LeBron James a Net, why it can happen
NBA Obsessed takes you into the hit and run game of NBA Basketball.
LeBron James in a Cav’s uni drives on Richard Jefferson in a Net’s uni. Jefferson is now a Buck and LeBron could become a Net
Image details: Cleveland Cavaliers v New Jersey Nets served by picapp.com
The New Jersey Nets are starting over.
Heck, they have been starting over for years. Ever since they beat the Pistons in the conference finals, years ago, they have been on a slow downhill slide.
Now they want LeBron James.
The Nets need a perfect storm to make this happen once James can opt out of his Cleveland Cavaliers contract and make himself the most desirable free agent in NBA history. The Nets are counting on part-owner Jay-Z’s personal crusade to recruit his close friend to Brooklyn, but there’s nothing to discuss until the Nets remake themselves for the long run.
During the regular season, the Nets unloaded Jason Kidd to Dallas and ended up much younger with Devin Harris.
Now they have traded Richard Jefferson with his 42.5 million dollar contract to the John Hammond run Bucks for Yi Jianlian, so they picked up size and unloaded a sizeable long term contract. Yi may never develop into much of a player, it is too early to tell, but in the New York area, he will have an audience. Meanwhile, John Hammond lands a star player with toughness for his new energized tough Bucks. It will be fun to follow John’s future moves.
In the draft they added size and shooting.
two No. 1 picks on Thursday night – Stanford’s Brook Lopez and California’s Ryan Anderson. They would’ve been satisfied with this change, but a player who they had considered picking at No. 21 – Memphis’ Chris Douglas-Roberts – dropped to them early in the second round.
LeBron James plays one more year before he is a free agent. New Jersey wants to be well under the salary cap, because if they land LeBron, they also may land one of his friends, like Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire.
If any two of those players are put together … Wow!
You can only imagine how much LeBron could make in New York compared to Cleveland. LeBron would become the global icon that David Stern has wanted since Michael Jordan moved into the front office.
As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome.
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POSTED IN: Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James, NBA Basketball, New Jersey Nets
9 opinions for LeBron James a Net, why it can happen
Jeff Sack
Jun 27, 2008 at 10:13 pm
James,
I have never done this before, but I am sorry your post is so insipid I just had to respond. First of all you are ill-informed LeBron James does not become a free agent in the Summer of 2010, he has an opt-out clause. As you may be aware, Shawn Marion and Ron Artest have the same clause this Summer, neither will exercise it. I was Sports Director of Metro Networks in Cleveland for 8 years. I covered the Cavaliers as a radio beat reporter for 11 years, from 1995-2006. I also covered the NBA Finals games in Cleveland last season. I interviewed LeBron James after every home game for his first three years in the Association. LBJ has stated that he has no intentions of leaving the Cavaliers http://www.slamdunkcentral.com/2008/06/18/lbj-tells-radio-station-right-now-i-cant-see-myself-going-anywhere-else/. Now tell me James why you think that you have inside information that I do not have? LBJ will not go to New York, New Jersey, or Brooklyn. He owns the city of Cleveland. He does not want to share the back pages with Jeter and Manning. Plus the Cleveland media treats him with kid gloves. He would never subject himself to the New York Media. I eagerly await your response!
Nicholas Clemens
Jun 27, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I really hope this does not happen, i just want him to stay in Cleveland or at least somewhere thats not, well New Jersey, maybe somewhere more like Miami or Orlando somewhere that just seems more appealing, or my what i really want is him to stay in Cleveland
Eric
Jun 28, 2008 at 9:35 am
Lebron would be much more dominant with Jefferson and Harris on his side.I think that would be awesome for the Nets.I hate Clevland.
Jeff Sack
Jun 28, 2008 at 11:29 am
Eric,
Jeffesron is now in Milwaukee
james
Jun 28, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Jeff, great response and a great blog you have. Had to look up the word insipid! It means boring. Boring? Don’t care if you don’t agree with me. And it sounds like you may be closer to the situation than me. That is fine, but Boring is not! Help!
As for LeBron, just reporting the news.
The news is that the Nets are setting it up to make a go for LeBron.
The news is that David Stern and the NBA brass would love to have LeBron in a major city like New York.
The news is that LeBron could make so much more money in New York.
Will he go? Says he won’t now. But what if Danny Ferry can’t put a better team around him?
Is there no scenario where you see him leaving, Jeff?
Brandon Hoffman
Jun 29, 2008 at 5:14 pm
@ Jeff Sack - LBJ would become the star among stars in the league’s largest media market. I don’t think he’d have to worry about “sharing” exposure with the likes of Jeter. How do you feel about James earning power in a city like New York? Do you think that aspect of potential departure is blown out of proportion or do you feel it has merit? “I eagerly await your response.”
Jeff Sack
Jun 29, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Brandon,
As I wrote back to James Having LBJ in Cleveland makes Cleveland a viable market for the NBA. It was not before he got there. That matters more to Stern than having him in NYC. Boston and LA are the hubs of the NBA,as the ratings showed. When the Knicks were in the Finals the ratings were poor. Also how can LBJ make any more than he already does? He is omnipresent! EveryWhere! The ESPYS, Saturday Night Live, the Commercials. He has his picture on the side of a building a block away from where he plays! Look at his contracts with Nike, Sprite, that new vitamin water. Plus as far as pure NBA salary, the Cavaliers having his Bird rights can pay him more than any other team! So again I don’t see how playing in NYC, NJ or Brooklyn benefits him. It’s only a matter of time Brandon if he does that he ends up on the back page of the Post or the News in some controversy. That will never happen in Cleveland!
james
Jun 29, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Ferry better put a better team around him or he is gone.
Jeff Sack
Jun 29, 2008 at 11:26 pm
James,
You’ll get no argument from me there my friend. As I wrote you last night LBJ made it clear after game 7 in Boston, that changes had to be made. That’s why as I wrote you last night, I think they go after Redd. Milwaukee has made it clear they are rebuilding, Redd has 3 years left, they can get rid of Szczerbiak after one. Now you have LBJ, Redd, and Delonte West, nice little core to build from!
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