duncan228
11-07-2009, 10:23 PM
Cavs must win to keep LeBron (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/Cavs_must_win_to_keep_LeBron.html)
Mike Monroe - Express-News
He knew what was coming, so when reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James hit the Big Apple on Friday, he had his rap ready.
Most of it wasn't new:
He's not saying where he's playing in the future until he becomes a free agent in July. ... He's never been an unrestricted free agent, so he's not going to rush his decision. ... He loves New York and Madison Square Garden.
But there was this a maximum contract offer isn't necessary to get his signature on a contract offered by a true title contender.
It's all about winning for me, he told reporters at The Garden after he wowed the crowd and led the Cavaliers to an easy win, so I've put myself in a position that when that day comes next summer, I want to win, and if I feel like the team is capable of winning, I'll make my decision like that.
Cleveland hasn't felt so queasy since the last time the Cuyahoga River caught fire.
The Cavaliers have only one big advantage over the other teams who covet James when he becomes a free agent. The league's collective bargaining agreement allows them to offer more money, a six-year deal worth about $120 million, compared to a five-year deal worth about $90 million available to teams far enough under next year's salary cap.
If winning a title trumps the extra $30 mil, well, you have to figure seven seasons in Cleveland without one will be proof there really is some sort of curse on Cleveland's pro sports teams.
Cleveland has a physical advantage, too. James grew up in Akron and still lives there, which is sort of like living in New Braunfels and working in San Antonio.
Of course, James managed to grow up rooting for the Yankees, rather than the Indians, so you wonder about those home ties. He gushed Friday night about playing in the Mecca of basketball, in front of stars from the entertainment world.
James' emphasis on title-worthiness can't really be good news for teams like the Nets and Knicks, either. Both positioned their cap space to offer James the max package. Neither will be a title contender, even with James.
Oops.
Where will James' summer options truly lie?
According to guaranteed salary cap commitments for next season, the teams that figure to have the ability to offer James max money, besides the Cavs, Knicks and Nets, are the Bulls, Clippers, Heat, Timberwolves, Thunder and Kings. The Rockets may be close.
Throw out the Wolves, Clippers and Kings, for obvious reasons. Ditto the Thunder, because, well, they play in Oklahoma City.
That leaves the Bulls and the Heat, and you can make a decent case that either team can be a title contender with James. Miami's Dwyane Wade already is a bona fide superstar. Chicago's Derrick Rose is on the cusp. Both Eric Spoelstra and Vinny Del Negro are well-regarded young coaches. Both teams have decent bigs.
If I'm Danny Ferry, the Cavs GM, I'm doing whatever I can to snag Stephen Jackson from the Warriors, even if it means trading Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his expiring contract.
Winning the title this season is the Cavaliers' last best hope of keeping James.
Mike Monroe - Express-News
He knew what was coming, so when reigning Most Valuable Player LeBron James hit the Big Apple on Friday, he had his rap ready.
Most of it wasn't new:
He's not saying where he's playing in the future until he becomes a free agent in July. ... He's never been an unrestricted free agent, so he's not going to rush his decision. ... He loves New York and Madison Square Garden.
But there was this a maximum contract offer isn't necessary to get his signature on a contract offered by a true title contender.
It's all about winning for me, he told reporters at The Garden after he wowed the crowd and led the Cavaliers to an easy win, so I've put myself in a position that when that day comes next summer, I want to win, and if I feel like the team is capable of winning, I'll make my decision like that.
Cleveland hasn't felt so queasy since the last time the Cuyahoga River caught fire.
The Cavaliers have only one big advantage over the other teams who covet James when he becomes a free agent. The league's collective bargaining agreement allows them to offer more money, a six-year deal worth about $120 million, compared to a five-year deal worth about $90 million available to teams far enough under next year's salary cap.
If winning a title trumps the extra $30 mil, well, you have to figure seven seasons in Cleveland without one will be proof there really is some sort of curse on Cleveland's pro sports teams.
Cleveland has a physical advantage, too. James grew up in Akron and still lives there, which is sort of like living in New Braunfels and working in San Antonio.
Of course, James managed to grow up rooting for the Yankees, rather than the Indians, so you wonder about those home ties. He gushed Friday night about playing in the Mecca of basketball, in front of stars from the entertainment world.
James' emphasis on title-worthiness can't really be good news for teams like the Nets and Knicks, either. Both positioned their cap space to offer James the max package. Neither will be a title contender, even with James.
Oops.
Where will James' summer options truly lie?
According to guaranteed salary cap commitments for next season, the teams that figure to have the ability to offer James max money, besides the Cavs, Knicks and Nets, are the Bulls, Clippers, Heat, Timberwolves, Thunder and Kings. The Rockets may be close.
Throw out the Wolves, Clippers and Kings, for obvious reasons. Ditto the Thunder, because, well, they play in Oklahoma City.
That leaves the Bulls and the Heat, and you can make a decent case that either team can be a title contender with James. Miami's Dwyane Wade already is a bona fide superstar. Chicago's Derrick Rose is on the cusp. Both Eric Spoelstra and Vinny Del Negro are well-regarded young coaches. Both teams have decent bigs.
If I'm Danny Ferry, the Cavs GM, I'm doing whatever I can to snag Stephen Jackson from the Warriors, even if it means trading Zydrunas Ilgauskas and his expiring contract.
Winning the title this season is the Cavaliers' last best hope of keeping James.