To me it seems that everyone outside the state of Ohio, is under the impression that LeBron will jump ship the first chance he gets, and run to some big market team like the Knicks or Nets. It could just be the wine and gold jaded glasses, but I don't see it happening. If LeBron stays true to his word about winning championships, and that's a big if, than NY or NJ doesn't seem like a logical fit. Both NY and NJ are years away from a championship, and maybe even the playoffs. The addition of LBJ would likely increase their chances but it still seems like an improbable feet. If you remember his first few years with the Cavaliers, they were anything but extraordinary. Some might say that was because he was young, and his skills were unrefined, or he lacked a jump shot. Well he won an MVP last year and still couldn't reach the finals! Plus I still don't think he has a jump shot, at least not the other night in Memphis...or Houston. The truth is he is an amazing player, but one player no matter who he is, is not capable of carrying an entire team to a championship.
I think that the Cavs have put LBJ in the best position possible, in order to win a Championship. I think the only placed LeBron could be, that would give him a better chance to win, is LA. But barring some kind of video game style trade that would never happen. So like I said, if he wants to win I think he's in the best place.
Another reason for him to stay is the money. Statistically speaking the Cavs have the ability offer him more money than any other team. Although he would have the opportunity to be more of a global icon in NY, they can't pay him more than the Cavs. Which brings me to another point. How much more of a global icon does he need to be? Are their basketball fans around the world saying "I would watch the NBA if only their was a 6"8' 265lb freight train of muscle, who could barrel towards the basket shaking fouls to the side and still have the ability to "throw the hamma down!" Not likely. LeBron James is an international commodity whether he is in NY or CLE or Bowling Green or Tibet. People know who he is.
I could find a thousand reasons for him to stay in Cleveland, but Knicks fans could find a thousand reasons for him to leave. The truth is I'm speaking from a completely biased point of view and have absolutely no understanding of what he will really do. I for one think he already knows where he will end up, but besides him no one does, and no one will until he makes his decision public.
It's interesting that you bring this up, because when the Tiger Woods scandal emerged, I thought that signaled that Lebron would be leaving for sure. Don't ask me why I made that connection, but I did. C.C. Sabathia says he's going there for sure. But then, like you suggested, the Knicks and Nets are not the Yankees! I know he could get more money with Cleveland, but he may be able to get more money from endorsements in New York. On "Around the Horn" the other night, the question was raised whether the Cavs were in trouble. I think it was Woody Paige who suggested that they needed to fire Mike Brown. What do you think about that?
ReplyDeleteI think that firing Mike Brown might be a good idea. It seems to me that he's just a guy standing on the sidelines and watching Lebron. If he is responsible for that boring offensive gameplan night in and night out, than yes, I think he should be fired. I like Mike Brown, he's a great defensive coach (when hes not playing the Magic), but I don't think he has a strong enough offensive mind to get Cleveland a championship. When his best play is letting Lebron go 1 on 5, we've got a real problem. If they do fire Brown, than they have to be willing to hire anyone Lebron wants. If so, I think that would play a huge role in his final decision.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to the Mike Brown topic, as a Cavaliers fan, I don't necessarily want to see him fired. From following the team, I've learned that Brown changed the defensive culture on the team entirely. So I have to give him credit for that. But we all know that Brown wouldn't be wise to contradict LeBron James in any way while he's coaching him. So in that sense, I believe Mike Brown may not be the best fit to put LeBron in the best position to win an NBA title.
ReplyDeleteI have a few theories about what LeBron may do when he becomes a free agent following the 2009-10 season. To preface my first scenario, I don't think LeBron will win an NBA title until Kobe Bryant retires. Though I think LeBron is currently a better all-around player, the shadow of Kobe looms and affects LeBron somehow. But the best way for LeBron to win a ring is to request a trade to the Lakers. In return the Cavaliers could receive Andrew Bynum or Lamar Odom and a couple other significant players.
A few other scenarios I could see happening is signing with the Heat or the Bulls. I believe he fits in well with those teams. I also think he could help either the Clippers or the Thunder accelerate their promising rebuilding processes. Lastly, I just don't believe he'll sign with the Knicks or the Nets, since both teams are too far from Finals contention at this point.
I don't see the Cavs firing Brown unless there is a total collapse during the postseason. I mean sure his offensive schemes are not very good, but he is still young by coaching standards and has time to grow in that department. As seen in 2007 when the Cavs were in the finals, it was defense that got us there and without it we would not have been there. Lebron and Boobie performance in game 5 and 6 helped a little too. Get another guy in there like Kuester to draw up offensive plays and they should be alright.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Lebron's best chances of winning are staying in Cleveland unless there is some crazy video game scenario where he would end up with Kobe in L.A. Moving to NY would set him back a few years which is exactly where he does not want to be at this point in his career.
You bring up an interesting point in saying that seemingly everyone outside the State of Ohio believes that LeBron will leave the Cavaliers this offseason.
ReplyDeleteComing from out of state, I feel the same way about his pending free agency (I believe that he wont re-sign with the Cavs).
Earnings from endorsements and sponsorship contracts in a larger market would make LeBron extremely rich, and he has stated before that one of his goals was to become the richest man in the world.
I understand that, under the NBA's salary cap structure, Cleveland can offer him more contract money than any other team, and if player/team contract dollars was all he was capable of making, then I believe he would have re-signed already. There would simply be no incentive to test the free agent market.
Yes, he has an excellent chance of competing for an NBA title with the current team his current team. However, if he signs elsewhere -- say New York -- I believe that other top free agents would be willing to sign there as well, for less money, in hopes of building a very competitive team that would challenge for the NBA title year after year.
I think it was Bruce Drennan who suggested that if Mike Brown were fired, he would anticipate Cleveland hiring John Calipari. Interesting, given what Bob Knight has recently said about Calipari's legacy at UMass and Memphis.
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