[KurtBevacqua]

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert must be feeling really good, while New York and LA ownership should be having a reality check. LeBron James is not leaving Cleveland any time soon, and there are really good financial and political reasons why. The voters have made their voice loud and clear in Gilbert's favor. Here are two links giving the details:

Gambling Measure Passes, Clearing Way For Casinos - Commitment 2009 News Story - WLWT Cincinnati
Backed by casino cash, would Dan Gilbert be motivated to broaden his Cleveland sports interests? NBA Insider | Cleveland Cavaliers - cleveland.com -

With Ohio voters giving Gilbert the legal means to greatly enhance his revenue streams I see no reason for the Cavs owner to basically disregard NBA salary cap penalties to do what it takes to a) pay LeBron the league max year after year and b) go out and grab another Shaq or whomever every season to prove to LeBron he's serious about winning him his title.

After watching last night's Cavs-Knicks game it's pretty obvious if LeBron goes to the Knicks he is resetting his title clock back to the time he was a rookie in Cleveland. That team has no kind of title talent. As for the LA rumors, the only way it can possibly work is through a sign and trade deal. Sorry, but outside of Kobie included in the trade, I see no way the Cavs make that kind of deal with LA.

Face it big market NBA lovers, you are not getting LeBron as long as Dan Gilbert owns the team and Ohio voters buy into his act. And at present that is not something that is on the horizon in LeBron's career.

[BaseballMan]

Have the Knicks recovered from the Isiah Thomas mess? As far as contracts?
If so i wouldnt put a bad New York team in the same room as a bad Cleveland team. Lebron did a lot in turning around Cleveland both on and off the court. Kinda the same thing with the Nuggets & Anthony. But New York should have more money and good players would probably want to come to New York if Lebron signs with them.
Plus it doesnt matter what Cleveland or New York does its what Lebron wants. Sure it would be nice if a player stayed with the team he helped turn around but i just have a feeling that Cleveland isnt really where James wanted to spend his NBA career. It may not be New York but im not sure he will stay in Cleveland though i could be wrong.
Either way he did a great job in helping to turn the Cavs around. But i do think James will leave the Cavs at the end of his contract with or without a championship.

[f.montoya]

Originally Posted by KurtBevacqua

...After watching last night's Cavs-Knicks game it's pretty obvious if LeBron goes to the Knicks he is resetting his title clock back to the time he was a rookie in Cleveland...

I don't know about this part, and it may be the biggest factor. The Knicks have room(including what they may go beyond the cap) to potentially sign Wade, Bosh and James next Summer. With Wade and Bosh aboard, would LBJ turn his back on a chance to play with premiere front and backcourt players of this caliber to come back for another year with an older Shaq, that clearly is disrupting an otherwise very good offense just like he did in his latter days with the Heat and last season and a half with the Suns. Or are the Cavs think about opening their wallet further to bring Wade and Bosh to Cleveland?

[hayesb26]

Originally Posted by f.montoya

I don't know about this part, and it may be the biggest factor. The Knicks have room(including what they may go beyond the cap) to potentially sign Wade, Bosh and James next Summer.

not a chance all three of them sign anywhere. bron and wade could not play together, they both need the ball and to be the focal point of an offense. there is a chance that bosh could play alongside one of them, but that is likely the only way i see bron leaving cleveland. if he can be assured he will have bosh alongside him in NY or NJ, he may move..

[jbergey22]

I have a bad feeling he is leaving otherwise why wouldnt he have saved Cleveland all this stress and just said he is staying? It wouldnt make sense to be wanting to stay in a certain city yet leave everyone wondering.

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by KurtBevacqua

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert must be feeling really good, while New York and LA ownership should be having a reality check. LeBron James is not leaving Cleveland any time soon, and there are really good financial and political reasons why. The voters have made their voice loud and clear in Gilbert's favor. Here are two links giving the details:

Gambling Measure Passes, Clearing Way For Casinos - Commitment 2009 News Story - WLWT Cincinnati
Backed by casino cash, would Dan Gilbert be motivated to broaden his Cleveland sports interests? NBA Insider | Cleveland Cavaliers - cleveland.com -

With Ohio voters giving Gilbert the legal means to greatly enhance his revenue streams I see no reason for the Cavs owner to basically disregard NBA salary cap penalties to do what it takes to a) pay LeBron the league max year after year and b) go out and grab another Shaq or whomever every season to prove to LeBron he's serious about winning him his title.

After watching last night's Cavs-Knicks game it's pretty obvious if LeBron goes to the Knicks he is resetting his title clock back to the time he was a rookie in Cleveland. That team has no kind of title talent. As for the LA rumors, the only way it can possibly work is through a sign and trade deal. Sorry, but outside of Kobie included in the trade, I see no way the Cavs make that kind of deal with LA.

Face it big market NBA lovers, you are not getting LeBron as long as Dan Gilbert owns the team and Ohio voters buy into his act. And at present that is not something that is on the horizon in LeBron's career.

I fail to see the impact on James.

The argument for James to go to either Los Angeles or New York is that he'd have a much better chance to explore career and income options outside basketball. No matter how powerful or rich an owner is, what he could give the player is still pretty limited. If it's only about having money to spend, then Paul Allen would have had much more success in Portland.

[yankeesrule]

Originally Posted by f.montoya

I don't know about this part, and it may be the biggest factor. The Knicks have room(including what they may go beyond the cap) to potentially sign Wade, Bosh and James next Summer. With Wade and Bosh aboard, would LBJ turn his back on a chance to play with premiere front and backcourt players of this caliber to come back for another year with an older Shaq, that clearly is disrupting an otherwise very good offense just like he did in his latter days with the Heat and last season and a half with the Suns. Or are the Cavs think about opening their wallet further to bring Wade and Bosh to Cleveland?

actually, if the NBA's revenue projections were correct, the cap was going to be lowered this offseason which would mess with the Knicks and a lot of other teams plans. The knicks would no longer have the cap space to sign 3 max contracts unless they were able to move some more players for expiring contracts this season.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by yankeesrule

actually, if the NBA's revenue projections were correct, the cap was going to be lowered this offseason which would mess with the Knicks and a lot of other teams plans. The knicks would no longer have the cap space to sign 3 max contracts unless they were able to move some more players for expiring contracts this season.

True. I could see Wade going to Chicago. Bosh probably to the Knicks as that system fits him perfectly and Im hoping Lebron stays where he is at.

They are building something in Cleveland. He was born in the state and I really believe he loves it there(except when they booed him for not getting their free tacos. I hope marketing opportunities doesnt make this decision for him. Besides Cleveland deserves some breaks as they have some horrible luck when it comes to sports.

[phightin]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

I have a bad feeling he is leaving otherwise why wouldnt he have saved Cleveland all this stress and just said he is staying? It wouldnt make sense to be wanting to stay in a certain city yet leave everyone wondering.

Well I don't think he can say he is staying mainly because he has to get the most out of celevland he can when it comes to his next contract, that means filing for free agency and making them bid themselves to the fullest extent in order to get him. But I think whether he leaves largely depends on what happens to him this season and what the knicks and cavs do in the offseason. If the cavs win a championship this season, then i see him staying put, if they don't then he'll file for free agency in the offseason and wait it out to see who the knicks and cavs both sign before making his decision. As said before while the knicks may be terrible they are certainly capable of pulling a similar move now to what the celtics did a couple years ago and adding two or three big time names to make them elite again. Nike wants him in new york, lebron wants to win and make the most money he can while doing it, if he can do both in new york, he's gone.

[Skipaway]

Originally Posted by phightin

Well I don't think he can say he is staying mainly because he has to get the most out of celevland he can when it comes to his next contract, that means filing for free agency and making them bid themselves to the fullest extent in order to get him.

I don't think contract bidding is a concern. There is no way he's not getting whatever the maximum can be wherever he goes.

[stevebydac]

Here's an interesting article on this subject. I don't agree with all of it, but it's good reading:

5 reasons the Knicks (and Nets) can forget about signing LeBron James

[marc]

Originally Posted by KurtBevacqua

With Ohio voters giving Gilbert the legal means to greatly enhance his revenue streams I see no reason for the Cavs owner to basically disregard NBA salary cap penalties to do what it takes to a) pay LeBron the league max year after year and b) go out and grab another Shaq or whomever every season to prove to LeBron he's serious about winning him his title.

I don't think signing washed up 40 year old centers is exactly showing Lebron a commitment to winning nor is it improving his chances of a title.

I also don't see this helping the Cavs that much, you're greatly exaggerating the impact this will have on the franchise.


This will once again come down to two things, loyalty and winning. The Cleveland area is Lebron's home, does he want to stay at home for the remainder of his prime or not and are the Cavs ever going to put legitimate pieces around him? His supporting cast still blows and won't be enough to beat Boston or Orlando let alone a team like the Lakers.