LeBronIt’s pretty obvious that the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets are doing whatever they can to free up as much salary cap space as possible for 2010, when LeBron (and Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade) hits the free agent market.
The Nets’ draft-day trade for Yi Jianlian was seen as more than a basketball move, but also one to draw the Chinese NBA viewership to the Nets, which would obviously be something for LeBron to consider given his business interests overseas. And just this morning, the Knicks’ two-year contract offer to free agent Chris Duhon is keeping in line with the rumors that NY isn’t going to offer anymore more than a two-year deal, again trying to keep their cap free in 2010. (What other team would offer a 25-year-old point guard who’s shown promise only two years?)
So if you’re LeBron, fast-forward to 2010: assume the Knicks and Nets both have copious amounts of money to give you. Assume the Nets have already made the move to Brooklyn, are playing in a brand-new arena, and that your man Jay-Z is still involved with the Nets. Assume Manhattan is still the business and advertising capital of the world. Assume both teams are, let’s say, borderline .500-level on the court.
If you’re LeBron, do you want to play for the Knicks or the Nets?
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July 2nd, 2008 at 12:00 pm
fallinup says:
The Nets. The plan is in place, and the time will come. Sorry Cleveland…your hometown boy has big city dreams.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
chrisGO says:
unless the Knicks have a marginally better squad in place my money goes on the Nets as Lebron’s next destination
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
chris duhon has shown promise?….when and where?
certainly NOT in the nba.
if you’re l-train, you take the knicks offer.
brooklyn nets aint gonna be nothing close to ny knicks ever unless they get mark jackson to coach and chris mullin as the gm
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Tha Boddy says:
The Knicks have fallen from grace and the Nets just have it in them to become something for afew years then fall off…haha (D.M.V.)
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:25 pm
hahns says:
easy choice, nets.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Truth says:
Why are we talking about this sh*t? Who knows where Bron a go if he goes anywhere?
Poeople are always talking about how Bron and Jay tight,
so the f*ck what!! We all know this is a business, that’s what muf*ckas keep tellin me when I say Josh Smith should sign with a team that wants to win!
So sh*t, this is a business and he may not go to either team, dude may go play with the clippers or some sh*t. Or the Cavs may get their heads out they a*ses and hire a GM who actually knows what the f*ck he’s doing and get him some help. Who knows!
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Celts Fan, "Kobe, Tell me how my @$$ tastes" says:
I’d say the Nets even if Jigga wasn’t involved, but since he is AND they’re opening up a new arena, it’s basically a done deal.
July 2nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Ross says:
Will NY or NJ really be able to offer a better supporting cast then the Cavs offer currenting?
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:01 pm
LakeShow84 says:
I agree with truth.. two years from now and this is being debated now?? This subject is getting really annoying..
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Meica says:
Agreed. Who cares anyway?! If you’re really that interested, ask his mom, I bet she’ll give you a straight answer. He’ll go where he thinks he can win.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:25 pm
DaPro says:
@Yall
I was thinking that same thing. When has Duhon shown any promise on the court???
Off the court is a different story. I’m in the Chi and he parties like no other
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:29 pm
JA says:
Does anyone know what ballpark of additional endorsement/advertising money someone like Lebron would get from going to NY or another big city market?
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
doc says:
I think If Duhon got more than 2 years they would be assholes.I dont see the promise in him yall do.I see him being the same fucking bum he been since Duke.If Bron go to New York I got him going to Brooklyn.Or he might come to the Sixers.
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
speedcat says:
i keep thinking what the yankees said to a-rod…’do you wanna retite as a yankee or as minor leauger”
it’s like kobe going to the clips, why go to the “other franchise”
July 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Willis says:
haha watch him end up in Sac
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
ERIC says:
LeBron wants to own the world, especially China. With YI in town, he’ll get all the exposure he needs to be KING.
Verdict: BROOKLYN NETS
My question is: WHAT IF THE NETS DONT MOVE TO BROOKLYN? DO YOU THINK BRON WOULD COME TO NJ?
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
doc says:
To Jersey,Hell No. He could come to philly for all that.Speedcat if Bron go to Brooklyn the nets wont be no minor league team. I would just root for both teams if I had 2 in my city.Higher chance to win a chip.
July 2nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
LD says:
the Garden is where bron bron wants to play
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Kobeef says:
@Eric
The nets are going to Brooklyn - it’s already been announced. The Arena plans are in the works.
Did any of you read the interview with Lebron while he was in NY with Team USA? He said a) his favourite city in USA is NY and b) his favourite part of NY is Brooklyn.
Anyway, if Lebron leaves Cleveland he is going to Brooklyn and based on the sh*t the Cavs management has put around LeBron so far in his carerr I can’t imagine how he stays in Cleveland.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Dave says:
Cavs
Phoenix with Amare and bucket loads of cap space?
NJ and NY have a lot of work to do before the move their way up the list.
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
speedcat says:
Doc
ANY team with bron isn’t a minor league team. but dude, the knicks are new york. no matter what the nets do, they will always be second fiddle.
you ever been to chi? the cubs, as bad as their are historically, are THE team. when the sox won no one batted an eye.
look at every city with two franchises in the same sport….one team is always the more prestigious one.
1) la - lakers or clippers.
2) ny - yankees, mets/ giants, jets/ rangers, islanders
3) chi - cubs sox
serisouly as a kid ( and im assuming you are at least in bron’s generation and not younger), would you ever dream of playing for the nets or the new york knicks?
July 2nd, 2008 at 3:29 pm
speedcat says:
plus it speaks loudly about a franchise who sucked for decades and then got good, only to get rid of the stars who made them good.
July 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Big V says:
If I’m him, I go to the Knicks. But I see him signing with Brookl–uh, Jersey. Go ahead and take him. I’m tired of listening to this little bitch waiting on everybody sweating his next move. Fuck you. Give me Chris Paul.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
AY says:
Truck Party: how does lebron pass that up?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Dagomar says:
This is crazy - rarely have I seen so much hype with so little substance. Let’s just say we’ll see what happens for now, OK?
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:39 pm
doc says:
Speedcat if they get Bron that second fiddle shit over.And when the White Sox won the chip they was rioting just like any other team.The Clippers stink so they get no love that 1 good year they had actors and all that shit at they game.The Mets fan base is crazy.J-e-t-s jets jets jets.I know they fucking cheer and im from Philly.They second fiddle to YOU but its people who will say that about the other teams.And bron dont give a fuck about the garden LD.He only said he like to play there because when you in new york you supposed to dickride that old ass run down rat trap of a arena.They get that from Mike.He always bust the Knicks ass there like he did everybody else and the new york media spinned it into he just loves playing here.Now every star that come thru gotta say its they favorite place to play.
July 2nd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Big V says:
Lol at msg being a rat trap. What the fuck was the meadowlands, then?
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Ding Dong We Got Danilo Gallinari? says:
This is like predicting the outcome of Flavor of Love
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:30 pm
How can anyone be from Brooklyn and ever call themselves a Nets fan? Knicks bitches says:
Location isn’t that important. Its going to come down to which team has a better roster, coach, and more convincing GM.
Right now:
-Both rosters are garbage.
-Knicks have the better coach, and players actually like him.
-Donnie Walsh is more liked by people around the league than Rod Thorn, and seems like less of sleaze if you’re just chilling in an office discussing whether you want to be on his team or not.
Fuck Jay-Z, them two can still be friends if Bron goes to the Knicks. Its not like Jay-Z needs Bron on his team to stay rich.
Fuck Lebron anyway, I would rather have Chris Paul, but he’s already locked up with that extension.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Luigi says:
Nets:
Jay-Z. Yi. exposure to china. young PG in Harris.
Knicks:
Media Center of the USA where youll get criticized if u miss one basket. Only decent nucleus to build around [Nate n D-Lee] n no other core. but gain MORE exposure to US
im thinkn Nets but whatever he does
LEAVE CLEVELAND!!!!!!!
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
BmoreRvensFan says:
jigga and the nets…end of period.
July 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 am
karan says:
I cosign everything “How can anyone be from Brooklyn and ever call themselves a Nets fan? Knicks bitches” just wrote, including his display name.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:12 am
marvin says:
If he puts winning above anything else then he’ll go back to Cleveland period.