LEBRON JAMES 2010 FREE AGENCY THREAD

[Hydroponic3385]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

Sheridan gives the Knicks 60% odds to land Lebron next year? I'm sorry, but what a ***ing idiot.

D'anotni is allergic to coaching defense. Their best players signed for next year are Chandler (overrated, mostly a small forward) and Gallinari (could be a nice starter, could be a huge bust; and a small forward). If they were to retain Lee & Robinson (solid rotation guys no doubt, but nothing special) to contracts they deserve next year, they wouldn't be able to land any other star player with Lebron (not to mention fill out a rotation of at least 9-10 talented guys). The Knicks haven't been in the playoffs in forever. I can go on and on.

At least say it's the Heat or Nets that have a good shot at Lebron (outside of the Cavs), Sheridan.

 

[Admin´s Grandma]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I respect Sheridans view because he is connected. But giving percentages on LeBrons next year team is just silly. You can´t measure it like that... And really, it all depends so much on this season. I can see LeBron easily leaving if they fall short again on winning a championship. If they win its another thing. It would be historically drastic move to leave for another team as a champion. I just can´t see it happening.

 

[Damage]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

Sheridan gives the Knicks 60% odds to land Lebron next year? I'm sorry, but what a ***ing idiot.

D'anotni is allergic to coaching defense. Their best players signed for next year are Chandler (overrated, mostly a small forward) and Gallinari (could be a nice starter, could be a huge bust; and a small forward). If they were to retain Lee & Robinson (solid rotation guys no doubt, but nothing special) to contracts they deserve next year, they wouldn't be able to land any other star player with Lebron (not to mention fill out a rotation of at least 9-10 talented guys). The Knicks haven't been in the playoffs in forever. I can go on and on.

At least say it's the Heat or Nets that have a good shot at Lebron (outside of the Cavs), Sheridan.

Heats or Clipps.

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I respect Sheridans view because he is connected. But giving percentages on LeBrons next year team is just silly. You can´t measure it like that... And really, it all depends so much on this season. I can see LeBron easily leaving if they fall short again on winning a championship. If they win its another thing. It would be historically drastic move to leave for another team as a champion. I just can´t see it happening.

So if the Cavs are a top 1-2 seed again this season, and make it to the Eastern Conference finals or NBA finals but don't win it all, you think he'd be likely to leave the Cavs (one of the top teams for 4 seasons straight) for a team that hasn't made the playoffs since 2001 (Knicks)? :chuckles:

That's something I just can't see happening.

(not saying you think he'll leave for the Knicks, but the idea of bolting just cuz the Cavs don't win it all is not necessarily a wise move whatsoever for Lebron's career - especially to a team with such little talent and success as the Knicks of the past decade)

 

[Hydroponic3385]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

Heats or Clipps.

I don't care that the Clippers are in Los Angeles, and that they have Griffin/Gordon/Thornton, Lebron is not going to be a Clipper. Terrible franchise and will always be second fiddle to the Lakers (no wait, third fiddle to the Lakers and the Los Angeles Sparks :chuckles.

I also don't think Lebron wants to wait around for the Griffin/Gordon or Lopez/Harris type players to get closer to their primes (well, Harris is close to his). Lebron wants to win NOW (sure he wants to win now and in the future, but especially NOW). Lebron going to very young (albeit potentially, extremely talented) team is no guarantee that the team will be a contender in the 2010-2011 season.

 

[Kevalier]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I believe that these "big shots" that Mr. Sheridan refers to are located between his hips and upper thighs.

 

[Vindicate2]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I call B.S. on his "bigshots"

I still think he picks up his player option next June. Makes most sense both from to maximize his salary as the cap shrinks and he will hope that the cap moves back up in 2011. Also, he will have the same spotlight he is getting this season.

With the exception of Shaq and Z, everyone else is signed through 2010. Shaq would not have come here unless he knew that LeBron was going to stay for a few years, because the Cavs will mostly likely offer the largest contract. These team clearing out cap space specifically for 2010 will be hosed. I don't think these teams can keep that kind of cap space available multiple years without affecting fan support and ticket sales.

I won't garantee that he will never leave Cleveland, but there is very little chance he'll walk after this year.

 

[Damage]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I don't care that the Clippers are in Los Angeles, and that they have Griffin/Gordon/Thornton, Lebron is not going to be a Clipper. Terrible franchise and will always be second fiddle to the Lakers (no wait, third fiddle to the Lakers and the Los Angeles Sparks :chuckles.

I also don't think Lebron wants to wait around for the Griffin/Gordon or Lopez/Harris type players to get closer to their primes (well, Harris is close to his). Lebron wants to win NOW (sure he wants to win now and in the future, but especially NOW). Lebron going to very young (albeit potentially, extremely talented) team is no guarantee that the team will be a contender in the 2010-2011 season.

They have been a terrible franchise, but a group of Gordon/Griffin/Thornton is a very solid, much more than any other realistic option.

 

[bushwick_bill]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I don't see why there isn't more talk about the possibility of James and Wade in Miami... The Heat can resign Wade and take on another max contract, right?

 

[abuC]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I also don't think Lebron wants to wait around for the Griffin/Gordon or Lopez/Harris type players to get closer to their primes (well, Harris is close to his). Lebron wants to win NOW (sure he wants to win now and in the future, but especially NOW). Lebron going to very young (albeit potentially, extremely talented) team is no guarantee that the team will be a contender in the 2010-2011 season.

I think the Nets are a realistic threat here, you say that LeBron doesn't want to wait till those players are in their prime, but the Nets will have enough capspace to get two max contracts this summer. So, they might be able to lure LeBron and possibly Bosh, Wade or Amare to go along with that young talent that's already there. LeBron plus any one of those 3 players, and the talent they already have would be threatening for a title in no time. Also, factor in that they will probably get a top 10 pick in the draft, that they could probably move for another piece.

 

[PIP]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

I don't see why there isn't more talk about the possibility of James and Wade in Miami... The Heat can resign Wade and take on another max contract, right?

The Heat retired #23 in honor of Michael Jordan back in 2003....

That's why...

 

[Zog]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

The Heat retired #23 in honor of Michael Jordan back in 2003....

That's why...

LeBron has said a couple times he wouldn't mind changing to #6.

But does LeBron really want to share the spotlight with Wade is the question?

I could see him picking up his player option, but I don't think he will. That option only makes sense if he wants to maximize his pay in that year, but he could get a long contract worth a ton of money instead.

 

[rabman_gold]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

They have been a terrible franchise, but a group of Gordon/Griffin/Thornton is a very solid, much more than any other realistic option.

The problem isn't the players. It the fact that their management will find ways to screw it up, but trading for other players that don't fit, by making bad business choices, hell... even their coach could screw it up for them, since Mike hasn't always been able to do the right thing. It's only natural they can improve after having Baylor on board for so long, but it's still not the best they can do. They also need to spend to prove to LBJ they can build a winner.

The Knicks are the absolute opposite, but they were with a screwed up management until getting Walsh and D'Antoni. They still are stuck with previous management's screw-ups. So LBJ can go there, but it's going back to 2005 when we had Ferry and Brown build the ground up. Would LeBron rather stick a somebody more successful, or does he feel that we'll never win the championship, even in the 7th game of the NBA Finals, down 1 point with 1 second left, and we're just not lucky enough to get there.

If we manage to get that far, LeBron will really have to weigh in his heart if it's worth it to push that extra point in the next year. And if we just win it, I don't feel it'll matter. He's a winner in the same way Mike was. They usually stick to something that works. It's not like known winners skip towns. Shaq even stayed in Los Angeles until his resume was filled to the brim. Orlando constantly failed, so Shaq of course would leave in that case if it meant starting over and getting some Hollywood time as a result.

Just because LeBron is also a business man, does not mean we should neglect the basketball side of him, who is of the same mold of MJ, Magic, Bird and not Kareem, Shaq, and the like on the court.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

and Broussard said, in the Cleveland chat, that Cleveland was the favorites. Judging from the reporting lately, Sheridan is a stiff and Broussard seems to have good information.

and in reality, we just have to deal with stupid people like Sheridan until LeBron signs on the dotted line, it sucks..but we have to get used to it.

 

[rabman_gold]

Re: Knicks rountablt chat on ESPN, regarding Bron

Seriously, if Chris said it was 50-50, wouldn't that be a good thing coming from a hack? That 60 only is stated as being the case whenever talking to the deluded Knicks management. So 50-50 coming for a regular ESPN hack is like saying there's a 150% chance of a more scooped guy like Broussard feeling that LeBron's place is in Cleveland.

Or just go to a realist like Windy, who probably feels that whatever happens in the next 9 months will dictate the favorites.

Or like me, who will just say: Shut up and play.