Do you think Lebron is choosing between Nets and Bulls? I think so. It seems to Cleveland might be out the game (Don't hold it against me if they sweep in and take him at the last sec)
If what I have been reading is true, yes. Us, the Nets, or staying in cleveland. Windhorst said its 51% clev, 49% bulls, nets are much lower, but still in the mix.
I really think it would be stupid for Lebron to stay in Cleveland. He should realize that loyalty or whatever you want call it won't benefit him in Cle. I sympathize a bit with that franchise, but I wouldn't risk it there if I'm Lebron.
If I'm Lebron, I'd sign another max deal with a third year opt out to keep everybody on their toes. Then I can honestly look cleveland fans in the face and say that I think Chicago/NJ gives me a better chance to win championships, but in 3 years, if Cleveland revamps the roster, I might be back. If he stays in Cleveland, they need at least 2 years to start getting better and he's looking at KG's career...
Three years in Cleveland is three wasted years for him. They have zero chance to win a title as far as I can tell. So no matter what his heart is telling him, his head has to be somewhere else.
I've written him off as returning to the Cavs. He's never struck me as being committed to winning, especially over the last few months. That sounds like a horrible thing to say, but I think it makes him entirely more "normal" than Jordan or Kobe. He's going to continue living his comfortable life, which will very likely pay him more anyway.
Again, how would you know? He's staying because he feels it might be ugly to just leave. Or he could leave for a chance at a better situation. Either choice is appropriate. Every team he goes on has a chance at a title, the Cavs are close at least, in contrast to the Timberwolves.
Maybe people are underestimating how good the Cavs are. Bulls have Rose, Noah, Deng, and Gibson and cap space to sign whoever is willing to join the team. Cavs have Mo Williams, Varejao, Jamison, and Hickson - only Rose is a huge upgrade over the others. Cavs are coming off a 60+ win season, Bulls are 20 wins worse.
Jamison is old, and Hickson is a youngster still. But the Cavs can trade West/Jackson/Powe with their expiring deals. West is also non-guaranteed which is even more attractive. Then a year from now Jamison's contract expires and Moon's is non-guaranteed. 18.2 million trade chip.
Jamison was once a terrific player, but ain't so bad these days. At age 33, he put up stats like Deng's for the Cavs.
Jamison is an erratic player, in his prime years sometimes he had 17-18 PER on poor percentages. Going forward I would not necessarily count on Deng production. At the end of last season he was a month away from 34 and still can't defend. He'll be useful for depth and his expiring later on at least.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2008.html 43 wins behind him and with Arenas and Butler injured most of the time.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAS/2009.html 19 wins with him playing 81 games, and Butler playing more games than 2008. He's not even that now.
