Lebron Dreaming

[dflaschberger]

There is no way I see the Cavs beating the Celtics or Orlando, much less SA or the Lakers-as of now. I know the owner has spent a lot to keep him-but I see a relatively bleak future for him there-as in no titles. I see them losing in the second round next spring. I can also see us losing in the second round.
We then use the #19 pick to draft the best big 2 who can shoot and play some D

Now, he has good options for 2010-let's say he leaves. What are his choices?
NJ-good choice-Harris/lee/Lebron/Yi/Lopez, with Williams and a top 2010 pick on the bench-That could be his best move

Clips-on paper, great fit-davis/gordon/lebron/griffen/kaman is great-but the clippers curse makes this hard to see happening.

NY-no way-little young talent-no 2010 pick-no guards whatsoever

Now to us-our core looks great. Here's how I do it
1-great season this year-good show in playoffs
2-draft 2 guard
3-sign lebron
4-sign a guy like Raja bell (chases title-takes vet min or something)
5-resign miller
6-bring Omir over

That way, lebron joins a team ready to contend. I would start lebron and deng together. Both are good rebounders and would make for tough matchups
rose/kirk
bell/kirk/rookie
lebron/jjohnson
deng/gibson/noah
noah/miller/omir

I see that as the best team in the league, by far. A team with tough vets, young studs and 2 stars-that team wins multiple titles

Lebron-are you reading this?

[boogydown]

I see only 3 teams being threats for Bosh, Lebron, or Wade

1). Chicago
2). Miami
3). New Jersey

The more I look at New Jersey, unless they can get the #1 pick, I can't see Lebron going there. Even with him added, the team is still sub par as they are one if not the worst team in the NBA right now. They can only add 1 max FA, and a mediocre FA.

The only way Wade is leaving Miami is via S&T. There is no way he is going to lose his bird rights, and then on top of that leave a state with no state income tax. It's going to be tough to acquire this guy, and it seems more likely Wade just recruits one of Bosh or Lebron to Miami along with another small FA.

I think Lebron leaving is an extremely good thing. As of right now, I see only Bosh leaving. If Bosh and Lebron leave, I think the frontrunners here are Miami and Chicago. Why not go to Miami and make more money with no state income tax in a city that is very nice. Chicago would be the 2nd choice if Wade decides not to leave.

Lebron and Wade together would be something that would be interesting to see. That leaves us with Bosh who insert him into the picture will make this team extremely good.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I might be one of the few - but I think New Jersey is a real player for any of the FA's. They have a dynamic PG and a good young C. An owner with oodles of money who has shown in his other teams that he likes to spend it. Possibly a new arena in Brooklyn. And a top 5 pick.

[coldfish]

I might be one of the few - but I think New Jersey is a real player for any of the FA's. They have a dynamic PG and a good young C. An owner with oodles of money who has shown in his other teams that he likes to spend it. Possibly a new arena in Brooklyn. And a top 5 pick.

I may be wrong, but I see NJ as a bigger threat to land Lebron than the Knicks. The Knicks are a train wreck who are only relevant due to the arena they play in. If any other franchise had their performance over the past 5 years or so, they would be right in line with the Clippers, respect wise.

[Magilla_Gorilla]

I might be one of the few - but I think New Jersey is a real player for any of the FA's. They have a dynamic PG and a good young C. An owner with oodles of money who has shown in his other teams that he likes to spend it. Possibly a new arena in Brooklyn. And a top 5 pick.

I may be wrong, but I see NJ as a bigger threat to land Lebron than the Knicks. The Knicks are a train wreck who are only relevant due to the arena they play in. If any other franchise had their performance over the past 5 years or so, they would be right in line with the Clippers, respect wise.

Thats my thought as well. They might nor have the sexy coach, but they've got a respected front office and the two most important positions on the team filled with good young players. A crazy russian billionaire owner and Jay-Z are just the icing on the cake.

Apparently the new owners first order of business was to meet with Jay Z to let him know he wants him involved with the team - so clearly there is some down the line thinking.

[boogydown]

New Jersey definitely has the advantage over New York. New York may have a "history" but there is absolutely no way he is going to join a team taking a paycut on a bad team that had been bad for 10 years and showing no signs of improvements.

New Jersey on the other hand has Jay Z who knows Lebron and a new owner willing to dump a lot of money on Lebron. Moving to Brooklyn in 2011 or 2012 could make things uneasy for New Jersey but I do think NJ has a shot just not as much as Miami if Wade stays. As for Chicago, we also have a shot but I am not sure Lebron's willingness to actually come here.

In the end, it's about money. Only way any of these max FA's move to a new team is if they obtain the bird rights. In Flordia, they have no state income tax on top of that. I think Miami is the frontrunners, and it could get interesting to see what Miami does over the other teams.

[6_Rings]

can the Knicks afford two max contracts next season? i think the Nets can. i see a Lebron-Bosh tandem there. and with Devin+Lee+Lopez+Yi+CDR they have better teammates than the Knicks.

[boogydown]

can the Knicks afford two max contracts next season? i think the Nets can. i see a Lebron-Bosh tandem there. and with Devin+Lee+Lopez+Yi+CDR they have better teammates than the Knicks.

With the cap dropping, the Nets have around 25 and I believe the Knicks are around 22. In summary, the only team that can offer two max deals is Miami.

The only way the Nets can afford two max FA's is if they get rid of one of their bad contracts, or Devin Harris. They can try to trade one of their bad contracts + their pick this summer but currently they can only afford one max FA and one mediocre FA.

Devin Harris 9.0
Keyon Dooling 3.8
Eduardo Najera 2.8
Yi Jianlian 4.0
Brook Lopez 2.4
Terrence Williams 2.2
Josh Boone 3.0 (waive rights)
Sean Williams (waive rights)
Courtney Lee 1.3
Chris Douglas-Roberts 855k

[6_Rings]

can the Knicks afford two max contracts next season? i think the Nets can. i see a Lebron-Bosh tandem there. and with Devin+Lee+Lopez+Yi+CDR they have better teammates than the Knicks.

With the cap dropping, the Nets have around 25 and I believe the Knicks are around 22. In summary, the only team that can offer two max deals is Miami.

The only way the Nets can afford two max FA's is if they get rid of one of their bad contracts, or Devin Harris. They can try to trade one of their bad contracts + their pick this summer but currently they can only afford one max FA and one mediocre FA.

Devin Harris 9.0
Keyon Dooling 3.8
Eduardo Najera 2.8
Yi Jianlian 4.0
Brook Lopez 2.4
Terrence Williams 2.2
Josh Boone 3.0 (waive rights)
Sean Williams (waive rights)
Courtney Lee 1.3
Chris Douglas-Roberts 855k

thanks for the info.

i think the Nets can easily do that.

[jump]

I think the state income tax is totally overblown as a factor. Someone making 80 milion dollars in salary, plus tens of millions more in endorsements, is not going to worry about a little state income tax.

In Illinois, that flat rate tax is 3% on net income. I don't see that as a game changer.

There are only two factors:
1. The prospects of winning a championship
2. Loyalty to the current team and city

[ATRAIN53]

that article just reinforces what i keep saying-

Lebron is a historian of the game and knows that winning a title in NYC for the Knicks who haven't done it since 1973 is beyond legendary. I truly believe that is his goal.

He just has to be PC for a 8 more months before he arrives there with a splash (and a ton of expectations).

[dflaschberger]

That's true ATrain, but with no 2010 pick, he is joing galinari, Hill and Chandler-plus maybe Lee

No point guard, no 2 man, no real center. It would make sense, but I doubt Lebron will win a title in NY (or Clev).

If I were him, I'd go to NJ.

[anorexorcism]

LeBron is going to go to NJ (aka Brooklyn), it's a no-brainer the way it's going so far.

1. They have the perfect pieces there in place for him (dynamic PG in Harris, dynamic young future 20/10 big in Lopez, nice young complimentary pieces in CDR, Yi and T-Will) and they are all good solid YOUNG players. No bad contract aging vets (which is the biggest problem in Cleveland, IMO)
2. the Russian guy just took over and his #1 goal is to get LeBron
3. they have LeBron's best buddy Jay-Z as a co-owner.
4. they're moving to Brooklyn, so there's your NY angle.

Cleveland's best shot at keeping LeBron is to win a title. If they don't do it this year, he is gone. I never thought it would come to this, but with every day that passes and with every underachievement by the Cavs, it's just looking like a formality now.

NJ just needs to be smart and be competitive this year. Harris is injured right now so that's why they've looked pretty bad as of late. But if they can sneak into the playoffs as an 8th seed that is going to dramatically increase their prospects. If they don't, and get a high lottery pick (Ed Davis/Derrick Favors) that's yet another nice young piece to put next to LeBron, or trade.

[Gray Poster]

ONE WORD


CLIPPERS!!!!

[boogydown]

I think the state income tax is totally overblown as a factor. Someone making 80 milion dollars in salary, plus tens of millions more in endorsements, is not going to worry about a little state income tax.

In Illinois, that flat rate tax is 3% on net income. I don't see that as a game changer.

There are only two factors:
1. The prospects of winning a championship
2. Loyalty to the current team and city

Not having state income tax is a small factor, but the money overall is the biggest factor. Money exceeds any of the two factors you mentioned, and any factor added to that combined.