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He goes to New York,,,the gloves are off.
Top 10 Reasons LeBron Could Choose New York
by Louis Roxin
The arguments people give when predicting if LeBron James will remain in Cleveland or eventually end up elsewhere are rarely backed with substantive reasoning. Here are ten reasons why the Knicks like their chances of signing LeBron next summer.
10. Cash. Over the same five years, LeBron would earn $4.14 million less signing with the Knicks than re-signing with the Cavs as a free-agent. The Cavs can offer an extra year, but there is little reason to think the security of a 6th season will be decisive. If LeBron put much value on security, he would have sought a longer-term contract in 2006 rather than the 3-year extension he did sign. If security is what he is after, LeBron would have already signed an extension this off-season. Given the relatively small difference between the Cavs’ and Knicks’ 5-year max offers – and given the mountain of endorsement dollars that could come LeBron’s way if he lands in New York – LeBron could have a significant financial incentive to sign with the Knicks.
9. Talent. The Knicks’ roster, though young and unproven, has the 20-PPG potential of Danilo Gallinari, a two-way wing with upside like Wilson Chandler, and a scoring big in rookie Jordan Hill. All three have higher ceilings than any non-Lebron Cavs. A roster deep with quality role players but not elite talent (the most apt way to describe the Cavs minus LeBron) is only enough to give a great player what he needs to have a successful regular season. Winning in the playoffs requires finding another impact player who can help carry the load. The Knicks have the type of young players who can develop into major pieces next to a superstar and their salary cap is set up to allow the team to bid for other top free-agents in the near term.
8. Attracting free-agents. LeBron may realize that getting future free-agents to follow him onto the big stage in New York would be easier than getting them to join him in Cleveland.
7. 2011. Much is made of the fact that Eddy Curry and Jared Jeffries remain on the Knick books. Yet both contracts expire just one year later, freeing up $18 million of cap room that puts the Knicks in position to offer another max contract in 2011 when New York-born Carmelo Anthony is set to hit the free-agent market.
6. Mobley. Cuttino Mobley’s contract, 80% of which is covered by insurance, gives the Knicks a valuable trade chip the team can use to remove more salary from the 2010 ledger. Consider that the payout of $7.6 million of insurance for Mobley’s contract would more than offset Jeffries’ $6.9 million salary in 2010, and the Knicks could throw in an additional $3 million in the trade. The Knicks can make taking Jeffries' contract off their hands very affordable for another club.
5. Buyouts. If the Knicks are a few million dollars short of the cap room needed to offer a second max contract in 2010, look for Donnie Walsh to engineer a buyout of the 2010-2011 season on the contracts of Curry and/or Jeffries. Because this is the final year of these contracts, the Knicks would receive dollar-for-dollar cap relief on any buyout. For instance, offering 80% of the salary due on the last season of these two contracts would buy the Knicks more than $3.5 million of additional cap room.
4. The salary cap. Since the NBA league office announced its projections that the salary cap will decline next season, several positive economic indicators were released showing that the recession may already have ended. If true, the NBA’s salary cap might not drop nearly as much as projected if it even drops at all. But because Danny Ferry signed Anthony Parker, Jamario Moon and Leon Powe to 2-year contracts, the Cavs will not have room for a second max free-agent next summer even if the cap goes up. It might therefore be a checkmate move if Walsh ekes out enough cap room to be able to offer two max contracts in 2010. LeBron’s decision might be between staying in Cleveland with the Cavs’ roster as is or jumping to New York with Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh.
3. The luxury tax. In New York, LeBron could be assured of joining an organization that would spare no expense in pursuit of multiple championships. Cavs’ ownership has never pulled back on spending but that could change. Dan Gilbert’s deal to bring in Chinese investment, spun as a bold marketing initiative, may have had more to do with cash reserves drying up. Once they’re out of cap room, the Knicks would never hesitate to use their mid-level exception, take on more and more salary each year and pay exorbitant luxury tax bills, to keep renewing LeBron's supporting cast. The coffers at MSG are effectively bottomless.
2. The Yankees. The Yankees have emerged as the best team in baseball and are poised for another championship run. At some point, CC Sabathia may confide to his good pal, one of the Yankees' most famous fans, ‘There’s nothing like winning in New York.’
1. The heart. Big life decisions like the one LeBron will have in less than a year are usually made more on emotion than cold reason. Is home where LeBron’s heart is or does he yearn for the spotlight of Broadway? We don’t know the answer to that yet. But last week, just before letting us know that he plans to become a free-agent after the coming season, LeBron said he is “not ashamed of anything in Cleveland.” Not exactly a ringing endorsement, especially in contrast to the reverential words LeBron used to describe how he feels stepping on the floor at Madison Square Garden. The worry for Cavs fans is that LeBron’s tone seems to be creeping closer to the 'It’s not you, it’s me' line of reasoning, an explanation vaguely reminiscent of 'The heart wants what the heart wants.'
He goes to New York,,,the gloves are off.
David Sterns wet dream:
Lakers vs Knicks in NBA Finals
Poor Cavs, they really did give it everything they had.
If this clown goes to New York, will coach Brown come back to the Spurs and be the new coach of the Spurs after Pop retires?
The "Talent" section doesn't make much sense. First of all, assuming Gallinari could be 20 ppg scorer is a huge leap in assumption. Secondly, two of the three young talents he mentions are small forwards, the position LeBron plays. Now, it's completely plausible LeBron ends up playing 2-guard or PF, but his best position still is small forward, where he can still play out on the perimeter but doesn't have to guard some of the really quick guards or some of the really strong forwards, and still be down low enough to get his share of rebounds. If LeBron were to sign with the Knicks, it's probably a good bet that at least one of those two (Gallinari or Wilson Chandler) gets traded.
Most of the other points have been discussed before. Not necessarily all of them have great merit, but they're things that could play a role in LeBron going to NY.
One thing I think might also factor in but negatively for the Knicks is Jay-Z and LeBron's relationship with him. While I think it might be overstated that his friendship would be key in bringing LeBron to the Nets, I think there could be some merit that it would make it tough for LeBron to choose the Knicks. I mean, if he's actually going to leave Cleveland for New York, wouldn't Jay-Z feel a little betrayed (too strong a word, but you get my meaning) that LeBron would go to the Knicks before going to his Nets. I mean if LeBron is actually going to leave for New York. Could be a factor.
The Nets have enough for 2 max contracts and still have Devin Harris and the good Lopez brother on their roster. Who knows, maybe by an act of God, Yi might be a decent player.
Lebron + Devin Harris + Bosh/Max Player #2+ Lopez + 8 Spurstalk members would contend
Last edited by jonnybravo; 08-17-2009 at 07:04 PM.
i think its more likely that he will go to the nj nets.
but he gonna stay in cleveland.
I thought it was another re ed Letterman segment
LeBron signed a 3 year extension so he could get max money as soon as he could, it wasn't about security. Knicks should use their capspace in trades unless they think signing Boozer to an overpriced contract is going to get them anywhere.
Speaking of oversized, how do you feel about Shaq and his contract eating his teammates and cap space?
He's going to the Nets if he goes anywhere
It's only on the books for one season and when he eats up Dwight it'll be worth it.
why is he called "King" James? he has no ring yet
Mike Brown has zero head coaching experience. He's been an assistant coach his entire career.
That's all on the previous regime. Ferry has had two off-seasons without any draft picks, and the highest pick he's had to work with since coming here is the 19th overall. The previous GM had potentially two lottery picks to add talent around LeBron. He spent one of them on Luke Jackson and traded the other for Jiri Welsh. And of course, he also let Carlos Boozer walk.
Part of it was also that LeBron was too good too fast. As talented as Durant is, his team won 20 and 23 games in his first two years, which gave them premium picks with which to work. The Cavaliers by contrast won 35 and 42 in LeBron's first two years, and were in the Playoffs by the third. Ok City will probably have another lottery pick next season as well. It's safe to say that, barring a David Robinson-in-1996 style injury, the Cavaliers won't be picking in the lottery as long as LeBron is here.
All things considered, Ferry has done a nice job building a team around LeBron. The organization has also catered to his every whim at all times. LeBron is no more guaranteed a championship in New York- or anywhere else- than in Cleveland.
He should stay. If he doesn't, he's an ingrate and a man of low character anyway. My opinion is that he'll stay. If he does go, I wouldn't be surprised if he spurned New York for a team that's better built for him to succeed immediately- New Jersey or the Clippers, for example.
Why is Yao called the 'Great Wall' when all he does is break?
Why is Manu called "The Flopper"?
Why would LeBron be an ingrate and a man of low character if he leaves Cleveland?
He has every right to choose where to play. He has no obligation to stay in Cleveland. You might not like it, but it doesn't speak on his character or gratefulness to Cleveland and the Cavs.
thanks for the laugh
I stopped at cash. The Cavs can offer 10.5% raises while the Knicks can only offer 8% raises.
The Nets have more talent for LeBron and can offer another 10 million to another player.
Dose anyone even care?
The Knicks Suck anyway.....and like they always have if the get the King...they will get overpriced talent maybe have 1 good runs and then suck.
It would suck for Cleveland however!
I'm more interested where D-Wade goes.
sons if you think the NBA's playoff officiating is bogus now ... just wait until Lord, King James is in NYC ... my God he will be averaging 20 free throws per game in the playoffs.
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