Word is that while he didn't reject the notion of Izzo
coaching the Cavs, he didn't entirely endorse it, either. In any event,
LeBron apparently wouldn't even speak with Izzo about his intentions
when it comes to his impending free agency. In fact, one person who has
been in contact with the Cavs' front office said LeBron has been
incommunicado with team officials, as well.
So once again, the
Cavs are held hostage by LeBron. They can't move forward with any
serious offseason plans -- franchise-shaping plans -- until they know
whether LBJ is staying or going. Cavs GM Chris Grant has the least
enviable job in the NBA, other than the media relations director of
LeBron's next team, whatever that might be. (I'll expand on that
another time, but for now, to say that LeBron is high maintenance is
like saying Shakira has been known to slightly gyrate her hips from
time to time.)
It's funny how people keep saying the Cavaliers are held hostage by LeBron. I know dropping a "My Best Friends Wedding" scene probably isn't going to hit the core audience, but cut me some slack, I'm married.
George Downes:
Michael's chasing Kimmy?
Julianne Potter:
Yes!
George Downes:
You're chasing Michael?
Julianne Potter:
YES!
George Downes:
Who's chasing you... nobody, get it? There's your answer. It's Kimmy.
LeBron's not talking to the Cavs. The Cavs aren't held hostage by LeBron, they're held hostage by an unwillingness to accept reality for a few more weeks.
Filed under: Free Agency
Tags: chicago bulls, cleveland cavaliers, hostage, lebron james, not talking
Its interesting he's not even talking with the team. I wonder if its just something like a message he is sending to Cleveland like: if your serious about keeping me lets see what moves you make before I talk to you. It will be interesting to see what moves the Cavs make on draft night. Do they have a pick in the draft?
Cavs are rumored to maybe getting a late 1st or early 2nd round pick. Gilbert will not sit still in his race for a championship as he has proven over and over agin in his business dealings. Thats why he has the largest mortgage company in the country. That attitude will be the deciding factor in LeBron resigning with the Cavs! Let's not fool ourselves about the difference in ownership. It won't just boil down to players, I promise!
Word is the Cavs are shopping around for a first rounder as they don't currently have any picks in the draft. I think the only way LeBron stays is if they somehow pull off an amazing Pau Gasol type trade, but I think it will be difficult as most teams won't want to do them any favors.
What's stopping them from doing a sign and trade with Toronto for Chris Bosh? Jamison, Hickson and few other fillers to match salaries may be interesting to Toronto. Is this impossible to pull off or just impossible to imagine actually happening?
It's technically not impossible, but think about it from Toronto's perspective first. Why the heck would they want to take on average players with terrible contracts like Jamison ($29 million over the next two years) or Mo Williams ($28 million over next three)? Just to get an average prospect like Hickson?
No way. Toronto can get better for Bosh; even getting a couple of cheap pieces (e.g. Chalmers, a draft pick) and VERY LITTLE SALARY back is much preferred; a team like Miami can absorb Bosh's contract without having to send Toronto back much in matching salary (b/c Miami is so far under the cap), which saves Toronto $$ and keeps their cap space open for the future (unlike taking on Jamison's contract would).
And finally, Bosh cannot force a S&T with the Cavs (even if he really wanted to go there, which I doubt; playing with DWade in Miami is a much nicer life) because the Cavs cannot sign him outright.
In summary, Cavs being over the cap and having no good expiring contracts / young assets means they have very little to offer in S&Ts.
So a salary dump i.e Mario Chalmers and a draft pick get you Bosh huh? Let me guess: closet Miami fan.
You'd have to be talking about one high f-ing draft pick like say No. 1, 2, or 3. Which Miami does not have. (Mrs.) Beasley at minimum would have to be thrown into that deal, and that's assuming Toronto wants an umproven extremely troubled headcase. Granted Riley can screw teams in trades with the best of them, but he's gonna need a mile long strap on for that one you suggested.
ace991 said: No way. Toronto can get better for Bosh; even getting a couple of cheap pieces (e.g. Chalmers, a draft pick) and VERY LITTLE SALARY back is much preferred; a team like Miami can absorb Bosh's contract without having to send Toronto back much in matching salary...
To do a sign and trade salaries essentially have to match or be w/i 10%
WRONG. Learn the NBA salary cap rules before you try to correct me.
You only have to match (within 25%, not 10%, wrong again) if you are OVER the cap. If you are UNDER the cap (as Miami is FAR under) you can take on as much salary with NO matching requirements, so long as you are still under the cap.
So again, Miami can absorb Bosh while NOT having to give Toronto back crappy players with huge contracts (e.g. Jamison, Mo Williams, etc.) Believe it or not, Toronto would prefer to just get Beasley, Chalmers, and a decent pick and save $$$ instead of getting crap veterans with huge contracts.
And to clarify to you morons, I am NOT a "closet" Miami fan. I hate them, Riley, etc. All I am saying is that Miami has a MUCH better chance of getting Bosh than CLEVELAND. This should actually make (intelligent) Bulls' fans happy, because if the Cavs somehow get Bosh, LBJ will likely stay (i.e. not come to the Bulls). Meanwhile, if the Heat get Bosh, LeBron will have to go elsewhere (read: Bulls) to get fellow talent.
I am not making a statement about the Bulls' chances of landing Bosh. They have a decent chance, by trading Gibson / Hinrich / Deng; it's up to what Toronto AND Bosh want.
Stop f*cking hating on a fellow BULLS fan. I want nothing more than to see the King on the Bulls, where they will become a DYNASTY. All I'm doing is trying to figure out what is most LIKELY with the FAs.
I am ambivalent about Bosh; he's good, but I actually think he's overrated, soft, and I might prefer to roll with Gibson and keep Deng. But whatever it takes to land LBJ.
Stop hating and try to learn about the NBA.
Despite what someone else said most realize that being under the cap the Bulls or other teams similarly situated can make uneven trades, and take on salary. But your suggestion that a salary dump with Mario Chalmers and a draft pick could land Bosh was ridiculous. I'm not hating. That's just a ridiculous proposition. And it certainly is one that would be viewed as pro-Miami i.e a robbery by anyone.
count me in!
Clayton you obviously didnt see the big billboard that tells Lebron to joing the bulls and has the championship trophies on it stating unfinished business, Chicago has been doing its fair share of lebron recruitment as well..
Yeah, but we've been pretty tame. A billboard is one thing but Cleveland and NYC are getting elected officials and celebrities involved. Miami council members actually changed the name of the county from Miami-Dade to Miami-Wade for a week! Obama made overtures to LeBron but he's a fan that couldn't help himself. Overall, Chicago has yet to make a fool of itself. Let's wait til after he signs with us for that. :-)
could someone send me link on this bill board for lebron? where is located? thanks my bulls peeps!
lol haha yea but bigsby i know exactly what your saying. These other cities are really going out of there way to impress him. I like what we are doing though...staying simple, let others talk about us, our actions will speak for themselves hopefully. Front Office get it done lol
UH, Some guy named Bosh.
now why would toronto except a garbage trade like that? they would do better to let bosh walk, at least then they would have some cap space
I have to say, I am impresssed by how Chicago has pretty much stayed out of making some crazy overtures to Lebfon i.e. celebrity committees, videos from mayor, Lebron rallies etc.
Then again, we haven't HAD to... we do have the best current roster of the teams in the running (minus Lebron). New York better pull out all the stops because their franchise has NOTHIN' going!
We have our first trade. Nocioni and Spencer Hawes are traded from Sac-Town to the Sixers for Dalembert. I see an opening for Turkoglu in Sacramento now. I think that's good news, right?
Just saw a really great analysis of the state of our salary cap. It's worth a look.
http://www.nbadraft.net/state-cap-chicago-bulls-0
I agree. LeBron might act like a "KING" but I am not sure what he is supposed to do in this situation. The media is wrong(not you)in repeating that LeBron needs to tell what he is going to do. He has told in no uncertain terms that he wanted to put himself in a position where he can decide what's the next best course of action and everybody needs to have patience. As for Cleveland, the writing is on the wall and maybe they have a slight chance of him resigning..because 1) They pull of some kind of miracle draft day trade where they get another all-star 2)LeBron doesn't get any feeling that his chance of winning on the other teams are better than Cleveland.
BTW, my guess is Danny Ferry was fired by Dan Gilbert. The reason is in any business you need to have plans for a worst case scenario. They just assumed they will win championships. That not only showed inexperience but also stupidity in evaluating talent.
Lebron is gonna come out of this looking bad no matter what team he goes to. Before this Izzo fiasco I though he could return to Cleveland and still come out looking good, because people in New York and Chicago wouldn't totally kill him for deciding to return to his hometown. But now, with all these new developments, that is not the case.
If he goes back to Cleveland now, he's gonna look like a diva that was willing to give up a (potentially) great coach just for a few weeks of huge media attention. By leaving his own team in the lurch like this, he's robbing them of valuable time that they could be using to improve the team around him, as well as hiring the best coach available. The latter will become increasingly difficult as each day passes.
Believe me, if he returns, Cleveland will forget all this drama!
man it's hard to sleep at night. Now I know how boston fans felt before they got their KG RA. : ). It will be xmas in july1 LEBROSE!
Check out what this company in Chicago is doing for Lebron...free oil changes for life for Lebron's Ferrarri!
http://www.evri.com/organization/direct-line-0xbabac
There's also a place you can sign up for supporting Lebron coming to the Bulls
http://www.facebook.com/CarXOilChangesForLife
I stand corrected ;)
Maybe we should all sign up...
Believe me LeBron would not have been thrilled with Izzo as his coach. LeBron's kind of between a rock and a hard place right know. You can't fault him for not being involved in Cleveland's coaching search. If Cleveland ownership had any sense they would delay any coaching decision until after free agency and they and any new head coach knows who's going to be on the team. Who wants to coach that bunch of rags if LeBron's not on the team. The Cav's front office has to be pretty dense if they can't figure that out.
The Cavs' situation reminds me more of the movie "He's Just Not That Into You". Though for their next season, I'd have to go with "Tinatanic".
Err... "Titanic"
We know Bosh is moving. Wade? Highly unlikely. LeBron? Sure looks like it.
But will Cleveland swallow their pride, and sign and trade him with another player for Bynum and Odom say or whoever else they think at least brings back some value? Or do they just say, 'Your leaving huh? Well we're not giving you the extra year and money of a sign and trade so go f-ck yourself.' ??
I wonder if LeBron would engage in a sign and trade as it makes him more money, and puts the team he's going to in a much better cap situation instead of being stifled at $56-58 Mil for the next three years.
But who else has players Cleveland would want, and yet a team Lebron would want to go to? Miami? Do the Cavs really want to add (Mrs.) Beasley's headcase/salt to the wound after being severed from their right hand the "King?" Who else? Who else has pieces they would want, and that Lebron is interested in? Chicago? They've got a promising forward in Hickson do they think Taj is much of an upgrade? Varejao is their Joakim light. Knicks? Nah.
What about New Jersey? They've got Devin Harris, the No.3 pick. Would Lebron want to join up with big spender in Prohkorov, Finals coach/former player Avery Johnson, and Jay-Z's swingin' New York just across the river? But then who's left without Hariss or that No.3, Lopez?
Sam Smith has been suggesting LeBron to the Lakers as a distinct possibility. It's no coincidence that Michael and Kobe both became otherworldy under Jackson. Doesn't he get any credit for that development? Wouldn't this intrigue the King to truly ascend the throne under Jackson's tutelage?
What about Portland? Go play with Brandon Roy, a legit PF in Aldridge, a nice group of talented players needing a Batman to Roy's Robin? Cavs get back their choice Oden, Batum, Pryzbilla, Sergio, and picks? Does Lebron want to put up shop in small town, rainy Portland?
It will be interesting. I'm sure Doug and others will probably say no chance on a sign and trade. But it might make sense for Cleveland and their abdicating King.
If so I'd say the Bulls chances at the King are pretty slim. But then again Rose, Joakim, Taj, Thib's, Chicago(major market/he loves the city), and if we can sign and trade for Bosh or acquire Joe J.(and Lee by miraculously dumping Deng and Hinrich - ha, ha). Maybe LeBron says screw the S&T. Maybe Pax/Gar can pull it off. But don't count on it.
If we even manage to get Bosh I'll be shocked. But next week's draft/sign and trades with the Bulls and other teams will perhaps tell us a lot. God, can it be next Thursday already?
I feel that LeBron is less worried about a S & T compared to Bosh. Bosh probably feels that this is his last big paycheck while LeBron is probably confident of another big one...(also the rumors about the new CBA is that the rich get richer which means lot more for LeBron.)
The other problem with a S & T is there is a loss of talent for the team doing the S & T which means a lot more like there are like Cleveland again...(unable to add talent)..That's why I feel fairly confident about the Bulls that they will get some good if not great pieces...and hopefully LeBron is one of them.
don't feel bad about your quote. if the woman will watch games with me, i'll gladly watch a few chick flicks with her.
plus, its Julia Roberts. she's great to look at for 2 hours at a time. Erin Brokovich, nuf said.
How dare you say such a thing.
Julia Roberts in NOT attractive.....
Doug, you forgot to adjust your LeBron-staying meter to negative 15%
It seems ridiculous to write a stroy on June 17th saying the Cavs are held hostage by LeBron. FA starts July 1st. Everyone knows that....no news there. What is he supposed to do? Call them and say, Hi its me LeBron and Im undecided...I'm sure that would help. :-)
Can we PLEASE STOP talking about LeBron James and EVERY little RUMOR that comes out about him?
THANK YOU!!!
This speculation will continue until July 8th or whenever Lebron signs on some team's dotted line...face it Happy. Would you rather us talk about Wade everyday?
I seem to recall some secret information on Wade coming to Chicago...why don't you enlighten us some more on that ;-)
There is more to talk about than LBJ. Just so everyone knows.
That's funny coming from the czar of redundancy.
I LAUGH at all the attention I get on here.
At least, I know how to SPICE up Doug's blog.
I'm not the one just COPYING other people's material and post it on here.
How about a day without talking about LBJ?
That's a CHALLENGE.
You spice up nothing. You annoy everyone and detract from the central conversation.
And you are the King of Repetition because you constantly talk about the Bulls trying to sign Wade and Bosh, find any excuse to bring up Derrick Byars (who sucks), and have probably typed BATMAN and ROBIN over 100 times on this page.
No one cares what you think, because it's non-sensical, repetitive garbage.
Also - you mention above that you're not the one just copying other people's material and posting it here. That's ridiculous - all you do is fish realgm all day for links to post here.
You have very few original thoughts, and the ones you do have are stupid. And I know that because you post them over and over and over and over and over and...
I wonder by the Lakers winning and how Bynum performed when healthy...what do they do with him?
Does this rule out the Lakers for Bosh S & T? Will Toronto be too scared of Bynum's injuries and contract? Or will they like his skills/potential and heart?
Will the Lakers think he will be great if healthy? This might potentially remove one team from the 5 teams Bosh apparently wants to go...
This whole fa this summer,feels like When AVATAR was being released! highly anticipated! Hope it becomes a hit!
Alright, more good news for the Bullies. Hopefully this means LeBron is closer to leaving. And if he does sign with us, hopefully he does it quick too...BY July 8th, right when free agents can start signing. That way we can approach other deals. Bulls better make a good draft choice too! That way we can sell him as apart of our already great supporting cast.
Where are all the journalists writing that the Cavs knew they had 3 years to try and maximize the talent around LBJ, and all they came up with was the corpse of Shaq, Sideshow Bob, Slow Z, NoMo Williams and a PF from the Wizards that was probably 'ducking and covering' from his last locker room experience??
This while the Lakers stole Gasol, and the Celtics totally rebuilt on the fly.
If you were a consultant, and your contract was up, given a similar circumstance (e.g. the firm put it on you to complete the project essentially alone); they mean to suggest that you'd be wrong to listen to other offers from competing firms? What a load!
No matter where he ends up, I can't fault LBJ for looking out after his own interests. It is absolutely no different from what I would do.
My only hope is that we come out of this with not all of our eggs in the Lebron basket.
I want to get better but not throw away everything at the chance to get Lebron. If we dont get him I will live.
The reason this is news is because Wade has told Riley, I'm not leaving, Johnson has told Atlanta he'd be better off on another team, Bosh told Colangelo a list of teams he wanted to go to, Amare told Phoenix he wants money and if they dont pay up he's gone, Lebron on the other hand has been pretty cryptic, one week it sounds like he's resigning with Cleveland the next it sounds like he's gone
You for got to capitalize KING and REPETITION.
If they would get an UNDERLINE or BOLD feature I wouldn't have to BOLD.
Excuse me CAPITALIZE.
I'm betting on Miami and Chicago among the very happy. Although NY will sign a couple of guys no matter what, so maybe that puts them somewhere between very happy and very unhappy.
I'm not the one with 50 million LBJ topics. Am I?
I'd don't see how I'm the king of repetition.
I'm not the one CONSTANTLY talking about LBJ. You are.
At least, I know how to spice up your blog for you.
Playing DEVIL'S ADVOCATE is fun!!!
Doug I hope you're right about James going to L.A. After Kobe getting Gasol and Artest(even though they struggled at times in the playoffs/against Boston) they're still big time, top/impact players, and if they now land Lebron I'd have to vomit just a little bit. He already had Shaq too for christ's sake. When does it end? If no sign and trades are involved then I think the Bulls have a real chance.
Lebron would be the best addition to the Bulls roster. Even better than Wade... ;-)
Sometimes, silence speaks volumes. In NOT communicating LeBron is communicating. He is communicating that he is NOT returning and therefore there is nothing to talk about.
How likely is it that Turkoglu is traded? They seem pretty motivated. If he is sent packing, any chance on moving Deng in a package for Bosh? The biggest strike on Turkoglu was his clashing with Toronto fans, media, and management. This was deemed worse than his lack of production or his contract. Kirk and Luol have boy scout reps, so I figure that has to make them easier to move.
I doubt Raptors want Bynum b/c of his injuries...knees get worse not better especially for big men. Bosh/LA also don't really have leverage b/c LA is not in a position to get him w/o a S&T. Still Bosh most likely destination is Miami or Chicago.
With Kobe winning again last night...LeBron might feel the pressure of leaving to a better team. Chicago is the place to be!!!!