Where will Lebron and his elbow play next year?
All we hear is LeBron, LeBron, LeBron and fair enough too. He is basketball’s best player and yes there’s something wrong with his elbow and yes he’s got the opportunity to become a free agent next year.
So it’s only fair we talk about him some more because either way this summer is going to all about “King James”. If he wins the NBA Finals it will be about how he led the Cavaliers to the title and if the Cavs don’t win, the blame will be placed on LeBron.
And we can be reasonably sure he’s going to opt out of his contract this summer, so we have that to look forward to.
In other words, this year all roads lead to LeBron.
But what road will LeBron take if he decides to opt out? Here are some possible destinations.
Option one: Stay at home in Cleveland
He’s from Akron and he’s always wanted to put his home on the map. Mission accomplished. Now he just needs to win the Cavs a championship and he’ll have nothing left to accomplish with his hometown team. At his MVP reception LeBron said: "Since I was a kid, I always said I'd find a way to put Akron on the map. It will always be my home and it will always be my life. Akron, Ohio is my home. Akron, Ohio will always be remembered. Akron, Ohio is my life and I love this city. This is home for me I love this place to death. Every day I wake up I understand that I'm not just carrying myself but I'm also carrying this city to bigger and better heights. No matter where life may head me, I'm never gone from here."
Is that a goodbye speech? Or reassurance for the Cavs fans, either way staying at home is definitely an option.
Option two: The bright lights of New York
We know the Knicks suck and we know they are not getting a lottery pick, because they so thoughtfully traded it away to Utah, but New York does have a few things going for it. Firstly it’s New York, it’s were everyone wants to live. Secondly Madison Square Garden is the Mecca of basketball. No other arena in America has the atmosphere of MSG and no other fans in basketball understand the game like the Knicks fans do. Thirdly what better story line would there be for LeBron to be the saviour of the Knicks. Bringing an NBA championship to NYC would take LeBron beyond superstar level and that is something he surely must be thinking about. Let’s not forget the Knicks do have a good coach in Mike D’Antoni and they have the cap room to sign two max contract free agents. LeBron and Chris Bosh anyone?
But, and this is the biggest thing which will stop LeBron from moving to NY, the supporting cast he would have aound him would be filled with rookies and bit-part players and yes he might have Chris Bosh or Joe Johnson next to him, but it just wouldn’t be enough to win a championship. The lure of NY might just be too much however.
Option three: Chicago and the Jordan legacy
Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah and Lebron James. If those three were to ever play together they would win at least three NBA championships and create a dynasty. But the Bulls aren’t in great shape, they just fired their coach Vinny Del Negro and the front office isn’t exactly what you would call a functional one. However, Michael Jordan was LeBron’s hero growing up and playing for the team Jordan won six titles with must definitely have some allure to it. But what happens if he doesn’t win a championship for the Bulls, his legacy would be ruined and does LeBron really want to be playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan?
Option four: The one that makes more sense than New York but will never happen
The Clippers. The Clippers? I hear you scream. The Clippers have the talent, they have the cap space and they’re based in LA. Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon – that’s so much talent on one team that if LeBron joined them, how could they lose? But it’s the Clippers so they could. Would LeBron really want to play for Donald Sterling? I don’t think so. But it does make sense, big city, lots of talent, failing franchise to save. I don’t think it will happen but it if LeBron wants rings the Clippers could be his best bet.
Option Five: The Jersey Shore?
This is the least likely option for James. The Nets were by far the worst team in the league this year and they play in Jersey were no-one wants to play. The stadium is inaccessible and is often empty. But the Nets are moving Brooklyn soon and that might just persuade Lebron to move there and wait it out a couple of years. The Nets also have the best chance of getting the No.1 draft pick this year and combine that with Brook Lopez who is quickly becoming a force at centre there is some sense into moving to Jersey, that and the shore. But when it comes down to it the Nets probably won’t be able to persuade LeBron to come, where would you rather play MSG or Jersey?
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