A serious look into LeBron James' prospects (including Houston)

There you go! Every time Yao is mentioned as the most dominant big in the league today( which he is ), some clown pulls the injury card out his arse!!

 

this guy disagrees.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcon...s/stories/040710dnspomavsinsider.17f7878.html

 

The guy is not going to New York. People are crazy.

 

We are talking about Cuban here, though. A guy who threw Finley under the bus for Doug Christie, because he couldn't afford the luxury tax.

 

LeBron is in the game for money, not winning. Its not about which team has the best players or who can afford him. Its all about contracts and endorsements. Everyone in the NBA knows this and this is why NY is betting heavily on him.

 

This ^

Would probably be the only reason LeBron would give even a thought about coming to Houston.

China is the target from what Chris Broussard has stated, so why not try to bring him China the easy way. Chris says Kobe is loved so much more in China because of the rings, well if you pair Yao with LeBron you wouldn't need the help of rings to have him becoming China's next favorite player outside of Yao.

The only way he would have any chance of coming here is if he specifically told Cavs management to trade him to Houston, with Yao being the only untouchable. They don't want to help him make his way out of Cleveland but if he forces their hand what else can they do, plus they'd be getting something in return instead of just his and Shaq's expiring's cap space.

We'd have a one in a million shot but if it does happen, China and Yao would be the biggest reason.

 

I do not want Lebron on my team. I understand he is the most talented athlete in the world but he has shown me and the rest of the world that he does not have the killer instict of a Michael Jordan or even a Tiger Woods in the fact that they would leave everything they had on the court or course and would except nothing other than being the greatest.

If Lebron came to Houston, yes we would get on ESPN and TNT more, yes we would be a sure lock for the playoffs, yes we might get to the second round. But I do not see Lebrons athleticism carrying his game into his late 20's and 30's when he body is in decline, and I do not see him having the heart to will his team to win like MJ.

It is not fair to compare anyone to MJ but if he truely wants to be considered the greatest ever, then he will always come up short if he does not have the desire of a Michael Jordan to truely leave no bullets left in the gun when it matters most. Lebron James GAVE UP on his team this week. For that alone I never want to see him in Rockets red and I hope Morey and Alexander feel the same way I do.

 

I really hope they don't cause that's just dumb.

 

Morey is going to clean up. Too many teams are going to do stupid things in order to make themselves more attractive to LeChoke, and I think Morey is going to be the vulture waiting to pick the carcass clean.

 

Bingo, you win.

 

I don't see why you could rule out Lebron to the Rockets when you consider the international market from Yao and also that he is a dominant big man for him to play with. My question is how hard will the Rockets push to try and bring him here.

 

Going to go ahead and put out my thoughts on his future:

Keeping it simple, I think only 4 cities are in true contention:
NY, Chi, LA, Cle

I think if he leaves, he's going to also want to be with a flagship franchise.

I can't picture LeBron setting foot in Oklahoma City. Or Portland, or Milwaukee, or Charlotte, or any other non-metropolis. I just can't.

I also can't picture him joining a second-tier franchise like Dallas or Miami. I could be very wrong here, but I think he wants the brightest of lights and a jersey that glows. He already took a mediocre organization and brought it up, and it doubled as his hometown. There's no Bosh-like draw to Texas or anywhere else. If he leaves, it's for bigger and better, a clear step up, not a slight step up.

Miami is not all that much better than NY in possible roster building. Pairing up with Wade and C-level players isn't that much better than pairing with Bosh and C-level players. Of course, Miami at least has draft picks going forward.

Only Dallas beat writers would think they can compete in a S&T bidding war. If you're Ferry and now you have to lose James, what point is there in taking Dampier when you get the cap relief either from a TE or James walking outright? If James is gone, the Cavs will be most drawn to a Kenyon Martin-type deal: a slate of draft picks, on or two promising young guys still on their rookie deals, and a massive TE.

NY is screwed if this becomes a bidding war because they have nothing but a TE to realistically offer. NJ has a massive trump card in a top 3 pick this year. Chicago has a couple of young guys or Deng. The Clippers could throw in Eric Gordon. What does Dallas have? Jason Terry? Caron Butler? Crummy draft picks? I'm biased, but I think the Rockets can trump any Cuban offer, simply because of the young guys (Hill, Taylor, Lull, <Brooks?> this year's pick, one of the NY picks) we can include. It's nearly a farm system situation, and Dallas' is as bad as the Stros.

I think if the Brooklyn arena wasn't so far behind, the Nets would have been the favorite to snag him. Jay-Z connection, Brooklyn, and the team best poised to blast into elite status (Harris, Lopez, James + 2nd top FA, top 3 pick in a star heavy draft). I think the Newark Nets kill it. Similarly, I don't see him touching a franchise as toxic as the Clippers.

If he leaves, I think the favorite right this second is Chicago. They're ready to contend, they can compete with other S&T offers decently, it's a major market and franchise.

I do think the Rockets are a feint darkhorse because of the S&T assets, enough left over to still be very strong, and the China gateway as mentioned.

I think there is a team that could catapult and take over the race immediately. The guy I think that could be as pivotal in this sweepstakes as World Wide Wes....is Kobe Bryant. If the Lakers don't romp...what if Kobe decides he likes the idea of pairing up with LeBron? Kobe has to realize he's peaked. If (gigantic if the size of the egos we're talking about) he and LeBron decide it'd be fun to kill the league together...the Lakers could pony up a game changing deal - they could offer Gasol and Bynum for James and contract mistakes (like Varejao @ $7M per or Jamison). Cavs immediately get one of the top froncourts in the league to move forward with. The Lakers can get away with parting with them...because they end up with a Bryant-James combo and could kill the league with Serge Zwikker coming out of retirement and playing C for them.

And while I and everyone else expect him to leave...it wouldn't shock me if he stays with Cleveland. Never underestimate the home team.

Just my thoughts.

 

Depends on his motivations - does he want to make more jack, or does he want to win? at this point he has more $$$ than he can spend (I know, you always want more), and he'll make lots wherever he goes. I'm thinking he's getting tired of losing and wants to cement his legacy by winning some trophies. HE WANTS TO WIN.

From that standpoint, he doesn't want to go to any team that will have to rebuild or a (formerly) good team that will have to trade away all their good role player to make room for him. that's again trading money for a spot on a losing team - and that's not good for the legacy. Until the playoffs I was sure (in all my 1x1 conversations with Lebron) that he was going to stay with the Cavs since there was no other situation that could give him a better supporting cast. however, after the complete meltdown, I'm thinking he's leaving Cleveland. But it won't be for NY or another crappy team. My money is on Chicago or Miami.

One caveat - the only stone cold lock for Lebron to go to NY is IF they could guarantee he'd be playing along side T-Mac. With Tracy at his side there's no mountain they can't climb!!

 

Are you kidding me????? YOU DON'T WANT LEBRON !!!!!!!! Man you don't know what you are talking about, there is only so much a player can do if his team is not assisting him. HIS TEAM CHOKED, AND HIS COACH CHOKED. Tell me one player on that team that had an OK series against the Boston Celtics, not ONE OTHER player had a decent series. And if we had lebron I WOULD GUARANTEE A TRIP TO THE FINALS. Are you serious, we took the LAKERS to seven games with Artest in the place that he would be filling, and WITHOUT YAO for 4 of those games. So again, are you kidding me ?

 

Where's going back to Cleveland on your analysis ? He might stay put.

I don't question LeBron's heart as much as others do, I think he played somewhat hurt but I do question this sketch and what's drawn between his legs ?? Not cool whoever drew this

Come on D. Morey make a move for King James ..

 

Other teams may be able to offer LeBron more fame or money. But we can offer him more steps. Hakeem was allowed 3. LeBron needs at least that many.

 

The Lebron Power Rankings

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