General NBA Free Agent News Thread

[tuncaboylu]

Cavs has a good roster and they can win East while Boston's core is getting older. They're still attractive place for free-agents and they have MLE to spend. They have 10M expiring contract this year which they can absorb an 12.5M contract on a trade on trade deadline. They're not too far away to the ring and Lebron would want to be a legend where he starts.
That's why, I think Cavs have a chance to win and Lebron will stay I guess.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

All I know is that I'm glad it doesn't look like Wade/LBJ/Bosh will play together in Miami, and nor does it look like LBJ/Bosh/Rose/Noah will materialise in Chicago. Those are the two teams that would irrevocably shift the balance of power in the NBA for years to come.

As an off-the-top-of-my-head-potshot exercise, I say:
(Johnson - re-signed with Hawks
Pierce - re-signed with Celtics)
LBJ - Chicago or Cleveland (depends whether loyalty+cash beats wanting to win... if he wants the latter he grabs Bosh as well, and they take the paycut necessary, but I doubt that happens)
Wade/Bosh - Miami
Amare - NY
Boozer - NJ
Lee - Houston

[jiggy_55]

I think he'll stay with the Cavaliers and always have. The only thing that ever gave me pause was the last few games of the Celtics series.

I think Wojnaorowski's column today nailed it. He's not going anywhere and he never was. This was all for show, for attention. You don't think he's enjoying every last second of this? This story is so big that it's not only the talk of the entire sports world (at least in North America; there is that little thing called the World Cup still going), it's actually transcended sports, which is virtually unheard of barring off playing surface controversy, like the Bryant rape case or the Woods scandal.

I have to agree. Reading the article and seeing events unfold, I have a gut feeling he's known all along that he'll more than likely stay in CLE.

And imo, a Cavs le or many Cavs les are much more meaningful cuz it's home and he did it with his team rather than winning it elsewhere with Rose/Wade/Bosh or whoever after failing for so long to do so in CLE.

[bostonguy]

$$$ talks at the end of the day. I just don't see Bron passing up that max deal from the Cavs. Now if he cared more about winning, he bolts Cleveland because that team isn't doing for the next couple of seasons. They have no #2 guy, no tradeable assets, a lame ass head coach, no cap space in the near future, etc etc. Cavs are going to have to get lucky in the draft and get some major steals.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Interesting article that adds more credence to the idea that LeBron should/will stay in Cleveland:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ncy/index.html

[Brazil]

I hope he doesn't stay in Cleveland, I would seriously question his desire to win..

I'd be choked if he stays in Cleveland. As already said if he stays it would mean he has no "real" to win and he would prefer money & safety rather than challenge & win.

[jiggy_55]

I'd be choked if he stays in Cleveland. As already said if he stays it would mean he has no "real" to win and he would prefer money & safety rather than challenge & win.

The real challenge is winning it in Cleveland, winning it with Wade or Bosh by his side is no challenge. That would not be tough.

[Spurologist]

Interesting article that adds more credence to the idea that LeBron should/will stay in Cleveland:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ncy/index.html

I think the author is underestimating the difficulty of winning a championship. Nothing is guaranteed as far as roster moves and championship potential. He does do a good good of painting how Cleveland fans and the general public would feel about him leaving Cleveland

[bigfan]

Since the money is about the same everywhere, I hope he stays in Cleveland. They are a pretty good team right now and with one or two more players they could win it all. Besides, the city itself sucks and they need this team. One last thing, without LeBron the Cavs would totally suck and we dont need another Clippers in the NBA.

[SenorSpur]

The real challenge is winning it in Cleveland

Therein, lies the real challenge. Accepting and meeting that type of challenge is the stuff that legacies are made of. In fact, he doesn't have to win 6 championships like Jordan. If he just wins one, he'll be beloved by the Cleveland populace forever.

I've said all along, and still maintain, LeBron isn't going anywhere. In as much for the following reasons.

1. Dollars:
No athlete will leave 30 million on the table. I don't care what opportunities there may be to make up for it in endorsement and/or entertainment revenue, or whatever. That 30m is guaranteed money that he'll never get back.

2. Regional Loyalty:
If LeBron leaves Cleveland, he'll be the most reviled figure in Cleveland history, surpassing former Cleveland Browns owner, Art Modell. He would literally have to pack up his immediate and extended family and move them out of the area. The backlash would be tremendous. He'd probably NEVER be able to have another summer camp there again. Those downtrodden fans would NEVER forgive nor forget his treason. Personally, I don't believe he wants or could handle that type of public backlash.

Remember this is a guy who had Nike officials confiscate a video of him being dunked on by a college player, in a meaningless summer pickup game. This is also a guy that is fiercely loyal and consumed with his public persona, particularly those in the Northeast Ohio area.

This free-agent courtship process (the LeBronathon) is just a self-aggrandizing, publicity stunt to allow other teams formally show "the King" some love. The world is his - for now. However if he leaves Cleveland, he'll be Public Enemy #1.

He's not going anywhere.

[silverblk mystix]

Therein, lies the real challenge. Accepting and meeting that type of challenge is the stuff that legacies are made of. In fact, he doesn't have to win 6 championships like Jordan. If he just wins one, he'll be beloved by the Cleveland populace forever.

I've said all along, and still maintain, LeBron isn't going anywhere. In as much for the following reasons.

1. Dollars:
No athlete will leave 30 million on the table. I don't care what opportunities there may be to make up for it in endorsement and/or entertainment revenue, or whatever. That 30m is guaranteed money that he'll never get back.

2. Regional Loyalty:
If LeBron leaves Cleveland, he'll be the most reviled figure in Cleveland history, surpassing former Cleveland Browns owner, Art Modell. He would literally have to pack up his immediate and extended family and move them out of the area. The backlash would be tremendous. He'd probably NEVER be able to have another summer camp there again. Those downtrodden fans would NEVER forgive nor forget his treason. Personally, I don't believe he wants or could handle that type of public backlash.

Remember this is a guy who had Nike officials confiscate a video of him being dunked on by a college player, in a meaningless summer pickup game. This is also a guy that is fiercely loyal and consumed with his public persona, particularly those in the Northeast Ohio area.

This free-agent courtship process (the LeBronathon) is just a self-aggrandizing, publicity stunt to allow other teams formally show "the King" some love. The world is his - for now. However if he leaves Cleveland, he'll be Public Enemy #1.

He's not going anywhere.

I disagree completely and (IMO) I also feel that this is all overblown...

I really could give two s where lebron signs...

having said that-as far as lebron leaving cleveland- he would be hated by some, supported by others but if kobe can get away with rape and be loved by laker and nba fans then---why not lebron?
...in a couple of seasons people would forget and lebron would still be adored and someday who knows he will sign another contract in his final years--in cleveland of all places...

as far as winning championships--it still won't be easy to win les as long as the lakers have the refs on their side...for any team---superstars or no superstars...

money---eh---30 million---all lebron has to do is win---the money/endorsement/ will just multiply wherever he can win...

if lebron is smart he will sign in chicago as that is a pretty happenin town and it is a bball town as well..and the pieces ARE ALREADY IN PLACE...

legacy, schmegacy---no one cares about that ---only fans and espn watchers who got nothing better to do ---as far as the players---

just think about it...

you are a twenty-something multi-millionaire and you get to basically be on tour playing a game with all your millionaire buds, pussy in every town you visit throwing themselves at you...what would you want?

after all the smoke clears--you just want a cool place to go to work and cool people to be on your team---and a cool town so you can have a cool pad,hot women and some fun....legacy...yeah right!

[Magdalena M]

If LeBron were to go to New Jersey, he wouldn't be leaving 30 Million on the table. I imagine Prokhorov pitched the idea of endorsement deals in Russia, Europe, and the metropolitan New York area, and those are endorsements he actually has the ability to influence.

[EricB]

How? They're over the cap and they're not winning with the team as constructed.

Maybe not give up in the middle of a series thats winnable?

[Mel_13]

David Aldridge:

The New York Knicks finally got a return on their two years of self-induced misery on Monday, finishing up the final touches on a five-year contract for Phoenix Suns free agent forward Amar'e Stoudemire that is expected to be worth around $100 million. A source indicates a formal announcement from Stoudemire should be forthcoming within the hour at Madison Square Garden.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/05/s...cks/index.html

[SenorSpur]

Maybe not give up in the middle of a series thats winnable?

Somehow The King has gotten a big ol' pass for his recent "give up".

[EricB]

Somehow The King has gotten a big ol' pass for his recent "give up".

Kinda like Kobe got a pass in 07 for giving up in game 7 vs the Suns.

[angelbelow]

David Aldridge:

The New York Knicks finally got a return on their two years of self-induced misery on Monday, finishing up the final touches on a five-year contract for Phoenix Suns free agent forward Amar'e Stoudemire that is expected to be worth around $100 million. A source indicates a formal announcement from Stoudemire should be forthcoming within the hour at Madison Square Garden.

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/07/05/s...cks/index.html

interesting. looks like the knicks land their first big free agent in amare lol

[EricB]

With that signing your gonna be seeing A LOT of Stoudamire merchandise being for sale and Knicks games.

Stoudamire is smart, dude is gonna make 20 million from the Knicks, but another 15 from endorsements.

[EricB]

lol someone got a little excited over at MSG

http://tweetphoto.com/31032056

[gospursgojas]

lol someone got a little excited over at MSG

http://tweetphoto.com/31032056

[EricB]

WojYahooNBA
Amar'e Stoudemire has agreed to a 5 year, $100 million deal with the Knicks, his agent, Happy Walters, tells Y! Sports. "All done," he said.

[DPG21920]

Too bad this does nothing so far to make our picture clearer. Lebron needs to sign, then the chips will fall.

[bostonguy]

Lebron has waited for the Cavs to build a team around him for 6 years and the best sidekicks they could get were a washed up Shaq, old-ass declining Jamison, Larry Hughes, and Mo "playoff choker" Williams. They had the chance to land Amare but overrated JJ Hickson who will be nothing more than a solid role player. Yes he would be a fool to pass up that 30 million, but that team has had 6 years to build a team around him. Lucky for Cleveland, guaranteed money comes first for 99% of athletes.

Cavs have had 6 years to put any kind of long haul team around Lebron and they failed. If the Cavs couldn't do it then, nothing shows me they can do it now especially given their current situation. They have no cap space anytime soon nor do they have any tradeable assets to net them a big name. They are likely to lose both centers in Shaq and Z. They still lack that #2 sidekick super duper all-star to pair with Bron.

[BadMotorscooter]

When the Knicks miss out on LeBron and Wade...they will try and fill the holes with guys like Richard Jefferson. Its gotta suck to be a Knick fan.

[Mel_13]

When the Knicks miss out on LeBron and Wade...they will try and fill the holes with guys like Richard Jefferson. Its gotta suck to be a Knick fan.

They'll go for Mike Miller or Josh Childress before RJ.