Are Lebrons days in Cleveland numbered?

[JoeTait75]

LeBron will have a HUGE mansion "out in the country (Cleveland)" and a luxury Apartment in Manhattan.

You guys make valid points, I'm not pissing on the Cavs, I just don't think he's staying beyond this contract. There's too much money to be made out there for the Mogul in Training and he'd be crazy not to take it. If he were like Jerry Sloan who still has a farm or non-flashy like Tim Duncan who just wants to win, he'd be fine staying in Cleveland.

I think staying in Cleveland is hurting his market value and from what I understand of the trades, they don't have room to get better next year.

Until LeBron gets another super guard next to him (CP3, DWill, DWade, Tony Parker, Monta Ellis, etc), he's not going to win a ring. I think Portland is the only non-big market team that has enough talent to tempt him with rings.

But I see Lebron as the basketball mogul and the King of New York.

It's all good. I understand why you'd have that perspective as an outsider and especially as a fan of a big-market, coastal team. And I definitely agree that we need a playmaking backcourt guy in the worst way, someone else who can create opportunities for teammates and easy shots for LeBron.

It's just at the end of the day, I think LeBron wants to win a championship or ten and will make his ultimate decisions based on that, not for purely financial reasons.

If we come off as irritable, understand that this topic comes up every time the Cavaliers hit a rough patch in the schedule or, in this case, lose a game in the playoffs. It just never stops, and it probably never will.

[JamStone]

The the the Rock.

[BonnerDynasty]

Of course he is leaving.

You don't build an empire in Cleveland.

[Allanon]

your an idiot if you honestly think Lebron NEEDS New York. He is 23 and probably the most recognizable face in the NBA. He is much bigger than Kobe was at his age. He doesn't need New York...and to tell me that the Knicks have more upside than the Cavs is laughable. The Cavs have the salary situation to make huges moves the next 2 offseasons- where the Knicks don't. The Knicks don't even have a coach


The Cavs have plenty of tradeable assets this offseason in large expiring contracts, and will have a ton of money to spend the following offseason. They are fine.

You actually think LeBron will still be King James to the world if his team keeps losing? Look at today, the Cavs are getting blown out. You think LeBron with 15 points on 5/20 shooting is going to be a superstar if he keeps this up? Without adequate teammates, everybody focuses on LeBron. You think LeBron is happy about this? His marketing value is just going to continue to dwindle as long as he plays for a bad team.

Unfortunately, you don't understand your salary situation. You guys are tied up until 2009/2010. The Knicks are in a better situation...they lose at least $21 million off the books next year in Starbury so that's an expiring contract they can get rid of next year. They can use it to acquire a star player or just dump it after the season. The Lakers exchanged Kwame Brown's contract for Pau Gasol...let's see what Donny Walsh can do with $21 million of Starbury.

In 2009/2010, both Knicks and Cavs will have the money to go after LeBron. However, the Knicks would have had 2 lottery pick years to pick up new talent. The Cavs will constantly be in the Playoffs so the next 2 years of picks don't look to be very good.

The Knicks are up and coming without a doubt and with better young talent than the Cavs in the next 2 years. And they have endless money.

LeBron's staying or going will really only be between his loyalty and his desires to build an empire. I think he's already fulfilled his loyalty, now he needs to make his money.