We hate LeBron now but could he be in green in 2010?

[nickagneta]

For the last couple of weeks the Celtics have been doing battle with the second best player in the league and probably the best player in the league before 2010 rolls around. Of course I'm talking about his highness, King James, LeBron, the phenom.

And over that time there has been a ton of unsportsmanlike name calling on the part of some of the members of our little community labeling LeBron with all sorts of derogatory monikas. But will you be saying the same thing in 2010 when he could become a Celtic?

It's pretty obvious, at least to me, that Danny Ferry is going to have a hell of a tough time putting together enough talent around LeBron for Cleveland to expect anymore Finals trips before LeBron's contract runs out. Memphis just doesn't have anymore Pau Gasol's to give away to Cleveland.

So if LeBron sees no help coming his way over the next couple or so years, will he want out of Cleveland? Sure Akron's home but LeBron will want a legacy, an MJ type of legacy? I think he definitely will.

So where will he go? First he'll want to go to a contender with talent. Second, I seriously doubt LeBron goes to a market that isn't top 6 or 7, he'll want the pub that big city exposure will provide him. Third that team needs to be able to fit LeBron on the payroll.

So why not Boston?

Let's assume that the Celtics win at the least one of the next three championships(and hopefully more ). The year that LeBron's contract runs out will be the same year that Ray Allen's runs out. If at that time the Celtics are under the cap, and hopefully Danny will financially plan accordingly, the Celtics could have $16+ million per year to throw LeBron's way with the ability to play with two grizzled vets in Pierce and Garnett and one of the elite PGs in the league in Rondo(yes, I think he will be one by then).

Is going to a recent champion, in a big market, with championship talent still there and the money to spend on him going to be appealing enough to draw LeBron east into Greener Pastures?

The thought of a starting five of this is pretty appealing:

PG - Rondo
SG - Pierce
SF - LeBron
PF - KG
C  - Perk

Perkins will be only 26 by then, Rondo 25, if BBD and Powe are still important bench guys and still here they also will only be in their mid 20's. Add a possible developing Pruitt, a draft choice and a vet center and, wow, that's a contender for a while with more cash becoming available as Pierce and KG expire.

So, what do you think? Maybe we should lay off the LeBron name calling, after all he could be the next Celtic all time great and only be 26.

[Mon]

I would love it because it would larger than the KG trade.

But how can the Celtics make it happen?

I started a topic regarding DWade vs TMac in 2010 and I was informed by many here that the Celtics couldn't afford either.

So if someone can accurately explain how the Celtics can be under the cap by then...I can't get too jazzed up about it.

Would absolutely love it though!

[timboup]

haha keep dreaming, lebrons not gonna sign for anything less than 20 mill.

[Redz]

haha keep dreaming, lebrons not gonna sign for anything less than 20 mill.

We could clear up some cap room by trading a used up KG back to Minnesota for Big Al

Wishful thinking Nick, though I'm sure the Celtics faithful could muster up some good will for Lebron if he was wearing the green.

[crownsy]

ya no cap space to offer to him.

plus, the nets are dumping cap now because they want to make a run at him, and its no coindence that Jay-Z is one of lebrons closets friends, and he owns a part of the nets.

[shookones99]

I would love it because it would larger than the KG trade.

But how can the Celtics happen?

I started a topic regarding DWade vs TMac in 2010 and I was informed by many here that the Celtics couldn't afford either.

So if someone can accurately explain how the Celtics can be under the cap by then...I can't get to jazzed up about it.

Would absolutely love it though!

After the 2010/11 season the only player under contract is KG for 21 mil.  As long as we maintain flexibility until then we could pretty much sign anyone.  But I don't think that will be possible.  Rondo will be asking for big money and I find it hard to believe that Pierce will take anything under 10 mil.  Perk will also be looking for a new contract. 

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/boston.htm

[nickagneta]

As of right now the Celtics have only $44 million on the books for the 2010-2011 season, which is the season LeBron becomes available. Only four players are on the payroll as of right now for that time KG, PP, RR, and KP.

If the cap increases 5% a year for the next three years that's a cap of somewhere around $61 million with a luxury tax threshold of a much higher amount. That puts the Celtics $17 million under the cap.

LeBron will be an 8 year vet and the current max for an eight year vet is $15.6 million and will be about 30% of the cap number in 2010, so around $18 million at that time.

So for those capologists out there, is it possible?

[shookones99]

ya no cap space to offer to him.

plus, the nets are dumping cap now because they want to make a run at him, and its no coindence that Jay-Z is one of lebrons closets friends, and he owns a part of the nets.

Ya your right.  Mark my words.  Lebron will be  with the Brooklyn Nets in 2010.

[Roy Hobbs]

Even after Ray expires, we're well over the salary cap.  In 2010-11, we have $48.4 million committed to four players (Rondo, Pierce, KG, Scal).  That's likely to be around $10 million below the salary cap, before we sign the other nine players required to be on our roster.  Sign them at $1 million each on average (which is unrealistic in and of itself, since we'd need to sign a starting center, at the very least), and we're right at the cap.

I suppose we could include Paul Pierce's expiring contract in a sign-and-trade for Lebron, but that's really the only realistic option we'd have.  I would imagine other teams could beat that offer, by requiring Cleveland to take on less salary, and by sending them back better picks / prospects.

[crownsy]

As of right now the Celtics have only $44 million on the books for the 2010-2011 season, which is the season LeBron becomes available. Only four players are on the payroll as of right now for that time KG, PP, RR, and KP.

If the cap increases 5% a year for the next three years that's a cap of somewhere around $61 million with a luxury tax threshold of a much higher amount. That puts the Celtics $17 million under the cap.

LeBron will be an 8 year vet and the current max for an eight year vet is $15.6 million and will be about 30% of the cap number in 2010, so around $18 million at that time.

So for those capologists out there, is it possible?

i'll let roy field that one, he's awesome at that stuff.

The main thing is, i don't think he'd play here. he doesn't like pierce, who will probley still be around, and, more importantly, the brooklyn nets are calling his name. the way there hemoraging cap right now, its clear that they want him, and having one of his best friends as an owner doesn't exactly hurt thier cause.

plus with the move into the city, it makes him a media icon in NYC. givin that lebron not only wants to be the best basketball player, but a global icon, it makes far to much sense.

[maxw318]

ya the nets are way ahead of us in the recruiting game, plus didn't jay-z and lebron say something about lebron going to become the first billion dollar basketball player eventually

[Celtic]

I also believe he will be headed to the Nets in 2010, Jay-z has already been warned by Stern though to not get to close to Lebron, as it is a slight conflict of interest. I really can't stand Lebron, I think he is a huge part of a lot of what is wrong with the league, but no team wouldn't want him on their team.

I wonder if he would be a little leery of signing on to a team like the Nets that would have to do a great deal of building around him once he signs. They will in no means be anywhere near contending status in 2010. Now that Lebron has a taste of the playoffs, it's hard to imagine him going the Joe Johnson route and waiting for a team to catch up around him.

Side note, remember a few years back when Jay-z used to come to the garden and root for the C's, cause he liked them, and Pierce in particular. It was pretty annoying to see him at game 5 in support of his new boyfriend Lebron, you don't travel to support the road team in the playoffs, especially when you used to support that home team.

[Frontierboy]

There's no way LeBron comes to the celtics in 2010..... I bet we draft Stephen Curry next year in the draft to replace Ray.... then we use Ray's salary money on getting Joe Johnson back to the C's

[jay_jay54]

There's no way LeBron comes to the celtics in 2010..... I bet we draft Stephen Curry next year in the draft to replace Ray.... then we use Ray's salary money on getting Joe Johnson back to the C's

Now that sounds like a good idea,with acquiring J.Johnson back,personally would love to see the C's get him,but how realistic is this idea?Is it possible financially in 2010?

[crownsy]

I also believe he will be headed to the Nets in 2010, Jay-z has already been warned by Stern though to not get to close to Lebron, as it is a slight conflict of interest. I really can't stand Lebron, I think he is a huge part of a lot of what is wrong with the league, but no team wouldn't want him on their team.

I wonder if he would be a little leery of signing on to a team like the Nets that would have to do a great deal of building around him once he signs. They will in no means be anywhere near contending status in 2010. Now that Lebron has a taste of the playoffs, it's hard to imagine him going the Joe Johnson route and waiting for a team to catch up around him.

Side note, remember a few years back when Jay-z used to come to the garden and root for the C's, cause he liked them, and Pierce in particular. It was pretty annoying to see him at game 5 in support of his new boyfriend Lebron, you don't travel to support the road team in the playoffs, especially when you used to support that home team.

i doubt he'd be very weary, because its a much more atractive free agent destintion, and also, he doesn't have a team around him now. yes, the cavs are better now, but thats because lebron is better.

To have a playoff squad with james you need one big guy (z) and spot up shooters, who are a dime a dozen.

To get over the top you need some other pieces, but again, being in NYC they should be able to aquire them. Pretty much one mid level guy you have to gaurd, off the top of my head a rashard lewis level guy, and your pretty set to make the playoffs year in and year out, and with bron bron you'll always be competitive.