No reason for LeBron to go to New York

2010-01-04T16:09:18-05:00

2008-11-25T23:50:58-05:00

2008-12-01T14:39:06-05:00

Sparky12345

Salt Lake City 570620

89 LeBron can be compared to MJ when he wins 6 championships. Until then, he's just a talented player. 3496653

2008-11-29T13:07:14-05:00

smellslikenick7

Athens 620249

88 It's nice to see a national sportswriter who actually thinks with some sense. Great article! The Knicks are a joke and have always been a joke. 3477832

2008-11-29T13:06:35-05:00

smellslikenick7

Athens 620249

87 I'm glad to see one national sports writer who is actually thinking with some sense. Great article! 3477864

2008-11-26T02:20:39-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/396/7/thumb/markazi_arash.jpg 118 CA

Arash Markazi

Los Angeles 3987

8 I think LeBron would like to go to New York but I think once he looks at the team he would have around him he'll decide Cleveland gives him the best chance to win a ring. Sure, he has an ego but he's not stupid. Kobe was faced with the same situation last year when he tried to go to Chicago and realized if the Lakers made the trade he'd be in Chicago all by himself with a worse supporting cast than he had in Los Angeles. And as far as money goes, Cleveland can offer $30 million more than any other team over the contract's lifetime. 3453300

2008-11-28T09:11:02-05:00

2323

cruse1

Detroit 286179

I think LeBron would like to go to New York but I think once he looks at the team he would have around him he'll decide Cleveland gives him the best chance to win a ring. Sure, he has an ego but he's not stupid. Kobe was faced with the same situation last year when he tried to go to Chicago and realized if the Lakers made the trade he'd be in Chicago all by himself with a worse supporting cast than he had in Los Angeles. And as far as money goes, Cleveland can offer $30 million more than any other team over the contract's lifetime.

86 From what I understand, Kobe had a deal done to go to Detroit, and he squashed it. He wouldn't have been there by himself after that trade. Almost a guaranteed ring with Kobe on that team. 3470709

2008-11-28T09:09:07-05:00

2323

cruse1

Detroit 286179

85 From what I understand, Kobe had a deal done to go to Detroit, and he squashed it. He wouldn't have been there by himself after that trade. Almost a guaranteed ring with Kobe on that team. 3470690

2008-11-26T09:22:15-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/582/991/thumb/Kool-AidMan.jpg 161 CT

Harry Balzagna

583551

18 what makes you think Cleveland is going to spend money on Chris Bosh or Amare? That's the whole reason LeBron would go to NY because they'll actually get him help. The man brought the Cavs to the finals with no help, and the Cavs repay him by getting mediocore players around him. Look at the Celtics, they basically proved that with 1-3 Superstars you can go on from being the worst team in the NBA to the best. LeBron has to wonder that if the Cavs aren't willing to spend some money to get him help after going to the finals and being 1 game away from the finals last year, that NY Knicks will give him and other free agents in that year a ton of money because they are desperate to win. Also, given NY's signing's in the past of Marbury and Curry, it's obvious they don't have a problem spending money, especially if it were on players like LeBron who alone would pay for his salary in ticket sales and merchandise, and a guy like Bosh or Amare, or even D Wade. It's a very good possibility LeBron could go to NY, it's really going to be up to Cleveland on how they deal with it, but it's still 2 years away so we should stop talkin about it like it's in 5 months. 3454735

2008-11-28T01:23:15-05:00

notanidiot13

Hudson 619123

what makes you think Cleveland is going to spend money on Chris Bosh or Amare? That's the whole reason LeBron would go to NY because they'll actually get him help. The man brought the Cavs to the finals with no help, and the Cavs repay him by getting mediocore players around him. Look at the Celtics, they basically proved that with 1-3 Superstars you can go on from being the worst team in the NBA to the best. LeBron has to wonder that if the Cavs aren't willing to spend some money to get him help after going to the finals and being 1 game away from the finals last year, that NY Knicks will give him and other free agents in that year a ton of money because they are desperate to win. Also, given NY's signing's in the past of Marbury and Curry, it's obvious they don't have a problem spending money, especially if it were on players like LeBron who alone would pay for his salary in ticket sales and merchandise, and a guy like Bosh or Amare, or even D Wade. It's a very good possibility LeBron could go to NY, it's really going to be up to Cleveland on how they deal with it, but it's still 2 years away so we should stop talkin about it like it's in 5 months.

84 Wow you are a complete idiot. Dan Gilbert has spent so much money trying to get Lebron a supporting cast. The cavs have the third highest payroll in the NBA. He traded for Ben Wallace who gets paid more than Lebron. Also, hes paying wally around 13 million and Mo Williams is way over paid. The cavs are more than willing to spend money. Also, the cavaliers can offer lebron 20 million dollars more than any other team in 2010. why would he turn down 20 million extra dollars to play on a much shittier team. It doesnt make sense. And Chris Bosh has said countless times that he loves toronto so he probably isn't going anywhere. You need to get your facts straight before you make retarded **** comments. 3470052

2008-11-27T19:51:30-05:00

tom19511

Sheffield Lake 418718

83 LeBron will stay in Cleveland. Take that to the bank!!! He is already the biggest star in the NBA, and has built a NEW home here in Cleveland of all places. Gilbert is not STUPID, He will not let LeBron walk....LeBron is not STUPID, He will stay!! 3468759

2008-11-27T14:59:44-05:00

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gupsphoo

San Mateo 474450

79 Anyone watched the Beijing Olympics? Noticed that Kobe Bryant was way more popular in China than King James? It's not even close. Why's that? Yup, it's because Kobe plays in a world-famous city, while Lebron is not. 3467913

2008-11-27T17:20:43-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/251/08/thumb/image001.gif 181 OH

Dawgpounder

Willoughby 25148

Anyone watched the Beijing Olympics? Noticed that Kobe Bryant was way more popular in China than King James? It's not even close. Why's that?Yup, it's because Kobe plays in a world-famous city, while Lebron is not.

82 Cleveland is the health-care capital of the world-- Ask any Arab Shiek with a bad heart. Kobe's been around a bit longer than LeBron. How many NY Knicks are popular in China? 3468386

2008-11-26T16:17:07-05:00

onthefasttrack01

Glendale 617933

63 Is anyone paying attention?!?! LeBron is doing what every wealthy and smart corporate CEO does when he launches a new product that he wants to sell in a particular market. He gets all the publicity he can get and says things to continue that publicity. Let's take a look at the facts: 1. LeBron launches new shoe targeted to the NY market. He does this not because he wants to play baseketball in NY in 2010, he launches this shoe to MAKE MONEY and sell shoes. 2. How do you generate interest in shoe? Tease the NY media who you know will be watching and listening to your every move and word. Presto, you just sold 40% more shoes than you would have due to the free publicity. 3. Cleveland was playing in NY the day the shoe launched. Again, perfect marketing. 4. #### Spike Lee was wearing a shoe, so even supposedly smart people can get caught up in the hype. 5. The NY Knicks are a horrible basketball team, have been a horrible basketball for a long long time and will continue to be a horrible team for years to come. LBJ will NOT be going to NY to play nursemaid to the god awful NY Knicks. The 2010 talk by LBJ is nothing more then a way to sell some really ugly RED SHOES to dumb and gullible New Yorkers!!! Anyone who believes otherwise clearly has thier collective heads in the clouds. 3461619

2008-11-27T15:41:28-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/474/010/thumb/Look_down.png 60 CA

gupsphoo

San Mateo 474450

Is anyone paying attention?!?! LeBron is doing what every wealthy and smart corporate CEO does when he launches a new product that he wants to sell in a particular market. He gets all the publicity he can get and says things to continue that publicity. Let's take a look at the facts: 1. LeBron launches new shoe targeted to the NY market. He does this not because he wants to play baseketball in NY in 2010, he launches this shoe to MAKE MONEY and sell shoes. 2. How do you generate interest in shoe? Tease the NY media who you know will be watching and listening to your every move and word. Presto, you just sold 40% more shoes than you would have due to the free publicity. 3. Cleveland was playing in NY the day the shoe launched. Again, perfect marketing. 4. #### Spike Lee was wearing a shoe, so even supposedly smart people can get caught up in the hype.

81 How popular will his shoes be in NYC if he actually becomes a Knick? And yes, I think Lebron already knows the answer. 3468053

2008-11-27T15:14:39-05:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/474/010/thumb/Look_down.png 60 CA

gupsphoo

San Mateo 474450

80 Besides, why do Cleveland fans believe that Lebron values winning the NBA championship more than making money? Should I remind you that your beloved King James said he would play in Europe if they pay him $50M/yr? That's right. Money is way more important to Lebron than a championship ring. That's why he will move on to play in a big market like New York in 2010, even if no European club is dumb enough to pay him 50 mil a year. 3467952

<div class="photo_container image_right" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/p1.lebron-james.ap.jpg" alt="P1" width="300" height="400" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: left;">LeBron's Cavs are far above the Knicks right now. AP</div> </div> I get the lure of New York. It’s the Big Apple. It’s Gotham. It’s “The City That Never Sleeps.” I used to live there and I’d go back if I could. What I don’t get is this idea that LeBron James needs to go there. There are some athletes who need New York. They need to be in a big city and play in a big market to validate their legacy and marketability. I spent part of the offseason with Tony Parker, who told me on more than one occasion that if the Spurs played in New York, he would be a bigger star and San Antonio’s current run of success would be more appreciated. “It's because we're in a small market,” he said. “If it said ‘Knicks’ across our jersey, we would be talked about all the time. We'd be everywhere.” Needless to say, James is not Parker. He’s an international superstar on par with Tiger Woods and David Beckham and is reaching Michael Jordan status with his global appeal. James doesn’t need to have “New York” etched across his chest to become an icon. He doesn’t need play at Madison Square Garden to make more money in endorsements. He doesn’t have to live in Manhattan and be pictured on Page Six to become a bigger celebrity. James doesn’t need New York. New York (and more specifically the Knicks) needs James. The way people have been talking about the lure of playing for the Knicks recently, I would have thought they were talking about the Yankees. Yes, the Knicks play in Madison Square Garden, “The Word’s Most Famous Arena,” and are in New York City, one of the world’s biggest media markets. But that’s where the draw ends. If James were shopping for a penthouse or looking to start a magazine, this move would be a slam dunk, but he’s trying to win basketball games. The Knicks haven’t had a winning record since the 2000-01 season, finishing with fewer than 40 wins for seven straight seasons, a streak that will likely stretch to nine when James becomes a free agent in 2010. They’ve only won two championships in their history, with the last one coming in 1973. Their last trip to the Finals came a decade ago. This isn’t the Yankees or the Lakers, two storied franchises in big cities littered with championships. If the Knicks didn’t play in New York, they’d be the East Coast version of the Sonics (except for the whole relocation thing), a decent team that had some success in the '70s and '90s but fell on some hard times. Would James sign with the Sonics, er the Thunder, if they cleared cap room for him? No, and he should take the same stance with the Knicks. Anyone who watched the Cavaliers’ 119-101 rout of the Knicks on Tuesday knows the Knicks need more than James to become contenders again. While the retooled Knicks showed how far they have to go, the Cavs showed why they have the third-best record in the league behind the Lakers and Celtics. Surrounded by the best supporting class he’s ever had, James no longer has to carry the load. James finished with 26 points as seven Cavs scored in double figures and all 12 players made a dent in the box score. Cleveland may not be New York, but the Cavs are no small-market team. The Cavs, who made the 2007 Finals and were six points from eliminating the Celtics in last year's playoffs, have the third-highest payroll in the league behind the Knicks and Mavericks. Their owner, Dan Gilbert, has done everything in his power to make them a winner, from opening a state-of-the-art training center near James’ hometown of Akron to trading for Mo Williams, Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West in the past year. What has also gone unnoticed by most is the cap flexibility Cleveland will have in 2010, when it could be the ones in position to add a player such as Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire or Dwyane Wade to a team already contending for a championship with James. James may love New York and New York may love him, but there will be plenty of time for him to stroll through Times Square and Central Park in the offseason. If he wants to win an NBA championship, his best bet is still to stay in Cleveland. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/396/7/thumb/markazi_arash.jpg 118 CA

Arash Markazi

Los Angeles 3987 26901 <div class="photo_container image_right" style="width: 300px;"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/p1.lebron-james.ap.jpg" alt="P1" width="300" height="400" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: left;">LeBron's Cavs are far above the Knicks right now. AP</div> </div> I get the lure of New York. It’s the Big Apple. It’s Gotham. It’s “The City That Never Sleeps.” I used to live there and I’d go back if I could. What I don’t get is this idea that LeBron James needs to go there. There are some athletes who need New York. They need to be in a big city and play in a big market to validate their legacy and marketability. I spent part of the offseason with Tony Parker, who he told me on more than one occasion that if the Spurs played in New York, he would be a bigger star and San Antonio’s current run of success would be more appreciated. “It's because we're in a small market,” he said. “If it said ‘Knicks’ across our jersey, we would be talked about all the time. We'd be everywhere.” Needless to say, James is not Parker. He’s an international superstar on par with Tiger Woods and David Beckham and is reaching Michael Jordan status with his global appeal. James doesn’t need to have “New York” etched across his chest to become an icon. He doesn’t need play at Madison Square Garden to make more money in endorsements. He doesn’t have to live in Manhattan and be pictured on Page Six to become a bigger celebrity.