Since Denver has two 2nd round picks (one is the Clippers’ pick from the Camby trade), the Knicks get whichever is better.

Good points, but I hope LeBron is smart enough to see that once both Z and Shaq either retire or have to be carted onto the court Cleveland loses a lot of production and size that they will be hard pressed to replace. Varajao is good and Hickson is promising, but neither is a true center. Finding a quality true center when you’re capped out and have low picks is tough.

Jon,

I think Cleveland has done a pretty good job building around LeBron outside of the Larry Hughes debacle. They’ve got the best record in the league. They are a top team on both sides of the ball. As much as LeBron carries their #6 offense, I would find it hard to believe that his impact on their #4 defense in nearly as big. If they hadn’t blown their load on Hughes they could have gotten a second star and be a lot better, but they’re doing alright.
A big problem for the Cavs going forward would be that if LeBron leaves Shaq would walk and maybe Z walks or retires. Their two strongest positions would probably become their two weakest. Ferry has done a decent job, though, and I don’t think Cleveland would fall off the map. They’d have plenty of cap space if LeBron leaves to add enough talent (like $17-25 mill depending on where the cap is) to stay in the playoffs.

Z,

The Knicks have Denver’s 2nd round pick, I don’t know about the Clippers’.

check out this article i found on him

http://www.classactsports.com/the-future/c.-burns-lights-up-europe.html

Remember, the Knicks have the Clipper’s 2nd round pick too, which could end up being a few spots better than ours.

AND… if he does come he understands that Jeffries and Curry will free up money for possibly Paul ( dont have the list of 2011 FA’s ).

I dont think the team factor is the clincher… i think its the loyalty card which might be too stong of a pull (although the yankee hats are promosing for us in that department)

if LeBron leaves Cleveland, they aren’t going to win a title for a long time, whether or not he agrees to a sign and trade. they had SEVEN YEARS to try to build around him, and the best they could do was Mo Williams and Anderson Varejao (although admittedly Boozer screwed them over). if they don’t win it all this year, it’s back to the laughingstock of the league for them.

Global icons don’t need to be in New York or Los Angeles anymore – you used to need to be in a big city to get attention from the world, but not anymore.

We currently have the best record in the NBA. We went to a NBA championship three years ago (and who knows what they can pitch to him after this year – “We won a title” maybe). If you want to win a title, you can win one here – and a lot faster then you would be in position to win one in New York.

We can pay you the most money.

The Knicks have a wonderful pitch to make to LeBron:

- LeBron wants to be the first billionaire athlete. He doesn’t want to be just another Kobe or even another Jordan.
* In NY, he can play for a coach with a system that allows him to SHINE, SHINE, SHINE at any position 1-5 while stuffing his stats year after year, and allowing him to chase single game, single season, and career records.
* NYC is the best stage he can ask for and it would add some spice to his image. It’s important that LeBron comes from Ohio and that the city hasn’t gotten a championship in decade. BUT, Clark Kent needed to leave Smallville to become Superman in Metropolis.

- The team will have money to spend and the city has the most allure to attract new free agents, all things being equal. Gallo can at the very least shoot the lights out and has vast potential, Lee is a beast at the 4 or 5.

What’s Cleveland’s pitch??

I just actually read the Rubio article. It’s fair enough. However, the one problem I have is the statistical analysis of Hoopshype founder Jorge Sierra and the analyst he cites. He points to FG% instead of more accurate measures of scoring efficiency like eFG% and TS%. Rubio is shooting the 3 very well both in Spain and Euroleague (44% and 39%, respectively). He also gets to the FT line often in both leagues. The distinction between FG% and TS% (62% Spain, 61% Euroleague) is huge and points to Rubio’s true improvement and potential. Part of that improvement from Joventut is undoubtedly playing on a much more talented team, but I think it’s a very positive sign and a great growth experience for Rubio. Playing with JCN and Mickeal, by the way, is about the European equivalent of playing with Wade and Kobe or something. Those guys are both stud, veteran scorers in Europe.

Sierra does a good job of pointing out that Rubio plays on one of the top 4 most talented teams in Europe and is only 19… his role is not as a scorer so the low volume is not that troubling. It would be a mistake for him to assert himself scoring on Barca, a bit comparable comparable to Bynum taking a backseat in LA. The scoring efficiency is a really encouraging sign for me. Rubio is probably not going to be a bigtime scorer in the NBA, but if he can be really efficient at a medium-high volume to go along with his playmaking and defense he’s going to be a very good NBA player.