If Lebron ends up with the Knicks, could the Celtics later trade for him??

[Witch-King]

As this current season hangs in the balance, LeBron James has already stated to the media that he has nothing more to discuss concerning trade rumors and that he will instead focus on the remainder of this season/post-season.

Now we all know the reason why Shaq was brought to Cleveland is so that LeBron could get one more shot at a ring; however if the Cavaliers don't do so or if they end up eliminating the Celtics and losing to the Lakers in the finals, then LeBron is likely not to stay in Cleveland and the Boston Celtics are even more likely to hold reservations against acquiring LeBron this offseason if he does the equivilent of eliminating the C's from the playoffs and then giving the Lakers their 16th banner.

If LeBron doesn't win a ring, or at least make it to the finals this season, he is likely to leave Cleveland - New York is one of his most outspoken suitors. If he ends up in Miami with Dwayne Wade then we might as well just forget about the 'Lebron Sweepstakes', and things could get even worse if he ends up in LA on either of their teams. From that point on he would be known, at least by Celtics fans to be a traitor who put the Celtics' record number of NBA championships won in jeopardy.

If the Celtics advance farther than the Cavs this post-season, then naturally we'd be less inclined to make any big trades in the off-season. One of the concerns about trading talent to Cleveland is that if they don't have LeBron James then the Cavs have a very small market (in terms of fans and viewers of their games) and Cleveland is currently considered the most depressing city in the USA (yes, even more depressing than Detroit!). Moreover, we would likely have to let go of some key players on our team for comparable talent from the Cavs (unless we did a three-way trade).

As far as this post season is concerned we may not have that realistic of a shot at trying to acquire Lebron James but that doesn't mean that we couldn't trade for him later in his career. What are your thoughts?

[FatjohnReturns]

Lebron will probably never be traded.

[barefacedmonk]

Lebron will probably never be traded.

What he said.

[angryguy77]

I wouldn't want him. I don't want a banner to be won with "Lebron rules". I want it won fair and squar.

[hpantazo]

I would love to see him on the Clippers, battling Kobe for everything and hurting the lakers chances of ever passing us in # of championships. I think he will stay in cleveland however, and then when it's too late he will realize they used up all the cap space on aging vets like shaq and Jamison and poor excuse for all-stars like Mo williams. Also, as soon as they lock him up the spending for FA in cleveland will stop IMO.

[hpantazo]

I wouldn't want him. I don't want a banner to be won with "Lebron rules". I want it won fair and squar.

TP

[youcanthandlethetruth113]

I would love to see him on the Clippers, battling Kobe for everything and hurting the lakers chances of ever passing us in # of championships. I think he will stay in cleveland however, and then when it's too late he will realize they used up all the cap space on aging vets like shaq and Jamison and poor excuse for all-stars like Mo williams. Also, as soon as they lock him up the spending for FA in cleveland will stop IMO.

I too think he stays in Cleveland.

[PosImpos]

LeBron is either going to stay with the Cavs for his whole career, or he's going to sign with another team and then stay with them for the rest of his career.

[bdm860]

Lebron will probably never be traded.

While I can't see LeBron ever being traded either, I probably would have said the same thing if asked about Shaq in the 90's.  And Wilt and Kareem, 2 of the best players ever, were both traded in their primes (although a completely different NBA).  A couple of years ago I thought Kobe was a sure thing to be traded.  You never know.

[el.celta]

I understand that James is just all to attract attention.
the stay in Cleveland with a good deal.
you think that if you lose the playoffs will go to New York? when they know not win a title ..
if Cleveland Lebron is not like seeing me in Miami with Wade.
New York,New Jersey and Miami Heat are the three teams with low salaries for next season

[Jon]

The only time LeBron may be traded is when he's much, much older.  At that point, he won't be worth trading for, unless we're somehow on the verge of winning it all and just need a boost (think Shaq with Cleveland this year).

But even if we somehow could put a package that looked appealing to NY, there's no way they trade him given his marketing potential. 

[xmuscularghandix]

LeBron is either going to stay with the Cavs for his whole career, or he's going to sign with another team and then stay with them for the rest of his career.

exactly.

[guava_wrench]

Of course the Celtics can. There are no rules against us trading for him. If a team is dumb enough to trade him, anyone can trade for him.

Am I missing something?

[jambr380]

The only time LeBron may be traded is when he's much, much older.  At that point, he won't be worth trading for, unless we're somehow on the verge of winning it all and just need a boost (think Shaq with Cleveland this year).

But even if we somehow could put a package that looked appealing to NY, there's no way they trade him given his marketing potential. 

Do you mean like KG? :0)  I am just kidding, at least we got one great year out of him...