Cleveland Castoffs Staying Put With New Teams
November 12, 2009Mo-tivated
November 12, 2009As if last night’s game with Orlando didn’t have enough talking points as it was (including a ridiculous discussion about LeBron’s Yankees shoes….but that’s another story for another time), LeBron James found a new way to keep his name in headlines with regards to his impending free agency. They say silence is golden, but can silence speak louder than words? LeBron is going to try to find out…..or so he says.
It’s not hard to believe that the non stop questions in every city is starting to wear on LeBron. We as fans are sick beyond belief with having to listen to the talk on every telecast, read every story about it on every major website every single day, and to have to listen to LeBron himself seemingly relish in the attention and spotlight. I’ve heard plenty of fans say ‘enough is enough already’, and now LeBron seems to finally agree with us.
When talking to the media before the Orlando game last night, LeBron was facing his usual barrage of questions about this summer, but that was when something very different happened. LeBron said enough is enough already. Specifically, his quote was:
“This free agent talk is getting old. It’s getting old and I think I’m going to stop. Tonight will be the last time I answer any more free agent questions until the offseason.
I think I owe it to myself, and I owe it to my teammates. It’s just getting old. I’m focusing on this season, and this is going to be a really good season for us. I don’t want anymore distractions for my teammates, for my organization, for my family. This will be the last time I answer a free agent question for the rest of the year.”
Make no mistake about it, if his free agency is the main storyline in the NBA, this story is every bit as major. He didn’t say that this is it for a while, or tonight, or for the rest of the month. He said for the rest of the year. There were no maybes here. LeBron was speaking in absolutes. So the natural question is, will it last?
So far LeBron is 1-for-1. After the game he was asked again about it and he replied with a courteous “Next question.” Of course, it’s pretty convenient that this self imposed moratorium comes after the team’s only trip to New York this season, but you have to wonder if LeBron won’t let some slip ups get through when the team travels to New Jersey this year. That’s when this will become a true test of his sincerity.
Of course, if I was a conspiracy theorist (which I am not about 50% of the time), I would notice the question that seemed to set LeBron over the top. It was a question involving tonight’s opponent, Dwyane Wade. Why is this important? It’s not as long as you’re not one who is inclined to read too much between the lines. But I will admit that something I read at the end of one of Brian Windhorst’s columns caught my eye a bit. Windhorst quoted Wade as saying:
“Over the course of years, we’ve had conversations, myself, LeBron, Chris Bosh; we all understand the dynamics. We all have played on the Olympic team together, so we’ve all had the conversation of the possibility we can play together one day.
“Especially when (Kevin) Garnett and Ray Allen and Paul Pierce all got together, we were like, ‘Wow, it can happen.’ You never know. When the summer comes, we’ll all sit down over a nice meal, and we’ll know what city it’ll be in and we’ll talk and see what everybody’s deciding. I would love for everybody to want to focus their way down here, to this beautiful city of Miami, that would make my job at lot easier.”
I can’t speak for anyone else, but the idea of the 3 men sitting down and having a pow-wow and trying to find a city where they can all play together doesn’t give me a warm feeling inside. Mostly because I know that city would never be Cleveland. But what does this have to do with LeBron’s abeyance? Well, again, nothing if you take him at face value. But if you notice, Wade didn’t say “maybe” we’ll discuss this over dinner. Like LeBron’s reprieve, so too was Wade’s proclamation an absolute. “When the summer comes, we will all sit down…and we’ll talk and see what everybody’s deciding.”
So is it possible that the truth of what’s going to happen in 2010 was getting a little too close to the surface? Is this why it was only after a question about Wade that LeBron made a move to put the cat back in the bag by declaring his silence on the matter?
It’s doubtful. But you’ll have to forgive Cleveland fans for having their insecurities and doubts about the matter. After all, we’re the ones who have been burned countless times in the past by our star athletes proclaiming bans on free agency discussions, only to break their silence in the offseason by signing elsewhere. So if it feels like we’ve seen this song and dance before, it’s because we have. And it typically doesn’t end well. Not for Cleveland fans, anyway.
It’s a dreadful feeling having to twist in the wind while watching this athlete that has brought so much greatness to the Cavaliers, to the city of Cleveland, and to the state of Ohio, as he toys with our hopes and dreams and our very center of happiness. If LeBron wanted to stay in Cleveland, and doesn’t really want to face anymore questions, he of course could have just signed his extension and moved on with his life in Cleveland. But is it fair to ask a guy to take a deal that may not be in his best interest just to make us as fans happier? Of course it’s not. With the future uncertainty of the salary cap (along with the absolute certainty of a major decline in cap level this summer), it remains to be seen whether LeBron’s best move is to actually pick up his player option for next season or to sign a new deal.
The bottom line is that we as fans simply have to put our trust in LeBron. He’s proven himself time and time again to be loyal to this area and to genuinely care about what he means to Cleveland and to the state of Ohio. Even Dwyane Wade himself understands this. In a column discussing LeBron and Wade possibly becoming teammates, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson had this quote from Wade:
“It’s something we’ve talked about, of course,” Wade said of playing together. “No question, it’s a long shot. He’s put in position in Cleveland where he has the opportunity to compete for a championship now. I’m in Miami, where I’ve won a championship and this is where I love to be. So it’s not like we’re both looking over our shoulders saying we want to get out of here. So it’s a long shot. But at the end of the day, it is a shot.
[…]
I know [the city of Miami] appeals to a lot of guys, but I don’t know, in his heart of hearts, how it appeals to him. I know LeBron really enjoys being the quote-unquote savior for Cleveland, a place that he grew up.”
And that’s what we have take note of. In his heart of hearts, will LeBron James really be able to turn his back on this region that has supported him through everything in his life? While there is a certain irony in the fact that the day after proclaiming his silence on the subject, there will be hundreds of columns (including this one) written discussing it for him, but that doesn’t mean that a month from now when things have cooled down that the peace and quiet won’t be nice……as long as LeBron keeps to his promise of no longer discussing this matter. And for my part, too, I will join LeBron in his silence on the subject matter. Begin radio silence….
34 Comments
Never in my heart of hearts did I think you would write this piece in under 500 words.
Thanks for reaffirming what I know deep in my soul.
no surprise, but Woj at yahoo has some words on this subject. let’s hope amar does too.
Lets hope hope LeBron is as loyal to his comfort zone in Cleveland as I am to my comfort zone over 1000 words.
You guys need to stop talking about and feeding this issue, serves no purpose. Let’s let the season roll. The rest will take care of itself in due time. Personally, I’m not the least bit concered-he ain’t goin nowhere. (and if he does, so be it-he deserves to make his choice).
Let’s stop talking about and hanging onto every freakin’ word and shirt/shoe he wears-leave that to the NY media. I want to hear about baskeball.
I really cannot see LeBron going to Miami. Wade has already made that “his” team. Yes, LeBron wants to win multiple titles. But, he also wants to be seen as the unchallenged alpha male on the team. He wants to be Jordan. Jordan had Pippen, but he was certainly no equal to Michael. Wade is much closer to LeBron in talent that Pippen was to Jordan, and, like I said, going to Miami would put LeBron at about equal level–perhaps even below–Wade as the face of the franchise since it was Wade’s first. The only way these guys would play together would be if they went somewhere new together–like NY. Then, maybe, LeBron would be top dog. But, I don’t see NY being able to pull that off. LeBron wants to win alot, but he wants the titles to be viewed as HIS first. Playing w/ Wade would bring about the ultimate “Sure he won titles, but never w/o Dwyane!”
The nets are off to a great start this season, if they get that #1 pick I can’t see how LeBron could sign anywhere else. /rolls eyes
@ CleFanVA
I totally agree with you there.
On a side note, Woj’s new column is utterly atrocious and fallacious. If you don’t believe me, go read it. It starts out with some truth, but then it rapidly degerates. The part about Delonte West is extra offensive.
On second thought, don’t read Woj’s column… it’ll just piss you off.
Yikes, good point Swig. As if a combination of Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez was not enough. Add John Wall or Derrick Favors or maybe Ed Davis to that equation, and no doubt they have a same evenly distributed force of young talent like OKC.
@ omnikaush
Do you have a link?
Lebron’s moratorium on talking about free agency will last til the end of the year.
Jan 1st – Bring it On Again
Could you imagine being the most hated person in the city you call home? Especially when you spent the majority of your life being the hero? I don’t see him leaving for this reason alone. He could never show his face in public in Cleveland or Akron again, and I don’t see him moving away.
Cribbage, that’s the best point.
how many of us realize that devin harris and mo williams are the same age? im just saying if devin harris is a “young” PG then so is Mo.
Et tu Broussard?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=broussard_chris&page=LeBronMiami-091112
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ai3ljUzW1STrDrplY75DUb05nYcB?slug=aw-lebroncavs111209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Notice that they don’t allow comments on his articles…
Both of those articles sucked. Everybody makes this into hero/villain scenario, with dark subplots and twisting intrigue.
LeBron is human. He got a kick out of flirting with everybody – who wouldn’t want the adulation? – and then he realized it had gotten out of hand. How can anyone assume that Cavs management can’t say anything to him? Because they need him more than he needs them? He’s human. He appears to be a decent person, more so than Kobe or Jordan or even Shaq. There is nothing stopping Mike Brown or Danny Ferry from saying with appropriate obeisance of course, look, this is becoming a distraction, can you cool it a little?
And the over analysis of his every word is ridiculous. It’s like the Harry Potter books before the series was complete. Lebron once said he likes the beach! He must be going to Miami! Or I don’t know why nobody noticed this, but Lebron’s favorite teammate in high school was an undersized point guard! He must be headed to New Orleans! .
It’s obvious to anyone who’s been paying attention, which does not include people who work for ESPN or any other national sports publications, that it’s STILL UP IN THE AIR!
“… as he toys with our hopes and dreams and our very center of happiness.”
Um, I really hope there is some intentional hyperbole there.
topic of conversation from the broussard article… mo williams is only the 11 to 15th best pg in the league?!? really??? if someone can list 10 better, i will believe it, but i’ve got to think you could objectively include him at least in the top 10
1. CP3
2. Williams
3. Rose
4. Rondo
5. Nash
6. Parker
7. Billups
8. Davis
9. Calderon
10. Harris
11. Arenas
Then you have Westbrook, Lawson, Jennings, Ellis who could be better than Mo. Nothing against Mo, but quite frankly, there are a lot of PGs out there who are better, IMO.
@Harv21: If you think the Cavs can win a championship without LeBron, then yes, there’s some hyperbole in there.
there are more talented players. but better means something diff.
no brainers:
derrick roses
deron williams
steve nash
chris paul
tony parker
debatable:
chauncy billups
jason kidd (LIES!)
rajon rondo
baron davis
jameer nelson
devin harris
might count arenas
jose calderon
russel westrbook
Anyone notice that the cavs seemed to finally find their groove the night LeBron vows to focus on this season and not next.
you could definitely find people putting him outside the top 10. unless he plays like last night consistently.
Lots of those PGs are not better for us though. We need a PG who doesn’t need the ball and can drain triples when LBJ and Diesel are double teamed. On Rock’s list this eliminates everyone really. All of those guys either need the ball to be effective or don’t consistently hit the outside shot.
Mo is the perfect fit for us.
There is nothing debatable about Billups, Rondo, Arenas, and Calderon. Those 4 guys are unquestionably better PGs than Mo Williams is.
@Jack: The Cavs run the offense they do because of the limitations in Mo’s game as a PG. If you think the Cavaliers wouldn’t take the guys on my list over Mo in a heartbeat, you’re kidding yourself.
I am kidding myself. I certainly see that the correlation can account for both causality directions. And I agree, Rock…for the most part.
The problem, however, is that with those point guards we’d need a real shooting guard. Which we don’t have. Mo makes up for that unlike any of those guards could. Billups has JR/Earl; Rondo has Ray; Arenas plays both positions and is not a better PG (a more talented player, yes, to be a great PG you need to pass; seriously…that Miami game).
That’s why Mo, I think is a better fit for our current roster. Now, if we went out and got someone like S-Jax, that’s a different story.
There’s no question the Cavs also need an upgrade at SG without Delonte being 100% Delonte. But I think what you’re saying is that Mo is great because he masks that deficiency because he’s essentially a SG in a PG’s body anyway. That’s certainly true. However, the NBA today is a PG’s league, and as such the Cavaliers still have a serious problem against the teams who have the PGs on my list.
I’m not saying Mo is great. But he’s a good fit for a team that kills on offense with two shooting guards. His defense is suspect. But so is the defense of half the guys on your list. Without an upgrade at SG, do you think the Cavs would be better with Rondo, Davis, Calderon, Arenas, Harris or Nelson? I don’t think they are–at all.
Dear WFNY:
Do you plan on running a LBJ:FA:2010 article every day?
Sincerely,
ben
how ironic that we lose 2 Cy Young winners because we can’t afford to keep them, but we could loose LBJ to a team that would actually pay him less?
ugh…
ben – hopefully we won’t have to now that he has stopped as well.
You might recall that, a few years ago, when Ray Allen was still with Seattle in a contract year, there was some talk of him signing with the Cavs and LeBron.
Just consider that possibility for a moment.
We see what the addition of Ray did for the Celtics (not the least of which is that his deal brought KG into the picture). If we take the scenario to its absurd end, we could have LeBron, Ray, and KG, which is very much like the Celtics, with LeBron swapped in for Paul Pierce.
Just saying.
[…] LeBron’s affinity forNYC won’t go to the back burner any time soon, even though he says he won’t be talking about 2010 anymore. No need to say anything when your shoez do the talking though – AMIRITE […]