Monday, November 03, 2008

But how does the Iverson trade affect LeBron leaving Cleveland?

Really?

Down, the road the Pistons becomes the driving force of big-time free agency as soon as Iverson's contract comes off the books next summer. The Pistons will combine a winning environment, one of the most respected general managers in the game, and -- depending on salary cap levels that are yet to be set, and extensions that may yet be given to existing Pistons -- likely enough cap space to sign two free agent players to max contracts over the next summers of 2009 and 2010.

Feast your eyes on this list of players who will be available. 2010 free agents include LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Ray Allen, Tyson Chandler, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson, Joe Johnson, Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Michael Redd.

The two that jump out to me are, of course, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. They played together nicely on Team USA, and now Dumars can at least entertain the notion of signing not one of those two, but both.

Let's say both the Cavs and Pistons offer both James and Bosh the maximum allowed. Who do you think they'd sign with (assuming they want to play together). The Cavs will have a 27 year old point guard in Mo Williams and a 21 year old big man to play power forward to Bosh's center in JJ Hickson (nevermind the fact that they're coming off of back-to-back championships! har!). Now remember, the Cavs can offer James more than any team in the league.

So, where do you think they're signing, Detroit or Cleveland?

(and seriously, LeBron's quest for big city stardom is going to lead him to Detroit? Really? You think Nike is going to give him extra money to move to Mo-town? This shit is getting stupid)

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Adrian Wojnarowski's back at it again.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AtljJkNBYa.LENcWOrJQi4s5nYcB?slug=aw-dumarslebron110308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

This guy gets a hard on just thinking about LeBron in a new uniform.

Ben said...

I sent him a comment:

You know that, in 2010, the Cavs are going to be in the exact same spot as Detroit, right? That they're going to be able to offer both James and Bosh (or Wade or whoever) maximum deals, right? That James can make more money staying in Cleveland never seems to come up(or is Nike going to give LeBron a bonus for going to Detroit.

I just have a question: if somehow, the Cavs win the title this season, would you say it makes LeBron more likely or less likely to leave? I'm gonna go out on a limb (based on everything you've written) and guess that you're answer is "more likely" (something like this: "he'd have given Cleveland their championship and now he's be free to pursue the big market").

By the same token, if the Cavs don't win the title this season or next, would you say that makes LeBron more likely or less likely to leave?

I guess what I'm asking is this: what scenario has to occur that you'll write that this makes LeBron more likely to stay in Cleveland? Game 1/82 loss to Celtics: LeBron is out the door. Pistons trade for Allen Iverson: LeBron is going to Detroit.

Look, no one knows what LeBron (a 23 yr old) is going to do in two seasons. We really don't. But the Cavs are set up just as nicely as the Knicks or Pistons or any other team you can think of. They'll have winning records, they'll have capspace and they'll be in his backyard. I can take the New York or L.A. rumors, cause if he wants a big city, then there's absolutely nothing the Cavs can do. But if you think he's going to leave the Cavaliers for the Pistons, you're insane.