Being the great blogger that I am, with the huge following that tends to be always be lurking in my shadows I do sometimes get some preferential treatment. Like getting to talk on the phone to LBJ prior to ‘The Decision’ that goes down tonight.
If you believed a word of that paragraph then you’ve probably already come back in time with your flux capacitor to tell us where Lebron is actually going.
But like all the millions of bloggers and well owners, GMs and coaches of the NBA nobody has any idea so I, Dr. Pure, have about as good of chance as anyone as getting this circus correct. 
Lebron, WITNESS Dr. Pure's blog. BOOM!!
Here’s what could happen:
1. Stay in Cleveland 50%
I don’t think people know how scared Lebron is to leave his home town. He was born and raised in a suburb of the town he now plays; so he has never lived outside of his home and I don’t know if he really wants to leave his home cooking. There are also many pieces in Cleveland that are good enough to win a championship or 4. And any other place he goes, other than Miami, he will be playing around much less talent than already exists in Cleveland.
2. NYC 20%
LBJ has a competitive side that I don’t think many of us have seen yet. He does not want to be outdone, even by his good friends and Gold Medal teammates. And after signing* of Wade and Bosh in Miami he might think he has to go somewhere where he, himself has a superstar duo. Amare will give him that. Also “The Decision” that is going down tonight is right outside the city of New York which is giving a lot of Knick fans hope. But the fact that in the meeting earlier this week the Knicks showed up with Donnie Walsh, Mike D’Antoni and Allen Huston doesn’t really show him they want in that bad.
3. Miami 15%
Okay, this is the scariest proposition out there. But let’s get some facts straight… I don’t care who shows up, this team is and will always be Dwayne Wade’s team. Wade and Bosh haven’t signed and have been rumored to say that they may be willing to take less money to make a team. Lebron has been rumored to have an after-signing party in South Beach. And finally the smooth bargaining of Dwayne Wade. Just his presence makes Charles Barkley look to a class-act and one hell of a salesman in those T-Mobile commercials. And he may convince Lebron that himself, Wade, and Bosh will take less money and let Lebron have all the glory and the ball in key situations just to get him here. But in the end, won’t happen and Wade will still be the face of ‘El Heat’ and Lebron will end up just being another player with 10 championship rings.
4. Nets 10%
Why would LBJ want to go to a place where they would have to rebuild and take 4-5 years to build a team to even be able to win a championship? He’s been there, done that. Remember the last 8 years in Cleveland. And in another 8 years Lebron will be retired. But the Nets show up with Jay-Z and new owner Prokerov; 2 complete direct opposites that could bring together an irresistible feast for Lebron. A move to Brooklyn, a huge market and all the money to bring in whoever else they want.
5. Anybody else 5%
Chicago once looked to be a frontrunner, but now that everyone else is making up their minds and they aren’t thinking the Windy City the Bulls seem out of sorts. They opened cap room for 2 super stars now they aren’t going to get a single one. Time to rebuild maybe? And the Clippers, he’s not going into the gigantic shadow of Kobe for a franchise that has done anything in my lifetime.
So Lebron has some thinking to do. A lot of thinking to do. It’s all a matter of what he wants… glory? Fame? Twitter followers? Championship Rings? Fans? Criticism?
And all we can do is wait.
I knew you'd finally get to this...I hope for a follow up on the ridiculous special I just watched. It may be my emotions talking, hell I live less than an hour from Cleveland, but I hope you pay particular attention to his statement of "I know how loyal I am" after he had said Miami.
ReplyDeleteBurning the jerseys is a bit much though....
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is a little much. But most people think that when something happens like this there is only one thing to do, BURN STUFF... (I know, I live in Boulder)
What do you think about the Dan Gilbert comment? Just overall feeling about Lebron being from close to Cleveland??
The owner statements were too much, especially for a guy that, while offended by the departure of the main player on the franchise that had been paid a lot of the owner's money (maybe even the best small forward ever - probably the best all around athlete ever so far), could have acted a little more like a successful businessman and expressed himself differently. The statement part about the fanfare that led to the "decision" special was spot on though - it was a really stupid hyped up event that gained way more momentum than the actual event deserved. ESPN enjoyed the buildup at the expense of a stupid decision made by a 25-yr old young adult.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, the only thing that happened was that an athlete entertainer changed jerseys.
Whoever advised Lebron made a mess of things - Lebron should have merely said "I have a chance to play a GAME with a couple of the best basketball players currently in the U.S. in Miami. Cleveland is a great place, but this opportunity is too good to pass on." At the end of the day, that is exactly why LBJ made the move - I think the motivation was sincere, but the choreography of the event made way too much of the deal. This isn't equivalent to a Yankee going to the Red Sox or vice versa.
I am not pulling for Miami to win the NBA title. I have lost interest in the NBA - season is too long and championship's excitement are too diluted because of players changing teams - lost identity to community. This experiment would be interesting for an Olympic team or a playoff - but, a season of the buildup is going to get (already is) old!
Plus, Cleveland isn't going to win an NBA championship - stupid statement there. Maybe before Denver, but not before Miami (even without Wade, James, and Bosh).
In response to "The Letter" Dr. Pure - most people around here have no problem with the letter and seem to agree with what it says. It was only confirmed by statements LeBron has made in that he didn't call the Cavs himself on that day because...and I quote..."I wanted it to be about me"...While Gilbert probably should not have said the Cavs will win a championship before LeBron (lets face it, it will take awhile to recover), he was completely correct in calling him out for his immature and premadonna behavior. He then went on in an interview to discuss how he gave up in playoff games, which is completely correct - he was ready to head to Miami before the season ended.
ReplyDeleteGilbert simply called out LeBron for his actions that were pathetic. It was by far the worst thing I've watched on television in a long time. I didn't even believe the reports that he was leaving until he said "I'm taking my talents to South Beach". It all went downhill from there - South Beach doesn't have a basketball team LeBron.
I have seen the man play multiple times and he is something else to watch, but he won't be the same player down there - and it serves him right.