The Clippers w/ LBJ would have the best starting 5 in the league next year.

 

He doesn't need a max deal. He could sign a one year deal and still get more money from that team on a long term deal next year. There aren't many guys that really make more away from the game like he does.

 

No, no, no he couldn't. Sign and trade this year gets him the most money, as the Cavs have his Bird Rights (meaning he can get the most money from them) and the pay scale is higher now than it's going to be after this year.

 

By not taking a sign and trade LeBron loses one year and 30 million dollars. By taking a shorter deal in a sign and trade he loses 30 million dollars. He can't make that money up. If he only signed a 1 year deal, he would be stuck at around 17.2 million (max) going forward on a max deal, no matter what.

 

LeBron would be an idiot not to want a max deal via sign and trade. His value can never be higher because of what the NBA's going to do with salaries. I think he'll have an opt out clause after year 3 or 4, as it's the smart thing to do.

 

There is absolutely no way on earth I could see him signing for 1 year, it's a stupid business move, stupid basketball move, and just plain out there. At best a 1 year deal gets him the same thing after next year that just signing as a FA with another team would get him. LeBron's 25, which is the new 28 in the NBA, he needs to win and win quickly.

As for the Clippers having the best starting lineup in the league with LeBron..... I'll take Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Artest, Fisher (or another PG) or Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, & Perkins.

 

And let's face it, Sterling is a cheapskate and no way is LeBron going there. A.) He'd be playing for possibly the worst owner in pro sports and B.) He's not going to Kobe's town to play in his shadow and increase the pressure he already faces. At least Jordan is retired.

 

SSC, look into the NBA salary cap stuff. Things will make a little more sense about what LeBron is realistically going to do as far as contract and money goes.

Is it financially possible for a team to sign LeBron and another top free agent like Dirk or Wade?

 

As I stated earlier, if I am LeBron, priority #1 is can the team I am joining win a title this year (or next). I think he needs a team with another dominant all star player on the roster. That seems to be what you need to win an NBA title. Even Jordan didn't win titles till Pippen and then Rodman showed up. The second factor is you need an experienced roster of role players to fill in around those 2-3 superstars.

 

 

While I agree with most of your post, you did say 'if I am LeBron'. Fact of the matter is, none of us have any idea what he really wants.

 

Does he really want to win a title next year?:idunno:

 

Does he really want to go to Chicago and be in MJ's shadow forever?:idunno:

 

Does he really want to play for Calipari?:idunno:

 

I truly think that he loves getting his ego stroked and that he wants to be the King James of everything. He can only do that as a Knick. The guy who comes in and restore relevancy to the Knicks, plays in front of a sold out Garden every game packed with celebs. The Knicks also have enough room to bring in another max guy if I am not mistaken. Everything we believe he wants is waiting in New York. Will he go there?:idunno:

No, no, no he couldn't. Sign and trade this year gets him the most money, as the Cavs have his Bird Rights (meaning he can get the most money from them) and the pay scale is higher now than it's going to be after this year.

 

By not taking a sign and trade LeBron loses one year and 30 million dollars. By taking a shorter deal in a sign and trade he loses 30 million dollars. He can't make that money up. If he only signed a 1 year deal, he would be stuck at around 17.2 million (max) going forward on a max deal, no matter what.

 

LeBron would be an idiot not to want a max deal via sign and trade. His value can never be higher because of what the NBA's going to do with salaries. I think he'll have an opt out clause after year 3 or 4, as it's the smart thing to do.

 

There is absolutely no way on earth I could see him signing for 1 year, it's a stupid business move, stupid basketball move, and just plain out there. At best a 1 year deal gets him the same thing after next year that just signing as a FA with another team would get him. LeBron's 25, which is the new 28 in the NBA, he needs to win and win quickly.

 

You already said Cleveland won't sign and trade him. So if he's going to leave the money on the table why not sign a 1 year deal and sign a 6 year deal next year w/ the 3 year option? I know it's stupid money, but really what is that amount of money to him in the grand scheme of things?

While I agree with most of your post, you did say 'if I am LeBron'. Fact of the matter is, none of us have any idea what he really wants.

 

Does he really want to win a title next year?:idunno:

 

Does he really want to go to Chicago and be in MJ's shadow forever?:idunno:

 

Does he really want to play for Calipari?:idunno:

 

I truly think that he loves getting his ego stroked and that he wants to be the King James of everything. He can only do that as a Knick. The guy who comes in and restore relevancy to the Knicks, plays in front of a sold out Garden every game packed with celebs. The Knicks also have enough room to bring in another max guy if I am not mistaken. Everything we believe he wants is waiting in New York. Will he go there?:idunno:

 

The problem with the Knicks is that James, Bosh, Gallinari, Eddy Curry and Bill Walker doesn't sound like a team that can knock off the Celtics or Lakers. So they'd be a year away. James would be 27, at the earliest when NY was ready to compete. Look at the wear and tear players that jump straight from HS to the pros have. Kobe is 31 going on 40, KG is the oldest 33 year old in the history of the world.

 

Due to his size LeBron will probably either wear down quicker or stay in his prime longer than his HS peers, but no one knows which way it will play out. LeBron could go into a major decline at 30, so he needs to try to get championships as quickly as he can IMO.

As for the Clippers having the best starting lineup in the league with LeBron..... I'll take Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Artest, Fisher (or another PG) or Rondo, Allen, Pierce, Garnett, & Perkins.

 

And let's face it, Sterling is a cheapskate and no way is LeBron going there. A.) He'd be playing for possibly the worst owner in pro sports and B.) He's not going to Kobe's town to play in his shadow and increase the pressure he already faces. At least Jordan is retired.

 

SSC, look into the NBA salary cap stuff. Things will make a little more sense about what LeBron is realistically going to do as far as contract and money goes.

 

I don't think he'll go to the Clippers, but I'd take their 5 against the teams you mentioned unless Bosh is moved to the Lakers for Bynum.

 

I truly think that he loves getting his ego stroked and that he wants to be the King James of everything. He can only do that as a Knick. The guy who comes in and restore relevancy to the Knicks, plays in front of a sold out Garden every game packed with celebs. The Knicks also have enough room to bring in another max guy if I am not mistaken. Everything we believe he wants is waiting in New York. Will he go there?:idunno:

 

"Now he's in New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, There's nothing he can't do, now he's in New York, These streets will make him feel brand new, big lights will inspire you..."

You already said Cleveland won't sign and trade him. So if he's going to leave the money on the table why not sign a 1 year deal and sign a 6 year deal next year w/ the 3 year option? I know it's stupid money, but really what is that amount of money to him in the grand scheme of things?

 

I said it would be stupid for Cleveland to take a sign and trade for him. Never said that they wouldn't, and I believe they will.

But on to the next point. Taking a 1 year deal is stupid this year. Most likely the max salaries are going to go down, so if LeBron has to just sign as a FA this year he would still be better off to get the full amount of years and money he could get (5 years, 92 million?). He could then put an opt out clause in there.

 

After this season Max deals are going to be smaller and shorter. A one year deal would be stupid, no ifs, ands, or buts about it because of the money he'd lose. The only way he wouldn't come out a major loser in that scenario would be to take a 1 year deal with the Cavs and then hope for a sign and trade next off-season. Either way, no way LeBron takes a 1 year deal. Sure 30 million doesn't seem like it would be a whole lot to LeBron, but who are we kidding? Bill Gates isn't going to take a 30 million dollar loss, let alone a 25 year old who wants to become the first billionaire athlete.

I don't think he'll go to the Clippers, but I'd take their 5 against the teams you mentioned unless Bosh is moved to the Lakers for Bynum.

 

Okay. Did Baron Davis find the fountain of youth? Kaman is good. What could any of us possibly know about Blake Griffin as an NBA player? I like Eric Gordon, but let's not get carried away.

Okay. Did Baron Davis find the fountain of youth? Kaman is good. What could any of us possibly know about Blake Griffin as an NBA player? I like Eric Gordon, but let's not get carried away.

 

I think LBJ is that much better than everyone else. Kobe is on the downside of his career and I don't think Durant will be the all around player LBJ is. I'd take Davis right now over Mo Williams and I'd take Griffin right now over any other Cav.

I think LBJ is that much better than everyone else. Kobe is on the downside of his career and I don't think Durant will be the all around player LBJ is. I'd take Davis right now over Mo Williams and I'd take Griffin right now over any other Cav.

 

I agree with everything you just said. I still don't see the Clippers having a better potential starting line-up than the other LA or Boston.

Not going to go back and read through this entire thread, but LBJ will be back in Cleveland. I just don't see any scenario where he isn't.

Not going to go back and read through this entire thread, but LBJ will be back in Cleveland. I just don't see any scenario where he isn't.

 

Mind sharing your reasoning??

Mind sharing your reasoning??

 

He just means too much to the city of Cleveland and he knows it. I might be a little apocalyptic in my thinking, but if he were to leave the franchise would be, at best, never relevant again. At worst, they will be on the move in the next 5-10 years. The franchise would be losing so much money that it just wouldn't make sense to remain in Cleveland.

 

It won't be about money as Cleveland can pay him more than anyone else and there are no built-in incentives for being in a larger market.

 

LeBron understands what's at stake here, and it's more than just basketball. He wants to be a global phenom and he knows he won't get there by turning his back on a city that's given him everything. And it's not just any city, it's his home. LeBron gets it. He ain't going anywhere.

He just means too much to the city of Cleveland and he knows it. I might be a little apocalyptic in my thinking, but if he were to leave the franchise would be, at best, never relevant again. At worst, they will be on the move in the next 5-10 years. The franchise would be losing so much money that it just wouldn't make sense to remain in Cleveland.

 

It won't be about money as Cleveland can pay him more than anyone else and there are no built-in incentives for being in a larger market.

 

LeBron understands what's at stake here, and it's more than just basketball. He wants to be a global phenom and he knows he won't get there by turning his back on a city that's given him everything. And it's not just any city, it's his home. LeBron gets it. He ain't going anywhere.

 

Provided Cleveland gets him some help, I wouldn't have a problem with him staying. Just no more Antawn Jamison or Big Z.