At the age of 17 Lebron James was anointed with the title of King James. During his 7 year NBA career King James has certainly lived up to the billing. He’s averaged close to 28ppg and is the two time most valuable player. But as July 1st comes closer the rumor mill continues to intensify. Will Lebron stay in Cleveland? Will he attempt to do his best Michael Jordan impression and run wit the Bulls in Chicago? Does a team that will play its home games in Newark for the next two seasons really have a shot? And finally will Lebron give New York fans a reason to care again?
Cleveland
The more I think about it the more I feel like Lebron should stay. Cleveland is the most depressed City in America. Nobody knows this better then the Akron born James. The closest Cleveland has come to winning a championship is when Jake Taylor laid down that terrific suicide squeeze to beat the Yankees in Major League.
The Cavs front office has let Lebron down. That can’t be denied. Since his arrival they have made bad decision after bad decision. (Instead of letting the expiring contracts of Ben Wallace and Wally Z come off the books this summer making them a free agent player) they rolled the dice and traded for an over the hill Shaq.
All that said if Lebron wants to be a global icon and a great player shouldn’t he want to embrace the challenge of defying the odds and winning a championship for his home town fans.
Nets
Can somebody please explain to me why the Nets young core of talent is so appealing? Last I checked this young core of talent just barely won over 10 games last season. Brook Lopez is a decent player and Devin Harris is nothing more then a shoot first point guard.
The Nets biggest appeal is their new owner and their impending move to Brooklyn, but does Lebron really want to play in Newark for two seasons? And say what you want but no matter how bad the Knicks are they will still be New York’s number one team. Just ask Mets fans about how the Yankees own New York.
Chicago
I understand that a nucleus of Lebron, Rose, Noah, and second max free agent is probably the best situation talent wise for Lebron but from an outsider’s perspective what does Lebron really gain from winning a championship in Chicago? It’s been done. It’s actually been done 6 times in one decade by the greatest athlete of our generation.
Besides living in the shadow of MJ, the Bulls also have many holes that people fail to mention. Derrick Rose is an outstanding point guard, but does his game really mesh well with the ball dominate Lebron. Lebron is bust suited to play the role of Magic Johnson and dominate the ball while be surrounded by outside shooters. Last I checked the Bulls have zero shooters on there roster.
Last but certainly not least, if the Bulls sign Lebron and another max free agent how are they going to be able to resign Noah next season and Derrick Rose the season after? Bulls ownership is notoriously cheap (they broke up the Bulls dynasty because they didn’t want to invest money into Pippen and Jordan after 98). The Bulls could very well compete for a championship the next two seasons but after that Lebron would basically be stuck in the same situation he is now.
Miami
This option actually infuriates me and in some respects questions Lebron’s competitiveness. Forming a three man all-star team in Miami is the easy way out. Does it mean anything to anybody if three of the top 10 players in the NBA join forces and win a championship? If Lebron, Wade, and Bosh hold up a championship trophy 4 of the next 5 years in Miami nobody would be surprised in the slightest.
Wade won his championship so he’ll always be able to live on the fact he was the best player and carried his team to a championship, while Lebron will always be known as the player that took the easy way out and joined forces with two other superstars just to win a championship. You see this often with players late in their career, but it would be a slap in the face of every NBA fan if a player of Lebron James caliber in the prime years of his career just decided to cash in on some easy championships instead of taking on a challenge and fulfilling his still untapped potential.
Does winning 5 championships in Miami with an all star team around him = winning one championship in Cleveland or New York? And does playing with an all-star team help Lebron reach his absolute peek ability?
New York
I’m obviously biased here, but to me there are only two options for Lebron James. Stay in Cleveland or come to New York. In 1991 Mark Messier was traded from his hometown Edmonton Oilers to the Rangers and the rest is history. Messier is now known as the Messiah. He brought the fans of New York something they only dreamed of for 54 years. Lebron has the chance to do the same
The challenge is huge. The Miami and Chicago (debatable) would obviously offer you a better chance at instant gratification but the opportunity New York offers you is life long gratification. The Knicks haven’t won a Championship since 1973 and they haven’t been relevant since 1999. This city, this fan base, and the NBA (they won’t admit it but the NBA needs the Knicks to be relevant again) need a New York basketball revival.
With all do respect to Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing, upon arrival Lebron will be the greatest basketball player to ever put on the orange and blue. He’ll leap frog Derek Jeter and Kobe Bryant and become the biggest name in New York and professional basketball.
As far as basketball goes the situation is painted pretty bleakly by most of the national media but the Knicks do have the second (Mia # 1) most money to spend in free agency and they could offer Lebron a sidekick free agent, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, the 12 million expiring contract of Eddy Curry, and the full mid level exception for next season.
It wouldn’t be that far fetched to turn Eddy Curry’s contract into a point guard and center for next season. Also Toronto is rumored to be interested in signing David Lee which would open up a sign in trade for Chris Bosh which would lead to additional savings. The opportunities are their. The Knicks may not be the most appealing in 2010 but come 2011 and so on they have the most flexibility of all the teams on this list and would be able to reload the team via free agency and trades.
The Choice is yours. Do you truly want to be King or just part of a great team.
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