Could LeBron end up in Boston?

[Captain_Caveman]

Yeah, that sounds crazy, I know.

But why should staying in Cleveland or heading to a losing team with cap room be his only choice?

That guy wants to get to winning NOW. And who can blame him? It ain't happening in Cleveland, let's face it. He has a better chance to win in Jersey/Brooklyn and he can make more money in endorsements there.

Even if he had to sign with them outright for the max free agent contract, the extra endorsement money should more than offset whatever money he would lose by not resigning with Cleveland. I mean, they are seriously, seriously, screwed here. Once he didn't extend, their best chance to keep him was winning a title this year. THAT won't happen.

OK, you say... but how does he end up in Boston?

Truth is, he can end up anywhere he wants to go. Given that CBA paradigm-shattering scenario about making MORE money on a better team even if he gives up his Bird Rights, he can likely force a trade to anywhere he wants to go. There is leverage, and then there is what LeBron has next year.

"Hey Ferry, either sign-and-trade me to LA for Kobe or I will just take Jersey's max offer and make up twice the difference in endorsements."

What do you SAY to that if you are Danny Ferry. Or Jerry Buss, for that matter?

Other than, "Enjoy LA, LeBron"?

Well, that might not happen, but I did enjoy his quote about how the NBA is better when the "classic teams" are good.

For their part, Celtics could offer a resigned Paul Pierce and Rondo this summer.

Does Cleveland bite on that? Because *I* sure as hell do. And LeBron would get to join a solid veteran team that would still have use of its exceptions.

Anyhow, don't be surprised to see a team out of the blue sweep in and snag LeBron in this type of scenario. NO price is too high. Orlando would offer Howard without blinking, LA would offer Kobe and Bynum, Chicago would offer Rose and whoever.

Should be crazy.

[MagicFan32]

this topic is full of fail

1. celtics are not trading Pierce or Rondo

2. Magic are not trading Dwight for Lebron, its an insanely counter productive trade.

3. Lakers are not going to ever consider kobe for lebron, how much weed did you smoke tonight?

[Dave_From_NB]

"You look at history. It is like the Yankees. The big time franchises that have a lot of history, it is hard for the fans to look at what they've been looking at the last few years,” he said. “Because they know the history of what has gone into the Garden. So I can understand that as a fan and I know because I know the history of the game. I think the league is doing just fine, but with the Knicks being good, the Celtics being good, the Lakers being good, it makes the league that much better. I'm talking as a fan now, please understand.”

With respect, his quote directly refers to the league being better if the Knicks would be better.

[darrendaye]

Eh, Lebron, the Knicks longevity and history of winning is MUCH closer to the Detroit Tigers than the NY Yankees.

[Hemingway]

Danny Ainge WILL try to get LBJ. He is just too good not to try to get him. We could offer Rondo and PP or Ray as well 3 mil, 3 1sts and Baby or House. If he is going to go sign somewhere outright, this might not be a bad deal for the Cavs. Also of all the teams that could trade for LBJ we would probably have the most left to put around him.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

I despise Lebron, but if he were to ever become a Celtic, I would pick him up from the airport myself. I think the chances of him wanting to become a Celtic are 0.0000000000000000001% though.

[sully00]

If the Knick thing happens it does but CLE will be under the cap if LeBron leaves. The can make a trade or sign someone else if they want to I would tell LeBron that he can go to NY or anywhere else but there will be no sign and trade he gives up money that he will never get back in the new CBA.

This is why despite what everyone thinks LeBron doesn't have that much leverage because if he leaves CLE they become a FA destination, they spend 30-40 mil over the lux tax to keep their star happy, they prepared for this day by being in a situation that they are not stuck with nothing if he walks. Is trading LeBron for Joe Johnson or Amare a good idea hell no. But it is far better than handing him over to some other franchise for bag of jocks.

They have done everything they could for him, if he is willing to take 20 mil less from someone else to leave so be it. But the last time this went down remember how it played out and remember what happens to those who don't learn from history. TD stayed and built a dynasty, Hill (who was every much as good as LeBron is now) and TMac went to ORL and essentially flushed their careers down the toilet and DET built a champion out of the ashes. Sure everything could have happened the same way if those guys stayed were they were but Karma is a salty bitch.

LeBron is a rival but I respect him and his game, have to like a young superstar who is willing to defend and pass the ball the way he does. But part of what makes him a respectable opponent is that element that he hasn't let it all get to him. I understand the whole challenge of saving the Knicks and more likely the Nets, it isn't as punk bitch as going to LA or Boston but the thing with it is if it doesn't work and work fast dude is a choke and a fail in NY. LeBron is set up to be the A Rod of the NBA without the paycheck.

If he came to the C's would I root for him, of course but I would probably end up feeling the same way about him as I do A Rod. He just doesn't have a good reason to leave CLE.

[chakdaddy]

This idea is nothing but trying to bully Cleveland into trading him. This kind of stuff happens when people cheat at Monopoly. Not in the NBA.

Cleveland will say enjoy the lower salary in NJ, and have fun finding out if the endorsement deals for the biggest star athlete on earth really change depending on what team he plays for.

Allan Houston gained a bigger profile by going to NY. LeBron James already has the highest profile possible.

[vct33]

this topic is full of fail

1. celtics are not trading Pierce or Rondo

2. Magic are not trading Dwight for Lebron, its an insanely counter productive trade.

3. Lakers are not going to ever consider kobe for lebron, how much weed did you smoke tonight?

This might be the most idiotic post ever. If I was an owner and my GM came to me and said "The Cavs offered us LeBron but they want..." I don't let him finish the sentence. I tell him, "get it done now before they change their mind."

Mitch Kupchak would blow a wad in his pants if the Cavs offered LeBron for Kobe straight up. So would Otis Smith on the Howard deal.

As for the Celtics, if it worked financially, I'd trade Pierce, Garnett & Allen for LeBron and not bat an eyelash.

[jmr07019]

Why leave it up to Danny Ferry. Let's trade KG / Wallace / Baby to Miami for Oneal / Beasely / Chalmers and then ship Pierce / Walker to LAC for Gordon / Camby. Only players on the cap will be Rondo, Gordon (rookie contract), Beasely (rookie contract), Perk and Chalmers (rookie contract). Then we can sign LeBron and Bosh plus have our MLE to fill out the bench.

/ sarcasm

[sully00]

this topic is full of fail

1. celtics are not trading Pierce or Rondo

2. Magic are not trading Dwight for Lebron, its an insanely counter productive trade.

3. Lakers are not going to ever consider kobe for lebron, how much weed did you smoke tonight?

This might be the most idiotic post ever. If I was an owner and my GM came to me and said "The Cavs offered us LeBron but they want..." I don't let him finish the sentence. I tell him, "get it done now before they change their mind."

Mitch Kupchak would blow a wad in his pants if the Cavs offered LeBron for Kobe straight up. So would Otis Smith on the Howard deal.



As for the Celtics, if it worked financially, I'd trade Pierce, Garnett & Allen for LeBron and not bat an eyelash.

And you would not make the playoffs or get bounced in the first round and LeBron would leave at the end of the season. LeBron is a great player and all but he dominates the ball and he is as much responsible for CLE losing as he is their winning. You have to have a team that looks like CLE for it to work with him. I am also not sure you can win in a championship with an offense so dependent on one player in today's NBA. The idea right now should be to find away to get LeBron with someone like Dwight Howard, a player who can impact the game without the basketball, ideally CLE would have gotten KG. If you put LeBron in Paul Pierce's role (as much as I love Paul LeBron has him by a little) with KG, Perk, and Ray then you are unstoppable.

LeBron's defense has made him the best overall player in the game but that doesn't mean you would trade anything to get him. I wouldn't give up Dwight Howard for LeBron. He scores 20 pg on his BS offensive game as it is he learns anything on offense end and he could avg 30 a night and dominate the defensive end. He took total crap defenders and turned them into one of the best statistical defensive teams in the NBA.

I like seeing CLE at 3-3 so I don't want to help but they should just do what it takes to get Camby and Redd.

[vct33]

And you would not make the playoffs or get bounced in the first round and LeBron would leave at the end of the season.

Well, obviously, I would need LeBron to sign an extension as part of the deal. Having said that, the Celtics would be a 60-win team right now and would be one good piece away from winning 5-7 titles over the next decade.

[theman]

Lebron would not want to be trade to LA FOR Kobe. He would want to go to LA to play WITH Kobe. Similar thing with Boston, if he comes he he will want to play with Pierce and Rondo (Rondo not so much).

Things are not looking good for the Cavs now and if they don't get better LeBron is gone. I like that, when we sweep them out of the playoffs in the first round people need to chant "LeBron is Gone".

And I think he leaves by sign and trade. The ONLY way I see him staying in Cleveland is if he can convince Wade to join him in the rust belt. More likely, LeBron would want to join Wade in sunny, no state income tax, Florida.

He is already everywhere, endorsements will be no bigger in NY.

[DrunkOnMystery]

Lebron for Dwight Howard makes no sense for Orlando because Orlando's entire team design is built around Howard. I won't argue that Lebron isn't superior to Howard; I will however emphatically state that given the Magic's makeup as of now, Lebron would be less useful to the Magic than Howard is. How many perimeter players do you think the Magic need?

[er1c]

I would love it but i think the chances are Nil. I think we have a better chance of getting Wade, who if we could get to replace Ray would be a coup de grâce. A backcourt of Wade and Rondo would own souls. Given the Celtics cap situation, I think it's a long shot they get any of the marquee free agents in the 2010 class unofortunately.