Lebron James is my favorite player in the entire nba. I’ve followed him since his 10th grade year in high school. From the moment I started paying attention to Lebron, I realized he had greatness written all over him. I even thought that by the time Lebron retired, he would go down as being the greatest player of all time. I made excuses for why he didn’t win, mainly blaming Mike Brown the Cavs former coach, for his lack of offensive sets and the slow pace at which he had the Cavs playing at. I also blamed Danny Ferry the Cavs former general manager, for making trades that were approved by the main stream media, but ultimately were not the right moves. Not once did I ever point the finger at Lebron. Even when it was clear to me that his performance against the Celtics during the semifinals last May was subpar and lethargic, I found a way to make excuses for Lebron James. Tonight for the first time since I began following Lebron, I can honestly say that I am highly disappointed.
Lebron may continue to be my favorite player, simply because there has never been a player like him with the combination of strength, size, athleticism and quickness. It would be very difficult for me to stop appreciating his physical specimen and his God given abilities, especially after he wins at least three championships over the next five seasons. With that said, I can honestly say, I will NEVER view Lebron James in the same light after tonight.
I am very disappointed in Lebron James for three reasons. First, I feel like if his elbow was truly okay, then I will have to agree with Dan Gilbert that Lebron did quit on the Cavaliers. Secondly, I feel like Chris Bosh would have okay a sign and trade with the Cavaliers if Lebron really wanted to stay in Cleveland. Finally,I am very disappointed with Lebron's one hour nationally televise divorce with the Cavaliers. I strongly feel his number one advisor Maverick Carter, has done him more harm than good. The Cleveland fans and ownership deserved better from Lebron and his one hour televised exit strategy really drove a knife in the heart of the entire state of Ohio.
DID LEBRON JAMES QUIT ON THE CAVALIERS?
Before tonight, I would have argued that there was no way Lebron could have quitted on the Cavaliers. I justified his subpar play in the Eastern Conference Semifinals by using his elbow as an excuse. I honestly believed that his elbow was more injured than he was claiming. After tonight, I don’t think his elbow was the issue at all. I hate to use the word quit, but I will say something happened after game 3 of the Boston series that turned Lebron off. Did his former bipolar teammate Delonte West really have an affair with his mother as it was rumored? Did Mike Brown decision to use Big Z and Jamison more as oppose to J.J. Hickson, who had a lot to do with the Cavs winning 61 games cause Lebron to disconnect with Mike Brown? Did the Cavs failed attempts to trade for Amare for a second straight season prove to Lebron that Danny Ferry simply wasn’t capable of bringing in the “robin” to James’s “batman?” Regardless of the reasons, one thing is very clear now, Lebron was disengaged after game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Rather than breaking down the entire series against Boston, I will point to two things in that series to validate my claim of Lebron’s disengagement after game 3. The first thing we have to look at is Lebron’s performance in game 5 against the Celtics. I think everyone will agree that Lebron was completely disengaged and I am not referring to his 3 for 14 shooting with only 15 points in that game. I am referring to his posture, aggressiveness or lack thereof and his overall unwillingness to exert his will in that game, which obviously led to a 32 points home loss.
James lack of engagement was also in full display during the last minutes of game 6 in Boston. With the Cavs down by 9 points with a little over a minute to play and Mike Brown signaling his team to foul, in hopes of trying to get back in the game, Lebron along with his teammates stood idly and watched as the game faded away. To me, it was as if Lebron was saying he had had enough. Looking back at that moment now, I think Lebron knew then that he had played his last game for the Cavaliers.
WOULD CHRIS BOSH HAVE OKAY A SIGN AND TRADE IF LEBRON WANTED TO STAY IN CLEVELAND?
The answer to that question is definitely yes, which is a really sad conclusion to this story. From what we know now according to Bosh, I think he knew that Lebron would not re-sign with the Cavs. I think the Toronto Raptors confused even Lebron, when they offered Bosh to the Cavaliers. If Lebron had gone up to Bosh and said, take the 6 years /$125 million and come to Cleveland with me, Bosh would have said yes. However, I think from all indications now, Bosh adamantly refused the sign and trade because he, Lebron and Wade were already discussing playing together. Bosh would have gone to Cleveland if Lebron truly wanted to return and now it is fair to say that for whatever reason, Lebron really wanted to leave the Cavaliers.
WAS LEBRON ONE HOUR TELEVISE EXIT STRATEGY THE RIGHT THING TO DO?
Of course not! It may have been the rumors about his mother dating Delonte West. It may have been the fans booing him during 5 in which the Cavs loss by 32 at home. It may have been the Cavs not trading for Amare only to witness the Suns watch him leave for the Knicks without any compensation. It may have been Mike Brown’s lack of offensive sets and not playing J.J. Hickson. We might never know but, we do know now that Lebron was tired of playing in Cleveland. Those are all reasons to cause anyone to disengage but, after the dust cleared Lebron could have been forthcoming with Dan Gilbert, the owner who did everything in his power to make the Cavs a contending team.
He could have agreed to a sign and trade to help the Cavaliers. He could have told them very early on that he wanted to leave so at least they could have prepared themselves for this moment. Not only did he not do these things but, he dragged it out only to stick a knife in the Cavaliers heart on national television.
HOW MUCH WILL THIS AFFECT THE LEBRON BRAND AND HIS OVERALL LEGACY?
Like I mentioned earlier, I don’t think Lebron will end up being the greatest player of all times because of this move. The same rule that applied to Kobe now applies to Lebron. Until Kobe won without Shaq, his championships were always diminished. If Lebron wins three in Miami over the next five seasons, it would be because he needed Wade and Bosh. Stangely enough, Lebron could win three championships in Miami without being the finals MVP and that would clearly affect his legacy. The argument can also be made that it takes two or three superstars to win a championship and I agree to some degree. However, Lebron could have had Bosh in Cleveland. Together they could have won two championships in Cleveland over the next five seasons and the Lebron Brand would have benefited immensely from that.
Lebron could have won three more regular season MVP Awards over the next five years. His resume could have had two championships, five MVP Awards along with 27,000 points all by the age of 30 years old. His legacy in the state of Ohio would have been cemented for eternity. I don’t see him winning any MVP Awards in Miami over the next five years, simply because the Heat will always be expected to win. He may win three championships as oppose to the two he could have won in Cleveland with Bosh. His career numbers will obviously be affected by this move. It is safe to say that because of this move, Michael Jordan will remain the greatest player of all times. I am shock to see that the best player in the game today with limitless potential who has yet to reach his peak, leave his home town at the age of 25 years old to chase a championship in Miami when he could have won at home. I wish I had a crystal ball to know what led Lebron to want to leave Cleveland so badly because I can honestly say, it had a lot more to do with something else than winning a championship. As an outsider I am disappointed because, I hope he had given the Cavaliers a fair chance by being upfront with them in the very beginning. As a fan I am very disappointed because I believe he and Bosh could have won several championships in Cleveland over the next five years, which would have done more for his legacy and brand than winning in Miami.
I am sure I will be watching the Miami Heat like the rest of the basketball world next season and maybe if they win three championships over the next five years, some of the disappointment may wear off. As far as tonight goes, I am shocked, disappointed and feel heartbroken for the people in the state of Ohio because I felt like they deserve better. I trust Dan Gilbert the Cavaliers owner will recover from this sooner than people expect. Only time will tell if his proclamation will come true, that the Cavaliers will win a championship before the Miami Heat.
WHO IS MAVERICK CARTER AND WHAT ROLE DID HE PLAY IN ALL OF THIS?
Maverick Carter is Lebron James number one advisor and business partner. He is a close friend of Lebron and the chief executive officer of his LRMR Innovative Marketing & Branding. Maverick Carter basically went to college for a few years and dropped out as soon as Lebron James was drafted by the Cavaliers. The LRMR agency headed by Carter has more money going out due to lawyers, a super plush office space in downtown Cleveland, a private jet, among many other perks. Before yesterday, the agency only notable client was the Minnesota Timberwolves point guard Johnny Flynt and of course Lebron James. Thanks in part to his friendship with Lebron, Chris Paul decided to join the agency yesterday.
My intention is not to discredit Maverick because I am sure he has Lebron’s best interest at heart but, I don’t believe he is truly qualified to take him to the level of becoming a billionaire. I believe he has benefited far more from his relationship with Lebron than the other way around. Maverick was very instrumental in negotiating Lebron’s new Nike contract which from all accounts was not as lucrative as the first one. And as far his PR skills, I just don’t understand how he felt this one hour special could benefit the Lebron brand.
It is one thing to have your close friends next to you when you become successful but, it is a totally different thing when you actually rely on them to build your brand, especially when you are the star and they are not really qualified. I am not exactly sure what role Lebron’s agent Leon Rose plays but it’s obvious to me that Maverick Carter is more influential than he needs to be. Moving forward, I think it is imperative that Lebron examines his business relationship with Maverick before it ends up costing him a great deal.
WHAT IS MY PREDICTION?
Unlike most people that think the Miami Heat will need two years to gel, I believe they will win a championship next season. Furthermore, I expect them to win at least three championships over the next five years. Lebron will then have to make a decision at the age of 30 years old whether he wants to truly compete with Michael Jordan for the title of, the greatest of all times. In order to do that, he may leave South Beach. I am predicting that Lebron will play for a third team before his career is over. In the main time he is the best player in the game, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him emerge as the Heat first option. Due to his play making ability, I expect to see him with the ball more than any other player on the team, which is why I believe he will end up being the Heat first option.
I am predicting that Lebron will average between 27 to 29 points per game to go along with 7 rebounds and 9 assists over the next five years in Miami. Wade will average between 25 to 27 points and Bosh will settle in at 20 points per game over the next five seasons as well. I think Lebron and not Dwyane Wade will lead the Heat in scoring and assist because, it will come easier for him due to the fact that he will have the ball the most. My prediction is that the Heat new big 3 of Lebron, Chris and Dwyane (LCD) will average between 72 to 76 points per game, 22 to 25 rebounds per game and around 16 to 18 assist per game. Their scoring will not drop as much as people think. I think the real sacrifice will have to come from the other 9 to 12 players on the team. The Heat new big 3 (LCD) will be the new age version of the 1990s Warriors “Run TMC.”
Cleveland will survive. Delonte West will be waived or traded and they will have a total cap space of $13 million to spend this season. After next season, the Cavaliers will have $11 million falling of their books in addition to Antawn Jamison’s very attractive $15 million expiring contract. I do feel sorry for the Cavaliers fans but, with the right moves, they could be a very good team sooner than expected. As far as Dan Gilbert’s guarantee that they will win a championship before the Heat, I wouldn’t hold my breath. However, I will say one thing with confidence and that is, Dan Gilbert will not hesitate to spend which is why I expect the Cavaliers to rebound sooner rather than later.
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