The NBA Thread

[Gilly]

Miami or Chicago. I just can't see him waiting a couple seasons to try to win a championship with the Knicks or Nets. In Miami or Chicago there already are stars there and brining in two more will give him the best chance to win for the same money. New York isn't going to make him more visible and give him more endorsement deals than he already has, and the Bulls are probably a more marketable team anyway.

[nec13]

If LeBron wants to win multiple championships, he would sign with Oklahoma City. A team with Durant, Westbrook, James, et al. would be a dominant force over the next 5-10 years.

Of course, there's not a chance in hell that he signs with OKC. In the end, I think he will sign with the Bulls to play with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. If they could somehow find a taker for Luol Deng's albatross of a contract, then the Bulls could probably fit in a second max contract and make it even more enticing for LeBron.

I don't see LeBron signing with the Knicks. The Knicks should have enough cap room to sign two max free agents, but I don't believe that they have the supporting cast necessary to compete for a title immediately. Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari are nice players, but not nearly as good as what a team such as Chicago or Miami (or even New Jersey) can offer.

Personally, I hope he re-signs in Cleveland. However, for myriad reasons, I don't think that will happen.

[senorcorazon]

The best moment is going to be the morning after he doesn't sign with the Knicks, and the front office has to realize that maybe slash-and-burn isn't a way to build a team. D'Antoni will have to look hard at that moustache in the mirror.

[nec13]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY1dQldCtOI[/youtube]

How could LeBron NOT stay after this?

[Pregnant Pause]

The best moment is going to be the morning after he doesn't sign with the Knicks, and the front office has to realize that maybe slash-and-burn isn't a way to build a team. D'Antoni will have to look hard at that moustache in the mirror.

Then they can start talking themselves into Carmelo in 2011

[JohnU]

Slash and burn is a good way to build a team. Start with no payroll and no players and bring in young talented guys through the draft who you don't have to pay a lot. Then, sign a legit top ten player if you can. What the Knicks had been doing is bringing in washed-up former All Stars and paying them insanely huge contracts and trading away draft picks. They were handcuffed for a decade. This is a better plan even if they don't get Lebron or Wade. Portland and Oklahoma went from last place to playoff contenders in three or four years using this approach.

I don't see Chicago as that much more appealing than staying in Cleveland. Lebron is already King of the Midwest. Noah is the same dude as Varajao. Rose isn't a sure thing. I think he's been given everything he wants in Cleveland and he'll only leave to fulfill his media titan fantasies in New York. Going on dates with Madonna and Kate Hudson. Ringing the morning bell on Wall Street... That kind of stuff!

[nec13]

There's also a great deal of luck involved, as the NBA Draft is a crapshoot. Slash and burn only works if your team is fortunate enough to successfully hit on its draft picks, something which Portland and OKC have been able to do.

[gravy boat]

. I think he's been given everything he wants in Cleveland and he'll only leave to fulfill his media titan fantasies in New York. Going on dates with Madonna and Kate Hudson. Ringing the morning bell on Wall Street... That kind of stuff!

Yep. How ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm once they've seen Karl Hungus.

[jbissell]

I don't see Chicago as that much more appealing than staying in Cleveland. Lebron is already King of the Midwest. Noah is the same dude as Varajao. Rose isn't a sure thing.

No way. I think Noah has more offensive potential. Hair-wise I'd go with Varajao.

Also, Rose is a sure thing, especially if you compare him to any other PG Lebron's played with. He's already a top 7 PG after only his 2nd year and he's only going to get better, especially if he develops his outside shot.

[Gilly]

 

The lottery is the worst. McHale might have been bad but the lottery has crippled the Wolves year after year. It's stupid that the worst team in the league has a 25 percent chance to pick 1st. Absolutely stupid.

[senorcorazon]

Slashing and burning can work if you've got a savvy front office, good scouts, and a unifying coach. Without all of those, you've got the the Clippers. I'm pleased to see that the Knicks are trying to get rid of sagging contracts and have a coach that's not under indictment but they're still going to need a hell of a lot of luck to turn it around. Then being this bad in the East -- imagine how much they'd blow it in the West?

"Vince Carter missed two critical free throws in the closing seconds of Game 2." How many months ago could you have written this photo caption?

[JohnU]

My sources are telling me that LeBron will NOT be re-signing with Cleveland.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/20/calvin-murphy-lebron-jame_n_583135.html

[jbissell]

"Vince Carter missed two critical free throws in the closing seconds of Game 2." How many months ago could you have written this photo caption?

Even better was the fact that he was 5-5 before that. I'm just disappointed the Suns don't have a shot because I really dislike the remaining teams.

My sources are telling me that LeBron will NOT be re-signing with Cleveland.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/20/calvin-murphy-lebron-jame_n_583135.html

I hope we get confirmation from Shawn Kemp next.

[jamesp]

Slash and burn is a good way to build a team. Start with no payroll and no players and bring in young talented guys through the draft who you don't have to pay a lot. Then, sign a legit top ten player if you can. What the Knicks had been doing is bringing in washed-up former All Stars and paying them insanely huge contracts and trading away draft picks. They were handcuffed for a decade. This is a better plan even if they don't get Lebron or Wade. Portland and Oklahoma went from last place to playoff contenders in three or four years using this approach.

You're missing the fact that the Knicks traded their draft picks in 2010 as part of their dumb deals this decade. They've only got picks #38 and #39. I don't think the Knicks have shown good judgment with past picks and don't see them having a front office that is smart enough to become an OKC or Portland.

I don't care much about Mo Williams to begin with, but athletes having pitbull breeding businesses seems suspicious. Also saw on another site that he has three dogs named Capone, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

http://www.esquire.com/the-side/lebron-james/mo-williams-pitbull-breeder-052110

[Chris L]

This makes me feel better about the Suns losing.