Summer 2010 . . .

[dunky69]

I think chicago and miami are the two most likely destination for leaving. Chicago has been talked about since january at least as a place lebron would like to end up. Young defensive squad that has some real potential to win championships. Also heard a story from chad ford on the BS report. He said that when lebron goes to chicago, he goes to the same bar michael went to after every game and sat in michaels same seat and used the same waiter. This waiter was like a confidant to Michael,apparently him and Lebron are pretty close now too. I think lebron is obsessed with michael.

I think Miami is the other possibility once they can sign 3 guys. They should go Dwade, lebron, and either amare or david lee. Of course if he leaves, which he probably will, I would like to see him go to the clippers. That would a be a great young team to watch and him and kobe could battle for a couples more years.


I still want him to stay in cleveland even though they aren't getting better for lebron. There is something to say for guys who stick with their teams, especially if lebron did it for cleveland

[Deleted]

Yeah I'd be all for him staying in Cleveland (then Bosh will go to Miami ), and become the hometown hero, but all the Cavs did is give him Mo and Shaq... oh and Jamison, who might be able to chip in a few points in the coming year but not much after since he's old. If that's all they can do, he should bolt. Wade will surely bolt as well if Pat Riley brings guys like Mo and Shaq (at this age), even though he won a ring.

[Deleted]

My Predictions:

LeBron and Bosh are linked at the hip. Combo package. They will end up together on a team.
Wade stays in Miami.
Lebron and Bosh relocate to Chicago.
Amare stays in Phoenix.
Joe Johnson stays in Atlanta.
Boozer relocates to Miami.
New York and New Jersey are left out in the cold.
Rudy Gay is part of a sign and trade or unmatched offer where he ends up in New York, New Jersey or, less likely but still very possible, Minnesota.

[Deleted]

How come everyone is so sure Bosh and LBJ will team up? Isn't it as likely that any of the two will team up with Wade (+ another high tier guy)?

[Deleted]

I think Cleveland is flying way under the radar on this one.

Money talks in the NBA. It is an entirely possible that LeBron stays, then Bosh asks for a sign and trade to Cleveland. In that scenario, Bosh would be making more than he could make in Chicago, Miami, etc. because he would sign the more lucrative long term deal with the Raps. In the haste to clear cap room, Miami, Chicago, and New York all forgot that these types of moves tend to happen through sign and trades, rather than straight up signings, because players can make more money through the S and T. This leaves the Cavs in an enviable position because they ACTUALLY HAVE PLAYERS to trade.

Just my two cents...


(At the same time, I'm not holding my breath)

[dunky69]

Yea im not sure bosh n lbj are going the same place for sure. The cleveland scenario that miege just brought up would be one way theyre together. I like youre thinking on that too miege it seems obvious but I havent heard the bosh sign-and-trade thing. I think that makes perfect sense for the cavs to try and get this done.Its pretty mucht he only way to save the franchise. I think they could hook up in miami, but that is a whole lot of ego and not much room for role players. I don't think the "no role players" dilemma is a big deal as the talking heads do. I think those three make could make me an NBA champion. The ego thing is a factor though. It would be amazing to see the powerhouse in miami. LBJ-wade-bosh(or dirk, or amare, whatever they get done) is what i am rooting for.

[Deleted]

Miege.....I'm sorry, but I just don't see LeBron staying in Cleveland. Cleveland has failed to surround him with enough talent to win it all and he chooses to go back there? I get that it is his hometown area, but I just don't see him resigning there. I also do not see Bosh wanting to go to Cleveland. He has been in Toronto for awhile and wants to go to a big city now. It actually has been rather widely reported that James and Bosh are very likely to be a tandem wherever they go. I just think that, although Miami with all the big three would be insane I just can't see LeBron wanting to pair up with Wade and Bosh in Miami. So Bosh and James to Chicago to pair up with Rose and Noah would make Chicago a short-term and long-term major force. Bosh is willing to leave via a sign and trade if need be or not to get to go where he wants to go. I am dead certain these two will be together.

[Deleted]

I agree with Dan.
Bosh has stated that he does NOT want to go to Cleveland.
And for quite a while I thought that James' loyalties (to the city or the money) would have him going back to the Cavs, but there seems to be quite a bit of mometum to the contrary. I do agree with you Meige, that everything is eerily quiet on the Cavs front right now though.
I like the Heat and love D Wade, so I'm a fan of the Miami scenario. And while I think that Lebron would be surrounded with some talented players in Chicago, they need some shooters.
I know that Rose and James (and the 3rd superstar) would be a great tandem, but they'll also need to add some perimeter players as well.
Admist all this, I feel bad for the Knicks, Nets, and Clippers. Poor Knicks fans have really go to be disappointed if all they can get is Amare and Johnson. Johnson is a great player, but neither he, nor Boozer deserve max deals.

While Vegas has Bron going to Chi-town, it is quite exciting how up in the air the whole thing still is with less than 24hrs before we actually can begin to find out what 23 is thinking.

[Deleted]

I actually think, even if NY Knicks lose out on LeBron, Bosh and Wade it still was a good thing for the franchise to do the purge.

The Timberwolves began that with getting rid of KG and now are in a good spot asset, cap space and youthful talent wise. The hard thing is finding a superstar. That will always be hard for Minnesota because unless you draft one that learns to love the city and then you win with said player (i.e. KG) you won't likely ever woo a top one in free agency.

The Knicks are the big apple. They can lure anyone. They don't HAVE to spend their entire cap, etc. But if they can get a pair of guys between LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Johnson, Boozer....hell....even Gay (who gets lost in the shuffle but is only 23 years old) then they will have done well for themselves. And if they only get one or zero then next offseason they will be a top destination for whoever is available (no idea who is tho at this point).

[Deleted]

Here's the thing though... everyone talks about the Cavs "failing" to surround LeBron with enough talent. But that's bullshit, for two reasons.

1. They've had enough talent each of the last two years to make the finals. The ball bounces their way twice in that Orlando series, and they move on. There was a whole myriad of problems against Boston, but I still maintain that they had the pieces to win that series.

2. They are the only team in the mix that has TRIED to win the last few years. While Chicago, New York, and Miami have openly tanked the last couple of seasons, the Cavs have gone out and tried to get players to help James and the team win. I know some are going to see this and think it doesn't matter, but it does matter... a lot. Having an owner willing to spend and make moves is the reason Dallas is getting meetings with James and Wade.



(And, at this point, I think we have to take everything the media says with a grain of salt. Fact of the matter is, if Bosh cares only about winning titles, and James wants to stay in Cleveland, then Bosh will HAVE to come to CLE or take his chances somewhere else. What I would like to see though, is Bosh to Chicago by himself, and everyone else staying put with maybe Boozer joining Wade. That would be interesting, and funny because all the talking heads have been talking about these guys making a super team for years now).

[Deleted]

Jun 30, 2010 0:37:54 GMT -5 @minnesotagm said:

I actually think, even if NY Knicks lose out on LeBron, Bosh and Wade it still was a good thing for the franchise to do the purge.

The Timberwolves began that with getting rid of KG and now are in a good spot asset, cap space and youthful talent wise. The hard thing is finding a superstar. That will always be hard for Minnesota because unless you draft one that learns to love the city and then you win with said player (i.e. KG) you won't likely ever woo a top one in free agency.

The Knicks are the big apple. They can lure anyone. They don't HAVE to spend their entire cap, etc. But if they can get a pair of guys between LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Johnson, Boozer....hell....even Gay (who gets lost in the shuffle but is only 23 years old) then they will have done well for themselves. And if they only get one or zero then next offseason they will be a top destination for whoever is available (no idea who is tho at this point).

1. The T-Wolves will also have a hard time finding said player because of KAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHNNNNNNNN! That guy is a retard.

2. When was the last time the Knicks lured ANYBODY? Remember when Jordan was supposed to go there and he was supposed to get some secret deal where he got to own part of the Knicks when he retired? I do. Everyone talks about the Knicks being such a great FA destination, but they haven't landed a big time free agent since.... shit, before I was born.

[Deleted]

1. I will respectfully disagree with you. McFail was a retard. KAAAAAAHHHHHHNNNNN is a genius. Genius is not often recognized by most of the general population until later on. How can you say Kahn is a retard? I openly challenge you to making an argument that he is a retard, or at least, a below average GM. State your case. And make sure you are not confusing the McFail and Kahn moves (i.e. the KG trade, etc). I enjoy a good debate.....especially one where I feel I will win. I know I am at a disadvantage here as I think many view the Wolves as an ineptly run franchise and I ask them to put that assumption to the side when weighing in on this. McFail was inept and the McFail years largely (almost completely) were inept. Kahn has been the media punching bag of Simmons (because he actually tried to get an interview for the Wolves GM position but was declined an interview) and others. That creates perception that he is a retard if you don't look at the facts. But since you labeled him a retard....ball is in your court to prove that.

[Deleted]

Well, let me preface this by saying that if Kahn's moves work out, and the Wolves become contenders, it won't be because he is a genius. It will be mostly dumb luck...

1. Taking Flynn and Rubio when he KNEW Rubio would be less than thrilled about it.
2. Trying to trade Al Jefferson.... over and and over.
3. Drafting Wesley Johnson, then trading for Martell Webster.

I know there's more, but I'm just too tired to remember it all. Ill come up with more tomorrow.

[Deleted]

Uhm, didn't Bosh say he didn't want to go in a S&T to Cleveland? Actually, the Raps might be helping the teams that want to acquire Bosh because with a S&T they can clear even more cap space. They'd want Beasly and Chalmers from the Heat if they'd do a sign and trade, and that would resolve the problem or not having max deals for 3 guys. I also don't see a problem with the "no role-players", because if those 3 team up there, I think there are more than enough players that would want to join them at the minimum, if not for free. They'd sign for 1 year, win a championship and have their stocks higher to get a better deal the year after.

Ego's could be a problem, but I don't think too much of one. Dwade came of the bench for the dreamteam and both he and Lebron are all about sharing the ball (high assists), and have been screaming for a teammate that can score. Besides they're friends, and they need eachother.

As a Miami fan I sure hope for that scenario, though I think it's at least as possible Bron and Bosh go to Chicago. I still don't see Lebron staying in Cleveland, because seriously, are they getting a bigger chance to win than they already had? If you're sure they had to pieces to win last 2 years, they didn't and why would they have a bigger shot this year? I like the whole loyalty stuff, but I don't think he wants to go down proudly without a ring. He would never forgive himself if he'd stay in Cleveland and end up with no ring at the end of his carreer. About Cleveland trying and doing all to win and keep Lebron, I'm all respect to that and I'm sure it's a good thing to do, but a realist doesn't see any opportunity if one does his best and fails. If you know the Cavs already did everything they could, but it turned out not the be enough, why would for more? Better to go with a team that already is in the Playoffs without him (Chicago) or a team that fairly recently won a championship and has another superstar.

[Deleted]

I think what people fail to realize here is that just going to another team doesn't guarantee a championship. Why does everyone assume that his staying with the Cavs means he is turning down dozens of championships with other teams? No. Its basically a lottery at this point.