Cavs Owner Not Worried About Losing Lebron to the Knicks or Nets
Photo. MannionIn this story, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert A) claims to not be worried about losing LeBron to the Knicks or Nets when he becomes a free agent and B) doesn’t seem particularly concerned about getting a big name to run with ‘Bron to give the guy a little help so that he’s not playing 1-on-5 every night.
On Getting LeBron some help:
For Gilbert though, the whole “sidekick” analogy simply doesn’t apply.
“Everyone points to Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. But do you call Tony Parker and (Manu) Ginobili “sidekicks” to Tim Duncan? I don’t think so,” Gilbert explained.
“A lot of people focus on the means instead of the ends in this business. They’ll focus on the offense or the defense, a point guard or a ’sidekick’. But for me there is a lot of ways to get there – to get to a championship – which is LeBron’s goal, and the ownerships goal – so I can’t really comment if it’s a ’sidekick’.”
And on fending off the Knicks and the Nets:
Some members of the media even argue this summer -more than those most recent- is the chance for the Cavs organization to show James just how serious they are about building a championship team.
Although Gilbert feels this year’s squad had “better team chemistry”, there remains concern to surround James with at least one other player who can help take the pressure, not only off of James, but the Cavs as a whole. If not, perhaps James will look outside of Cleveland it two years when he could opt for free agency.
Both the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets are apparently courting King James.
For some owners, that would be a lot of pressure to deal with, but apparently Gilbert is not one of them.
“We all put a lot of pressure on ourselves. I’m not sure if there would be any less of a desire to win from the people in this organization no matter who was playing on the team,” Gilbert said.
What then does Gilbert think about James’ long term future in Cleveland?
“It’s something I don’t really think about or worry about.
“We have no reason to doubt with LeBron James, or any player, and their commitment to be with the Cleveland Cavaliers based on the organization we’ve built and we are building. That’s something I don’t worry about because I believe we do the right things, not only with LeBron but any player who would consider us one of the teams when they’re a free agent.”
This guy is either clueless or playing it cool to the extreme. We have to think it’s the latter. No way he’s not worried about losing the biggest draw in the game.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Sam I Am says:
He’s brainless…dumb
I hate LeBron but he does deserve help
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:16 am
GEE...I'll take a muscle-bound man and put his face in the sand. says:
Poor LeBron, he needs some help. Call them sidekicks, assistants, helpers or whatever he needs it. For dude to play like he ain’t concerned is not the hit.
LeBron needs to save his career and pull the KG and get out now.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:33 am
the_don_mega says:
i think he’s really thinkin’ of it now…
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:37 am
chrisGO says:
Gilbert must be watching the potential Denver/Nets trade very carefully….
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am
Brown says:
It’s that type of thinking that’s gonna end up with LeBron getting the eff out of Cleveland. Their salary cap is screwed. They’re stuck with fat contracts and players who don’t/can’t contribute much. LeBron’s not gonna put up with the shit KG did. KG was loyal to a fault and wasted the prime of his career with a worthless franchise that was going nowhere.
Danny Ferry needs to work some magic and get some “contributors” to help LeBron. Most of their roster is just wasted space.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:45 am
JA says:
Lebron needs two sidekicks
1. a freethrow shooting instructor
2. a new coach that doesn’t coddle him
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:48 am
evan says:
You are a sidekick when the main man is an all-time great, lock for the HOF and he won a title before you even got there. He’s probably thinking that the Cavs are in a similar situation to the Heat and others with the veterans (mercenaries) brought in en masse. Well, at that point, Wade was still the sidekick and even traded that role with Shaq in the Dallas series.
Unless West or Gibson manage to really turn the lights on, there’s no one on that team who is a legit #2.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
Brandon Hoffman says:
Cavs Owner Must Be In Denial
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 am
Mark says:
Ben Wallace for Michael Redd?? helps both teams and i think saleries pretty much match
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
JA says:
What he should have said is: “A Dan Gilbert team is never worried.”
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:55 am
MaMba says:
WTF have you been smoking?!? Ben Wallace for Michael Redd? Are you serious?!
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:57 am
Octopus Jonny says:
Ben Wallace helps the Bucks as much as helped the Bulls and helps the Cavs. John Hammond isn’t an idiot.
According to the Racine Journal Times, Milwaukee is actively shopping Redd and Charlie Villanueva.
The problem Cleveland faces is that they don’t have much, if any, talent the rest of the league wants to trade for. Wally can’t shoot into a swimming pool, Big Ben is a shadow of his former self, Gibson/West aren’t really starters, etc.
May 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Octopus Jonny says:
http://my.journaltimes.com/post/woelfel-world-of-sports/bucks_check_out_their_options_.html
There’s that RJT article in case anyone was interested.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:09 am
YOUNGFED says:
Everybody who didn’t vote that the Pistons to win tonight, FUK YALL!!!….Bitchesssss!!! lol just kidding but yall gone find out 2nite.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Mark says:
If the Bucks draft Eric Gordon then that opens a spot at the 2 if they trade Redd, Both Redd and Wallace have huge contracts but Wallaces contract decreases each year and is 1 year shorter, the Bucks will have trouble moving Redd as he doesnt play defense so they will have to take a bad contract back anyway if they want to move him, might aswell be wallaces which ends a year earlier? Maybe wallace takes it as an opprotunity to mentor and lead a young team and try and get his game back?
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
srb says:
Ben wallace blows
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
evan says:
I could see the Magic going after Charlie V and a PG for Hedo, Arroyo and something else. In fact, if they are looking to move Redd (I think the Magic should stay away from that completely), we would be smart to include JJ and get a bit more out of them.
Don’t want to see Hedo gone, but I have a feeling they’ll try to move him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Celts Fan says:
and England probably wasn’t worried about losing a war to a bunch of people they ordered around in colonies, but that shit happened and arrogance like that helped it. We’ll see how much this clown changes his tone watching LeBron ball in Brooklyn…
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:38 am
Star Jones says:
I don’t think he sees what is really going on…
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:56 am
QQ says:
Ben Wallace for Tyrus Thomas.
Oh wait…
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
GEE...I'll take a muscle-bound man and put his face in the sand. says:
Celts that was funny.
I wish the whole Brooklyn thing would hurry up. That is going to be so tight.
Where Brooklyn at? Imagine all the NY rappers throwing stuff about the Knicks and Brooklyn and all.
If and when LeBron does go that way, you know Hov. is going to do all he can to make sure dude is right.
Guess it’s all just a waiting period. Wish it would hurry though.
May 22nd, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Celts Fan says:
“What he should have said is: “A Dan Gilbert team is never worried.”
Good one JA…
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Kobeef says:
@JA
“A Dan Gilbert team is never worried.”
best line of the day.
I’m with Gee on this – the Nets & Lebron in Brooklyn can’t happen soon enough.
And yeah – Lebron was watching the KG situation and thinking “Lebron isn’t wasting ’til he is 35 to get some real team mates” (thanks to JA for the idea)
May 22nd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Juanito says:
If the clown ain’t worried, he should be. This team sux hard without LeBron, and they gonna lose him.
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
girlybballluver says:
Visualizing Lebron in BK—>shaking my head.
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
GEE...I'll take a muscle-bound man and put his face in the sand. says:
Wonder what the BK uni’s and all that will look like. Will they be designed by Roca Wear even though Jay ain’t involved wit it no mo.
Intros will be smooth with Jay rappin each players intro.
Think “Change the Game”.
And who is going to get tired of lookin at B. Not Nobody!
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Kobeef says:
If Lebron reads this he is gonna be pissed:
“It’s something I don’t really think about or worry about”
WOW.
I know you need to keep things under control so that the player doesn’t think he is above the team but…you don’t go out and say that when you have a player like Lebron. That was ballsy…and maybe stupid.
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:57 pm
Dagomar says:
This guy owns a major corporation, of course he’s going to play it cool to the press.
Cleveland has a ton of expiring contracts, they could make something work. Either way, Cleveland has actually been one of the more successful teams in the league during the postseason over the post 3 seasons . . . and this coming from a Raptors fan.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:23 am
karan says:
yes, i would call tony parker and manu duncan’s sidekicks.
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:17 pm
youpeopleleavingcommentssurearedumb says:
To those think LBJ is out the door in Cleveland, here’s a few things to consider:
1. Usher has more of a percentage of ownership of the Cavs than Jay-Z has of the Nets. You don’t hear shit about Usher owning the Cavs.
2. The Cavs have $30 mil in expiring contracts after 08-09, and even more after 09-10. That’s how the Lakers traded a few paper weights for Gasol. The Cavs will have the cap space for 2 potential all stars in the next 2 years.
3. In two years, the Cavs can offer LBJ $20 mil and an extra year more than anyone else. Name the last max player to leave his team for less money? That would be no one. I’m guessing $20 mil goes a lot farther in Cleveland than in New York.
4. LBJ can’t become a bigger star marketing-wise than he already is, no matter if he played in NY, LA, or Mars.
5. LBJ is from NE Ohio. His family, friends, huge house, and barber are all there too.
6. This whole “not having a sidekick” isn’t for lack of trying. Somehow Larry Hughes used to average 22 points a game. Carlos Loozer is balling in Utah after lying thru his teeth to the Cavs and LBJ.
7. 2 years is a lot of time for Knicks to still not be any good.
8. The Nuggets are not trading Carmelo to the Nets.
9. If LBJ wants out, he will force a trade down the line like AI, KG, VC, etc. It’s leaving too much money on the table.
May 24th, 2008 at 11:56 am
doc says:
They owner blind anyway.He probaly think Wally is the shit because of the next Bird BS when he was in college.He cant see Big Ben washed up.He cant see shit.