Quote: Right, and I get that, so whats the big deal? The article in no way is implying that him not signing this summer means he si going to leave.
i think it's the way they worded the article. he "hints" that he's going to explore free agency? if espn followed beat reporters like windy, this wouldn't even be a story.
some believe that espn is doing this to fuel the "omgz he didn't sign, that means he's gone!"
some believe that espn is doing this to fuel the "omgz he didn't sign, that means he's gone!"
Right, but I dont see this article doing that.
Quote: i think it's the way they worded the article. he "hints" that he's going to explore free agency?
Isnt LeBron "hinting" that as well by saying
""I signed a contract in 2006 with an option," he said. "It would make no sense for me to sign that contract if I didn't keep my options open. I'll let you fill in the blanks.""
I mean listen, I understand there are people out there in the media who would love to see him leave and who take things out of context to make it seem like he wants out, and its not just ESPN.
And im with you on the fact that I dont see him leaving, I never have.
But this article isnt doing it that, and it just annoys me to see Cleveland fans react like this and make themselves look stupid. I mean the article flat out states that Lebron has given NO indication he will leave Cleveland. What more do you want it to say? (and by you, I just mean Cleveland fans in general)
i just don't think he's hinting at anything. he knows that we know he ain't signing the extenstion.
the cavs know too. that's why we haven't heard a lot about it.
they'll talk and i'm sure the cavs will show the gesture that they love him by putting it out, but they know damn well he's not signing. he has no reason to.
which is why i say this is really a non story.
i just hope if he decides to stay, which i think he will, that he does so early, that way the cavs can sign whomever else, and there's no question about him staying going for any premiere player.
Again, I agree with most of what you just said, but for fans of the NBA, people might want to know the story, and this article reports it how it is.
He isnt signing this summer, he is keeping his options open, but he hasnt given any indication that he will leave the Cavs.
I mean honestly dude, you read that article and think ESPN is acting like he isnt going to sign with us?
Look at the first line...
Quote: AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cleveland Cavaliers until after the 2009-10 season, when he can become a free agent.
If they were trying to imply he was leaving, wouldnt they leave out the words "until after the 2009-10 season"
i don't really think they're trying to do this as much as they have twisted and tweaked things in the past, i just think this is a non story.
to be honest, espn hasn't gone quite crazy yet with the entire lbj/nyc possibilities as much as i thought once the cavs were ousted.
i think the shaq deal helps. that is a big time personality. and a guy who can still play, and is coming off one of his best seasons in recent years.
bottom line? i don't think lebron is hinting at anything, i think the fact that he isn't signing is right out in the open. we all know this. nobody is shocked. even the average fan knows that it would be dumb for lbj to sign the extension.
Quote: i don't really think they're trying to do this as much as they have twisted and tweaked things in the past,
And thats really my only point in this little discussion, the people jumping on that particular article are off base.
Quote: bottom line? i don't think lebron is hinting at anything, i think the fact that he isn't signing is right out in the open. we all know this. nobody is shocked. even the average fan knows that it would be dumb for lbj to sign the extension.
Quote: I think we have established that Adam, they are referring to accepting it this summer, they say unlikely to accept until AFTER the 09-10 season. It says that in the first few lines.
I am very much aware of that. However, the initial comment was "I wonder how ESPN is going to try to spin [Lebron's latest comments]", and intentionally (in my opinion) misleading headlines and topic headers such as this are exactly how they plan to spin it. Like Lebron James (the poster) said, this is a non-story and everyone knows that he probably won't sign an extension this summer. A headline like the one ESPN used could have just as easily said "Lebron unlikely to extend until next summer" but that doesn't make readers click the link, because its pretty much common knowledge.
I understand what they did, and why they did it. I just happen to agree with Lebron James (again, the poster) that its poor journalism.
Quote: AKRON, Ohio -- LeBron James is unlikely to accept a contract extension from the Cleveland Cavaliers until after the 2009-10 season, when he can become a free agent.
If they were trying to imply he was leaving, wouldnt they leave out the words "until after the 2009-10 season"
And long before you see that line, you see "Lebron unlikely to take extension from Cavs" as a link on the front page of ESPN. You see "Lebron James unlikely to accept contract extension" as the page header when you click the link. Then you see, in big bolded letters, "Lebron hints he'll explore free agency".
Much ado about nothing. Wade and Melo signed the same type of deal in 06, and neither of them signed this extension. He has a long time before it expires. He just received it a couple weeks ago.
Spotscenter is all over this, making it sound like this is bad. Whatever.
Quote: The way they describe it on SC and write the headlines on the website makes it sound like he is bolting...at least to me.
I guess I just have to get ready for this all year long....was hoping we could at least avoid it until October.
Plenty of other things to discuss right now....getting to play Orlando without PED-user Rashard Lewis in game #9, Lakers on XMAS, Boston on opening night.....what other teams are possible title contenders (Spurs, Nuggets)....how the East has vastly improved it's middle class....which teams we expect to fall apart, rise up this year...et cetera.
This will be the #1 story of the 2009/2010 NBA year. Bank on that. And it will get progressively louder as the season goes on. The media blitz will be in 6th gear from postseason until he signs (wherever he signs).
As you and I have said earlier, if Lebron signs in another city.......Cleveland basketball is dead. Start talks with an NHL team as soon as possible (which won't be hard to find an NHL team in the southern states looking for a new location).
As far as Lebron potentially leaving, it might be the last straw for this cities fans. The RR88, the drive, the fumble, MJ's shot, the '97 WS, 05/07 chokejobs, and last years Cavs gagging on the Magic....then losing the icon of the city. Wow...talk about getting kicked in the jubblies and being left for dead.
Either way, the Cavs should just win the whole thing so I won't have to care where he goes.
“...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
Free-agent forward Leon Powe(notes) will sign a two-year contract for the league minimum with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday if the team’s doctors are satisfied with the progress of his injured left knee, a league source said.
Powe tore his anterior cruciate ligament and cartilage in his knee during Game 2 of the Boston Celtics’ first-round series against the Chicago Bulls. He had reconstructive surgery on May 5 – his third major knee surgery – and has been rehabilitating in Los Angeles. Powe hopes to be back on the court by this season’s All-Star break, and the Cavaliers are willing to take a low-risk gamble on him pending the results of his physical.
The Cavaliers will hold the option for the contract’s second season.
Powe averaged 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds last season for the Celtics, but became an unrestricted free agent when Boston didn’t make him a qualifying offer.
If Powe returns to health, he could help fill a void on Cleveland’s roster left by the pending departure of Joe Smith(notes). Powe and LeBron James(notes) were once AAU teammates.
i agree. great move by ferry. this guy is a solid rotation big when healthy. he killed us that night in the garden back in march. hopefully his knee comes along.
assuming powe comes back on schedule, come february, we are going to be insanely deep.
Agreed. Low risk, high reward type of move, although he reminds me more of a Anderson than a pread the floor PF which is something I still think we lack. With AV, Shaq, JJ, and now Powe we have 4 players doing the exact same thing, not sure how this really helps LBJ unless they can command a double team. Either way, it hurts Boston for them to not have him, gives us a window into what they want to do, and gives us a trusted proven performer in the post season. Like the move all around, like that Ferry is still making moves to make the team better for little cost.
"The medium for the bad news was ESPN, which figured. The network represents much of what is loud, obnoxious and empty in sports today."
I like Powe a lot with Z.....which is probably the point of his signing.
LeBron and Z run the pick-n-pop up top (or Mo or Parker since it's the 2nd unit)....then when the guard drives to the rim, Z flashes on the "pop" and Powe pounds the backside board. Gives the driver an option to pass to Z, driev to the rim or pass to Powe slashing to the basket.
Plus, Powe is great at getting position downlow for rebounds.
Source: Cavs, Powe reach 2-year dealComment Email Print Share By Chris Sheridan ESPN.com Archive There were a half-dozen playoff caliber teams willing to sign Leon Powe and wait for his surgically reconstructed left knee to heal, but the forward who had been such a big hit in Boston ultimately decided he wanted to team up with an old AAU buddy -- LeBron James.
Powe
Powe traveled to Cleveland on Tuesday to have his knee examined by Cavaliers team medical personnel, with the expectation that he will sign a two-year, $1.77 million deal Wednesday.
A source told ESPN.com that Powe will sign for the league minimum for players with three years of service -- $855,189. Cleveland will hold a team option for a second season at $915,852.
Powe, who re-tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Game 2 of the Celtics' first-round playoff loss to the Chicago Bulls, is not expected to be ready to play until sometime around February.
But if he returns healthy, he will bolster a Cleveland big man rotation that already includes Shaquille O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao along with youngsters Darnell Jackson, J.J. Hickson and Jawad Williams and recently signed Jamario Moon.
The Celtics forfeited their exclusive negotiating rights to Powe when they declined to tender him a contract offer in June. He had spent the past two years sharing time with Glen Davis as the backup power forward behind Kevin Garnett, averaging 7.7 points and 4.9 rebounds last season, and had a huge performance in Game 2 of the 2008 NBA Finals when he scored 21 points in just 15 minutes as the Celtics took a 2-0 lead over the Lakers.
Los Angeles, Portland, Dallas, Orlando and Miami also expressed interest in Powe, whose preference was to remain in the Eastern Conference and to sign with the team most capable of giving him his best shot to exact some revenge on the Celtics after they effectively gave up on him by declining to tender him a qualifying offer.
Powe had a huge game against Cleveland last March 6, going for 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting with 11 rebounds. But he injured his right knee five games later, sat out the next 12 games, then returned for the final two games of the 2008-09 regular season before tearing up his left knee (which had already undergone previous reconstructive surgery) in the playoffs against the Bulls.
Powe at the league minimum is an absolute no brainer. I know he's coming off the injury but we don't need him till the last 1/3 of the season / playoffs. He was playing extremely well before getting injured.....put up something like 14 and 9 when Garnett went out.
We were paying guys like Terrance Kinsey and Lorenzo Wright 900K+ and they contributed nothing to the team (other then being a warm body). If Powe comes back healthy, he's easily a top 8 rotational player and a good one at that. Definitely a low risk high reward signing.
LeBron James hasn't signed an extension. So what? By Kelly Dwyer LeBron James(notes) has stated his preference to remain with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he won't sign a contract extension this summer. He'd rather wait until next summer, when the extension is still available alongside other free-agent options, and see what the climate is like then.
And, somehow, this is earthshaking.
This wasn't earthshaking in 2006, when LeBron opted to sign a three-year extension, leaving his options open should the Cavaliers (coming off a second-round loss to the Detroit Pistons) continue to surround James with, say, Larry Hughes(notes) (in the first year of a ridiculous five-year, $60 million contract) or Eric Snow(notes).
It isn't earthshaking now, even in the wake of the Cavaliers following a season that saw them earn the NBA's best record, even in the wake of a trade that saw the Cavs send next-to-nothing to the Phoenix Suns for Shaquille O'Neal(notes). Who, by the way, is working on a contract that expires next summer.
It's not news. This, the new Charlotte Bobcat uniform with pinstripes, is news. J.R. Smith's(notes) return to Twitterworld is news.
Not this. This is just a guy weighing his options. And, as basketball fans, we really need LeBron James to weigh his options. He has to get this one right, lest he waste his prime in the wrong place.
Everything's going terrifically for the Cavs. Yes, they backed into a bad matchup with the Magic last year, ending a 66-win season one round too early, but these things happen. Losing assistant coach John Kuester to the Pistons hurts, but these things happen. It's a long career and bad things happen. Isiah Thomas missed out on his first ring because of an ankle sprain. Michael Jordan missed out on his first ring because Scottie Pippen had a blinding migraine one particular May afternoon.
What rarely happens is the continued presence of the game's best player, playing on the team closest to his hometown, delivering on all the hype and dominating the league in a style unseen since Michael Jordan's prime. Not his early years. His prime.
It's a good problem to have. And, as stacked as the Cavaliers are, and as promising as 2009-10 will be, anything can happen. I don't want to go down the whole "[so-and-so] could be hit by a bus" route, but so-and-so could be hit by a bus. Someone could tear a ligament or break a wrist, or revert back to the poor coaching ways that left LeBron working on one of the more inefficient and unimaginative offensive teams in the NBA from 2003-2008.
That last bit, it's a tricky one. That could happen. And until LeBron actually sees what happens, he's going to hold off on committing to a team - any team - for what will be the duration of his basketball prime. You can't blame a guy for this. He can make his money at any time, mind you, this isn't about the dough. This is about winning. We should be applauding that. Cavalier fans, even, should be delirious.
So why the lack of a signed extension remains some sort of hint to Tony Kornheiser-types that he's even considering the New York Knicks is beyond me. Or even considering "Los Angeles," as Kornheiser pointed out last week. As if you're going to see "MVP James signs five-year deal with Lakers for full MLE" on the wire next summer. Ridiculous.
Better yet, the Cavaliers will have only around $34 million in salary on the books for 2010-11, plus LeBron James' cap hold. With the ever-shrinking cap, yes, this means that a pairing of James and Chris Bosh(notes) or (geez) Dwyane Wade(notes) is likely out of the picture (unless James and Bosh both agree to take a bit less to play for what would certainly be a champion), but this also means the Cavs can tinker like no other team, with James just about in hand.
Armed with the knowledge of how well O'Neal worked or didn't work, what Mike Brown may have been missing or needing during 2009-10's run (no matter how successful), the Cavs can tinker. And they can tinker with a GM in hand who has been at the helm for a while, with plenty of data and history and juice cards to deal. That wasn't the case in 2005, when newly hired Cavs GM Danny Ferry went after Larry Hughes, tossing big money at what was the best player left on the market.
And it is all about the winning. If it weren't, James would have signed by now. If James didn't opt-out, his 2010-11 salary would be a little more than $17 million next season. Because of the falling cap, James could stand to make as little as $15 million as a starting salary if he signs an extension next summer, depending on the BRI (basketball-related income) the league takes in.
Even the most optimistic estimates has James clocking in at $16 million to start next year, which means he's already giving back money just for the chance to go over options and make sure he has a place on a winner. That's commendable. And should the entire Cavalier roster break their shins in a team-building exercise (seriously, Mike Brown? Jai alai? During the playoffs?) gone wrong, and James shuffles off to another team, he'd be playing for less money that he could get in Cleveland.
And I don't want to hear about the supposed advantages he could get in the endorsement realm by heading to New York. This would be 2010, we're talking about. Everyone has cable TV, everyone has the internet, and James is just about at his saturation point endorsement-wise. The only change in prominence and name-recognition would come because he's dealing with twice as many newspapers, sports talk radio stations and an NYC-obsessed media.
So here's what we have, again.
The game's best player is almost certainly leaving money on the table in order to smartly and slowly weigh all his options, as he readies himself to sign the most important contract of his career. And before he makes a commitment to a team, any team, he wants to make sure the situation is right. And, in a rarity in pro sports, "situation" does not equal "$$$."
He's not holding any team hostage. The LeBron-to-New York stuff was hot and heavy all the way back in 2005-06. It was at full throat last year, as the Knicks started (finally) clearing salary for 2010, and the Cavs won more games than anyone else. You're telling me a few more misinformed "Pardon the Interruption" segments are going to break this team? Come on.
Here's what's going to break this team. Poor pick-and-roll defense. Poor help defense from Anderson Varejao(notes) on the baseline. Bad spacing, offensively. Poor offensive output and shooting from the power forward position. An offense that reverts to its 2003-2008 ickiness. Injuries.
That's it.
Not Tony Kornheiser. Not Nike, not Donnie Walsh, not Pat Riley, not Jay-Z, not David Stern and not LeBron James's unsigned contract extension.
LeBron James is weighing his options, and waiting to see if he has a winner to return to next summer. That's it.
him not signing the extenstion, and keeping quiet on the issue of staying going has nothing to do with money or him tipping us off that he's bolting cleveland.
playing in new york might have had greater advantages 30 years ago, but in this era with cable tv, and the internet, it's not much different. just like the "nike escalator" it's all a myth.
lebron markets himself on a national scale right now. he does commercials shown in households all over the world, magazine ads that are sold all over the country, he sells shoes in every city. so it'd be the same deal if he went anywhere else.
this isn't about him being in a big market, this is about winning. and i think him not signing keeps the cavs on their heels.
look at the moves they make. who knows if ferry really makes all of these moves if lbj is locked up. you don't know, you never will.
i think with things as they are, he's staying, things would have to get real bad this year. and i just don't see it. i look at this group and i just don't see problems.
I love the Powe signing. if any of the cavs big men get injured in the first half, they have someone ready to fill the void. If the Cavs need a guard, they have enough big men to make a trade.
Boston writers were a little disappointed that Boston didnt re-sign him and they called him Bostons best low post player last year.
He was. He was more valuable to them than Davis was/is. If he hadn't gotten hurt, they would've beaten Orlando. And maybe, just maybe, we'd be the defending champs...at least of the East.
I think Danny Ferry might be the best GM we've seen in Cleveland since John Hart.
"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good" Thomas Paine
Quote: I think Danny Ferry might be the best GM we've seen in Cleveland since John Hart.
Taken one more step further, Dan Gilbert is the best owner of any Cleveland team that I have witnessed. He makes Danny Ferry's job easy by giving him the ability to go well into the luxury tax if it is best for the team to compete.
I believe years from now, Dan Gilbert may be viewed as one of, if not the businessperson that revitalized the city of Cleveland.
I think Danny Ferry might be the best GM we've seen in Cleveland since John Hart.
absolutely. maybe even better than ferry, considering he has to work with the salary cap... john hart worked in an era with no salary cap, but also the yankees or red sox not having their cable tv deals to have 200 million dollar payrolls or 150 million dollar payrolls...
if lebron leaves, you can't point the finger at anyone within the cavs, danny ferry has made all the moves he's had to make. larry hughes was a HORRIBLE signing, but, at the time, he was the top free agent we were able to sign (don't buy the michael redd garbage, milwaukee was allowed to pay him more than anyone else) he's brought in shaq, he's signed good solid players.
the organization hasn't really had the chance to sign a big time player. someone who could have been the second guy, that chance just hasn't come.
look at the roster when danny ferry was hired, and look at your cavs roster as of august 14, 2009. wow.
Quote: much agreed this team now needs to bring a trophy home
and i really think that's on the players. assuming shaq is ready to go come april, there will be no excuse about matchup problems. it will be about making plays.
and assuming powe comes back and is ready to go for april, there's no excuse for this team.
Quote: [ Taken one more step further, Dan Gilbert is the best owner of any Cleveland team that I have witnessed.
No doubt at all about that, have you guys seen what he has done with the Q. All the redone seats,and the new socreboard,renovated locker rooms,the incredible festival game day atmosphere. That stuff has all been done by Gilbert at his own expense. Gilbert is a incredible owner and a awesome businessman too. Guy makes a boatload of money and still treats his employees very well.
KING
You may be in the drivers seat but God is holding the map. #GMSTRONG
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