Marc Spector
the 4'11 Cuban
All this talk of LeBron leaving and I cannot figure out for the life of me who can take him AND be a finals contender?
Think about it: Most competitive ball clubs in the NBA either have the 4 scenarios:
1. A young core of new players, new coach and are fully committed to investing in to compete in the future (around 1-5 years). Examples: Lakers, 76ers, Twolves, Bucks, Suns,
2. Perennial playoff teams with Mid level-superstar level players who are the face of the franchise and are locked up for 1-5 more years, mostly stable coaching situation, looking to stay consistent: examples: GSW, Celtics, Rockets, Thunder, Trailblazers, Wizards, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz (just barely tho with the Grizz)
3. Basement dwellers, rebuilds and inconsistent teams. Teams who either have inept front offices, have lost talent to the FA/retirement, are still seeking new pieces in the draft, or just cant stay healthy to be a consistent playoff team. Examples: Clips, Jazz, Pels, Heat, Kings, Nuggets, Nets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Magic, Bulls,
Now lets put some things in context, LeBron is 32 years old and will be approaching his 34th birthday next summer. He will have 2 years or less to remain a elite player going by standard physical breakdown of NBA players. Meaning: any team that lands him has a very short window to compete for a title with LeBron as the main centerpiece.
Assuming he has an epiphany about free flowing offenses, its assumed he will want to finish out his carer playing his Bron-Ball. Meaning: any team that lands him will probably have to bend to his will of play style (regardless of their pre-lebron identity or regardless of coaches discretion).
Also, if said team doesnt have the personnel to support his style of play, its assumed their will have to be acquisitions to gain those talents. Meaning youth and draft picks will have to be traded.
Now, with all of that said, which team fits the profile? Which team has the cap space, a scoring centerpiece, a few other key personnel, and above all else, is willing to leverage its future on wining a title now?
I cant think of ANY, personally. Chicago would reunite him with Wade, would have a young Zach Levine who could possibly make the jump to an elite scorer. But Wade is 4 years older than Miami Wade and the Bulls have an inept Front Office.
Atlanta? Possibly. One of the better fits. Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore are competent playmakers. They also need to improve at shooting 3s. But would Mike Budenholzer be willing to cede control of the offense to LeBron?
And to take it a step further, why go to ANY other Eastern Conference team? The Cavs as they currently are have a chokehold on the East.
Which leads us to the most popular destination in the rumor mill, the Lakers.
True enough the Lakers historically have been the landing spot for big free agents looking to win.
But as it stands the current Lakers regime SEEMS to be fully committed on embracing their future core of Lonzo, Ingram, *insert veteran scorer they get in 2018 FA*, Randle, Clarkson, Kuzma,...and also fully want to embrace motion offenses with a lot of transition buckets (which LeBron EXCELS at).
But do you really think they are willing to impede Lonzos and Ingrams maturation as facilitators , which WILL happen if LeBron comes to LA as the current player he is? I don't.
TO summarize, i just don't see where LeBron can land that meets all of the criteria, especially this late in his career.
Think about it: Most competitive ball clubs in the NBA either have the 4 scenarios:
1. A young core of new players, new coach and are fully committed to investing in to compete in the future (around 1-5 years). Examples: Lakers, 76ers, Twolves, Bucks, Suns,
2. Perennial playoff teams with Mid level-superstar level players who are the face of the franchise and are locked up for 1-5 more years, mostly stable coaching situation, looking to stay consistent: examples: GSW, Celtics, Rockets, Thunder, Trailblazers, Wizards, Raptors, Spurs, Grizz (just barely tho with the Grizz)
3. Basement dwellers, rebuilds and inconsistent teams. Teams who either have inept front offices, have lost talent to the FA/retirement, are still seeking new pieces in the draft, or just cant stay healthy to be a consistent playoff team. Examples: Clips, Jazz, Pels, Heat, Kings, Nuggets, Nets, Knicks, Pistons, Hawks, Magic, Bulls,
Now lets put some things in context, LeBron is 32 years old and will be approaching his 34th birthday next summer. He will have 2 years or less to remain a elite player going by standard physical breakdown of NBA players. Meaning: any team that lands him has a very short window to compete for a title with LeBron as the main centerpiece.
Assuming he has an epiphany about free flowing offenses, its assumed he will want to finish out his carer playing his Bron-Ball. Meaning: any team that lands him will probably have to bend to his will of play style (regardless of their pre-lebron identity or regardless of coaches discretion).
Also, if said team doesnt have the personnel to support his style of play, its assumed their will have to be acquisitions to gain those talents. Meaning youth and draft picks will have to be traded.
Now, with all of that said, which team fits the profile? Which team has the cap space, a scoring centerpiece, a few other key personnel, and above all else, is willing to leverage its future on wining a title now?
I cant think of ANY, personally. Chicago would reunite him with Wade, would have a young Zach Levine who could possibly make the jump to an elite scorer. But Wade is 4 years older than Miami Wade and the Bulls have an inept Front Office.
Atlanta? Possibly. One of the better fits. Dennis Schroder and Kent Bazemore are competent playmakers. They also need to improve at shooting 3s. But would Mike Budenholzer be willing to cede control of the offense to LeBron?
And to take it a step further, why go to ANY other Eastern Conference team? The Cavs as they currently are have a chokehold on the East.
Which leads us to the most popular destination in the rumor mill, the Lakers.
True enough the Lakers historically have been the landing spot for big free agents looking to win.
But as it stands the current Lakers regime SEEMS to be fully committed on embracing their future core of Lonzo, Ingram, *insert veteran scorer they get in 2018 FA*, Randle, Clarkson, Kuzma,...and also fully want to embrace motion offenses with a lot of transition buckets (which LeBron EXCELS at).
But do you really think they are willing to impede Lonzos and Ingrams maturation as facilitators , which WILL happen if LeBron comes to LA as the current player he is? I don't.
TO summarize, i just don't see where LeBron can land that meets all of the criteria, especially this late in his career.
