Where Do You Think Lebron Goes.. Or Does He Stay

[The Fallen Angel]

with "king" james now out of the playoff picture all the attention turns to free agency and where will lebron be in 40 some odd days. Here are possible destinations i have heard

Chicago

New York

New Jersey

LA

Dallas

Washington

Oklahoma City

and last but not least Cleveland

lately ive been hearing its all about the bulls, that they could wheel and deal enough to get lebron and dwayne wade in chicago (wade is a hometown chicago guy) but for some reason i still see lebron going to play with kobe under the bright lights of LA

so where do you think lebron goes and why? or does he stay in cleveland after all

 

[mass1926]

Last night they gave up. Not even trying to foul at the end, although they had no chance, shows defeat. Lebron did not even seem into it and it almost looked like he spent most of the game trying to show how poor his surrounding cast was by dishing to ball to them only to watch them toss up bricks or get stripped. He didn't seem to have any bursts of energy all game and looked hardly devastated by the early playoff exit. I say he's as good as done in Cleveland. Next stop New York?

 

[Tickle Fiend]

I wish he would come to Washington, but I think he's back in Cleveland. I hope they can sign a player this offseason who can help LeBron win a championship.

 

[BMoreTklr]

As one who follows the Wizards, that'd be AWESOME! Sucks how they had to gut the team after Hibatchi did something crazy stupid! I don't see him leaving Cleveland however, unless the rumors of his teammate and his mom engaging in sexual congress are true.

 

[Angel_2]

LeBron should go to the knicks, will he? I doubt it but I sure hope he dose

 

[thetmfobserver]

I'll go ahead and say that he stays in Cleveland. They might be able to sign a mid-level player to go along with Shaq and the crew. I'll hope LeBron feels loyal to Ohio, and also that he needs to win with the Cavs to prove the doubters wrong.

 

[theticklingmaster]

I think he is done in Cleveland. The teammates & the coach quit in the final minutes of Game 6. I think he goes to Chicago.

 

[Cy/MiG]

My money was on NJ until they slipped to #3 in the lottery.

Now it stands to reason that the list is narrowed to NY, Chi-town and LA (Clippers).

There is NO way can he stay in Cleve-land and why would he go to Chi-town to live in MJ's shadow (even though Rose and Noah would help make him an instant contender)?

NY is also almost out of the question because their team sucks and can't offer a team better than Cleveland.

So by all logic the Clips are the destination, but since money talks, NY may still win out.

 

[Mitchell]

I blog on the Atlanta Journal Constitution website. The consenus there is that he is staying in Cleveland.

As for my personal opinion, I think Lebron might leave. Although he is still young, he wants to go to a team that can win a title.

I dont see him ending up in New York. The Knicks are terrible, and have been for years. They need more than him to win a championship. After all, they had Ewing for many years. He was one of the 50 greatest players ever, and he never won a title as a Knick.

The logical place for him to go would be L.A. They may win the title this year, and, I also read if they do win, Phil Jackson likely isn't going to retire. Playing with Kobe, Lebron might win multiple titles out there.

My call: Lebron leaves Cleveland, and goes to the Lakers. I don't know the whole salary implications for the Laker team if he wants to go there, but I think that is the best place for him to have a chance to win a title.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

LeBron won't go to the Lakers because then he'd be playing in Kobe's shadow (which is the same reason he can't sign in Miami w/ D-Wade or with any team that signs D-Wade).

LeBron is an alpha dog who needs to win a title ala Jordan---as the alpha dog of a good team.

If he goes to a team w/ a Wade and/or Kobe then yes he will win a title, but people won't give him credit for 'winning on his own' (and rightly so).

No way does LeBron sign w/ any team where he isn't the #1 guy.

 

[primetime]

As beautiful as it would be, Lebron will not come to the Lakers. We don't have the money to pay him the maximum salary.

He won't come to the Clippers. Two reasons...

1) He will be in Kobe's shadow in Los Angeles.

2) They are still the Clippers.....


Lebron will probably stay in Cleveland. He loves Ohio. The Cavs are a supporting cast away from making the Finals. He needs a TRUE #2 in Cleveland to help him. Mo Williams is not the guy. Shaq is too old. Jamison is a ROLE player. If someone like Bosh comes to Cleveland, then Lebron has his chance.

Although, until Lebron develops that "killer instinct", he will not see the promised land. Or he will when Kobe retires....

 

[Cy/MiG]

As beautiful as it would be, Lebron will not come to the Lakers. We don't have the money to pay him the maximum salary.

He won't come to the Clippers. Two reasons...

1) He will be in Kobe's shadow in Los Angeles.

2) They are still the Clippers.....

Actually, I would think the main reason why he wouldn't sign with the is because Donald Sterling is not only a notoriously cheap, greedy and inept owner, but a racist bastard.

The Clips have Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and trade chips in Baron and Kaman. LeBron would certainly have a good supporting cast to work with if he went there.

Also, IF he wanted it, the whole 'Kobe shadow' factor could work in his favor because it would bud into a rivalry and if LeBron 'saved' the Clips he would get more press than Kobe ever could.

Other than the Clippers cursing every good player who has ever played for them thing (and Donald Sterling), they are the ideal fit for LeBron.

Lebron will probably stay in Cleveland. He loves Ohio. The Cavs are a supporting cast away from making the Finals. He needs a TRUE #2 in Cleveland to help him. Mo Williams is not the guy. Shaq is too old. Jamison is a ROLE player. If someone like Bosh comes to Cleveland, then Lebron has his chance.

Everything in bold is why he will not stay. Plus Mike Brown (who is reason #1 why the Cavs didn't make the finals any of the last 3 years).

Four years ago LeBron had NO help and he made the finals by himself (inept coach aside, althoug he had help from the ineptitude of Flip Saunders...). Now the last two years the Cavs got him help and they blew it. I don't see how he can envision staying with the Cavs, getting a better supporting cast (which has already been tried the last two years) and then winning a championship and more importantly---starting a DYNASTY.

Varejao, Hickson, Moon, Boobie Gibson and West are the only 'younger' guys on the team and none of them are even #3 or 4 guy caliber.

LeBron knows this and since the team he lost this year with can't deliver the goods (and can't get much better than just signing Bosh, which is far from definite and/or possible) he has no choice but to get the hell out of Dodge.

Although, until Lebron develops that "killer instinct", he will not see the promised land. Or he will when Kobe retires....

Exactly.

Kobe developed that 'killer instinct' after the team became his and only his. Then when the Lakers swindled the Grizz out of Gasol he KNEW his time was now.

I don't like Kobe, but he does have that MJ gene where he can and will stick the dagger into his opponent's heart in the big time.

LeBron does not.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

He stays in Cleveland. Greed is the word my friends. Nobody can match what Cleveland would give him without going over their salary cap. So Cleveland is the obvious choice.

 

[primetime]

Hey Cy/MiG, how old are you? Kobe Bryant has ALWAYS had the "killer instinct". From the day he first stepped foot on a NBA court in his rookie year to today, he has always had the strong will to win. Did you see Kobe dismantle the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference Finals in 2001? He didn't develop his "black mamba" aura just recently. It's because of this focus he always has, he seems standoffish and arrogant. Lebron does not have the "will" to win yet. There's a big difference between the two.

Lebron will not come to the Clippers. They have no coach. The organization is in constant disarray, and keep in mind, he will share the spotlight in LA. Why come to LA and be in Kobe's backyard, when he can go to New York, the nation's largest market, and be the "King" there? He definitely will NOT be the "King" in LA.

Honestly, I really think Lebron will stay in Cleveland. If he goes somewhere else, it actually would be a surprise.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Hey Cy/MiG, how old are you? Kobe Bryant has ALWAYS had the "killer instinct". From the day he first stepped foot on a NBA court in his rookie year to today, he has always had the strong will to win. Did you see Kobe dismantle the San Antonio Spurs during the Western Conference Finals in 2001? He didn't develop his "black mamba" aura just recently. It's because of this focus he always has, he seems standoffish and arrogant. Lebron does not have the "will" to win yet. There's a big difference between the two.

23, I grew up watching MJ and later Kobe.

While it's true that Kobe always had the 'killer instinct', but it never kicked into 'MJ levels' until after the Lakers traded Shaq.

MJ always had the killer instinct because he played the early part of his career with crap teammates (which LeBron should have developed as well, but he only really ever showed it when he destroyed Detroit in 06, but that was also terrible coaching by Flip Saunders).

Kobe on the other hand had Shaq as a 'crutch' (Phil was going to Shaq in the clutch, he was unstoppable in his prime) and it wasn't until after Shaq was gone that he really harnessed that 'killer instinct' (the 83 point game).

But please don't misconstrue what I'm saying, I may hate Kobe and all, but he is on the MJ level of killer instinct FOR SURE now (and has been for 3-4 years now). Few players are or ever have been as good as he is right now.

 

[Cy/MiG]

He stays in Cleveland. Greed is the word my friends. Nobody can match what Cleveland would give him without going over their salary cap. So Cleveland is the obvious choice.

LA and NY can offer him ad campaigns, night life and all sorts of side perks.

If greed is the word, Cleveland is SOL.

 

[primetime]

I thought you were on the younger side. What people don't realize is that Shaq was NOT the clutch guy, it was Kobe Bryant. Because Shaq can't make free throws, Phil went to Kobe late in games. Shaq was a dominant force and a beast for sure, but Kobe Bryant was hitting game winners during the Shaq years. He has ALWAYS had that killer instinct. The difference is, Shaq was the #1 option then, not Kobe. But make no mistake, Kobe has always had this incredible focus.

Shaq was NOT a crutch. Go back into time, and you will see Kobe Bryant's heroics were quite evident during their initial titles runs.

Killer instinct is really a personality trait. Lebron has a different personality than Kobe. Lebron is great, but he doesn't have the same will to win as Kobe. He even admitted it during his time with Kobe in the Olympics. He has said, Kobe is THE hardest working player, and has the mentality of an assassin.

 

[ticklingfeet4fu]

LA and NY can offer him ad campaigns, night life and all sorts of side perks.

If greed is the word, Cleveland is SOL.

He is already getting campaign ads. His name does that. The city he is in doesn't matter. As far as night life, you think he doesn't have a night life in Cleveland?

Besides, if you were LeBron James, would you go to the Knicks? If he has a half a brain, he wouldn't. Because he has NO SHOT at winning with the Knicks. Don't believe me, ask Patrick Ewing. The Knicks will get LeBron and stop there. But I do hope you are right and the Knicks get LeBron and they get Wade and Bosh as well. Then the Knicks MIGHT finish with a .500 record.

 

[Cy/MiG]

He is already getting campaign ads. His name does that. The city he is in doesn't matter. As far as night life, you think he doesn't have a night life in Cleveland?

Live shot of the 'Nightlife in Cleveland':

Besides, if you were LeBron James, would you go to the Knicks? If he has a half a brain, he wouldn't. Because he has NO SHOT at winning with the Knicks. Don't believe me, ask Patrick Ewing. The Knicks will get LeBron and stop there. But I do hope you are right and the Knicks get LeBron and they get Wade and Bosh as well. Then the Knicks MIGHT finish with a .500 record.

No, but I would get the hell out of Cleveland.

Although, I will say that NY has alot to offer LeBron. Nightlife and culture (the ability to hang out with the likes of A-Rod and Jeter, etc.), all sorts of extra ad campaigns and exposure, the most rabid fans in the NBA (can you imagine LeBron playing 41 games in a sold out Garden?!) and free Yankees tickets (he is a fan, remember).

 

[Cy/MiG]

I thought you were on the younger side. What people don't realize is that Shaq was NOT the clutch guy, it was Kobe Bryant. Because Shaq can't make free throws, Phil went to Kobe late in games. Shaq was a dominant force and a beast for sure, but Kobe Bryant was hitting game winners during the Shaq years. He has ALWAYS had that killer instinct. The difference is, Shaq was the #1 option then, not Kobe. But make no mistake, Kobe has always had this incredible focus.

Shaq was NOT a crutch. Go back into time, and you will see Kobe Bryant's heroics were quite evident during their initial titles runs.

Killer instinct is really a personality trait. Lebron has a different personality than Kobe. Lebron is great, but he doesn't have the same will to win as Kobe. He even admitted it during his time with Kobe in the Olympics. He has said, Kobe is THE hardest working player, and has the mentality of an assassin.

I mean crutch in terms of Kobe would not have won three titles without without Shaq. Kobe has obviously always been a terrific player.

What I do remember quite well is Shaq singlehandedly destroying the likes of Philly, Indiana and New Jersey with 35 points and 15 boards every game since they had NOBODY to guard him.

Yes, Kobe was gunning down whoever were the 2-guards for those three terrible teams as well (the likes of Aaron McKie Chris Mullins and some poor bastard for the Nets... maybe Kerry Kittles), but Shaq was getting the ball down in the post when it mattered.

I know this because I had to listen to Bill Walton ramble on about how utterly great Shaq was every year for three years during the finals.

So when comparing 'killer instinct' and great players like Kobe, if the comparison is to LeBron or another lesser player then Kobe has 'always had it'.

If the comparison is MJ, who dropped 63 on Bird and the Celts @ the Garden, went toe-to-toe w/ highlight reel and absolutely embarassed 'Clyde the Glide' (all by the age of 27) then... sorry, but Kobe didn't have THAT kind of 'killer instinct' until the post-Shaq era (which started around age 27)

 

[primetime]

You don't know the history of the Lakers very well then. Everyone loves pointing out to Shaq dominating the NBA Finals, but he SHOULD dominate them. Who did he face at center? Rik Smits of the Indiana Pacers, Dikembe Mutombo of the 76ers, and Todd Collins and a few other hapless centers of the New Jersey Nets. Does anyone watch the earlier rounds? San Antonio nuetralized Shaq. Without Kobe Bryant, Shaq never gets past the Spurs. People have to look at the WHOLE story, and not just the Finals.

Plus Kobe Bryant was the #2 option on the Lakers because Phil Jackson wanted it that way. If you remember, that was the point of contention back then. Who should be the #1 option? Kobe or Shaq? That was the hot item. Kobe didn't all of the sudden become a dominant force AFTER Shaq left. Kobe was a dominant force during the Shaq years, but he had to concede to Shaq being the #1 option. People also forget that the Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in 5 games in 2004 with Shaq having really good numbers. Why? Larry Brown placed SINGLE coverage on Shaq. Larry Brown before the Finals even said, "I need to stop Kobe Bryant." He didn't give a damn about Shaq. He let Shaq have whatever he wanted. But he focused his defense on stopping Kobe and the other players. Don't get it twisted....

Kobe Bryant has always been a "cold blooded" assassin. He was like that in High School. He didn't magically become a dominant scorer after Shaq left. He was always a dominant scorer. But imagine if you have a 7 foot, 300+ pound beast on your team. Your scoring average will be lower as compared to not having that beast. Your personality remains the same though.

There's a nightlife in Cleveland? Talk about an oxymoron....

 

[Cy/MiG]

You don't know the history of the Lakers very well then. Everyone loves pointing out to Shaq dominating the NBA Finals, but he SHOULD dominate them. Who did he face at center? Rik Smits of the Indiana Pacers, Dikembe Mutombo of the 76ers, and Todd Collins and a few other hapless centers of the New Jersey Nets. Does anyone watch the earlier rounds? San Antonio nuetralized Shaq. Without Kobe Bryant, Shaq never gets past the Spurs. People have to look at the WHOLE story, and not just the Finals.

That's true, but Kobe doesn't have many 'holy hell he took over and won that game/series' moments during the Shaq era. More people remember Robert Horry's shots than anything that Kobe may have done.

Jordan on the other hand was renowned for his pre-finals performances. I find it hard to believe that any casual or non-Lakers fan could cite specific examples of Kobe 'dominating' a game or series during the Shaq era (or at least on the same levels that MJ did).

Plus Kobe Bryant was the #2 option on the Lakers because Phil Jackson wanted it that way. If you remember, that was the point of contention back then. Who should be the #1 option? Kobe or Shaq? That was the hot item. Kobe didn't all of the sudden become a dominant force AFTER Shaq left. Kobe was a dominant force during the Shaq years, but he had to concede to Shaq being the #1 option. People also forget that the Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in 5 games in 2004 with Shaq having really good numbers. Why? Larry Brown placed SINGLE coverage on Shaq. Larry Brown before the Finals even said, "I need to stop Kobe Bryant." He didn't give a damn about Shaq. He let Shaq have whatever he wanted. But he focused his defense on stopping Kobe and the other players. Don't get it twisted....

Funny you mention the Detroit series, because I thought that was the ONE time Kobe did 'dominate'. I can't recall if it was game 2 or game 3 of the finals, but Kobe WILLED the Lakers to win, hitting the game-tying shot during regulation and the game-winning shot in OT. I rememer thinking at the time 'holy crap, Kobe is making the leap and will turn this series around', but [thankfully for me as a doe-eyed Pistons fan] Tayshaun Prince had other ideas.

Still, all this proves again is that while Kobe does have that 'killer isntinct' gene and has had it all along, he didn't really USE it until after Shaq was gone (the lone exception to my memory being that one meaningless finals game vs. Detroit).

Kobe Bryant has always been a "cold blooded" assassin. He was like that in High School. He didn't magically become a dominant scorer after Shaq left. He was always a dominant scorer. But imagine if you have a 7 foot, 300+ pound beast on your team. Your scoring average will be lower as compared to not having that beast. Your personality remains the same though.

Very true. And I do think that if Jordan played the early part of his career with a Kareem or 'Chief' Parish that he might not have developed his 'killer instinct' so soon either.

If I had to rank 'killer instinct' of the 'major greats' of the last 20 years I still say:

MJ: 100+
Bird:99
Magic: 98
Kobe: 95, but with nothing but potential to reach MJ levels of 100+.
Iverson: 50
LeBron: 10
Karl Malone: -100 😀

Honestly, at this point, I would say that Kevin Durant has more 'killer instinct' than LeBron.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

You don't know the history of the Lakers very well then. Everyone loves pointing out to Shaq dominating the NBA Finals, but he SHOULD dominate them. Who did he face at center? Rik Smits of the Indiana Pacers, Dikembe Mutombo of the 76ers, and Todd Collins and a few other hapless centers of the New Jersey Nets. Does anyone watch the earlier rounds? San Antonio nuetralized Shaq. Without Kobe Bryant, Shaq never gets past the Spurs. People have to look at the WHOLE story, and not just the Finals.

Plus Kobe Bryant was the #2 option on the Lakers because Phil Jackson wanted it that way. If you remember, that was the point of contention back then. Who should be the #1 option? Kobe or Shaq? That was the hot item. Kobe didn't all of the sudden become a dominant force AFTER Shaq left. Kobe was a dominant force during the Shaq years, but he had to concede to Shaq being the #1 option. People also forget that the Detroit Pistons beat the Lakers in 5 games in 2004 with Shaq having really good numbers. Why? Larry Brown placed SINGLE coverage on Shaq. Larry Brown before the Finals even said, "I need to stop Kobe Bryant." He didn't give a damn about Shaq. He let Shaq have whatever he wanted. But he focused his defense on stopping Kobe and the other players. Don't get it twisted....

Kobe Bryant has always been a "cold blooded" assassin. He was like that in High School. He didn't magically become a dominant scorer after Shaq left. He was always a dominant scorer. But imagine if you have a 7 foot, 300+ pound beast on your team. Your scoring average will be lower as compared to not having that beast. Your personality remains the same though.

There's a nightlife in Cleveland? Talk about an oxymoron....

Seems like number of championships is how '' cold blooded '' or '' killer instinct '' is being portrayed . It thats the case then James , Kobe , Shaq , MJ, and Bird cant TOUCH one man . His name is one Bill Russell . END OF DISCUSSION

 

[Cy/MiG]

More evidence that LeBron is probably high tailing it of town and Cleveland is SOL:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5208043

CHICAGO -- Chris Bosh's agent has told the Toronto Raptors that he's narrowed his list of preferred teams to five, two sources told ESPN.com's Chad Ford at the NBA draft camp.

The list of five teams -- Toronto plus the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat and New York Knicks, sources said -- was given to Toronto management in case the Raptors want to construct a sign-and-trade deal (assuming Bosh doesn't re-sign with Toronto).

Now it does also say:

One source said Bosh's decision hinges on where LeBron James signs.

"If LeBron decides to go to either New York or Chicago, I think that's where you'll see Chris land," the source told Ford. "If LeBron stays in Cleveland, I think the process is more wide open."

But considering that none of the five teams listed are Cleveland, I would say that it doesn't bode well for the Cavs.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

Imagine if he went to Chicago or Dallas amd took Chris Bosh with him.