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

If he leaves, New York is a no-brainer.

 

Not possible...

 

Forgive my ignorance, but why can't the teams in the first list, that "cannot afford him," sign and trade for him?

 

^ Not necesarily

NJ, Chicago and Miami are all in the running.

All those other places are very doubtful.

 

Any reason why those teams can't afford lbj? If you have a chance to get lbj, you do what you have to do to get him. If he says he wants to go to orlando, why wouldn't orlando offer a package not including howard to get him? Carter makes over 13m,gortat makes 5.5m and fran vasquez plus picks.

 

I can see that you spent a lot of time on this, and it's a good writeup.

You tinkered with putting Houston in the "poor position" category, admitting that it's a long shot in the first place. My worry is that things like this will unlock an avalanche of LeBron threads in the GARM like Bosh, except that there is a near zero chance of him coming here.

 

I doubt he leaves for another small market team like OKC. I could see Miami, but then again if he doesn't win it all this year, he might be perceived as joining a proven champion in Wade just to piggyback for a ring :grin:

My money's on NY or Chicago or Brooklyn.

 

Any team that signs LBJ becomes an instant championship contender so you can get rid of that whole list. Especially Cleveland (they'd have the same team as this year and they're championship contenders), Charlotte (they are a young team and showed very good potential this year), Detroit (If they can put all the pieces together), Toronto (If Bosh stays). Basically, any team with Lebron on it becomes a championship contender.

 

I think he'll go to NY or Miami.

 

Why the hell would you rank Okc as the top? Why would they want the King? They already have Durantula...and their team showed that they have potential already, they just need to add some more good role players around KD, not get someone to replace KD...

 

Why can't cleveland be a contender with james next season?

 

Angels can't talk Lebron to Houston

 

This thread needs to get back into its game.

I just don't see anyway Lebron signs in OKC. To share the spotlight with Durant? To go to the powerhouse market that is Oklahoma City? These guys have giant egos and Lebron is one of the biggest. Not happening.

If Lebron leaves Cleveland New York has got to the favorite. Yeah they suck but its New York. He signs with them he instantly brings them back to relevancy. He wins a ring with them.. his legacy is cemented in a way that is only possible in New York.

I could maybe see the Heat.. New York somehow fails to acquire another quality max player. Bron decides hes ready to move on from Cleveland. This location would be his "ill do anything to win" signing. D-Wade would have to re-sign. Still highly unlikely.


Either way I see Lebron only signing for 3 years wherever he goes to keep the hype alive and make sure he stays on a winning club. Lebron's free agency will never end.

 

I would argue Chicago is a no-brainer, playing with Rose and possibly Noah if they don't have to trade him to get LBJ.

 

basically the post states that Houston has put itself financially to be in position to be in the running for James. which is true.

it's not impossible but honestly Houston is middle of the pack in every measure when it comes to Lebron (and Bosh)... financially, marketwise or supporting cast.

Houston has a large footprint in Texas but outside of Texas it might as well be Milwaukee or Pittsburg... no one is dying to come down here. Houston would have to have some big chips either financially or odds of a 'chip to motivate Lebron or any other top tier player. all things being equal there's more draw to NY, Chicago, Miami, LA.

 

Would lebron leave through SnT? Or would he just sign somewhere outright? I think thats the bigger question before speculating over where he will sign.

 

I commend you for taking the time and effort to write however your analysis probably needs some work. As the best player in the league LBJ technically can go anywhere. If he decides to come to LA I don't doubt for a second that LA will drop Kobe like a hot potato to get him. With that said, I think we can cross out some teams:

1) LBJ won't want to go to a small market team with a dark future (Memphis, Minny etc.)
2) LBJ won't want to go to a team with an established star
3) LBJ is very likely to stay in Cleveland (I'd say 60%)

Based on the above criteria there's absolutely no way LBJ will be going to OKC (your strongest position) team. Why will he go there and compete with Durant when he has pick of any other teams? We can also cross out

If he decides to leave Cleveland as a FA he will be going to only 3 destinations:

1. NJ (my most likely destination)
-has an amazing future ahead of it, billionaire owner, a good pg and c already in place, and a top draft pick that can be used to get a franchise PF. Plus his buddy owns part of the franchise. Even better, if he goes there and NJ turns it around it'll add to his basketball "greatness". If I'm LBJ I'll be taking the paycut and going here.
2. Chicago
-almost same as NJ, however the owner is cheap and continually hamstrings the team to feed his baseball fanaticism. Still they have a much better pg and c than NJ, and the fact that MJ played there might be a turn on/off for him.
3. NY
-conspiracy with Bosh? I dunno, the free lapdances sound really tempting....

If he decides to leave on good terms with Cleveland he can do an S&T with the following:
1. Houston-we have assets to make it work, and team that can still be a contender. I think as far as S&T destinations go we are the most attractive team.
2. NJ-can trade their pg, c or draftpick. I dunno why they would want to do a S&T when they can sign him, but if LBJ insists he doesn't want to leave Cleveland empty handed they have some solid pieces they can trade. However the core won't look as good as NJ only has a few good pieces.
3. Chicago-same as above.

 

Funny you say that, I think a lot of players make Houston their offseason residence. Aside from dream destinations like Miami I don't think is such a nasty place to live in lol. No state income tax means a lot I think...