The LeBron James Thread

[Dice]

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

You are kidding right? So what major cities have won a championship? Los Angeles, Boston, Philly, Chicago

It's about where the team is located not about management skills for the most part (Unless you are stuck with Isiah Thomas)

Lebron is going to a big city...Period. Where was the Cavs before Lebron? Exactly.

So what does big cities have to do with winning championships? You do realize that San Antonio, which is probably no bigger than the borough of Brooklyn, has won four championships in the last 15 years.

[Dice]

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

Sure they'd contend.

But they wouldn't win it, and they'd get crushed by the Lakers. And I do not think Paxson could make many moves.

Paxson is not the GM anymore. Gar Foreman is. And the Bulls would have sense enough not to stop there if they get LeBron. Getting LeBron would be the first of it's wheeling and dealings.

The Bulls are capable of getting another free agent. They can't get two max players but they are flexable to get one max player and maybe a second tier player(Joe Johnson, Amare, Boozer,etc) for second tier pay. Now some of those players might want MAX money but they won't be getting it from the Bulls. They also would draw trade interest for Kirk Hinrich. We could have traded Deng if Steve Kerr was still the GM. BUT now that he's gone, we're stuck with him. A good friend of mine who does business with someone in the Suns organization said that Kerr, for some reason or another, wants to trade for Deng. Why Kerr has a 'hard-on' for Deng is beyond me. BUT if he was the sucker to take him, I was all for it. BUT that boat has past. That's why I was kind of disappointed to see Steve Kerr leave.

[wwharton]

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

Here's the thing though:

LeBron is not looking for a team where he can be a contender. He's looking for an organization that can win a title. I do not see that with the Clippers, I do not see that with the Bulls.

The Knicks are interesting because they have an experience GM who has built teams before. Are they title worthy....I don't know.

The Nets are also interesting as they probably have the best coach out of the 4, but with a new owner and Thorn...I just don't know.

And the Cavaliers certainly have an owner that wants to win a title and will do what is necessary, but do or will they have the coach or GM? I don't know.

That argument is for someone else. In fact, I agree with most of it. My comments were only addressing the idea that the Clippers would not be a contender with Lebron no the team... nothing to do with whether or not he will actually be going there.

[ProjectRipCity]

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

So what does big cities have to do with winning championships? You do realize that San Antonio, which is probably no bigger than the borough of Brooklyn, has won four championships in the last 15 years.

A lot

The Spurs are a very special case...I accommodate the success they have had because how unlikely that is. As far as I can tell though the majority of the teams who win championships are in the biggest cities in America. The Knicks fell off for god knows why (We all know it was because of Thomas lol) and the Clips have been horrible due to horrible management. My theory is if you have horrible management in a big city the team will fail...If you have decent management in a big city the team will always have a chance. I apologize that I originally said that management does not matter it was more of an over exaggeration.
Lebron James is also a special case. Despite management issues...He can completely change a franchise around especially with free-agency. We can debate and debate where he will go, but he controls his own fate. Isn't it exciting?

[BTB]

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

Here's a thought I had

Celtics players under contract next year

Rondo
Pierce
KG
Perkins
Garnett
Sheed

Sheed is likely going to retire. Pierce has a player option. It is entirely conceivable that Pierce opts out and takes less money to attract a big name free agent. Sign Lebron. Get Ray back for the MLE and 6th man deluxe.

Go back to the finals with the Rondo, Pierce, LeBron, KG, Perkins.

Kobe v. LeBron. Lakers vs Celtics.

It is an actual possibility.

[Vince]

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

LeBron is not going to Boston.

C'mon man.

[BTB]

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

LeBron is not going to Boston.

C'mon man.

I know, but it's the only way I can take solace today.

[Bornindamecca]

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

Lebron James is also a special case. Despite management issues...He can completely change a franchise around especially with free-agency. We can debate and debate where he will go, but he controls his own fate. Isn't it exciting?

Honestly, I don't find it that exciting myself. He's a great player, but there are some stacked teams in the league right now, and a few of those teams will stack up more in the off season. In Cleveland, his team looked dominant and scary, only to fizzle in the post season. Where he goes is only exciting if he's in a situation where that doesn't happen again.

I'd like to see Derrick Rose come into his own with a complmientary player, like Stoudemire. Even if Amar'e goes to Chi-town and is the go-to guy on offense, it'll still be Rose's team. I don't want to see his growth stunted by all of the ball dominance Lebron will take away.

Lebron and Wade doesn't excite me, because an SG-SF combo has only worked as a 1-2 punch in all of NBA history. There is a point in Lebron's career where I would have liked to have seen him in a complimentary role, but the way he has developed, he needs to just work on his offense enough that he can be the number one option on offense. Earlier in his career, he was on a path to be a combination of Pippen and Magic, but now he's moved more into the scoring role. Don't really want to see him and Wade average 25ppg on the same team. Yuck.

Don't want him in New York because I don't want the Knicks to become all about one player.

I'd actually like to see him in Jersey/Brooklyn. With their roster, coach and owner, that could be interesting and awesome if done properly. I honestly think it's his best choice if he leaves Cleveland.

He should stay in Cleveland. As much as the Cavs' roster tends to fade in the playoffs, this year they lost because he quit. Depends on who they get as a coach, but I'm not so quick to dismiss a 60 win team for losing to the Celtics. The C's will be a year older, Doc might not be back, Thibs is gone and the Magic have yet to prove they aren't pretenders. Trade Mo Williams for Kirk Hinrich and you might have the defense and the guts to get to the Finals with Bron/Jamison/Shaq and an SG acquired in Free Agency or via sign and trade.

[Vince]

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

I agree. He should stay in Cleveland and the Cavs should do whatever it takes to get Bosh.

SMH at them not going harder after Amar'e. LeBron staying would've been a forgone conclusion had they done that.

[BTB]

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

Honestly, I don't find it that exciting myself. He's a great player, but there are some stacked teams in the league right now, and a few of those teams will stack up more in the off season. In Cleveland, his team looked dominant and scary, only to fizzle in the post season. Where he goes is only exciting if he's in a situation where that doesn't happen again.

I'd like to see Derrick Rose come into his own with a complmientary player, like Stoudemire. Even if Amar'e goes to Chi-town and is the go-to guy on offense, it'll still be Rose's team. I don't want to see his growth stunted by all of the ball dominance Lebron will take away.

Lebron and Wade doesn't excite me, because an SG-SF combo has only worked as a 1-2 punch in all of NBA history. There is a point in Lebron's career where I would have liked to have seen him in a complimentary role, but the way he has developed, he needs to just work on his offense enough that he can be the number one option on offense. Earlier in his career, he was on a path to be a combination of Pippen and Magic, but now he's moved more into the scoring role. Don't really want to see him and Wade average 25ppg on the same team. Yuck.

Don't want him in New York because I don't want the Knicks to become all about one player.

I'd actually like to see him in Jersey/Brooklyn. With their roster, coach and owner, that could be interesting and awesome if done properly. I honestly think it's his best choice if he leaves Cleveland.

He should stay in Cleveland. As much as the Cavs' roster tends to fade in the playoffs, this year they lost because he quit. Depends on who they get as a coach, but I'm not so quick to dismiss a 60 win team for losing to the Celtics. The C's will be a year older, Doc might not be back, Thibs is gone and the Magic have yet to prove they aren't pretenders. Trade Mo Williams for Kirk Hinrich and you might have the defense and the guts to get to the Finals with Bron/Jamison/Shaq and an SG acquired in Free Agency or via sign and trade.

I agree the Nets are the most logical choice if he wants to win, and do it for a long time. Lopez is leaps and bounds better than any big man Lebron has played with. Harris can shoot and play enough to match up with most of the top PG's. They've got a lot of good young pieces to put around LeBron.

[ProjectRipCity]

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

I agree the Nets are the most logical choice if he wants to win, and do it for a long time. Lopez is leaps and bounds better than any big man Lebron has played with. Harris can shoot and play enough to match up with most of the top PG's. They've got a lot of good young pieces to put around LeBron.

Am I living in the same world?

[Dice]

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

I agree. He should stay in Cleveland and the Cavs should do whatever it takes to get Bosh.

SMH at them not going harder after Amar'e. LeBron staying would've been a forgone conclusion had they done that.

For the Cavs flexibility is the problem. Obviously, the Cavs can(and will if he stays) pay him the most money. BUT that locks them up on cap room to sign anybody. Even a 2 or 3 tier player. And with them putting Mo Williams and Delonte West on the block isn't drawing much interest. Are they going to trade those two to Toronto for Bosh? Toronto has too many guards as is.

[OSUFan_88]

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

For the Cavs flexibility is the problem. Obviously, the Cavs can(and will if he stays) pay him the most money. BUT that locks them up on cap room to sign anybody. Even a 2 or 3 tier player. And with them putting Mo Williams and Delonte West on the block isn't drawing much interest. Are they going to trade those two to Toronto for Bosh? Toronto has too many guards as is.

West being traded is not about his talent, it's him having a 4.5 Million cap hold with only 500k guaranteed. And supposedly the Raptors also love mo.

The biggest thing the Cavaliers have, though, is JJ Hickson. And in a S&T, the Raptors are not going to get "fair" value.

[wwharton]

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

Honestly, I don't find it that exciting myself. He's a great player, but there are some stacked teams in the league right now, and a few of those teams will stack up more in the off season. In Cleveland, his team looked dominant and scary, only to fizzle in the post season. Where he goes is only exciting if he's in a situation where that doesn't happen again.

I'd like to see Derrick Rose come into his own with a complmientary player, like Stoudemire. Even if Amar'e goes to Chi-town and is the go-to guy on offense, it'll still be Rose's team. I don't want to see his growth stunted by all of the ball dominance Lebron will take away.

Lebron and Wade doesn't excite me, because an SG-SF combo has only worked as a 1-2 punch in all of NBA history. There is a point in Lebron's career where I would have liked to have seen him in a complimentary role, but the way he has developed, he needs to just work on his offense enough that he can be the number one option on offense. Earlier in his career, he was on a path to be a combination of Pippen and Magic, but now he's moved more into the scoring role. Don't really want to see him and Wade average 25ppg on the same team. Yuck.

Don't want him in New York because I don't want the Knicks to become all about one player.

I'd actually like to see him in Jersey/Brooklyn. With their roster, coach and owner, that could be interesting and awesome if done properly. I honestly think it's his best choice if he leaves Cleveland.

He should stay in Cleveland. As much as the Cavs' roster tends to fade in the playoffs, this year they lost because he quit. Depends on who they get as a coach, but I'm not so quick to dismiss a 60 win team for losing to the Celtics. The C's will be a year older, Doc might not be back, Thibs is gone and the Magic have yet to prove they aren't pretenders. Trade Mo Williams for Kirk Hinrich and you might have the defense and the guts to get to the Finals with Bron/Jamison/Shaq and an SG acquired in Free Agency or via sign and trade.

Great post. I agree 100%

[HMcCoy]

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

Mo for Heinrich is freaking brilliant.