Curtis Nolte (yeah that Curtis Nolte!) joins me for a WSB style fantasy football preview. He did prep work. The world is ending.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Michael Roth
National Champion Michael Roth joins me to talk about everything from his experience in the Big League World Series (which starts Tuesday) to his run in Omaha. And yes, his interviews with Erin Andrews.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Is MLS hindering U.S. Soccer
Zac Defrancesca joins me to talk about the MLS blocking Landon Donovan's transfer to Everton and it's potential ramifications on U.S. Soccer.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
LeBron Podcast
Zac DeFrancesca and Paul Gallant join me to talk about the LeBron James decision, fallout, and Comic Sans font. Also the greatest rant ever by Dan Lebetard.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The LeBlog
In 28 hours, the landscape of the NBA for the next 10 years could drastically change. LeBron James will announce his decision on where he will sign his next contract in a 1-hour special on ESPN dubbed "The Decision" by his marketing team and the broadcast giant.
Stuart Scott will host the show (shoot me) while Michael Wilbon and Jon Barry (good and good) will provide the analysis along with I'm sure hits from the Chris Broussards and Ric Buchers of the world (also good).
Jim Gray will get the first interview with LeBron in which he will make the actual announcement of where he will sign (Gray could be boom or bust, sometimes he's great, sometimes I hate him). Wilbon will then get an extended interview with James a la the one he did today on Sportscenter with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
James has caught a lot of flack for making this PR move to "boost his ego" and "enhance his brand". I don't buy it. Call me an oblivious optimist but the guy is giving the proceeds to this thing to charity because he's a good kid. When did LeBron become this guy that everyone hates? In the blog world we live in where everything is stupid and everything sucks, can someone not have pure intentions ever? The cynicism is sickening and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and some props for realizing the magnitude of the coverage, and making something charitable out of it.
Now that that rant is out of the way, let's get to another one before we break down where he could go. If you're tired of the coverage, stop watching. Go outside and shoot some hoops yourself. Go watch CNN and find the latest about the Gulf. If you want other sports coverage, watch MLB TV or NFL Network. You can avoid it if you want to, so quit complaining. I'm sure someone who's complained about it is reading this, a blog from a person with no inside knowledge that isn't published somewhere else. So why are you reading/watching/consuming all things Lebron? Because you want to. It's not cool to admit it, but you want to know the latest details and the nitty gritty just like everyone else. So shut up. Keep reading. And don't whine.
Now down to business. Where is he going?
I'll provide the case for each team, how the lineup would look with Lebron, and any inside scoops or theories I've heard. I have a pretty solid understanding of the NBA salary cap and the other factors going into what can be done, so here it goes. Also these are in alphabetical order. No other "most likely to least likely" kind of thing because let's be honest, nobody, including me, has a clue where he's going.
Cleveland Caveliers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Anthony Parker
SF - LeBron James
PF - Antawn Jamison
C - Anderson Varejao
Bench - Delonte West (will be traded if LeBron is back), Jamario Moon, Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson
Why he stays:
Akron is a suburb of Cleveland and Akron is home. Akron means the world to LeBron and he knows that if he leaves he'll break the heart of an entire city and that matters to him. He is also a well documented creature of habit and he likes what is comfortable to him. Cleveland is comfortable. Also despite the playoff regression since the Finals in 2007, the Cavs have been a 60 win team the past two years.
Why he goes:
He signed a contract 3 years ago with an opt out clause (for 2010, which in case you didn't hear, he used) with the promise from Cleveland brass that they'd surround him with the proper parts and make him a winner. They tried but largely over-reacted and over spent on players that were good in the post-season, but flopped in the playoffs. Outside of Shaq who was so far over the hill he was chilling in the valley on the other side, they never got a gritty, proven sidekick with playoff experience. If LeBron has no faith in the Cavs personnel department, you can't really blame him. Their best moves since him are Hickson and Varejao and those are very limited role players even if they are good at what they do.
Inside Info: The closest thing I have to inside stuff on Cleveland is that he's been playing pickup with Cavs teammates the past few days at his camp. These are his good friends, and shouldn't be read much into, but you never know what could be significant. The home angle is the biggest thing here and that's all that matters if he stays.
Chicago Bulls
Potential Lineup:
PG - Derrick Rose
SG - J.J. Redick (sign with mid-level exception, see below)
SF - LeBron James
PF - Carlos Boozer
C - Joakim Noah
Bench - Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson
Why he goes:
Did you see the starting line-up I just posted? If Lebron wants to win now, this is where he goes. Rose is a mini James meaning teams will very rarely have two defenders good enough to stop both guys aka one will always have the potential for a huge night, while Noah and Boozer are perfect compliments. Noah is a true 7-footer and the garbage pick-up man for offensive rebounds while Boozer, who is undersized, has all the offensive skill Noah lacks and is a master big man on the pick and roll which James and Rose love and thrive in having run it at Duke with Jay (then Jason) Williams and in Utah with Deron Williams. That leaves the one need as a shooter and the Bulls have the full $5.5 million mid-level exception to play with. Redick was the Magic's best player for stretches in the playoffs. The more minutes he got, the better he played. On a team like that where all he has to do is be a spot up shooter and defend, he's a perfect role player for that team. He's also got the assassin mentality which means he can hit big shots late in games when LeBron or Rose is doubled.
Why he stays away:
Playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan is a big deal and Lebron would hear about it at mininmum for the next 6 years. MJ has 6 titles, LeBron has none. He'd have to win 7 to be the best player in the franchises history, nevertheless in the history in the league. He's good enough (yeah I said it), but it is certainly a daunting task.
Inside Scoop: This is by far the juiciest story I have and it comes via ESPN's Chad Ford on the B.S. Report with Bill Simmons. After games, MJ would go to Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago and sit at the same table, with the same waiter every time. After LeBron heard about this, when he played in Chicago he would go to Gibson's, and sit at the same table, with the same waiter. When Ford was in Chicago for the NBA pre-draft camp, he went to Gibson's to investigate the story. He found the waiter and asked him if it was true. Not only was it true, but the according to the waiter, Lebron had said "keep my table ready". Does a waiter know what we all want to? Who knows but if nothing else it's a fun story.
Miami Heat
Potential Lineup:
PG -Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - LeBron James
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Chris Bosh
Bench: Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnardo, De'Sean Butler
Why he goes:
Let's be honest: that's a scary starting lineup. Chalmers is still young and if he can improve, he can be a serviceable point guard, especially on defense, while LeBron can handle the point on the offensive end. Beasley is as toxic as any player in the NBA, but if he can turn it around with the high characters of Wade, James, and Bosh (and even Butler) around him, he could be what we thought he could coming out of Kansas State, which is a monster rebounder and solid offensive player. As for those other two guys, Bosh and Wade. Yeah, they're good. In fact, Wade's elite (3rd best player in the world in my opinion behind James (2) and Kobe (1) in my opinion). They're also all great friends and want to play together.
Why he doesn't go:
Let's be honest. The rest of the roster has stink written all over it. I love De'Sean Butler but he's recovering from a blown up knee and won't be 100% until next March. Chalmers and Beasley could be good (as stated above) but they've proven nothing so far in the league. Varnardo is a bean pole who was a monster in college but there's a reason he played at Mississippi State, and Pittman couldn't stay on the floor at Texas because he was so out of shape that he needed a breather every 3 minutes. The rest of the roster will be maybe a mid-level guy (or 2 if they can swing 2 guys into a $5.5 million split) and minimum salary players.
Also there is something to be said about being "The Guy". No matter what, Kobe always wanted to be "The Guy". It probably cost him championships because he ran off Shaq, but that mentality comes with the killer instinct. If LeBron wants to be the one and only alpha-dog on his team, he can't play with Wade. Wade is that guy and Miami is Wade's city. If he swallows his pride and goes and wins a ton of championships, it won't diminish him in my eyes one bit, but its something to be considered.
Inside Scoop: A lot of people are saying the LeBron will join Wade and Bosh in Miami including Chris Broussard who is as close to LeBron as any media member. Wade and Bosh also said they'd consider taking less money to win, which would definitely help the case for LeBron.
New Jersey Nets
Potential Lineup:
PG - Devin Harris
SG - Terrance Williams
SF - LeBron James
PF - Derrick Favors
C - Brooke Lopez
Bench - Courtney Lee, Quinton Ross, Damion James, Kris Humphries
Why he goes:
Sure the Nets stunk last year, but their roster is stacked with young talent. LeBron has proven he can elevate young players' games and Derrick Favors can be what J.J. Hickson was in Cleveland but far better. Lopez and Harris have put up numbers in the past and Williams showed flashes of brilliance last year. The Nets have flexibility to bring in a shooter (Ray Allen, Redick, etc) so the roster is a work in progress. The Nets also provide the coveted New York connection, even if he's not playing in Madison Square Garden, and don't underestimate LeBron's relationship with Jay-Z.
Why he stays away:
The Nets are the Nets not the Knicks, and despite the talent, they did win under 20 games last year. LeBron wants to win now, and the Nets might be a few years away. I like their roster a lot, but he may not. Also the worldwide market LeBron wants is China, not Russia which new owner Mikhail Prokhorov provides.
Inside Scoop: LeBron had 1-on-1 time with Jay-Z after their meeting last week and you know that the Jigga Man offered "The King" a seat next to him on his throne as King of New York.
New York Knicks:
Potential Lineup:
PG - Sergio Rodriguez (They'd sign someone else, because that's not good enough...)
SG - Wilson Chandler
SF - LeBron James
PF - Amare Stoudamire
C - Eddie Curry
Bench: Andy Rautins, Danilo Gallinari, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker
Why He Goes:
I've been to a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It was electric. It was mid-season, and the Knicks stunk. Make them good, make it in the playoffs, and make it with those crazy people cheering for LeBron? Who wouldn't want that? Add in the fact that if he goes for the bright lights and the big city, and it works, he is forever the man who saved basketball in New York City. I get it. If he goes, I really can't blame him. He's good enough to win anywhere, and if they can add some pieces around him and Amare (and if Amare's knees don't fall apart) this team could be in title contention in 2-3 years.
I just got back from New York and there's simply no where like it. For God's sake, Al Harrington has his own shoe and billboards outside MSG and in Times Square. If LeBron wants to go to NY for branding, I think that shows he cares as much about business as basketball, which isn't necessarily a negative (who doesn't want to be a billionaire?) but taking a step up for business at the detriment of basketball can't be seen as a positive when you want to be the G.O.A.T.
Why he stays away:
Did you see the roster? Prior to the Amare deal, the Knicks roster probably belonged in the D-League. Sure Gallinari can shoot and Wilson Chandler's a nice player but when losing Chris Duhon is a major loss, that's not good. Eddie Curry will be traded at mid-season, if not sooner, because he is now a commodity (took long enough...*Isiah move cough cough*) as an $11 million expiring contract. This allows the Knicks to add other pieces and/or clear cap space to make a run at a major free agent next summer. All that being said, the Knicks have the worst roster of any of these teams, including Miami, which has 4 players under contract. Yikes.
Inside Scoop: A lot of "little birds" are telling people LeBron is headed to NYC. Chad Ochocinco, Jared Dudley, and Jay Williams, all current or former athletes who like to dab in the media (or in William's case is part of it full time) have all said they've been told LeBron is New York bound.
Los Angeles Clippers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Baron Davis
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - LeBron James
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Chris Kaman
Bench: Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, Willie Warren, Craig Smith
Why He Goes:
I can't believe I'm about to say this but, the Clippers have the best roster of anyone in the LeBron sweepstakes outside of the Bulls, and that's only because the Bulls signed Carlos Boozer. Sure a lot of it is unproven, but no roster in this sweepstakes has more upside then the Clippers, and no team would be more exciting to watch with LeBron than the Clippers. Imagine a fast break where LeBron has the Ball in the middle with Eric Bledsoe on one wing, Blake Griffin on the other, and DeAndre Jordan as a trailer. End result: you're getting dunked on. They'd need a shooter, but they'd be a legitimate playoff team at the least, if not a serious contender.
Why He Stays Away:
It's the Clippers. All the things I just said are dependent on everyone being healthy, which never happens, and some good luck and bounces on the way, which also never happens for LA's other team. Add in the fact that the owner, Donald Sterling, heads one of the most horridly run organizations in sports and there's no way LeBron wants to play under that. Add in the fact that LeBron would under Kobe's shadow on the 2nd best team in his own arena until Kobe retires, and there is no way that LeBron is going to LA.
Inside Scoop: There is none. He's not going there. LeBron spent less than an hour with the Clippers after spending 3+ hours with Chicago, and 2+ with the Knicks, Nets, Cavs, and Heat. He wasn't impressed. He wants no part of them. The roster: potentially insane. The history: insanely bad. This is the one team I'll rule out.
That's it. That's the list.
This should be the part where I tell you where I think he'll go, but I really don't know. Just don't have a clue. If I had to guess (which I won't, but I will) I think the likelihood goes like this:
1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. New Jersey
If I was LeBron I'd rank my options this way (my priorities are different from LeBrons, but I'm doing this from his perspective so loyalty to Cleveland is taken into considerations):
1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Miami
4. Cleveland
5. New York
I think if LeBron goes to New York he'll be looked at as a sellout who took his brand more seriously than his game. That being said, nothing would surprise me.
9 pm tomorrow can't come soon enough. Whatcha got LeBron? We're all watching.
Stuart Scott will host the show (shoot me) while Michael Wilbon and Jon Barry (good and good) will provide the analysis along with I'm sure hits from the Chris Broussards and Ric Buchers of the world (also good).
Jim Gray will get the first interview with LeBron in which he will make the actual announcement of where he will sign (Gray could be boom or bust, sometimes he's great, sometimes I hate him). Wilbon will then get an extended interview with James a la the one he did today on Sportscenter with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.
James has caught a lot of flack for making this PR move to "boost his ego" and "enhance his brand". I don't buy it. Call me an oblivious optimist but the guy is giving the proceeds to this thing to charity because he's a good kid. When did LeBron become this guy that everyone hates? In the blog world we live in where everything is stupid and everything sucks, can someone not have pure intentions ever? The cynicism is sickening and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, and some props for realizing the magnitude of the coverage, and making something charitable out of it.
Now that that rant is out of the way, let's get to another one before we break down where he could go. If you're tired of the coverage, stop watching. Go outside and shoot some hoops yourself. Go watch CNN and find the latest about the Gulf. If you want other sports coverage, watch MLB TV or NFL Network. You can avoid it if you want to, so quit complaining. I'm sure someone who's complained about it is reading this, a blog from a person with no inside knowledge that isn't published somewhere else. So why are you reading/watching/consuming all things Lebron? Because you want to. It's not cool to admit it, but you want to know the latest details and the nitty gritty just like everyone else. So shut up. Keep reading. And don't whine.
Now down to business. Where is he going?
I'll provide the case for each team, how the lineup would look with Lebron, and any inside scoops or theories I've heard. I have a pretty solid understanding of the NBA salary cap and the other factors going into what can be done, so here it goes. Also these are in alphabetical order. No other "most likely to least likely" kind of thing because let's be honest, nobody, including me, has a clue where he's going.
Cleveland Caveliers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Mo Williams
SG - Anthony Parker
SF - LeBron James
PF - Antawn Jamison
C - Anderson Varejao
Bench - Delonte West (will be traded if LeBron is back), Jamario Moon, Daniel Gibson, JJ Hickson
Why he stays:
Akron is a suburb of Cleveland and Akron is home. Akron means the world to LeBron and he knows that if he leaves he'll break the heart of an entire city and that matters to him. He is also a well documented creature of habit and he likes what is comfortable to him. Cleveland is comfortable. Also despite the playoff regression since the Finals in 2007, the Cavs have been a 60 win team the past two years.
Why he goes:
He signed a contract 3 years ago with an opt out clause (for 2010, which in case you didn't hear, he used) with the promise from Cleveland brass that they'd surround him with the proper parts and make him a winner. They tried but largely over-reacted and over spent on players that were good in the post-season, but flopped in the playoffs. Outside of Shaq who was so far over the hill he was chilling in the valley on the other side, they never got a gritty, proven sidekick with playoff experience. If LeBron has no faith in the Cavs personnel department, you can't really blame him. Their best moves since him are Hickson and Varejao and those are very limited role players even if they are good at what they do.
Inside Info: The closest thing I have to inside stuff on Cleveland is that he's been playing pickup with Cavs teammates the past few days at his camp. These are his good friends, and shouldn't be read much into, but you never know what could be significant. The home angle is the biggest thing here and that's all that matters if he stays.
Chicago Bulls
Potential Lineup:
PG - Derrick Rose
SG - J.J. Redick (sign with mid-level exception, see below)
SF - LeBron James
PF - Carlos Boozer
C - Joakim Noah
Bench - Luol Deng, Taj Gibson, James Johnson
Why he goes:
Did you see the starting line-up I just posted? If Lebron wants to win now, this is where he goes. Rose is a mini James meaning teams will very rarely have two defenders good enough to stop both guys aka one will always have the potential for a huge night, while Noah and Boozer are perfect compliments. Noah is a true 7-footer and the garbage pick-up man for offensive rebounds while Boozer, who is undersized, has all the offensive skill Noah lacks and is a master big man on the pick and roll which James and Rose love and thrive in having run it at Duke with Jay (then Jason) Williams and in Utah with Deron Williams. That leaves the one need as a shooter and the Bulls have the full $5.5 million mid-level exception to play with. Redick was the Magic's best player for stretches in the playoffs. The more minutes he got, the better he played. On a team like that where all he has to do is be a spot up shooter and defend, he's a perfect role player for that team. He's also got the assassin mentality which means he can hit big shots late in games when LeBron or Rose is doubled.
Why he stays away:
Playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan is a big deal and Lebron would hear about it at mininmum for the next 6 years. MJ has 6 titles, LeBron has none. He'd have to win 7 to be the best player in the franchises history, nevertheless in the history in the league. He's good enough (yeah I said it), but it is certainly a daunting task.
Inside Scoop: This is by far the juiciest story I have and it comes via ESPN's Chad Ford on the B.S. Report with Bill Simmons. After games, MJ would go to Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago and sit at the same table, with the same waiter every time. After LeBron heard about this, when he played in Chicago he would go to Gibson's, and sit at the same table, with the same waiter. When Ford was in Chicago for the NBA pre-draft camp, he went to Gibson's to investigate the story. He found the waiter and asked him if it was true. Not only was it true, but the according to the waiter, Lebron had said "keep my table ready". Does a waiter know what we all want to? Who knows but if nothing else it's a fun story.
Miami Heat
Potential Lineup:
PG -Mario Chalmers
SG - Dwayne Wade
SF - LeBron James
PF - Michael Beasley
C - Chris Bosh
Bench: Dexter Pittman, Jarvis Varnardo, De'Sean Butler
Why he goes:
Let's be honest: that's a scary starting lineup. Chalmers is still young and if he can improve, he can be a serviceable point guard, especially on defense, while LeBron can handle the point on the offensive end. Beasley is as toxic as any player in the NBA, but if he can turn it around with the high characters of Wade, James, and Bosh (and even Butler) around him, he could be what we thought he could coming out of Kansas State, which is a monster rebounder and solid offensive player. As for those other two guys, Bosh and Wade. Yeah, they're good. In fact, Wade's elite (3rd best player in the world in my opinion behind James (2) and Kobe (1) in my opinion). They're also all great friends and want to play together.
Why he doesn't go:
Let's be honest. The rest of the roster has stink written all over it. I love De'Sean Butler but he's recovering from a blown up knee and won't be 100% until next March. Chalmers and Beasley could be good (as stated above) but they've proven nothing so far in the league. Varnardo is a bean pole who was a monster in college but there's a reason he played at Mississippi State, and Pittman couldn't stay on the floor at Texas because he was so out of shape that he needed a breather every 3 minutes. The rest of the roster will be maybe a mid-level guy (or 2 if they can swing 2 guys into a $5.5 million split) and minimum salary players.
Also there is something to be said about being "The Guy". No matter what, Kobe always wanted to be "The Guy". It probably cost him championships because he ran off Shaq, but that mentality comes with the killer instinct. If LeBron wants to be the one and only alpha-dog on his team, he can't play with Wade. Wade is that guy and Miami is Wade's city. If he swallows his pride and goes and wins a ton of championships, it won't diminish him in my eyes one bit, but its something to be considered.
Inside Scoop: A lot of people are saying the LeBron will join Wade and Bosh in Miami including Chris Broussard who is as close to LeBron as any media member. Wade and Bosh also said they'd consider taking less money to win, which would definitely help the case for LeBron.
New Jersey Nets
Potential Lineup:
PG - Devin Harris
SG - Terrance Williams
SF - LeBron James
PF - Derrick Favors
C - Brooke Lopez
Bench - Courtney Lee, Quinton Ross, Damion James, Kris Humphries
Why he goes:
Sure the Nets stunk last year, but their roster is stacked with young talent. LeBron has proven he can elevate young players' games and Derrick Favors can be what J.J. Hickson was in Cleveland but far better. Lopez and Harris have put up numbers in the past and Williams showed flashes of brilliance last year. The Nets have flexibility to bring in a shooter (Ray Allen, Redick, etc) so the roster is a work in progress. The Nets also provide the coveted New York connection, even if he's not playing in Madison Square Garden, and don't underestimate LeBron's relationship with Jay-Z.
Why he stays away:
The Nets are the Nets not the Knicks, and despite the talent, they did win under 20 games last year. LeBron wants to win now, and the Nets might be a few years away. I like their roster a lot, but he may not. Also the worldwide market LeBron wants is China, not Russia which new owner Mikhail Prokhorov provides.
Inside Scoop: LeBron had 1-on-1 time with Jay-Z after their meeting last week and you know that the Jigga Man offered "The King" a seat next to him on his throne as King of New York.
New York Knicks:
Potential Lineup:
PG - Sergio Rodriguez (They'd sign someone else, because that's not good enough...)
SG - Wilson Chandler
SF - LeBron James
PF - Amare Stoudamire
C - Eddie Curry
Bench: Andy Rautins, Danilo Gallinari, Tony Douglas, Landry Fields, Bill Walker
Why He Goes:
I've been to a Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. It was electric. It was mid-season, and the Knicks stunk. Make them good, make it in the playoffs, and make it with those crazy people cheering for LeBron? Who wouldn't want that? Add in the fact that if he goes for the bright lights and the big city, and it works, he is forever the man who saved basketball in New York City. I get it. If he goes, I really can't blame him. He's good enough to win anywhere, and if they can add some pieces around him and Amare (and if Amare's knees don't fall apart) this team could be in title contention in 2-3 years.
I just got back from New York and there's simply no where like it. For God's sake, Al Harrington has his own shoe and billboards outside MSG and in Times Square. If LeBron wants to go to NY for branding, I think that shows he cares as much about business as basketball, which isn't necessarily a negative (who doesn't want to be a billionaire?) but taking a step up for business at the detriment of basketball can't be seen as a positive when you want to be the G.O.A.T.
Why he stays away:
Did you see the roster? Prior to the Amare deal, the Knicks roster probably belonged in the D-League. Sure Gallinari can shoot and Wilson Chandler's a nice player but when losing Chris Duhon is a major loss, that's not good. Eddie Curry will be traded at mid-season, if not sooner, because he is now a commodity (took long enough...*Isiah move cough cough*) as an $11 million expiring contract. This allows the Knicks to add other pieces and/or clear cap space to make a run at a major free agent next summer. All that being said, the Knicks have the worst roster of any of these teams, including Miami, which has 4 players under contract. Yikes.
Inside Scoop: A lot of "little birds" are telling people LeBron is headed to NYC. Chad Ochocinco, Jared Dudley, and Jay Williams, all current or former athletes who like to dab in the media (or in William's case is part of it full time) have all said they've been told LeBron is New York bound.
Los Angeles Clippers
Potential Lineup:
PG - Baron Davis
SG - Eric Gordon
SF - LeBron James
PF - Blake Griffin
C - Chris Kaman
Bench: Al-Farouq Aminu, Eric Bledsoe, DeAndre Jordan, Willie Warren, Craig Smith
Why He Goes:
I can't believe I'm about to say this but, the Clippers have the best roster of anyone in the LeBron sweepstakes outside of the Bulls, and that's only because the Bulls signed Carlos Boozer. Sure a lot of it is unproven, but no roster in this sweepstakes has more upside then the Clippers, and no team would be more exciting to watch with LeBron than the Clippers. Imagine a fast break where LeBron has the Ball in the middle with Eric Bledsoe on one wing, Blake Griffin on the other, and DeAndre Jordan as a trailer. End result: you're getting dunked on. They'd need a shooter, but they'd be a legitimate playoff team at the least, if not a serious contender.
Why He Stays Away:
It's the Clippers. All the things I just said are dependent on everyone being healthy, which never happens, and some good luck and bounces on the way, which also never happens for LA's other team. Add in the fact that the owner, Donald Sterling, heads one of the most horridly run organizations in sports and there's no way LeBron wants to play under that. Add in the fact that LeBron would under Kobe's shadow on the 2nd best team in his own arena until Kobe retires, and there is no way that LeBron is going to LA.
Inside Scoop: There is none. He's not going there. LeBron spent less than an hour with the Clippers after spending 3+ hours with Chicago, and 2+ with the Knicks, Nets, Cavs, and Heat. He wasn't impressed. He wants no part of them. The roster: potentially insane. The history: insanely bad. This is the one team I'll rule out.
That's it. That's the list.
This should be the part where I tell you where I think he'll go, but I really don't know. Just don't have a clue. If I had to guess (which I won't, but I will) I think the likelihood goes like this:
1. Chicago
2. Miami
3. Cleveland
4. New York
5. New Jersey
If I was LeBron I'd rank my options this way (my priorities are different from LeBrons, but I'm doing this from his perspective so loyalty to Cleveland is taken into considerations):
1. Chicago
2. New Jersey
3. Miami
4. Cleveland
5. New York
I think if LeBron goes to New York he'll be looked at as a sellout who took his brand more seriously than his game. That being said, nothing would surprise me.
9 pm tomorrow can't come soon enough. Whatcha got LeBron? We're all watching.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
One Big Thing - Oklahoma City Thunder
Craig has completely fallen in love with the new darlings of the NBA despite their loss to his Lakers. He explains in his "One Big Thing"
Remy Zaken - Full Version
Craig talks with his friend Remy Zaken who was in the original cast of Spring Awakening on Broadway with Lea Michelle who is now the star of Glee. Remy is trying out for Glee and needs your help!
Go to myspace.com/gleeauditions and search "Remy" to find her audition.
Go to myspace.com/gleeauditions and search "Remy" to find her audition.
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