The LeBron James Thread

[OSUFan_88]

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

I don't really understand that reply to my post.

Like I said, I don't think LBJ will go to the Clippers for all the reasons stated and more, but if he did there's no question they'd be a contender. If he stays in Cleveland (like I still expect him to) there's no question they'd be a contender too.

I was focusing on this:

We talk about how bad Cleveland has been over the years. Did the owner and management all of a sudden turn a corner? No, they got lucky in the draft and landed LBJ.

[Dice]

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

If we're just talking players, I don't see how Cleveland is the runaway winner by any stretch, if the rosters are as is.

That team is built for a great regular season but in the playoffs they still would have a lot of trouble with Orlando and Boston.

I'm not saying that Chicago or NJ are far better choices either, but Cleveland will have trouble even adding talent, so I don't see the upside there.

I'd call it about even with Chicago, Cleveland and NJ.

NJ though I would say has the least shot if we're talking about casts, because outside of Brook and Devin, they're simply not ready. Chicago and Cleveland have decent depth.

I agree with you. With the rosters as is, Cleveland has the best shot. BUT I think Chicago might have the best opportunity.

Call homerism, but I'll give you a logical explanation on why Chicago might be the best opportunity to win a title.

Out of the contending teams for the LeBron sweepstakes(Cleveland, Chicago, New York, New Jersey) Chicago probably has the best second fiddle player he can play with in Derrick Rose. We already know that LeBron cannot win with Mo Williams as the second guy. The Knicks best player, David Lee, is a free agent, which means that Al Harrington would probably the best remaining player. And he shoots too much. As with NJ, with all the excuses of injuries, their two best players, Devin Harris and Brook Lopez played in 64 games together and all they could muster up was 11 wins? Second fiddle players are import. As evident in last night's game 7. Kobe played terrible most of the game. BUT Gasol and Artest stepped up. If Lebron is having an off night, between the players of the four teams vying for his services, who would you trust to carry the team? I'm taking Rose.

Chicago is not going to stop it's activity if it gets LeBron. They are either going to sign a tier 2 player or make some trades to possibly get another max player. I think most of the teams competing would do this. But this is where it get real dicey with Cleveland. Because if they do sign LeBron, they have almost no leverage to get another free agent. They already put Mo Williams and Delonte West on the blocks. I'm not sure if they have any interest BUT someone would have said something.

And last, it all starts with defense. As evident in last night's game, you need defense to win the championship. And it all starts with the coach. The Knicks are out because D'Antonie doesn't care about defense. Cleveland is still on the bubble because they have no coach right now. Which leaves Thibodeau and Avery Johnson. Now many people are going to say, "Mike Brown was a great defensive assistant and look what happen to him". Yes, but Thibodeau and Brown are two totally different people. So I'm not understanding that correlation. Michael Jordan was drafted 3rd out of North Carolina as a SG. BUT so was Jerry Stackhouse. and Stackhouse wasn't nearly the player as Jordan. And Johnson doesn't have an excellent track record on offense with his handling of the Mavs. Thibodeau track record with offense is unknown right now, which could be either a good thing or bad thing. We have to wait and see.

I know this was long but I tried to put as much logic to it as possible. Instead of the plain old,'YEAH, WE ROCK AND THEY SUCK!' attitude. And even though this is my opinions, you cannot tell me that what I stated is not far off. You can disagree, but it's not out of the realm of reality.

[Dice]

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

These are great reasons why LBJ shouldn't decide to play for the Clippers... but not reasons why putting him on the team doesn't make them a title contender. Those are two different things. We talk about how bad Cleveland has been over the years. Did the owner and management all of a sudden turn a corner? No, they got lucky in the draft and landed LBJ.

I don't think he'd go to the Clippers but it doesn't make sense to say adding him wouldn't make them a contender just bc they're the Clippers.

At least the Cavs have fielded a team that was legit contenders. Of course in the NBA(or any sports in that matter) being contenders is not enough. BUT you have to BE contenders to win the title. Has the Clippers ever fielded a team that was legit contenders? Not in my lifetime.

[wwharton]

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

I was focusing on this:

Ah, gotcha. And yes, that's very true but still not really relevant (for the point that I'm making... very relevant for what decision LBJ will make). What were the Spurs before Robinson and then Duncan? What were the Magic before Shaq and then Penny? What about before Howard? There have been a handful of "no brainer" #1 picks in the NBA and Lebron was one of them. I think we can agree that even if you and I were running a team, adding LBJ would instantly make that team better. The Cavs were horrible before LBJ, have been one of the best teams in the league since. It'd be crazy to say adding him to an already solid Clippers roster wouldn't make them contenders (not automatically assure a title). I know crossing sports doesn't exactly line up but people talked the same way about the Colts before Manning and the Rams before Faulk and Warner. The Clippers may always be the Clippers, but a great player can make even the dumbest owner look smart.

[wwharton]

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

At least the Cavs have fielded a team that was legit contenders. Of course in the NBA(or any sports in that matter) being contenders is not enough. BUT you have to BE contenders to win the title. Has the Clippers ever fielded a team that was legit contenders? Not in my lifetime.

Have the Clippers ever had Lebron James? Even the years they've had the top pick have they had any no brainer picks available to them? Griffin was, but he hasn't gotten a chance to play yet. I'm not arguing with the idea that they can't seem to put together a championship team by good scouting, drafting, trading and signing free agents. It's also not an attractive location playing 2nd fiddle to the Lakers. Again, these are reasons LBJ would not go there. But if you just drop arguably the most talented player in the NBA in the middle of that roster, they are most definitely contenders.

[OSUFan_88]

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

Ah, gotcha. And yes, that's very true but still not really relevant (for the point that I'm making... very relevant for what decision LBJ will make). What were the Spurs before Robinson and then Duncan? What were the Magic before Shaq and then Penny? What about before Howard? There have been a handful of "no brainer" #1 picks in the NBA and Lebron was one of them. I think we can agree that even if you and I were running a team, adding LBJ would instantly make that team better. The Cavs were horrible before LBJ, have been one of the best teams in the league since. It'd be crazy to say adding him to an already solid Clippers roster wouldn't make them contenders (not automatically assure a title). I know crossing sports doesn't exactly line up but people talked the same way about the Colts before Manning and the Rams before Faulk and Warner. The Clippers may always be the Clippers, but a great player can make even the dumbest owner look smart.

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.

[ProjectRipCity]

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

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/06/blazers_group_plans_rally_sund.html

Blazers rally for LBJ is on Sunday

Big...Waste...Of...Time

[Bornindamecca]

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

If we're just talking players, I don't see how Cleveland is the runaway winner by any stretch, if the rosters are as is.

That team is built for a great regular season but in the playoffs they still would have a lot of trouble with Orlando and Boston.

I'm not saying that Chicago or NJ are far better choices either, but Cleveland will have trouble even adding talent, so I don't see the upside there.

I'd call it about even with Chicago, Cleveland and NJ.

NJ though I would say has the least shot if we're talking about casts, because outside of Brook and Devin, they're simply not ready. Chicago and Cleveland have decent depth.

I thought I specified, but if I wasn't clear then my bad. Cleveland is a proven roster in terms of getting regular season wins, but when it comes to the playoffs, Chicago has proven that they have people that will show up. Thought I had that point in my post somehwere.


For people dogging on New York and Stephen A, once again you are overreacting. I don't know what it is about the Knicks that makes people want to pile on, but whatever. Screamin' clearly states that he is not saying he has heard that LBJ will go to New York. He is saying that he knows for a fact that LBJ has been inquiring about Walsh and D'Antoni, and the LBJ likes New York more than he did a month ago. After that, the host asks Screamin' for his personal opinion, which is separate from the facts.

So just chill.

[phenom1990]

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

I met Stephen A. a couple months ago. I was really tempted to say : " QUITE FRANKLY WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE SOME CHEESE DOODLES".

[ProjectRipCity]

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

The Cavaliers organization is a thousand times better than the Clippers.

Now the Gund/Paxson ownership/GM group was horrific and Sterling like. But Gilbert has been a fantastic owner and the team has tried to clean up the mess that Gund and Paxson left him.

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.

[OSUFan_88]

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.

Maybe then he'll go send a telegram and send pigeon carrier back to Cleveland to inform us!

Don't be dense. LeBron is not going to pick a team because it's a big city.

[Starlin4Prez]

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.

Is that a joke?? So you're telling me that if Lebron went to the Bulls and their starting 5 was Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Lebron James, Joakim Noah and Brad Miller with Hinrich, Gibson and Johnson coming off the bench that that team couldn't contend in the East??? You do realize the Bulls made the playoffs this year without LeBron right? And I would imagine if they sign LeBron, he wouldn't be the only guy coming in in the offseason.

But you're not sure about the Knicks???

That's comedy right there.

[OSUFan_88]

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

Is that a joke?? So you're telling me that if Lebron went to the Bulls and their starting 5 was Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Lebron James, Joakim Noah and Brad Miller with Hinrich, Gibson and Johnson coming off the bench that that team couldn't contend in the East??? You do realize the Bulls made the playoffs this year without LeBron right? And I would imagine if they sign LeBron, he wouldn't be the only guy coming in in the offseason.

But you're not sure about the Knicks???

That's comedy right there.

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.

[ProjectRipCity]

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

Maybe then he'll go send a telegram and send pigeon carrier back to Cleveland to inform us!

Don't be dense. LeBron is not going to pick a team because it's a big city.

Big city = $$$

It really depends on what kind of person Lebron really is. If he chooses Cleveland I think that is a reflection on having a good character. If he goes with a bigger system can you blame the fact he wants some dough? I'm not saying the Clippers are repairable, but if you take a look at what he did in Cleveland he certainly can do it elsewhere.

[Starlin4Prez]

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

Well out of the options he has, Chicago has the greatest chance to win and win right away. New York has absolutely NO shot next year or probably the year after even if they bring two max FA in, which is highly unlikely and will probably end up leaving themselves with a bunch of untradeable contracts like they usually do. (I.E. Stephon Marbury/Steve Francis/Malik Rose...etc..etc) The Clippers possibly, barring health but don't know how much LeBron wants to be in the Kobe shadow but you never know. The Nets...the ONLY reason I would see him go there was if Jay-Z was paying him under the table.

As far as the other teams I've been hearing..***bbish. Washington, no chance. And in all honesty after watching Game 5 against the Celtics, I don't think LeBron wants to be in Cleveland anymore and I don't blame him. If he resigns, he is probably going to have pretty close to the same roster around him, which have proven to be a bunch of regular season guys. Not something LeBron wants to be a part of it.