Whatcha think? Lebron to Cavs in 2014?

[Fafnir]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

[Moranis]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

Sure, but he could have done that when he signed in Miami the first time as he took less money than he otherwise could have.  It isn't about the money for Lebron and never has been.  That is why I think he stays in Miami through 2016 (I don't think he opts out just to stay in Miami, if he opts out, he is leaving and I can't see him going anywhere except Cleveland in that situation).  I also absolutely believe he will retire a Cav and will return there on a low money deal to help repair his reputation.  Something like a MLE type deal.

[Fafnir]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

Sure, but he could have done that when he signed in Miami the first time as he took less money than he otherwise could have.  It isn't about the money for Lebron and never has been.  That is why I think he stays in Miami through 2016 (I don't think he opts out just to stay in Miami, if he opts out, he is leaving and I can't see him going anywhere except Cleveland in that situation).  I also absolutely believe he will retire a Cav and will return there on a low money deal to help repair his reputation.  Something like a MLE type deal.

He took slightly less money to allow for a team to be built around him with two other stars + roleplayers.

Nothing in his behavior says he wouldn't want a long term deal locked in while he's still in MVP form.

[Moranis]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

Sure, but he could have done that when he signed in Miami the first time as he took less money than he otherwise could have.  It isn't about the money for Lebron and never has been.  That is why I think he stays in Miami through 2016 (I don't think he opts out just to stay in Miami, if he opts out, he is leaving and I can't see him going anywhere except Cleveland in that situation).  I also absolutely believe he will retire a Cav and will return there on a low money deal to help repair his reputation.  Something like a MLE type deal.

He took slightly less money to allow for a team to be built around him with two other stars + roleplayers.

Nothing in his behavior says he wouldn't want a long term deal locked in while he's still in MVP form.

Lebron signed for 6 yrs, 110 million with Miami (well really with Cleveland who then trade him, but you get the point).  The Cavs offered him 6 yrs, 131.5 million.   Now 21.5 million over 6 years might be slightly less money to you, but it certainly isn't to me.

[Fafnir]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

Sure, but he could have done that when he signed in Miami the first time as he took less money than he otherwise could have.  It isn't about the money for Lebron and never has been.  That is why I think he stays in Miami through 2016 (I don't think he opts out just to stay in Miami, if he opts out, he is leaving and I can't see him going anywhere except Cleveland in that situation).  I also absolutely believe he will retire a Cav and will return there on a low money deal to help repair his reputation.  Something like a MLE type deal.

He took slightly less money to allow for a team to be built around him with two other stars + roleplayers.

Nothing in his behavior says he wouldn't want a long term deal locked in while he's still in MVP form.

Lebron signed for 6 yrs, 110 million with Miami (well really with Cleveland who then trade him, but you get the point).  The Cavs offered him 6 yrs, 131.5 million.   Now 21.5 million over 6 years might be slightly less money to you, but it certainly isn't to me.

He took a 17% salary cut to play with better teammates, that doesn't mean he won't secure a long term extension when he's under 30 instead of waiting another two years. People have salary differentials of that level all the time in real life and choose for location, promotion prospects, security (avoiding firms that hire/fire with business cycles), etc.

He took less money to play with Wade/Bosh, why would he not opt out and secure another three years of guarenteed money? It won't hurt Miami's cap situation, heck he could use it to provide relief if he wanted.

LeBron is going to opt out.

[Moranis]

LeBron has three options:

1.  Stay in Miami, and hope Bosh grows into a second-best-player-on-a-contender role, and hope Riley can get some value for the artist formerly known as Dwyane Wade.

2.  Return to Cleveland and redeem yourself in what has to be one of the biggest sports stories ever (I mean, who would've thought LeBron would ever go back there after The Decision?).

3.  Go to LA and be the next great Laker (possibly next to Dwight).

Lebron cannot leave Miami unless it is to Cleveland.  His legacy would be destroyed if he jumped ship again to chase a title unless it was back home.

I don't think he opts out in 2014.  I think he rides out his contract in Miami through 2016 and then he returns home on a 3 year low money deal to retire a Cav and repair his reputation in his home state.

Would he be able to sign a longer term bigger money deal if he opts out under the new CBA?

I believe he'd be able to so yeah I think he opts out. I don't think he'll leave Miami in the end, though he'll make a show of it probably.

Sure, but he could have done that when he signed in Miami the first time as he took less money than he otherwise could have.  It isn't about the money for Lebron and never has been.  That is why I think he stays in Miami through 2016 (I don't think he opts out just to stay in Miami, if he opts out, he is leaving and I can't see him going anywhere except Cleveland in that situation).  I also absolutely believe he will retire a Cav and will return there on a low money deal to help repair his reputation.  Something like a MLE type deal.

He took slightly less money to allow for a team to be built around him with two other stars + roleplayers.

Nothing in his behavior says he wouldn't want a long term deal locked in while he's still in MVP form.

Lebron signed for 6 yrs, 110 million with Miami (well really with Cleveland who then trade him, but you get the point).  The Cavs offered him 6 yrs, 131.5 million.   Now 21.5 million over 6 years might be slightly less money to you, but it certainly isn't to me.

He took a 17% salary cut to play with better teammates, that doesn't mean he won't secure a long term extension when he's under 30 instead of waiting another two years. People have salary differentials of that level all the time in real life and choose for location, promotion prospects, security (avoiding firms that hire/fire with business cycles), etc.

He took less money to play with Wade/Bosh, why would he not opt out and secure another three years of guarenteed money? It won't hurt Miami's cap situation, heck he could use it to provide relief if he wanted.

LeBron is going to opt out.

If he opts out, it will be to leave, and go back to Cleveland.  He won't hamstring Cleveland with a max deal because he needs to repair his reputation.  He can stay in Miami till 16, make 22 million a year.

He won't opt out and stay in Miami on a max deal through 2018 or 19 because then Miami will be terrible.  They are already going to be a repeat a 4 time tax offender and will by 4x the tax because of it.  Thus Bosh or Wade will be gone (or both) unless at least 1 of the 3 takes a massive pay cut.  Lebron isn't going to do that to Miami or his friends.

It just makes sense to me for Lebron to opt in, give Riley and the Heat a couple of years to fix their tax situation and then for Lebron to reevaluate in 2016.  Maybe he stays in Miami a few more years after that or maybe he goes back to Cleveland then.

[BUTerrier]

I think the thing that determines where Lebron ends up is what Chris Bosh does.

Now, hear me out on this one: I believe Bosh has the same opt-out clause that Lebron does. Suppose Bosh opts out for 2014. Yeah, he's hurt his max-salary possibilities a bit playing third banana to the Lebron-Wade show, but he's still a young talented big man who can pass some and operate outside of the paint, and we all know how many teams drool over that. Say Bosh opts out of his deal and signs somewhere else. Miami is still over the cap, so they can't really offer more than exceptions, can they? Who are they really going to get to come in for that? So now you've got Lebron, an aging Wade, a potentially retired Miller and Ray (if the latter doesn't switch teams again), Cole, and . . . I don't know what else exactly. In that scenario, why wouldn't he opt out again and go anywhere but the Heat?

My only issue with Lebron coming back to Cleveland if I'm the Cavs is that you've got a lot of young talent there, and either they're going to crash and burn (in which case they're of no use to Lebron) or they're going to be amazing (in which case you're using Bird rights to sign them and going as far over the cap as the Heat are now.) And it's not like Cleveland's got the cash flow of Miami or LA or New York, so what happens when Irving -- the guy who has proudly become the face of the Cavs -- is up for his well-deserved pay-day? And speaking of that, how is that going to play in the locker room if Lebron comes back? He sucks up all the air in the room; is Irving going to want to defer to him? And should he have to? Bottom line: is Lebron more of a headache than he's worth in Cleveland?

[CelticConcourse]

Can Big Z come out of retirement to join the party too?

[Kane3387]

Yes.

Especially if SA wins this series.

[staticcc]

Roster would look different. The team will build around him with pure shooters ala Mike Miller, Ray Allen and Mario Chalmers to utilize his passing abilities. Though I'm not sure Gilbert and his front office know how to build around star players.

[kg_ginotime]

LBJ wins a lot of fans back if he returns home - even from outside. People say MJ wouldn't have won without Pippen, but Pippen was drafted there and MJ didn't move anywhere to win. He waited it out and his GM delivered.

Bron lost that respect from opposing fans when he teamed up to win. He's starting to regain it as he improves while Wade and Bosh slip into irrelevance.

Moving to the Lakers would re-lose the respect, but the fans would still be the same people.

[ItStaysYang]

LeBron needs to go back to Cleveland if he wants a shot at a title in his 30s. An aging/injury prone Wade and Chris Bosh won't help him when he is at the peek of his prime.

He would have a great roster to back him up this time.

Nerlens Noel?/Zeller/Varejao
Tristan Thompson/Mareese Speights
LEBRON JAMES/Alonzo Gee
Dion Waiters/CJ Miles/Daniel Gibson
Kyrie Irving/Chris Quinn

That team scares me