27 Dec 10 2010 NBA Free Agency: Where Will LeBron James Land?

Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesThe playoffs have been flat this year, really flat.So it's not surprising that most of the media glare has been focused on the upcoming free agent bonanza, which includes Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, and of course, LeBron James.The much anticipated summer of LeBron is finally here.There's no doubt that the reigning two-time MVP is the biggest fish around, and there hasn't been a player so big since Jordan.But who will LeBron sign with?In this article, I hope to provide the reader with an outlook as to how Cincinnati Bengals jersey
well-equipped the contenders are in this big-money race. A neutral viewpoint as to which team is the best set for a monarchy.Chicago BullsProsThe biggest reason why LeBron should come to Chicago is the supporting cast.It has a legitimate superstar in Derrick Rose, a passionate big man who protects the rim in Joakim Noah, a good two-way player in Luol Deng, a solid defender and shooter in Kirk Hinrich, and a young asset in Taj Gibson.Add LeBron to the mix, and you have a team which can instantly contend for a championship.Another reason is the media.Chicago is a big city, but not a global hub. This ensures that the exposure is more than sufficient to make LeBron even more of a global icon.However, unlike cities like New York, the media glare is not too much. Each and every shot he misses will not make the front page, and his private life will not be busted open completely.Moreover, Chicago has a sports culture. It is the home to several successful and storied franchises like the Bulls, Cubs, and the Bears. Even the Blackhawks have risen to prominence recently, plus, Chicago has educated fans who actually care.ConsWhile Rose is a major selling point, he can also be a drawback.Like LeBron, he too needs the ball in his hands. Can he handle not being the star attraction?Even if the ego problems can be settled, it would not be easy for the dynamic duo to share the ball-handling responsibilities and maximize their individual output.LeBron may have problems co-existing with Joakim Noah. The two aren't exactly the best of friends. And that's the understatement of the century.Importantly, Chicago is a place where Michael Jordan will forever remain the icon.The ghost of Jordan may come back to haunt James, and at every step he will be compared to the greatest of all time. He can never really be the icon which he (presumably) wants to be.But maybe the biggest negative is the coach situation.It is unlikely that LeBron will come to a team which doesn't have a coach as ofCleveland Browns jersey
yet, especially after his struggles with the offensive cripple Mike Brown.However, this situation can be turned around superbly if the Bulls end up with John Calipari or Phil Jackson.Cleveland CavaliersProsPerhaps the likeliest move.The biggest pro is that in Cleveland, LeBron is a god. Every superstar has an ego, and there is no place where LeBron's ego will be fed better than in Cleveland.He hails from Akron and Cleveland is really close to home. If he re-signs with Cleveland, he'll be hailed as the epitome of loyalty and a one-team man, and who doesn't like that.The roster may be aging, but it's really quality. Ferry is ready to do anything he wants. If he signs a short-term deal, this team could really contend. He also has good team chemistry with the players there.He's as powerful as the GM with the Cavs. No deal can go through without the King's approval. I'd be surprised if he can wield anywhere near that much power somewhere else.But the biggest reason is that every athlete cares for money above all else, besides maybe winning, and no team can give LeBron more dough than the Cavaliers.ConsThe roster is getting older by the day.When Antawn Jamison, Shaquille O' Neal, Anthony Parker and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are vital contributors, you know you're greying fast.Another major problem is the coach.Mike Brown is undoubtedly good as a defensive manager, but offensively, you would be hard-pressed to find somebody more inept than him.His best chance at capturing that elusive championship lies elsewhere.When you need to make your six-foot eight-inch forward defend the opposing team's lightning quick point guard, you know that you've got problems.James is a competitor. If he doesn't leave Cleveland and never wins a championship, evenDallas Cowboys jersey
a celebrated career will somewhat be lamented.It will always be a case of what if, and I don't think that LeBron wants that.Plus Delonte West, no further comments.A final major negative is the "Curse of Cleveland."It's increasingly looking like it's possible to win a major championship while playing in Cleveland, and for somebody who's primary aim is to win, it sure doesn't bode well.Los Angeles ClippersProsThe one thing that the Clippers have going for them is that they have a solid nucleus.Say whatever you want about Baron Davis, but the guy with the beard can still ball.Chris Kaman has slowly but surely matured into an All-Star caliber center, Blake Griffin may have had his rookie season destroyed by injuries, but the amount of upside that he has is worth drooling over.Add to that Eric Gordon, a sure-fire star for the future and a great offensive player, as well as some other solid parts like DeAndre Jordan, and you've really got something.The other major plus they have going for them is the city itself. Los Angeles is a massive city, and a major marketing hub.Playing in LA could only improve his image as the world's most popular athlete.The NBA would profit greatly.It currently lacks a cut-throat rivalry, and if LeBron played for the Clippers, the NBA would get one as big as any other.Viewership numbers would rise again, something that the Association badly needs.ConsThe biggest reason for LeBron to not sign with the Clippers is simple, name one major athlete who entered the Clippers and saw Denver Broncos jersey
professional sports. Need I say more?Playing in LA means that LeBron would have to share the spotlight with Kobe Bryant, and he may even have to be second most popular athlete in his own town.I'm not sure he can handle that.Davis and Gordon are both ball-dominating guards. Add LeBron to the mix, and you get a combustible mixture full of ego problems.It's nearly impossible for LeBron, Davis, and Gordon to co-exist because of the way they play.Miami HeatProsThe biggest pro is by far Dwyane Wade, whom the Heat have an excellent chance of re- signing.Can you even imagine how good a LeBron-Wade combo would be? I can't. It wouldn't be Batman and Robin, it would be Batman and Superman.If they off-load Beasley, Cook, and Chalmers, they will then have enough money to sign a third big free agent.If Bosh, Wade, and James were playing, the Heat could win a championship with my grandmother as the fourth wheel.Another massive positive is Pat Riley.The guy is one of the best general managers in the game, and a great coach to boot. LeBron will want a great coach wherever he goes, and Riley fits the bill.The final pro is Miami. The city is probably the celebrity capital of the USA.Great beaches, great parties, and all in all, it seems ideal for somebody like LeBron.ConsAfter Wade and LeBron, the team would probably lack depth, not a good sign for any championship contending team.There would be major alpha dog struggles between Wade and LeBron, and they're probably two of the three greatest "basketballers" in the world today.It wouldn't be easy for either of them to compromise their status', and there would be ball sharing troublesBut if the egos are managed, then the Heat could be formidable.New Jersey NetsProsOne thing that the Nets have going for them is that in two years time, they are moving to Brooklyn.Another reason is Jay-Z.The popular rapper is a close friend of LeBron's, and also a minority owner of the Nets. He will undoubtedly do everything in his power to convince LeBron to come to New Jersey.The Nets also have a young one-two punch. The bigger part of that is Brook Lopez. He may one day become the NBA's best center, and no, I'm not overstating things.They also boast Devin Harris, one of the fastest guards around and a great complimentary scorer.Besides these two players, they have a solid core. Courtney Lee, Terrence Williams, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian, and, most importantly, one of Detroit Lions
Evan Turner, Wesley Johnson, DeMarcus Cousins, and Derrick Favors are solid rotational players, if not more.They have the cap space to sign another big free agent, a Joe Johnson or a Chris Bosh, to complement the already mentioned team and LeBron would be really, really good.Last but not least, the Nets have a new owner in Mikhail Prokhorov.The Russianbillionairecould extend LeBron's appeal to Russia. He has shown that he cares about winning, and that's what matters most.ConsThere is a lot of instability over where the Nets are going to play next year, and the year after that.They aren't moving to Brooklyn before two years time, and that means two years of playing in New Jersey. It is unlikely that the King would want to play in such a place for two whole years, especially after playing in Cleveland.Plus, the players on the Nets are good, but the supporting cast is not likely to be as good as the Bulls or even the Cavaliers.Finally, their is no head coach at the present moment. Unless they bag a big name soon, it's likely to adversely affect James.New York KnicksProsWe're talking about the Big Apple here. The odds are that there is no more desirable city to play in, and that's why LeBron is likely to come.He's made it known several times that he loves NYC.New York have a lot of cap space, and he can basically come in and choose the sidekick that he wants. To LeBron, that's a big plus.Madison Square Garden is hands down the most famous venue in the world, and the chance to come and play there must be an enticing one.Another positive is Mike D' Antoni. His system is probably not one likely to deliver a championship, for it lays a lot of emphasis on offense, but nevertheless LeBron is a great fan of his.Finally, no other place offers half the media coverage of New York, and that's a great thing for James who wants to become the world's most popular athlete.ConsThe media glare is maddening. It may make him even more of an icon, but it's equally likely to dissect every move he makes, and tear into his private life. Plus the supporting cast really isn't that good. You aren't going to win a title withDanilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and Eddy Curry.David Lee probably isn't returning either. Green Bay Packers jersey
While Mike D' Antoni's system may be very entertaining, it isn't the type of system which wins championships. You need to play defense for that.All said and done, the squad, even with LeBron and another free agent isn't enough to contend for the Larry O' Brien trophy, and that's probably the decisive factor.The VerdictLeBron James is a man who loves attention. He's undoubtedly going to wine and dine with the GM of all thirty teams, and he's going to drop hints about joining each and every team.He loves the attention.But at the end of the day, he'll narrow it down tothe Bulls,the Cavaliers and the Heat.Then he'll sign a two-year contract with any one of them, with a player option for the third year. He'll win at least one trophy in that two-year period, maybe two.And in 2012, all the madness will start again.