Is LeBron still that guy? He put up impressive numbers for the Lakers. But missed a good chunk of time. And seemed more focused on trying to get the scoring title then winning games for the Lakers last season. Yes Lakers were bad last year. But they were bad because they made the moves LeBron wanted them to make. LeBron asked for Westbrook. Now he's mad because Westbrook didn't work out? I am glad LeBron helped us win a championship but that doesn't mean adding what would be a 39 year old LeBron makes us legit contenders. A year from now we have no idea how good he will be at that point. He is human even if people pretend he isn't at some point his age will start to show.
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The King is at it Again
- Thread starter Ohioplayer00
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Is LeBron still that guy? He put up impressive numbers for the Lakers. But missed a good chunk of time. And seemed more focused on trying to get the scoring title then winning games for the Lakers last season. Yes Lakers were bad last year. But they were bad because they made the moves LeBron wanted them to make. LeBron asked for Westbrook. Now he's mad because Westbrook didn't work out? I am glad LeBron helped us win a championship but that doesn't mean adding what would be a 39 year old LeBron makes us legit contenders. A year from now we have no idea how good he will be at that point. He is human even if people pretend he isn't at some point his age will start to show.
Alec
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He’s that guy. But he needs to function within his limitations. He has an absolute star of a PG. let him handle the ball. Save some energy so he can play defense. Let Mobley take the hardest matchups in crunch time and gtfo of the way. Play closer to the basket. Get away from the perimeter a bit. Utilize his strength and quickness and coordination. Most PFs won’t have that package to combat him.
See. I disagree. A couple of years ago he was that guy. Now he isn't. And where ever he goes he forces them to blow it up to put the team he wants around him. What makes you think he won't do it again? Signing LeBron James doesn't make us contenders it makes us look foolish when we blow the entire team up to make him happy only to have him leave us after 1 year without a ring to play with what ever team drafts Bronny.
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The funny thing is that LBJ himself is something of the best response to his own complaints about why more ex-players don't get management jobs in the league. Very different skillsets.
Alec
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Don’t have to blow the team up. If he signs as a UFA. You’re just letting guys go who weren’t good anyways. Okoro, Windler, LeVert, etc.
As for LeBron wanting to blow it up. You don’t blow it up for him. He’s the one making concessions this time. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t sign. Not that difficult.
Alabuckeye
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While all that is, or could be true, the real question is….will LBJ be able to make concessions. humanity is such that once power is achieved, it is not given away easily. And he’s had the power of a GM…..relinquishing that is next to impossible
Alec
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I think the Cavs are win/win at the moment. If he wants to come and do the right thing, great. In he doesn't, great. There's no desperation. In large part because of LeBron. The monkey is off the city's and team's back.
He leaves every franchise a shipwreck?? The Heat were in the Eastern Conference semifinals 2 years after he left and won 37 games the year he left. That doesn't sound like a shipwreck.
Yes the Cavs were a shipwreck but that's hardly his fault, it's more a testament to his greatness. He took 2 crap teams to the NBA finals. Remove him from the roster and guess what, they stunk. That's on him?? Once Kyrie left there was little left here besides James.
As for sustainable, who knows. These goofs looking 10 years out are being ridiculous. With free agency, trade demands and injuries, it's hard looking more than a couple years out in the NBA
buzzdog
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Alec is the only one seeing things clearly in this thread. Everyone else is viewing the topic through some hurt goggles from Lebron's past transgressions.
The Cavs are in the catbird seat and they have no reason to relinquish that position. The Cavs don't have to blow anything up if Lebron goes to free agency and chooses the Cavs, under terms favorable to the Cavs success. Anything less and the Cavs can and should say no.
Lebron isn't the player he was 5 years ago but he's still 10 times better than any swing/forward currently on our roster, and at least twice as good as any realistic player we could get otherwise. Lebron turns this roster into an immediate championship contender with an excellent chance to win one or 2 titles.
Then Lebron rides off into the sunset, and we still have all our core players coming into their prime but now with a ring or 2 on their fingers.
That's the correct way to see the potential. What is a key part of this is the Cavs protecting their position any so if Lebron wants to try any shenanigans, they can pull the plug and go back to plan A which we are currently operating under.
Lebron is a chance to accelerate growth into elite contention if it is managed right, and that part is on Koby.
The Cavs are in the catbird seat and they have no reason to relinquish that position. The Cavs don't have to blow anything up if Lebron goes to free agency and chooses the Cavs, under terms favorable to the Cavs success. Anything less and the Cavs can and should say no.
Lebron isn't the player he was 5 years ago but he's still 10 times better than any swing/forward currently on our roster, and at least twice as good as any realistic player we could get otherwise. Lebron turns this roster into an immediate championship contender with an excellent chance to win one or 2 titles.
Then Lebron rides off into the sunset, and we still have all our core players coming into their prime but now with a ring or 2 on their fingers.
That's the correct way to see the potential. What is a key part of this is the Cavs protecting their position any so if Lebron wants to try any shenanigans, they can pull the plug and go back to plan A which we are currently operating under.
Lebron is a chance to accelerate growth into elite contention if it is managed right, and that part is on Koby.
foucault87
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The key part here is adding him on OUR terms and not his. Its the main thing I worry about. I certainly don't see any reason we help the Lakers out of their dumb situation by giving them players or picks
Steve_424
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I can't believe we're still pushing this talking point. The Cavs didn't blow up their team when he returned. The only talent we gave up was Wiggins and Waiters, and you ended up with a star in his prime (Love) who will have his number retired here, Shumpert, and Smith. Oh, and they won the city's first championship in decades.
Wiggins has turned into a solid player but Love has been more valuable to us than he has. Kyrie/TT were homegrown talent.
If he returns, he's doing so because he wants to play with our talented young core, not because he's looking to ship them out. They'd sign some vets to the minimum for the bench for sure, but what contender doesn't do that?
prf100
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Lebron doesn’t blow up teams he joins - what he does do is:
1) Force teams to optimize around his unique abilities
2) Force teams to trade future assets at a discount in service of point 1.
For prime Lebron, #1 of course makes sense to do. For prime Lebron, #2 also makes sense to do.
However, Lebron also leaves teams very quickly (save Cavs part I), and makes no promises to stay, and the effect of doing so given #1 and #2 above is to leave those teams he departs both unprepared and heavily depleted for a rebuild.
Personally, I don’t think Lebron will ask for nor will the Cavs do #1 or #2 should Lebron return. I’d be happy to see him come back.
1) Force teams to optimize around his unique abilities
2) Force teams to trade future assets at a discount in service of point 1.
For prime Lebron, #1 of course makes sense to do. For prime Lebron, #2 also makes sense to do.
However, Lebron also leaves teams very quickly (save Cavs part I), and makes no promises to stay, and the effect of doing so given #1 and #2 above is to leave those teams he departs both unprepared and heavily depleted for a rebuild.
Personally, I don’t think Lebron will ask for nor will the Cavs do #1 or #2 should Lebron return. I’d be happy to see him come back.
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That's a load of crap. To say that there is only one "correct" way to view LeBron's return is ridiculous.
Fandom by its nature is based on emotions. There is no rational reason we all sit around and watch other people play games other than that we get some emotional satisfaction from it. So if someone has a reaction to a player that is negative and reduces that emotional satisfaction, it is perfectly rational for them not to want to see that player.
Apart from the fact that I don't like LeBron himself, I do not like the style of basketball teams play when he is on the floor. I find it miserable to watch, and tuned out much of 16-17 and 17-18 seasons because of that. I know I am not the only one who does not enjoy watching pounding of the basketball, lack of effort on defense, and endless drama.
Those negatives are less of an issue in the playoffs when he tends to put forth more effort. However, given that the the vast majority of games to watch are during the regular season, his playoff performance isn't a good enough trade-off for me.
The reason I watch sports is not for my team to win a championship. I watch sports for enjoying it, and those are not necessarily the same things.
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About LeBron's potential return next summer I'd just have one thing to say to him:
"Fit in or fit out!"
He has to come in with Shaq's attitude. Shaq made it clear is was Lebron's team, not his.
The core of this team is Mobley and Garland. They are the future. We can't sacrifice their development by kowtowing to however LeBron wants to play (or not to play).
I'm not convinced the fit is right at all, but there's no question he fills a hole for us. Kevin would undoubtedly stay on a very cheap contract.
It might work, but let's not pretend there aren't risks bringing this dude back.
"Fit in or fit out!"
He has to come in with Shaq's attitude. Shaq made it clear is was Lebron's team, not his.
The core of this team is Mobley and Garland. They are the future. We can't sacrifice their development by kowtowing to however LeBron wants to play (or not to play).
I'm not convinced the fit is right at all, but there's no question he fills a hole for us. Kevin would undoubtedly stay on a very cheap contract.
It might work, but let's not pretend there aren't risks bringing this dude back.