July 1, 2010. Is it the end of an era and the start of a new one? Will the city of Cleveland lose it's most beloved athlete in history to Miami, New Jersey, New York or even Chicago? Are we headed for a super-dynasty somewhere? What's going to happen come midnight?
Okay, I can answer one of those questions with a right answer. At midnight, nothing is going to happen. King James will take the time to think this through and listen to offers from every city and every team and where he ends up will be his decision and his decision only. Here are my odds with each team.
50:1 -- Los Angeles Clippers
I will just refer you to the article Bill Simmons wrote to Blake Griffin before last year's NBA draft. It has everything you need to know about the Clippers and the future & past of the franchise.
25:1 -- New York Knicks
You tried. I will give you credit. Donnie Walsh did everything he could to clear cap room to sign two max contract players. Give them the glimmer and hope that the Knicks have to offer. Give LeBron a key to the city and tell him whatever you want, you can have. The biggest market in America where you can get all the attention that you ever wanted and oh, yeah, you get to play inside the Garden. Not bad, right? WRONG. The Knicks are not the Yankees. You don't grow up saying you want to play for the New York Knicks. If you were in my generation, you wanted to play for the Bulls. Before me? Probably the Celtics or the Lakers. Currently? Probably the Celtics or the Lakers. Sorry New York, you just don't have what it takes. Look on the bright side though...you can offer Amar'e and Joe Johnson big contracts!
15:1 -- Dallas Mavericks
Or as I like to call them, the absolute dark horse. Mark Cuban has money and Mark Cuban wants to win. Probably more than any other GM in this league. You've heard the stories how Cuban absolutely pampers his players and has their backs at the same time. Why would you not want to play for the guy and then go have a couple of drinks after the game with him? This seems like a perfect place to play. The other key here is Dirk. More than Bosh, Amar'e or even Boozer, Dirk's game would co-exist the best with LeBron. They have other pieces around to build. The two biggest problems facing Dallas are being in the Western Conference and well, being in Dallas. Again, it's the Mavericks, not the Cowboys we are talking about.
10:1 -- New Jersey Nets
Excuse me, Newark Nets. But, in two years they will be in Brooklyn. Wait, the team with the worst record in the NBA last year? Yes, that team. Global Icon Status is what LeBron could achieve. Is that enough to convince LeBron to come? If you think Mark Cuban has money, you haven't seen anything yet! Mikhail Prokhorov is going to be a force to reckon with in the NBA for years to come. His partner? Thou who shall not be named on my blog is also with him. James and him are really close friends and Prokhorov has the ability to make him a BILLIONAIRE. However, does he want to suffer a couple of years in Newark before the big move to Brooklyn? I don't think so...
5:1 -- Miami
So, why not end up in South Beach with D-Wade and Chris Bosh? The 'new big three' would form an immediate dynasty and Pat Riley might end up back on the bench with these three guys. Any veteran that wants to win a ring and sign for the minimum, please follow us. However, is there enough touches to go around and does LeBron and/or Bosh become jealous of the fact that Wade can make more than both of them by re-signing. Ultimately, I don't think the Heat could afford to give all three guys max contracts. Even if you are able to sign a couple of veteran guys, the bench would be depleted and it's not like these guys are at the end of their careers a la KG, Pierce, Allen. It would be tough if everyone wants to the be 'The Man'.
3:1 -- Chicago
Max contract offer? Check. Max contract for another player? Check. Other pieces in place? Check. Championship Team? Check. Big market size? Check. An owner who cares about winning? Check. Immediately becoming the biggest athlete in the city? Check. A place to build your legacy? Check.
However. That legacy will never, ever, ever, trump the guy who's statue is outside the arena. The best player in the history of the NBA. You will always be number two in this town...unless somehow you win seven or more rings...which is why...
2:1 -- Cleveland
He should stay in Cleveland. This is his city, his state, his livelihood, his everything. If LeBron brought just one championship to the city, everything would be forgotten. The Fumble, The Collapse, The Shot. All of them erased from the memory bank with one title. He can make the most money here in terms of a contract. The NBA would not be destroyed by a super dynasty somewhere else. He could help choose the next head coach. He doesn't have to pack up and leave home. He can be himself. That statue in Chicago? You can build one in Cleveland when he brings a title back. Start on the day it happens.
Here is what you do. You sign the max deal possible (six years) with an opt-out clause after three. If after three years, the team has not won or is not close enough to winning a championship, you move on. That would be ten years in the league and I think a decade is more than enough time to try to put a winning team around you. There are smaller pieces in place; but a sign-and-trade for at least another All-Star (insert Shaq & Mo Williams jokes here) would be necessary. Give him one GOOD player to play with for one year and see what happens.
You could go to to New York and be the King of the City. You could go to Miami and be the King of the Dynasty. You could go to Chicago and be the King of the New Era. Or, you could stay at home, keep your loyalties, your family, your friends, your heart and you could be the King of Everything.
The choice is yours King James. Choose wisely.
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