New King, Same Place

Since we have already provided you with 2 of our predictions as to where Lebron will land this summer we have invited our good friend John SaWALL (yes, he is a Wizards fan) to provide his input. Below is what he e-mailed us.

The already perfect fit: Cleveland Cavaliers. As we all know, the 2010 NBA season did not exactly have a storybook ending for Cleveland. While many take this as a sign that Bron is going to move on and try to cement his legacy elsewhere, I think this fact will actually nudge him into staying for a long, long time.

Michael Jordan. Kobe Bryant. God Shamgod (okay, maybe not.) Lebron James. Still, his name looks out of place in the midst of such basketball gods. The aforementioned gods-of-the-game all have one thing in common: winning, and winning a lot, for one city. Right or wrong, he has been compared with Kobe and Jordan since he was still in high school. He has been with the Cavs for 7 years, and has netted 1 NBA finals appearance, and ZERO NBA finals games won.


So, you think the greatest-hyped player in the history of the game is going to let his future-legend status get tarnished by trying to win his first title with another superstar - ala D Wade in Miami? I think not. Lebron is going for the kind of lifetime domincance as an early-career Shaq, not an over the hill Shaq that could only win a title with D Wade, a reality TV show, and a short career as a Miami-city police officer. While I'm sure he would appreciate a more suitable playoff-winabble roster around him (their best pickup since he's been there has been a trade for Antawn Jamison, who doesn't win), signing as a free agent in a city with an already prollific superstar such as Miami makes absolutely no sense. He is going to prove he can do it on his own, like all the great players that have come before him. Oh, and he's going to sign in Jordan's city without any titles to his name? Yeah right.

In the 7 years he's been in Cleveland, he has brought their downtown economy to record heights. He has given that city SOMETHING. Truly, he is the only shot that entire state has at anything great for a long, long time. It's his city. He's not done with Cleveland, and Cleveland is not done with him. Look for Lebron to sign a long term contract, eventually bring his city a few titles, some respect, and maybe a nice older gentleman for his mother.

Same King, New Place

So with the incredible bore the NBA playoffs have become this year, the biggest story in basketball is the pending free agency of Bron'bron. Before they got bounced by the now invincible Boston Celtics, I was quite positive Lebron would be returning to Cleveland. But after those performances? I simply feel he can't return, just don't see it happening. So, in my opinion, where will Bron end up? Well lets just say his PG next year will be a little bit better than lame ass Mo Williams.


Thats right, The King will be in the Windy city next year, playing along side one of the best PG's in the game right now. It's obvious Lebron is gonna go somewhere where he can get a max deal (sorry Washington) and that means either the Knicks, Nets, Heat, Bulls, Clippers, Kings, or Twolves. He'll be making a 5 year 95 million from any of those teams and a 6 year 125 million if he stays with the Cavs.

I'm picking the Bulls on a process of elimination, we'll start with the worst fits:
Twolves, Clippers, Kings: These teams simply don't work. Lebron says he wants to win and none of these teams even made a playoff birth last season. The Timberwolves are on my radar for a decent team in the future, but not any time soon. The Kings are a looking better with Tyreke running the point but are still a long way away from making a truly competitive team. And while the Clippers would be a lot of fun (Lebron and Kobe in the same city), they are a terrible franchise and Lebron would fit terribly with their best player (Baron Davis).

Its possible, but doubtful: The New Jersey Nets
The Nets are clearly on the up and coming. They have a great PG in Devon Harris, maybe the second best big man in the East with Brook Lopez (Dwight in first), and the number 3 pick in the draft. Oh, also have some ABSURDLY rich owner who probably wipes his ass with 100 dollar bills. Prokhorov still gives the Nets are great opportunity in the coming years, but unfortunately it won't be with Lebron.

Ok this might work: Miami Heat and New York Knicks
Theres a clear reason why the Miami Heat look appealing to Lebron: Dwayne Wade. One of the top 5 players in the league, DWade could easily be the piece to fit with Lebron to form a frightening dynasty. It also helps that he's in Miami. What 25 year old wouldn't want to live there? Unfortunately, I think Wade's style of play simply won't fit with Lebrons. Neither are great spot up shooters and both want the ball in their hands, making the plays. Both like to drive and kick, but neither are good enough shooters to be the "kick" part of the play.
The Knicks are a very interesting potential residence for Lebron. Lebron has openly said multiple times that he wants to be the first billionaire athlete and there is without a doubt no better place to do that than in New York. The Knicks have an incredibly storied past that no player wouldn't want to be a part of. If Lebron could bring the Knicks back to prominence and win a couple titles, there would be no dispute he would be the best player of all time.

The perfect fit: Chicago Bulls
Now before I get started I want to address what many people feel will be the main argument against the Bulls: Jordan's shadow. I respond to that by stating Jordan's time has come and gone. Yes, many still consider him the best player of all time, but our generation have come to accept the new era. And that new era is Lebron James. Now this is why I feel the Bulls will be such a good fit. Lebron wants to win and he wants to win now. But he also wants to win for a time to come. The Bulls are good, but most importantly, the Bulls are young. Their 2 young stars, Rose and Noah, are 21 and 25 respectively. That means both probably haven't even reached their prime yet. The Bulls have a head coach opening that a specific Jackson (Phil, if you didn't catch on) will probably be quite attracted to. If Lebron goes, I have a strong feeling Phil will go, which will give the possibility of one of the best dynasties of all time.

So thats that and in my eyes, Lebron will be a Bull next year. And I look forward to watching that team next year

Where Oh Where Will King James Go?

If you pay attention to sports at all you know that where Lebron James will sign is the number one story right now. Everyone wants to know where King James will sign and we have decided to each write a post about where we think he will end up.


I think Lebron James will sign with the Miami Heat. You heard it here. Lebron James will be playing with Dwayne Wade next fall in the great city of Miami. Lebron has to go to a team that can sign a max deal and teams that can sign a max contract deal right now are: Knicks (room for 2 max contracts), Nets (1 plus a solid player), Clippers, Bulls, Kings, Timberwolves, and Heat. The Heat have room to sign D-Wade to a max deal, plus someone else to a max deal, plus room to spare.

Before Cleveland got bounced from the playoffs I thought there was a good chance he would re-sign with the Cavs but now I think that chance is out the window. He has had 7 great seasons there but none have resulted in a championship. He has accomplished about as much as he could in the regular season so now all that is left is to win a title. It is time to move on. He always gets compared to Kobe and Michael but the only way to try and move ahead of them is to win championships. What is the best way to win a championship? Play with D-Wade.

Miami can sign D-Wade to a max deal. They can also sign Lebron to a max deal. They can even then afford to sign someone else to complete the puzzle. If they re-sign D-Wade and sign Lebron they will have Chalmers/Arroyo at PG, Wade at SG, Lebron at SF, Beasley at PF and Jermaine O'Neal at C. All they would need to do is add depth which they will have money to do. That is definitely a better team than Cleveland had (even a Cleveland team with Lebron), better than aging Boston, and better than Orlando. It immediately makes them the favorite to win the 2011 title.


Every great champion had another great player at his side to win the championships with him. Bird had Parrish, McHale, etc. Magic had Kareem. Michael had Pippen. Kobe had Shaq. Hell, Pierce, Garnett and Allen all needed each other to win one. Wade already has a championship but he wants more. Lebron needs him to win one.


As for the teams that can afford to sign Lebron to a max deal, let's look at them.

Knicks - Lebron knows that the Knicks might be a playoff team with him but not a contender. He has to convince Wade or Bosh to sign in New York with him to have a shot at the championship and that might be hard. Wade will be very hard to convince to leave but Bosh might be easier. Even so, it will be a new scene for everyone and who knows how that will play out

Nets - Even though we wrote about how awesome their new owner is, signing Lebron might make them a playoff team but not a contender next year. Lebron wants to win now and the Knicks can't sign 2 max deals. That takes them out

Clippers - Cursed. No one wants to sign with them.

Bulls - Possibly, although a Lebron D-Wade pairing is much more intimidating than a Lebron Rose pairing and Lebron knows that.

Kings - Lebron wants to stay in the east. He already has to hear enough comparisons with Kobe and being in the same league as him won't do anything to help that.

Timberwolves - Really? Any possibility he signs with them? Um, no. Ricky Rubio would rather play in Spain than in Minnesota. No chance Lebron wants to play there.