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

[Rip32]

Good debate. I enjoyed reading.

no disagreements here

think his knack for finding and using guys in good roles for them wouldn't hurt in the NBA. I'd like to imagine he's one of those coaches who could get a guy who's been in and out of the league for seven or eight years and find them a key role as a ninth or tenth guy, he seems to manage that with his lesser recruits.

Very true. His recruiting style is towards guys that will fit HIS system, not guys that will be great. Not that he shies away from great high schoolers, but like you said, he recruits for the long run and that could be something that could be either good or bad in the NBA. Good because it shows he has trust in guys, but bad because he is such a loyal guy that it may hurt him in the long run if he signs player x for 5 years and that guy sours quick. He can just allow a guy like Chris Allen to transfer at State, I don't know that it'll be as easy to ship out a cancerous NBA player like J.R. Smith.

His teaching will help young guys and probably annoy older guys. His intensity may actually be the battery a team needs to get back into a game, but at the same time wear down Izzo's battery.

As much as I love him, I don't know that he can chill out enough to coach in the NBA. He loves being in the spotlight, not in a way that hurts himself, the school, or his players, but he likes being open to the media and being the man, but in the NBA, especially in Cleveland, he won't be the guy as long as LBJ is there. He is a huge Larry Brown guy and I think that kind of influence is good on him because they're both similar in coaching style and Larry is the best case scenario for a coach going from college to the NBA.

I just see Izzo as a great assistant coach in the NBA. It's nothing against him or his coaching, which are both great, but he just seems like a great player manager who can be a superb right hand man to a Greg Popovich type guy.

I hope he stays at MSU, but if he goes to Cleveland I will throw my hate for them aside totally. If I'm going to seriously doubt a coach going from college to pro it's not going to be Izzo though. He hasn't failed yet in 15 years at Michigan State, so why start now?

[NovU]

benji, I recognize how Thunders or Blazers did to become good from bad, but aren't there more teams that failed to do so, like PHI or MEM. Of course, the situation is different but stacking up picks and being flexible with caps is not something I'd consider as "will be fine" considering the risks how the teams can draft/sign busts and its long and could-be tiresome rebuilding process.

[benji]

What's the other option?

[Andrew]

Guess it's not longer an issue if Izzo doesn't appeal to LeBron as he's announced he won't be coaching the Cavs, proclaiming himself an MSU lifer.

[air gordon]

the other option is to become irrelevant again

they could stockpile on draft picks by trading their vets to contenders- but that's not going to get them anywhere. those draft picks won't land a Durant, Roy, Deron Williams,etc... they need to hit rock bottom and pray that the draft class will be like 2003.. not 2000. even if so, they could still miss on a Durant by picking Oden or Darko. the current "management" doesn't even have a draft history. and the previous one would have been fired had the Cavs not won the rights to draft Lebron lol

there's a lot of luck and chance when it's comes to the draft. personally i see them going back to irrelevancy.

Should the Cavs lose Lebron, they are going to have a hard time selling some tickets. i'm not not sure what kind of fan base Cleveland had before James arrived but going along the lines of what zanshadow said... i don't know if they have corporate/business suites that have to be renewed every few years like the bulls do... but their owner will probably make some desperate/questionable moves just to make the team competitive enough to put some people in the arena

[benji]

That's not the "other option" that's exactly what I said. It's the only way you can rebuild. There is no other way than clearing space and stockpiling picks. There is no "other option."

[Andrew]

According to this, the year before they drafted LeBron the Cavs had the worst attendance in the league. They were 23rd the year before that and 16th a year earlier than that. I think it's safe to say they'd quite likely drop into that range again if LeBron leaves.

[air gordon]

they may not even try to rebuild. if there isn't much a fan base pre-James as Andrew says- the owner/investors will probably do something rash just to keep the franchise from going under.

[Andrew]

Going back further:

Season GP Total Avg.
1970-71 41 144,252 3,518
1971-72 41 214,119 5,222
1972-73 41 186,477 4,548
1973-74 41 164,520 4,013
1974-75 41 334,582 8,161
1975-76 41 519,010 12,659
1976-77 41 570,445 13,913
1977-78 41 454,961 11,097
1978-79 41 325,616 7,942
1979-80 41 322,788 7,873
1980-81 41 224,489 5,475
1981-82 41 236,523 5,769
1982-83 41 160,537 3,916
1983-84 41 208,095 5,075
1984-85 41 323,984 7,902
1985-86 41 390,842 9,533
1986-87 41 447,125 10,905
1987-88 41 504,847 12,313
1988-89 41 730,925 17,827
1989-90 41 695,710 16,969
1990-91 41 623,906 15,217
1991-92 41 677,408 16,522
1992-93 41 751,469 18,329
1993-94 41 753,686 18,383
1994-95 41 833,850 20,338
1995-96 41 730,095 17,807
1996-97 41 692,684 16,895
1997-98 41 694,629 16,942
1998-99 25 352,992 14,120
1999-00 41 603,702 14,724

[Alpha_]

Stephen A. Smith told ESPN Radio on Friday that LeBron James is warming to the idea of signing with the Knicks this summer.

"From what my sources tell me, he still hasn't made a final decision, but he's higher on New York now than he was a month ago," Smith said. "And the reality is that he is leaning more towards New York than he is towards returning to Cleveland."

Smith's sources said that LeBron's leaning towards the Knicks played a role in Tom Izzo turning down Cleveland's coaching job.

"LeBron didn't speak to Izzo because he doesn't want to have anything to do with who the next coach of the Cavs is going to be just in case he leaves," said Smith.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... ds_knicks/

[Axel The Great]

Whatever team he goes to, best of luck to him. Unless the Knicks can pull in another superstar (most definitely a PG), and re-sign David Lee, LBJ will not be in a championship caliber team.

[Dee.]

I think he's just playing with our minds.

[Confusious]

Smith's sources are the NY Post. Take that with a grain of salt, eh?

and yes, LeBron is playing with all of our minds. This is his free agency, after all.

[Sauru]

he is an ego maniac. he loves this shit. i think he already knows exactly what he is gonna do

[Axel The Great]

Yes, because seriously, it shouldn't take someone 2 months to decide what team they want to sign with.

[kevin02]

I would have to say Lebron is going to the Bulls. I still think there is a good chance he'll stay in Cleveland but I'm giving the bull the edge. Although i am praying he stays in Cleveland. I really think the if Lebron stays the cavs could win it next year with the same roster. I think a they just needed a year to play together. The cavs were making so many changes and they were being forced to adjust to quickly. The only problem is Lebron might not want to stay if Cleveland doesn't sign another big free agent.

[benji]

They can't sign any big free agents unless they renounce LeBron.

Although to be fair, they can't even then.

[Axel The Great]

I would have to say Lebron is going to the Bulls. I still think there is a good chance he'll stay in Cleveland but I'm giving the bull the edge. Although i am praying he stays in Cleveland. I really think the if Lebron stays the cavs could win it next year with the same roster. I think a they just needed a year to play together. The cavs were making so many changes and they were being forced to adjust to quickly. The only problem is Lebron might not want to stay if Cleveland doesn't sign another big free agent.

If the Cavs sign a free agent, it better be a Dwight Howard stomping Center, because Shaq just doesn't cut it.

[kevin02]

They can't sign any big free agents unless they renounce LeBron.

Although to be fair, they can't even then.

Yea, but a sign and trade for Chris Bosh is not out of the question. And I agree without Lebron free agents won't be too excited to come to Cleveland.

[Murat]

Hello, I made mixtape about Lebron James. Hope you'll like it! Also I want to know your thoughts about Lebron James future. Where he gonna play next season? Chicago, Miami, Cleveland, New York or somewhere else?

phpBB [video]

for you, palomo-lv. coz you dont know anything.

[shadowgrin]

^ Why?

[Rip32]

Yea, but a sign and trade for Chris Bosh is not out of the question. And I agree without Lebron free agents won't be too excited to come to Cleveland.

Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu. What would Cleveland even give up? Jamison and Delonte West? The Cavs can go try and get whoever they want, but with their assets (or lack there of) they're going to hog-tie themselves in both the short and long term.

[Sauru]

bosh is leaving toronot so in their mind getting anything back is a plus. if they cant do a sign and trade where they dump a bad contract and pick up someone of value its a big win from a shitty situation

[kevin02]

Yea, but a sign and trade for Chris Bosh is not out of the question. And I agree without Lebron free agents won't be too excited to come to Cleveland.

Chris Bosh and Hedo Turkoglu. What would Cleveland even give up? Jamison and Delonte West? The Cavs can go try and get whoever they want, but with their assets (or lack there of) they're going to hog-tie themselves in both the short and long term.

J.J Hickson would probably be involved in a sign and trade for bosh.

[benji]

If we assume that Mo Williams and Varejao aren't being dealt for Bosh and Turkoglu the deal would have to look something like this:

Toronto Gets:
Antawn Jamison
Delonte West
Daniel Gibson
Anthony Parker or Sebastian Telfair or Jaramio Moon
J.J. Hickson

Cleveland Gets:
Chris Bosh
Hedo Turkoglu