The LeBron James Thread

[boomhauertjs]

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

Interesting:

Team LeBron reaches for prominence

I think that article provides hope for Cavs fans. LeBron always talks about loyalty to his friends and it sounds like leaving the Cavs would be bad for Maverick Carter and the rest of his posse while it would be good for Worldwide Wes. You have to think that he values his relationship with his childhood friends over some guy whose only interest in him is his own pocketbook.

[wildcatchild]

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

I'm back to 51/49 Cavs.

CHI is no slam dunk for chips, considering the only player Bron ever played with who also needed the ball to be effective was a total flop situation. I know Larry Hughes is no D Rose, but that actually makes it worse. You can ignore Larry when he whines for more touches, but you wont be able to ignore Rose if he feels he's been diminished too much...not to mention the touches Bosh would require. Rose seems like a great kid, and this may be wishful thinking, but to say there are definitely enough driving lanes for both guys is a huge assumption. Thats would clearly be a fantastic team, and I still think CHI has a major shot at this...but will LeBron turn his back on his Kingdom and villafy himself for a situation with question marks, especially given the way he went out against BOS?

MIA MAY not be all that appealing either, IMO. Ken Berger made a great point about LeBrons awareness of the need for impact rivalries to continue to grow the league. LeBron is savvy enough to realize this. A "Superfriends" team of three All-NBA players may reel off chips, but does that really help his legacy? Where will the rivalries come from? If healthy, they'd slaughter the East for a decade.

IMO, re-signing is a win-win. You look like a real hero to stick with the poor, down-trodden CLE fanbase, and if you win you'll be lifted to Willis-Reed-in-NY status of abstract worship. If not, in 3 season you're still only 28, entering your prime, and you can dip with a totally clear concience...not too mention a certain buddy's team will be settling in to Brooklyn with a few years under a really good young coach. It wouldn't kill him to extend another 3 seasons with a team built around you, no deferring or adjusting, and and owner who will not only spend any money necessary, but would get on his knees and give you a ***** if you told him to.

Bottom line is that it's funny that the C's whooped the Magic, and no one is saying they need to be blown up. The Lakers just scraped by that Celtic team, and might have lost if Perk didn't go down...and again, no one is saying it's time to rebuild the Lakeshow. CLE needs an upgrade at coach, and a few tweaks...but LeBron and the Cavs are still an elite team, aren't they? Perception is a funny, funny thing...

Great post! I too think LeBron knows going to the Heat is like a 12-year old playing NBA 2K10 and forcing the computer to make a bunch of silly trades to build a dream team. How much fun would that be for anyone who does not call themeselves a Heat fan? Yes, I know Miami has cleared cap space fair and square but it would seriously set the NBA back IMO. I think we all just saw the Lakers-Celtics rivalry and what it meant to the fans of this great league. Plus, I believe even the most devoted NBA fans would lose interest in a Bosh-Wade-James trio fairly quickly....and the universally loved James would probably develop a large following of haters in the blink of an eye for abandoning Cleveland. Most importantly, we all know he's going to be compared to Jordan and Kobe for the rest of his career and I can't imagine him wanting to deal with the "Yes, he won X amount of championships with Team Y but he needed superstars A and Z to get the job done." So the smart money is still on LeBron signing a short term deal and then leaving in 2-3 years if the Cavs aren't significantly better by then.

[boomhauertjs]

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

I'm sure LeBron is aware of how often Kobe was criticized for not winning a title without Shaq (until he finally did win one). It's just a matter of the Cavs finding a Gasol...

[ChampIsHere42]

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

Well everything sounds like Bosh is going to Miami with Dwade. It would only make sense for LeBron to go there as well because Dwade and Bosh is gonna be a tough 1-2 punch. LeBron is gonna need Stoudemire to sign wherever he does in order for him to not go to Miami.

[Blazix]

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

I'm sure LeBron is aware of how often Kobe was criticized for not winning a title without Shaq (until he finally did win one). It's just a matter of the Cavs finding a Gasol...

LeBron didnt even have the opportunity to play with a player with the talent of Shaq when he was with Kobe.

With that being said I think the cavs had built a very well rounded team this year excluding a major inside post presence (They made an attempt in aquring Shaq but he was too worn down to dominate the post like he once could) . They surrounded him with shooters had another ball handler with the ability to run an offense in Mo Williams and even stretched the offense with Antawn Jamison.

I think LeBron long term has the best future sticking with the cavs and resigning. He could build his legacy in Cleveland, a city that is in both sports(outside Basketball) and economic turmoil. Although he should resign with Cleveland I think these chances are very slim.

My top three teams that LeBron signs in order

1. New York
2. Chicago
3. Cleveland

(Miami doesn't have a bench worthy of winning a championship even if they sign Bosh and Wade)

[wwharton]

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

I'm back to 51/49 Cavs.

CHI is no slam dunk for chips, considering the only player Bron ever played with who also needed the ball to be effective was a total flop situation. I know Larry Hughes is no D Rose, but that actually makes it worse. You can ignore Larry when he whines for more touches, but you wont be able to ignore Rose if he feels he's been diminished too much...not to mention the touches Bosh would require. Rose seems like a great kid, and this may be wishful thinking, but to say there are definitely enough driving lanes for both guys is a huge assumption. Thats would clearly be a fantastic team, and I still think CHI has a major shot at this...but will LeBron turn his back on his Kingdom and villafy himself for a situation with question marks, especially given the way he went out against BOS?

MIA MAY not be all that appealing either, IMO. Ken Berger made a great point about LeBrons awareness of the need for impact rivalries to continue to grow the league. LeBron is savvy enough to realize this. A "Superfriends" team of three All-NBA players may reel off chips, but does that really help his legacy? Where will the rivalries come from? If healthy, they'd slaughter the East for a decade.

IMO, re-signing is a win-win. You look like a real hero to stick with the poor, down-trodden CLE fanbase, and if you win you'll be lifted to Willis-Reed-in-NY status of abstract worship. If not, in 3 season you're still only 28, entering your prime, and you can dip with a totally clear concience...not too mention a certain buddy's team will be settling in to Brooklyn with a few years under a really good young coach. It wouldn't kill him to extend another 3 seasons with a team built around you, no deferring or adjusting, and and owner who will not only spend any money necessary, but would get on his knees and give you a ***** if you told him to.

Bottom line is that it's funny that the C's whooped the Magic, and no one is saying they need to be blown up. The Lakers just scraped by that Celtic team, and might have lost if Perk didn't go down...and again, no one is saying it's time to rebuild the Lakeshow. CLE needs an upgrade at coach, and a few tweaks...but LeBron and the Cavs are still an elite team, aren't they? Perception is a funny, funny thing...

This is how I feel too... but the question is whether or not Lebron agrees.

I will say the Cavs will have to make some kind of move if he stays to be considered a contender, but I think they can. I don't think they'd need a Bosh either... they could go down a level. It's a shame Boozer was such an idiot years ago bc he'd be a good fit.

In response to Born, I don't think Orlando or Boston should blow up anything but I don't think that's what HMcCoy was saying either. The Cavs (as they are with some tweaks) have a small window but it's not closed either. That 6 year contract you mentioned would raise some eyebrows but a 3 year contract I think would cover all bases. Even if the Cavs never win one and he leaves after 3, the heat would be much less for him abandoning ship. Meanwhile if they win even 1, the comparisons to Kobe (rightfully so) would heat back up as well as the comparisons to Jordan (unrightfully so). I really feel staying would be in his best interest.

Everyone saying "why not go to Miami" or somewhere else and bring some big named friends along, it's bc he believes he's the best player in the world with a chance to be the best player ever. You don't have thoughts like "that team in MIA is going to be tough to beat so I should just go down there." when that's how you feel about yourself and your basketball legacy. I truly feel this decision will say alot about who Lebron really is deep down.

[KG]

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

Easy there tiger. I'd love to beat that drum and shoot off those guns with you, but nothing is guaranteed in sports and certainly with Chicago. Until the ink is dry on the contract, I'm not banking on anything. 2000 could happen all over again and I try not to lose sight of that though I really do have a good feeling about this year.

It's a wrap. If Vegas has him & Bosh at -500 I think the chances of them going there are extremely high.

[23]

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

Funny that this particular so called rumor has the attention of every media outlet in the country lol

[boomhauertjs]

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

From Brian Windhorst's Twitter:

Despite all summits/rumors/reports, #LeBron source told me this morning that #Cavs still have edge in race.

http://twitter.com/PDcavsinsider/status/17339078755

[Starlin4Prez]

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

From Brian Windhorst's Twitter:

Despite all summits/rumors/reports, #LeBron source told me this morning that #Cavs still have edge in race.

http://twitter.com/PDcavsinsider/status/17339078755

I would imagine that LeBron feels some sort of obligation to keep the morale of Cleveland fans as high as possible before he shatters their dreams...

[OSUFan_88]

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

Well everything sounds like Bosh is going to Miami with Dwade. It would only make sense for LeBron to go there as well because Dwade and Bosh is gonna be a tough 1-2 punch. LeBron is gonna need Stoudemire to sign wherever he does in order for him to not go to Miami.

LeBron is a student of the game, he knows how much crap Kobe took for not being able to do it without Shaq.

There is less than a 1% chance they all join Miami. None of them would want that. ESPN is just trying to piggyback on SAS.

BTW:

A source said that LeBron was not in Miami over weekend but was in New York. Could have spoken with Bosh/Wade over phone obviously.

http://twitter.com/pdcavsinsider

Miami Herald: No meeting in Miami with James, Wade and Bosh. D-Wade was in Chicago all weekend.

http://twitter.com/wojyahoonba

Wade, LBJ, Bosh Summit didn't happen in Miami
ESPN is reporting that Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh had a meeting about their futures right here in Miami.

790 The Ticket has learned via Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald that Dwyane Wade was not even in Miami this weekend.

(UPDATE) Bosh & Wade's agent Henry Thomas has denied the ESPN report to the Miami Herald.

Michael Wallace of the Miami Herald had this article in yesterday's edition where he interviewed Wade at Chicago's O'Hare airport.

790 The Ticket's Jorge Sedano has learned that Wade's itinerary beginning Thursday went like this...

Thursday: Las Vegas
Friday: Chicago (in court to wrap divorce case)

Saturday: Still in Chicago, "Taste of Chicago" w/ kids, Saturday night dropped kids off at new ex-wife

Sunday: All day in Chicago, met w/Mike Wallace at O'Hare

Sunday night - flew back from CHI to destination X

Wade is currently at undisclosed destination on vacation to set his professional agenda.

So, the reality is that if these players met anywhere it was last week on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

It could not have been Thursday because Chris Bosh was making the rounds through the ESPN car wash.

The good news is if you're a Heat fan, that the Stephen A. Smith story seems to be on the money up to this point.

You can now return to your regularly scheduled speculation.

Thank You!

JS

Read more: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/sedan...#ixzz0sG1oyt6e

[OSUFan_88]

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

I would imagine that LeBron feels some sort of obligation to keep the morale of Cleveland fans as high as possible before he shatters their dreams...

Yeah, that'd work wonders in the long run...

Just ask Jim Throwmethemoney how that worked out. He still gets booed mercilessly by Cleveland fans.

[Vince]

CB4 was not accounted for in the article OSU posted...There are rumors he has already purchased a house in Miami.

There's also a well known message board poster on the RGM boards who is known to break Heat deals before anyone else, saying that Bosh to Miami is a done deal. That Miami is Amar'e's number 1 target, but that Miami wants Bosh more...

[Starlin4Prez]

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

Yeah, that'd work wonders in the long run...

Just ask Jim Throwmethemoney how that worked out. He still gets booed mercilessly by Cleveland fans.

Don't you think that if he leaves, he is going to be booed mercilessly regardless??

[Cebby]

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

CB4 was not accounted for in the article OSU posted...There are rumors he has already purchased a house in Miami.

He gets paid probably close to $20 million a year including endorsements.

Even if the rumor is true, he could very well just have bought a place in Miami because Miami is awesome and he's rich as hell.