New Jersey Has Cap Space, The Sky Is Falling: Part I
With the story of LeBron’s “inevitable” journey to New Jersey in 2010 being such a popular story in major media outlets and blogs alike these days, we take a grim look into the eye of the beast and examine the ramifications of a LeBron James exile to Jersey. This is Part I of the “Sky Is Falling” series out of however many articles is necessary between now and D-Day.
There’s this Great Lie that permeates NBA media and blogging circles. It’s everywhere you turn. It’s suffocating. It’s pollution. It’s founded solely in rhetoric and innuendo. And it’s demeaning to a city, a state, a player, and a collection of fans who follow all 3 (city, state, and player). The Great Lie is that LeBron James is leaving Cleveland in 2010. The Great Lie tells the city of Cleveland that it’s not worthy of a person like LeBron James. The Great Lie tells the state of Ohio that it’s too backwards to qualify for housing a star of LeBron’s caliber. The Great Lie tells LeBron James that he’s an idiot if he isn’t scheming his escape from Ohio’s backwoods wilderness now already. The Great Lie tells us Cavaliers fans that we shouldn’t bother. The NBA isn’t for us. We aren’t good enough to watch our own homegrown hero succeed. The Great Lie is evil. The Great Lie is counterproductive. The Great Lie needs to stop.
It’s as thick and all encompassing as the humid air of a warm August night in Ohio. It’s everywhere we turn these days. John Hollinger started this latest round for ESPN.com. For some reason Charlotte, North Carolina decided to chime in on this subject. Mike Lupica talks about what Knicks fans can only dream about. For some reason the Boston Globe thought their readers might like to be let in on the Great Lie. Drew Sharp wonders aloud if the Pistons should throw their hat in the ring. I could keep going, I really could. There’s probably a good 40 more where these came from. But what’s the point?
The basis for all of this is simple. The Nets traded Richard Jefferson, thus freeing the $15 million dollars he’s due in 2010 from their roster. As of right now, the only money the Nets have locked in for 2010 is the $17 million due to Vince Carter. So, according to the popular sentiment, this means the Nets are lined up to bring LeBron James aboard in 2010. Ok, so the Nets also have team options for Yi Jianlian and Sean Williams, and they will have qualifying options for Marcus Williams, Josh Boone, and Maurice Ager. So there you have it. Your 2010 Nets. Perhaps Devin Harris will still be there. Harris, Vince, LeBron, Yi, Boone, a pair of Williams’, and an Ager.
What the great lie doesn’t tell you is that the Cavaliers have $0 tied up for 2010. It’s possible that Delonte West and Daniel Gibson could both still be there. J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson will likely still be there. Who knows who else the Cavs may sign or trade for between now and then. The biggest thing the Great Lie overlooks, though, is the fact that LeBron will be a Qualifying Veteran Free Agent. You might know these better as players who hold their Bird Rights. Tonight I went through and read the Collective Bargaining Agreement line by line in an attempt to better understand the Cavaliers’ unique advantage in keeping LeBron. You know what I found out? I could barely understand one single paragraph of that thing. Legalese is like a foreign language to me. Thankfully, I found this nice little tool to assist me in understanding how Bird Rights work.
Basically, once a player has played three consecutive seasons for the same team without being waived, he becomes what is called a Qualifying Veteran Free Agent. This is meant to give teams a distinct advantage in keeping their own players. Under the CBA, there are maximum contracts for players, but through various exemptions, teams can get around certain loopholes when trying to sign a player. The CBA’s max contract is dependent on the number of years of service. For a player who has played 7 years, which is what LeBron will be in 2010, the max contract is the greater of a) 105% of the final year on his previous contract, b) 30% of the salary cap, or c) $11,000,000. In LeBron’s case, his final season will pay him $15,779,912. 105% of that number is $16,568,907. We can’t say with any certainty where the salary cap will be at in 2010, but if you use the existing rate of growth of the cap, we can project that salary cap is expected to be in the neighborhood of $57.309 million. 30% of that number is $17,192,830.
Again, these are all estimated numbers, and everything is based on an admittedly loose understanding of the finer of points of the CBA, but we can estimate that the max contract for LeBron in 2010 will start at $17.193 million. Here’s where things get tricky. Because the Cavaliers hold LeBron’s “Bird Rights”, they will be able to offer him more years and a larger yearly raise than anyone else. If anyone else signs LeBron, the most they can offer him is 5 years and an 8% annual increase over the base year on his salary. That shapes up to $17.193 million, $18.568 million, $20.054 million, $21.658 million, and $23.391 million for a total of $100.863 million over the 5 years. That averages out to $20.173 million per year. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, can sign LeBron for 6 years with a 10.5% annual increase over the base year. That works out to $17.193 million, $18.998 million, $20.993 million, $23.197 million, $25.633 million, and $28.324 million for a total of $134.338 million over the 6 years. That averages out to $22.390 million per season.
Which contract LeBron chooses to accept will affect his max contract moving forward, as well. Because a player’s max contract can never be less than 105% of his last year’s value, the next contract LeBron signs will start at $24,560,187 if he signs with New Jersey. If he signs with Cleveland, though, his initial year on his proceeding contract would start at $29,740,485. That’s almost a $5 million difference. So not only would LeBron be leaving $33.5 million on the table by signing outside of Cleveland in 2010, he would also be leaving $5 million off the base year on his next contract he could sign after the 2010 deal. We’re getting close to $40 million in lost money already.
The common belief amongst many people is that LeBron would just use the escalators in his Nike contract if he goes to New York to make up the difference. That’s fair. The clause exists, and we can’t ignore it. But you know what? The Nike contract was a 7 year deal worth $90 million and is set to expire the same time his Cavaliers contract does. Some people will say that this gives the New York market an advantage because Nike can steer LeBron towards the “big market”. The thing is, LeBron James holds all the cards. Lets not fool ourselves here. Nike isn’t going to let LeBron James sign with another shoe company. Not after they already invested the largest initial contract they’ve ever given to an athlete (Tiger Woods’ first Nike deal was 5 years, $40 million). If LeBron wants Nike to give him “New York” money in Cleveland, they will. Nike ripped up Tiger’s initial deal and gave him a $100 million deal. They’ll have no problem doing the same for LeBron. Tiger Woods didn’t have to move to New York to get his new deal. LeBron won’t have to either.
Everything LeBron has accomplished in his already remarkable life, he has been able to accomplish in Cleveland. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a junior in high school…..in Ohio. He has appeared on the cover of Fortune Magazine……in Ohio. He has been on the cover of Vogue Magazine…..in Ohio. He has been on the cover of ESPN the Magazine….in Ohio. He has hosted the ESPY’s…..while playing in Ohio. He has hosted Saturday Night Live…..while playing in Ohio. He has assembled an astonishing marketing team and built his image and self into a multi-multi-million dollar enterprise….in Ohio. He managed to get the NBA to send his team to play in China…..from Ohio. He became the highest paid player in the NBA in endorsement and salary…..while playing in Ohio. He has played in the NBA Finals….in Ohio. He has become the image of the NBA…..while playing in Ohio.
Which leads us to the biggest thing the Great Lie doesn’t want you to know, and that is that New York/New Jersey needs LeBron James a heck of a lot more than LeBron James needs New York. The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have. The Knicks weren’t on the brink of an NBA title just 2 years ago. The Cavaliers were. The point is, LeBron James is doing just fine from his global headquarters in Bath, Ohio, just outside of Akron. Sure, LeBron is friends with rapper Jay-Z, who also happens to own a small part of the New Jersey Nets. But playing in Cleveland isn’t stopping LeBron from hanging out with Jay-Z now, and it won’t in the future. LeBron is a savvy businessman and he’s not going to leave millions of dollars on the table just to play for a team his good friend part owns.
We’re not being naive here. We know there’s a chance LeBron could leave Cleveland. We know there’s always a pull to the bright lights of the New York market. But for LeBron James to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to go to New York, I think two things have to happen. One, either the Nets or the Knicks need to prove that they are on the brink of winning a Championship. LeBron is a strong competitor and he’s not going to walk into another rebuilding project. The team needs to be NBA Championship ready when LeBron walks through the door. As of right now, I don’t see either the Nets or the Knicks being in that position. The other thing that needs to happen is Danny Ferry needs to fail in putting a Championship caliber team around LeBron. Some of us would say the Cavs aren’t there yet, and despite the fact the Cavs fought the Celtics harder than anyone else in the playoffs this year, I would agree. Ferry has some work to do. But with a plethora of contracts set to expire in the next two years, Ferry is about to have the means to finally do something to improve this roster. If Ferry can get just one more marquee player on this roster, you’d have to like the Cavs chances. And if that happens, it’s hard to see LeBron leaving the city he was born in, the city he was raised in, the city he was drafted by, the city that caters to his every wish, and the city that adores him unlike any other.
Take a deep breath. Sit back and relax. Let the Great Lie consume the other markets who are so desperate for LeBron’s star-shine that they will write anything they can to create the illusion of inevitability. But don’t be fooled by it. We know better. The Cavaliers aren’t where we need them to be in order to keep LeBron just yet, but I like their chances. And I, for one, will continue to refuse to let ESPN, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, or anyone else tell me any different. I’ll reserve judgment for 2010 when any of this actually matters. For now, I’ll continue to just enjoy watching LeBron and the wonderful places he has taken our beloved Cleveland Cavaliers.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:23 am
GREAT article rock… let’s hope it has a happy ending
June 30th, 2008 at 12:46 am
yeah i agree with mendy, great job. this thing should be nailed to the front doors of the NBA’s offices in new york a la martin luther.
hell i dont have anything to do tomorrow, i just might do that…
June 30th, 2008 at 1:05 am
I wish there was a way to leave a slow clap leading to a thunderous applause in the comment section.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:23 am
The most important sentence in the post:
“The other thing that needs to happen is Danny Ferry needs to fail in putting a Championship caliber team around LeBron.”
I’d submit that LeBron may not go to New York, but he may look for greener pastures elsewhere if Ferry does not do a better job. Simply stated, the front office has not done enough to keep LeBron in Cleveland. If James had ANY help last year, they would have beaten the Celtics and faced a very beatable Lakers team.
James loves NE Ohio, and he will stay….but only if the front office proves they are capable of building this team now and in the future (interestingly, one team that may have cap space is the Spurs and Suns). A trade for an all-star caliber player nearing the end of his prime (like a Vince Carter, Jermaine O’Neal, or even a Baron Davis) isn’t going to cut it when James needs to make his decision. Their going to have to simultaneously build for championships now and beyond. It’s not going to be easy, and you can’t be sure Ferry is the right guy for the job.
Another issue related to NY/Brooklyn is that not only will receive even more money and media attention, but also that the media tends to glorify big market athletes much more than stars who play in the small markets. Quite simply, his legend would grow in New York. It’s tough, but that’s just the way it is.
If I was a betting man, I’d say the current odds are something like 60-40 that he stays. The greatest thing working in our favor is he loves NE Ohio, especially Akron. He really is at home here, and that’s invaluable.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Wow great piece. I really appreciate your explanation of the NBA salary stuff. I dont understand a lick of all that crap.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Thank you! You wrote it more eloquently than I did – but I said a lot of the same things here
http://ballerblogger.com/2008/06/22/top-10-reasons-lebron-james-wont-leave-cleveland/
I’m glad you looked up the salary cap info. 30 millions reasons why Lebron James won’t leave Cleveland.
Seriously, if you want to look at it from a purely monetary standpoint – Lebron COULD blow out his knee and never be the same – going 30 million in the hole with the thought that you will more than make it up by playing in New York/New Jersey is a bad business decision.
PLus he’ll be living out of hotels. I doubt he’s going to be building another HUGE home anytime soon.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:33 am
LeBron has also seen what happens to a team when a player has a huge contract. I’m not so sure he would demand an absolute max contract, as he knows that would hurt his team’s chances of signing great supporting players…
June 30th, 2008 at 8:04 am
Outstanding post. Thanks for the salary cap analysis. I’m new to NE Ohio, but have already come to love the area (and the Cavs & Browns), so the LBJ Escape Watch really bugs me.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:06 am
AMAZING article Rock, keep up the great work
i think the chances of staying or leaving at 70-30
i dont want to say that there is even a possibility, because we all have seen him grow into the man he is here in Cleveland and Akron. but there is a chance. LeBron is still young and the bright lights may call to him. Let’s hope not. Great piece, yet again
June 30th, 2008 at 8:11 am
He already took less money once, right? I just wish we allocated those funds a bit better since the watershed contract was signed (and quickly followed by Wade, Melo and Bosh…)
Great work, Rock.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:28 am
@Scott: Well, he took less years, not less money. But the decision to take less years was to become a free agent as soon as he hit the 7 years service mark. That’s the cutoff line for when your max contract jumps from 25% of the cap to 30% of the cap. It was a shrewd move which he knew would allow him to make the most money on his next contract. Again, this bodes well for Cleveland. It’s obvious LeBron wants to maximize his earning potential, and that remains in Cleveland.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:53 am
[...] RockKing (probably not his real name) at Waiting for Next Year has written it. [...]
June 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Excellent article Rock! Every news media outlet should read this!
June 30th, 2008 at 9:49 am
You rock, Rock. As always.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:14 am
…As for the questions about the sources of the “great lie,” I couldn’t agree more. As a transplanted Ohioan in the east coast, I can’t begin to tell you how much of ESPN, and sports writing in general, revolves around the sense of superiority that the coasts are consumed with when they compare themselves with the rest of the country. When I would watch ESPN Sportscenter and highlights in Ohio, I tune most of it out not thinking much of it. Now that I live on the East Coast, I am amazed now at how relevant Sportscenter has become. This may sound like good news to me, but its not–its quite the opposite. It’s sad how much the rest of the country is missing out on the great traditions of sports in what people on the coasts derisively call the “fly-over states,” as in the states you have to fly over to go from one coast to the next. I think this would change if sports writers and broadcasters took greater consideration and reponsibility to the fact that they are writing to a country of fans first, with the ideas of “markets” being a distant second. The 2008 NBA Finals were hailed as one of the best match-ups in a long time. I considered it one of the more banal moments of basketball since I became a fan. Call me crazy, but sports is about a multitude of things in addition to blindingly brilliant talent (like LeBron). Its about home-town pride, its about showcasing who you are as a community, its about relating to the guy next to you (even if they are a complete stranger). All of that, of course, is in addition to have a team that plays well. This conversation about the “great lie” is really revealing in how areas of the country view each other, and I really appreciate WFNY for bringing it up. I am sure that we will hear this subject all the way up until LeBron’s signature is drying on a contract (hopefully with the Cavs)….and unfortunately beyond that moment. Thanks for writing this up.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I enjoyed the article.
“If LeBron wants Nike to give him “New York” money in Cleveland, they will. Nike ripped up Tiger’s initial deal and gave him a $100 million deal. They’ll have no problem doing the same for LeBron. Tiger Woods didn’t have to move to New York to get his new deal. LeBron won’t have to either.”
LBJ’s shoe hasn’t sold as well as Nike had hoped. Tiger Woods received another monster contract because his apparel sells. LeBron’s hasn’t. Would LeBron sell more shoes in NY? Of course. I’m not saying that Nike would choose to go another direction but it isn’t guaranteed that LeBron will receive another $100 million dollar contract just because he wants one. And his sales would drop even further if he were to go to Adidas or Reebok.
I agree with the “two things” you said needed to happen before LeBron would reconsider signing with the Knicks or the Nets. But there’s one thing that you and every other media outlet is failing to recognize. And that is the potential financial resources that the Knicks and Nets would have as soon as James signed with them. NYC is the league’s largest media market. The Knicks have been “turrible” for years. And yet their tickets are the most expensive in the league. If LeBron signs with Brooklyn, they sell out every game. Jersey’s fly off the shelf. Brooklyn would then have the financial resources (just like the Knicks have now) to far exceed the luxury tax. Meaning they are better equipped to surround James with the best team that money can buy.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Fantastic work. Can you forward this directly to Bill Simmons and Chad Ford?
June 30th, 2008 at 10:43 am
…continued.
Cleveland will never have those types of financial resources. Dan Gilbert is willing to spend money, but he can only spend what’s reasonable. From my understanding, Gilbert owns Quicken Loans. Well, the home loan industry isn’t necessarily thriving right now. Now, I know that’s just speculation.
But Cleveland will always be a small market team…
June 30th, 2008 at 11:37 am
This was fantastic. You did a great job at pointing out how “re-dunk” people get over the whole NY/endorsements/media center of the world thing. Its not like LeBron will move to the east coast and immiediatly begin hosting his own morning talk show and serve as an UN embassordor. He is doing a fine job right now of taking care of his extracurricular activities while living in Cleveland.
June 30th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Damn good. Truly.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
And how about the fact that we have $0 locked up for 2010 and Lebron could convice Wade or Bosh to come to Cleveland and join Him.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
This is not good salary cap analysis and the article has many flaws.
First, in 2010 LBJ is 25, which means the contract after next would most likely be his final contract. There is much more of a likelihood at signing a 6 year contract at 30 than there is at 31.
While your numbers are correct, marketing guarantees can easily off set the 10 million dollar difference. It is really only 10 million dollars — if he is on the Nets, a brooklyn themed dynasty pair of Nikes would sell from London to the Bay back to down to Sweden and Brazil . . .
Furthermore, “The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have.” is misleading, if you mean the Nets didn’t make the playoffs last year, you are correct. Otherwise, the Nets have been there when they thought they could compete — obviously they were hoping to win the Beasley sweepstakes and clear cap-room last year.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Keep dreaming CLeveland, you have 164 regular season games plus playoffs with Lebron.
He is out of there, and I am not a NYC fan. If he is going to become the Global Icon he needs to be in NYC, Chicago or LA.
I feel for you, my city is not one of those three
June 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Brandon Hoffman gets a gold star.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
As someone from Tennessee/Toronto, I am rooting for LeBron to stay in Cleveland. I’m a big Raptors fan, and it kills me that a lot of people don’t even know who Chris Bosh is, because he doesn’t play in the NE corridor/SoCal. The one thing you didn’t mention that might come into play (and I don’t think it was in the comments either) is that LeBron is one of those “band wagon” types, who doesn’t seem to have much loyalty to where he’s from. Growing up in Cleveland, but being a Dallas Cowboys fan, Chicago Bulls and New York Yankees? That shows you what kind of person he is – someone attracted to big markets, and where the media is.
That’s also the reason I dislike him as a person – my teams are the Blue Jays, Raptors, Bills and Maple Leafs. Aside from the Maple Leafs (who have stunk anyways since I was born), all of those teams are garbage, so I harbor an intense dislike for band wagoners who hop from team to team.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Thanks Rock. Can’t wait for Part II.
I think in the age of the internet, the importance of market-size is diminished greatly. My fingers are crossed and my hopes just got a little higher.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
they do this crap anytime a superstar level player is nearing the end of the contract. They pick a big market city and have him going there. They had Garnett leaving the T’wolves for the Bulls years ago like it was an inevitable certainty. What did Garnett do? He signed a big contract to stay in Minnesota long-term. This is all just BS stirred up by sports writers in cities with superiority complexes.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Great work Rock. Your analysis is a refreshing change compared to the crap we get from the MSM, especially the Cleveland media. As for LeBron’s sales vs. Tiger’s. Look at who buys Tiger’s stuff. The CEO of my company isn’t going to spend $250 for basketball shoes, but he will spend quadruple that on Tiger signature golf clubs, shoes, shirts, tees, balls, you name it. The market for shoes isn’t what it was for Jordan. It was the IN thing, now it’s IPods. Nike will still pay LeBron whatever it takes, because without him sales will be that much worse.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
[...] Lebron piece by the fans at waitingfornextyear.com, on how the Nets clearing cap space is the first bad sign Lebron may be skipping town in 2010. [...]
June 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
“And if that happens, it’s hard to see LeBron leaving the city he was born in (AKRON), the city he was raised in (AKRON), the city he was drafted by(CLEVELAND), the city that caters to his every wish, (CLEVELAND) and the city that adores him unlike any other (AKRON/CLEVELAND)”
June 30th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Rock King-
On behalf of Cavalier Attitude, thanks for this unbelievably well-written piece. It’s by far the best piece I’ve read on WFNY (which is saying a lot, a LOT) and definitely tells the rest of the national media to stick it where the sun don’t shine.
The one guy who has to be singled out here is Dan Shanoff. If I ever got 10 minutes in a 5 ft by 5 ft room with him, I swear I’d bloody that fool up for all the anti-Cavs sentiments he’s been spreading and the LeBron is leaving crusade he’s been carrying on for years now. This is a plague…this is a virus…and we have to kill it. We have to stop it from spreading.
We’ll do our part at Cavalier Attitude. But thanks for getting the ball rollling.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
[...] LeBron James will be moving to a New York Market team, I.E. the Nets or the Knicks. RockKing over Waiting for Next Year took some time to examine whether or not this is the actually going to happen or whether it’s [...]
June 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Brandon, that dude and Kobra Kai are way way off. As I’ve said here before, it is a SURE THING that LeBron signs this next contract with the Cavs. No question about it.
First, Brandon, the “LeBron’s shoe hasn’t sold as well” comment needs some teeth. That sounds made up to me. Where LeBron lives in the US makes zero difference to how many of his shoes sell. He won’t sell appreciably more shoes by playing in NYC than he does in Cleveland. The difference will be made in China, my man. And LeBron is already humongous there. His next Nike contract, even if he’s playing in Moscow, will be monstrous b/c of his inroads and popularity in the largest country, with the fastest growing economy, in the world. Period. What’s more, the alleged “escalator” clauses in his endorsement contracts are peanuts. They have been blown out of proportion by the media, and in fact are all but meaningless to LeBron. Let’s be serious, on a $100mm contract, how much more can you put in there?
Also, the “financial resources” that the Nets and Knicks would have are completely irrelevant. Take a look at the highest payrolls in the league this year: NY, Dallas, Portland, Cleveland, Denver–missed playoffs, first round loser, missed playoffs, 2nd round loser, first round sweep. San Antonio, the defending champs, ranked 17th in payroll this year. Having money does not equate to success, and you should know that if you really follow sports.
that dude, you are insane if you think that LeBron James is less likely to be signed to a 6 year deal b/c he’s 31 instead of 30. that may be true for glenn robinson, but at 30 or 31 LeBron will be the best basketball player on the planet, and perhaps the best ever. He won’t have much trouble signing up for a long term deal then. and also…what’s your point? And if by “10 million dollars” you mean “33.5 million dollars” in contract differences, then you’re spot on, man. Last, same point about China on the sales. It doesn’t matter being in New York/Brooklyn. At all.
Kobra, you’re just wrong. I appreciate the opinion, but you’re wrong. LeBron will sign here b/c he’s home, it’s his team, his city, he can make the most money, and it will have ZERO effect on his legacy. Not to mention, he’ll still have the best chance of winning by staying here.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Yeah, great article. And who would want to live in New York over Ohio anyway? Except for everyone on the planet?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
It’d be worthwhile to learn about the sign-and-trade deals:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sign_and_trade
If Cleveland had a San Antonio kind of program, they could keep LeBron. Instead, they’ve given him one of the worst supporting casts of any team in the NBA. They’re terrible. Their success over the past few years is LeBron’s success, period. If a bigger-market team can make a pitch that they can build around him, he’ll leave – the Cavs have too long a track record of gross incompetence.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Kobra Kai, Lebron already is an Global Icon, he is the most popular American in China. Thats 1 billion people who love Lebron that are not from the United States. I think that qualifies as Globlal Icon. And Cleveland is not a small market, its a medium market, and there is a difference. A small market is San Antonio or Oklahoma City (really, NBA?), and Cleveland is a bigger market than that. And its not just people in Cleveland that watch Cavs games and purchase Cavs merchandise, its all of Ohio. Also, Gilbert keeps his Quicken Loans funds and his Cavalier funds seperate, and he is making a ton of money on the Cavaliers now. Because of Lebrons presence they are one of the most valuable franchises in the NBA, so signing Lebron and other players to big contracts won’t be a problem for Gilbert
And I could go on all day how arrogant and pompous ESPN is about the Northeast. This “Titletown” thing Sportscenter is doing is only another way to glorify Boston and New York. People from the Northeast have always thought they were better than the rest of the country, that they are God’s gift to the United States, that they are the smartest and best equiped to run the country. Most of them have never even been to the Midwest and just think it is all farm land and poor people. Fact is, the only thing Lebron has left to do to certify him as a legend is win titles. Thats it. Not just one, but multiple titles. If he wins 6 titles, just like MJ, and dominates the sport like no one has since MJ, then what would being in NYC do different for him than being in Cleveland? Nothing, he already has the money, he has invested so much in to Cleveland/Akron already, and this is his home. Would he build that massive house in Bath if he had already decided he was going to leave? Not at all. Lebron is going to play for whoever puts him in the best position to win championships and hopefully that is Cleveland
June 30th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
@Rev. Paul Revere: wow. great supporting argument for which market a certain athlete should play. well researched.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
While the Nike deal may be his main endorsement, Lebron’s overall marketability will be much larger in New York. Since he’ll be able to re-work his Nike contract regardless of where he plays, the main issue is will Lebron be able to make over $5m a year in additional endorsements playing in New York. The answer is obviously yes. So in the end, this article offers nothing. It’s all in Lebron’s hands. The money issue is moot.
June 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Yeah, why would a young black millionaire celebrity with an open marriage want to move to the greatest city in the world when he can stay in Cleveland and pick up fat girls at Applebee’s with Drew Carey and Brady Quinn?
June 30th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I really like this article and like that you did a really solid job of researching it, but you forgot one basic fact that completely destroys the premise of it: Lebron can go to New Jersey and stlll get all his money. NJ simply needs to negotiate a sign and trade with Cleveland (which the Cavs would be almost certain to accept, rather than lose Lebron for nothing).
I’m sure James has may other reasons to stay in Cleveland, but since the crux of this article was all about the benjamins, I’d have to say that you are just completely off-base. You are right that Cleveland can sign him to a better contract, but he can also go to the Cavs and say”I’m signing here, want to work out a sign and trade?” and get the same amount of money. You also retain your Bird rights through a trade.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
#27 Brian – true… and then he got more and more frustrated playing with a terrible supporting cast and eventually allowed himself to be traded to a burgeoning contender, a chain of events which ended with him winning a title away from Minnesota.
I’m not saying this is what LeBron would do in a similar situation, but it may not have been the best example to use.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
LeBron rarely addresses the topic, but you may remember when he was asked about possibly someday playing for the Knicks after dropping 50 points on them in March, he laughed it off.
He said something to the effect of, “Of course people will say that, because of how bad [The Knicks] are.”
That told me pretty much all I needed to know from him on the issue.
He’s not going to leave behind the opportunity to play ball 40 minutes away from his family for one or two million extra dollars on an already massive shoe contract. He’s already the highest paid NBA player (when endorsements are considered).
He has never expressed unhappiness with the team’s efforts to build around him and make moves to improve the team. If anything, just the opposite. The team drafted J.J. Hickson in part because LeBron himself specifically requested a big who could post up and play with his back to the basket.
Also, one other thing, and correct me if I’m off base here: I always thought that he, D-Wade, and Bosh signed 3-year extensions because they wouldn’t be eligible for the next pay scale until 2010 anyway, and not so much because of some implied lack of faith in the ability of their franchises to build teams around them. If LeBron opts out then, he will be eligible for more money under the CBA in 2010 rather than in 2011, which is when his contract would expire if he exercised his $17-million player option.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Not sure regarding the logistics on this one, but would a team be able to give a player a stake in franchise ownership?
That could be a swaying factor right there and perhaps a whole new trend to literally have the superstar be cemented with a franchise.
George
http://sportstsar.com/
June 30th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
New Yorker here. No way is Lebron leaving Cleveland. most new york fans assume players magically drift to new york. It won’t be happening. The knicks should not put all their eggs into one basket. Start building a team because lebron is staying in cleveland.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Gordo,
Here’s an interesting article on LeBron’s apparel sales:
http://www.sportsbusinessradio.com/node/1547
It doesn’t provide any concrete #’s but I’ve come across them in the past.
You said, “Also, the “financial resources” that the Nets and Knicks would have are completely irrelevant. Take a look at the highest payrolls in the league this year: NY, Dallas, Portland, Cleveland, Denver–missed playoffs, first round loser, missed playoffs, 2nd round loser, first round sweep. San Antonio, the defending champs, ranked 17th in payroll this year. Having money does not equate to success, and you should know that if you really follow sports.”
I follow NBA basketball religiously. I’m also a paid writer for RealGM. What you say rings true. But New York is under new management now. Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas spent frivolously. Donnie Walsh will build a winner. Rod Thorn has done a great job in New Jersey. Remember, they advanced to two straight NBA Finals just a few seasons ago. Now they have Kiki Vandeweghe on board. Kiki didn’t get enough respect for the turnaround he orchestrated in Denver.
Having money doesn’t automatically equal success. But money combined with a sound management gives the Knicks and Nets advantages over 95% of the league. That’s a fact.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
“Having money doesn’t automatically equal success. But money combined with a sound management gives the Knicks and Nets advantages over 95% of the league. That’s a fact.”
Did I just read that correctly? Knicks? Sound management?
June 30th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
@ Scott – Donnie Walsh is as good a GM as we have in the league. So yes, the Knicks have sound management now. They obviously didn’t have that with Isiah and Layden.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
I don’t want you guys to get the wrong impression. I’m not a “Cavs hater.” I really don’t care where James ends up either. I just think we should look at the big picture. And the financial resources the Knicks and Nets have should be considered in this discussion.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
@ Brandon
I disagree about Donnie Walsh. Look at the Pacers team he left behind, they had been mediocre for a few years and now they have to do a complete rebuilding project. Maybe he used to be a good talent evaluator and a good GM, but I am not so sure anymore. Although I agree 100% about what you said about teams with high payroll. Usually teams with high payroll are not spending their money wisely whatsoever (cough, Larry Hughes, cough cough). They just throw their money around and think that throwing a bunch of high priced players together will build a winner. Teams like San Antonio understand talent evaluation and spending wisely, which is how you build winners in the NBA
I didn’t click on the link that you provided but I have heard that Nike has not gotten as much out of their investment in Lebron as they had hoped, I think I read that in a Windhorst blog. But I still disagree with your assessment of Cleveland being a small market, it is not a big market but it is as big as most markets in the NBA. And don’t worry about how much money Gilbert has, its plenty
June 30th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
The only “great lie” here is the one that you are all telling yourselves. I’m not saying LeBron absolutely won’t stay because I do believe he loves Cleveland and that’s the one (admittedly large) piece of puzzle you guys have on your side–but he has claimed to want to be the world’s first billionaire athlete and to do this he needs to a) win championships as a player and b) simultaneously become a bigger celebrity.
LeBron won’t win a championship in Cleveland anytime soon. Although it seems that they have been close to winning the championship, they really have not been all that close. LeBron is the only reason the Cavs have made it as far as they have. The Cavs need secondary players that don’t suck. Most of the Cavs wouldn’t even start for any other playoff team.
Also, in New York or LA he would automatically sell at least twice as many jerseys and shoes, etc. Look at how many shoes and jerseys Stephon Marbury has sold in New York and he sucks even more than a lot of the Cavs that aren’t named LeBron!
Cleveland will never ever be able to increase his celebrity in the way that NY and LA could. And even if he passes on the greater celebrity, the Cavs organization is not even really building around him properly. They are building a defensive-oriented team around around the greatest offensive talent the league has ever seen. What LeBron needs is teammates that he can pass to, and that can pass to him — not defensive and rebounding specialists.
If Cleveland wants to keep LeBron, they need to start building a dynasty, and this they have so far failed to do.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
@ Ricky – Fair enough. But I think a lot of Indiana’s errors in recent years can be attributed to Larry Bird. I wrote about this recently at my site but the Pacers went downhill as soon as Larry was hired. It was Walsh that drafted Harrington and Bender. He also traded for Artest, O’Neal, and Brad Miller. The Pacers were a GREAT team in 2004. The Malice at the Palace and a few trades (Artest for Peja, Harrington & Jackson for Dunleavy and Murphy) destroyed that. I’m not putting all of that on Bird but I think it’s worth noting.
You’re right, Cleveland probably isn’t a “small-market team.” But they can’t compete with New York and now Brooklyn. That’s not a knock on the Cavs…it’s just reality.
June 30th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I have to step out for a moment but I’m really enjoying this discussion.
Once again, great article RockKing!
June 30th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Quicken Loans and Fathead and all of Dan Gilbert’s other investments do not qualify as significant financial resources?
June 30th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
“The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have. ”
If you are such a big Cavs fan, you’d remember that the Nets and Cavs met in the 2007 playoffs. If you can’t get that fact right it calls into question in the validity of the whole post.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Um…yeah, I remember that. But last year the Nets finished 10th in the East and missed the playoffs, so they have not made the playoffs in each of the last 3 years.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
“The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have. ”
its written a little awkwardly, but he means the nets have not made the playoffs in each year of the past 3 years. i think Vince reads it as meaning the nets havent made the playoffs in any of the past 3 years.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
It should probably just read “The Nets weren’t in the playoffs last year.” That would have cleared it up. I just meant that in each of the past 3 seasons, the Cavaliers have been in the playoffs….the Nets can’t say the same. My mistake.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Brandon, good read, thanks. I think two things stick out as particularly unfair in that article: 1. comparing LeBron’s shoes and the MJ’s is wild…no shoe will ever be as popular as MJ’s, those are just the facts; 2. saying LeBron isn’t the pitchman that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and Maria Sharapova are??? Is this author serious? Potentially the most ridiculous comment in sports in 2008. Just look at the athlete $$ list on SI.
Also, I’ll concede that Donnie W and Kiki are good hoops guys, and they have a good chance of building solid foundations in their new spots, but Ricky is right in that neither one is a lock. The Cavs also have the distinct advantage of being able to ask LeBron what he wants…as opposed to Kiki and Donnie W. having to guess at what might attract LeBron. Let’s also remember, Kiki got run from Denver and Walsh was being tuned out in Indy. So while they both have a shot to be better in their new places, esp. w/ more $ at their disposal, they aren’t sure things to lure LeBron with promises of rings right off the bat.
In general, LeBron’s celebrity could not be bigger than it is in the US right now. New York or LA won’t do that…he is as big as it gets in sports in the US today. By the way, more jersey sales doesn’t benefit LeBron, at least financially, at all. As I said above, it’s going to be about global branding, and that means China. LeBron is already among the most heavily exposed athletes in China today…that’s how he’s going to be the first athlete billionaire. Not winning rings in the US.
Tsar…player’s can’t own teams they play for. See MJ, Wizards.
June 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
wow, lots of comments here.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think players get kickbacks from jersey sales, so why would one care if they doubled? Even if they do it has to be marginal compared to their salary.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Here is the playoff history for the New Jersey Nets, from their own mouths, or at least the NBA’s:
http://www.nba.com/nets/history/00400579.html#33
If you don’t want to make the jump, it is the last entry in the History section of the team, dated for the season of 2005-2006. It describes the last playoff appearance that the Nets/NBA cares to share with the world. With a little math, one can determine that means New Jersey hasn’t been to a playoff in three years.
….now, could we talk about the subject at hand, rather than try to nit-pick stuff out of an article. I don’t care if facts are right or wrong in this blog as much as the logic that it is expalining. I respect its authors and hold this blog as one of the highest standards in sports blogs. Right or wrong about facts or number, I think the one principle fact that is irrefutable that RockKing is sharing is the following:
Sports awesomeness does not always equal a move to large market team.
Truly, this is LeBron’s call. We could all argue on a sports blog until are fingers are bruised, but at the end of the day, its a logical look and a broad view of the situation that will prevail…and I think RockKing has successfully done that.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Gordo:
Thanks for the clarification. I know Mario Lemieux had player/owner status with the Pittsburgh Penguins, so I thought that was a possibility in the NBA as well. Perhaps one day…?
June 30th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Yes, Jersey sales go into the Team. All LeBron would have to do next year is change his number and he would be number 1 in jersey sales – those lists are so bogus.
As far as China, LeBron is a superstar there. When Asian tourists come over they want to see LeBron James play.
The love for the big markets is nauseating. Every year you listen to reports about what the ratings are/will be. WHO CARE!?!? Why should we, the fans, give a rat about how big a market is. We don’t tune into sports because of how many people live in a city – we tune in to witness great games.
I love this article because it forces people to back up their claims with evidence.
The LeBron to wherever articles are so incredibly full of bs. They are created out of (almost) thin air and propagated SO WILDLY, that yes, it is just plain disrespectful to the city and the state. If there was some kind of SOLID EVIDENCE besides “LeBron is friends with Jay-Z” or “Who WOULDN’T want to play in NY” I probably wouldn’t fight this so diligently.
My favorite point is that the Cavs have ZERO DOLLARS committed in 2010. You’ll NEVER hear something like that in these other articles. It’s funny how Stephen A. Smith says that he is absolutely sure LeBron will be playing in NEW YORK and everyone else is sure he will be playing in Brooklyn. Wow – overwhelming evidence…..the only thing those two points have in common is taking a dump on Cleveland – nothing else resonates between those arguments.
33 million dollars is a lot of money.
Here’s my question. If LeBron makes more money in endorsements (almost TWICE AS MUCH!!!) NOW than Kobe does, and Kobe plays in the 2nd or 3rd largest sports market, and everyone and their freakin UNCLE in the media boldly claims that Kobe Bryant is the “best player on the planet” [cringes] then where is the logic that LeBron is going to be able to offset the 33 million he will walk away from by going to NY/NJ?
June 30th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
To state “the Cavs have too long a track record of gross incompetence” when arguing for the superiority of NY/NJ basketball is high comedy.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Kobe pretty much killed his ability to bring in massive endorsement dollars when he cheated on his wife in that whole ordeal in Colorado, so that is an unfair assessment. I agree with the rest of your post however
There have been a lot of good points brought up in this comments section, but we all have to remember while that it is far from a lock that Lebron will leave in 2010, it is also far from a lock that he will stay. If the Cavs suck and are not in a position to win a championship, make no mistake about it he is out of here. Even if the Cavs are in the same position as they are now in 2010, he is likely to leave. That is because we need to be contending for titles if we expect Lebron to stay. He won’t just blindly stay in Cleveland because he loves Northeast Ohio
Great post Rock, when was the last time there have been so many comments in one post? Hopefully you guys picked up some more readers with this post
June 30th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Looks like Gregg Doyel agrees with Rock…
http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10881637
June 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I agree Ricky, if the Cavs haven’t made strides to be a championship team for the prime years of LeBron’s career, then he will leave. The pressure is on Ferry and Gilbert to make that happen. Unfortunately, they have yet to show me that they are capable of putting the right players and coach on the court. The Cavs are a playoff team because of LeBron, and despite Mike Brown. But they have the time and the contract structure to make it happen. Better front offices have failed, so here’s hoping they’re lucky.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Yeah Kiki Vandeweghe is a great GM. What’s Kenyon Martin’s contract look like again? Nene’? Oh didn’t he take on Allen Iverson’s contract too?
Hate to break David Stern, Screamin A. Smith and Hova’s heart, but Lebron isn’t going anywhere for a good while. I’m thinking that the soonest he might move, or even request a move will be if the Cavs are still struggling a couple of years after he signs his new deal in 2010, a’ la Kobe “How my ass taste” Bryant.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
What a nice change of pace. Even if Lebron goes to the east coast (I don’t think he will), it’s nice to read something that actually has some fact behind it vs. the talking heads that have been talking about this.
Don’t for a second think that Dan Gilbert won’t have something to think about this. Don’t be naive in thinking that just because the housing market is in the tank that he won’t have the funds. The housing situation will certainly be straightened out by 2010, it’s a cycle.
Another thing…..
I just sat with the head economist for Bank of America and thought this tidbit was very interesting. There is 1 BILLION DOLLARS in mortgages in which the 3 year ARM’s are rolling over PER DAY. Homes don’t have to sell for Quicken Loans to make money. The refinancing game is going to be huge over the next 3 years (over a TRILLION DOLLARS) and I gurantee you that Quicken Loans will be a huge part of it. Dan Gilbert will be doing everything in his power to influence Lebron to stay in Cleveland. He’ll have the financial resources to do it. I wouldn’t bet against him.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
That was a most excellent article. When I first read the stuff about Lebron going to New Jersey I thought that was a spit in the face of Cavs fans everywhere. I hope you guys keep him. Your team has gone through enough heartbreaks the last 20 years and it’s my belief that Lebron and Co. will bring you guys multiple championships when everything clicks.
June 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
Great article, folks. I enjoy getting in on this topic as a native Clevelander. I’ll try and avoid jargon, but the bottom line is everything favors Cleveland here except one thing (see the end of my comments):
1) Quality of Life – When people have millions and fame, they become concerned about a few things: their families (if they have them), and in sports, winning. As a few posters mentioned, Lebron is VERY comfortable in northeast Ohio and it hasn’t kept him from dominating the sports market at all. In NYC, he faces an abrupt lifestyle change, constant hounding by a voracious media, and he’d have to spend much more time away from his children. It’s not all about the money. And it certainly isn’t if you can have success in your backyard.
2) Money – But if you want to talk about money and marketing, fine. He can make more by staying with the Cavs and still give himself an opportunity to move on to another team when he’s about 30. He witnessed KG’s long quest for a title and understands there’s a risk in being loyal to the end. But KG was never hurting for money. In sum, the extra advertising dollars can indeed make a difference, but what a few of you have noticed – and the less-enlightened out of towners have not – is that the face of marketing, particularly in sports image marketing, has changed dramatically for two reasons: a global market, and the internet. Marketed properly (which Nike is failing at completely, btw), Lebron can sells thousands more shoes across the globe where such an item is more unique. (The real problem is this adherence to shoes and jerseys; there’s so much more potential, which you are seeing Lebron’s team explore….) In other words, if this was 1991, the advertising lure would be different. But with advances in internet marketing and the simple fact that the man can fly to Vegas and NYC if he wants to, all that matters is that Lebron stay on a championship-caliber team.
3) Winning – This is the only thing I can see being discouraging to Lebron (and the rest of NE Ohio). But look, the Cavs were in the Finals in ‘07 and pushed the eventual champion this year to a Game 7. They’re a few important moves away. As plenty of you have mentioned, they have the resources in the next 2 years to ensure they have the best possible chance of becoming a champion. Much of the past few years have been hampered by the legacy Paxson left behind, especially re: draft picks. That’s beginning to change. Idiots in the national media thought the big trade in Feb. was about winning now – not entirely. It was about losing some dead weight and, yes, that magic word: flexibility. They have roughly 33 million in assets for this summer and the upcoming trade deadline in 2009. And in 2010, depending on what happens b/w now and then, they won’t have much tied up in the roster, freeing them to go after free agents, etc. And, of course, resign Lebron.
A few quick ones:
If Lebron was surrounded right now by a team like the Knicks, I’d be worried. If the Nets think he’ll come there to play with Yi and Devin Harris, they’re sadly mistaken.
Never, never promote that you write for RealGM. One of the worst NBA sites in existence.
As for TV ratings, does anyone think that a Lebron-Kobe Finals would have been less popular than Kobe-Celtics?
Why do the Coasters never bring up that Jordan stayed in, ho hum, Chicago? A huge market, sure, but it’s no NYC or LA. And yet he won 6 titles there. Hmm….
June 30th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I’m not saying he’s going to leave, but your logic is slightly flawed in this analysis.
First, The relative lack of success the Nets and Knicks have had comparatively over the past few years (as compared to Cleveland) is not going to influence Lebron. What if Lebron were on those teams? Do they make the playoffs the last 3 years? Absolutely. Do the Cavaliers make the playoffs if they don’t have Lebron? I’m going to go with no. Unless you somehow imagine Larry Hughes leading a team to more than 15 wins. I sure can’t.
Also, the potential rosters you lay out for the Nets and Cavs in 2010 I don’t really think help your point. Vince and Devin Harris are better than anyone you mention on the future Cavs. Additionally, you conveniently place the Cavs draft picks from Thursday on the roster, and forget to mention the Nets adding Brook Lopez, Ryan Thompson, and Chris Douglass Roberts. A pretty considerable haul that was applauded by most draft experts.
Tiger Woods didn’t have to move to New York because golf isn’t a sport with teams associated with a particular city or region. It will affect his offer. There’s a reason that there were escalators initially in the contract. Lebron does have infinite bargaining power. According to your logic he could demand $1 billion dollars no matter where he is because Nike wouldn’t want to lose him. Nike obviously considers a move to New York beneficial to his marketability, and that benefit will be realized in any contract he signs. That’s simple economics.
Like I said, I’m not saying he will leave or he won’t. But I have to think honestly the only true benefit for him in Cleveland would be it’s his hometown and he’s obviously made a name and a home for himself there.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
“First, The relative lack of success the Nets and Knicks have had comparatively over the past few years (as compared to Cleveland) is not going to influence Lebron. What if Lebron were on those teams? Do they make the playoffs the last 3 years? Absolutely. Do the Cavaliers make the playoffs if they don’t have Lebron? I’m going to go with no. Unless you somehow imagine Larry Hughes leading a team to more than 15 wins. I sure can’t.”
This is asinine. Sure, in a magical land, if Lebron was on the Nets this year, they’d have made the playoffs. The Knicks? Well, not so sure. In reality, what will matter is what they have in 2010/2011. Lebron has no interest in making a lateral move. Donnie Walsh left the Pacers in ruins to takeover a team even worse than his. Rod Thorn’s great, but all Kiki has to his credit is overspending to create a mediocre team in Denver that will never sniff a championship. So when Lebron looks at their track record, I’m not sure he sees encouraging signs.
If ONE of those three draft picks for NJ – all of them good, in my mind – turn out to be star caliber, then at best the Nets have Harris, Yi and take your pick. (Carter, by then, is just a pair of knees.) The Knicks have nothing but junk on their roster now and have to convince someone to take those ridiculous contracts off their hands before they can even have the cap room to sign Lebron or any other FA.
June 30th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I love you. I was talking to my friend the other day that i once remember LeBron saying he wanted to be a billionaire someday. The fact that nobody can offer him more money coupled with the fact that he has already accomplished so much in CLEVELAND shows that he doesnt need a big market to make money. You said it beautifully. Basically, with any and every company that LeBron has an endorsement deal with (mainly Nike), he has the power. He will get the money he wants from them no matter where he is. He’s already the biggest name in sports, despite being from Ohio.
Thank you so much, this brightened my day and perhaps the next two years of my life (although being from Cleveland, I know not to get to high. I just hope I don’t end up being disappointed like every other Cleveland sports moment I have witnessed in my life).
June 30th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I really think if Lebron leaves Cleveland that the conspiracy theories will only get worse in the NBA.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
One person that everyone here is overlooking is Yi Jian Lian. If this kid proves that he can play and is making an impact on the nets team in the next two years, Cleveland’s fan needs to start worry about James leaving. The trade for Yi was part of the plan, not just to get rid of Jefferson contract.
Yi’s popularity is already rising up to near Yao Ming’s status, here in China (I’m studying in China right now). Imagine this scenario in 2010. The nets has Yi has their top two go-to guys and the nets are competitive. Lebron James will be salivating at the thought of going to Brooklyn to play with Yi.
As many of you have brought up, China is a huge market. Lebron, playing with Yi on his side can accomplish his goal of being a global superstar.
Yes I know, Yi is an unproven player. NJ nets managements are rolling the dice here, but if they win, it will be big.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
I’m going to totally ignore that whole Yi /Lebron fantasy trust me… he will never have an impact on Lebron going anywhere unless he is the Chinese coming of Dirk which I would think is highly unlikely. This is a great article with excellent point across the board. The most important issue is can Ferry get it done, because the legacy of an NBA player (or really any other major sport) is based on rings. If the talent is in place and we at least get to the finals before his contract is up, it would be career suicide for him to leave to an unproven team. Also if Lebron accomplishes everything in Cleveland (meaning at least 4 rings, 6 to be on Jordans level) he will go down as the arguably best player in NBA history and the best player in Cleveland history, in NY he would just be another one of the greats that that city takes for granted. Competing with ARod Eli and all the other NY stars isnt something that I think he would like esp when he can rule all of Cleveland and still be the best player in the world and create a legacy for a franchise that will never be matched. Right now my focus isnt on Lebron, he’s in uniform at least 2 more seasons and hes gonna get it done night in and night out… I’m looking at Ferry and his staff to come up with the goods wether its this offseason (preferably) or next offseason we HAVE to get another legit allstar who can create his own shot with a couple of the pieces we have now otherwise this franchise may be doomed.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Rock. Do you even follow basketball??? I quote “The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have” The Nets had a run of 7 years in a row IN THE PLAYOFFS snapped this year. They even played the Cavs in 2006. Where is the Great Lie when you need him….
July 1st, 2008 at 12:29 am
That is the dumbest article I’ve read yet. you guys keep fooling yourselves that NJ is not stocked with talent that will be contention-ready in under two years. PLEASE tell me that you don’t think this:
West
James
Szcerbiak
Wallace
Z
is a better lineup than:
Harris
James
Carter
Yi
Lopez
With Boone, Krstic, williams, Diop, that is already WAAAAY more than you guys have, and we’re not done, either, we just have options. As for your math, you are not so good at business if you think the Bird rights will come anywhere near the financial gain of NYC. Not to mention, playing on one of the 2 Chinese-supported teams (where there’s already a LeBron museum – he’s their favorite player, Yao’s #2), he’ll make tons more in that market, and be on a perennial playoff team. Instead of waiting 3 years just for the Cavs to get good enough for LeBron to carry them to success. HOW COULD YOU PASS THAT UP? Especially since the current team is much crappier than anyone of you Twinsburgers think.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:31 am
The Nets had a 7 YEAR run of making the playoffs. They’ll get back on track this year or next, making them competitive or close to the championship around 2010. If that coincides with a bad season for the Cavs, I like the Nets chances of landing Lebron.
Seriously, if you’re going to right about the Nets and their lack of recent playoff appearances, check your sources.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:33 am
Baron Davis opted out of his contract today. Obviously the Cavs don’t have any cap space, but can you say sign and trade? We might have to offer him a max deal (I think it would be 18 mil for the first season but I am not sure), which is risky, considering he is 29 and has had injury problems in the past (he played all 82 games last season). But I am quickly going to make the case for the Cavs doing so
1) We need a PG that can score and push the tempo. Baron does just that. Averaged almost 22 points per game last year shooting 42% and 33% from long range (not a great 3 pt shooting percentage but its better than what Larry shoots from the field…). And his GS teams were notorious for running the break so well, just ask Dallas
2) He does not need the ball and does not need to shoot all the time. He averaged almost 8 assists last year. And he shot the ball 100 times less than Lebron did last year, which is a lot considering the slow pace the Cavs played, how fast the Warriors played, and Lebron missed 8 games. Lebron obviously shoots it a lot, but Baron makes sure his teammates get theirs and he will take a back seat approach on a team led by Lebron
3) Baron is actually a decent defender, averaged a little over 2 steals per game
Yesterday, a deal involving Wally, Varejao, and Damon Jones would not have gotten it done, not even close. Now, the Warriors risk losing Baron Davis for nothing if they don’t resign him. Those 3 might be a little light, so we might have to include a future first rounder, and maybe even Gibson. I don’t want to lose Gibson so I don’t know how I feel about that since we still need young guys, but I wouldn’t mind losing a first round pick, especially considering with Baron we will have a pick in the late 20s
I know this is all wishful thinking but I am sure Ferry is going to try and get something done with Baron. It would make us a Finals favorite
July 1st, 2008 at 12:34 am
“The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have. ” NETS made play offs 5 times in a row before missing them for first time last season (after trading Jkidd) Anywayz this article is pointless…its not a question that LeBron is better of financially in a bigger market…sprite and nike will give him 150 millions each if he goes to a large market…
July 1st, 2008 at 12:36 am
Just saw that Elton Brand did the same thing, wouldn’t mind getting him either in a sign and trade
July 1st, 2008 at 12:52 am
Great Article…I agree about the whole Yi thing, he’s a HUGE star in China already as only an average player. imagine his popularity if his game gets better (which it most certainly will playing with an actual pg in harris and playing in a huge media market for the attention-needy Yi), he would be much bigger than Yao and with the combination of Lebron, who is also a superstar there, will create a monster franchise in Brooklyn, one with endless oppurtunities and one that most def. Lebron wont be able to pass up
July 1st, 2008 at 2:42 am
RockKing “The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have.” Last year you idiot was the first year they didn’t. You can’t get that facts right how can you get those right in your article. Nets just had a stellar draft with Lopez, Anderson, and CDR. Then they have Devin Harris. Sean Willaims, Vince Carter, Josh Boone, possibly Boki Nacgbar and whoever thye pick up this free agency. Bad chemistry didn’t help last year but this is a talented team. Oh I forgot they have YI and Bobby Simmons. Stop hating the Cavs suck and will lose Lebron to a better franchise in the Nets. Seriously you guys can look at it anyways you want but Lebron is a Net. He will have his jersey retired in the Barclays Center… #23 10 time Atlantic Division Champion, 5 NBA championships. Ill make sure I buy a ring.
July 1st, 2008 at 4:53 am
im sure you saw it but terry pluto wrote a shorter version of this article for the PD/cleveland.com, and the first commentor said he was jocking WFNY…ha (though he gave you props further down).
i think its interesting that a lot of people are using kevin garnett as an example when debated for or against lebron staying in cleveland.
kg played in minnesota, a place better known for kirby puckett, hockey, and jesse ventura, yet everyone knows who he is, what he is, and what hes done. minnesota is, from my understanding, a much smaller market than cleveland. it wasn’t money (as stated in this epic comment section) that made created the grounds for moving kg, it was the fact that the timberwolves were going nowhere and that something needed to be done, for him and the team.
and that, as rock stated, is what it comes down to. not money, exposure, or endorsements, but the team, and how ready they are to win a championship. and as terry pluto put it, a lot can happen in 2 years.
July 1st, 2008 at 6:41 am
What about a “LeBron Tax” that all Ohioians have to pay. Everything earned from it will go to a “Ohio Rejuvenation/Beautification” aka a championship (keeping LeBron). It’s outside the NBA therefore no cap, and even if each person payed a dollar it would still be significant. I’d pay it.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:31 am
One of the great lies of this article is that the nets have made the playoffs every year since 01 before this year’s season, contrary to the report of “they haven’t made the playoffs the last 3 seasons”. In fact, the Nets played the Cavs in the playoffs 2 seasons ago, remember?
LBJ will be the 2nd Cleveland player to make the move to NYC after CC Sabathia does. Playing in Cleveland just isn’t New York.
July 1st, 2008 at 7:44 am
The author acts as if Cleveland is the only team that will have money to spend. If a player can make x amount of dollars in city whatever, or make the same amount in Cleveland, why would a player choose living in Ohio as opposed to living in Florida, Texas, New york or California?
Pointing out that Cavs went to NBA finals last year and took the Celtics 7 games this year as proof that the Cavs are close to winning a championship is absurd. Especially when the reasons why the Cavs were humilated in the finals and lost to Boston have not changed. The Cavs insistance that defense first and defense only will not get Cleveland a championship. Yes, defense wins games,but obviously a lack of offense loses them.
And don’t forget that the teams around the Cavs have improved and are improving while with each passing season the Cavs regress. And the proof of that, is the fact that bench players like Andy and Sasha can hold this so called championship caliber team hostage. When Ben Wallace and Wally Sz12#$%^%^^ k in 2008 is considered to be a major part of your success you are on the way down. If Lebron wants to win a championship he must leave Cleveland.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:27 am
Ok, if your comment revolves around the phrase “Why would he want to play in Cleveland when he could play in _________.” Just save it. We;ve heard it. You and your uneducated opinion of our city and state can move on.
July 1st, 2008 at 8:34 am
LeBron is now being marketed on Nickelodeon …. so his popularity continues to rise. Bringing home the gold medal in the Olympics will only enhance his image. Lebron has a ton of money …. and as long as the Cavaliers can put him in a situation to compete for the NBA Championship, he will remain in Cleveland. Just think if we could have knocked off Boston …. we had our chances in some of those games we lost.
He is very loyal to Akron … his hometown. More so than Cleveland …. it’s Akron where Lebron finds his comfort zone. If the Cavaliers cannot put a team around Lebron to win it all …. then he would go …. to a team that can. New Jersey does not offer that …. but something more like what Boston did. It’s all about the ring and who can put Lebron in position to win one …
Jay
July 1st, 2008 at 8:35 am
Eric – you’re forgetting that it isn’t the “same” amount. It’s more.
Welcome, Nets fans!
July 1st, 2008 at 8:41 am
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3468173
James listed New York as his favorite city Monday (his hometown of Akron, Ohio came in fifth behind Washington D.C., Dallas, and Los Angeles)
“My favorite borough? Brooklyn”
/just fueling the fire
July 1st, 2008 at 9:13 am
Well written but clearly a biased article.
First off, let me just say that New Jersey has only missed the postseason this year after being in the playoffs since 2002. All this talk about New Jersey not being competitive when Lebron’s contract is up befuddles me since we’ll be fielding players who are going to enter into their prime in 2010. Vince Carter, even with his injuries, can still put up 18-4-4 if you compare him to last season where he averaged 22-5-5. Devin Harris will certainly be here in 2010 as the Nets see him as a defensive PG with a Tony Parker quickness in him. Harris’ game will flourish once he recover from his injuries and being that he’s out of Avery Johnson’s pick-and-roll offense and into Lawrence Frank’s motion offense. Then you still have a much developed and experienced Lopez, Anderson and CDR together with a polished Sean Williams and Josh Boone.
It’s clear that, should Lebron opt to sign in New York/New Jersey area, the ramifications of his contract financially will be offset by the fact that the endorsements in a major market will make Lebron a global icon (something that we all know he’s striving for). Think about Kobe playing in LA and how that affects his status globally. Add that to the fact that Lebron will be playing right next to another international wonder in Yi Jianlian and you have an even bigger impact that what Yao and T-Mac already have in Houston.
Having said all that, I still think Cleveland will have a HUGE advantage in terms of re-signing Lebron to a lucrative contract. This is his hometown, where he grew up in and all the sentimental effects that comes with signing in Cleveland. However, New York/New Jersey (especially the Nets) will have a huge impact in the signing process as it makes sense for Lebron financially.
Let’s not forget, money talks.
It should be a fun 2010.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:17 am
….and he wore a Yankess cap at an Indians game while playing in Ohio
July 1st, 2008 at 9:19 am
LeBron is smart. He needs everyone to keep guessing. It keeps his stock that much higher. What else would he say? “I’m very happy and comfortable playing in Cleveland, and I will never leave.” Give me a break.
Read the comments lenihan, the “missing the playoffs” statement was explained.
Also, comparing last years Cavs roster to New Jersey’s new roster is plain stupid. Wait until the Cavs have finished making their moves, than make the comparison. And barring injury Lopez won’t be better than Z for at least 5 years. I would never admit to having Diop on my team.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:21 am
“Um…yeah, I remember that. But last year the Nets finished 10th in the East and missed the playoffs, so they have not made the playoffs in each of the last 3 years.”
Fair enough RockKing. But they did make the playoffs for 6 straight seasons before 08 – six out of the past seven years isn’t a bad run.
As a Net fan I’m just looking for them to get the best player to fit their team.
The die has been cast that Net mgt (Thorn & Kiki) has their sights set on the FA Class of 2010 (when the team will be less than 1 yr from moving to Brooklyn). As much as you want to point to Kiki’s less than stellar record in Denver, Thorn is the key decision maker in the Net org.
IMO, it will be a matter of who will fit best with whomever is left of Harris, Yi, Lopez, Boone, Kristc 24 months from now.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:26 am
As has been stated many times in the comments, LeBron is already a global icon. He’s already bigger than Kobe (thanks in some part to his proclivity for cheating on his wife and raping young college students.) Money is already talking. It will be about one thing, winning. Period. That’s the whole point of this article.
Terry Pluto has lost some of my respect.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Great post Rock. Well researched investagitory journalism. Thanks for taking the time to piss off half of Brooklyn in the process.
The worst thing in all of this is we’re going to have 2 years of this shit. It doesn’t matter – if LeBron goes on a cruise with Jay-Z, they’re talking contract already. If Yi has a deal with Nike, it’s so he can get in close with LeBron.
I grew up and lived in Sandusky for 18 years, then attended Ohio State. I’ve never lived in Cleveland but that’s where my devotion is. Now that I live in DC (going on 2 years now) I still haven’t gotten used to the sense of superiority that people feel entitled to just because they live in a big city, especially New York.
I really get frustrated when assholes like Stephen A Smifffff go and guarantee with no shred of evidence that someone is making a move. If he’s right and in 2 years that happens, I’ll tip my cap to him (even though he’ll be busy tipping it to himself that I won’t have to). Until then I feel like every adult male in Cleveland should take a moment out of their week, drive to Bristol, and personally teabag that jackass.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:37 am
You wrote, “The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years….the Cavaliers have.” Get your facts straight. The Nets missed the playoffs last year for the first time in this DECADE. Not only that, but the Nets played the Cavs in the 2007 playoffs.
Also, the millions Lebron would “lose” in his contract are pocket change to what he would make in endorsements in New York.
Finally, what makes you think Danny Ferry will put anything around Lebron. All he’s done is bring in washed up vets (e.g. Ben Wallace). I will admit that neither the Knicks nor the Nets will have a championship roster next year, but you have to admit that the Cavs, as they are current conceived, will not get past the Celtics. You played them tough, but your lineup is only getting older. And as for the season after next, you better pray that Ferry can make some big moves. We’ll just have to wait and see.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:58 am
100th reply! That’s all.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:52 am
I understand the literacy rate is northern New Jersey is probably comparable to some small third world countries, but let’s take a look at what Rock said, since apparently the east coast homers lacked the capacity to read his explanation of what he said.
“The Nets haven’t made the playoffs each of the past 3 years”
They did not make the playoffs last year, hence they did not make the playoffs each of the past 3 years. That is all.
July 1st, 2008 at 10:53 am
@ http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=1463#comment-4440
Last year = last season.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I don’t know what English literacy you’re referring to but to me, “each of the past 3 years” means missing the playoffs for all those 3 years.
Forgive me for making a DUMB mistake.
Bravo to you Chris.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Someone please explain to me how Lebron is more marketable in NY. Do you think there are actually people out there that don’t know who he is already?
Usually the big market is needed as a needs to bring in money. The Cavs do not have that problem because they have Lebron. Gilbert maes cash hand over fist due to the fact that Lebron is already global.
Lebron would ruin his image if he turned his back on his hometown. The only way he could leave Cleveland and not ruin his reputation is if the Cavs have made no progress towards winning a championhip in the next 2 years.
July 1st, 2008 at 12:52 pm
i cant believe you said that the nets missed the playoffs for each of the last 3 years when they made the playoffs for 5 straight seasons and even played (and were beaten by a horrible cavs team) in 2007!
i know skimming through 100+ comments is tough, but come on…
July 1st, 2008 at 1:10 pm
As I said before this is a great piece, but I had no idea how many NY/NJ fans would get riled up trying to tell us that he will sign there. I find it rather rediculous that they are so focused on a chance of our player joining thier team.
Doesn’t thier adamant desire to obtain him show the fact that he is a huge icon in the USA? That -Gasp!- plays in a place like Cleveland?!? Lebron wants to be the first billionaire athlete, and he is on pace to do so just because he is that prolific. NY wont help him get there. He doesn’t need “extra exposure” to reach that level.
He has an opportunity here in Cleveland that there isnt anywhere else. He can, singlehandedly, lift the Cavs into history. He has already sniffed the Finals and he is only 23. He is getting older and better, the championships will come.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Everyone is just repeating themselves now, and there are a lot of dumb, entitled people from the northeast that are just being silly and irrational
Beaten by a horrible Cavs team last year? What does that say about the Nets then? And lets be real, its a good thing the Nets are indeed moving to Brooklyn, because they would have absolutely 0 chance of landing Lebron if they were still in New Jersey. Some people think Cleveland is a shithole (they are wrong), but everyone knows that Jersey is the armpit of America (they are right)
July 1st, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Yeah good article!
July 1st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Well-written article, thanks for looking through the Birds.
Notsogoodnews:
From ESPN:
“James listed New York as his favorite city Monday (his hometown of Akron, Ohio, came in fifth behind Washington, D.C., Dallas and Los Angeles) as he took part in a one-day USA Basketball media blitz.”
And Ricky, check wikipedia for highest income counties in the USA,
New Jersey: #7, #10, #13 and #21, #42, #80, #92, #93, #100
Ohio: #35, #79, none of the others make the list
But yeah, I’d much rather live in midwest in a dilapidated blue collar town than have a house outside the greatest city in the world.
July 1st, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Um, the Nets have missed the playoffs one year in a row, not 3. Nice research. In fairness, it’s not like the took the Cavs to 7 games last year. Oh wait…
July 1st, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Can we just agree that no one here actually cares how many times the nets have made the playoffs? kthx
There are a lot of cities I would rather be in than in Ohio but New York City is not one. New Jersey would be horrible. It makes my top 10 undesirable places to live. Keep your higher salary because you’re paying 2-3x as much for housing.
If LeBron leaves it’ll be for the BROOKLYN Nets, so please stop pimping NJ.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Adam,
What are your other top 10 undesirable places to live?
Here’s Money Magazine’s top 25:
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2007/top100/index.html
Notice there are 2 places in New Jersey on there. And 2 in New York. All pretty close to Brooklyn (or East Rutherford).
5 places in NJ are listed before the first mention of city in Ohio (46).
July 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
First off, Lebron’s not playing in the city he was raised in. He’s from Akron, and there is a distinction as he’s always the first to point out to anyone who will listen. Also, the extra money Cleveland can pay him will not factor in. He will make it back in endorsements times 10 if he goes to NY. And he’s got more than he can ever spend anyway. He’s going to a big market to bring them a title. He wants to conquer the world, as he’s said before. You don’t do that in Cleveland, sorry, the Cleve is nice though. Ferry is a dullard, he’s not getting it done. They needed a point, and he passed on Chalmers. This team will never win without a legit point.
Also, if the Nets are even a .500 team that will be enough. Lebron is good enough that he turns a mediocre team into an instant contender. Look at your Cavs last year. That’s a 25-win team without Lebron. So the Nets or even Knicks will not have to be that close. Sorry, but enjoy these last 2 years, he will be gone to his favorite borough of Brooklyn.
Cheers.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
WFNY: Where Northeast Demographic Studies Happen
July 1st, 2008 at 3:59 pm
[...] I’m at it, please read Waiting for Next Year’s post on Lebron James: http://www.waitingfornextyear.com/?p=1463 and also Cavalier Attitude’s follow-up: [...]
July 1st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
this comment section is getting as good as a yaysports.com comment section!
July 1st, 2008 at 8:47 pm
What’s up fellas………. First, I am not a Cavs fan, or from Ohio. I’m born & raised in New Jersey. I assume most of you are not from the NY/NJ area.
I’ve been following the Nets potential move to Brooklyn since Bruce Ratner acquired the team a few years ago.
The Brooklyn move is not a sure thing at this point. Community groups in Downtown Brooklyn have been taking Ratner & his development company to court for years over this proposed new arena.
Most of you are seriously (I repeat, SERIOUSLY) underestimating the significance of a move to BK. I hear some of you on hear complain about an “east coast bias”. But you, as non residence of the greater NY metro area fail to see (and how could you?) that the NY media plays these types of games even within the NY area. When the Nets play well, the NY media doesn’t praise them, they ask “why can’t the Knicks do this?”
The Nets, New Jersey, Long Island, The Islanders, The Devils, Connecticut all get ignored by the NY media. This alone will deter Bron from making the jump in 2010.
If you want to keep Lebron, pray the Nets move to Newark instead of Brooklyn. I, as a NJ native, want the Nets to stay in Jersey. In essence we want the same thing. Lebron is enthralled with NY. If the BK move happens, I don’t see him in Cleveland in 2010.
Visit http://www.developdontdestroy.org
121 5th Avenue, PMB #150
Brooklyn, New York 11217
Thanks for reading this……………………….. Salute from Jersey.
July 1st, 2008 at 9:27 pm
“New Jersey would be horrible. It makes my top 10 undesirable places to live.”
I just caught this. I tried to be nice & just talk about this particular situation, but…………… Per Capita Income, High School Graduate Rate, Individuals holding At least A Bachelors Degree, Depression Rate, Diversity Of Population, Location (I could go on) all favor NJ. You’re from Ohio. Don’t complain about the NY media & then use a NY media tactic people. Taxes are high, housing costs are high & yet there are upward of 8 & 1/2 million people in a state the size of Israel. It’s not for lack of other places to live.
I live on a tree lined suburban block less than 10 minutes outside of Manhattan where crime is almost nonexistent. Sounds like a good deal to me.
What’s that saying about stones & glass houses???????
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:08 am
I’ve been to Totawa and you can’t get anywhere in 10 min.
/small sample size
Everyone in New England thinks everyone in Ohio lives on a farm, or in a run down small town. Everyone in Ohio thinks everyone in NY either lives in the ghetto or has a 2 hour commute.
http://xkcd.com/386/
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Only think I would like to point out is his financial numbers are very skewed. LBJ will not be walking away from $33 mil if you really work the numbers out over equivilent time periods. He forgets to include that after 5 years with another team he will be getting his first year of a new max deal with that team again. This would be the same year he is in the final year of his deal with the Cavs. If you look at it correctly……6 years after his contract with the Cavs expires he will make a total of $125,424,901 with another team compared to $134,339,336 if he signs a 6 year max deal with the cavs. The amount he would actually be walking away from is only about $8.9 million, not even close to the $33 million Rock would have you believe.
Nets Cavs
Year 1 17,193,000 17,193,000
Year 2 18,568,440 18,998,265
Year 3 20,053,915 20,993,083
Year 4 21,658,228 23,197,357
Year 5 23,390,887 25,633,079
Year 6 24,560,431 28,324,552
Total 125,424,901 134,339,336
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:49 pm
the truth. thank you.
July 3rd, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Thanks for this article.
If baseball’s salary rules were like basketball’s, MLB would be worth watching after the All-Star Break.
It’s all up to LeBron and I think that he will stay loyal unless the Cavs jerk him. I think winning is more important than a bigger market.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 pm
brandon hoffman is wrong about the cap. like, super wrong.
heres what he said, “Brooklyn would then have the financial resources (just like the Knicks have now) to far exceed the luxury tax. Meaning they are better equipped to surround James with the best team that money can buy.”
sorry but u cant just exceed the cap. its not like baseball. once a team reaches the cap they can only overspend it with certain exemptions like the mid-level exemption and the biennial exemption. or if u can exceed the cap to sign your own players, like gilbert and antawn this year.
theres a reason why only a few teams can go after the high price free agents every year. teams cant just offer gilbert, or baron or elton the max. ITS AGAINST THE RULES.
also, i take exception with the statement that the cavs dont have the resources. dan gilbert obv does. the cavs have a huuuuuuuge payroll. 4th highest in the league and hes eating tons of luxury tax. despite that the cavs are still gonna sign delonte and gibson and proly spend the mle this year.
brandon u confuse basketball with baseball. bball teams cannot operate like the yankees no matter how much revenue they bring in or how rich the owners are. bball teams must operate under the rules of the salary structure.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:12 pm
i should add that the reason the knicks have such a high payroll is bc they repeatedly traded expiring contracts for longer term high priced contracts.
this is not good bc now they cant sign any free agents. even if they wanted to offer gilbert arenas the max, they simply arent allowed to by nba rules.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
“I’ve been to Totawa and you can’t get anywhere in 10 min.”
Good thing I don’t live in Totawa then……….
July 4th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Now that Stephen A. Smith has guaranteed that LeBron will be a Knick in 2010, 99.9% of sports journalists guarantee that LeBron will be a NET in 2010, and John Hollinger has pointed out that since LeBron listed Washington D.C. as one of his favorite cities, the WIZARDS should not have resigned Arenas and Jamison and INSTEAD should have dumped their team to free up cap space……[takes deep breath]
I WONDER how many franchises we can get to DUMP their team for the LeBron sweepstakes of 2010?
I know the laws behind LeBron leaving Cleveland are more solid than Newtonian Physics, but I just wonder if the experts realize that he can’t play for more than 1 team at a time…
July 4th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Rock!
Good article. Thanks for the informative link regarding NBA salaries.
Rock, LeBron is from Akron, OH. That city is where he was born and raised, not Cleveland. LeBron will always be loyal to and support the Akron area…no doubt.
LeBron will leave. Why? It is the attitude of Cleveland, the lack of vibracy, the constant need to pull up it’s teams, and continually defend a divisive, slow city and it’s people. These problems drain someone of LeBron’s caliber, youth and energy in vampire-like fashion.
Cleveland still offers the creeping residual of failed steel mills and manufacturing industries. Coupled with a notable segregation that persists with tenacity and ignorance into the 21st century.
Our continual ‘wanting’ will not effectively sway LeBron from that which enlivens his spirit and feeds his promise.
The cities mentioned other than New York City are Arcs; vibrant with success and the intersection of cultures (and a youthful demographic) actually mingling and engaging each other!
These cities with their respected and valued cultures play (for the most part) like…teams to the betterment of their communities and city…go figure!
A transcendent statement from Manohla Dargis, the New York Times movie critic in reviewing the Black superhero ‘Hancock’ is apropos to LeBron James as our superhero,
“…his pain is existential, not material. He suffers at his leisure.”
Let the ‘Bird’ go free.
Adrienne
http://adriennezurub.typepad.com
July 7th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
Not a fan of the cavs or clevelander…., but really don’t see the King moving….Plus does anyone think that he’d be able to step foot back in his hometown if he leaves…somebody will shoot him.
Elway once said something to the effect that the Browns moving was a terrible thing, but he personally was happy because Art Modell took his place as the most hated man in cleveland.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Adrienne, YOU ARE RIGHT! I am a Clevelander, and LEBRON has done more for his team city state, region, brands, friends, you name it.
LET LEBRON GO TO NYC. HE WILL BE THE KING OF NY! and LIVE HIS DREAM!
LeBron do what is in your heart man! Get money Live Life to the Fullest, it is bigger than Basketball!
Get it!
July 13th, 2008 at 12:26 pm
Great piece. Somehow missed it until today.
Another point that gets overlooked in these “LeBron is leaving” pieces is that LeBron has every incentive to make New Yorkers think that he might leave for the Knicks or Nets. If he plans to stay in Cleveland, it certainly doesn’t hurt him any to have New Yorkers weak-kneed for another few years at the prospect of him joining their team. It only gets him more attention and helps him sell more shoes, and whatever else he wants to sell.
July 14th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Wow, I can’t tell you how much better I feel about everything in my life after reading this piece. Thank you. You just saved my summer.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
It’s fun to read this article with real NBA knowledge and without wine & gold colored glasses. You are correct, in 2010 the Cavs should currently only have West, Gibson, Hickson under contract, however the Nets will have Brook Lopez, Sean Williams, Yi, Devin Harris, whatever they get if they trade VC & two high lotto picks in the next two drafts. All of those players possess more upside than anyone on the Cavs not having the initials of LBJ (and don’t retort with Boobie, who really is just a one dimensional shooter).
Not only that, they could clear enough cap room they could invite Lebron to bring in whoever he’d like. But can’t Cleveland do the same? Sure they can, but there’s a difference in getting people to take a job in Cleveland, OH vs NYC (especially wealthy, highly visible young men).
The bottom line is that in the summer of 2010 there WILL be better destinations for Lebron to leave to. If you all think that his Cleveland pride is enough to get him to stay, then I applaud you for your ability to live in ignorance.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Well Jeff thank you for stopping by and informing us uneduacted Clevelanders on the facts of life. Guys close down the site. Implode the Q. Jeff thinks we’re wrong.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
To say Lebron couldn’t show his face back in Cleveland if he were to leave really shows the true Cleveland fan character. Even if he were to leave, he’s already done more for Cleveland basketball than anyone else.
July 16th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
“If you all think that his Cleveland pride is enough to get him to stay, then I applaud you for your ability to live in ignorance.”
Always nice to have comments from people who don’t even bother reading the article. Thanks, Jeff, for the enlightening comments. My eyes have been opened.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I read the article and I understand your point about Lebron staying in Cleveland for a couple extra mil in contract money. I also understand he’s said that he will stay in Cleveland if the team is able to put pieces around him. It does seem to me that many Cleveland fans are holding their breaths and waiting for another team to give away a free superstar because they feel bad about Lebron not having a 2nd fiddle. However, doesn’t it make more sense that other teams knowing he’ll leave if he doesn’t get help will put Ferry in an impossibly desperate situation to make a deal? If other teams know that if they don’t trade their stars to Cleveland it increases the odds Lebron is an available F/A, they’d have an active reason not to help Ferry out.
People point to the Gasol deal as an example of a steal of a trade, but ignore that Jerry West’s relationship with the Grizz owner is the main reason that deal went down. Maybe Ferry should start begging the Spurs for Duncan or Manu.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
The point of the article is that the rest of the world thinks it is a done deal that LeBron will leave. Everyone points to salary cap space that NJ and NY are creating and assume that Cleveland will never be able to compete with that. The financial point is that Cleveland can match or beat any offer on the table, and that LeBron does not have to live in NY or LA to be a global icon.
July 16th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
He doesn’t have to leave Cleveland to be a global icon, but it would certainly help tremendously. In Asia the #1 selling jersey isn’t Lebron, Kobe or even Yao…it’s T-Mac. Lebron going to the Nets and playing with Yi would be a boon in China. In England they’ve heard of the Knicks, Lakers or Celtics, but many people haven’t heard too much about Cleveland, OH much less the Cavs. If you don’t agree with me, think about the English Premier league, sure people know Man U. or Liverpool, but not many people here could name all the teams in the top division.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Those people know who the top stars in the league are not because they play for LA or NY but because they are marketed to them and they are always in the playoffs etc…
Most fans don’t know about the English Premier league in this country because soccer isn’t as popular here. Not because Manchester United play in a city people know about.
Jeff you can’t expect to come to a Cleveland site and say something like “I have real NBA knowledge” and then bring weak arguments.
July 16th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Weak arguments? Like Lebron is already a global icon because of Sprite and he’s on the cover of Vogue? How many people read Vogue in Russia?
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and many feel the Premier League is the best in the world. I thought we were talking about the world and global icons, but you’ve basically proved my point by saying that people here don’t know about the Premier league because it’s not popular….but it’s certainly more popular worldwide than the Cleveland Cavaliers or Lebron James.
Other countries are vastly different than American, to say that Lebron is already a global icon because he’s got a bubblegum named after him that you can’t buy overseas, sponsers a beverage that’s hard to find outside of America, or is the first basketball player on the cover of an American magazine is very ignorant.
July 16th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
My intentions aren’t to start a fight, you guys have a nice site going here and you do a good job of presenting the case for Lebron to stay. After all, only one person can really answer the mystery and we’ll have to wait a bit to see where he picks.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:14 pm
NOPE we got this dude on lock
July 17th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Every time I read this article and then the comments after it I sit here and get all boiled up. I feel like turning into the incredible hulk and crushing every single human being on the planet that thinks LeBron is leaving Cleveland. I feel like going on a mission. A crusade. One by one, ripping faces, breaking jaws, crushing skulls. This feeling stays with me for five minutes as I fail to find anything acceptable to take my rage out on, then start wailing on myself. It is unhealthy, but then the feeling goes away after five minutes when I’ve had my fill of violence.
September 30th, 2008 at 3:51 am
LOL
that doesn’t even make any sense!
July 13th, 2009 at 11:01 am
[...] makes more sense, financially, for LeBron to stay in Cleveland? I know, it’s something that we’ve been saying since the site’s inception, but the rest of the media has chosen by and large to ignore this until the cap figures were cut. [...]