NBA Offseason Thread.

[InvincibleCakeEater]

I think it means that at the time he thought he was either staying in Cleveland or going to Chicago. Chicago because it's retired and staying because since players get a cut of every jersey sold, it was a way to sell new jerseys to people who already have them.

FWIW I'd like to see him stay in Cleveland. I think the city and fans kind of deserve it. He won't be 'it' in Chicago or New York or LA. He's practically a God in Cleveland, and I think they could sign someone like Bosh or Amare and add a better PG. I might catch some flak for the latter, but I'm not sold on Mo yet. I feel like the entire offense is 'Give the ball to LeBron.' I could do that. I'm not a huge basketball fan by any means, so if I'm way off can someone correct me? And if I'm on target can someone make a compelling case for me?

Are there any PG's out there on FA market? (From what I can tell Nash is a FA, but has a team option. The options get really thin after that).

What? He's going to be "it" no matter where he goes. If he goes to New York or Chicago he will instantly smash jersey sale records. He's been in Jordan's "shadow" since he was like 15 years old. He doesn't even play for the Bulls and he's compared to Jordan non stop.

[vinsanity]

What? [LeBron]He's going to be "it" no matter where he goes. If he goes to New York or Chicago he will instantly smash jersey sale records. He's been in Jordan's "shadow" since he was like 15 years old. He doesn't even play for the Bulls and he's compared to Jordan non stop.

I disagree. The average sports fan can name 2 players in Cleveland. Shaq and LeBron. He is the King of Cleveland. The Browns blow, the Indians Blow. It's King James' Town.

If he goes to Chicago or NYC he'll be playing 2nd Fiddle to the City and maybe other sports teams. What's bigger in Chicago? Cubs or Bulls (right now)? Yankees or Knicks? He won't be the toast of the town in LA, Chicago or NY.

Being compared to Jordan has nothing to do with that. Jersey Sales have nothing to do with what I'm saying.

He has been 'compared' to Jordan since 15 but so was Kobe and KG and countless others. He's compared to Jordan and can't live up to it, so why would you try and make the comparison stand out more?

[InvincibleCakeEater]

Why are you comparing baseball teams to basketball teams? That makes no sense.

LeBron is pretty much the biggest sports star in the US behind Tiger Woods. He's not going to all of a sudden become 2nd fiddle because he plays in New York or Chicago. Really, if you don't think he would be the toast of the town in Chicago or New York you've lost your mind.

[Socnorb11]

Kobe only cares about being considered great. It's taken him a long time to realize that he can only achieve greatness in the context of his team's success, and for long stretches of his career, he was willing to sacrifice winning to be considered the man. Being the alpha was so important to him that he squandered who knows how many championships. Jordan never would have done that.

I don't think that's fair. Shaq was mostly done being an NBA force when he left LA. I don't think it's safe to assume that the Lakers would have won multiple more championships if Shaq had stayed in LA. And let's not forget that the Lakers got Lamar Odom in the deal for Shaq. Odom has been pretty instrumental on the recent Lakers teams. And if Shaq sticks around, who knows if the Lakers would have ultimately traded for Gasol, who has also been instrumental on the recent championship teams.

[st.lewis11]

Kobe only cares about being considered great. It's taken him a long time to realize that he can only achieve greatness in the context of his team's success, and for long stretches of his career, he was willing to sacrifice winning to be considered the man. Being the alpha was so important to him that he squandered who knows how many championships. Jordan never would have done that.

I don't think that's fair. Shaq was mostly done being an NBA force when he left LA. I don't think it's safe to assume that the Lakers would have won multiple more championships if Shaq had stayed in LA. And let's not forget that the Lakers got Lamar Odom in the deal for Shaq. Odom has been pretty instrumental on the recent Lakers teams. And if Shaq sticks around, who knows if the Lakers would have ultimately traded for Gasol, who has also been instrumental on the recent championship teams.

++

[st.lewis11]

LeBron should go to LA. He would be the savior of the Clippers. He would be the franchise. It would mean a lot to his legacy, I would think, to go there and turn things around, and those banners hanging next to Jabbar and Magic's would be his very own.There is some good young talent on that roster. He would be in the entertainment capital of the world and a fantastic place to conduct business.

In many ways it would be like Gretzky going to the Kings.

Best of all, Kobe would urinate himself.

Would Sterling pay, though?

I've wondered why LeBron is not even considering the Clippers.(that we know of).
They have the cap room, Dunleavy had planned for this before he was ousted. And Sterling is on record for saying he'd fork out for the right player.(as for his track record, he did match Miami's offer to Elton Brand).
As Saigon points out above, Clippers have the young talent to support LeBron. The atmosphere in turning LA into a 2 man town w/Kobe would be electric. LeBron's legacy would be off the charts if he won a champonship with the Clippers.

[Rieges]

I don't see any scenario where Lebron goes to the Clippers. I don't think he will care about being in Jordan's shadow but I do think he would mind his team playing second fiddle to the Lakers which will always be the case regardless of who's on the Clippers. I also believe him when he says he's all about winning championships and the Clippers will never give him a better shot at winning titles than the Bulls, Heat, or Cavs.

[thrill]

Really, if you don't think he would be the toast of the town in Chicago or New York you've lost your mind.

If you ever had one for basketball.

[Maclowery]

Vinsanity, I don't really understand your angle. You seem to be dead-set against seeing LeBron playing for a team that has an established HOF hero. Is he not allowed, in your opinion, to ever play for a prestigious team?

If he signs with Chicago, sure we will get to hear lots of MJ/LJ garbage (even though I personally think that LeBron is a better comparison to Magic Johnson+scoring). The Bulls have languished for a decade, and are only finally establishing a post-Jordan identity. God forbid! That's what great franchises do - they make the most of their superstars, and once retired, the team moves on to the Next Big Thing. I don't see why you seem to be so adamantly against James playing for a team that's hat a former superstar.

If LeBron James signs with the Bulls, it will usher in a new era of kick-ass Chicago basketball. It won't have a damned thing to do with Jordan, except for people like you, that will shriek if LeBron doesn't dominate like MJ - who, undoubtedly, was the greatest competitor in team sports, perhaps for all time.

Long story short: Shut the [expletive] up about Jordan. Who gives a [expletive]?

[vinsanity]

Why are you comparing baseball teams to basketball teams? That makes no sense.

LeBron is pretty much the biggest sports star in the US behind Tiger Woods. He's not going to all of a sudden become 2nd fiddle because he plays in New York or Chicago. Really, if you don't think he would be the toast of the town in Chicago or New York you've lost your mind.

Yes, but if the Clippers moved to St. Louis and LeBron played in St. Louis, do you think all of the sudden basketball would be bigger than the Cardinals?

Do you think if Sid the Kid or Alexander Ovechkin came to play for the Blues it'd all the sudden be bigger than the Cardinals?

In Cleveland there's nothing but the Cavs. In NY LeBron probably wouldn't be the biggest star in his own town. In Chicago he might be, but I still think basketball is second or third in that city behind the Bears and Cubs.

Vinsanity, I don't really understand your angle. You seem to be dead-set against seeing LeBron playing for a team that has an established HOF hero. Is he not allowed, in your opinion, to ever play for a prestigious team?

If I were him, until I had won a few rings, I'd stay away from Chicago. If he wanted to go play for the Knicks or the Celtics or the Lakers or Jazz (I don't know my NBA Prestigious teams...) I think that'd be fine.

If he signs with Chicago, sure we will get to hear lots of MJ/LJ garbage (even though I personally think that LeBron is a better comparison to Magic Johnson+scoring). The Bulls have languished for a decade, and are only finally establishing a post-Jordan identity. God forbid! That's what great franchises do - they make the most of their superstars, and once retired, the team moves on to the Next Big Thing. I don't see why you seem to be so adamantly against James playing for a team that's hat a former superstar.

Long story short: Shut the [expletive] up about Jordan. Who gives a [expletive]?

It's not that I'm against James playing for anyone (I think he would have a pretty damn good shot at a title in Chicago). All I'm saying, is if it were me making the decision, I'd rather stay near my hometown, with the team that drafted and vault them in to prestigiousness. I just don't think being Chicago and the chance to play for Phil Jackson is the selling point some people make it out to be. I thought we had all agreed that Jordan is more myth than man at this point. And even if LeBron won 7 consecutive titles and smashed every Jordan record and dunked from the three point line there would still be people who say he's not as good as Jordan. I don't understand why you would want to invite that comparison if you can avoid it. And for the record, I tried to shut the [expletive] up about Jordan and move this on to other off-season topics.

If LeBron James signs with the Bulls, it will usher in a new era of kick-ass Chicago basketball. It won't have a damned thing to do with Jordan, except for people like you, that will shriek if LeBron doesn't dominate like MJ - who, undoubtedly, was the greatest competitor in team sports, perhaps for all time.

I take a little issue with this. I agree, with LeBron the Bulls would probably win a title. But I don't understand that 'people like you' comment, that's a little snarky and uncalled for. I won't shriek if LeBron doesn't dominate like MJ. I don't really care where he plays, or who played there before him. I'm not pointing to every hiccup in his career and calling him bust. I'd like to see the kid win a title somewhere. But there are people out there, the ones who've been calling him the next Jordan for 10 years. The Skip Bayless' of the world. Those people are just gonna slaughter him if he can't outdue MJ wearing a Bulls jersey - and no matter what, they'll say he won't. All I'm saying is if it were me, I'd try to distance myself as far away from that comparison as possible.