I've been trying to avoid basketball in general and ESPN in particular since LeBron and the Cavs decided to stop trying against the Celtics. Why have I done that? Because if you're sick of hearing the 24 hour news cycle report everything from how LeBron "might" consider signing with Chicago or Miami or New York or prefers 2.37 ply toilet paper versus standard 2 ply then you can imagine how we feel in Cleveland. ESPN has made it a point of having in your face 24 hour coverage of a possible impending free agent. That's right, he's not even a free agent yet. He needs to opt out of his contract in order to be a free agent and he can't do that until July 1. Why then do we need 6 continuous weeks of freaking torture?
This just in! LeBron sells his Aston Martin. Aston Martin was sold by Ford. The Oklahoma City Thunder play in the Ford Center. Does that mean LeBron has crossed off Oklahoma City as a possible destination? Quick! Discuss for the next 10 damn hours.
Come on! Give me a break over here. It's not like we don't already have enough turmoil in the only somewhat successful franchise in the city for the past 3 years. The coach was fired (and should have been) and the GM resigned today (would have liked to have kept him). Everything unfortunately hinges on what LeBron does, and I just know he loves it that way. He gets to be the belle of the ball and make the NBA sit back and wait until he signs his name somewhere. It would be great if he would just put some closure on the thing already. Leave or don't leave. Just say it. Don't say that "Cleveland is great and I love Akron, but I also love New York and who doesn't love Miami? Chicago? I vacation there all the time. In the winter. Love it. I love everywhere."
If he leaves then the franchise obviously goes into rebuilding mode. If he stays then it's re-stock for a title run. There are some nice pieces on the team and I would have liked to have seen what Ferry could have done with them, but now it's just wait and see what happens on July 1st.
A while back I thought that LeBron might not opt out and then we'd have to go through this all over again next year. I think that would be an interesting, though ultimately stupid decision, but it would give him even more control over the franchise and by extension the city. In the end he'll sign with the Cavs, though may not be staying with the Cavs. In order to get the most money possible he will sign either way with Cleveland and if he desires, force a sign-and-trade to any other team in the NBA. Any team out there would love to have his talent, but from what I've seen over the past 7 years, he's got a lot of maturing to do before he is capable of imposing his will on a game in order to dominate it mentally as opposed to just being physically amazing. There are glimpses and I do think he'll get there one day. Hopefully he chooses to do that with the Cavs, because even with all the drama I'd still rather have him on my team than on the opposing team.
2 comments:
Timmy Tim, everybody.
Because LeBron loves the attention and can't talk to other teams until July 1st, this is going to drag out until at least late July. Plus, even though free agency starts on July 1st, isn't there like a three week moratorium before free agents can actually sign with a new team? I'm guessing early August until this is resolved.
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