The LeBron James Free Agency Thread

[SandraC]

You are thinking individually. As a team, they WERE, at least on paper, 2 deep at just about every position with quality, proven and yet still young, talent. It is, at least IMHO, the coaching staffs job to meld all that talent ASAP.

If you extract Lebron James from the lineup you have to start thinking about them individually. The 'team' they were on no longer exists.

I would put Mo Williams in the middle of the pack regarding point guards. You could make the argument for being as high as 10 or so, but you can also make the argument that he's lower than 15. I can think of 10 guys off the top of my head I would rather have, and I'm probably forgetting some.

They go two-deep at shooting guard, but neither West or Parker are top 10 at their position either...far from it. Two deep with two very average players.

Same goes for power forward, Varejao and Jamison are both far from top 10 at their position as well. Two deep and too average.

And as for center? I don't even know where to put Shaq anymore. Certainly would not want him on my team at this point. Z-man is...ok at best. Take Lebron off the team and he's not getting many open jumpers anymore. There is nobody any defense would have to double. Below average.

So you don't have a top ten guy at any position, except Lebron of course, who is number one...except in games five and six where he was bad.

The Cavaliers without Lebron James are just not a good team. After the draft I would match the Nets up against them favorably. And don't forget, Cleveland has NO draft picks this year. None. First round pick went to Washington for Jamison, second round went to Phoenix for Shaq. At least they will save the expense of flying to New York...


Sandra

[The Insider]

The only person making fun of Lebron James is you


Sandra

ANd me

[SandraC]

ANd me

You don't count


Sandra

[HD MM]

OK I guess I'm just not following this line of thinking...

Who exactly are the good players on Cleveland?


Sandra

Jamison, Mo Williams and Z were All-Stars a few years ago.

Anderson Varajao was runner up for 5th man player of the year.

JJ Hickson is the best player in the league no one knows about. He'll be in his 3rd professional year next year and will have a break out year. Mark it down.

Delonte West, JJ Moon, Anthony Parker, Leon Powe. Holy, hell, am I missing anyone?! Oh, yeah. Danny Green. He didn't get any PT this year, because we were too deep. He'll get to have his coming out party next year.

[HD MM]

What's Cleveland's available cap space looking like?? Adding Jamison's contract certainly didn't help....

We have little to spend if we DO sign LeBron. I could be off, but my train of thought is that if we don't sign LeBron for a max-contract, we will have that money to sign another player for a max-deal.

[SabresRule]

In my honest opinion, this is the guy I feel the Knicks should go after this summer instead of LeBron, one who would probably be a better fit for the team:



Consider this:

#1- The Knicks, while no longer embarassing from a public relations point of view, are still bad defensively. LeBron has made the last two NBA All-Defensive Teams.

This year, the Knicks were fourth-worst in points allowed per game (105.9), the Cavs fifth-best (95.6). It wouldn't be a good fit.

#2- Bosh is a capable big man, and we saw the magic that D'Antoni worked with Stoudemire in the desert.

#3- Bosh contract would cost less than LBJ's, which would allow them to try and retain the improving David Lee.

[salsadancer7]

#1- The Knicks, while no longer embarassing from a public relations point of view, are still bad defensively. LeBron has made the last two NBA All-Defensive Teams.

This year, the Knicks were fourth-worst in points allowed per game (105.9), the Cavs fifth-best (95.6). It wouldn't be a good fit.

#2- Bosh is a capable big man, and we saw the magic that D'Antoni worked with Stoudemire in the desert.

#3- Bosh contract would cost less than LBJ's, which would allow them to try and retain the improving David Lee.

Bosh will wait to see what Lebron and Wade does. IF Lebron stays in Cleveland, Bosh will go where Wade goes.....more than likely Miami, or Chicago. IF Lebron signs with someone that has the possibility of signing two max players....then more than likely, Bosh comes with him.

As of right now, there are VERY FEW teams that can sign two max players...Miami, the Knicks and the Nets, if I am not mistaken.

Also remember, NEXT YEAR....there is Paul and Anthony as the big name free agents. LOL!! ...just saying....

Either way you look at it, the possibilities are endless....

[SabresRule]

Salsa, how would Bosh fit on the Heat if he chooses to go there?

[salsadancer7]

Let's say LeBron signs with someone else. Doesn't that still make Cleveland a major player in attaining one of the top-knotch free agents? (Ie. Dwayne Wade)? After all, we'll have the money freed up if we don't sign LeBron.

My pitch to Wade is this: With LeBron, this team won 60+ games two years in a row. With the same core in tack, and we swap LeBron out for you, this team is still a great team. On the team you're on now, Mr. Wade, you barely make the playoffs. Plus, you have what's needed to take the next step in our progress that LeBron doesn't: Championship Experience! So, what do you say Mr. Wade? Sign right here on the dotted line to come to Cleveland........

To tell you the truth, I HIGHLY doubt Cleveland is a team he would got to. IF, and this is a guess on my part, I would put percentages of where Wade/leaning, it would go like this:

Miami - 85%
Chicago - 10%
NYK - 5%

Lebron:

Cleveland - 40%
Chicago - 30%
NYK - 25%
NJN - 5%

The funniest thing about this whole Lebron chase...Dirk is still out there. Considering the fact that he CHOSE to opt out to test free agency is HUGE.

[salsadancer7]

Salsa, how would Bosh fit on the Heat if he chooses to go there?

They won't. I have come to the conclusion that Lebron and Wade will NOT play on the same team due to egos. Yeah, when all the big name free agents played together on the Dream Team, it was "we are family" only because it was for a couple games. A WHOLE season is whole different animal.

Bosh and Amare would have NO ISSUES being the Robin to Wade or Lebron's Batman. Dirk would not want to be the #2 guy either.