The LeBron James Thread

[ehh]

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

I just don't understand the hate for the guy, especially from you NY fans, on why Broussard is being biased in his opinion? The guy grew up in Cleveland and started his media career in Cleveland. This guy has no ties to Chicago so where is his Chicago bias coming from?

Which is the weirdest part of the whole situation. It seems so random.

[King_B_Mack]

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

I don't think it's a bias though. I think he's simply reporting what he's been hearing. Beyond that, he did say one Mike and Mike that the Clippers and Bulls denied things, but they were talking. Teams talk about deals all the time. Just because it was a bad deal doesn't mean it's impossible to have been talked about. Half the deals the Bulls made with the Knicks under Zeke's watch were terrible, suppose anybody who got wind of them and reported on it was wrong and making up stuff to make a name for themselves and showing a bias though?

[Dice]

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

Absolutely not, because they aren't saying/writing stupid stuff like Broussard.

'Stupid' because he wrote that LeBron doesn't need the Knicks. But yet your not bashing this guy, even though he's sticking it to Cleveland: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/n...ory?id=5306183 (article posted below)

LeBron can win in New York -- right now
What rebuilding process? State of the East says James could lead Knicks, Nets to Finals

Parker By Rob Parker
ESPNNewYork.com

It's not a layup, by any means.

Still, LeBron James' path to the NBA Finals looks virtually clear.

In fact, James could come to New York -- with either the Nets or Knicks -- and make it to the Finals in his first season in the Big Apple.

That has been the argument all along on why James shouldn't come here and should instead go elsewhere, such as to the Chicago Bulls. Many so-called experts believe he would have to wait on building a team to get to the championship.

But after watching the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Boston Celtics in seven games to win their second straight title, it's obvious that the East is wide open for any team with James and a second star -- say Chris Bosh -- to get to the finals next June.

That -- a dynamic duo -- is usually what you need to win a title in the NBA. It's time-tested.

That's why it makes no sense for James, arguably the biggest free-agent prize in the history of sports, to stay in Cleveland. If the Cavaliers had the cap room -- which they don't -- to add that other star to the mix, it would make perfect sense.

But because they don't, James is in the driver's seat.

And not just as to what uniform he wants to wear next season but also what team will have a legitimate shot at dethroning the two-time defending champion Lakers.

Here's a look at the viable teams to represent the East in the championship next season.

Boston Celtics

It's a wrap.

Their three-year run with the Big Three ended when they blew a 13-point, second-half lead to the Lakers in the seventh and deciding game Thursday night.

Granted, the Celtics, who looked old and tired all regular season long, surprised a lot of people by getting to the championship round for the second time in three years. They won it all in 2008.

But there's just not much left here. Kevin Garnett has lost something and isn't the feared player he once was. Ray Allen, an unrestricted free agent, is either great or terrible these days. It's hard to win with a 35-year-old 2-guard who is so up-and-down.

Along with Allen, the Celtics have five other players set to test the free-agent waters.

There's also all this talk about coach Doc Rivers packing it in and spending more time with the family.

Sure, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo will still be around. But it just doesn't seem like it will be enough to knock James out of the playoffs, as Boston did this season in the second round.

Orlando Magic

The Magic's gone.

It's hard to look at this squad and be scared anymore. That was the case two years ago when Orlando shocked James and America and beat the Cavs in the conference finals.

And although you have to respect any team with Dwight Howard, you can't be convinced they have the right parts in place to stand in James' way next season.

Vince Carter, the big piece that was supposed to put the Magic over the top, came up small, and his conference performance has people wondering whether he'll ever have the impact there.


They didn't just lose to the Celtics, they were embarrassed. For sure, James, with the right partner, would feel confident he could get past the Magic this time around.

Atlanta Hawks

Simply, frauds.

Sure, there were times when you watched that squad and thought the Hawks had enough talent and all those athletes to go on a run and possibly win a title. Two years ago, they forced the Celtics to a Game 7 in the first round.

But in the conference semis this postseason, Atlanta was destroyed and swept by the Magic. It was so bad, it cost coach Mike Woodson his gig.

The Hawks' cute story is over. They offer no resistance to James in the postseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers

Move along, nothing to see here.

If James bolts, the Cavs will disband.

OK, OK. That's over the top. But let's put it this way, they won't have the best record in the NBA like they have had the past two seasons.

They will fall back into the middle of the pack in the East. James certainly will not have to worry about his old team rising up and derailing his dream of getting to his second championship -- and winning it.

Best of all, with the way things are shaking out, James can do it in New York sooner than later.

[Dice]

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

Which is the weirdest part of the whole situation. It seems so random.

It's weird to you because of the article he wrote on the Knicks. OK, so this guy hates New York but he's not going to be replacing Benny the Bull as the official mascot because of it.

[ehh]

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

Like I said a few posts ago, none of those other dudes are writing with the same bitterness as Broussard. Parker wrote a paragraph and a half and didn't make anything personal. Apples and oranges with Broussard.

[Dice]

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

Whatever you say. A ton of the media have given their opinions about where Lebron is going to go, and a very small percentage of them think that's going to be the Knicks. Broussard is pretty much the only one I have a problem with.

Because he hates the Knicks? Tell him to join the party.

[wwharton]

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

Not yet, BUT if the Clippers are dumb enough to trade their 8th pick for Luol Deng, then they wouldn't have a clue on how to actually build a championship contending team.

As a Bulls fan, I hope it goes through.

So a rumor about a trade changes everything? There are a lot of really stupid owners out there if this is how we're thinking.

More importantly, the Clippers owner may be an idiot, and AGAIN, that and other reasons are why LBJ probably isn't headed there. But I don't understand how any of that makes it a bad fit if you put him in that lineup. Even if this rumor were true, that team + Lebron James is a damn good team.

[Dice]

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

So a rumor about a trade changes everything? There are a lot of really stupid owners out there if this is how we're thinking.

More importantly, the Clippers owner may be an idiot, and AGAIN, that and other reasons are why LBJ probably isn't headed there. But I don't understand how any of that makes it a bad fit if you put him in that lineup. Even if this rumor were true, that team + Lebron James is a damn good team.

Look at it like this, it's a good team but going into next season it still doesn't get you a championship. NOW, if your moving forward from there, do you really trust the Clippers brass to get the right players to surround LeBron with a championship team?

[USF11]

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

The Bulls reportedly have a deal in place to move Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick to the Wizards, freeing up enough cap space to pursue two maximum-salary players this summer.
We still don't know what the Bulls would get from the Wizards, but the deal can't be finalized until July 8. That also means there's time for it to fall apart, but as of now, it appears that Hinrich will play for the Wiz next season.
Source: ESPN.com

[wwharton]

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

Look at it like this, it's a good team but going into next season it still doesn't get you a championship. NOW, if your moving forward from there, do you really trust the Clippers brass to get the right players to surround LeBron with a championship team?

We already went around this circle. I don't see how one of the many trade rumors happening to involve the Clippers puts any more weight on anything one way or another.

[ehh]

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

It's weird to you because of the article he wrote on the Knicks. OK, so this guy hates New York but he's not going to be replacing Benny the Bull as the official mascot because of it.

Nah, that's not it. His Bulls' infatuation started before he wrote the Knicks article. Every time he says anything it's about LeBron going to Chicago and he's started/released more absurd "rumors" than anyone else in this whole ordeal. He constantly is saying what his "sources" tell him no matter how ridiculous the rumors are. I think he's reported on rumors that a fan on the street told him.

[King_B_Mack]

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

Like I said a few posts ago, none of those other dudes are writing with the same bitterness as Broussard. Parker wrote a paragraph and a half and didn't make anything personal. Apples and oranges with Broussard.

I think the bitterness you're talking about is really just Broussard addressing the arguments alot of people are making for New York. A lot of the points he addressed are things people just here alone have argued for New York.

[Dice]

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

We already went around this circle. I don't see how one of the many trade rumors happening to involve the Clippers puts any more weight on anything one way or another.

The rumored trade was just an EXAMPLE of how crappy the organization is. And if the trade actually happened then it's PROOF that the Clippers are the worst organization in sports franchise.

The bottom line is, out of all the teams vying for LeBron's services(Cleveland, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, LA Clippers,etc.) his chances with winning a championship within the next 2-3 years is lowest with the Clippers. Just my opinion.

[wwharton]

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

The rumored trade was just an EXAMPLE of how crappy the organization is. And if the trade actually happened then it's PROOF that the Clippers are the worst organization in sports franchise.

The bottom line is, out of all the teams vying for LeBron's services(Cleveland, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, LA Clippers,etc.) his chances with winning a championship within the next 2-3 years is lowest with the Clippers. Just my opinion.

The rumored trade is a RUMOR. No more, no less. If the trade happens, come back and make your point. Until then, put the rumor with the ten thousand others floating around right now.

[BlueNGold]

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

The rumored trade was just an EXAMPLE of how crappy the organization is. And if the trade actually happened then it's PROOF that the Clippers are the worst organization in sports franchise.

The bottom line is, out of all the teams vying for LeBron's services(Cleveland, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, LA Clippers,etc.) his chances with winning a championship within the next 2-3 years is lowest with the Clippers. Just my opinion.

I don't think that at all. I don't think the Clippers would be as deep 1-12 as the Cavs but their talent in the starting 5 would be better than anything LeBron has ever had.