LeBron says he will consider extension with Cavs

[2muchcoffeeman]

He says he could sign it next summer.

New York Knicks fans and officials wept. :D ;D 8)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_lebron_james_free_agent_1

 

[JC]

He says he could sign it next summer.

New York Knicks fans and officials wept. :D ;D 8)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_sp_bk_ne/bkn_lebron_james_free_agent_1

appeasing the Cleveland fans I would think

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Give credit to the guy who got the quote:

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2008/12/lebron_james_tells_the_pds_bri.html

Unless LeBron wants Yankees season tickets, there's no reason for him to go to New York.

 

[schiezainc]

I'd consider an extension with Cleveland too for $202 million per season.

We all know that the only way the Cavs lock up James long-term is to pay him more than anyone has ever gotten and unless they're willing to pony up a ridiculous amount of money, I just don't see him staying.

Is it the best move? No doubt. James has a chance to do long-term for the Cavs, a once pathetic franchise, what Jordan did for the Bulls. Would Michael have made a ton in NY? Sure. But he was/is a mainstay of Chicago much in the way James can be in Cleveland and that kind of image ultimately pays off. In NY, James would just be another superstar in a city full of them. Oh, and the Knicks suck ass.

 

[broadway joe]

I'd consider an extension with Cleveland too for $202 million per season.

We all know that the only way the Cavs lock up James long-term is to pay him more than anyone has ever gotten and unless they're willing to pony up a ridiculous amount of money, I just don't see him staying.

Is it the best move? No doubt. James has a chance to do long-term for the Cavs, a once pathetic franchise, what Jordan did for the Bulls. Would Michael have made a ton in NY? Sure. But he was/is a mainstay of Chicago much in the way James can be in Cleveland and that kind of image ultimately pays off. In NY, James would just be another superstar in a city full of them. Oh, and the Knicks suck ass.

First of all, there's a maximum contract in terms of $$ and years that the Cavs can offer. This isn't like the Teixiera sweepstakes in baseball. Also, LeBron would be crazy to sign an extension early unless he's just sick of thinking about it, which doesn't seem to be the case. He probably just felt the need to calm the Cleveland fans and media down a little. I'm betting he'll wait and see how things look in 2010 before he does anything.

 

[schiezainc]

I'd consider an extension with Cleveland too for $202 million per season.

We all know that the only way the Cavs lock up James long-term is to pay him more than anyone has ever gotten and unless they're willing to pony up a ridiculous amount of money, I just don't see him staying.

Is it the best move? No doubt. James has a chance to do long-term for the Cavs, a once pathetic franchise, what Jordan did for the Bulls. Would Michael have made a ton in NY? Sure. But he was/is a mainstay of Chicago much in the way James can be in Cleveland and that kind of image ultimately pays off. In NY, James would just be another superstar in a city full of them. Oh, and the Knicks suck ass.

First of all, there's a maximum contract in terms of $$ and years that the Cavs can offer. This isn't like the Teixiera sweepstakes in baseball. Also, LeBron would be crazy to sign an extension early unless he's just sick of thinking about it, which doesn't seem to be the case. He probably just felt the need to calm the Cleveland fans and media down a little. I'm betting he'll wait and see how things look in 2010 before he does anything.

I'm well aware of the maximum contract. I'm just saying that the Cavs would have to pay him so much that he somehow doesn't have another choice but to sign.

I agree with you on the pandering to the locals aspect. I just can't wait until the time for him to sign an extension comes up and he says: "I just want to do what's best for my family and hold off until the season's over."

 

[Trey Beamon]

What exactly is his incentive to play in New York?

The guy is already a massive star and it's questionable whether he can get any bigger.

 

[BYH]

Drama Queen wants even more attention.

 

[Trey Beamon]

Drama Queen wants even more attention.

I thought Ben Roethlisberger was THE Ohio-born drama queen.

 

[broadway joe]

I'd consider an extension with Cleveland too for $202 million per season.

We all know that the only way the Cavs lock up James long-term is to pay him more than anyone has ever gotten and unless they're willing to pony up a ridiculous amount of money, I just don't see him staying.

Is it the best move? No doubt. James has a chance to do long-term for the Cavs, a once pathetic franchise, what Jordan did for the Bulls. Would Michael have made a ton in NY? Sure. But he was/is a mainstay of Chicago much in the way James can be in Cleveland and that kind of image ultimately pays off. In NY, James would just be another superstar in a city full of them. Oh, and the Knicks suck ass.

First of all, there's a maximum contract in terms of $$ and years that the Cavs can offer. This isn't like the Teixiera sweepstakes in baseball. Also, LeBron would be crazy to sign an extension early unless he's just sick of thinking about it, which doesn't seem to be the case. He probably just felt the need to calm the Cleveland fans and media down a little. I'm betting he'll wait and see how things look in 2010 before he does anything.

I'm well aware of the maximum contract. I'm just saying that the Cavs would have to pay him so much that he somehow doesn't have another choice but to sign.

Still don't know what you mean. It's not like the Cavs can blow everybody else's offer out of the water. They'll be able to offer James a six-year deal at around $20 million per. Other teams can offer no more than a five-year deal, I believe, at a little less per year. So the Cavs can exceed everyone else's offer, but only by a certain, fixed amount. It's not in their power to offer LeBron so much that it would be a no-brainer for him to stay.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

Charles Barkley was right.

 

[Small Town Guy]

I definitely don't see him signing before 2010. And I've changed my mind about thinking he'd be crazy to leave a potential title team for a horrible one. Two years ago the Celtics lost 18 straight games and the franchise was pathetic. Now...look what a couple of big personnel moves did.

So if LeBron goes to New York and they sign one of the other big 2010 free agents, why couldn't the Knicks do what the Celtics have done? And if LeBron would go there, I'd think the Knicks would become an atractive place for some veterans; guys who might not be superstars but are always on title teams (the Poseys, Horrys of the world). Put LeBron on the current Knicks team and they'd probably be, what, the third-best team in the East? Pair him with another star and they're probably at the top.

 

[Hammer Pants]

Being the man who brought back the Knicks and won a championship = Legend in the country's biggest market. A superduperduperdupertimestenmillion star.

 

[broadway joe]

I definitely don't see him signing before 2010. And I've changed my mind about thinking he'd be crazy to leave a potential title team for a horrible one. Two years ago the Celtics lost 18 straight games and the franchise was pathetic. Now...look what a couple of big personnel moves did.

So if LeBron goes to New York and they sign one of the other big 2010 free agents, why couldn't the Knicks do what the Celtics have done? And if LeBron would go there, I'd think the Knicks would become an atractive place for some veterans; guys who might not be superstars but are always on title teams (the Poseys, Horrys of the world). Put LeBron on the current Knicks team and they'd probably be, what, the third-best team in the East? Pair him with another star and they're probably at the top.

Exactly right. I'm not sure why anyone would assume LeBron would be joining a bad Knick team two years from now. The Knicks are half-decent right now, thanks to D'Antoni. Give them another draft, and they might very well be coming off a playoff appearance by the time they start courting LeBron. They should certainly have enough pieces that adding LBJ and say, Chris Bosh would make them serious contenders for the Finals. And winning in NY would definitely make him even more prominent than he already is. I don't see how anyone could dispute that. You think Derek Jeter would be as well known if he had won his World Series rings with the Indians?

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Drama Queen wants even more attention.

There you go dragging Terrell Owens into this ...

 

[prezclinton]

You think Derek Jeter would be as well known if he had won his World Series rings with the Indians?

No, but Derek Jeter didn't have half the impact on those rings as LBJ would in basketball. If Lebron wins a bunch of titles anywhere, he'll be equally respected.

 

[heyabbott]

The NBA is a niche sport designed to promote athletic apparel. It has a nice core audience but will be the most hard hit of all the pro team sports leagues since it has effectively priced itself out of the middle class ticket market. Its largest demographic can't afford tickets, and its ticket buyers will cut back on spending, especially as the 2008-09 NBA seasons will effectively be over by January 1.
Lebron's agents may be smart to lock him up now, as the season ticket buyers dry up with the economy and the sponsors cut back on advertising, in 2 years there may be no way a team can afford to pay a max salary.

If I owned the Cavs I'd trade LeBron the franchise for the value of a max contract

 

[heyabbott]

Drama Queen wants even more attention.

Dude got a hummer from his mom, how much more attention can a ***** get?

 

[Some Guy]

Why are people making such a big deal out of this?

Of course he would "consider" it. There's no harm in "considering" anything. It doesn't mean he's going to re-sign. Wake me up when he does.

 

[prezclinton]

The NBA is a niche sport designed to promote athletic apparel. It has a nice core audience but will be the most hard hit of all the pro team sports leagues since it has effectively priced itself out of the middle class ticket market. Its largest demographic can't afford tickets, and its ticket buyers will cut back on spending, especially as the 2008-09 NBA seasons will effectively be over by January 1.
Lebron's agents may be smart to lock him up now, as the season ticket buyers dry up with the economy and the sponsors cut back on advertising, in 2 years there may be no way a team can afford to pay a max salary.

If I owned the Cavs I'd trade LeBron the franchise for the value of a max contract

It costs $10 to go to a Cavs game. How is the middle class priced out?