Lebron's final 3: Nets, Cavs, Bulls

[dallaskd]

http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/basketball/nets/070510_LeBron_James_puts_off_making_decisions_sour ces_say_Nets_among_final_three.html

[Ditty]

lol knicks

lol heat

lol mavs

[badfish22]

lol believing this.

This is just a NJ paper saying "lol Knicks!"

[MavDynasty]

lol believing this.

This is just a NJ paper saying "lol Knicks!"

[My Fault]

He's not going to the Knicks? Did anyone think he was?

[Dr. Gonzo]

You should do what the college recruits do. He should set those three caps on the table and pick one.

[JamStone]

Who knows what he'll decide, but I'm surprised New Jersey seemed to remain so under the radar when people talked about possible destinations. Jersey looks every bit as appealing as Chicago, if you ask me, maybe more so in terms of the roster. Very good, young center in Lopez. Already a point guard in place, and Harris doesn't have to dominate the basketball like Rose does. You add the #3 pick in Derrick Favors and a couple of decent role players like Courtney Lee and Kris Humphries (I think he picked up his option), and enough cap space available to offer another big contract (just not the max) to another free agent. To me, that's at least "as good" a situation as Chicago has.

You add the City of New York, a billionaire owner who has made it clear that money is no object regarding anything, and joining his buddy Jay-Z, I'm surprised the Nets have not been talked about more.

Now he might still choose Cleveland or Chicago, but I always felt New Jersey was one of the top considerations.

[badfish22]

Who knows what he'll decide, but I'm surprised New Jersey seemed to remain so under the radar when people talked about possible destinations. Jersey looks every bit as appealing as Chicago, if you ask me, maybe more so in terms of the roster. Very good, young center in Lopez. Already a point guard in place, and Harris doesn't have to dominate the basketball like Rose does. You add the #3 pick in Derrick Favors and a couple of decent role players like Courtney Lee and Kris Humphries (I think he picked up his option), and enough cap space available to offer another big contract (just not the max) to another free agent. To me, that's at least "as good" a situation as Chicago has.

You add the City of New York, a billionaire owner who has made it clear that money is no object regarding anything, and joining his buddy Jay-Z, I'm surprised the Nets have not been talked about more.

Now he might still choose Cleveland or Chicago, but I always felt New Jersey was one of the top considerations.

They also won 12 games last year. They have a very bright future, but I don't think Lebron wants to go to a team he knows cannot win a championship next year

[Destro]

NJ is the best option but I worry about Lebron listening to AJ and Aj's ability to not bark at Lebron. I'm not sure Aj is the right coach for him since King James has been babied his entire life as a player. AJ won't be able to walk on egg shells for Lebron

[Basketballgirl25]

Who knows what he'll decide, but I'm surprised New Jersey seemed to remain so under the radar when people talked about possible destinations. Jersey looks every bit as appealing as Chicago, if you ask me, maybe more so in terms of the roster. Very good, young center in Lopez. Already a point guard in place, and Harris doesn't have to dominate the basketball like Rose does. You add the #3 pick in Derrick Favors and a couple of decent role players like Courtney Lee and Kris Humphries (I think he picked up his option), and enough cap space available to offer another big contract (just not the max) to another free agent. To me, that's at least "as good" a situation as Chicago has.

You add the City of New York, a billionaire owner who has made it clear that money is no object regarding anything, and joining his buddy Jay-Z, I'm surprised the Nets have not been talked about more.

Now he might still choose Cleveland or Chicago, but I always felt New Jersey was one of the top considerations.

well at least you always felt New Jersey was on of the top considerations. I'm from NJ and I always have that gut feeling he is going to screw us over for the Knicks and if he did that it would be that much sweeter to beat the Knicks. And you say your surprised seemed to remain under the radar, well I can tell you most of the time they are under the radar, even those years when they made the finals

[namlook]

People should have known that Lebron wasn't going to join the Heat with Wade when that's Wade's team.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

New Jersey.

[BullsDynasty]

well at least you always felt New Jersey was on of the top considerations. I'm from NJ and I always have that gut feeling he is going to screw us over for the Knicks and if he did that it would be that much sweeter to beat the Knicks. And you say your surprised seemed to remain under the radar, well I can tell you most of the time they are under the radar, even those years when they made the finals

http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/9051/matrixposttitsorgtfo.jpg

[Basketballgirl25]

They also won 12 games last year. They have a very bright future, but I don't think Lebron wants to go to a team he knows cannot win a championship next year

if you watched any Net games last year you would know better not to look at the 12 wins as an example, yes I know that may be hard if you didn't see a lot of games. And how do you know Nets can't win a championship next year? When Kidd came to the Nets he took a 24 win team to the finals, so it could happen, but then again Kidd did have Byron Scott as a coach, maybe Byron is the key for Lebron winning

[namlook]

I agree the Nets are out. Lebron isn't going to go to a team that is that bad and risk embarrassing himself.

[BullsDynasty]

I agree the Nets are out. Lebron isn't going to go to a team that is that bad and risk embarrassing himself.

Then I guess Lebron should add the Nets to his ignore list.

[Kai]

I say Bulls.

[Basketballgirl25]

I agree the Nets are out. Lebron isn't going to go to a team that is that bad and risk embarrassing himself.

Well I think he will stay a Cav with Wade going to the Bulls, but guess we will all see what happens, no one knows for sure

[namlook]

Then I guess Lebron should add the Nets to his ignore list.

Lebron will probably have to block incoming calls from Prokhorov. He is not someone that usually takes no for an answer.

[Basketballgirl25]

Lebron will probably have to block incoming calls from Prokhorov. He is not someone that usually takes no for an answer.

here's a funny, yet very corny video on youtube that has Lebron and Prokhorov
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGwBYSHhbG8

[lefty]

He wont go to NJ and NY

Too much media pressure.



Cavs or Bulls

[Basketballgirl25]

He wont go to NJ and NY

Too much media pressure.



Cavs or Bulls

Too much media pressure in NJ, well I have to say that's funny, maybe when Nets go to Brooklyn they get Media attention most of the media attention is with the Knicks, last year when they were losing all those games Nets got attention, but once we started to win a game or two, bye bye media

[lefty]

Too much media pressure in NJ, well I have to say that's funny, maybe when Nets go to Brooklyn they get Media attention most of the media attention is with the Knicks, last year when they were losing all those games Nets got attention, but once we started to win a game or two, bye bye media
Yeah but it's Lebron and it's in NY area

So the attention will be hard to ignore

[Basketballgirl25]

Yeah but it's Lebron and it's in NY area

So the attention will be hard to ignore

true true, I was forgot for a second and thought he was one of those guys like Kidd, guess no one really cares about Kidd in the NY media enough to of covered the Nets when he was here lol

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

They also won 12 games last year. They have a very bright future, but I don't think Lebron wants to go to a team he knows cannot win a championship next year


I think Lebron knows that, outside of a team where he Wade and Bosh play together, wherever he goes there's a strong likelihood the team will need a year for the new core to gel properly. I don't see Lebron and Bosh w/ a supporting cast put together with limited cap room beating LA next year. Beyond that yes, but not next year.

[Ashy Larry]

He'll probably stay home ...... dude would have to go home every now and then and hear the same shit:

"Why did you leave?"

[lefty]

true true, I was forgot for a second and thought he was one of those guys like Kidd, guess no one really cares about Kidd in the NY media enough to of covered the Nets when he was here lol
Kidd is a great player, but he doesnt have the media impact Lebron has

[Basketballgirl25]

Kidd is a great player, but he doesnt have the media impact Lebron has

well I didn't say Kidd wasn't a great player, he was a lot better in 2002 and 2003 though, but Kidd is lesser known then Lebron that's what I meant. I mean when Kidd was on the Nets I mentioned his name and people didn't know who I was talking about, I mention Lebron today the same people I talk with know him

[lefty]

well I didn't say Kidd wasn't a great player, he was a lot better in 2002 and 2003 though, but Kidd is lesser known then Lebron that's what I meant. I mean when Kidd was on the Nets I mentioned his name and people didn't know who I was talking about, I mention Lebron today the same people I talk with know him
true

[Harry Callahan]

I don't think LBJ and AJ would work well together because of Avery's style. Would LBJ be able to take any correction or criticism? I don't think so.

Cle or Chi looks like the supposed winner.

[Basketballgirl25]

I don't think LBJ and AJ would work well together because of Avery's style. Would LBJ be able to take any correction or criticism? I don't think so.

Cle or Chi looks like the supposed winner.

Yeah I don't know how it would work out with AJ as coach with Lebron. But then again some people do learn, so maybe AJ wouldn't say anything to Lebron if he came. He can say all he wants to the other players like Harris, Brook, etc. Although it could be bad to yell at Brook because I've heard two things can happen.

[boston.balla]

actually i'm with jam on this one. The nets is the most perfect fit imaginable.

People underrate devin harris and forget what he can do off the ball focusing on defense and KNOWING his role (rose is a 3rd year 1st pick .. ).

Add to that brook lopez and derrick favors and you got rebounding and defense superior to the majority of the teams in the league.

Add to that exceptional defensive prospects and young talented but not bound superstar (so in 2-3 years they fuck up the team with money demands) that can fill exactly the needed role (courtney lee -3pt def specialist), and to the cap space they'd have even if they sign lebron

Add to that that they're basically in new york so all the media whoredom will go to unknown levels.

I don't care if that team won 12 games. How many games would the cavs team win without lebron where their offense would be mo & jamison two volume shooters ... they'd be worse than the wizards.

[The Third Man]

They also won 12 games last year. They have a very bright future, but I don't think Lebron wants to go to a team he knows cannot win a championship next year

I would say Lebron is a good bet to go to the Nets next time. Three years from now they could be ready to contend.

[mystargtr34]

The Nets were so bad outside of Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris, that you could replace two starters like Yi and Terrence Williams with LeBron and Bosh and you would an instant contender.

[JamStone]

Hypothetically, say LeBron goes to the Nets and he's the only major free agent they sign.

Their core would consist of:

Devin Harris
Courtney Lee / Terrence Williams
LeBron James / Damion James
Derrick Favors / Kris Humphries
Brook Lopez

With only adding LeBron, I think that team is easily a 55 win team in the Eastern Conference and probably a favorite to go to the Finals, despite the lack of playoff experience on the roster. That's how much of a difference LeBron makes.

But the Nets would still have a lot of money to add, whether it's another big name free agent or a couple quality players. Can't get another max free agent, but a very good player or a couple good players to round out the roster. Fill the back-up roles for point guard and center, and that's a very good team.

I look at the Cleveland Cavaliers last year and if you take LeBron of that roster, I think that's a 15-20 win team. So I really don't think the fact the Nets won only 12 games last year is that big of a concern. And they did just add the #3 pick in the draft, Derrick Favors. LeBron hasn't had youth and athleticism in his front court his entire career. Drew Gooden was the most athletic front court player he played with. He gets a 20 point scorer in Brook Lopez, something he hadn't had since Boozer. And he gets athleticism with Favors, something he really never had in a PF.

[ducks]

james goes to nets he will get the credit for turning that team into a winner
not aj not haris not the number 3 pick

[Killakobe81]

Hypothetically, say LeBron goes to the Nets and he's the only major free agent they sign.

Their core would consist of:

Devin Harris
Courtney Lee / Terrence Williams
LeBron James / Damion James
Derrick Favors / Kris Humphries
Brook Lopez

With only adding LeBron, I think that team is easily a 55 win team in the Eastern Conference and probably a favorite to go to the Finals, despite the lack of playoff experience on the roster. That's how much of a difference LeBron makes.

But the Nets would still have a lot of money to add, whether it's another big name free agent or a couple quality players. Can't get another max free agent, but a very good player or a couple good players to round out the roster. Fill the back-up roles for point guard and center, and that's a very good team.

I look at the Cleveland Cavaliers last year and if you take LeBron of that roster, I think that's a 15-20 win team. So I really don't think the fact the Nets won only 12 games last year is that big of a concern. And they did just add the #3 pick in the draft, Derrick Favors. LeBron hasn't had youth and athleticism in his front court his entire career. Drew Gooden was the most athletic front court player he played with. He gets a 20 point scorer in Brook Lopez, something he hadn't had since Boozer. And he gets athleticism with Favors, something he really never had in a PF.


agree with MOST of this but not sure Cavs are ONLY a 15-20 win team without 'Bron.

Shaq, Jamison, Verejao mo williams that is some good talent ...problem is most of those can not create ...so without Lebron there is aHUGE hole but in the East I think that is a 25-30 win team ...

I cant imagine even diminished Shaq leads a 15 win team ...

[Darrin]

It makes sense. Cleveland is home and the Nets have a nice young core and some solid role players with a good coach. That professionalism should minimize the losing culture that may have developed over the last two seasons. Everyone was miscast last year. Courtney Lee, Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, and Quinton Ross have been role players on big-time playoff teams. Brook Lopez, Derrick Favors, and Devin Harris is a nice supporting cast around Lebron James.

But my favorite is still the Bulls. If he can lure Chris Bosh to sign with him and they can form that 3-headed monster of Rose, Lebron, and Bosh, they could take the league by storm a la the 2008 Boston Celtics (and they are much younger, too).

[Basketballgirl25]

I would say Lebron is a good bet to go to the Nets next time. Three years from now they could be ready to contend.

Well with this said he signs with the Cavs then like some people I've heard say in 2013 he goes to the Nets and they will be in Brooklyn by that time

[Basketballgirl25]

The Nets were so bad outside of Brooke Lopez and Devin Harris, that you could replace two starters like Yi and Terrence Williams with LeBron and Bosh and you would an instant contender.

Yi has been traded to Washington and T-Will didn't start, but he got better at the end of the year

[Ashy Larry]

LeBron's going nowhere .......he's milking this media blowjob and he's gonna do what most of us thought he would do, stay in Cleveland.

[Basketballgirl25]

It makes sense. Cleveland is home and the Nets have a nice young core and some solid role players with a good coach. That professionalism should minimize the losing culture that may have developed over the last two seasons. Everyone was miscast last year. Courtney Lee, Keyon Dooling, Jarvis Hayes, and Quinton Ross have been role players on big-time playoff teams. Brook Lopez, Derrick Favors, and Devin Harris is a nice supporting cast around Lebron James.

But my favorite is still the Bulls. If he can lure Chris Bosh to sign with him and they can form that 3-headed monster of Rose, Lebron, and Bosh, they could take the league by storm a la the 2008 Boston Celtics (and they are much younger, too).

Wouldn't the Bulls need to trade a player to get Bosh? I thought I read that somewhere, could be wrong. I know for Nets to get Bosh they would need to trade Hump

[xellos88330]

Cavs or Nets. I don't think LeBron wants to live in the shadow of MJ.

[dallaskd]

Id say Lebron is staying. Wade and Bosh to Chicago. Bosh just wants to hold out as long as possible so his name will stay in the news.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Ugh, really boring if Lebron simply resigns with Cleveland after all of this

[DPG21920]

Ugh, really boring if Lebron simply resigns with Cleveland after all of this

CLE fans will be pissed because they don't want him.

[Darrin]

Wouldn't the Bulls need to trade a player to get Bosh? I thought I read that somewhere, could be wrong. I know for Nets to get Bosh they would need to trade Hump

They already did. They traded Hinrich and the 17th pick to the Wizards for nothing. That's 9.5 million in Hinrich salary and another 2 million for the 17th pick. They became players from that moment on to land two guys.

[Spursfan092120]

Prokhorov said he showed Lebron how he would be a mogul in New Jersey, and said that if Lebron came to NJ, he'd pursue a trade for Chris Paul. I'm really liking this Prokhorov guy.

[Spursfan092120]

My question is this. Toronto was talking about a sign and trade for Bosh to Cleveland, but Bosh said he didn't want to play in Cleveland. Don't him and Lebron talk? If he thought there was any prayer that Lebron would stay in Cleveland, would Bosh say he doesn't want to play there? Just a thought.

[Basketballgirl25]

They already did. They traded Hinrich and the 17th pick to the Wizards for nothing. That's 9.5 million in Hinrich salary and another 2 million for the 17th pick. They became players from that moment on to land two guys.

I've heard and read that they would have to do one more thing though, everyone could be wrong though. But I did read this online and from what I heard if they did a sign-and-trade, Raptors might ask for Noah, I don't think any of it is true, because I still feel like Lebron is stay with Cavs, Wade with heat and Bosh goes to heat as well

http://ken-berger.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/23028734?tag=comBlogEntryListCnt;entry23028734
With $30.9 million in cap space after Rob Kurz and Chris Richard were waived, the Bulls are still one transaction away from fitting two straight max signings into their space. One way around that would be to sign-and-trade for one free agent and sign the other one, but it is difficult to imagine Bosh taking less money that Wade or LeBron -- or vice versa.

[Pistons < Spurs]

ESPNEWS

Breaking News - Sources: LeBron James will announce decision on his free agency Thursday at 9pm EST on ESPN.

[MavDynasty]

:sleep wake me up when its time