(Speculation) Sam Smith says Lebron to Lakers

[Rondo2287]

LeBron isn't dumb; he's not entrusting his future to Donald Sterling.  I don't care about the talent on the Clips, they always find a way to mess it up.  Besides, if he WERE to sign with the Clips, Sterling wouldn't have to invest one plugged nickel into putting a good team around LeBron, since they'd be selling out the arena and making it deep into the playoffs without making any investments in the players around him. 

Would you really trust Sterling to spend the money to build a championship team, when just having LeBron is the biggest possible cash cow he could dream of?  LeBron ain't stupid, he's not trusting that man.

Sterling has tried to put a competitive team out there though.  He tried to lock up Brand and Davis but then Brand basically backstabbed the team and has been hurt ever since.  Then getting Camby for the rights to trade second round picks i think right?  I mean he has been spending money recently, just not wisely AKA Zack Randolph

[footey]

There is still alot of litigation hanging up the Brooklyn development.

There aren't any injunctions in place, are there?  The property owners simply are appealing the two lower court decisions, that were in favor of the team, right?

I thought the big issue was funding, and that's looking like a non-issue with their new owner.  Also, in the interim I think the Nets may move to Newark and the Prudential Center (which is a nice stadium, despite being in Newark.)

Correct. See attached story. Until Court of Appeals rules, still a cloud. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/12363235

[moiso]

LeBron isn't dumb; he's not entrusting his future to Donald Sterling.  I don't care about the talent on the Clips, they always find a way to mess it up.  Besides, if he WERE to sign with the Clips, Sterling wouldn't have to invest one plugged nickel into putting a good team around LeBron, since they'd be selling out the arena and making it deep into the playoffs without making any investments in the players around him. 

Would you really trust Sterling to spend the money to build a championship team, when just having LeBron is the biggest possible cash cow he could dream of?  LeBron ain't stupid, he's not trusting that man.

Sterling has tried to put a competitive team out there though.  He tried to lock up Brand and Davis but then Brand basically backstabbed the team and has been hurt ever since.  Then getting Camby for the rights to trade second round picks i think right?  I mean he has been spending money recently, just not wisely AKA Zack Randolph

The Clippers are not competitive and they never have been as far back as the early 80's.  Looking talented on paper does not = competitive.  The entire culture there is horrible from the owner to the coach to Davis's Baron and Ricky.  Only if Sterling sells the team should Lebron even consider that doomed franchise.

[Rondo2287]

LeBron isn't dumb; he's not entrusting his future to Donald Sterling.  I don't care about the talent on the Clips, they always find a way to mess it up.  Besides, if he WERE to sign with the Clips, Sterling wouldn't have to invest one plugged nickel into putting a good team around LeBron, since they'd be selling out the arena and making it deep into the playoffs without making any investments in the players around him. 

Would you really trust Sterling to spend the money to build a championship team, when just having LeBron is the biggest possible cash cow he could dream of?  LeBron ain't stupid, he's not trusting that man.

Sterling has tried to put a competitive team out there though.  He tried to lock up Brand and Davis but then Brand basically backstabbed the team and has been hurt ever since.  Then getting Camby for the rights to trade second round picks i think right?  I mean he has been spending money recently, just not wisely AKA Zack Randolph

The Clippers are not competitive and they never have been as far back as the early 80's.  Looking talented on paper does not = competitive.  The entire culture there is horrible from the owner to the coach to Davis's Baron and Ricky.  Only if Sterling sells the team should Lebron even consider that doomed franchise.

Well they were a very competitive game 7 away from the WCF. That was with the Cassel Brand combo. 

[Donoghus]

Saw this rumor yesterday on SI.com "Truths & Rumors" section.

I had to laugh.  There is absolutely no way that Lebron ends up a Laker with Kobe.  A lot of it is going to come down to $$$ and the Lakers don't have it.  I also don't think that Lebron wants to split the spotlight with someone like Kobe.  Not at this juncture in his career.

[Brickowski]

Of course the Lakers have the money.  As I said, if LeBron leaves, it will be most likely be a sign and trade.  The teams with "cap space" are just whistling in the dark.  LeBron will stay in Cleveland before he goes into a rebuilding situation with teams like the Nets, Knicks or Clippers.

The question is, do the Lakers have players that Clevland wants back.  They probably do, starting with Andrew Bynum.

A likely deal would be Bynum, Odom and Farmar for LeBron and any necessary cap fodder.  Maybe the Lakers also throw in a first rounder.

[Roy Hobbs]

There is still alot of litigation hanging up the Brooklyn development.

There aren't any injunctions in place, are there?  The property owners simply are appealing the two lower court decisions, that were in favor of the team, right?

I thought the big issue was funding, and that's looking like a non-issue with their new owner.  Also, in the interim I think the Nets may move to Newark and the Prudential Center (which is a nice stadium, despite being in Newark.)

Correct. See attached story. Until Court of Appeals rules, still a cloud. 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/12363235

That case is going nowhere, though.  Unless the NY courts rule that there's something different about the N.Y. Constitution, I'm sure the Kelo decision is going to be given deference here.  I hate the reasoning and impact of that case, but it's become the law in condemnation / eminent domain cases.

[Rondo2287]

Of course the Lakers have the money.  As I said, if LeBron leaves, it will be most likely be a sign and trade.  The teams with "cap space" are just whistling in the dark.  LeBron will stay in Cleveland before he goes into a rebuilding situation with teams like the Nets, Knicks or Clippers.

The question is, do the Lakers have players that Clevland wants back.  They probably do, starting with Andrew Bynum.

A likely deal would be Bynum, Odom and Farmar for LeBron and any necessary cap fodder.  Maybe the Lakers also throw in a first rounder.

I would love to see, Artest, Kobe and Bron Bron on the same team.  Not sure somebody could even attempt to build a team I would dislike more.

[Finkelskyhook]

Of course the Lakers have the money.  As I said, if LeBron leaves, it will be most likely be a sign and trade.  The teams with "cap space" are just whistling in the dark.  LeBron will stay in Cleveland before he goes into a rebuilding situation with teams like the Nets, Knicks or Clippers.

The question is, do the Lakers have players that Clevland wants back.  They probably do, starting with Andrew Bynum.

A likely deal would be Bynum, Odom and Farmar for LeBron and any necessary cap fodder.  Maybe the Lakers also throw in a first rounder.

I would love to see, Artest, Kobe and Bron Bron on the same team.  Not sure somebody could even attempt to build a team I would dislike more.

.....or would require more basketballs.  It'd be great for us.  Be the same type of train wreck that the FO Futur hallafamas (Bill Walton's immortal idiotic words) that the Lakers were with Shaq, Malone, Payton, and Bryant.

[Brickowski]

Kobe isn't getting younger.  If LeBron arrives, Kobe would be willing to be second fiddle.  He's not stupid.  And Artest was never a player who needed the ball.  He's a fruitcake off the court, but he has always played the right way.

So, if you dislike the prospect of LeBron going to the Lakers, what would you be willing to give up to make him a Celtic?

Rondo, Perkins and Pierce might get it done, although you would probably need to extend Pierce first.  And of course Paul would have to agree to report to the Cavs.

[JHTruth]

I think LeBron is too mindful of his image to openly force his way out of his essentially hometown team. There would be significant backlash and I'm not sure LeBron savors that prospect. Is he strong enough to deal with that? I do agree teams like the Nets and Knicks are dreaming if they think LeBron is headed there.

At the end of the day, LeBron resigns with Cleveland but uses his leverage this summer to basically take over player moves in Cleveland. I anticipate some big moves in Ohio this summer. Guys like Bosh and Amare will be pursued with extreme vigor and they'll get at least one of them..

[PosImpos]

I think it ought to go without saying this is pretty ridiculous.  However, I think Brickowski is right in that LeBron isn't going to go to a team that is in the midst of rebuilding.  The Knicks are a joke, and they won't have enough cap space to become a decent team unless they trade Curry and Jeffries (who are both awful and almost untradeable).

To me, the only scenario that might happen would be if Wade and LeBron end up in the same place.  Maybe the Heat.

If that happens, though, we might as well stop watching basketball, because I'm not sure how a team with Wade and LeBron could lose.

[footey]

TP to OP for stirring up the pot!!

[Eeyore III]

The extra amount of money the Cavs can pay him is chump change, when a guy is in LBJ's income bracket.  He can just endorse another product and make it back, and more.

I think LBJ is going to sign with whatever team subjectively pleases him the most. 

[footey]

While I usually think he is full of BS, I think Smith makes a pretty compelling argument for Lebron going to L.A. Lakers.  By threatening to bolt, he could convince the Cavs to work out a sign and trade in which they get alot back, including Bynum.  The Lakers don't really need Bynum and Gasol both to succeed, especially if they got Lebron.  I could definitely see this unfolding, which would really p--- me off.