The LeBron James Thread

[King_B_Mack]

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

At this point, I'm willing to let LeBron go and rebuild if it means that we would have to take on Cali for him to stay. I'm sick of one man holding an entire franchise hostage like he is trying to do.

He's already done enough damage with his GM input, I don't want to see "his" coach here too. At some point, the Cavaliers need to do what is best for their franchise.

How is he trying to hold the franchise hostage? He's not a free agent until July 1st, he hasn't said whether he's staying or going but he does want to see what his options are. Everything being said about the situation is purely speculation from all of us. So how is LeBron trying to hold the franchise hostage? I just don't get that line.

[OSUFan_88]

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

How is he trying to hold the franchise hostage? He's not a free agent until July 1st, he hasn't said whether he's staying or going but he does want to see what his options are. Everything being said about the situation is purely speculation from all of us. So how is LeBron trying to hold the franchise hostage? I just don't get that line.

If LeBron is demanding that Calipari be his coach, then I don't want him here.

He's already wanted several marginal players like Jamison and Shaq and has been unwilling to commit to the Cavaliers even though they have catered to his every demand.

LeBron has been holding the Cavaliers hostage for 2 years now, forcing the Cavaliers to do moves that may not have been good for the team, but doing them because LeBron wanted it done. Seeing those results makes me not want to see him pick the next coach.

Simply put, I'm done with all the drama. Leave or don't leave, whatever, the Cavaliers will move on either way. If he was anything short of the most talented player in the NBA, no one would want to touch his planet sized ego.

[Dice]

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

It's funny the polls seem to have even out a little bit. Knicks are even with the Cavs now lol

Just shows you that there are more Knicks fans on this thread than anything.

[ehh]

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

But is Calipari this terrible coach because of his NBA record or just cause he has no championships? There's a lot of coach's that have committed that "crime."

Because I've been following Calipari since his UMass days 20 years ago. He's a great recruiter (legally or otherwise) but he has never, ever been a great basketball coach.

He's not terrible but I don't think he's much better than VDN or Brown in terms of his actual coaching ability. He's obviously much better with the press and knows what to say and how to charm people, but in terms of what he's going to do during a game (rotations, adjustments, etc) you're not going to see anything special.

[King_B_Mack]

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

Maybe I'm wrong as I don't live in Cleveland but I don't remember LeBron wanting Shaq first of all. Secondly that's sports dude. Star players have say so in what their franchise does and if you're not playing ball that way, you're not winning. That said, the Cavs have ultimate say so in those decisions. LeBron James didn't walk up to Ferry and punch him in the face, slam his head down into the desk and put a pen in his hand and a gun to his head and say "make these moves." They made moves that they thought would appease LeBron and that's how all teams with star players operate. They make moves that they think will appease their star player. You're giving LeBron waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much power.

It seems more than anything that you're a die hard Cavs fan who is so disppointed in losing again that you've gone off the deep end with blaming LeBron for what's wrong with the Cavs. The Cavs haven't been an elite team in...ever? So them magically making great moves if not for the Jupiter sized ego of LeBron James is even harder to believe than the Clippers not doing something stupid everytime they do something good. You want an example of holding a team hostage, see Brett Favre. That's holding a team hostage. Not a star player giving input in who he'd like to play with. Keep in mind MJ was responsible for Doug Collins getting the boot. I'm just saying.

[Cebby]

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

At some point, the Cavaliers need to do what is best for their franchise.

What's best for the franchise is getting Lebron James back.

What's your other option? Rebuild around a Hickson/Mo/Antawn/ho core?

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

From a basketball standpoint, Chicago is the only team that makes more sense than Cleveland. And by basketball, I mean the roster and depth.

If he goes to New York, and it's with Bosh -- which is the best free agent I think you could pair with him -- that team would win 50 games and be eliminated in the second round. Still not better than the Cavaliers with LeBron, and wouldn't be for a few years.

The Nets' record this season speaks for itself. Lopez is overrated as is Harris, who might not be there if the Nets land John Wall and the No. 1 pick.

So, if LeBron is going somewhere to win, it's Chicago or Miami, and I have a tough time picturing him with Derrick Rose or Dwyane Wade. All three are facilitators that require the basketball.

Meanwhile in Cleveland, you have a franchise that has bent over backwards for him and will continue to do so. They built a new practice facility in Independence, Ohio, which is literally on the way to The Q from Akron. Plus, Danny Ferry didn't go throw punches at Mike Brown for not playing J.J. Hickson this last series when he could have traded Hickson in an Amare Stoudemire deal.

Come July 8, we're going to find out what kind of guy LeBron truly is ...

How so?

The Cavs went for it this year and didn't come close. They don't have many young players, they don't have cap flexibility or high draft picks. They don't have many opportunities to make their team better next year.

Knicks and Nets both have young players, and cap flexibility. If they Knicks paired him with Bosh and then just filled out their roster with cheap contracts, they could either trade Curry's expiring for another big piece if it comes along, or wait until next year and sign another big free agent. It's not going to be a few years. I agree somewhat that way too many people are hyping up the Nets talent, but Lopez is legit, and that is a huge piece. I think the lottery will have a huge impact on how good a situation that is, and if they are able to create any more cap room.

Lebron could stay with the Cavs and probably have a better team next year, but if they don't make a move that would put them in position to win a championship(s), and I don't think it's likely they will, than what's the point.

Nobody has hyped our talent and our situation will be good regardless(although BETTER IF we win the DL)but Lebron is not and should not be our end all/be all. People keep bringing up the fact that we went 12-70 but it's not even having an affect on what we might be doing this year. There's too many factors that make NJ/Brooklyn an interesting team to Coach/Play next year.

And Dan Gilbert has the 3rd highest payroll in the NBA and looking to add more to it.

Let me ask you this, would you rather have Gilbert as an owner or James Dolan? This Russian dude has no track record other than being totally insane and having a bazillion dollars.

The only track I know Prokhorov has is that he is responsible for turning around CSKA Moscow(which is now one of the top teams in Europe now FWIW)but I'm pretty sure that won't hold too much, if any weight over here.

If he's anything like Roman Abramovich (Russian owner that bought Chelsea FC a couple years back), which it seems like he is, then NJ is in very good hands.

I think the Nets will explode in a couple years but the first two might translate to a lot of overspending which doesn't net results. It just seems the trend with these owners that have no limit in the money they spend.

My ONLY fear of Prokhorov is that he could be the 21st Century version of how Dan Snyder was when he first bought the Redskins in that he actually tried to buy a Super Bowl. But from everything I've heard and read, he lets the Basketball People do their thing and then the only time he's needed is to sign the checks. Either way, he is a 100000000000000000000000x times better than what we had before(The Rat)and you can see why people are excited about us in the future.

People tend to forget that Deng has been playing injured for the majority of this and last year. I also don't see how there are some people calling him horrible on defense and comparing him to Ben Gordon on defense. Deng is average defensively. Granted he still hasn't lived up to the value the Bulls placed on him a few years ago, he's still a pretty good player when healthy. Basically he's not as bad where they should have traded he and Gordon for Gasol like Memphis was demanding and he isn't as good where he should be considered untouchable in a deal for Kobe.

From what I've heard on some Nets Boards im on, from the old school Nets Fans, they say he was a GREAT talker and could talk a good game(just like he does now hehe)but as far as X's and O's, he'd be the last person you'd want to Coach your team.

But if the report about Cal/Lebron being a package deal are true then I say **** em' and let someone else deal with that mess.

[ehh]

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

From what I've heard on some Nets Boards im on, from the old school Nets Fans, they say he was a GREAT talker and could talk a good game(just like he does now hehe)but as far as X's and O's, he'd be the last person you'd want to Coach your team.

But if the report about Cal/Lebron being a package deal are true then I say **** em' and let someone else deal with that mess.

Exactly.

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

Star players have say so in what their franchise does and if you're not playing ball that way, you're not winning.

Not necessarily.

[ehh]

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

Keep in mind MJ was responsible for Doug Collins getting the boot. I'm just saying.

MJ also did not want Phil Jackson as the replacement and hated the Oakley-Cartwright trade. Can you imagine if Chicago let MJ veto those decisions? The Bulls probably never win a single title.

Superstars have some influence and say, absolutely, but they should never be the one making the actual decisions and have the final say.

[Vince]

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

SMH at a 19/9/1.5 21 year old center being overrated.

[King_B_Mack]

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

MJ also did not want Phil Jackson as the replacement and hated the Oakley-Cartwright trade. Can you imagine if Chicago let MJ veto those decisions? The Bulls probably never win a single title.

Superstars have some influence and say, absolutely, but they should never be the one making the actual decisions and have the final say.

Hey I'm with that, I even said the Cavs have final say. I'm just trying to understand (which I think I do as I mentioned in my last post) why this dude is trying to pin everything bad on LeBron. I was just saying that you have to let your star have a say. Doesn't mean you have to do it, but you have to let him speak his piece. That's how the game is now.

On another note, what's also a key to things here, maybe moreso than Calipari is what Bosh does. Everyone is speaking like it's a forgone conclusion that Bosh is gone from Toronto. If he re-ups the Knicks have banked on getting two max guys and if the lure for getting Bron there is getting Bosh as well...then what? The Suns have a legit chance to win a title this year. If they win, is Ama're really going to leave? We don't know but chances are he'd stay right? What happens in the event Bosh doesn't go and Ama're stays put? Would the Knicks as is be good enough to land LeBron? Would the prospect of LeBron playing in New Jersey as is with no Bosh there as well be enough?

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

Exactly Vince. I don't remember/recall at any point Lopez getting all this hype like Devin got last year. I think the fascination with Lopez is that he's one of the few franchise-type Centers in the league(Howard and Bogut being the others)and if you have one of those then it makes building your team that much easier.

People forget that before we got Brook, Jason Freaking Collins was our starting Center and I don't think anything else needs to be said about that.

[ehh]

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

Lopez being overrated....

Everyone thought he would be a bust coming out of Stanford. His stock dropped like a brick right before the draft. He was initially projected as the #3 pick after Rose & Beasley, then everyone backed off.

He's been the biggest surprise of the 08 draft by far.

Have you ever seen the "NBA Workout" series on NBA TV where they show player's work out programs? Lopez has a GREAT work ethic. He's focused, he's a professional. He's not selfish and he plays hard.

He's not a "dump into the block and it's an automatic bucket" center like Duncan yet but he's very effective in almost every aspect of the game.

Even if he collects Snow White dolls and has the weirdest/doofiest voice in the history of the NBA, he's a great young player in an era where true inside big men are rare as hell. If anything he's still underrated.

[ehh]

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

Hot off the presses, shooting down the LBJ/Calipari package....

A source with direct knowledge of the Chicago Bulls front office's plans says the team believes it has the right players in place -- namely, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng -- to surround LeBron James when it makes its case with the free agent to-be on July 1.

But the source said there has been no discussion of bringing Kentucky coach John Calipari in with James as part of a package deal.

The source with knowledge of the Bulls front office's thinking said that at no point has there been discussion about packaging Calipari to get James to come to Chicago. The source also said that bringing Calipari along to get James would lessen Calipari's status in the locker room, because he'd be seen as the coach who is there only because of James.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5194333