haters, I mean people, want to see it fail.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Giants fans don't claim that Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, and Darrelle Revis are all going to sign with the Giants because IT'S NEW YORK BABY!!!!

Plus there's also the comedy factor of the Knicks tanking for half a decade for one offseason and then not even getting the players they tanked for.

That's not the situation though. First off, there is a portion of fans that are overzealous about getting big time FA's to NYC. There is also a large portion that are measured and maintain a perspective on free agency.

Second, it's not as simple as tanking. NYC had bad leadership and bad contracts after more than a decade of winning, competitive basketball. Isiah's method was to take big chances on questionable prospects like Curry and Jeffries. Walsh went a different way and decided to clean house and work from the ground up. July 1st 2010 provided a rare opportunity to cash in on that cleared space very early and perhaps in one or two years, but there has always been a plan in place to take a longer time to use cap flexibility to become competitive.

I don't understand why people don't grasp this. For years the Knicks were a joke not because they were bad, but because they were bad and had the payroll of a championship team. That sucks. Not only do you watch your team lose, but you know that they can't get better. Now, regardless of what happens this offseason, the Knicks have the money to get better. It has been YEARS since that's been the case. That is a much more favorable situation than in years past.

For Knicks fans, having a ton of money, an All Star PF/C and some decent young players is a good place to be. If Lebron doesn't wear our uniform next year, a hole won't open up under the Garden and swallow it.

Can't say the same for Cleveland though.

[HMcCoy]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

The fact that Wade has serious consideration for CHI is compelling.

First off...Wade/Bron/Rose would be a mess. No inside presense, no shooting. Wade has to realize that. If Bron has designs on CHI, Wade would HAVE to know about it, and I seriously doubt he'd want to join that trainwreck perimeter. Wades sudden interest in CHI may shed some light on which way Bron is leaning. Wade has consistently maintained that while LeBron is his man a hunnit grand...that he'd rather play with a superstar big after winning a chip with an inside/outside tandem alongside Shaq. It would make sense that if Bosh is Wade's bigman of preference, and the two are commited to each other, obviously Bosh would sign with MIA. But the fact that CHI is now in play for those two, tells me the Bulls have slipped down Brons list. Obviously CHI would be a much better fit for WadeBosh since the Heat roster is completely barebones.

This would mean Bron is leaning more towards either re-signing, or maybe NJ/NY, which goes with most pundits who think Bron is leaning towards staying put, at least for a few more years.

If the reports are true (lol) that say LeBron is sceptical about all the "NY makes you a billionaire" talk, and that he's not sure he would even make up the 30 mill he'd walk away from, it would make sense that he's leaning more towards NJ and their better peices. The fact that the Nets have suddenly went full-court press on NO for CP3 makes me think THEY believe they have a real shot, since they already have a really good post player in Lopez. A huge NY team rivalry I think would appeal to James.

Rumors are now flying around here that the Cavs have also started to go hard at Paul...Wherever CP3 goes is going to be huge.

[Cebby]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Second, it's not as simple as tanking. NYC had bad leadership and bad contracts after more than a decade of winning, competitive basketball. Isiah's method was to take big chances on questionable prospects like Curry and Jeffries. Walsh went a different way and decided to clean house and work from the ground up. July 1st 2010 provided a rare opportunity to cash in on that cleared space very early and perhaps in one or two years, but there has always been a plan in place to take a longer time to use cap flexibility to become competitive.

I'm not buying at all that it happens to be a coincidence that the Knicks just happened to clear all of their capspace for this year.

They intended to be the team that could sign anyone and started clearing space the last two to three years.

Then it turned out Chicago and Jersey not only have capspace to do anything but a solid base.

[NYJets]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

That's prob a big part of it. Talking about this for two years, putting pretty much all our eggs in this basket - naturally haters, I mean people, want to see it fail.

Which is BS because it's not like the Knicks did something controversial. We dumped a bunch of bad contracts that were getting us nowhere. The only player we got rid of that in a perfect world we would have liked to keep was Hill, a top 10 pick who was almost sent to the D-League. When you talk about teams in the NBA who have tanked, either for this or for draft picks, the Knicks aren't near the top of the list.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

If Wade and Bosh sign in Chicago, I don't know what Lebron is really supposed to do. The Nets are still a great option, and Amar'e is the guy the Cavs wanted to roll with him last year in NY.

Staying in Cleveland is a more attractive option if they aren't going up against Orlando AND Rose/Wade/Deng/Bosh/Noah in Chicago. That's a tough match up, particularly for Mo and Jamison. The best thing about Cleveland is short term potential. For the next two years, Cleveland could be a small tweak away from being the favorites to make the Finals, but this is only if Orlando is the only true adversary. With a potential bomb squad in Chitown, Lebron would either have to take a "can't beat 'em, join 'em" stance, or take a chance in NY/NJ where the talent is younger, taller, has more upside and there is some cap room to improve in the very near future.

This is all based on the idea that I don't see Lebron playing with Boozer, no way no how.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I'm not buying at all that it happens to be a coincidence that the Knicks just happened to clear all of their capspace for this year.

They intended to be the team that could sign anyone and started clearing space the last two to three years.

Then it turned out Chicago and Jersey not only have capspace to do anything but a solid base.

We had virtually all bad contracts. The coincidence is that so many players would be available all at one time, so rather than clear space, acquire, clear space, acquire, the date of July 1st made it about just clearing space. Either way, this is not a bad thing. I don't see what part of that you're missing. The only sacrifice the Knicks have made is a couple of draft picks. If the Knicks had a SINGLE bad contract, I'd be on here bitching with the next guy, but since those picks helped them completely clear the slate, I think it's a worthy sacrifice.

If the Knicks were to strike out on everyone? Guess what? Tons of money. Flexibility all around.

With Amar'e in town, some disgruntled top tier talent around the league and a tradeable contract, the Knicks are in a great position right now, even if they don't get anyone else. Obviously it'd be ideal to flesh out the roster right now, but as it is we now have a very good player, a good young player with a high ceiling, two solid young roleplayers and 12 millions dollars of fat to trade this season. Oh, I almost forgot about the 16 million we still have left for the remainder of this offseason.

You might find that funny, but I see it as a rebuilding plan that is going well so far.

[Vince]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Cebby, no way are Wade and Bosh on the same level.

Wade and Bron are tier 1 players...Wade is a top 3 guy in the league.

[ehh]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

If Wade and Bosh sign in Chicago, I don't know what Lebron is really supposed to do. The Nets are still a great option, and Amar'e is the guy the Cavs wanted to roll with him last year in NY.

Staying in Cleveland is a more attractive option if they aren't going up against Orlando AND Rose/Wade/Deng/Bosh/Noah in Chicago.

That could play a huge role - if a super team in the east is created that doesn't involve LBJ. If Bosh & Wade end up in Chicago, that puts the Cavs way behind Chicago and still behind Orlando and Boston.

At best that's a Cavs team that's a 4-5 see with little to no room for improvement - unless they can some how, some way swing a deal for CP3. I don't know what they have to offer that's of interest though. No expiring deals, Hickson isn't enough on his own, their picks will be mid to late 1st round. It'll be interesting.

[slimm44]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Yup, it really makes no sense. It's not like the Knicks are the Yankees and have abundant reasons to be hated. People hate the Knicks because they hate NYC, that's pretty much it.

I would say they're hated more because of the arrogance of their fans. Knicks and Yankees fans are much more arrogant than Nets or the football Giants fans. If not that, I have no idea what.

[nuckles2k2]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

We had virtually all bad contracts. The coincidence is that so many players would be available all at one time, so rather than clear space, acquire, clear space, acquire, the date of July 1st made it about just clearing space. Either way, this is not a bad thing. I don't see what part of that you're missing. The only sacrifice the Knicks have made is a couple of draft picks. If the Knicks had a SINGLE bad contract, I'd be on here bitching with the next guy, but since those picks helped them completely clear the slate, I think it's a worthy sacrifice.

If the Knicks were to strike out on everyone? Guess what? Tons of money. Flexibility all around.

With Amar'e in town, some disgruntled top tier talent around the league and a tradeable contract, the Knicks are in a great position right now, even if they don't get anyone else. Obviously it'd be ideal to flesh out the roster right now, but as it is we now have a very good player, a good young player with a high ceiling, two solid young roleplayers and 12 millions dollars of fat to trade this season. Oh, I almost forgot about the 16 million we still have left for the remainder of this offseason.

You might find that funny, but I see it as a rebuilding plan that is going well so far.

Absolutely. Hell we could even throw some $ at Anthony Morrow and Haywood and still have a competitive team right now with Sergio and Curry's contracts coming off the books at the end of the season.

Going from the highest payroll at one point to the most cap space is one hell of an achievement by itself (something that people here on OS were devising schemes for and trying to do with the Knicks in NBA 2K9 & 10.)

No matter how you look at it, the future is bright for the team and until proven otherwise, Donnie Walsh is still a mastermind in the front office.

[ehh]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I would say they're hated more because of the arrogance of their fans. Knicks and Yankees fans are much more arrogant than Nets or the football Giants fans. If not that, I have no idea what.

It's weird to me that that's the perception outside of NY. I know tons of extremely arrogant Giants fans and well, I don't know too many people that even admit they're Knick fans anymore.

The NFC East pissing matches that go on between Giant/Eagle/Cowboy fans up here is something to behold lol.

I think it's that people are pissed at the arrogance of NYC in general, thet train of thought that players should come here because "it's New York". That just rubs everyone else the wrong and makes them feel like NYC is........well, arrogant, and feels like they're better than everywhere else.

[ehh]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Woj deleted his tweet about the Knicks being "virtually out of the LeBron hunt".

[Cebby]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Cebby, no way are Wade and Bosh on the same level.

Wade and Bron are tier 1 players...Wade is a top 3 guy in the league.

Age is the reason I put them on the same tier.

Wade is a top four player in the league, but in the playoffs during his contract he'll be 29-33 (34 if he resigns with Miami). Bosh is a top 10 player who will be 27-31 (32 with sign and trade).

Unless Wade really works on his long range jump shot, I don't see him being as effective in the end of his contract. Obviously his game is great right now, but I don't think he has the tools to adjust once his body slows down.

[bigfnjoe96]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Absolutely. Hell we could even throw some $ at Anthony Morrow and Haywood and still have a competitive team right now with Sergio and Curry's contracts coming off the books at the end of the season.

Going from the highest payroll at one point to the most cap space is one hell of an achievement by itself (something that people here on OS were devising schemes for and trying to do with the Knicks in NBA 2K9 & 10.)

No matter how you look at it, the future is bright for the team and until proven otherwise, Donnie Walsh is still a mastermind in the front office.

Sergio is already off-the-books. The only players we have on contract are:

TD
Chandler
Gallinari
Curry
Walker