Finestrg wrote:Excellent post. I agree totally. I'd feel even better about it if I knew he didn't come from the area (being a hometown kid is still a big factor in this I fear) but the things you discuss here hold a lot of weight. If I had to guess, I'd say it's 50/50 right now...

I agree. The hometown kid he already dispelled in more than 1 occasion. He always states he is from Akron. He has no allegiance to Cleveland.

it's all locked up. don't sweat...don't fear...lebron will be in the orange and blue next year...

stanleybostitch wrote:1. Lebron can win with the Knicks - the Knicks have a better foundation, with Gallo, Chandler, and Lee, than Cleveland can provide next year. Combined with the added dollars in 2010 to add additional pieces, and large expirings for trades or max cap room in 2011, and the Knicks are a team with the flexibility (and means) to make the necessary moves to create a long-term winning club.

2. Lebron can create a legacy in NY that becomes the stuff of legend - returning the Knicks, in NY, at MSG, to the championship - year after year - will create a legacy for Lebron that _no_ other team or market can provide. Cleveland? Who cares. LA? They already have their rings. Miami? Shared stage isn't the stuff of legend.

3. Lebron can make more money by coming to NY - Lebron thinks big. If the focus was solely on maximizing yearly base salary, he would have re-upped with CLE last year when the cap was higher. Big picture, Lebron will make more in marketing and related business opportunities by coming to NY - for himself, for his partners, for the Knicks, and for the League.

4. The PTB want and need this for the long-term health of the league - it's no secret that the NBA is more profitable, and sees more overall revenue, when its flagship products are winning. The Knicks are one of these flagship products. The Knicks win, the league wins - revenue goes up (game attendance across the league, marketing contracts, TV contracts, and global opportunities). Cleveland is not now nor will ever be in the same "league" as NY from this standpoint.

That's four but there are others. I'd like a nickel for every "no chance Lebron is coming to NY" articles by "Journalists" who provide no evidence, no reasoning, just a gospel statement based on their "gut". All logic dictates that NY provides the best opportunity for him, his partners, and the league - a slam dunk.

- Lebron isnt beating anyone without a center and I dont mean forwards posing as centers.

- Lebron can create a Legacy anywhere

- Lebron can make more money by winning a championship.

- The League would likely prefer to have it's stars spread out. The league is 30 teams not just the big markets. If Lebron leaves Cleveland they are going to lose alot of money.

Yankees and CC Sabathia. Its not filled with any logic, but its a reason.

Reason #6

New reason for the MidWest to hate New York. Rock in roll celebrations are in NYC but the R'n Roll HOF in Cleveland.

Reason #7

Pussy. Lebron already did all he can in Akron and there is none left in Cleveland. CC took it all to NYC and thats why he keeps talking about CC and the Yanks.

If Lebron was going to re-up he would have already. The only reason I think he has not it the name recognition he gets city to city every nite is exposure you can't buy. He is not a man or a player but a product and he can stand in front a micraphone and say he is not going to talk about "it" and that itself is news. That name recognition boosts his value even more over his salary he could have made. If he say's he'll resign for a year the Cavs will do it. Two years, what ever he wants!

EwingsGlass wrote:Anubis-- way to make blanket statements without any support. You could have just wrote "No". In any event, I think you are wrong.

Not every team needs a traditional center to excel. In particular, I question your definition of a "center" is, besides a player that roams the paint. If you'll remember, Camby was a PF that was moved to C (and spent a lot of time on the DL because of it). Duncan was a PF that played C during many of the Spurs championship runs. To say that Lebron needs a center to win is short-sighted. The Celtics won a championship with Kendrick Perkins at Center. Do you believe that Wallace (not a traditional center) is worse for them?

Lebron can retire his number anywhere. He can make the HoF anywhere, but we differ on the term legacy. There is a reason why they call Larry Bird --the "Legend"-- Beantown being a basketball city made Bird a legacy. Without arguing about NY vs CLE vs LA vs BOS, you must accept that 1) NY is considered the Mecca of basketball and 2) NY has a higher population than Cleveland. His star will shine brighter in NY.

Lebron can make more money by winning a championship is correct. Winning a chip in NY is worth more than a chip in Cleveland. He is already the most marketable NBA player. More of his income will come from his own entrepreneurship. To that extent a larger home market like NY should prove more profitable than Cleveland.

Spreading stars out doesn't seem to be the concern of the league office. In fact, we have seen an accumulation of stars in a few places -- LA, Bos, Dall, Phoe -- without recourse or other action from the league. There are many that believe that Lebron will be successful anywhere-- I think that is true. But I am one who also thinks the NBA is better with its star player in the capital of the world.

The Knicks roster next year is currently in flux. The Cavaliers are a known quantity. I dont see him leaving for a team that "might" get the appropriate pieces for him to win a championship next year. People keep forgetting championship teams need to develop chemistry. I dont think that is going to happen with 2 rookies as integral parts of our rotation next year. Duncan is a HOFer and Perkings plays next to three future HOFers.

If Lebron wins 3 chips in Cleveland he will be the man regardless this isnt 20 years ago. Lebron is known worldwide as one of the few major faces of the NBA. They call Larry the Legend because he won it all.

AnubisADL wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Anubis-- way to make blanket statements without any support. You could have just wrote "No". In any event, I think you are wrong.

Not every team needs a traditional center to excel. In particular, I question your definition of a "center" is, besides a player that roams the paint. If you'll remember, Camby was a PF that was moved to C (and spent a lot of time on the DL because of it). Duncan was a PF that played C during many of the Spurs championship runs. To say that Lebron needs a center to win is short-sighted. The Celtics won a championship with Kendrick Perkins at Center. Do you believe that Wallace (not a traditional center) is worse for them?

Lebron can retire his number anywhere. He can make the HoF anywhere, but we differ on the term legacy. There is a reason why they call Larry Bird --the "Legend"-- Beantown being a basketball city made Bird a legacy. Without arguing about NY vs CLE vs LA vs BOS, you must accept that 1) NY is considered the Mecca of basketball and 2) NY has a higher population than Cleveland. His star will shine brighter in NY.

Lebron can make more money by winning a championship is correct. Winning a chip in NY is worth more than a chip in Cleveland. He is already the most marketable NBA player. More of his income will come from his own entrepreneurship. To that extent a larger home market like NY should prove more profitable than Cleveland.

Spreading stars out doesn't seem to be the concern of the league office. In fact, we have seen an accumulation of stars in a few places -- LA, Bos, Dall, Phoe -- without recourse or other action from the league. There are many that believe that Lebron will be successful anywhere-- I think that is true. But I am one who also thinks the NBA is better with its star player in the capital of the world.

The Knicks roster next year is currently in flux. The Cavaliers are a known quantity. I dont see him leaving for a team that "might" get the appropriate pieces for him to win a championship next year. People keep forgetting championship teams need to develop chemistry. I dont think that is going to happen with 2 rookies as integral parts of our rotation next year. Duncan is a HOFer and Perkings plays next to three future HOFers.

If Lebron wins 3 chips in Cleveland he will be the man regardless this isnt 20 years ago. Lebron is known worldwide as one of the few major faces of the NBA. They call Larry the Legend because he won it all.

The Knicks roster is "in flux" because we have cap space. The starters on this team are pretty straight forward. And they have more upside then the team surrounding LBJ in Cleveland. I would see him leaving for a team that "might" get him the pieces versus one that "can't" get him those pieces. NY has far more economic resources than any small market team.

Your chemistry argument is valid, and yet partially superceded by your "3 HoFer" comment. Boston did it in 1 year-- why can't we? You put the right talent together, they can win. Now. Otherwise, you build like the Spurs. Or do both... like the Lakers.

To be the best, 3 chips doesn't do enough these days. Jordan, Kobe etc... have chips. They are the men. Bill Russell has 11 chips in Boston. Chips alone doesn't make the man. You want to be the best of all time, you have to do it on the biggest stage. You want to be worldwide? See how marketable Lebron is if there is a different Batman in Gotham. Do you think Lebron wants to chance some other superstar making a name on the bright lights of Broadway?

EwingsGlass wrote:The Knicks roster is "in flux" because we have cap space. The starters on this team are pretty straight forward. And they have more upside then the team surrounding LBJ in Cleveland. I would see him leaving for a team that "might" get him the pieces versus one that "can't" get him those pieces. NY has far more economic resources than any small market team.

Your chemistry argument is valid, and yet partially superceded by your "3 HoFer" comment. Boston did it in 1 year-- why can't we? You put the right talent together, they can win. Now. Otherwise, you build like the Spurs. Or do both... like the Lakers.

To be the best, 3 chips doesn't do enough these days. Jordan, Kobe etc... have chips. They are the men. Bill Russell has 11 chips in Boston. Chips alone doesn't make the man. You want to be the best of all time, you have to do it on the biggest stage. You want to be worldwide? See how marketable Lebron is if there is a different Batman in Gotham. Do you think Lebron wants to chance some other superstar making a name on the bright lights of Broadway?

- Cleveland has a team built to win now. They also have an expiring that they are heavily shopping. They can take back 2010 salary before the deadline and we cannot. Cleveland also brought in a Chinese investment group to help them financially.

- Lebron isn't leaving his current contender to build a team with alot of questions. We are in a tough situation because Lebron likely isnt going to leave unless we have the pieces in place but we cant put those pieces in place until he signs.

- When Superstar players win they become Legend. Lebron is the 2nd best player behind Kobe and I dont see anyone getting ahead of Lebron anytime soon.