7 months ago
teejnut
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If our team's name was anything other that the Clippers
it would be a no brainer. Let’s hope that Lebron James is open-minded…and open to a big challenge.
"Excellence...is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle
I happen to like Simers style
he was great when he was on the clippers telecast on KTLA with MILPH…
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
Just look at ClipsNation's tag line
That’s all you need to understand why Lebron would never sign here.
Hahaha!
This is the best Clipper Blog site on the Internet. And that’s because SP does such a fantastic job as its moderator. But with all the “Clipper Curse” talk over the years, why tempt fate with a tag line like that?
"Excellence...is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle
Lebron won't be willing to take a backseat to Brian Skinner.
This is Brian Skinner’s team, and I’m just not sure if Lebron would be comfortable accepting a second-banana role.
Yay yay.
by KamanHomie on Dec 9, 2009 2:50 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
A little math
$16.5 million next year, hmmm. If the cap is set at $52 million (though some have estimated $50 million), we’ll have to let all our free agents go, renounce Mardy, and still shed another $1 million to squeeze James in there. I think the rules will then allow us to sign a handful of guys at the minimum.
If we got rid of Kaman, then sure we’d have room, but would we have enough allure? If we got rid AT, on the other hand, then I’m pretty sure we’d have enough $ plus our main core. I still wouldn’t vouch for our bench: Telfair, DJ, and whoever else. Would we even be allowed to sign our pick?
Do we need a solid bench
with Lebron? So we get guys like Von Wafer and Fred Jones at a minimum. We still have a great team.
I'd have to agree
Can you imagine: Baron, EJ, Lebron, Griffin, Kaman. That would be a power pack.
I’m more interested in how the technicalities would go. I think we’ll have to get rid of AT, if the cap comes in as low as they say. What’s the best way to do that? Should we trade him for a future pick? He’d be a bargain for somebody.
And then there’s our draft pick. I’m not sure if we have to renounce the pick (or trade it away) in order to clear cap space. Or perhaps our pick is more like an MLE, in that we can sign Lebron, fill the cap space, and then sign our pick anyway.
The way the Cavs are going, maybe they won’t make it into the eastern finals. Even if the Clips don’t make the playoffs, if we’re somewhere near .500, then we’ll have to look attractive. The only thing is, again, I think we’ll have to get rid of AT as way of entering the lottery. That’s a tough move.
To be honest
I would have no idea how signing Lebron and our draft pick would work. You’d probably have to go to Steve, Chuck, Zhiv, or John R about that.
But with draft picks aside, because Lebron hasn’t publicly spoken out and said “I’m leaving Cleveland,” why should we make that big of a push for Lebron? Why should we let go of Collins, Sebastian (that is if he wants an early termination from his player option contract), Craig Smith, and Al Thornton (I feel like I’m forgetting someone but you get the point.) when we’re not even sure our likihood of getting Lebron. We shouldn’t put ourselves in the Knicks situation where it’s all in and if Lebron resigns with his team or elseware, its all fail. Granted Knicks have the resource to sign Bosh or/and maybe Wade, but who wants to play in New York with no support if your looking for a ring? As long as we have enough money to make a run at Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh, or Dwayne Wade, I’d be happy. Everybodies so busy looking at the Lebron/ Kobe scenario that a Wade/ Kobe scenario is just as big. I know, Wade is a sg(and somewhat pg), but I’m not worried of spliiting a 3 man rotation at pg and sg between Baron, Wade, and Gordon. If anything, we can play small, but play fast. That pushes Thornton to either PF (where he can get some offensive rebounds) or off the bench to guard the bigger SF’s that Wade can’t guard. Maybe I’m not making much sense btw- LOL. I’m just a bit tired from finals and I have another one today (and some more next week!)
Aside from that, I’d be happy with Bosh. I’d be happy with Wade. I’d be happy with Lebron. I’d be happy with Joe Johnson. We can work around the rotation.
Mike Miller will also be a free agent
If we’re going to play small, then JJ may be a better fit than Wade. It would be damn fun to watch BD, EJ, and Wade tear up the court (I’d never considered it until now), but how do you ask one of them to guard a bigger 3 like LBJ?
I wonder if, in the end, Lebron, Wade, JJ, and Bosh will all get max contracts. I don’t know if that many teams can and will make the room, esp if the cap is set low. If the Clips go ahead and clear the space, then their odds are probably pretty good to land one of them. That might add some incentive to move AT.
Lebron has said he will test the FA market
he said he will not accept an extension on his current contract but would sign a new one with the cavs.
In Gordon we trust
Just because he's testing waters
doesn’t mean he’s leaving. I don’t believe in this hype. I feel as if the media overblew Lebron because he loves the Yankees, so therefore the clear idea is for him to move to New York. Then there’s the idea that Lebron is friends with Jay Z. And then we all know Lebron is in search of his NBA championship.. but he’s still young. He has atleast 10 years ahead of him. I think Lebron is going back to Cleveland even though I want him in a Clipper jersey.
If there was a 1 in one million shot of landing Lebron
I wouldn’t hesitate before renouncing Mardy Collins.
by Michael White on Dec 10, 2009 3:48 PM PST up reply actions
Thornton is the only starter, so he’s the only guy I would give pause to (in terms of renouncing before landing Lebron.) Telfair and Smith are nice backups, but replacable. Smith moreso than Telfair I guess. It’s been so long since the Clippers had a competent backup that having Telfair really is nice.
Not sure why we’d have to renounce all these guys though. But ya, when the Craig Smith and Mardy Collins eras end in LA, I won’t much care (and I even like Craig Smith.)
by Michael White on Dec 11, 2009 7:49 AM PST up reply actions
I heard that
in order to make /even try and make a run at him, we’re going to need to offer him the MAX. With just Collins, Smith, and Davis, it doesnt = the MAX money to offer to Lebron. Telfair has a player option, so its up to him whether he wants to stay LA, and of course we can say please don’t accept it, but its ultimately up to him (but frankly I rather keep him.) Thornton has a small contract, but it’s still a contract. He helps make up for some ground at offering Lebron a big contract.
When would it be too late to do a sign-and-trade?
If I were Cleveland I would just ask Lebron straight up “are you leaving”? Lebron seems like a fair kind of guy. I think if he were leaving the Cavs he would give them the opportunity to use him in a deal that would keep the team competitive after he leaves. Maybe allow the Cavs to sign him and then trade him to the Clippers for Kaman, AT, plus filler for salary matching purposes. I think that would be a pretty good deal for both teams, plus it would get Lebron out of the east by him signing with the Clips.
"Excellence...is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle
Why would Lebron want to get out of the East
when the East has less compeition with more chances of making the playoffs. Not saying Lebron doesn’t have enough competition already, but if Lebron is put on a team with less weapons and just himself, he might not make the playoffs.
Anyway, the deal with Kaman and AT is very unfair to Cleveland. They might want an allstar/ rising star potential player, and that deal will probably make us include Eric Gordon or/and Blake Griffin. I mean we all know about Lebron James. Gordon and Blake might not ever be as good as Lebron, therefore asking for our top player(s) in return.
Anyway, why would Lebron want to say “yes I’m leaving Cleveland” in front of the whole organization. It would make no sense. Even then, Cleveland is going to make a push for their franchise player. No way do I see Cleveland letting go of one of the best players in the NBA without a fight. Even if Lebron was CONSIDER (key word) leaving, Cleveland doesn’t have a need to trade him. Consider is just an idea. Doesn’t mean its going to happen. At this point, Lebron might not even know his true intentions of whether or not he wants to go or leave Cleveland.
What I meant by "it would get Lebron out of the east"
is that once you trade a player like Lebron, you don’t want him competing against you for a playoff spot or in the conference finals. You want the other conference to deal with him. Now, if Cleveland does not do a sign-and-trade and Lebron bolts, then the Cavs loose their franchise player and get absolutely nothing in return. And as far as Kaman, AT, et al (anyone except Gordon and Griffin) for Lebron, that’s a fair deal. Because Kaman is 10 years younger than Shaq, and his numbers are nearly All-Star caliber for centers. Lets face it, next season Cleveland is going to need a new center regardless if Lebron goes or not. As far as AT goes, he is one of the most athletic SF in the NBA. And although he fraustrates Clipper fans at times, he is still capable of becoming an All-Star one day. So this trade would give Cleveland two very good pieces in the very areas that they will be weak in next season (assuming Lebron leaves). I still think it’s a deal worth considering if the Cavs front office believes he is definately leaving.
"Excellence...is not an act, but a habit" Aristotle
by Cliptomaniac on Dec 10, 2009 1:48 PM PST up reply actions
I wouldn't do a sign and trade with Lebron
you would have to give up too much and you only get him tell the end of the season not a good idea.
In Gordon we trust
As far as leaving the East
He wants to win a championship, so really, he has to go through the best team in the West one way or another. Of course, right now there are three teams in the East (besides Cleveland) who are pretty damn tough. So if he’s smart, LBJ should just worry about signing on with a strong and rising team, regardless of conference.
If LBJ tells the Cavs that he wants out before the trade deadline, I imagine it will have to be done in absolute secrecy. Can you imagine him playing while the word is out but before the trade? It might be decent for him to say something, but I’d be surprised. Has anyone ever done so before?
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