No matter who you talk to, everybody will tell you that the Summer of 2010 is the most important off-season in the history of the NBA because of the quantity and caliber or players that will be on the free agent market.
Heading the list is Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James.
Since 2006, rumors of James leaving Cleveland for either New York (for the fame and the bright lights of Madison Square Garden) or New Jersey (his friend Jay-Z has part ownership of the team) once his contract was up after this season.
Those were the only two teams that were ever believed to be serious players for LeBron figuring in the exposure James would get and the money that he would demand. Just recently, ESPN columnist Bill Simmons brought up the possibility of LeBron going to the Clippers. It makes sense. They have a young nucleus (Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon, Al Thorton, Chris Kaman) and LeBron would be in the second biggest market in the world.
But before that, no one had ever brought up the possibility of a non-New York team with a serious argument that made sense for the team, LeBron and the GM’s pocketbook.
Well, now we have a new suggestion, and it involves LeBron joining forces with a Los Angeles team. The defending World Champions. The Lakers.
The new theory comes from Bulls writer Sam Smith:
The obvious reason this never gets discussed is no one can see James hooking on with Bryant. I really cannot understand why not.
How good a team would that be with Bryant, James, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom? Supposedly it would look like James searching out a place to win a championship instead of lifting his team to one. Allegedly a no-no.
But Bryant is 31; James is 24. Bryant has probably three really high level seasons left before some sort of a transition. It was the transition Shaq could never accept and why I think the Lakers dynasty broke up. Not because of Kobe. But because Shaq refused to be viewed as a supporting player to Bryant, and the Lakers understood that. So they traded him. Clearly the right move.
The Lakers are no sure thing to win the championship with the Celtics healthy and the Magic deep. But you add LeBron and it’s hard to imagine anyone beating them the next three or four years.
So then Kobe, working toward incredible immortality on the way to maybe 10 or 11 championships, backs off some to allow James to be the dominant figure when James is 27 or 28 and Bryant is looking at 35. Bryant could ease into a brilliant supporting role while the Lakers continue winning titles, and, in the end, like base hits, they count how many. Not how you got them.
The big reason I believe this could occur and work is because James is an unusual superstar. Jordan never would do it, and I doubt Kobe would. But you watched James in the Olympics and he seemed to embrace the supporting role, rebounding and moving the ball. He’s always said he wants to play with those Olympic teammates, and it doesn’t seem like the Cavs payroll can accommodate that.
Smith brings up an interesting point. Obviously James going to the Lakers would benefit him, Kobe, the Lakers and maybe even the NBA. Can’t you see everybody gravitating towards this possible combo. #23 and #24. It just sounds right. The predictions of a perfect season. The unlimited amount of championships they could win together. It’s all stuff that would make the NBA go insane.
One problem I thought of when rethinking and rethinking the possibility of this was who would take the last shot: Kobe (the obvious best choice) or LeBron (not the best choice)? But then I realized, “Hey, this team has Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, what are the chances they play in any close games let alone one that comes down to the final shot?”
After solving that problem, I ended up at the biggest obstacle of all. Money. The Lakers are already in the luxury tax so how in the world they sign a guy like James who may be seeking the largest contact in NBA history? Sam offered this solution:
The Lakers certainly have no salary cap room. They are in no position to pay James, which remains the No. 1 priority for all free agents. James just has to explain to the Cavs he’s leaving. If they don’t accommodate him, he’s going to New York or Miami and they get nothing. But if they do in a sign and trade to save the franchise, they get a young, potential All-Star center in Andrew Bynum. Maybe Lamar Odom as well or Ron Artest. Draft picks, some pieces like Jordan Farmar. The Cavs can compete in the East with a star center and some pieces added to what they have. It’s better than nothing as cap room doesn’t mean anything in Cleveland. No one’s going there.
In no world do I think the Cavs would actually trade LeBron to LA, but maybe the fact that they can get something out of nothing swings their mind at the last minute.
Nevertheless, this is just the first of many LeBron speculation articles that will pour out this season.
