The LeBron James Thread

[wwharton]

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

I thought I explained it. Usually draft day is when trades happen. If the Bulls make a move to open enough space to land 2maxs then Lebron will be a bull. If they dont he will sign a short deal with the cavs.

Explain the first too. I guess you think that Lebron is already planning on being a Bull but needs to see them create space. I think the 100 pages of this thread makes it pretty clear that no one has a clue what he's thinking about doing, and I don't see how any team preparing to have him (see the Knicks for the last few years) means he's automatically going there.

[brahmagoul]

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

Exactly, but I think it's either Chicago or a short-term deal with Cleveland. If he stays, he's still on a contender. If he goes to Chicago, he's gotta jell with a solid roster. If he goes someplace like New York, he's starting over from scratch.

We don't know what he will do, but we know what his options are and how viable those options are.

[NYJets]

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

Exactly, but I think it's either Chicago or a short-term deal with Cleveland. If he stays, he's still on a contender. If he goes to Chicago, he's gotta jell with a solid roster. If he goes someplace like New York, he's starting over from scratch.

The problem with this logic is that you say starting from scratch like he is a #1 draft pick going to a terrible team that has no plan in place. The Knicks are in position to greatly upgrade their roster very quickly. And Lebron is going to know whether they can bring in Bosh or another star with him. Add in the trade of Curry's contract for maybe Okafor, or a pair of role players on longer deals, and its not unrealistic for the Knicks to have a contender in the East in one year.

[ehh]

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

Considering the East is still dog**** outside of Boston and Orlando you could put LBJ & Bosh on the current Knick roster and fill it with scrubs and there's a good chance they finish in the top four in the East. They obviously aren't winning any titles, but it's far from starting over.

[Streets]

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

Considering the East is still dog**** outside of Boston and Orlando you could put LBJ & Bosh on the current Knick roster and fill it with scrubs and there's a good chance they finish in the top four in the East. They obviously aren't winning any titles, but it's far from starting over.

How is this scenario any different than what he has in Cleveland (good in the garbage East, but not winning any chips)? LeBron has had the best record in the NBA and made it to the finals in the last few years, but dominating the East doesn't win championships.

[Bornindamecca]

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

How is this scenario any different than what he has in Cleveland (good in the garbage East, but not winning any chips)? LeBron has had the best record in the NBA and made it to the finals in the last few years, but dominating the East doesn't win championships.

Becauset eh talent on Cleveland is getting worse, while in New York Douglas and Galinari are going to get better, as they were both basically rookies last year(people undervalue Gallo as a 6'10 3pt shooter who topped the league in makes and %), but Williams and Jamison are in decline, as are Shaq and Z. Not only that, but Lebron will have a 2nd player who could be the best PF in the league, as opposed to Cleveland's roster which is filled with a bunch of 3rd options, but no 2nd options.

Also, despite people's short memories, D'Antoni has had a lot of regular season and playoff success. Lebron will be the best player he's ever coached, which usually leads to more success. Furthermore, once Curry's contract is either traded or expired, the Knicks will have the space to sign more roleplayers to complement Bron and the other Team USA member that follows him to NYC. Curry's contract is 12 million, about. That gives you enough money to sign an Ariza level player and someone near that level to fill out your top seven in New York. Knicks would only be in "two player purgatory" for a year, in terms of the two max players they potentially sign this off season capping them out.

In that scenario, the only upgrade from the Knicks, from a winning standpoint, is if he wins a chip this year with Cleveland or Chicago. If he doesn't, then the most favorable situations are Jersey/New York/Chicago THEN Cleveland. The first three teams all have rising talent. In Jersey you have the most potential overall, with Lopez, Harris, CDR, Williams, Lee and a top 3 draft pick. With the Knicks, you have the best 2nd option available with the 2nd max contract, plus the only team out of the three with shooters to surround Lebron and Bosh with. In Chicago, you have the best PG, a great roleplayer starting at center and some athletic talent surrounding them. Plus, Chicago is the best defensive team of the 3, which could lead to early success with Lebron, because he does well on a squad with size and defense.

Cleveland on the other hand, is a small window scenario. Signing a long contract with them could be weird, especially if they don't win a championship in the next two years. No one on that team is getting better, except perhaps Hickson, and right now people are really inflating his talent as he is a defensive liability.

So in the short term, Cleveland is the best, but that's the really short term. Two years on in, all of the top teams that he would move to present a better situation.

Going forward, I have to reiterate that we shouldn't be looking at any team in a vacuum. You have to look at the potential matchups. In the upcoming three year window, here are your obstacles to a championship:

Lakers(all 3 years)
Boston(one more year)
Orlando(3 years and more)
Miami(all 3 years if Wade gets Amar'e or Bosh)
Denver(2 years or more, pending Kmart's health, Lawson's development, Billups' decline, Karl's health, Nene's health)
Dallas(one more year)
OKC(3+years)

I didn't list Cleveland because if Lebron leaves, they are obviously no longer a contender.

So when you figure where people are going, where the talent lies and all that stuff, you're literally matching up against the above opponents. So if Lebron goes to _______ will they be able to beat _______ in the next 3 years is what you're asking.

With the Nets and Knicks in particular, there are a lot of variables because of their respective talent and cap space over the next couple of years. Chicago I'm not as sure, because they still have some serious baggage on their roster, and if they don't fix it, they will not be a championship team. With Cleveland, I think a couple tweaks could get them to a championship level next year and perhaps the year after, but they will need a major change in two years to remain competitive, as the talent around Lebron will all be in decline.

[ehh]

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

How is this scenario any different than what he has in Cleveland (good in the garbage East, but not winning any chips)? LeBron has had the best record in the NBA and made it to the finals in the last few years, but dominating the East doesn't win championships.

Pretty much what Born said.

1. In Cleveland you don't have Bosh
2. In Cleveland you have bad contracts (Vajerao, Mo, Jamison)
3. In Cleveland things are static or getting worse baring some amazing trade, in NY they're improving.

[OSUFan_88]

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

Pretty much what Born said.

1. In Cleveland you don't have Bosh

And you don't have him in NY.

2. In Cleveland you have bad contracts (Vajerao, Mo, Jamison)

Varajao is a bad contract? Really? I think a lot of teams would love to have him on their team.

Mo is a playoff choker, but he is still a pretty good PG.

Jamison...well, yeah, that's a pretty awful contract.

3. In Cleveland things are static or getting worse baring some amazing trade, in NY they're improving.

Where is NY improving? Outside of them having cap room, they have a lot of marginal players.

It's not like Lee would be back with Bosh and James...I know people have a hard on for Gallo, but he's not much more than a spot up shooter. The rest of the roster is filth.

[ex carrabba fan]

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

I think the bottom line is, CLE has very little chance to improve their team from last year.

Bosh on the other hand is either going to pick NY or Miami.

Not saying CLE or NY is a better situation, but the bottom line is CLE is kind of "stuck" with what they have while NY is a brand new situation and if James goes there you can bet your *** that Bosh will end up there as well. Neither Bosh or James will go to NY without the other.

[OSUFan_88]

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

We'll see. That's all I'm going to say, we'll see.

[Hassan Darkside]

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

And you don't have him in NY.

Correct. But I'd assume we have a better shot at him since we can just sign him outright or offer some package around David Lee to Toronto in an S&T than Cleveland could.

Varajao is a bad contract? Really? I think a lot of teams would love to have him on their team.

YES Varejao's a bad contract. I'm sure there's teams that'd love to have him but nobody's going to go out of their way to get him. If LeBron leaves you'll really get to see his true value.

Where is NY improving? Outside of them having cap room, they have a lot of marginal players.

It's not like Lee would be back with Bosh and James...I know people have a hard on for Gallo, but he's not much more than a spot up shooter. The rest of the roster is filth.

at Gallo not being much more than a spot up shooter. I think it's fair to assume that you haven't watched very many Knick games. Please elaborate on "filth."

[OSUFan_88]

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

at Gallo not being much more than a spot up shooter. I think it's fair to assume that you haven't watched very many Knick games. Please elaborate on "filth."

Please inform me on what Gallo does other than shoot? Can he create his own shot? Pass? rebound? Play defense?

And filth is exactly what I mean. What else is there? Tony Douglass, who is a decent young PG. You cannot re-sign David Lee if you get two Max players. Do I need to even comment on the rest? T-Mac won't be back if you want to get two max players, Duhon blows, Al Harrington is HOT garbage, a total chucker who does not win.

*Sidenote, totally forgot about Wilson Chandler. He's a very good player.*

The rest of the players are has-beens or never weres players who don't have much of a future in the NBA.

The knicks are just not that good. Yeah sure, if they got Bosh and Bron they probably would go to the playoffs, but I'm not seeing a title in the next 3 years for them.

And if we are going to arbitrarily make moves in the future for the Knicks, then why can we not make the same moves for the Cavaliers if they got Bosh and Bron?

Whatever, it's cheerleading, I get that. But let's not make it seem like the Knicks roster is full of up and coming players.

[Altimus]

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



Is it July yet?

[Hassan Darkside]

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

Please inform me on what Gallo does other than shoot? Can he create his own shot? Pass? rebound? Play defense?

Yes. Fortunately for you, you weren't the only critic of his play style. Especially through the last quarter of the season, we saw Gallo do more than shoot the ball. He attacked the basket, got to the line, played D. Including against Denver when he went on the record saying he wanted to guard Carmelo Anthony (who dropped 50 on us the last time). While every NBA Analyst went on to lol and predict Melo replicating his feat, Gallo went toe to toe with Melo throughout the second half and the Knicks got the W. Gallo's defense improved dramatically over the course of the year, especially considering Mike Antoni's coaching. Gallo became one of about 4 players on our team that could effectively draw charges and about one of two that could block shots.

And filth is exactly what I mean. What else is there? Tony Douglass, who is a decent young PG. You cannot re-sign David Lee if you get two Max players. Do I need to even comment on the rest? T-Mac won't be back if you want to get two max players, Duhon blows, Al Harrington is HOT garbage, a total chucker who does not win.

*Sidenote, totally forgot about Wilson Chandler. He's a very good player.*

The rest of the players are has-beens or never weres players who don't have much of a future in the NBA.

So pretty much all the players you're listing are guys that weren't going to be back regardless. Okay. In that case I agree, they are filth and they don't deserve another contract.

The knicks are just not that good. Yeah sure, if they got Bosh and Bron they probably would go to the playoffs, but I'm not seeing a title in the next 3 years for them.

You're not looking in the right direction then. Next 3 years? Seriously? You put those two guys together, Chandler, Gallo, Douglas, Walker all improve and they will considering how many open looks they'll get. Curry's expiring deal fetches a solid player or two, or worse case scenario, we dump it next year and have more cap to add another player. We can proceed to use the MLE the following year.

And if we are going to arbitrarily make moves in the future for the Knicks, then why can we not make the same moves for the Cavaliers if they got Bosh and Bron?

Like what?

Whatever, it's cheerleading, I get that. But let's not make it seem like the Knicks roster is full of up and coming players.

Let's not make it seem like they don't have any pieces at all.

[King_B_Mack]

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

About Bosh going to New York...am I the only one that remembers it being pretty much a fact that Bosh is intent on getting a S&T to get the most money possible? I could have sworn I remember hearing/reading that and I'm hearing about New York landing Bosh, but I really don't see what they have to trade to get him.