Does a LeBron loss in the ECF mean he's gone from Cleveland?

[nickagneta]

I watched the last few minutes of the game last night and the OT and when t was all over I couldn't help but think that if the LeBrons get bounced from the playoffs does spell the end of LeBron in Cleveland after 2009-10?

If there was going to be a year that Lebron won it all in Cleveland it was going to have to be this year. They brought in Williams and resigned West. They had a season of tremendous health for the most part, and were at the healthiest entering the playoffs. They won 66 games. They were nearly record breaking unbeatabeat home. The Celtics were hurt. The Magic lost Nelson. The Lakers lost Bynum and he really hasn't returned even though he is playing. All the planets and stars were in alignment including an unreal MVP year for Lebron.

And the best they might be able to do would be an ECF loss? Next year Boston comes back healthy and maybe better with the experience Rondo and Perk got in the playoffs. The Boston starting five next year might be the best starting five since the Showtime Lakers. The Lakers will return with a healthy and older Bynum and might be defending champs. The Magic return with Nelson healthy and the confidence to know that they can beat the Cavs. Portland, Denver, Miami, Houston, and a host of other teams could be coming back very strong.

If LeBron couldn't win this year in Cleveland will he never be able to ecause next year might just be more difficult to win it all?

So if LeBron feels that Cleveland won't get it done will he say goodbye to Ohio and travel elsewhere to play in 2010-11? In New York they will have David Lee, a few very interesting young guys and enough cap space to sign LeBron and any other superstar they want. They will also spend, spend, spend going ridiculously over the luxury tax in the future to guarantee that LeBron has the best coach and crew around him. They will do whatever they have to to win and appease LeBron.

Cleveland on the other hand doesn't have the financial resources to compete that way in the futue for Lebron. They played hardball with Anderson varejao for Pete's sake. They are going to put together a $100 million payroll to ensure LeBron gets players around him to get rings. They will do their best but their best may never be good enough and LeBron may never see Cleveland as a viable spot to win it all.

So watch out Cavs fans, who my guess is are nothing more than a bunch of Lebron bandwagon fans anyway, because if lebron can't put together a come from behind 4-3 series win over the Magic and can't be the WCF winner, then Lebron might be running to greener pastures and considering his comment about making a billion dollars, we all know how much he likes the color green.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't think Lebron's run is over at all.  He has a decent supporting cast, and with at least $17 million coming off the books for next season, the Cavs will have money to spend to upgrade.  They could add Kidd (MLE) and McDyess (LLE) -- potentially, or some other combination to appease Lebron -- while still having a lower payroll than this year.

I just don't see how rebuilding in New York (or elsewhere) would help Lebron's legacy.  He knows how close his team is to a championship.  Why leave now, especially with much of his competition becoming weaker in the off-season?  (Orlando could lose Turkoglu, LA could lose Odom or Ariza, etc.)

[MetroGlobe]

I completely agree with you.  I think if they bow out now, there is a legitimate chance he will leave Cleveland.  That's why I'm rooting for the Magic, actually.  First off because I would like to see the rest of his teammates humbled, after riding his coattails like a bunch of frontrunning punks all season long.  Secondly because the entire world pretty much anointed them champions months ago (most of us included), so it can be fun to root for the underdog.  And finally because I think that if he splits for another team, it will take that team a couple seasons to reach elite status like he has now.  Which means our road to another trophy might be somewhat easier for the remainder of our Big 3's window.

[LarBrd33]

i thought the new agreed theory was that LeBron wasn't leaving Cleveland until he gave the fans a championship.

[crownsy]

i thought the new agreed theory was that LeBron wasn't leaving Cleveland until he gave the fans a championship.

Not with me, but whatever helps CLEV fans sleep at night

I think it will come down to the fact that CLEV can offer him more $$$. I don't think the "he needs to be in NYC for marketing purposes" applies anymore with the way media is saturated international now.

[nickagneta]

I don't think Lebron's run is over at all.  He has a decent supporting cast, and with at least $17 million coming off the books for next season, the Cavs will have money to spend to upgrade.  They could add Kidd (MLE) and McDyess (LLE) -- potentially, or some other combination to appease Lebron -- while still having a lower payroll than this year.

I just don't see how rebuilding in New York (or elsewhere) would help Lebron's legacy.  He knows how close his team is to a championship.  Why leave now, especially with much of his competition becoming weaker in the off-season?  (Orlando could lose Turkoglu, LA could lose Odom or Ariza, etc.)

Aren't they still way over the cap for next year even if they pass on all their options and everyone ETO's out? And if AV and Big Z don't opt out, aren't they then over the luxury tax already? How are they going to add all these quality players with the same exact options the Celtics have available?

Also, I think Ariza will stay put and I'm not sure that anyone will be able to offer more to Turk than the Magic, so I don't see major step backs in the best teams. And if Vaejao and Ilgaukas leave and all the Cavs ave to replace them are the MLE and LLE, how does that effect the Cavs?

I don't know Roy. I tink this group of Cavs is severely flawed and I don't see them adding someone that will make that much od a difference using just the MLE.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't think Lebron's run is over at all.  He has a decent supporting cast, and with at least $17 million coming off the books for next season, the Cavs will have money to spend to upgrade.  They could add Kidd (MLE) and McDyess (LLE) -- potentially, or some other combination to appease Lebron -- while still having a lower payroll than this year.

I just don't see how rebuilding in New York (or elsewhere) would help Lebron's legacy.  He knows how close his team is to a championship.  Why leave now, especially with much of his competition becoming weaker in the off-season?  (Orlando could lose Turkoglu, LA could lose Odom or Ariza, etc.)

Aren't they still way over the cap for next year even if they pass on all their options and everyone ETO's out? And if AV and Big Z don't opt out, aren't they then over the luxury tax already? How are they going to add all these quality players with the same exact options the Celtics have available?

Also, I think Ariza will stay put and I'm not sure that anyone will be able to offer more to Turk than the Magic, so I don't see major step backs in the best teams. And if Vaejao and Ilgaukas leave and all the Cavs ave to replace them are the MLE and LLE, how does that effect the Cavs?

I don't know Roy. I tink this group of Cavs is severely flawed and I don't see them adding someone that will make that much od a difference using just the MLE.

If nobody picked up their options, they'd probably be very slightly under the cap, although they wouldn't have any room to sign anybody.

http://www.shamsports.com/content/pages/data/salaries/cavaliers.jsp

If everyone picks up their options, they're at $73 million.  If nobody does, they're at $55.5 million. 

This season, they were at $90.7 million.  Thus, even signing free agents to the full MLE and full LLE (combined, roughly $7.5 million), they'd still have a payroll at a minimum $10 million below this year's, even before taking the luxury tax into account.  They'll also have Ben Wallace's expiring deal to trade, should they wish to.

The Cavs will have 100% flexibility to use as much payroll as necessary.  I'm not sure if the Celtics, Magic, or Lakers are all in that boat.  Also, despite the Cavs potentially being flawed, they still had the best record in the NBA, and a top-3 defense.  I see no reason to assume that they won't be just as good next season.  Why would one playoff series convince Lebron that his future is hopeless, and cause him to go join a lottery team?  All he needs to do is look at the Magic team that added Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady to see that joining a team with a ton of cap space isn't always the perfect solution.

Lebron is going to stay in Cleveland.  He's got a good team around him now, and the team is going to have a lot of payroll flexibility in the future.  The only thing that NY offers is a larger market.  However, in today's media age, how much larger of a market does Lebron need?  He's already the biggest NBA player in the world, and probably the second most popular athlete in the United States (behind Tiger).  What more does he need?

[Fafnir]

I think the Chinese ownership groups offer to buy 15% of the Cavaliers is huge for keeping LeBron. He wants to be a global icon after all.

[Who]

I don't know. It's a coin flip.

I thought some reporters made good cases arguing that LeBron was more likely to leave if he won a title in Cleveland, stating that he wants to reward his city with a title before moving on to someplace like NYC.

I can't tell the difference between that argument and the argument stating that LeBron will stay if he wins a title and will only leave if the Cavs fail to win a title.

[anotherbanner]

 If the Magic do indeed finish this and eliminate the Cavs, it may depend upon how good Cleveland is next year. Plus he is getting no help AT ALL in this series and he was supposed to have all the help around him to get it done this year. If the Celtics and other teams do come back stronger next year and the Cavs are again denied a trip to the finals, maybe just the frustration will drive him out of Cleveland. It is no secret how much he enjoys playing in NY.

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

i thought the new agreed theory was that LeBron wasn't leaving Cleveland until he gave the fans a championship.

I agree. He said bringing a Championship to Cleveland was his #1 priority. I'll take him at his word.

Lebron's Priorities:

1. Bring a championship to Cleveland
2. Make a billion dollars

[wdleehi]

They such a mistake not trading for one more offensive threat this season.  They had Wally's contract to do it. 



As for Lebron leaving, where can he go and have a better chance at winning right now?

[twentythree9]

Aren't we a year early to be talking about this?  Maybe if Cleveland doesn't win the title this year it puts off any extension discussion as LBJ waits and sees what cast is assembled going forward, but I highly doubt he's even thinking about this right now.

I think the bigger issue facing Cleveland is their style of play, and if they don't get this right, I see this being the biggest risk to LBJ leaving.  Barkley's got it right, their offense stinks.  I like Mike Brown, but even I am starting to wonder about his ability to win a championship.  He's got that San Antonio swagger, but unlike Pops, he makes horrible adjustments (or lack thereof)! 

There is no doubt in my mind that LBJ is the perfect player in an open-court game (a la D'Antoni).  Just go back and watch the Olympic tapes, LBJ was a beast among boys!  I think style of play will have a big impact on what LBJ does!

[Celtics17]

He's gone after next year.