Could Cleveland's loss be Chicago's gain?
Last night, LeBron James suffered one of the most stunning playoff eliminations in NBA postseason history. The best team in the league — starring the best player on the planet — didn’t make it out of the second round…didn’t even make it to a seventh game. LeBron’s future in Cleveland has never looked more bleak.
All season, I have been steadfast in my belief that LeBron won’t come to Chicago. That, in fact, he would never want to. As much as James admires Michael Jordan, I can’t imagine him coming to the Windy City and playing in MJ’s giant shadow. I mean, LeBron could still conceivably eclipse Jordan’s accomplishments somewhere else, but he would have to win at least six or seven titles with the Bulls to measure up to Mike’s legacy. I don’t see that happening.
And yet…ESPN’s Chad Ford has heard differently:
“Within minutes of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ elimination at the hands of the Celtics, the speculation about LeBron James’ next destination resumed in full force. In the space of five minutes I heard from three NBA GMs via text, e-mail and phone. All three said that based on the information they have, they believe LeBron will leave the Cavs. More surprisingly, all of them said they believe the destination will be the Chicago Bulls. Two said they believe that John Calipari will be the Bulls’ new head coach.”
Ford then received the following information from one GM over the phone: “I think the Bulls are really going to go for it. Look for them to offer the Cavs Luol Deng in a sign-and-trade for LeBron. That will allow them to retain most of their cap space. Then they’ll go after Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh as well.”
Talk about dream scenarios. That would be like winning the lottery on the same day you inherited a gold mine that was sitting on top of a diamond mine that had a huge oil reserve underneath it. Can you imagine a lineup that included LeBron, Wade, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah? Seriously, I just got chills.
But as fun as it is to dream, there are other teams — the Cavaliers, Clippers, Heat and Knicks just to name a few — that all have just as good a shot at James as the Bulls do. And July is still a month and a half away. Literally anything could happen.
Still, when I woke up yesterday, I would have rated Chicago’s chances of landing Lebron at about zero percent. Now? I think there’s a chance.
DJ they don’t have enough cap room to sign another big name to play with him. An average team if we sign Lebron? With Rose,Noah,Gibson,Hinrich,Deng? Average? are you serious? But david Lee and Rudy gay make us what? You really make no sense and I think that you should probably stop talking now
LOL now you understand!! Please Boppinbob go to the other blog post and read some of the stuff this guys said. He said that the NBA is like the Mafia and because Cleveland drafted him and because he was not a big deal until Cleveland made him famous. That he is not allowed to leave Cleveland unless he gets another star player that Cleveland wants to take his place. He also thinks that the knicks and heat can go over the salary cap to give him more money than anyone. He is gonna kiss your ass but he has said some wild shit and basically everything you said i have been telling him all along.
BOPPINBOB PLEASE DON’T LISTEN TO THIS FAKE ASS CHANGE WORD TYPE OF GUY, AT 1st he said he want WADE, BOSH and LEbron until I LET Him know about the cap space then he said I JUST LEBRON and we are a CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM!!! and MAX PLEASE STOP YOUR JUST MAKING YOURSELF LOOK STUPID AS WELL WITH THOSE WEAK COMMENTS… AND I AM NOT GOINT TO REPEAT MYSELF TO YOU.
ALL YOU DO IS CHANGE YOUR WORDS, AFTER I MAKE YOU LOOK STUPID FOR WHAT YOU HAVE SAID…..
DJ now your not just stupid but a Liar. I have never said anything about wade and Bosh. In fact you can go back and read that I said all along that I think Bosh is soft and I don’t want him. And you have never explained anything to me about the salary cap. You don’t even understand how it works. I have never said Lebron equals title without filling the roster with good role players. You can say all you want but my thoughts are in print and anyone who wants can read them and see that your just a Jackass that is now backtracking so bad that you are resorting to lying about things. Not to mention you still think the Celtics got KG through free agency and you said Lebron had to find his replacement for the cavs before he was allowed to leave. Those are all things you have said and in no way have you ever made me look stupid with anything you have said. But if you want to think that it’s ok.
Forgive me but i am going to post the more stupid comments DJ has made so you can see how stupid and full of shit he is
Your right, he can just walk away if he wants to but, not to Chicago. We will walk to where their is more money like: NY or Miami.
Comment by DJ — May 16, 2010 @ 10:01 am
He will have no choice since Cleveland was his 1st home and he is still happy being their, he is just disappointed in losing in the playoffs that all. But their is no bad blood between him and the Cavs.
Comment by DJ — May 16, 2010 @ 10:06 am
So of course he will do it. He is not going to be a dick and leave Cleveland with shitty players to take over his spot. Did KG care when he saw a lot of talented players from Boston go to Minnesota to replace his spot NO!
Comment by DJ — May 16, 2010 @ 10:24 am
JUst like you said, that the way the NBA business works out their… You have to give back to your community especially when it is a team that draft him 1st, took good care of him, made him famous and gave him everything he wanted except a championship ring. lol
Comment by DJ — May 16, 2010 @ 10:28 am
If Lebron James is planning on leaving Cleveland, he has to make sure they also get back players that they are willing to take to make them happy mean they want: Deng, Gibson, J.J, Noah and the Bulls 1st round draft pick from them to be happy. It is only fair in what Cleveland has done for him it like the Mafia of NBA.
Comment by DJ — May 16, 2010 @ 11:04 am
That is just a few Nuggets of wisdom from your BOY DJ the stupidest motherF#$ker alive!!!!
max u the man lmao now thats a nice burn with facts to back it up….
Hey Max, next time I would not take the time to try to explain the FA workings to DJ, he does not want to know.
Boppinbob your right. I let him get under my skin a bit. I was just constantly amazed at the things that he was saying. I am still more excited at a Bulls offseason than I have been in a long time and as long as they continue to improve and play hard I will be very happy.But if the stars align and we somehow land Lebron I will have a smile on my face for the next few years.
Insisting the Bulls sign Gay and Lee was bad enough…after reading those posts…well…LOL.
I like DLee and RGay but Gay does not upgrade the Bulls and his salary demands will be even more than Deng’s.
If you are looking for a PF that might be available I would say go after KLove in MN. No, he’s not a FA but MN might be willing to part with him for the right assets. Jefferson and Love do not really mesh on the court very well (both have admitted as much). Love plays defense, hustles and grabs boards. Just another player out there that MIGHT be available at a very reasonable salary.
Best case scenario in my opinion:
Sign and trade for Lebron using Deng leaving about $13 mil under the cap
Sign Korver
Resign Miller – veteran minimum
Resign CRichard – minimum
Resign Flip Murray (like his game. great player coming off the bench to back up the 1 and 2)
Resign Warrick for cheap
Resign Pargo for end of the bench guard
Try to get Bosh/Boozer/Lee/Love using cap space and/or a sign and trade of some kind.
Starters:
DRose
Hinrich
BronBron
PF to be named later
Noah
Bench:
Murray
Miller
Gibson
Richard
Johnson (maybe Bulls can trade this POS…still cant believe they passed on Blair…in fact it makes me angry…moving on)
Pargo
Warrick
That team has got great starters and a solid/fairly deep bench.
Oops. Add Korver to that bench.
@ MIKE Now that’s the truth….with some cheese on it!!
Aarom that sounds good to me but If things can work out I would like to sign Michael Redd if he opts out. But I could never see that happening because he would never get as much on the open market as he would with his last year on the Bucks. But that would answer the 3 point problems. Korver is ok but honestly his Defense is awful. Redd would have many questions about his knee but if he came cheap then why not try. But Like i said I don’t see him leaving that money on the table.
Max please stop talking to yourself with all your different accounts names like: mike, Aaron and your main screen name Max. Your making yourself look stupid and crazy and I kind of feel sorry for you lol.
At Aaron(Max) that is an ok idea but, Jefferson and K-love play a slow tempo and the Bulls play more of a fast tempo with Rose. He needs faster guys like Lee and Gay that can run the floor well. And Gay is not going to cost them that much money like you say he is. If anything he is going to be the same price as Deng but, with less money. And Gay is a better upgrade then Deng. (Hint: check his resume and stats they seek for them selfs.)
And you roster makes no sense: b-cuz if Lebron sign with Chicago it will be by a sign and trade deal, meaning most player that you listed up their will no be their. They will be replace by D-league players and with late 2nd round draft picks. Not only that but, other team won’t take Hinrich or Deng long contracts, so that makes no sense again. And most of the other part of the Bulls money will go to NOah and Rose with their upgrade happy contracts.
And max, I see more of that deal happening with the Bulls getting Redd if he leaves (which I hope not b-cuz he is to old) over Lebron James leaving the Cav’s for nothing in his return to give back to them.
Aaron I will let you wrestle with the Mental Midget this time. He still thinks LBJ would need to make sure the Cavs got equal value before he walked away from them……tragic
Actually that kind of makes sense max, If Lebron James leaves Cleveland which I hope he does, he needs to give back Cleveland something in return for what they have done for him. Meaning doing a sign and trade deal, that way everyone is happy.
@ Bullsfan90,
Thank u! Lebron James is Cleveland Franchise player like Rose is with Chicago. Max thinks Lebron is someone like Aaron Gray lol. Who no more care about if he leave b-cuz his resume is sucks and he is nobody Franchise player!
Not bothering.
Yah well I am here max, I mean Aaron talk to me lol
dumb shit……..
Man! you guys are still talking!!!
Go MAX! kick his ass lol jk
I am sorry Max but, I have to disagree with you, he is not leaving Cleveland…. end of point!
Bill like I have said all along, If he stays in Cleveland then so be it. If that’s where his heart is then cool, But if he is testing the waters and you know that no other free agents will sign before he decides what he is going to do, then the Bulls at least have to make a offer to him and bring him in to see what the Bulls can do for him. That has been my point all along.
I see your point Max but, I hated it when dumb fans out their start saying that it is easy to get Lebron James to come to Chicago and they are sure of it! It’s like playing with my heart and giving me hope lol.
Bill, Please don’t listen to this guy, he is a two face lier!
He said b4 if Lebron James leaves Cleveland then he is signing with Chicago for sure.
Ok, end of the second period. I have time to respond now.
1. I don’t want Michael Redd. At least this year. If he signs next summer for something like the mid-level, sure. Other wise no thanks.
2. Michael Redd is 30. Last time I checked 28-31 is pretty much the peak (typically) of BBall players. He’s been hurt so i don’t trust his knee but he is not too old.
3. Lebron would not gut the team he’s going to. Your theory where he would say “give them equal back” is completely idiotic. He can sign with a decent team like the Bulls and immediately transform then into contenders. To make them better able to sign more role players/flesh out the bench he could insist on a sign and trade for Deng.
4. KLove is PERFECT for the Bulls and high tempo. He grabs boards and his outlet passes are fantastic! You obviously don’t watch basketball as this type of player opens up fast break opportunities. KLove grabs the board and shoots it down the court to DRose or Lebron? BOOOOOOOOOM! AND the dude grabs 11+ boards in only 28 minutes a game.
5. While Deng is mostly a jump shooter he runs the floor very well. I would like see him take it to the hoop more and draw fouls. Why people bash on Deng is beyond me. He’s a GOOD player. Not great, just good and a perfect 3rd offensive option.
6. Your bromance you have going with Gay is not completely irrational as I do like his game. However trading Deng for Gay and paying him more is just plain dumb. I just don’t understand why you would trade Deng and his defense/boards/mid-range game for Gay. Also, Luol does not get enough credit for his defense.
DJ I said if he leaves Cleveland that Chicago makes the most basketball sense. Your the only liar on this site. you can re read all my comments to see that is a fact.
I bet Max and DJ are the same person, why else would they argue the same points over and over again?
tell me about it
I am one person who thinks that both Hinrich and Deng are worth every penny they are being paid. Whether they start next year or come off the bench they are still worth it. Deng is not absolutely needed if the Bulls sign LeBron. Although he would have to be replaced if he is traded. Just adding LeBron will not win a championship, especially if some of the pieces need to be traded away to get him. Let’s remember that MJ had to wait for Pippen and Grant to mature (took 3 years) and then the Bulls got Cartwright from the Knicks before they got over the hump. Right now the Bulls have 6 players on their roster, they will need to add 7 more of which 3 or 4 will have to be able to contribute 8-25 quality minutes/game if the Bulls expect to contend much less win a championship. It could take more than a season for that drastic a roster overhaul to gel. Even if the Bulls get LeBron do not expect a championship in 2011. While it is possible it is not likely. Deep into the playoffs would be likely.
rose
hinrich
lebron
amare
noah
we get lebron doing the deng trade.
then (i dunno if i checked an updated list) sign tony allen, morrow, or korver to add to JJ(who i hate and would rather trade), richards, and brad miller with a small contract.
AND maybe offer mcgrady another shot at not disappearing with a small contract.
our ball handling would be gross, and we would have amare and lebron penetrating their paint all day. kirk is the man, even though people bitch about his stats. surround this with players that know their roles & really care about the game and you have yourself a dynasty that could rival MJ’s.
rose would do most of the dirty work but i think he would be cool with letting lebron shine. i don’t really know how much of a diva amare really is, so that’s the only problem i see with this
Once again thank you Boppinbob, did you hear that Max, even if the Bulls get the Lebron JAMES they are NOT A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM yet and Aaron-Mike please don’t talk I know it just only you max or who ever you are…
And I am not going to explain myself why your ideas are dumb Aaron-Max lol
WOW, is their a cat and dog fight here? lol
Just wanted to say Hi to my best friend Mike! you actually have the nerve to come back here and post a comment after we made you feel stupid last year: by the Bulls making the playoffs, when you said they stand no change, then you say D. Rose is not going to become an All-Star player this year when it turn out he did become 1 and finally you said John Salmons what a trash player, when it also turns out that he had an impressive game with playing along side with Milwaukee Bucks. Should I keep going? Naw, I will take it easy on you, I wouldn’t want you to kill yourself or cry on me lol jk
As for my other people Watzzup! Max & DJ! Can we all just get along lol
aka YOur boi
Lopez!
@ Lopez,
We could get along but, I hate cats lol jk =P
chance*
Oh my..I missed a lot..
Max..there’s no sense in tryin to tell or explain to DJ anything..he’s got it in his head that David Lee and Rudy Gay are instant Champs. We should just screw LeBron, we have no hope..why would he seriously wanna play with Rose, Noah, Hinrich, and Deng..when he could continue to play with West, Boobie, the “Great” Moon and the rest of the D-Leaguers that fill that roster..screw a sign and trade, LeBron wont leave without his former team getting something back, he’ll wanna make sure they’re title contenders before he leaves/ sarcasm, lol
Sorry DJ..u need to keep quiet, ur sounding more retarded as the thread continues..
Sorry what was that Max, I mean Trm3 lol. Like I said b4 max just wait until the summer of 2010 and when Lebron James sign back with the Cav’s go kill yourself and F*** off. And I am not going to explain myself why the Bulls go after David and gay just read my previous comments.
should go after*
Basically it’s plan B.
wait I am listening but what I miss alot of in all of yr comments is where is the love for our players now, Rose is a star proabally gonna be a superstar sooner rather than later Noah is a true beast all energy Taj true rookie stand out why are we so over looking why James would want to come if he comes it will be for our team not for the money he can get that any where, don’t mess with what we got if he wants to come let him sign another short term contract and make up for the other money later, If paxton fks this up I better see a smoke trail from him being fired we as bulls fans need to show more pride and support to our players we have now and to those that come welcome and to those that don’t see you next year like Charles Barkley said(All the teams that beat the bulls this year hope you got it out of yr system cause they are gonna be hard to beat from now on) when healthy our team competes with the best in the league so, if you want to direct something make sure it is in respect of the players we have now. Peace
Ryan (the beer is working its Peace dumb one not piece lol get yr dictionary out next time or just type what I write you aint ligit either , I am old school so dont go there N yes born in raised Westside of CHi enuff said.
Peace
Trm3 Don’t make the mistake I did with getting caught up with this FAKE ASS BITCH!!! He only repeats himself never says anything of value and will try to convince you that all along you were hoping for a Dream team of players. Even though everything he has ever said I have proved wrong with fact and He is just a punk ass kid trying to get his GED and not passing the classes. Show me DJ where I have ever said these things you say I have. You can’t!! They don’t exist. You only ever repeat what I say. Example: I tell you you have multiple accounts then you accuse me of it. I tell you to quit backtracking and changing your words and then you accuse me of it. I call you a liar and now you say that everytime from me. I know you want to be like Daddy son but I don’t need no Illegal Immigrant stepson. Trm3 lets hope for the best this summer…..Signing Lebron and DJ getting Deported!!!
Reggie your right our players are Good. They are what is attractive to any free agent out there. We have a solid squad minus consistent 3 point shooting. The only thing I do not like about Dengs game is his failure to drive and get fouled. I think he settles for to many jump shots. I think a lot of people think that though. Rose is only going to get better. I think he is gonna be the best PG in the league.