well, the cavs are out, where will LeBron be in 2011?

[kingjames23]

let the opinions fly. my favorite player is up for grabs. will he stay a cav or go elsewhere? i say stay... he's gotten closer to a title than MJ did in less time. in the next 10-15 years he could play there will be many more chances... and he's not reached his prime yet. meanwhile most of the rest of the greats in the league are 10 years his senior. time is on his side. stay in cleveland i say.

[Lamrock]

New York

[benji]

If the Cavs will give him a sign-and-trade he should go to Dallas for Dampier.
If not, I'd say he should go to Miami.

[Rip32]

Probably New York, but I think New Jersey is interesting (of course I don't even know if they have enough to lure him in?).

[Andrew]

and he's not reached his prime yet.

I disagree, I'd say he's in his prime right now. Right at the start of it, of course, but I don't see him improving all that much. Perhaps he'll play a little smarter and his jumpshot and free throw shooting will be a little more reliable, but I think we're already seeing the numbers he's going to post throughout his prime.

As for where he'll go, I still think the Cavs have a better chance of keeping him than a lot of people are giving them. There's been so much talk of where he'll go, why he's going to this team or that team and how the Cavs are sure to lose him that it wouldn't surprise me all that much if none of it came to pass and he remains a Cavalier. I know the situations aren't exactly alike, but I'm reminded of Tim Duncan being courted by the Magic in 2000 and speculation about Chris Webber in 2001; all that talk about Duncan teaming up with Hill and/or McGrady in Orlando and everything Webber said being taken as an indication he was leaving Sacramento and they both ended up re-signing. Again, I realise it's apples and oranges but it wouldn't be the first time the talk of a high profile free agent signing elsewhere has turned out to be much ado about nothing.

That said, the acquisition of Jamison kind of bombed, the re-match with the Magic never took place so the Shaq trade never got a chance to achieve the intended results and the Cavs will be over the cap with some big contracts on their books. It's possible that LeBron doesn't like what he sees and believes the grass is greener on the other side, in which case he could very well be moving on.

The Chicago rumours seem to be pretty strong at the moment but like I said in the Bulls thread, I'm skeptical. I'd love to see it happen, but I have my doubts. Perhaps they're in the top three, but New York's in a better position to bring in another top tier free agent alongside him. If I had to rank the possibilities, I'd probably say:

1. Cleveland
2. New York
3. Chicago
4. Miami
5. New Jersey

[benji]

I'd consider flipping Miami and Chicago in yours, and maybe even putting Chicago 5th.

Florida has no state income tax and the best weather. And has even more cap space than New York. (And will more than any team offer Wade to team with.)
New Jersey has his BFF Jay-Z involved, a nice big man, point guard, some young athletic options.

Chicago has the Jordan factor he's clearly trying to run from and likely only will offer him pairing with Deng, Rose and Noah for the future instead of another of the 2010 class.

Not sure why everyone is leaving Dallas out of these discussions, who else is offering an established 50 win team with a dominant scorer and proven veterans? There's also the Clippers to consider. (Hopefully LeBron's financial advisers are smart enough to tell him to avoid California though.)

[Rip32]

New Jersey has his BFF Jay-Z involved, a nice big man, point guard, some young athletic options.

Exactly and I'd assume the Nets would trade Devin Harris if they got the No. 1 pick and John Wall. Whoever they get should be a solid player too. The trio of Wall-Lopez-LeBron has a nice ring to it. I just don't know if he wants to go play with the kids like he would be doing.

I don't see why that team can't jump to the top of the East with a smart off-season aside from landing LBJ? Not to mention LeBron has his choice of coach in NJ and the move to NY in the next two years as well.

[Andrew]

I'd consider flipping Miami and Chicago in yours, and maybe even putting Chicago 5th.

Wishful thinking and a shred of hope placed Chicago a little higher on my list than they probably should be, so I can't disagree there.

[Phil89]

I wonder what New York will do if they miss out on all the big names. What is their plan B?

[NovU]

By signing with Miami, Wade gets 29 million dollars more than other teams can offer. How much can Lebron make from signing with Cavaliers?

[benji]

By signing with Miami, Wade gets 29 million dollars more than other teams can offer. How much can Lebron make from signing with Cavaliers?

The same. Or a sign-and-trade would do it for all FA's.

I just don't know if he wants to go play with the kids like he would be doing.

Easy to forget he's only 25. He's at the age where Kobe spent his years in the wilderness as the Lakers rebuilt.

I wonder what New York will do if they miss out on all the big names. What is their plan B?

Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay.

[Dan's Brain]

I'm leaning towards the Nets as my pick.
He'll have a solid up-and-coming supporting cast. Either Harris or Wall at the point. Courtney Lee, CDR or Evan Turner at the 2. Yi at the 4 and Brook Lopez at Centre. They'd just have a garbage bench.

I think the idea of taking a 12-70 team and turning them into a top 4 contender would be pretty appealing to LeBron's ego, also the Jay-Z connection and having carte-blanche to hire his own coach would be nice selling points.

In terms of wanting a championship, now, right now - then Dallas gets the nod. But if you were looking to build a dynasty, then New Jersey would be an interesting place to start.

[The X]

Hate the avatar Andrew. Lebron should not wear #6, Bill Russell owns #6.

I'm thinking Lebron stays in Cleveland if they can sign another good free agent. If not in Cleveland he'll play for Knicks or Nets.

[Valor]

Hate the avatar Andrew.

That. Just hate the thought of the possibility (however slim) of this classless showoff being the franchise player in our beloved Chi-Town...

Anyone noticed the contradiction between his actions and words last season to this season when he got eliminated? (he actually shook hands! after saying he doesn't do that when he loses!)

[diddy]

MIAMI is the one place LBJ should go to be sure that he get that ***ing ring

[Martti.]

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... n_chicago/

If they're wright, Chicago would have Rose, Lebron, Bosh/Wade and Noah next season. I bet this tempts Lebron.

But my pick is NY. I believe he has played his last game as a Cavalier.

[Andrew]

Hate the avatar Andrew. Lebron should not wear #6, Bill Russell owns #6.

And Michael Jordan doesn't "own" #23?

That. Just hate the thought of the possibility (however slim) of this classless showoff being the franchise player in our beloved Chi-Town...

More than you hate the Bulls being a .500 team without a bona fide superstar though?

[Jeffx]

New York

No way. Hell, the Nets have a better upside than my shitty team. NJ has a legit big man and a true point guard.

[Lean]

MIAMI is the one place LBJ should go to be sure that he get that ***ing ring

A bit of bias-ness there Diddy. If that happens, they would have a show-off every game.

[Andrew]

There won't be a single loss to the Heat that isn't blamed on the referees if he goes to Miami.

[NovU]

I'm starting to hate Chicago due to the Blackhawks being a dirty dirty team. Don't go there, Lebron! Go to LAC! No offense Andrew, but I am also a hockey fan.

[Patr1ck]

I heard that Mike Brown might have just been fired as the Cavs coach, but there are reports that dispute it. I don't think it's true, you just don't fire a coach from a team that has been to the finals and had the best record the past two seasons.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archi ... ike_brown/

I think the Clippers are actually a sleeper in the Lebron sweepstakes, they have more tools (on paper) than some of the other teams.
Davis-Gordon-James-Griffin-Kaman?

[Cartar]

And then he would have a career-ending injury during the 3rd game.

[Rip32]

Hate the avatar Andrew.

That. Just hate the thought of the possibility (however slim) of this classless showoff being the franchise player in our beloved Chi-Town...

I'm sure you would be just devastated if the Bulls sign and traded 42 games a year Luol Deng for the best player in the NBA.

I don't really see where the classlessness comes from? I mean, he plays with a style that can be construed as being a sort of "show off", but rarely do fans point out Kobe's constant snarls and verbal lashings he gives his teammates, and I don't think either of those things are necessarily a bad thing.

Maybe I'm just not a LeBron hater anymore. When Stuckey passed out during that game earlier in the year LeBron got everyone together at the end of the game and that changed my mindset of him. Maybe that was for show, maybe not, but I think unless you're a fan of the Thunder you are an absolute idiot for NOT wanting the best player in the world on your team.

[kingjames23]

my hope is that if LeBron does leave cleveland, he goes to miami... and takes Shaq back there with him.

as far as him being in his prime andrew, i think we will see that from age 28-33. he will work on his shooting more and more and i think his %'s will go up by that time. also, he needs to develop the one thing kobe has that he doesnt. the thing that made jordan the greatest ever.

killer instinct.

when we see that, then we will know James has hit his prime. be selfless when you have the lead and your team is rolling. dominate the game at the start to get the team rolling, and finish the game strong, take over in the 4th. thats the mentality he needs. too many mistakes, too much hesitation in games 4 and 5 vs the celtics.