The LeBron James Thread

[ehh]

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

There's too many variables beyond New York's control for New York to seriously be considered an ideal spot to go. They have cap space, but so do other teams along with actual talent in place to sell you on instead of the idea that your money is going to land you talent later.

I agree with this 100% right now but obviously things can and will change once the FA period starts.

LeBron would have to know that the other pieces would be in place (or already in place before he signs). Like I've said, the only way LBJ even considers NY is if Bosh tells him he'll follow him there. That's the basis of all of my theories - so if that doesn't happen (the second Bosh comes out and says he has no interest in NY I'll accept that LBJ will never be a Knick) then the Knicks have no chance at him.

The only big move I'm hoping they pull the trigger on is the Curry's expiring for Okafor deal. The Hornets are looking to rebuild and want to ditch Oak's contract already. Curry's expiring gives them more cap space. The finances work out for both teams. The Knicks then have a defensive 5 to pair with Bosh. If Bosh knows there's a defensive 5 in place, and the fact that he can play with LeBron - there's no other team in the league that can offer that to him.

Douglas (a defensive PG that can shoot and play off the ball, doesn't need to dominant the ball to be effective)
LeBron
Gallo (great shooter, feel for the game, good passer for his size)
Bosh
Okafor (good compliment for Bosh, will do the dirty work)

Everyone in the starting line up is under the age of 28 so who cares if they're locked in to long term deals. That is an ideal line up to have around both LeBron and Bosh and acquiring Okafor is far from an unrealistic pipe dream. I don't see how that's not a better starting lineup than anything Chicago would have in the next 3-4 years. Yes, I understand that's a ton of "what ifs" but it's not impossible. Depth will be an issue and we'd have to work on that.

[King_B_Mack]

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

I agree with this 100% right now but obviously things can and will change once the FA period starts.

LeBron would have to know that the other pieces would be in place (or already in place before he signs). Like I've said, the only way LBJ even considers NY is if Bosh tells him he'll follow him there. That's the basis of all of my theories - so if that doesn't happen (the second Bosh comes out and says he has no interest in NY I'll accept that LBJ will never be a Knick) then the Knicks have no chance at him.

The only big move I'm hoping they pull the trigger on is the Curry's expiring for Okafor deal. The Hornets are looking to rebuild and want to ditch Oak's contract already. Curry's expiring gives them more cap space. The finances work out for both teams. The Knicks then have a defensive 5 to pair with Bosh. If Bosh knows there's a defensive 5 in place, and the fact that he can play with LeBron - there's no other team in the league that can offer that to him.

Douglas (a defensive PG that can shoot and play off the ball, doesn't need to dominant the ball to be effective)
LeBron
Gallo (great shooter, feel for the game, good passer for his size)
Bosh
Okafor (good compliment for Bosh, will do the dirty work)

Everyone in the starting line up is under the age of 28 so who cares if they're locked in to long term deals. That is an ideal line up to have around both LeBron and Bosh and acquiring Okafor is far from an unrealistic pipe dream. I don't see how that's not a better starting lineup than anything Chicago would have in the next 3-4 years. Yes, I understand that's a ton of "what ifs" but it's not impossible. Depth will be an issue and we'd have to work on that.

Is that move actually on the table as something they're looking at or is that just you hoping it's out there? As a Bulls fan I'm hoping it ISN'T out there lol. I still think the Bulls lineup if we can keep Noah in place with Bosh would work out better for him. Which is probably why the Bulls should be trying to work out a sign and trade with Toronto first off as LeBron may allow other people to go before he makes his decision. He'll be the big splash whenever he signs so he can forward to sit back and watch how things play out early on as opposed to signing a deal at midnight on the eighth. I don't think any of us should get our hopes up, but I think New York could look back at 2000 and take a lesson from us. Sending celebrities and banking on being a great city sometimes don't mean enough if you don't have the LONG TERM talent in place for these guys.

[ehh]

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

Is that move actually on the table as something they're looking at or is that just you hoping it's out there? As a Bulls fan I'm hoping it ISN'T out there lol. I still think the Bulls lineup if we can keep Noah in place with Bosh would work out better for him.

I've said all along that if the Bulls can get Bosh while retaining Noah that it's the best destination for LeBron, I'll never change that opinion. That lineup would be insane. But I also don't think it's a realistic possibility but I have no idea because S&T's can get weird.

The Curry/Okafor offer is not officially out there but it's been a rumor for a couple of months. Besides Oak specifically, Knicks' "front office sources" have said that they want to trade Curry for someone locked into a long-term deal.

[Rocky]

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

I agree with this 100% right now but obviously things can and will change once the FA period starts.

LeBron would have to know that the other pieces would be in place (or already in place before he signs). Like I've said, the only way LBJ even considers NY is if Bosh tells him he'll follow him there. That's the basis of all of my theories - so if that doesn't happen (the second Bosh comes out and says he has no interest in NY I'll accept that LBJ will never be a Knick) then the Knicks have no chance at him.

The only big move I'm hoping they pull the trigger on is the Curry's expiring for Okafor deal. The Hornets are looking to rebuild and want to ditch Oak's contract already. Curry's expiring gives them more cap space. The finances work out for both teams. The Knicks then have a defensive 5 to pair with Bosh. If Bosh knows there's a defensive 5 in place, and the fact that he can play with LeBron - there's no other team in the league that can offer that to him.

Douglas (a defensive PG that can shoot and play off the ball, doesn't need to dominant the ball to be effective)
LeBron
Gallo (great shooter, feel for the game, good passer for his size)
Bosh
Okafor (good compliment for Bosh, will do the dirty work)

Everyone in the starting line up is under the age of 28 so who cares if they're locked in to long term deals. That is an ideal line up to have around both LeBron and Bosh and acquiring Okafor is far from an unrealistic pipe dream. I don't see how that's not a better starting lineup than anything Chicago would have in the next 3-4 years. Yes, I understand that's a ton of "what ifs" but it's not impossible. Depth will be an issue and we'd have to work on that.

Eh, Gallo and Douglas will get exposed big time in the playoffs. I even think T-Mac would be better in that lineup if he were to come back for less. If the Knicks do get Lebron/Bosh, you don't think they would be better served by getting cheap vets who want to play for a title ala Heat (2006) and Celtics (2008 to present)?

[ehh]

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

Eh, Gallo and Douglas will get exposed big time in the playoffs.

How many Knicks games did you watch this year?

[ex carrabba fan]

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

Eh, Gallo and Douglas will get exposed big time in the playoffs. I even think T-Mac would be better in that lineup if he were to come back for less. If the Knicks do get Lebron/Bosh, you don't think they would be better served by getting cheap vets who want to play for a title ala Heat (2006) and Celtics (2008 to present)?

I get that feeling too Rock.

Gallo and Douglas seem more like bench players for now than starters for a supposed title contender. Maybe in the future, but for next year I'm not too sure that Gallo/Douglas sound appealing.

Mac would make a great third wheel if he or James could play the 2.

Everyone has brought pretty good points for Chicago, NY.

It does seem like a three horse race to start things off between Chicago, NY and Cleveland, with the Nets being a wildcard.

[NYJets]

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

Eh, Gallo and Douglas will get exposed big time in the playoffs. I even think T-Mac would be better in that lineup if he were to come back for less. If the Knicks do get Lebron/Bosh, you don't think they would be better served by getting cheap vets who want to play for a title ala Heat (2006) and Celtics (2008 to present)?

What do you mean exposed? In what ways? And Douglas was a rookie, and Gallo was basically playing his rookie season, so they are both going to get much better. Don't see what T-Mac has shown the last couple of years to make anyone think he can still be a good starter. Besides, the latest reports are that T-Mac doesn't want to come back anyway.


I'm sure the Knicks would look to fill out the rest of the roster with cheap vets, but they would only have a few million to spend. So cheap vets basically means the minimum.

[NYJets]

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

How many Knicks games did you watch this year?

Yea, I don't think that many people have actually watched Gallo play. No one who saw him play the last 2 months of the season would call him a bench player. And Douglas was very good once D'antoni let him play as well.

[ex carrabba fan]

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

What do you mean exposed? In what ways? And Douglas was a rookie, and Gallo was basically playing his rookie season, so they are both going to get much better. Don't see what T-Mac has shown the last couple of years to make anyone think he can still be a good starter. Besides, the latest reports are that T-Mac doesn't want to come back anyway.


I'm sure the Knicks would look to fill out the rest of the roster with cheap vets, but they would only have a few million to spend. So cheap vets basically means the minimum.

Well you sort of prove his point. These guys might not be ready to be starters on a title team. I don't see how that's not a fair statement.

TMac being a third option would be great, he will prove he can still be a viable contributor to a contending team.

[ehh]

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

I get that feeling too Rock.

Gallo and Douglas seem more like bench players for now than starters for a supposed title contender. Maybe in the future, but for next year I'm not too sure that Gallo/Douglas sound appealing.

I don't know Ex. As I said, people are sleeping on both of them. They might not be ready for prime time yet but they've both shown a lot of promise to be way more than bench players. Gallo, there is no doubt in my mind, would be a great 3rd option on a contender. The stimga that he's a one-dimensional shooter couldn't be more inaccurate. He's already proven to be a tough match up for almost every team and last year was essentially his rookie season.

I don't expect any non-Knick fan to know a thing about Douglas, he didn't start getting serious burn until late in the regular season and I don't know why any non-Knick for (or Knick fan for that matter lol) would be paying attention to those games. He'll be our tiny secret for a little while longer.

[NYJets]

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

Well you sort of prove his point. These guys might not be ready to be starters on a title team. I don't see how that's not a fair statement.

TMac being a third option would be great, he will prove he can still be a viable contributor to a contending team.

I was throwing that in there that they aren't finished projects, but no, I don't agree that they, and Gallinari especially aren't ready for starting roles on a top team.

You have not watched TMac or Gallinari play recently if you think Mcgrady is a better 3rd option than Gallo.

[ehh]

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

I can't see how T-Mac is a better 3rd option at this point in his career than Gallo based on their performance this year. Outside of his first week with the Knicks T-Mac was dreadful. Not to mention that Gallo already is tougher and has way bigger stones than T-Mac ever did. Gallo is better all-around player than T-Mac is right now. Based on what I saw this year, T-Mac is going to be in an Eddie House type of role moving forward.

But it's T-Mac so who nows, he could have mailed it in very quickly. Maybe he'll come out and kill it next year but he didn't show signs of it in NY.

[ex carrabba fan]

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

I don't know Ex. As I said, people are sleeping on both of them. They might not be ready for prime time yet but they've both shown a lot of promise to be way more than bench players. Gallo, there is no doubt in my mind, would be a great 3rd option on a contender. The stimga that he's a one-dimensional shooter couldn't be more inaccurate. He's already proven to be a tough match up for almost every team and last year was essentially his rookie season.

I don't expect any non-Knick fan to know a thing about Douglas, he didn't start getting serious burn until late in the regular season and I don't know why any non-Knick for (or Knick fan for that matter lol) would be paying attention to those games. He'll be our tiny secret for a little while longer.

Trust me Jets and ehh, I've watched NY games. I've seen Mac and Gallo plenty.

I'm not agreeing with either side, I'm just saying that what Rock said isn't too out there.

Gallo is a tough nosed kid who doesn't seem to be shaken no matter what.

Douglas was my sleeper pick and he's definitely another tough nosed kid. Unfortunately I don't think he's ready to be a starter for a title run yet. To me he's definitely still a backup.

Having them as your third and fourth wheels.... I just don't know.

Even if Chicago didn't get Bosh, I think they could still end up with more appealing complimentary starters-- assuming they trade for a wing player.

[Rocky]

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

How many Knicks games did you watch this year?

I've actually seen them live both times when they came to Charlotte. Douglas didn't get much PT...from what I've seen of him late in the year and especially at FSU, he'll be solid but definitely not a starter at PG for that team. Gallo played decent the 1st couple of games, but again, he really has not playoff or big game experience. Plus he and James play the same position.

They're still in a good position though because you can convince some solid vets to come and load up on rings. Stackhouse (he's still got 2 or 3 season left (as evidenced by his play with Milwaukee), Brad Miller, Nazr Mohammad, Ray Allen, hell even AI.

[hokupguy]

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