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I know everyone will think I'm just being a homer but if you choose to listen to me I might make some sense
First, Lebron doesn't know if he is staying in Cleveland or leaving in 2 years. Alot can change in 2 years. The Cavs have expiring contracts that would allow them to make a HUGE trade this season- and have money in 2010 to sign Lebron AND another huge star. If the Cavs win the championship in 2011 it's hard to imagine the face of the franchise leaving...know what I mean?
Second, He isn't going to he a Net. The Nets won't be in Brooklyn in 2 years because they have not even passed the right papers to start building an arena. I know he is friends with JayZ- but he will not play 2nd fiddle if he leaves to go to New York. Nobody wants to go to LA and dreams of playing for the Clippers- and when someone says they want to play baseball in New York, they are not talking about the Mets. You could argue that Lebron would want to be a Knick- HOWEVER, he would be leaving a team that is built around him for a team that is in shambles, and won't be able to make ANY major changes till the 2010 offseason when they would have the money to only spend on one star (Lebron). If Lebron is truly concerned about winning championship, he won't do himself any favors going to the Knicks.
Finally and most importantly, you have to take EVERYTHING you read with a grain of salt. These reporters, ESPN..all the networks NEED Lebron in New York. Think about it, if he is in New York that makes the Knicks relevant and brings the largest market in the NBA back into the market. They write like the deal is already done because they desperately hope the deal will be done. ESPN would love 8 million more viewers of their NBA coverage from the NYC area. SI would love to sell 8 million more magazines. The NYC sports area would love the Knicks to be good again just so they can get ratings and sell magazines. It's all money to them- that is why they write like Lebron already knows.
Here is the truth:
1) He doesn't know. Alot could change- if the Cavs are great, he ain't leaving. If the Cavs suck, I bet he leaves.
2) He can make more money in Cleveland. If he leaves Cleveland he takes 2 steps back in terms of contract money because in the NBA you make more money the longer you are with a team.
3) Nike will pay him regardless of where he plays. He could play in New York, Cleveland, or Nova Scotia- it doesn't matter, he will get what he wants. Think about it, what are they going to say "Sorry Lebron, we would give you $10 million in Cleveland, but $20 million in NYC" --now not only does this break NBA rules, but he could just say "Alright, Adidas will give me $20,000,000 wherever I play" --he is the most marketable player in the NBA, and has more than proven his worth; he will get his money no matter where he plays because Nike does NOT want to lose him
With all that said, I don't know what he will do, he doesn't know- only Stephen A Smith knows.
