For as much as he "wants to stay in Cleveland", he sure doesn't want to sign on the dotted line. I know we have quite a few Cleveland fans and even more Cleveland haters, I wonder what everyone thinks LeBrons master plan is?

Could you imagine Cleveland if LeBron were to leave? Shaq would leave, Z would leave, they would have a ton of cap space but players generally don't like signing with midwest teams. I also don't see the big names hitting the market. Wade and Melo will stay put, Bosh is the best case scenario.

It just amazes me what a disaster Cleveland would be if Bron left. I believe they traded a ot of their picks away and they have decent money tied up into AV, Mo, West, Moon, Carter; not really a core to build around.

Cavs fans are going to be on pins and needles all season because if Bron leaves they would be better off being an expansion team.

How ever, I do fully expect LeBron to resign because I really don't see NY as being a better situation. I just have a feeling he wants the attention and the headlines all season about "What will LeBron do?" and to be treated like a savior when he returns.

imo i doubt james is going to be back in cleveland, unless they sign a bosh or a big name free agent in 2010, and if he does not come back it gives them the cap room to sign 2 other big names...as much as i hate to say this it might be a win/win for them..

quote:

Originally posted by NervousNoah:
imo i doubt james is going to be back in cleveland, unless they sign a bosh or a big name free agent in 2010, and if he does not come back it gives them the cap room to sign 2 other big names...as much as i hate to say this it might be a win/win for them..

Reports are that the salary cap will be going down again next year, possibly by as much as 7-8 million. Even if it drops $4 million, it'll be $53.7 milllion (this is on the high end of some projections). The Cavs will have $31.5 million in salaries if LeBron opts out. So they would have about $22 million to spend. So they'll only be able to sign one max player, and then they'll have the MLE.

If LeBron doesn't opt out, they'll have $50 million on the books, giving them only the MLE to work with. Definitely not enough for Bosh.

Ultimately, I think LeBron will re-sign with Cleveland. They can offer him more money contract-wise, and I don't really buy into the major media market thing. LeBron is already a huge celebrity, he already has major endorsement deals. I'm sure he could branch out into other things like movies while still playing for the Cavs, if he wanted to. The media already spends an extraordinary amount of time on LeBron, moving to New York won't be able to increase it that much. Not to mention that some Chinese business group bought major shares in the Cavs, if that group promotes the Cavs over in China (which I'm sure they will), that will give him even more exposure.

If he does leave Cleveland, I think the most likely destination is the Nets. Major media market, entertainment market and all that. He's good friends with Jay-Z. And the Nets will be a better team with a brighter future than the Knicks next year. This will be the Nets roster going into the offseason (depending on what options they decide to pick up, and any trades):

Harris/Dooling
Lee/Douglas-Roberts
Williams
Jianlian/Williams
Lopez/Boone

Harris is a really good young point guard.
Lee is a great defender and good shooter.
Lopez has a great post game offensively, and he's a good post defender too.
And they've got the role-players and depth in Terrence Williams (who should turn into another great perimeter defender for them), Keyon Dooling as a capable vet guard, Boone off the bench to rebound and block shots.

Plus, potentially another lottery pick this season.
Imagine adding a lottery pick PF to that line-up. Then the only whole would be at SF. Sign LeBron and viola, a championship contender with potential to improve.

Compared to the Knicks, who will have (again, depending on what options they decide to pick up, and any trades):

?/?
Chandler/Douglas
Gallinari/
Hill/Jeffries
Curry/

They could re-sign Lee or Robinson, and still have enough cap space for LeBron, but even then, the Nets roster is much better.

I think he does this to keep pressure on Cleveland's front office.

quote:

Originally posted by Swettz:
I think he does this to keep pressure on Cleveland's front office.

Spot on he is pulling a Kobe and thats making sure Ferry keeps improving this team untill the win it all.

I would hate to see him leave but when you look at it he has it all with them and is loved and adored in that area.

Adding Leon Powe was huge.

quote:

Originally posted by Jodie "Freek" Meeks:
Adding Leon Powe was huge.

Yeh I cant think of any reason that Boston let him go, the guy signed a team friendly contract with us and if he finally gets over the injury bug he becomes a above avg starter with us. And then signs a contract that gives him the money his skill level suggest.

quote:

Originally posted by Lupus Guerrero:

quote:

Originally posted by NervousNoah:
imo i doubt james is going to be back in cleveland, unless they sign a bosh or a big name free agent in 2010, and if he does not come back it gives them the cap room to sign 2 other big names...as much as i hate to say this it might be a win/win for them..

Reports are that the salary cap will be going down again next year, possibly by as much as 7-8 million. Even if it drops $4 million, it'll be $53.7 milllion (this is on the high end of some projections). The Cavs will have $31.5 million in salaries if LeBron opts out. So they would have about $22 million to spend. So they'll only be able to sign one max player, and then they'll have the MLE.

If LeBron doesn't opt out, they'll have $50 million on the books, giving them only the MLE to work with. Definitely not enough for Bosh.

You don't get the MLE unless you are over the cap.

quote:

Originally posted by wakko2288:

quote:

Originally posted by Lupus Guerrero:

quote:

Originally posted by NervousNoah:
imo i doubt james is going to be back in cleveland, unless they sign a bosh or a big name free agent in 2010, and if he does not come back it gives them the cap room to sign 2 other big names...as much as i hate to say this it might be a win/win for them..

Reports are that the salary cap will be going down again next year, possibly by as much as 7-8 million. Even if it drops $4 million, it'll be $53.7 milllion (this is on the high end of some projections). The Cavs will have $31.5 million in salaries if LeBron opts out. So they would have about $22 million to spend. So they'll only be able to sign one max player, and then they'll have the MLE.

If LeBron doesn't opt out, they'll have $50 million on the books, giving them only the MLE to work with. Definitely not enough for Bosh.

You don't get the MLE unless you are over the cap.

You can choose to use either your available cap space, or the MLE.

If you meant that first part, I meant that after signing a max contract player, they'll have roughly the same amount of cap space as the MLE is.