The LeBron James Free Agency Thread

[SandraC]

You are thinking individually. As a team, they WERE, at least on paper, 2 deep at just about every position with quality, proven and yet still young, talent. It is, at least IMHO, the coaching staffs job to meld all that talent ASAP.

If you extract Lebron James from the lineup you have to start thinking about them individually. The 'team' they were on no longer exists.

I would put Mo Williams in the middle of the pack regarding point guards. You could make the argument for being as high as 10 or so, but you can also make the argument that he's lower than 15. I can think of 10 guys off the top of my head I would rather have, and I'm probably forgetting some.

They go two-deep at shooting guard, but neither West or Parker are top 10 at their position either...far from it. Two deep with two very average players.

Same goes for power forward, Varejao and Jamison are both far from top 10 at their position as well. Two deep and too average.

And as for center? I don't even know where to put Shaq anymore. Certainly would not want him on my team at this point. Z-man is...ok at best. Take Lebron off the team and he's not getting many open jumpers anymore. There is nobody any defense would have to double. Below average.

So you don't have a top ten guy at any position, except Lebron of course, who is number one...except in games five and six where he was bad.

The Cavaliers without Lebron James are just not a good team. After the draft I would match the Nets up against them favorably. And don't forget, Cleveland has NO draft picks this year. None. First round pick went to Washington for Jamison, second round went to Phoenix for Shaq. At least they will save the expense of flying to New York...


Sandra

 

[The Insider]

The only person making fun of Lebron James is you


Sandra

ANd me

 

[SandraC]

ANd me

You don't count


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

OK I guess I'm just not following this line of thinking...

Who exactly are the good players on Cleveland?


Sandra

Jamison, Mo Williams and Z were All-Stars a few years ago.

Anderson Varajao was runner up for 5th man player of the year.

JJ Hickson is the best player in the league no one knows about. He'll be in his 3rd professional year next year and will have a break out year. Mark it down.

Delonte West, JJ Moon, Anthony Parker, Leon Powe. Holy, hell, am I missing anyone?! Oh, yeah. Danny Green. He didn't get any PT this year, because we were too deep. He'll get to have his coming out party next year.

 

[HD MM]

What's Cleveland's available cap space looking like?? Adding Jamison's contract certainly didn't help....

We have little to spend if we DO sign LeBron. I could be off, but my train of thought is that if we don't sign LeBron for a max-contract, we will have that money to sign another player for a max-deal.

 

[SabresRule]

In my honest opinion, this is the guy I feel the Knicks should go after this summer instead of LeBron, one who would probably be a better fit for the team:

Consider this:

#1- The Knicks, while no longer embarassing from a public relations point of view, are still bad defensively. LeBron has made the last two NBA All-Defensive Teams.

This year, the Knicks were fourth-worst in points allowed per game (105.9), the Cavs fifth-best (95.6). It wouldn't be a good fit.

#2- Bosh is a capable big man, and we saw the magic that D'Antoni worked with Stoudemire in the desert.

#3- Bosh contract would cost less than LBJ's, which would allow them to try and retain the improving David Lee.

 

[salsadancer7]

#1- The Knicks, while no longer embarassing from a public relations point of view, are still bad defensively. LeBron has made the last two NBA All-Defensive Teams.

This year, the Knicks were fourth-worst in points allowed per game (105.9), the Cavs fifth-best (95.6). It wouldn't be a good fit.

#2- Bosh is a capable big man, and we saw the magic that D'Antoni worked with Stoudemire in the desert.

#3- Bosh contract would cost less than LBJ's, which would allow them to try and retain the improving David Lee.

Bosh will wait to see what Lebron and Wade does. IF Lebron stays in Cleveland, Bosh will go where Wade goes.....more than likely Miami, or Chicago. IF Lebron signs with someone that has the possibility of signing two max players....then more than likely, Bosh comes with him.

As of right now, there are VERY FEW teams that can sign two max players...Miami, the Knicks and the Nets, if I am not mistaken.

Also remember, NEXT YEAR....there is Paul and Anthony as the big name free agents. LOL!! ...just saying....

Either way you look at it, the possibilities are endless....

 

[SabresRule]

Salsa, how would Bosh fit on the Heat if he chooses to go there?

 

[salsadancer7]

Let's say LeBron signs with someone else. Doesn't that still make Cleveland a major player in attaining one of the top-knotch free agents? (Ie. Dwayne Wade)? After all, we'll have the money freed up if we don't sign LeBron.

My pitch to Wade is this: With LeBron, this team won 60+ games two years in a row. With the same core in tack, and we swap LeBron out for you, this team is still a great team. On the team you're on now, Mr. Wade, you barely make the playoffs. Plus, you have what's needed to take the next step in our progress that LeBron doesn't: Championship Experience! So, what do you say Mr. Wade? Sign right here on the dotted line to come to Cleveland........

To tell you the truth, I HIGHLY doubt Cleveland is a team he would got to. IF, and this is a guess on my part, I would put percentages of where Wade/leaning, it would go like this:

Miami - 85%
Chicago - 10%
NYK - 5%

Lebron:

Cleveland - 40%
Chicago - 30%
NYK - 25%
NJN - 5%

The funniest thing about this whole Lebron chase...Dirk is still out there. Considering the fact that he CHOSE to opt out to test free agency is HUGE.

 

[salsadancer7]

Salsa, how would Bosh fit on the Heat if he chooses to go there?

They won't. I have come to the conclusion that Lebron and Wade will NOT play on the same team due to egos. Yeah, when all the big name free agents played together on the Dream Team, it was "we are family" only because it was for a couple games. A WHOLE season is whole different animal.

Bosh and Amare would have NO ISSUES being the Robin to Wade or Lebron's Batman. Dirk would not want to be the #2 guy either.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

We have little to spend if we DO sign LeBron. I could be off, but my train of thought is that if we don't sign LeBron for a max-contract, we will have that money to sign another player for a max-deal.

That right there is the central reason why LeBron would leave. They wouldn't be able to afford that complementary player they need to get them over the playoff hump....

 

[HD MM]

That right there is the central reason why LeBron would leave. They wouldn't be able to afford that complementary player they need to get them over the playoff hump....

There's an argument there that we shouldn't tinker with the lineup, but instead focus on developing chemistry and learning how to succeed with the players we already have. The lineup has changed dramatically the last two seasons.

The Celtics starting 5 have been player together for how many years now? There's value in just letting things be.

 

[salsadancer7]

There's an argument there that we shouldn't tinker with the lineup, but instead focus on developing chemistry and learning how to succeed with the players we already have. The lineup has changed dramatically the last two seasons.

The Celtics starting 5 have been player together for how many years now? There's value in just letting things be.

Yes there is.....in MORE than one sport. But you can see by how Quinn was ousted out of the Browns....that almost seems like a trend in professional sports in Cleveland.

 

[HD MM]

Yes there is.....in MORE than one sport. But you can see by how Quinn was ousted out of the Browns....that almost seems like a trend in professional sports in Cleveland.

Wait, wasn't Marshmallow Puff drafted by Oakland the same year Quinn was in Cleveland? Don't talk to me about team patience!

 

[cosmo_kramer]

There's an argument there that we shouldn't tinker with the lineup, but instead focus on developing chemistry and learning how to succeed with the players we already have. The lineup has changed dramatically the last two seasons.

The Celtics starting 5 have been player together for how many years now? There's value in just letting things be.

Chemistry is important, but hard to find. If it was easy, every team would have it.

The Celtics "big 3" jelled pretty quickly. Sometimes when you have the talent, it just works... :up

 

[Peter Parker]

There's an argument there that we shouldn't tinker with the lineup, but instead focus on developing chemistry and learning how to succeed with the players we already have. The lineup has changed dramatically the last two seasons.

The Celtics starting 5 have been player together for how many years now? There's value in just letting things be.

I believe this is the third year.

 

[SandraC]

Jamison, Mo Williams and Z were All-Stars a few years ago.

Anderson Varajao was runner up for 5th man player of the year.

JJ Hickson is the best player in the league no one knows about. He'll be in his 3rd professional year next year and will have a break out year. Mark it down.

Delonte West, JJ Moon, Anthony Parker, Leon Powe. Holy, hell, am I missing anyone?! Oh, yeah. Danny Green. He didn't get any PT this year, because we were too deep. He'll get to have his coming out party next year.

Consider this starting lineup for Cleveland:

Mo Williams
Delonte West
Antawn Jamison
Andeson Varejao
Shaquille O'Neal

That's scary bad, a botttom 2/3 of the league lineup. Especially when you assume Shaq's play will get no better next year, and possibly worse.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

I believe this is the third year.

In 2007-2008, our staring lineup for the majority of the season was this::
D. Gibson ? D. Gooden ? Z. Ilgauskas ? L. James ? S. Pavlovic

In the 2007-2008 playoffs, our starting lineup was:
D. West ? B. Wallace ? Z. Ilgauskas ? L. James ? W. Szcerbiak



In 2008-2009, our staring lineup for the majority of the season was this:
Z. Ilgauskas ? L. James ? B. Wallace ? D. West ? M. Williams

In the 2008-2009 playoffs, our starting lineup was:
Z. Ilgauskas ? L. James ? A. Varajao ? D. West ? M. Williams



In 2009-2010*, our staring lineup for the majority of the season was this:
J. Hickson ? L. James ? S. O'Neal ? A. Parker ? M. Williams

In the 2009-2010 playoffs, our starting lineup was:
A. Jamison ? L. James ? S. O'Neal ? A. Parker ? M. Williams


So you see, not only have we not had the same starting lineup for two consecutive years, but our starting lineup in the playoffs has been different from our regular season starting lineup in each of the very same years! I think you're starting to see my call for consistency.

 

[HD MM]

Consider this starting lineup for Cleveland:

Mo Williams
Delonte West
Antawn Jamison
Andeson Varejao
Shaquille O'Neal

That's scary bad, a botttom 2/3 of the league lineup. Especially when you assume Shaq's play will get no better next year, and possibly worse.


Sandra

Andy and Delonte don't even start for us any more. Shaq is a FA and I don't think he'll be back next season. IF LeBron isn't back, this will most likely be our rotation:

PG: Mo Williams, Boobie Gibson
SG: Anthony Parker, Delonte West
SF: Danny Green
PF: Antawn Jamison, Leon Powe,
C: JJ Hickson, Anderson Varajao

Of course, this lineup isn't finalized. LeBron hasn't gone anywhere and I fully expect them to sign another center since Z and Shaq are free agents, thus promoting one of the above centers to a forward role. Even without LeBron, I still think we're a playoff team.

 

[SandraC]

Andy and Delonte don't even start for us any more. Shaq is a FA and I don't think he'll be back next season. IF LeBron isn't back, this will most likely be our rotation:

PG: Mo Williams, Boobie Gibson
SG: Anthony Parker, Delonte West
SF: Danny Green
PF: Antawn Jamison, Leon Powe,
C: JJ Hickson, Anderson Varajao

Of course, this lineup isn't finalized. LeBron hasn't gone anywhere and I fully expect them to sign another center since Z and Shaq are free agents, thus promoting one of the above centers to a forward role. Even without LeBron, I still think we're a playoff team.

Goodness gracious, that's really bad. There is no way that team makes the playoffs, even with Shaq and Z. The Raptors easily qualify over this bunch.


Sandra