The LeBron James Thread

[King_B_Mack]

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

The Cubs winning a WS would be a bigger news story obviously but it'd be way too hard to pin all the glory on one player since there are so many pieces involved in baseball. No one player gets all the glory and credit for winning a WS like QB's do in football and stars do in basketball. Granted there are a ton of pieces in football too, everyone knows the QB gets all the credit and glory for winning and all the blame for losing.

If say Albert Pujols signed with the Cubs or was traded to the Cubs and they won the World Series that same year or soon after. You wouldn't think there'd be a way to make him having the most to do with that?

[wwharton]

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

I don't think Simmons meant it like the way you're interpreting it. It's not what would get the biggest story or the most media attention. He's talking about what would cement or boost a player's legacy the most, what would be the greatest accomplishment an athlete could go out and do regardless of the media.

A QB wins the SB every year. One of those powerhouse football programs wins the MNC almost every year. The Yankees win the WS one out of every four years.

It's not every year that the NBA's biggest star and potential GOAT (at least that's what Stern hopes) turns around a historic franchise that's been a dump for a decade and hasn't won a title in nearly 40 years while proving himself to all of his doubters and critics.

That's a much bigger accomplishment than Peyton Manning or the Yankees winning another championship.

I would say though that turning around Notre Dame football is probably the biggest accomplishment available though.

I'd still say winning a ring in Cleveland would be above NY. He's from the area, was drafted by the Cavs, the Cavs have been between awful and heartbroken... by MJ no less. Much like MJ did in Chicago he turns the team into a title contender. There's no way winning it anywhere else would be above that.

Next I'd say the Clippers. The Knicks used to be good. They just suck now. LBJ would be at the top of the list of basketball stars in NYC but he'd still be on a list in a town full of them. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a great accomplishment but doing it for a team that has never had success, or a team that's had little success and no rings in a town that hasn't had success in ages would both be bigger.

[ZM Punk]

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

I'd still say winning a ring in Cleveland would be above NY. He's from the area, was drafted by the Cavs, the Cavs have been between awful and heartbroken... by MJ no less. Much like MJ did in Chicago he turns the team into a title contender. There's no way winning it anywhere else would be above that.

Next I'd say the Clippers. The Knicks used to be good. They just suck now. LBJ would be at the top of the list of basketball stars in NYC but he'd still be on a list in a town full of them. I'm not saying it wouldn't be a great accomplishment but doing it for a team that has never had success, or a team that's had little success and no rings in a town that hasn't had success in ages would both be bigger.

The Clippers?

It would be a accomplishment for turning around a terrible franchise. But from a fans standpoint I doubt anybody would care. Because they don't have hardly any fans.

I'm willing to bet half the Clips season ticket holders are only there because they couldn't get Lakers season tickets.

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

Yea I don't know about the Clippers wwharton LOL. Maybe if it was the Blazers(who are still catching heat for passing up MJ to this very day)and maybe, MAYBE the Wizards(Curse of Lez Boulet that's been around for 25+ years).

[ehh]

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

But nobody cares about the Clippers or Cavs. Wouldn't it be a bigger accomplishment if Brian Kelly turned around Notre Dame football as opposed to staying at Cinncy (Ohio teams just get the shaft no matter where you look lol) and building them into a national powerhouse? What's going to cement his legacy further? Legendary Notre Dame coach or legendary Cincinnati coach?

Legendary Clipper or legendary Knick? Legendary Timberwolf or legendary Celtic? I still think this is the reason Tim Duncan is not viewed as the player of the decade in the 2000's. Won as much as Kobe with way less talent. If he did that in Chicago I think it's at least a 50/50 discussion between him and Kobe for POD. It's stupid that that's the case, but it certainly plays a role.

Of course, it doesn't have the same upside as New York: Biggest market, great fans, most meaning. If LeBron saved professional basketball in New York and brought Knicks fans their first title since 1973? That's the best available accomplishment in team sports right now. Name me a better one. You can't. Biggest star, biggest city.

I guess it all depends on how you look at it. Restoring glory to the basketball capital of the world or building something new from scratch? Simmons' whole point is the, "but it's New York" angle and I know how much OS loves that one.

[ProfessaPackMan]

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

What was Simmons smokin' on when he said that?

[Altimus]

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

I think winning a championship in Cleveland would be the better feeling story. Home town kid finally brings Cleveland over the hump. Chicago and NY would no doubt get more publicity over the long term.

[Kashanova]

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

What was Simmons smokin' on when he said that?

smokin straight truth

[Altimus]

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

smokin straight truth

You and him both Kash.

[wwharton]

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

The Clippers?

It would be a accomplishment for turning around a terrible franchise. But from a fans standpoint I doubt anybody would care. Because they don't have hardly any fans.

I'm willing to bet half the Clips season ticket holders are only there because they couldn't get Lakers season tickets.

Yea I don't know about the Clippers wwharton LOL. Maybe if it was the Blazers(who are still catching heat for passing up MJ to this very day)and maybe, MAYBE the Wizards(Curse of Lez Boulet that's been around for 25+ years).

What did people say about the Bulls before Jordan? The bad part is it's LA where the Lakers and Kobe are. The good part is it's LA where the Lakers and Kobe are. If LBJ went to the Clippers and won even 2 or 3 championships, that would be 2 or 3 that the Lakers didn't win and 2 or 3 years he had bragging rights over Kobe in Kobe's city. Best believe, if LBJ went to the Clippers there'd be more Clippers fans.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's going there and don't think it's the best stop for him, but I think the aftermath of LBJ bringing a ring to the Clippers would be a bigger story than LBJ bringing a ring to NYC.

[ehh]

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

For any of the extreme stat nerds (not sure there are any when it comes to the NBA)...

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1136

2010 Summer Preview

As a reminder, the goal is this: Trying to put some data behind what is by nature the very subjective question of what is the best destination for the superstars expected to become free agents this summer (James most notable among the group, which also includes Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh) by rating the future prospects of the teams with space to sign a max free agent. Now, it's important to note that team quality is surely just one of many factors that will go into these players' decisions of where to continue to career, but of them it's the only one we can really quantify.

What this involves is a comprehensive valuation of all of a team's assets--players, future draft picks and cap space. Think of this as an objective version, if less comprehensive, of ESPN's future power rankings (Insider). Underlying this effort is the use of three-year WARP projections based on the 10 most similar players from our SCHOENE projection system. Draft picks were valued using the average performance of past players by pick number, and cap space is generally valued at 1 WARP for each $2.5 million of room, a figure based on the historic efficiency of the free-agent market.

There is a break down of every team in the article. Interesting write up is on the Clippers, which makes plenty of sense and points out that they are best destination if LeBron is concerned with the current pieces in place - not Chicago.

Overall scores....

Although the Knicks come out on top, the author states that he does not believe it's necessarily the best place for him.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

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

What did people say about the Bulls before Jordan? The bad part is it's LA where the Lakers and Kobe are. The good part is it's LA where the Lakers and Kobe are. If LBJ went to the Clippers and won even 2 or 3 championships, that would be 2 or 3 that the Lakers didn't win and 2 or 3 years he had bragging rights over Kobe in Kobe's city. Best believe, if LBJ went to the Clippers there'd be more Clippers fans.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's going there and don't think it's the best stop for him, but I think the aftermath of LBJ bringing a ring to the Clippers would be a bigger story than LBJ bringing a ring to NYC.

This. I don't think he's going there either, but I seriously think it would be a very good fit for him out of the possible destinations.

And to ehh (i think it was you that was talking about why TD isn't really recognized as the player of the decade), I think it's more to do with how much more flash Kobe has than Duncan. Duncan just goes about his business and brings home the hardware, whereas Kobe makes all sorts of highlight plays while bringing home the same hardware. Both of them are amazing players. I'm not gonna say one is the player of the decade and one isn't. But I think that most people say Kobe because of his playing style compared to Duncan's, not necessarily the location they play in.

[ehh]

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

And to ehh (i think it was you that was talking about why TD isn't really recognized as the player of the decade), I think it's more to do with how much more flash Kobe has than Duncan. Duncan just goes about his business and brings home the hardware, whereas Kobe makes all sorts of highlight plays while bringing home the same hardware. Both of them are amazing players. I'm not gonna say one is the player of the decade and one isn't. But I think that most people say Kobe because of his playing style compared to Duncan's, not necessarily the location they play in.

Agreed, I think that's the other half. Half location, half style of play. Half the dudes I know wouldn't even watch the Finals when SA was in 'em cause they thought the team was so boring to watch.

[Altimus]

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

One thing I would have to disagree is he mentions Deng nor Hinrich would fit into the average starter category. If Deng is healthy he can be the #3 option on many teams. Hinrich can be a starter on some teams depending on the system in place.

Thing is they are both over paid.

[Cebby]

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

How in the world did this chart calculate cap space?

I don't understand how the Knicks get the benefit of Bosh without it hurting their cap space or players.

It's completely illogical. By the time they add Bosh they would have less cap space than New Jersey, Miami, or Washington, and player wise if they don't resign Lee they're easily worse than any of those teams. If I'm reading it correctly, Bosh somehow signs with New York for free. A sign and trade would likely take one of their three young players and significant cap space. Instead they lost nothing.