Where Will LeBron James go? The answer should be Cleveland.
By Anonymous
Thu, 06/24/2010 - 8:03pm
By Eric Yearian
On July 1st, 2010, the NBA landscape could change dramatically. Obviously, guys like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal, David Lee and Rudy Gay can all enter the free agent pool in some capacity. With all of those guys on the market, it’s not hard to see why so many teams have spent the last handful of seasons setting themselves up to have money to spend. However, each of those teams will be focused on one man, a man with a huge, life-altering decision. That man would be LeBron James, the all-world forward currently on the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lebron James
So where will LeBron choose to go, or will he decide to stick around Cleveland? Plenty of fans and media like to say LeBron is definitely going to New York, or LeBron will be in Chicago, or LeBron won’t leave his home. However, that approach relies on the premise that LeBron will be looking at one city and deciding to go there. That’s not the case at all. This is not a decision that will be made in a vacuum, the decision will come down to James comparing and contrasting everything about a few franchises and deciding which would be the best fit for him, and you better believe that decision will be heavily influenced by what’s going on for the other free agents in this class.
With the decision being such a complicated one for James, how should fans attempt to figure out where he’ll end up at? To figure out where he should go (not necessarily where he will go, but rather this is aimed at looking at potential situations) I have devised a formula to help filter through the information. I have selected the 7 teams I deem the “front-runners” for James’ services (these obviously aren’t the only teams vying for James, but I limited it to teams with the cap space that would render a sign and trade deal unnecessary). Those teams are (in no particular order): the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Miami HEAT, New York Knicks, New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. After selecting the front-runners, I pin pointed the 5 most important aspects of a given franchise that I believe James will look at when making his decision. Then, I ranked those teams from 1-7. The first place team in each category receives 7 points, the second gets 6, and the third gets 5, etc. Below is the breakdown, followed by the amount of points awarded to the team. You’ll notice that coaching is not one of the 5 aspects because of the 7 teams, 5 of them are facing uncertainty at the position. Only the Knicks and Wizards know for certain who will be coaching their team next season because it has been rumored that Pat Riley may replace Erik Spoelstra in Miami if they sign another star.
Team Ownership/General Manager
Cavs: The Cavaliers have team owner Dan Gilbert, who has not been shy about spending his money in the hopes of keeping LeBron happy in Cleveland. Danny Ferry’s moves may not always work out, but it’s not because Gilbert is unwilling to take on salary. It would also be difficult for James to argue with the personnel moves, since ESPN reported that the Cavs allowed him significant say on the moves as well. That’s enough to put the Cavs in the top spot in this category. +7
Nets: The Nets have new owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. The man has said that he is willing to spend whatever is necessary to make the team a winner. One problem with that is that he has said he has a 5 year plan, and LeBron would be 5 years in to his contract before they’d be in a position to win it all. Prokhorov is new to the NBA landscape though, and that really hurts him since he doesn’t have the track record other team owners do. The Nets do, however, have Jay-Z as a part owner, and he is very close with LeBron, which puts the Nets firmly in the second spot here. It also doesn’t hurt that they have well-respected Rod Thorn managing the team for them. +6
Knicks: It pains me to say this, it really does, but the Knicks’ James Dolan puts them at third on this list. Don’t get me wrong, Dolan has made some dumb moves (see: Thomas, Isiah) and authorized some even dumber moves (see: Marbury, Stephon/Francis, Steve pairing). However, having an owner that is willing to spend money to attempt to be a winning franchise has to matter for LeBron when he says it’s all about winning for him. Plus, if Ric Bucher’s story about James having a say in Cleveland’s roster moves is true, James may feel he can help Dolan and Donnie Walsh (one of the best in the league) right the ship and make the good decisions. +5
HEAT: Micky Arison, The HEAT’s owner, has shown as recently as 2006 that he is willing to spend in order to have a championship caliber team. However, the past few years the team has surrounded Wade with a group of, as Charles Barkley put it, Tito Jacksons. For James to want to sign with Miami he will need to know that the team will spend the money needed every year in order to win. +4
Bulls: The Bulls have cap space this offseason and will be more than willing to spend it on a player like James or Wade. However, in the near future their current cornerstones, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, will become eligible for extensions that may result in Jerry Reinsdorf being reluctant or even unable to spend the money needed to surround Rose, James and Noah with enough talent to win a ring. +3
Wizards: The Polin family has been willing to foot the luxury tax bills for underachieving teams. You have to believe they’d be willing to do that to have a team featuring John Wall and James together. However, that is yet to be seen. +2
Clippers: Donald Sterling is widely regarded as one of the most frugal owners in the entire league. That not only is going to hinder their attempts at a big time free agent, but that fact alone might scare away all major free agents. +1
Cavs: 7, Nets: 6, Knicks: 5, HEAT: 4, Wizards: 3, Bulls: 2, Clippers: 1
City/ Media
Cavs: Who would have thought that Cleveland, a team without the bright lights of NYC, the big market of Chicago, or the night life of Miami would be the team’s biggest advantage in keeping a star player around? James is a homegrown star, as he hails from nearby Akron, Ohio. He is also on good terms with the local media, as Brian Windhorst, the Plain Dealer’s beat writer even went to the same high school as James +7
Wizards: This may seem a bit odd at first glance, but D.C. is the second best city for LeBron among the seven. Washington is admittedly not a big market, but after the Gilbert Arenas fiasco the media will be ready to embrace a superstar that can stay out of trouble. James certainly fits the bill, as his biggest controversies have arguably been not shaking the Magic’s hands and the crab dribble debate. +6
HEAT: Miami is a good situation for anybody that can stay focused on basketball. Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron’s former teammate in Cleveland, did admit that he was surprised his 2006 HEAT team won the championship because there was so much partying going on. James seems like the type of superstar that would be focused on the game, and might take issue with his teammates if they put partying above basketball, which could cause some serious issues. +5
Clippers: Los Angeles represents a big market with the cap space to sign him and a much more laid-back media than New York. The only drawback: he’ll share the city (and a home court) with Kobe Bryant, which will be anything but easy to handle. +4
Bulls: If sharing a city with Kobe would be difficult, try sharing the city with Michael Jordan. Chicago is a nice city with a respectable media, but living in the shadow of Jordan, James’ idol growing up, may be a little too much for even King James to handle. +3
Knicks/Nets: This one is a tie (so the two will split the points), because in the near future both teams will be in New York and both will share the NYC media. As great as New York is, and it is great, the media is probably the biggest hindrance in attracting James. There is no question James loves the city, but the media is vicious and has no problem ripping star athletes (just ask Alex Rodriguez). +1.5 Each
Cavs: 12, Wizards: 9, HEAT: 9, Nets: 7.5, Knicks: 6.5, Bulls: 5, Clippers: 5
Roster
HEAT: if LeBron joins the HEAT, it will probably be alongside Wade. With James and Wade on the same team, it won’t be the same HEAT team that struggled to win games this season. Wade and James would form a fantastic tandem and give LeBron a chance at his first ring. +7
Knicks: It is quite possible New York can pair LeBron with Bosh, who would probably be the best complement to James. New York can afford two max players, but because of the uncertainty surrounding who they will sign they are bumped down to second behind the HEAT. +6
Clippers: The Clips have a solid young nucleus featuring former all-star Baron Davis at the point, Eric Gordon at shooting guard, and a frontcourt featuring the man picked 5 spots after James in 2003, Chris Kaman, and last year’s number one overall pick, Blake Griffin. They also have a glaring need for a small forward and James would fit in nicely with the pieces they have. +5
Bulls: As mentioned earlier, the Bulls have Rose and Noah on the roster and that must be appealing to James. However, James and Rose both need the ball in their hands to be effective. Also, as Jeff Van Gundy pointed out, just adding James doesn’t make a Chicago championship a sure thing. If Chicago can talk the Cavs into a sign and trade of Luol Deng and Taj Gibson for James (or something along those lines) and use their cap space on somebody such as Bosh they would sky rocket to the top of this list. +4
Cavs: We all know what the Cavs have done with James on the roster lately, and it’s been impressive, although not enough for a ring. This Cavs team is going to undergo some drastic changes, but with Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson the team will still be able to compete. +3
Wizards: The Wizards can offer James the opportunity to play alongside two of the most dynamic guards in the game, John Wall and Gilbert Arenas while still getting to be the unquestioned Alpha Male of the team, something he would unlikely get if he went to Miami of New York. +2
Nets: Yes, the Nets have cap space and a high draft pick to improve their team, along with Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. However, the team that spent most of the season trying to avoid being the worst team in NBA history deserves no benefit of the doubt. They are without a doubt the worst situation, roster wise, for James to step into. +1
Cavs: 17, HEAT: 16, Knicks: 12.5, Wizards: 11, Clippers: 10, Bulls: 9, Nets: 8.5
Titles
HEAT: The HEAT won in 2006, but have underachieved since, despite having a star in Wade. However, if you pair LeBron and Wade together, at least one championship should be just about guaranteed, especially if Michael Beasley can finally live up to his pre-draft hype as the team’s third option. +7
Cavs: The Cavs have won more games than any other team the past two regular seasons, but have come up short both years. Cleveland, even if they re-sign James, will be a weakened team, but they are so close that they should still be a contender. +6
Bulls: A championship for the Bulls wouldn’t be a certainty with James on the roster, but they would be a contender each year. The Bulls would have enough talent to win it all, especially if they can sign another impact free agent. +5
Clippers: The Clippers seem to be cursed, and have an owner who is unwilling to spend to win a championship. However, despite those setbacks the Clips will have enough fire power to win a championship if they can secure James. +4
Knicks: Obviously, the Knicks will be higher if they can secure the services of two max free agents. However, with the uncertainty surrounding that I can’t in good conscious put them higher because if they only land James, then him, Dan Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler are not good enough to win a championship, especially since they all play the same position. +3
Wizards: They’ve underachieved with a surplus of talent before, but this could be different with a guy as talented as James on board. It wouldn’t be a given that he could win a championship with Wall, Andray Blatche, and Arenas, but that team would, at least on paper, be a pretty darn good team. +2
Nets: The Nets would need to sign James and get a series of miracles to go from terrible to champions in a mere couple of years. Is it possible? Sure. But is it likely, even with James there? Probably not. They would become a perennial playoff team, but as of right now they don’t have the pieces to win a ring. +1
Cavs: 23, HEAT: 23, Knicks: 15.5, Bulls: 14, Clippers: 14, Wizards: 13, Nets: 9.5
Legacy
Cavs: LeBron’s legacy would be thoroughly enhanced if he were to stay in Cleveland and bring a title to his hometown team. If he were to forsake the bigger markets in order to bring a title to title-starved Cleveland, he would not only be a legend, he would be a hero. +7
Clippers: If James brings a title to the Clippers it would be an impressive feat and it would certainly help his legacy. The only major pitfall would be that it might deprive him of a potential legacy-defining Finals matchup with Kobe Bryant, or even possibly his fellow 2003 draftee, Carmelo Anthony. +6
Knicks/Nets: This one is also a tie, due to the risk/reward of trying to turn around a team in the New York Area. If he succeeds, he’ll forever be a legend. However, if he fails the media and their expectations will forever tarnish his legacy no matter what kind of statistics he puts up in the process. +4.5 Each
HEAT: If LeBron goes to Miami, he’ll team with Wade to win at least one championship. However, that could hurt his legacy. We all saw how Kobe had to shake the idea that he couldn’t win it all without Shaq. LeBron may have to live with people saying he can’t win one without Wade. +3
Bulls: When it comes to the Bulls, LeBron would be in a no-win situation when it comes to his legacy. To be deemed truly great he would have to win at least 6 championships, and probably 7. His legacy would always be overshadowed by the accomplishments of Jordan. Jordan was a special player, and his Bulls were a special team. If James goes to Chicago and can meet those lofty standards it would end up hurting his legacy more than helping. +2
Wizards: Going to the Wizards would put James in a position in which he could very well be viewed as a bad guy. If James leaves Cleveland it will be bad for his reputation, but at least it would be understandable for most people if he leaves to go to a big market like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, or Chicago. However, if he leaves Cleveland for Washington, he will have left his hometown team high and dry and not even to go to a better market. +1
Final Tally: Cavs: 30, HEAT: 26, Knicks: 20, Clippers: 20, Bulls: 16, Wizards: 14, Nets: 14
It is far from a given that LeBron will stay in Cleveland, despite it looking like the best all-around situation. In fact, I wouldn’t even feel comfortable predicting he’ll be back. However, if he looks at all of the situations honestly, he should end up wearing a different jersey next season. That jersey should still have ‘Cavaliers’ written on the front, only instead of the familiar number 23 on the back; it will have ‘James’ written directly above the number 6. That’s what the Cavaliers are hoping anyway.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE AS A DESTINATION FOR LEBRON:
Summer of Lebron Sweepstakes: Case for the Los Angeles Clippers
Bron to Run in Jersey?
LeBron James could become the biggest Star in Dallas?
King of New York?
LeBron James Destination: Miami Heat
A King and A Rose Combo for Chicago?
On July 1st, 2010, the NBA landscape could change dramatically. Obviously, guys like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Joe Johnson, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudemire, Ray Allen, Shaquille O’Neal, David Lee and Rudy Gay can all enter the free agent pool in some capacity. With all of those guys on the market, it’s not hard to see why so many teams have spent the last handful of seasons setting themselves up to have money to spend. However, each of those teams will be focused on one man, a man with a huge, life-altering decision. That man would be LeBron James, the all-world forward currently on the roster of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lebron JamesSo where will LeBron choose to go, or will he decide to stick around Cleveland? Plenty of fans and media like to say LeBron is definitely going to New York, or LeBron will be in Chicago, or LeBron won’t leave his home. However, that approach relies on the premise that LeBron will be looking at one city and deciding to go there. That’s not the case at all. This is not a decision that will be made in a vacuum, the decision will come down to James comparing and contrasting everything about a few franchises and deciding which would be the best fit for him, and you better believe that decision will be heavily influenced by what’s going on for the other free agents in this class.
With the decision being such a complicated one for James, how should fans attempt to figure out where he’ll end up at? To figure out where he should go (not necessarily where he will go, but rather this is aimed at looking at potential situations) I have devised a formula to help filter through the information. I have selected the 7 teams I deem the “front-runners” for James’ services (these obviously aren’t the only teams vying for James, but I limited it to teams with the cap space that would render a sign and trade deal unnecessary). Those teams are (in no particular order): the Los Angeles Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Miami HEAT, New York Knicks, New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. After selecting the front-runners, I pin pointed the 5 most important aspects of a given franchise that I believe James will look at when making his decision. Then, I ranked those teams from 1-7. The first place team in each category receives 7 points, the second gets 6, and the third gets 5, etc. Below is the breakdown, followed by the amount of points awarded to the team. You’ll notice that coaching is not one of the 5 aspects because of the 7 teams, 5 of them are facing uncertainty at the position. Only the Knicks and Wizards know for certain who will be coaching their team next season because it has been rumored that Pat Riley may replace Erik Spoelstra in Miami if they sign another star.
Team Ownership/General Manager
Cavs: The Cavaliers have team owner Dan Gilbert, who has not been shy about spending his money in the hopes of keeping LeBron happy in Cleveland. Danny Ferry’s moves may not always work out, but it’s not because Gilbert is unwilling to take on salary. It would also be difficult for James to argue with the personnel moves, since ESPN reported that the Cavs allowed him significant say on the moves as well. That’s enough to put the Cavs in the top spot in this category. +7
Nets: The Nets have new owner and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov. The man has said that he is willing to spend whatever is necessary to make the team a winner. One problem with that is that he has said he has a 5 year plan, and LeBron would be 5 years in to his contract before they’d be in a position to win it all. Prokhorov is new to the NBA landscape though, and that really hurts him since he doesn’t have the track record other team owners do. The Nets do, however, have Jay-Z as a part owner, and he is very close with LeBron, which puts the Nets firmly in the second spot here. It also doesn’t hurt that they have well-respected Rod Thorn managing the team for them. +6
Knicks: It pains me to say this, it really does, but the Knicks’ James Dolan puts them at third on this list. Don’t get me wrong, Dolan has made some dumb moves (see: Thomas, Isiah) and authorized some even dumber moves (see: Marbury, Stephon/Francis, Steve pairing). However, having an owner that is willing to spend money to attempt to be a winning franchise has to matter for LeBron when he says it’s all about winning for him. Plus, if Ric Bucher’s story about James having a say in Cleveland’s roster moves is true, James may feel he can help Dolan and Donnie Walsh (one of the best in the league) right the ship and make the good decisions. +5
HEAT: Micky Arison, The HEAT’s owner, has shown as recently as 2006 that he is willing to spend in order to have a championship caliber team. However, the past few years the team has surrounded Wade with a group of, as Charles Barkley put it, Tito Jacksons. For James to want to sign with Miami he will need to know that the team will spend the money needed every year in order to win. +4
Bulls: The Bulls have cap space this offseason and will be more than willing to spend it on a player like James or Wade. However, in the near future their current cornerstones, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, will become eligible for extensions that may result in Jerry Reinsdorf being reluctant or even unable to spend the money needed to surround Rose, James and Noah with enough talent to win a ring. +3
Wizards: The Polin family has been willing to foot the luxury tax bills for underachieving teams. You have to believe they’d be willing to do that to have a team featuring John Wall and James together. However, that is yet to be seen. +2
Clippers: Donald Sterling is widely regarded as one of the most frugal owners in the entire league. That not only is going to hinder their attempts at a big time free agent, but that fact alone might scare away all major free agents. +1
Cavs: 7, Nets: 6, Knicks: 5, HEAT: 4, Wizards: 3, Bulls: 2, Clippers: 1
City/ Media
Cavs: Who would have thought that Cleveland, a team without the bright lights of NYC, the big market of Chicago, or the night life of Miami would be the team’s biggest advantage in keeping a star player around? James is a homegrown star, as he hails from nearby Akron, Ohio. He is also on good terms with the local media, as Brian Windhorst, the Plain Dealer’s beat writer even went to the same high school as James +7
Wizards: This may seem a bit odd at first glance, but D.C. is the second best city for LeBron among the seven. Washington is admittedly not a big market, but after the Gilbert Arenas fiasco the media will be ready to embrace a superstar that can stay out of trouble. James certainly fits the bill, as his biggest controversies have arguably been not shaking the Magic’s hands and the crab dribble debate. +6
HEAT: Miami is a good situation for anybody that can stay focused on basketball. Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron’s former teammate in Cleveland, did admit that he was surprised his 2006 HEAT team won the championship because there was so much partying going on. James seems like the type of superstar that would be focused on the game, and might take issue with his teammates if they put partying above basketball, which could cause some serious issues. +5
Clippers: Los Angeles represents a big market with the cap space to sign him and a much more laid-back media than New York. The only drawback: he’ll share the city (and a home court) with Kobe Bryant, which will be anything but easy to handle. +4
Bulls: If sharing a city with Kobe would be difficult, try sharing the city with Michael Jordan. Chicago is a nice city with a respectable media, but living in the shadow of Jordan, James’ idol growing up, may be a little too much for even King James to handle. +3
Knicks/Nets: This one is a tie (so the two will split the points), because in the near future both teams will be in New York and both will share the NYC media. As great as New York is, and it is great, the media is probably the biggest hindrance in attracting James. There is no question James loves the city, but the media is vicious and has no problem ripping star athletes (just ask Alex Rodriguez). +1.5 Each
Cavs: 12, Wizards: 9, HEAT: 9, Nets: 7.5, Knicks: 6.5, Bulls: 5, Clippers: 5
Roster
HEAT: if LeBron joins the HEAT, it will probably be alongside Wade. With James and Wade on the same team, it won’t be the same HEAT team that struggled to win games this season. Wade and James would form a fantastic tandem and give LeBron a chance at his first ring. +7
Knicks: It is quite possible New York can pair LeBron with Bosh, who would probably be the best complement to James. New York can afford two max players, but because of the uncertainty surrounding who they will sign they are bumped down to second behind the HEAT. +6
Clippers: The Clips have a solid young nucleus featuring former all-star Baron Davis at the point, Eric Gordon at shooting guard, and a frontcourt featuring the man picked 5 spots after James in 2003, Chris Kaman, and last year’s number one overall pick, Blake Griffin. They also have a glaring need for a small forward and James would fit in nicely with the pieces they have. +5
Bulls: As mentioned earlier, the Bulls have Rose and Noah on the roster and that must be appealing to James. However, James and Rose both need the ball in their hands to be effective. Also, as Jeff Van Gundy pointed out, just adding James doesn’t make a Chicago championship a sure thing. If Chicago can talk the Cavs into a sign and trade of Luol Deng and Taj Gibson for James (or something along those lines) and use their cap space on somebody such as Bosh they would sky rocket to the top of this list. +4
Cavs: We all know what the Cavs have done with James on the roster lately, and it’s been impressive, although not enough for a ring. This Cavs team is going to undergo some drastic changes, but with Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, and J.J. Hickson the team will still be able to compete. +3
Wizards: The Wizards can offer James the opportunity to play alongside two of the most dynamic guards in the game, John Wall and Gilbert Arenas while still getting to be the unquestioned Alpha Male of the team, something he would unlikely get if he went to Miami of New York. +2
Nets: Yes, the Nets have cap space and a high draft pick to improve their team, along with Brook Lopez and Devin Harris. However, the team that spent most of the season trying to avoid being the worst team in NBA history deserves no benefit of the doubt. They are without a doubt the worst situation, roster wise, for James to step into. +1
Cavs: 17, HEAT: 16, Knicks: 12.5, Wizards: 11, Clippers: 10, Bulls: 9, Nets: 8.5
Titles
HEAT: The HEAT won in 2006, but have underachieved since, despite having a star in Wade. However, if you pair LeBron and Wade together, at least one championship should be just about guaranteed, especially if Michael Beasley can finally live up to his pre-draft hype as the team’s third option. +7
Cavs: The Cavs have won more games than any other team the past two regular seasons, but have come up short both years. Cleveland, even if they re-sign James, will be a weakened team, but they are so close that they should still be a contender. +6
Bulls: A championship for the Bulls wouldn’t be a certainty with James on the roster, but they would be a contender each year. The Bulls would have enough talent to win it all, especially if they can sign another impact free agent. +5
Clippers: The Clippers seem to be cursed, and have an owner who is unwilling to spend to win a championship. However, despite those setbacks the Clips will have enough fire power to win a championship if they can secure James. +4
Knicks: Obviously, the Knicks will be higher if they can secure the services of two max free agents. However, with the uncertainty surrounding that I can’t in good conscious put them higher because if they only land James, then him, Dan Gallinari, and Wilson Chandler are not good enough to win a championship, especially since they all play the same position. +3
Wizards: They’ve underachieved with a surplus of talent before, but this could be different with a guy as talented as James on board. It wouldn’t be a given that he could win a championship with Wall, Andray Blatche, and Arenas, but that team would, at least on paper, be a pretty darn good team. +2
Nets: The Nets would need to sign James and get a series of miracles to go from terrible to champions in a mere couple of years. Is it possible? Sure. But is it likely, even with James there? Probably not. They would become a perennial playoff team, but as of right now they don’t have the pieces to win a ring. +1
Cavs: 23, HEAT: 23, Knicks: 15.5, Bulls: 14, Clippers: 14, Wizards: 13, Nets: 9.5
Legacy
Cavs: LeBron’s legacy would be thoroughly enhanced if he were to stay in Cleveland and bring a title to his hometown team. If he were to forsake the bigger markets in order to bring a title to title-starved Cleveland, he would not only be a legend, he would be a hero. +7
Clippers: If James brings a title to the Clippers it would be an impressive feat and it would certainly help his legacy. The only major pitfall would be that it might deprive him of a potential legacy-defining Finals matchup with Kobe Bryant, or even possibly his fellow 2003 draftee, Carmelo Anthony. +6
Knicks/Nets: This one is also a tie, due to the risk/reward of trying to turn around a team in the New York Area. If he succeeds, he’ll forever be a legend. However, if he fails the media and their expectations will forever tarnish his legacy no matter what kind of statistics he puts up in the process. +4.5 Each
HEAT: If LeBron goes to Miami, he’ll team with Wade to win at least one championship. However, that could hurt his legacy. We all saw how Kobe had to shake the idea that he couldn’t win it all without Shaq. LeBron may have to live with people saying he can’t win one without Wade. +3
Bulls: When it comes to the Bulls, LeBron would be in a no-win situation when it comes to his legacy. To be deemed truly great he would have to win at least 6 championships, and probably 7. His legacy would always be overshadowed by the accomplishments of Jordan. Jordan was a special player, and his Bulls were a special team. If James goes to Chicago and can meet those lofty standards it would end up hurting his legacy more than helping. +2
Wizards: Going to the Wizards would put James in a position in which he could very well be viewed as a bad guy. If James leaves Cleveland it will be bad for his reputation, but at least it would be understandable for most people if he leaves to go to a big market like New York, Los Angeles, Miami, or Chicago. However, if he leaves Cleveland for Washington, he will have left his hometown team high and dry and not even to go to a better market. +1
Final Tally: Cavs: 30, HEAT: 26, Knicks: 20, Clippers: 20, Bulls: 16, Wizards: 14, Nets: 14
It is far from a given that LeBron will stay in Cleveland, despite it looking like the best all-around situation. In fact, I wouldn’t even feel comfortable predicting he’ll be back. However, if he looks at all of the situations honestly, he should end up wearing a different jersey next season. That jersey should still have ‘Cavaliers’ written on the front, only instead of the familiar number 23 on the back; it will have ‘James’ written directly above the number 6. That’s what the Cavaliers are hoping anyway.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE AS A DESTINATION FOR LEBRON:
Summer of Lebron Sweepstakes: Case for the Los Angeles Clippers
Bron to Run in Jersey?
LeBron James could become the biggest Star in Dallas?
King of New York?
LeBron James Destination: Miami Heat
A King and A Rose Combo for Chicago?
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