[valentine]

To me, when we go look into the future, I think Lebron James will consider only the

Cleveland Cavs and New York Knicks. (Please Read. I’m not saying he’s going to NY just a opinion)

Why? To me, those 2 teams are in the best shape to add James. New Jersey would be on this list, but I was reading if they do not break ground in the Atlantic Ave Grounds (I lived in Brooklyn, its a big space) by Sept 2009, they wont move. Miami is another team I saw people throw out. I think where ever LBJ goes, he wants to be the main guy. I do not see Lebron following D-Wade anywhere. They said they wanna play together, but Lebron is not following D-Wade other way around or it will not happen. The 3rd team I saw was the LA Clippers. I dont see it happening because why go to the 2nd best team in the State? Nice young pieces and could be a playoff team in 2009 but it’s the clippers….still a cheap franchise as well.

To me here is the reasons why both Cleveland and NY have the best chance to get LBJ.

1. Cleveland- Hometown and you have a Legacy there. People saw you as a Savior there since High School. The team tanked (boy did they tank) for you. They have improved little by little and maybe this is the year you can win a title. They can offer you more money.

2. New York- If LBJ does some HW, he would see Donnie Walsh does not any blemishes on his track record. The Leader spot is open. If deals are made, can bring in another superstar next to you. More money off the court and the ability to play on the biggest market on the East Coast.

tell me what you think

[McWinningParticipant]

just my opinion but La would bring bigger deals because of holleywood but i doubt he would go to the Clippers, or Lakers.

[CameronCrazieParticipant]

Chicago could be a dark horse IMO

[QHaynes20]

Clippers- 2nd best team in LA. LBJ doesnt wanna be 2nd anything.

Chicago- I dont see it because it would almost be a walking in MJ footsteps move.

[McWinningParticipant]

actually i think he could go to the Clippers.
C: Kaman,
Pf: Griffin,
sf: Lebron
Sg: Gordan
Pg: Davis
why not go there its La which means big endorsements and that team would have two young stars next to hin in Gordan, and Griffin?

[CameronCrazieParticipant]

Yeah It would kind of in MJs footsteps but what does this guy care about winning and more nationality or being in the shadow of someone.Not saying it’s going to happen but it would be a good fit imo

[QHaynes20]

because the clippers will still be the 2nd best team in LA

and it’s still the clippers.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

QHaynes- I agree with everything you’ve said here. Except I think he will also consider New Jersey just because they would have a very solid supporting cast & the Jay Z factor. I do think the Knicks have a better chance at landing LeBron than the Nets do though.

[trojans13Participant]

i agree with gatorheels, i wouldnt count out the nets. we have no idea what kind of influence jayz being a part owner will play in this. plus the nets nucleus of players is a lot more talented that the knicks. james/lopez/harris has much better shot at the title than james/sessions possibly/lee or hill

[McWinningParticipant]

yeah but only for a couple years and their good pals wouldnt they like living near each other?

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Q, I think the biggest factor for LBJ is winning a title… at least chicago and the clips have other stars/potential stars to help make that happen (Rose; Griffin, Davis, Gordon)… I don’t see the Cavs/Knicks with any other stars/potential stars.

LBJ knows legacies are made of championships.

[McWinningParticipant]

just imagina a Lebron, Gordan, Griffin, combo that could be the best team in the league easily 2-3 years from now while im not sure the Knicks have enough talent to be that good 5 years from now.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i’m saying Bird! I think LBJ would MUCH rather play with Griffin and Gordon… do the Clips even have cap space for LBJ?

[McWinningParticipant]

yeah that is a problem maybe they could send Kamb, and Camby for junk in a trade for cap space then they would i think.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

xbadger- Yes the Clippers would have enough cap space.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

who is that kissing the trophy gator? is that mccants? it looks to me like ellington…

[QHaynes20]

the Clipps are still the clips. LBJ will not consider them. Talent or no Talent. They are a terrible run franchise now.

Gator- if the Nets dont move to BK, i dont see them in the race

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Q, you can believe that then dude. lol I think theres a better chance of LBJ going to play with the clippers players than the knicks players cuz the dude wants to win- that’s all he cares about now. like i said, he knows legacies are made of championships…

Do u disagree that LBJ’s #1 concern is winning a title?

[gatorheelsParticipant]

xbadger- Haha you know who that is

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

no, i legit do not know… i figure it’d be mccants, but it looks like wayne, so i was just seeing if u possibly changed it up

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Remember too that the Knicks can still surround LeBron with good talent even without adding a 2nd star. Guys like Foye, Eddie House, Josh Childress, Pargo, Josh Howard, Azuibuke, Camby, Warrick, Outlaw, Mason, etc….I mean there are a lot of guys that likely will have to settle for somewhat cheap contracts considering the cap is going to lower quite a bit more than likely. If the Knicks can get a couple of these guys along with LeBron to add to the young pieces they already have then that would be a pretty solid team. Then in 2011 they can add somebody else once Currys’ contract expires. Knicks probably are going to get Sessions soon too.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Yeah its McCants. I like Ellington but I’m not a huge fan of him

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

did rashad officially sign in denver yet or is that still up in the air?

[QHaynes20]

Your right he wants to win a title but The Clippers will not be a player in this race.

They are still the Clippers, terrible front office and bad coach. Plus, Lebron wants to win but i dont see him going to LAC.

I do see him landing in Brooklyn (my hometown), Knicks and Cavs.

Dont count out the Knicks like that. Even if you dont move the Curry or Jefferies deals now, you can still move them in 2011 because they will be more valuable because they expire.

[QHaynes20]

Your right he wants to win a title but The Clippers will not be a player in this race.

They are still the Clippers, terrible front office and bad coach. Plus, Lebron wants to win but i dont see him going to LAC.

I do see him landing in Brooklyn (my hometown), Knicks and Cavs.

Dont count out the Knicks like that. Even if you dont move the Curry or Jefferies deals now, you can still move them in 2011 because they will be more valuable because they expire.

[McWinningParticipant]

and the Knicks have a good front office?

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

i mean, i’m not counting out the knicks, but i’m also not going to count out other teams like you’re doing. i still think he’ll end up in cleveland.

[gatorheelsParticipant]

xbadger- They havent signed him yet. I keep hearing they are still looking at him though & Wally Z. They may sign both of them or they may just pick one.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

lol. going after TWO former twolves…. Wally is an equally bad basketball player. he also doesn’t play defense.

[McWinningParticipant]

Mcants hasnt said much about the Nuggets on his Twitter lately.

[QHaynes20]

Yea, the Knicks do have a good front office. Donnie Walsh has 1 bad move on his resume. When your a big time GM and you only have 1 move that was bad for over 20 years? Your a top3 GM.

im counting out teams like the Clippers and Bulls for reasons.

[McWinningParticipant]

yes the Clippers have made mistakes but once they get rid of a bad contract Camby, or Kama, they have tons of capspace, not to mention young talent, also La will get him endorsment deals plus he would be in the same state as his pal Kobe.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

that’s fine, and it also doesn’t surprise me. i think you’re logic is flawed, especially considering the current state of the NY and Cleve rosters… if you’ll admit that LBJ’s #1 concern is winning a title, and you think that the only two places he might end up are NY and Cleve…… then there’s a disconnect between what you’re saying, because neither roster really looks like a champion to me

[QHaynes20]

Bird- The Clippers have been terrible since the 80’s. They made terrible moves and had terrible draft picks and overall, the man who makes the final desicions are still there. The team has talent but LBJ wont go to a overall disfuncional team

Badger- Yea but no team is away from LBJ to Title. NY to me is my frontrunner but Cleveland can keep him as well. I do not see the Bulls because you dont wanna walk in MJ’s steps if you dont have to.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

But, don’t you think that LBJ would rather go to a team where he doesn’t have to be THE ONLY GUY… I’ll admit that LBJ may win a championship basically on his own, but don’t you think that, given the choice/opportunity, he’d go to a situation where he won’t have to win a title on his own, but rather with some significant help from other guys (like DRose, or Griffin/Gordon)?

[McWinningParticipant]

the Knicks havent been so hot theyve had to deal with Marbury, and fired coaches reapetedly cant say their a fine tuned team right now either atleast thwe CLippers have been able to bring in young stars in Griffin, and Gordan.

[QHaynes20]

He would want help but you gotta factor in his people. Every good player wants talent around them. I hate to say this but, I’m telling you right now what his ppl are saying.

If you go to Chicago, you have to win titles off the bat from Day 1. Can they? Maybe but will they? I dont think so. People will see you as the 2nd coming off MJ and losing is not a option.

The Clippers have been bad since the 80’s. plus they have this bad aura about them.

[QHaynes20]

Bird- Go and look up the

Knicks from 1980 to today
Clippers from 1980 to today

Its not close. The Clippers have lucked into those young guys. But, they still have a bad aura about them. they are a just a bad franchise overall.

The Knicks had 2 bad GMs…in a row. Now, we have a top 3 GM in the NBA and he is cleanning the mess.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

I’m telling you right now what his ppl are saying.~ whoooooooo. i haven’t heard any of that…

I think they would be the favorites to win a title if he went to chicago… and i don’t think that’s true if he goes to the knicks… LBJ doesn’t care about expectations, he wants to be the favorite to win the title, because that means he’ll have gone to the place with the best shot at a title

[McWinningParticipant]

if were looking at history why wouldnt the Bulls get him?

[gatorheelsParticipant]

Yall have to understand the Knicks have money to add more players….In 2010 they can add LeBron & a couple good role players. In 2011 they can sign a star or two really solid pieces. Add all that to Gallinari, Hill, Douglas, Chandler, & probably Sessions. You have a title contender. Look into the future a little. People act like the Knicks are stuck with their current roster which is not the case. This team is going to make drastic changes within the next couple years.

[llperez]

i think Lebron will either go to the knicks or stay with cavs just like QHaynes says. But it’s kinda funny to say that he would choose the knicks over clippers based on ownership and management. Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas are the two worst GM’s I can think of, even worse then Elgin Baylor. And seeing as how Walsh hired both of them and then implemented a coach in D’Antoni who is not a winner imo, I can’t possibly argue for one second that anyone would choose NY due to management or ownership.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

gator, i get that the knicks COULD add ppl… but they haven’t done that yet, so why would you rule out other options based on something that could happen? the argument is not that LBJ is not going to the knicks, cuz he very well could, but just that he MIGHT go to LAC or Chi….

[gatorheelsParticipant]

xbadger- true…I don’t think LeBron will go to Chi or Clips but you never know…he might. They do have quality teams already in place.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

that’s all i’m saying….

[QHaynes20]

Clippers and Bulls no because in Chi-town, he will have mass pressure on him. Clipps are the clipps.

I could see the Knicks add Lebron and someone like Tyson Chandler in 2010

[McWinningParticipant]

if Tyson Chandler was all they can get that wouldnt be that good.

[McWinningParticipant]

Chris Paul made Chandler look better than he is i dont think hes more than an ok starting center without him.

[QHaynes20]

I said Lebron James and Tyson Chandler.

Chandler would be good in a run and gun system

[McWinningParticipant]

still who would be running the run & gun for them?

[Michael.S.Participant]

Rose
Salmons
Lebron
Tomas
Noah

Hinrich
Deng
Johnson
Gray
Miller

that team definitely can compete for a title

[llperez]

they basically put all their eggs in one basket with hoping they land some big free agents next year. If they don’t get lebron, I think they will be get someone else, but no one who is gonna turn that franchise around. I don’t see either Wade or JJohnson leaving their teams. Bosh or Amare might leave, but I don’t consider them franchise changers. Knicks don’t have their first round pick and are taking a pretty big gamble. Good luck.

[QHaynes20]

probably a new PG.

Mike- Yea but i do not see LBJ wanting to go into MJ shadow and be the guy to lead like Micheal in CHiacgo

[Michael.S.Participant]

True, very true. But I think that would be cancelled out if he had the opportunity to win a title.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

I think that’s foolish, who cares if Michael played there.

[QHaynes20]

Is it? I mean, you dont see alot of FA’s go to Chicago and now the best player goes to Chicago? I know if LBJ did, everyone on this site (Dont lie) would be saying

Oh, He’s going to be the 2nd coming of MJ in Chicago and thinks like that. Thats alot of pressure and if he doesn’t win, I think he gets critizited more.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Ben Wallace? I mean, I think for the most part, the Bulls have been committed to building through the draft…They took their plunge when they had cap space on the DPOY, in Wallace.

I’ll admit there would be some added pressure because of MJ, but LBJ is under a lot of pressure to win no matter where he goes. People expect him to be the best player on the team that wins the championship because we’ve been told he’s that guy since he was on the cover of SI his Jr. year. LBJ can’t be afraid of pressure… otherwise he’ll never win a title.

[QHaynes20]

I said alot of people dont go to Chiacgo and you named 1 guy. Woooo

Yea he does have pressure but LBJ going to Chiacago would almost triple it.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Not a lot of guys change jerseys in the NBA via free agency because of the way the salary cap works… You have to be so far under the cap, unless you’re doing a sign-and-trade.

Great players live for the pressure.

[kong47272Participant]

What about Miami? They could have more cap room open than anyone next year as they have 39 million coming off the Cap between JO, Haslem, and QRich.

[llperez]

going to chicago is a lot of pressure for a great wing player imo. Guys like Lebron, kobe, and Wade don’t want to walk by a statue of Jordan every time they enter the arena and know that there’s probably nothing they can do to be the all time local favorite. I would think it would be much nicer for them to play somewhere they can be the hero. Where even one title will mean something significant. Chicago is a tough place to do that for a wing player playing under Jordan’s shadow. It’s not so much about pressure as much as it is about the annoyance of constantly being compared to some one.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

I mean, I understand the pressure and all, but I can’t see any great player, who’s trying to win a championship as badly as LBJ is, turning down the opportunity to play with DERRICK ROSE, LUOL DENG, hinrich, salmons, noah, brad miller… try stopping LBJ and DRose…

he needs to go somewhere with talent… he understands that (look who he’s been playing with his entire career~!)

[KevinDurantRocksParticipant]

Thought about the Lakers letting Kobe go and taking Lebron? Its a stupid idea but its an interesting one

[llperez]

it’s more stupid then interesting honestly.

[HaleParticipant]

How can you speak for LeBron? Maybe he likes talent over management because he knows he controls whatever management he goes too. (Clippers) Maybe he likes the MJ comparisons and is drawn to Chicago because of it. I’m not saying those are definite but how can you speak for LeBron when you have no idea what he wants. If he went to one of those teams it wouldn’t be the dumbest thing ever, both are solid young teams.

[QHaynes20]

Hey, anyone can speak for anyone.

I feel the Knicks and Cavs are the frontrunners.

Like I said for the last 10 posts :

I dont see LBJ wanted to walk in MJ’s shadow and take all the critism and pressure of being the 2nd coming of MJ in Chicago. Also, they dont attract alot of FA’s

The Clippers to me are not in contention for LBJ because to me the Clippers have been poorly run since 1980, bad coach, bad GM and there the 2nd best team in LA

[SpencerIsHawesome]

First you say that Knicks and Cavs are the only teams in the James race… Now, they are just the frontrunners?

Knicks and Cavs are not the only two teams in the race most likely. I say most likely because I have no idea it’s just my best guess. Just like everything you are saying, it’s just your best slightly biased guess.

LeBron could very wekk go to NY, could very well go to CLE, could very well go to NJ, who knows where else? Hell maybe he’ll go to sacramento! lol

Fact of the matter is, we have NO idea at all. Nobody does on this forum. If I had to make a guess right now I’d guess that he is going to NJ.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

While I think that New York is the front runner to land LeBron James and fulfill your championship dreams, I just wanted to stae something in response to what you said about Donnie Walsh. While he may have few or even no blemsihes on his record, he also has no rings. Been inb the business a long time, and while he is no doubt better than Danny Ferry, I think there are better basketball minds out there than Donnie Walsh.

[xbadgerhustlerParticipant]

Also, maybe I’m wrong, but it doesn’t seem to me that NY has attracted any top FAs either…. correct me if i’m wrong, but chris duhon is not a big name FA, IMO

[Author]

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