LeBron & Redd Look Good Together

LeBron & Redd Look Good Together

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">LAS VEGAS - The biggest "What if" scenarios that have been discussed during the FIBA Americas Championships involve Kobe Bryant finally playing for Mike Krzyzewski (the coach he would've played for had he gone to college at Duke and the one he requested for the Los Angeles Lakers' job in 2004) and Bryant teamming up with Jason Kidd. Remember, the Lakers' refusal to sacrifice Andrew Bynum in order to get Kidd at the trade deadline in February sparked Bryant's Laker-bashing rant to fans in front of a Southern California shopping center this summer.

But there is another "What if" pairing that would've possibly been much more impactful in the NBA championship picture and is being completely overlooked here: LeBron James and Michael Redd are finally on the same team.

James has been the best playmaker not named Jason Kidd for the United States and Redd has been dropping three-pointers like they were layups. Both players admit that the thought has crossed their minds about what could've been had Redd opted for joining the Cleveland Cavaliers instead of staying in Milwaukee as a free agent in the summer of 2005.

"No doubt about it," Redd said. "You can't avoid that. Obviously, I think it would've been special, but it's no regrets at the same time."

"Oh, always," James said. "Especially when you've got a deadly shooter like that. Anytime he catches the ball, it's going in - 90 percent of the time."

James is exaggerating a bit. Redd is only shooting 51.6 percent (16 of 31) from beyond the three-point line in the first four games.

Around the time Redd made an underhand lob and James practically looked down at the rim before dunking against the Virgin Islands on Thursday, it became obvious that these guys would've been great together.

"I think we would've won some games," Redd said with a laugh on Sunday.

And, after Cleveland's disgusting four-game sweep in the NBA Finals that bored basketball fans and sportswriters alike, it's a shame they never did join forces.

Redd was the first player Cleveland pursued in free agency that summer - it wasn't Larry Hughes, no matter how the Cavaliers have tried to spin it since. But the Cavs couldn't offer any more than a five-year, $70 million contract, the maximum that a team is allowed to pay a free agent from another team.

Redd, a native of Columbus and former star at Ohio State, mulled over returning home, but he couldn't resist the lure of a six-year, $91 million deal to remain in Milwaukee - or the opportunity to lead his own team rather than being a sidekick. "I made that decision I made for me and family," Redd said.

You cannot blame Redd for securing his financial situation for life - and then some - but had he joined forces with James, it would've have changed the directions of two franchises. James and Redd would've made Cleveland comparable to some of the power teams out West. And, Hughes might've been forced to stick around in Washington (Even if Milwaukee decided to throw big money his way, Hughes probably would've taken a pass to stay with the Wizards). </div>

Source: Washington Post