Let me make one thing clear before I get started. I am not a fan of the NBA. I'm from Pittsburgh and we just don't care about basketball very much. I am familiar with the teams and players, I just don't watch the games. But unless you live in a tool shed you are aware that LeBron James is going to tell the world who he is choosing to sign with tonight. I have listened to ESPN radio at work for about 4 straight days and this is all they have talked about. Of course that could be because he is having an hour long special on ESPN to give us ten seconds worth of information. I hate to say this because I like LeBron, but this is one of the most narcissistic things I have seen an athlete do in a long time, and it's not really his style. I don't know who talked him into believing this was a good idea but I really have a feeling he is going to get a serious backlash from this. Let's face it, he's making himself bigger than the game. Granted, it's probably the biggest decision in NBA history, but still. I think it's just too much and he should have handled it another way. As for the decision itself, let me say I do not envy Bron Bron. Sure the dude is going to bag hundreds of millions of dollars, but he is in a no win situation with the media and fans.
If he stays in Cleveland he is going to hear that he is not concerned with winning and that he is afraid of the big city spotlight of New York or Miami. A lot of people still believe he will be a Cav but I just don't see it. They have cornered him with teammates who are average at best and have made absolutely no moves in free agency. Sorry Cleveland, he's out.
If he leaves Cleveland, which is almost assured, he will destroy the city. Believe me, I'm not saying I care, I hate Cleveland. He is literally the only bright spot in that horrible town. But imagine growing up in a town, being an icon in high school, getting drafted by your hometown team, winning two MVPs but no championships, and then having to bail on the people you love. I don't care how much money is involved, it will be hard to go from the most loved person in Ohio to the most hated overnight. But every player plays to win championships and it isn't going to happen where he is now.
If he picks Miami he will hear that he is just trying to piggy-back onto a loaded team just to win a championship. They signed D-Wade and Bosh so everyone will say LeBron didn't think he could win one on his own. Well he's already proven that he can't win one on his own, that's why he's leaving Cleveland. Even with Bosh, Wade, and James there is still no assurance they will win the championship, or even make it to the finals. I think the Lakers still match up better, and perhaps the Celtics and Magic do as well. Wade and James' styles are too similar and Bosh cannot be your only big man. Even with these three superstars, they do not have a center or a point guard. Miami is the sexy choice, but I don't think it's the proper one.
If he goes to the Knicks people will say that he is not concerned with winning a championship. I think the Knicks are a great fit because he can personally resurrect one of the worst teams in the league and at the same time be playing in one of the best markets. If he can make the Knicks a relevant contender in three or four years then I consider that a success. And if he wins a championship or two within five years he can show all the doubters that he single-handedly took a bad team and made them great. Sound like another number 23 to anyone else?
If he goes to "da Bulls" he will fit into a good lineup immediately. They have a legit point guard in Derrick Rose and just picked up Carlos Boozer who may be the most underrated free agent of the off-season. I'll take Boozer over Amare' Stoudemire any day of the week because he does the things to help you win, like rebound and play defense. Amare' may be good for the highlight reel but he doesn't perform in the playoffs and that's a fact. You take those two and add LeBron as a swing man and I think they automatically become a top two or three team in the East. The only thing that may get to him are the constant comparisons to Jordan, but he hears those anyway.
If it were me I would go to either New York or Chicago, most likely Chicago. I just feel the Bulls are the closest team to a cahmpionship with the addition of LeBron. But as far as i have heard the Bulls are barely even an option anymore, so what the hell do I know? He will more than likely be in South Beach by the weekend as a member of the new most overrated team in the league. Believe me if he goes to Miami you are going to see a guy with five or six MVPs and still no championships. And you thought they called him a choker in Cleveland?
