Cleveland fans: Would you trade a championship for losing LeBron?
LeBron James (photo. Mannion)I promise this is the last LeBron-in-2010 “Yes He Can (Leave)!” post from me for a while.
Amidst all the speculating on LBJ’s 2010 plans, the only thing LeBron himself has maintained is that he wants to win a championship first and foremost. While that’s a classic bit of athlete-speak — only recently surpassed by “It is what it is” on the cliche ticker — the opportunity to win will definitely play a factor in LeBron’s free agent decision.
If you’re the Cavaliers, the franchise that has shown LeBron what it’s like to play in the Finals, that’s the biggest card in your deck come 2010, along with the hometown angle. But as I was watching Cleveland destroy the Knicks last night and look every bit a legit championship contender, I thought of something:
If LeBron leads the Cavs to a championship this season or next, will that make him more likely to leave (“I’ve done what I came to do in Cleveland, now’s a good time to move on.”) or less likely to go somewhere else? (“I want to build a dynasty here.”)
I’ve been a Cleveland Browns fan since childhood. My brother-in-law, an Ohio native, is a die-hard Browns/Indians fan who has successfully converted my sister to those teams. So in other words, I see how starved the city of Cleveland is for a pro sports championship. But would they trade a Cavs’ chip for the certainty of losing LeBron? The logical answer is that it doesn’t have to be an either-or scenario; that re-signing LeBron in 2010 means they’ll eventually win a championship with him anyway. But ask Knicks fans about the Patrick Ewing era and the multiple rings they assumed it would produce. Having a superstar long-term does not guarantee a thing.
If you’re a Cavs fan or part of the organization, would you take an NBA championship in 2009 or 2010 if it meant LeBron would definitely leave as a free agent?
November 26th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
karizmatic says:
Sure…having gold can sometimes lure other free agents or prized players in. So I’d take the gold and lose Lebron, If you’re the Cleveland front office at this point you have to have a contingency plan anyway just in case LBJ leaves. Another thing pointed out on ESPN this morning. Cleveland is going to have a lot of cap space in 2010 too. So if LBJ leaves maybe they make a run at some of the other free agents out there.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Scott says:
Why not?
You get your first Chip, then in two years you get a top draft pick cuz everyone knows without LeBron the Cavs are lottery. Basically its a win-win, even if they don’t get a #1 or 2 pick, they could still possibly end up with a franchise player via the draft, and I’m sure they’d have some sorta cap room to move with.
The only problem with this theory is that you set a precedent, and a bad one at that, cuz if he leaves after winning one, that just means that the franchise and city let him down or unimpressed him enough to leave.
And if he’s a hometown kid, how in gods name would the Cavs ever sell a player who isn’t a hometown kid on sticking it out and building with them.
November 26th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Sam I Am says:
Hell yeah
As a fan of any deprived city - Hometown Wiz or fan of Minny….
You take the ring and screw the “chances” of a Dynasty
November 26th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Scott says:
*And he’s a hometown kid
November 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Sam I Am says:
if the “hometown” kid doesn’t want to stick around then you can’t really force it on him…and plus the Cavs havent really helped anyways
November 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Rizwan says:
First!! They may be a legit contender but I don’t see them winning. Lakers and Celtics are too strong
November 26th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Sam I Am says:
Point is the city just wants and needs the feeling of winning one…they don’t care if its with bow legged blind kids shooting the ball…
The hometown factor is nice but not always in the cards…and either way its’ still a business.
The hometown kid aint playing for free andso the Cavs are trying to get their money’s worth and LBJ is trying to win what he can with what he has right now before he jets
November 26th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
loganlight says:
What would happen if the Cavs traded LeBron?? Assuming that he made his decision to management (I’m sure he wouldn’t do that). Wouldn’t they say, “We might as well get what we can…” Sign and Trade 2010?
Think of the HUNK of players that the Cavs could pick up in that scenario. And you want to talk about building for a championship? That might be a way to do it. Actually put together a team… Don’t just glue the pieces together and cross your fingers that it works.
I know, I know… not going to happen. But what if?
Dang, that’s a ridiculous thought. Pass the Mic anyone?
LL
November 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Goeasy says:
It’s a really hard one for me. I think the bottom line is winning. that’s what a city, franchise, players should be aiming for, and if that comes at the expense of loosing a player like Lebron in the future,well…”It is what it is”
Cav’s are my team (despite being from Toronto), and I would just have a real hard time seeing Lebron leave. For me, it would take more of an adjustment for me to see LBJ in another uniform than any other player in the league (probably because I was mentally prepared to see kobe on a new squad just over a year ago).
I know a lot of guys on here hate on LeBron, but I think most people will be able to agree, regardless of whether your a knicks fan or whatever, that it would be good to see the hometown boy build a dynasty. That’s the kind of thing that people talk about forever.
November 26th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
JCARR says:
Not a cleveland fan but i rather have a banner than a star… There are more pros than cons if you have a banner than if you keep a star. If you have a banner you feel good for a whole season and summer. Arena is filled. If you keep a star, he(LBJ) is unhappy and prob. carry’s a large burden on himself and feel responsible. If you keep a star you realize that no matter what the fans want are champions who represent their city.
November 26th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Bob Lee says:
Sick of hearing about this overgrown child.
I’d rather the Knicks not get him; he’s a bitch.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
jk says:
i reckon if he wins a chip he is MORE likely to stay. did MJ, Magic or Larry bolt from their teams once they won? no! if lebron wants to build a legacy for himself in the same as the elite in history he has to win multiple championships with one team. thus, if he does NOT win a chip in the next couple years I reckon he’d be more likely to go. But did MJ leave when his team stunk early on? No again! If Lebron wants to be something special he has to stay in clevelend and win multiple championships - that will put him in line with MJ, Magic and Larry and over Shaq, Kobe and possibly Duncan.
as for the Ewing era - well Ewing’s team had to face MJ - I don’t think LeBron’s teams will ever have such an obstical to get past.
my 2 cents.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Arrogant says:
Man its over for cleveland. He is leaving. they better trade him in feb 2009 and get a load of talent back…lol
November 26th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
doug says:
JK your smoking. LeBron won’t win a ship anytime soon especially if he has to go through L.A. Cleveland has not beat anyone noteworthy. They’ve lost to all the contenders. You guys have a long ways to go, I am suprised so many people in cleveland have computers to respond to this question.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
doug says:
And he will never be ahead of KOBE, while KOBE is still paying. Just an FYI for the morons out there Lebron averaged the most points per game last season but Kobe lead the league in scoring again because he had more total points than Lebron.
November 26th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
doug says:
LeBron had 2,250 points last season KoBe had 2,323 points through and this is only counting regular season.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Bob Lee says:
I actually like that idea, trade him as soon as possible.
Do you have any idea what they could get?? They would sooner win a ‘chip without him!
November 26th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Bron42 AkA Your Moms Best Friend says:
ahead of kobe shaq or duncan? are u kidding? they all have 3 or more rings lol plus like doug said, lebron isn’t beating any championship teams. not to mention the guys u named dominated when they won..lebron is good but i wouldnt say he dominates yet. he has dominant games once in a while but hes not on shaq level.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Kalan F. says:
LeBron will be going to New York in 2010.
November 26th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Jay says:
The Cavs fans who said “yes” to this question must be so championship-starved they’ve gone delirious.
LeBron is quite possibly the most unique player in the history of the game. We talk about “once-every-generation” type players, but LeBron is more like “once-every-century” type player. He’s already an undisputed top 3 player in the world and his ceiling is limitless. If it’s a choice between title right now with LBJ in the future or LBJ for the long run, it’s got to be the latter because you can expect the titles to come in MJ-style once the organization gets their shit straight.
And comparing LeBron to Pat Ewing is a STRETCH. Sure, Ewing was a great player and is certainly a first-ballot HoFer, but LeBron could very well go down as the greatest ever when his time is done.