Does anyone else think that there will be clubs that protest the "free agent summit" that James, Bosh, and Wade held, and try to get some restrictive language put in the next CBA? I'm kind of surprised that it's not been made into a bigger deal.
I still have James in Cleveland, and acquiring Bosh in a sign-and-trade, or James and Bosh joining Wade in state-income-tax-free Miami.
I just can't imagine Lebron playing along side another ball-dominant player like Wade or Rose. IMO Bosh is a perfect match for either Lebron or Wade, perfect complimentary player. Rumors abound regarding NY conceeding the Lebron sweepstakes and focusing on JJ and Amare to create 7 seconds Suns-East. That would be par for the course in NY, good players getting paid great player money to make the playoffs and not sniff a title. In 3 years we will be talking about the horrid contracts and the cap limitations that NY has created for themselves.
I thought the Cavs had a decent team, a legit title team, they just need to add another piece and move some dead weight. The Cavs don't have the money to add the right piece nor do I think some team is going to help them out with a trade or sign and trade. It's going to be tough for the Cavs to keep Lebron is he's truely focused on winning a title. The problem is going to be what need do the address, what is really going to get them over the hump? Outside shooting to spread the floor or a post presence?
Where do you go Joe? How do you tweak the Cavs to put them over the top?
I re-sign Shaq for a one-year, incentive-laden contract, with a TEAM OPTION for a second year, with the second year guaranteed if the team wins the championship. I look at sign-and-trade possibilities to bring in Chris Bosh, and I'm willing to give up Antawn Jamison, the young guy (I always forget his name), and a draft pick to get him. Also, I make a play for Ray Allen, and see if he's willing to sign for the cap exception. If I get Allen, I dump Gibson for whatever I can get for him in terms of future draft picks. I also consider shopping Mo Williams for Ray Felton in a sign-and-trade, or, better yet, if possible, Chris Paul (or Darren Collison) in a trade. If it costs me Delonte West, I'm okay with that assuming I get Ray Allen. Look at picking up Udonis Haslem if he's willing to take the veterans minimum.
I go after as top notch a coach as I can get. Whoever it is will have had to coach in the past - no "rookie coaches." (See how the Mike Brown era ended.) Jeff Van Gundy and Byron Scott would be my two top options. I go after Kevin Pritchard for my front office.
I lay it out for LeBron that this is my game-plan, and I encourage him to hold off on signing with anyone, locking everyone up option-wise based on the fact that LeBron isn't off the table, and giving me the opportunity to negotiate with other teams. By locking everyone else up, it allows him to face a league that will be less competitive because of less familiarity. And if it doesn't work out, then he can sign elsewhere. But the idea is to convince LeBron that I'm a serious organization that competes off-the-court as well as on, that wants him to play his hand to the best possible extent in terms of guaranteeing himself a championship, and captialize on his notoriety at a time when he can best do it. In other words, convince him everything that he does in his interest in holding out (and allowing me to operate) is a competitive advantage.
The upside to this (from my point of view) is that if other pieces start to fall, LeBron is more than likely staying (since his options are reduced), and if other pieces DON'T start to fall, the LeBron is probably staying (since my plan will be in motion).
