Shortly after Cleveland was eliminated by Boston in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, LeBron James placed a call to Bulls guard Derrick Rose.
What did they talk about?
Word is, James said he likes Rose's game, likes his team and would welcome the chance to play together.
Before putting LeBron's No. 6 Bulls jersey up for sale, keep in mind that it's possible James made similar calls to Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Maybe even Nets center Brook Lopez. But it has been made clear through various channels that James is very interested in joining the Bulls when he becomes a free agent on July 1.
New York, New Jersey and Miami figure to be James' top options, along with re-signing in Cleveland. Staying with the Cavaliers is starting to seem less likely after the early playoff exit exposed flaws in the team's winning formula.
The James phone call to Rose was mentioned by ESPN reporter Scoop Jackson and confirmed by a league source. Rose has been taking things slowly since the Bulls season ended with a first-round loss to Cleveland, but he visits the Berto Center on occasion. The source said the James-Rose conversation did not last very long.
The Bulls will have roughly $20 million in cap room this summer, enough to sign the two-time MVP outright. They're often mentioned as James' best chance to win right away, since he could step into a lineup with Rose, Joakim Noah and Luol Deng.
James will have other attractive options. New York has enough cap room to pair him with another big-time free agent such as Bosh. Miami could offer a unique pairing with all-star Dwyane Wade.
New Jersey probably can't be counted out, either, despite posting the league's worst record last season. The Nets have some good young players and money to spend now that Russian kazillionaire Mikhail Prokhorov owns the team. Plus, one of the Nets co-owners is James' good buddy Jay-Z and the team is supposed to relocate to Brooklyn in two years.
In the meantime, the Bulls' coaching search has slowed down as the team contemplates whether a big-name coach would give them a better chance of landing James.
The biggest prize in coaching is obviously Phil Jackson, whose contract with the Lakers is about to expire. He also figures to stay busy through the end of the NBA Finals.
There is no evidence the Bulls have any interest in Kentucky coach John Calipari or that playing for Calipari would even appeal to James. If the Bulls can't bring back Jackson for a second stint on the bench, former Portland and Philadelphia coach Maurice Cheeks appears to have the best chance at the job.
None of other NBA teams in search of a head coach - Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta and the Clippers - has made a hire.
Am I the only one who fails to see the upside of a Rose/LeBron combo?
Rose is not great. LeBron needs the ball in his hands to play his best. Deng, Noah, and co. are fine role players, but I'm just not seeing a marked improvement over the current Cavs if Rose is expected to be a key piece.
Maybe I'm understimating Rose. Someone convince me.
<---------
Rose/Lebron would be absolutely insane in the open floor. They could run all day.
lol Knicks
Well, the guy isn't wasting any time in exploring his options or putting fillers out there, LOL. Don't know if I'd make a lot of it.
Why would Lebron go on a team whose biggest accomplishment is a few moral victory 1st round exits.
Derrick Rose is nothing more than a moral victories guy... Hey I made the NCAA le game but lost, hey we took the defending champ Celtics to 7, hey we got a game off the Bulls.
At least the Mavs have a few guys who have been to the Finals
Kidd-lost in Finals 2x
Dirk-"lost" in Finals
James-lost in Finals
But together =
That would officially cons ute "Choke City"Why would Lebron go on a team whose biggest accomplishment is a few moral victory 1st round exits.
Derrick Rose is nothing more than a moral victories guy... Hey I made the NCAA le game but lost, hey we took the defending champ Celtics to 7, hey we got a game off the Bulls.
At least the Mavs have a few guys who have been to the Finals
Kidd-lost in Finals 2x
Dirk-"lost" in Finals
James-lost in Finals
But together =
He called Rose?Damn this dude is really desperate!
Ghazi keep on praying
Dirk/Kidd don't choke.
Rose on the other hand...
Rose is a nice sidekick but what happens to Loul Deng? He going to be Brons backup? What about an inside game?
Source?
My source told me he called Delontes mom asking her about her evening plans.
speculations, speculations, speculations.... Pointless. Just wait and we'll see what's going to happen.
But then again, what else will keep fans busy during the offseason.
This is only the first of tons of flaky Lebron stories to come until the man signs.
Lebron/Rose combo would be great in the regular season but would fail in the playoffs. That team would have the most stagnent halfcourt iso offense in the league. The desperately would need to acquire some short of post presence like a ZBo
Bulls are the best option from a pure basketball point of view.
people shouldn't forget about the S&T options between the Bulls and Cavs. they can agree with Lebron and that way force the Cavs into a S&T, because Cavs surely don't want to totally restart.
Deng would be the logical cornerstone of the package and it would also solve the question how Lebron and Deng could play together. (Bulls could also add the #17 pick)
if the Bulls do this, they would even keep enough cap space to sign another good FA. even considering the cap holds there could be about 10 million available to offer a FA. could be enough to persuade a quality big, when Lebron and Rose are calling. (Boozer? he and Lebron worked well in Cleveland) Lebron will be well aware about such scenarios.
imagine: Rose-Hinrich-Lebron-Boozer-Noah. neither Miami nor NY will be able to offer a S5 of that quality anytime soon. Gibson and Johnson would add nice young talent from the bench either.
such a team would also attract some veterans, who would sign for the minimum, just to jump on the train. (t-mac, Z )
I hope Lebron goes to the Bulls. Then people will shut up about Lebron. How many more days till July 1st, this is getting old fast
Cavs would be fools to take back Deng's 4yrs and $50 mil left on his contract, not to mention leave him in the east. They are already strapped with horrible contracts...if lebron leaves they should do there best to rid themselves of Mo Williams, Vareajo, etc
Personally, I'm burnt out on LeBron and his impending decision - and have been since this talk started 2 years ago. While he's a singular talent and one the great players the NBA has ever seen, this punk needs a firm dose of humility and big ol' slice of humble pie.
You'd think he would've gotten a clue after the Celtics handed his ass back to him. With his insulated group of sychophants, his choreographed pre-game dance rituals, and his lack of personal accountability, I simply don't see Lebron the same way anymore. Not to mention the fact that he committed the cardinal sin in sports - quitting on his team.
For the record, I STILL don't believe he's going anywhere. Wake me up when he officially leaves $30 mil worth of guaranteed duckies on the table.
Lebron called Rose because his Mom is looking for another PG's penis
Ouch~
Personal Foul. Unsportsmanlike conduct. 15 yards. Always 1st down.
Sounds like the Mavs the last 4 years.
As usual, you're not funny at all.
trade Deng for someone else that is expiring, sign n trade for Bosh for example
lol Ghazi
The last 4 years, both Dallas and Chicago have been in the 2nd round once, and other than that haven't made it past the 1st round. lol self-ownage.
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