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The Race for Lebron Gets More Wide OpenNovember 8, 2009, 10:36 amA lot of print and video tape were exhausted this week when Lebron James made his only trip to the Garden. After mauling the Knicks, he suggested he might not need a max contract in July, just the prospect of a title. That, if true, changes everything and not just for the Knicks. Peter Vecsey and Mark Heisler of the LA Times, among others, suggest the Knicks or the Nets aren’t Lebron’s only choice.  LeBron will have better options than Knicks - Peter Vecsey - New York Post Cap in hand, New York courts LeBron James - Mark Heisler - Los Angeles Times New York rolls out the red carpet, but LeBron knows this Knick act - Paul Forrester - Sports Illustrated Cavs must win to keep LeBron - Mike Monroe - San Antonio Express-News Cavaliers, Knicks have more to worry about than 2010 - John Schuhmann - NBA.comPosted in Cavaliers; Harris, Devin; Lopez, Brook; Prokhorov, Mikhail | 46 Comments » |
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November 8th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Lebron is going to wait to see who puts together the best team. So he will have to be the second big free agent signing somewhere…but I really think he is going to stick in Cleveland, because I think they are going to win it all this year or at least make it to the finals. Don’t under-estimate SHAQ’s value and Cleveland added other players this season too. Lebron is not going to sign in either NY or NJ/Brooklyn, to play on a .500 team. However, I think either NJ or NY gets Bosh or that guy from Atlanta. But maybe if the Proky deal is done before the trade deadline, we make a move for Boozer?
November 8th, 2009 at 11:01 am
The Cavs are not winning the title this year. No chance they get by the Celtics and Magic. They’re just solidly the 3rd best team in the East.
I don’t think the Nets need LeBron. It’d be cool, but in the end I think in his heart of hearts he wants to be a Cavalier for life. But he wants them to bring in another big time player to help him whose young and will be there with him for the long haul. Shaq is short term.
Whether or not the Nets get LeBron, I wouldn’t say it’s irrelevant obviously, but it’s absolutely not essential to putting together a good team. They have all the pieces to make it happen. The talent, the money, and the draft picks, and the front office duo. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rod filled the team with 4-5 strong veteran players who can contribute and also mentor the young team, take pressure off Devin.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:02 am
The Cavs are 4-3, they have already lost as many home games this season as they did all last season. Their glue guy has bipolar disease and is facing serious felony charges that could lead to him being jailed. Shaq is averaging 11 and 7, about what Yi averaged before he went down. He is 37 and Ilgauskas is 34…and considering retirement.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Jim McCormick of ESPN said on a fantasy chat when asked if he thought LeBron will sign with the Knicks, “LeBron is not signing with the Knicks, they are years away even with him. New Jersey though? Lots of cap, a stud PG and C a Russian billionaire and Jay Z and a potential move to Brooklyn? Sounds like something could be there…”
November 8th, 2009 at 11:35 am
I disagree with the sportswriters who think LeBron is more likely to stay if Cleveland wins a Championship. He would have done his job for his home State. LeBron will get out of Cleveland before that team falls apart and Shaq would retire with his 5th Championship.
Don’t forget Leon Powe will play around February (too bad Nets didn’t grab Powe for a strong 2nd half finish).
With tenacious Powe, I doubt Cavs would have lost those games.
DWest just has to stick strictly to his medicines (Bipolar people have their “strange episodes” when they experiment. West has a medical excuse to get him off jail time.
Still, LeBron’s chances of a Championship this year are less than 30%. That means he will probably be looking to see where he can win a Championship in 2010-2011 and get all the credit for doing it.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Yeah, a stud PG with a weak groin who’s been out 12+ games every season, a Russian billionaire who runs prostitution, and a team with the worst record in the league. That is the way to lure the most desirable player in the league who is increasingly frustrated about not being able to win it all.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:39 am
1. Lots of cap…absolutely, but they need someone to spend money. (see below).
2. A stud PG who regrettably is injury prone, period. He won’t make 70 games again this season, the third year in a row. Maybe he will turn it around but I doubt it.
3. A Russian billionaire who still needs to get approved by the NBA (highly likley), get court approval for eminent domain in Brooklyn (likley) and get the needed financing (uncertain).
4. Jay-Z? Has anyone heard from him since the sale announcement? Has he been at the games? How much does he own now, with the stock in the team diluted by 80% and the arena by 45%? He reportedly owned 1.47% before the sale. Yes, we’re read Prokhorov wants to reach out to him, but have they connected?
5. Move to Brooklyn? I think it’s 50-50. People with better insight and more knowledge think it’s much better than that, but I remain skeptical everything gets done.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:46 am
@croc
if I were you, I wouldn’t accuse someone of running a prostitution ring without the facts. He was never charged, let alone convicted. He was questioned.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:49 am
If LeBron doesn’t win this year and leaves Cleveland he would need to go to a team that could win with him. That is why Paul is right about the need for Proky to make a move or two before the trade deadline. It is also the reason why Nets should lose as many competitive games as possible, before Proky takes over. Best of both worlds to get a top 4 pick, but have a very good finish to the 2009-2010 season.
This part of the year is for showcasing players who might be traded, while developing young players – especially TWill (at 3 positions).
Regarding Boozer, his value seems to be going up, as he is playing really well for Utah.
If Cleveland doesn’t win Championship, I would disagree with many writers and eliminate Knicks (they don’t even have a 1st round pick!) but not Clippers (LeBron would love to challenge Kobe for rule of LA). Bulls, Heat and Rockets in the mix too.
November 8th, 2009 at 11:58 am
It’s not an accusation in legal terms, certainly. In case you do not realize, “facts” are not something that escape the control of the richest. You know how many big fish are out there that cops know what they do but do not have the “facts” to put them in the cage? Come on! If you’re that rich and that smart, would you be stupid enough to allow anything criminal lead up to you? I know how that world works.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
lebron is not playing for the nets, brooklyn or no brookyln. He’s not going to play in NJ because his friend Jay Z owns an extremely small portion of the team, and in fact goes to more Knick games then Net games.
CC Sabathia is his friend too. ESPN did a vote from all of its staff members of where they thought the major free agents would end up. Nets got 3 votes for Lebron, Knicks got 8. Nets got 1 vote for Wade, Knicks got 8. Move past the denial, look at guys that the Nets can get like Carlos Boozer or Manu Ginobli.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
@ Mills
So everything that is said on ESPN is true? Why would Wade or LeBron ever want to go to NY? They won’t have any good players next year, and they don’t have any prospects. With LeBron and/or Wade demanding so much money, they won’t be able to sign big time free agents to help their squad either. LeBron will just get stuck in the same situation when he first came to Cleveland. Now I’m not saying that they are coming to NJ, but if there is one thing I can say for sure it’s that they are not going to NY.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
@netincome:
Its a known fact that players on winning teams get injured less than players on losing teams. I think its mental.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Mills lets just state the facts here.
- Nets next year will have close to 25mil in cap space with their core guys of (Harris, Lee, CDR, T-Will, Lopez, and Yi still their)
- Next with their record this year they will have a top five pick and also another pick in the mid twenties and a 2nd rounder.
Now is that something that appeals a superstar? Maybe a bit, but we also have to understand that Lebron can’t do it alone. Who will be on the Knicks squad? Danilo Gallinarri and Ed Curry. The nets have been preparing for this since they traded KIDD. The Knicks began when Donnie Walsh came over. IF I was Lebron I Would pick the best team with the best future. IT will only help James be great and also have help from other players. Jordan had Kerr, Buechler, Kukoc, players like that were ok but helped Jordan become great.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
@superb
Everybody here seems to have these “known facts” which they cannot substantiate.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:37 pm
LeBron has more chance of signing to be CC’s teammate with the Yankees before he signs with the Knicks!
Jay Z is going to be “at the table” whenever LeBron meets with Proky. It doesn’t make a difference how little of the Nets he owns. A NY Post writer who is on WFAN in the AM, was interviewed after the radio broadcast last night. He is confident that Jay Z will be a big factor in attracting LeBron and he also thinks Knicks situation is dismal.
But as stated above, Championship and quality of teammates are going to be the main factor. If Proky did get Boozer or equivalent talent, before trade deadline, and Nets were getting a top draft pick, they would be clear favorite outside of Cleveland.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
As far as The Nets compared to the Knicks and Cavs competing for Lebron’s services if we have Proky and Brooklyn is in place, and we have to have both, I like our chances. Why? Cuz we have the best GM to get him where he wants to be, riding down the Cannon of Heroes. Although he went to the finals with Clev. it was cuz of him with not much help. Thorn has shown an ability to put a title team together better than the other two GMs. I also don’t think either N.Y. team has to be good this year to keep his interest. He easily could sign a max contract with player options to be willing to take a chance on the Nets or Knicks if he wanted to come here without being stuck long term.
November 8th, 2009 at 1:53 pm
I think it will be very interesting to see what the Knicks will be able to offer beyond money next July. They have NO first round picks in this draft and right now, their pick looks like it could be the overall #1. It’s owed to Utah…from the 2003 Marbury trade. In the second round, they have their own pick and likely will have the Clippers pick as well, so they could have two high picks in the second round. (They have a first rounder in 2011, but no second rounder.) And while Gallinari looks like a good pick, Jordan Hill looks like he will make me look smart: I thought he was the most likely draft bust this year.
Lee, Harrington and Robinson are unrestricted free agents. Robinson may have his problems, but he can score and is a solid sixth man. There is no reason for any of them to make a deal with the Knicks early in the free agency process. The smart thing for them to do is simply wait til the first tier is gone. But while they wait, the Knicks will be trying to convince first tier free agents that they or some reasonable facsimile will be joining the Knicks. Good Luck. I can see Lee being picked up by any one of a number of teams that get rejected by the first tier of free agents…including the Nets.
The Knicks are risking EVERYTHING on 2010 free agency, not so much the Nets or Heat, who look to be in very, very good shape.
The Heat will have a solid team, $18 million in cap space, Dwyane Wade, nine picks in the next three drafts–four of them first rounders, sunny weather, and Pat Riley.
The Nets if everything goes well will have a young team if not a good one, nine picks in the next three drafts–five of them first rounders, a new arena under construction and Mikhail Prokhorov.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Erm!!! if he doesnt wants big money then Orlando is his stop!!!!!
Howard
Lewis
James
Carter
Nelson
Gortat
Anderson
Pietrus
Redick
Williams
No need for more. Epict team!!!!!!!!!!!
Ill love to see L.A Lakers pounded by the Magics and Carter.
For all VC haters, see what happened to the Nets after he got traded.
We have a Cuestionable starting 5. And 2 pfs, 1 sf-sg-pg
No chance to win more than 15 games this season.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
If we can’t get one of the top tier free agents then i wouldn’t mind getting lee. He can play and is an automatic double double player.
We would use our first rounder to get the best player…cant wait to see college basketball to see those potential top 10 players in the draft.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
We have one of the worst teams in the history of the NBA right now. Sorry, but Lebron is not thinking about NJ. This is all a product of the media. Remember when Chicago had all that cap room in the post Jordan era and what came of it? On a positive note, I do think we can land Joe Johnson and a decent big man like Charlie V.
November 8th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Nets would be at least 5-2 this year, despite all the injuries, if David Lee was our PF/backup Center.
Would Knicks really let Lee come to Nets, even if we gave them our 1st round pick? The thing is, if Nets had Lee right now, they could be competitive for playoffs and only about a #10 pick to give the Knicks. Knicks would have to wait until trade deadline. Also, there is risk of not re-signing Lee.
If Nets added Lee, even ESPN would be picking Nets as probable destination for LeBron (outside of Cleveland).
November 8th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
lee would come cheap either…def more than 10 mil
November 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
wouldn’t*
November 8th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Nets can afford a 10 million plus Max player, not two Max players such as Bosh and Lebron.
November 8th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Why wouldnt LeBron want to come to the Nets anyways??
First look at our talent-its unmatched- Harris, Brook, CDR, Yi, and Lee and TWill all have all star potential and talent!! This team has OUTSTANDING role players to support a star and get to the finals. WE have a dynamic core of players, incredible youth, infinite potential, this team will be REALLY fun to watch.
This rich new owner will certainly convince LeBron front managment is in good shape with a russian billionaire!! Kiki and Rod are absolute masterminds and have constructed this team perfectly for LeBron. And then theres Jay-Z lebrons good friend who could affect LeBron’s decision. Management has done a great job aquiring talent and gaining money… two things needed to get a top notch free agent.
Lastly, we have incredible global diversity. this puts the spotlight on Lebron in china, russia, etc. A Brooklyn or Newark arena will also add to Lebrons popularity nd thus bring the FA to the Nets. Lets Go NETSSSSSS!!!!!
November 8th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I think Lebron wouldnt consider the nets but now i do…i dunno if well get him but he will have the nets in mind because we would have a good team with him. I dont like lebron much but he would help us win, no doubt.
harris
lee/cdr
lebron/twill
favors/yi
brook
November 8th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
devin harris and brook lopez is where the talent ends. courtney lee is averaging 12 points on 31% shooting, Yi Jianlian is a joke, and I doubt Lebron is dying to play with Terrence Williams. Add that to the fact that the Nets play at the worst arena in the NBA and you’d understand why there’s no chance Lebrons ever wearing a Nets uniform.
Why would he go to New Jersey when he can go to New York? Obviously not the market. Jamal Mashburn said it best: Why have the appetizer if you can have the whole meal? Sure, he’ll probably stay in Cleveland, but if he’s leaving New York is obviously ahead of NJ. What happens when Lebron visits NY? He blushes and talks about how it’s the greatest city in the world and MSG is the greatest arena in the world. He puts on a show, writes a letter to the NY fans in the newspaper, and whispers words of encouragement into Danilo Gallinari’s ear after the game.
When he comes to NJ? 700 fans show up, the Cavs get the win, Lebron does his little handshake with Jay-Z, and he’s out.
Jay-Z is from NY, not NJ, and if Lebron plays for the KNicks, it’s not like they can’t hang out. It’s the exact same scenario, considering the fact that Jay Z goes to more Knick games than Net games.
And did you just say the Nets have great global diversity? Why, Yi Jianlian? Please. New York is the greatest city in the world, and Lebron can just look at the Yankees parade in see what winning in NY is like. CC said it best the other night, as someone who came from Cleveland to NY: There’s nothing like winning in NY.
You guys can say the Knicks are a joke, but the Nets are 0-7 and could very well start off 0-13. Enticing, right? Lebron says NY is the mecca of basketball, Nets fan say there’s no shot he goes there….Mmmm, which one am I going to go with….?
Also, Prokhorov is one of the shadiest guys ever, and his willingness to spend money has nothing to do with Lebron. It’s not like he’s spending out of his pocket, there’s a salary cap. Dolan’s a billionaire too. If the Knicks can trade Jared Jeffries, which they will if they add Wilson Chandler to a deal, they’ll have just as much cap space as the Nets.
Remember: If the Nets don’t get Lebron, and they most certainly won’t, who else is coming? If the Knicks want Bosh or Amare, they’ll definitely choose playing with Mike D’antoni over Lawrence Frank. Carlos Boozer? Take him. And the Knicks are risking everything in free agency…ok. 2010 is not the last year of free agency, there’s Carmelo in 2011, and Durant and Chris Paul in 2012. There’s also something called trading. It’s a sound plan, but the Knicks have the appeal to bring free agents in. The Nets, on the other hand, are relying solely on Jay Z to bring Lebron in, when Jay Z hasn’t made any remarks saying that he’ll even try to lure Lebron to NJ.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:34 pm
We shouldn’t worry ourselves with strictly LeBron James. You guys have to remember that the young players need to develop and there are other FA’s available such as Bosh, Boozer, and Wade. If we draft John Wall, then we could sign Bosh to the max deal and have a contender with two legitmate bigs in Lopez and Bosh. Get rid of SWill and Boone and sign a SG to the MLE.
November 8th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Excuse me, I meant SF.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
@mills
Knicks over Nets? I think not. YOu say Jersey has limited talent look at the knicks there go-to player is harrington and after next year bye bye robinson and david lee. The knicks are horendous we’re only bad cuz were plagued by injuries. Go pick up a paper Yi offers all kinds of chinsese media. What does NY have? nothing.
Its pretty obvious u dont watch nets games cuz otherwise u would see how well CDR and Yi(before injury) have been playing. Harris and Lopez and eventually Lee will only strenghten that along with TWill and this years draft pick. Maybe u shud go on a knicks blog to talk about how u think an awful team with no front office, talent, or potential can even be in a conversation as to where Lebron is going.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
what does NY have? aha NEW YORK! a city 1 million times better than New Jersey. An arena 1 million times better than wherever the Nets play or will play. A coach 1 million times better than Lawrence Frank dreams of being.
Did you really just say the only reason the Nets are bad is because they’ve had injuries? Really? With Harris, the Nets are a good team? C’mon.
It’s funny how you say that there’s no way Lebron would choose NY over NJ yet any sports media outlet, any sportswriter, any coach, any affiliate of Lebron would all say that the Knicks have a lot better shot.
And you’re right, Yi was playing exceptionally. 10 points on 41% shooting from a 7 footer is what Lebron wants to play with.
“after next year bye bye robinson and david lee”
clearly this is not the case. If David Lee and Robinson want to play with major FAs they will take less money. Robinson isn’t getting any major offers elsewhere anyway, and Lee has repeatedly said he wants to end his career a KNick so you’re just speaking out of your ass.
Lebron dreams of playing for Lawrence Frank, though. You’re right. A guy who owns one percent of one of the least valuable franchises in the NBA (Knicks are the most valuable) is going to lure Lebron to play in New Jersey of all places for probably two seasons before being part of a rebuilding franchise. The Knicks stink, no arguing that, that’s a rebuilding team. The Nets are a rebuilding franchise. Lebron would average a triple double under D’Antoni, go down as the one man to turn around a downtrodden franchise, and he’d be more of a global icon then he already is. He could easily win championships in NY because he knows that when Jeffries and Curry expire in 2011, the Knicks can sign MORE free agents to accompany him then.
Again, Lebron will probably stay, but if he leaves, it’s New York ahead of New Jersey indisputably.
November 8th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
@mills
Knickland needs to wake up from dream-land. There’s a big risk for Lebron that no one’s talking about. The risk they he may never win a Ring for the Knicks if he signed with NY. For ANYONE to say confidently that the Knicks would be able to build a contender within 2 or 3 years of signing him just doesn’t know Basketball or the NBA version of Basketball. Knicks don’t have this “history” of building winners. Closest they got was with Pat Riley…when the league turned a blind eye to that Knick style of defense(foul hard and hope you don’t get whistled). If you go back to when the Nets entered the NBA, the Knicks have about 16 years of sub .500 teams – losing teams in other words. Nets have somewhere a little above that if not just equal.
Point is, Lebron is smart. He knows the reality of how much work goes into building a winner. Knicks have never really had that consistency in building winners in the past 30 years or so. The Ewing era was great….but still without a championship banner. So the big risk for him is the possibility of being known as this “great” NBA player who took millions to sign with the Knicks, while leaving a winning team, as well as passing up on other options where there were better chances to win and ending his career without that ring. Lebron is the King….he’s mortal…he ages. Knicks have built a winner in ages.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
@mills
in addition to my last post above, I meant to compare the Nets situation too. as mentioned, the Nets had as many losing seasons, if not more than the Knicks since they became an NBA team. Unlike the Knicks though, they’ve had reasons stemming from their financial trouble when they first came into the league when they had to dish out millions to the Knick organization because they were playing in the Knicks neighborhood. They HAD TO get rid of Dr. J because of their poor financial situation. From there, they had to do their best to build an NBA franchise with lesser resources than the Knicks. So to have pretty decent # of winning seasons since their entrance into the league as well as just as many finals appearances as the Knicks, which is twice, I’d have to say that the Nets history of building teams is somewhat better than the Knicks. For as bad as the Nets have been depicted over the past 30 years, and sometimes rightly so, this organization have always been able to bounce back and build decent teams. Knicks on the other hand, once they’re down….they’ve been down.
If you’re wondering why I’m not counting the knicks championships from 69 and 73, it’s cuz my beloved Nets weren’t part of the league yet. Can’t count that against the Nets since they weren’t in the league yet. If the Nets are to be fairly compared to the Knicks then it should start when the Nets came into the league. And since then, neither team has won a ring BUT the nets have always shown that they’re able to “re-build”. So whether it’s with Lebron, Wade or whoever else, I can confidently say the NETS WILL BE BACK!! Can a Knick fan really believe that about their team?
November 8th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
@mills
theres no point in arguing over this. Wehn Leborn comes to Jersey then well talk but if i were u i would type in NY knicks blog on google and make absurd comments on there site!
November 8th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
both fair points
November 8th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
wait these other guys are saying that there’s a shot lebron comes to jersey, but you’re actually predicting it! denial is a strong, strong thing.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Rod Thorn and the Nets have been planning for the wooing of Lebron James ever since they traded away Jason Kidd. The team is setup pretty well to make a hard sell on convincing Lebron to sign with Jersey, provided Brooklyn happens and Prokhy takes over, which are two big question marks. Despite the sad start to the season, the Nets do have in place three fifths of a championship caliber starting lineup – Harris, Lee, and Lopez. To those hating on Lee, he has already proven his capabilities last year in Orlando that he is starter quality on an elite team. What he did last season was not an illusion, it was what he could do when given an elite player to play off of. Harris has already gone to the finals as a starter while in Dallas and he is better now. My guess is if an intense superstar like Lebron joined, he would suddenly start to play good defense. Lopez is improving game by game and he can still be the second best center in the east by season’s end, though he is not there yet. TWill is a great glue guy to have. Yi and CDR at this point are potential pieces but have a ways to go. Besides the space for the max contract, we will likely have 10 million in cap space and a high draft pick in order to get a PF. I think Cleveland is Lebron’s likely destination, but the Nets still have a chance. If we were ever to find some kind of way to unite him and Bosh, I think our chances become 50/50.
November 8th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
if we get bosh we get lebron as simple as that
lebron wants to win and theres no other team that could offer talent assuming bosh is in the mix
November 9th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Here’s why I think the Nets cannot be dismissed as Lebron suitors even though we look lost so far this season. Lets say the Nets win the first overall pick (obviously you can never count on getting the top pick) and John Wall does great this season and looks like the next Derrick Rose. We draft him, and his salary is locked in at 5 million. As free agency period begins, we sit down with Lebron and ask him what it would take to get him to sign with us. He says theoretically, I want to play with Chris Bosh and right now, no team has the necessary cap space to allow us to team up. With Wall on the team, Harris could become tradeable and we can trade him to any team with cap space in order to get back a young player on a smaller contract. Since we would be giving up the superior talent, we can also demand that team take Najera off of our hands. There are a bunch of teams with cap space next year so there would be a lot of possibilities here. Lets say Casspi of the Kings has a good rookie year and we zero in on him as the young player of choice. So we trade Harris and Najera to the Kings for Casspi. We do not need to take back equal salary. At this point, our 2010 salary commitments would be:
Wall: 5 million
Yi: 4 mm
Lopez: 2.4 mm
TWill: 2.2 mm
Lee: 1.35 mm
Casspi: 1.25 mm
CDR: .85 mm
The total for these 7 players is 17 million. If the salary cap is set at 53 million as has been projected, we would have 36 million in cap room. For players drafted in Lebron and Bosh’s draft class, the max contract for them would be 30% of the cap, or about 16 million. Thus, we could give both max contracts and still have 4 million left over to fill out the roster. Which could look like this:
PG: Wall, TWill
SG: Lee, CDR
SF: Lebron, Hayes
PF: Bosh, Casspi
C: Lopez, Yi
Obviously this lineup would be very enticing to Lebron. Its a total hypothetcial and a long shot, but the chance is still there in my opinion.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:33 am
Chance is always there.
Most teams are a couple of improbable trades away from having the salary cap to compete for Lebron anyway. It’s unlikey, but the chance is there. Just don’t live and die on it.
November 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
@biggie-
Agreed.
November 9th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Do we really want LeBron? Be careful for what you wish for. I think the Nets have a great chance to land him. But is he the best player for this club? Are there better ways to spend all that money and are there better options in building this club?
November 9th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I just dont get why ppl think LeBron is gonna come to the Nets just because he’s friends with Jay-Z. He was a fan of Jay-Z’s music and they became friends a couple years ago, now he’s suddenly trusting Jay-Z instead of his agent and other ppl in his inner circle?? LeBron is not a moron and is not gonna come to a team because his friend of a couple years owns less than 1% of the team. If Jay-Z owned like 95% of the team then maybe LeBron would take pity on him and help him out, at less than 1%, not so much. LeBron is not coming to NY or NJ, he himself(yes LEBRON) said he didnt care if the Nets went to Brooklyn or not. I would take his word above anyone else’s. EVERY basketball player has said they love NY/MSG, and that NY is the mecca of basketball blah blah blah, how many major free agents have the Knicks signed over the years? NY/MSG is so great that the last great player they got was Ewing who was drafted 24 years ago
. LeBron stays in Cleveland, he wants to be the man that raises the banner for the home team. Cleveland also has the cap room next year to bring in someone to play along side him, they may not have money for a max signing, but if you mention to top tier free agents they’ll get to play with LeBron one of them will take it. Bosh, Dirk, or Yao(if healthy) could easily sign for less than max just to play with LeBron and win a championship. I think THAT’s the part of the story everyone is missing, Cleveland can build a championship team this summer as well. While every other team is pre-occupied with trying to get LeBron or Wade, both of whom are remaining with their teams, their own franchises will be grabbing the other free agents and forming championship dynasty teams. If the Nets and Knicks are smart, they’d look around LeBron and Wade and grab some of the guys like Joe Johnson, Dirk, Yao, Amare and Bosh and try to field their own contending teams. If you go after LeBron and Wade and end up with neither, as both the Nets and Knicks would, you then subject yourself to an eternity at the bottom of the league with nothing to show for it. At least if you come away with some of the other top free agents, you have a shot at getting a title of your own with or without LeBron/Wade.
November 9th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I still think that he is just going to stay on the Cavs just like how Kobe will stay with the Lakers. Just because he is the most hyped up player does not mean that they should be trying to get him. Please bear in mind that the Wizards didn’t make the playoffs when they had Michael Jordan on their roster and that was despite how great he was on the Bulls.
November 9th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
@Tal
That’s because MJ was 40 years old by then, good luck having a 40 year old lead u to a championship lol. Plus they were actually in the playoff picture that second year until Jordan got hurt at the end of the year. He missed like 9 games and they lost all but 1 or 2 and fell out of the playoff picture by the time he came back. They were i think 7th seed when he got injured with like 12 games to go