Please no. Please.
Obviously, they both should opt out. They are each in the prime of their careers and can secure max long-term money if they so wanted. Anthony should leave New York if he wants to be surrounded with a better cast of teammates because Amar'e Stoudemire is also making max money and there is no sign of him regaining superstar status in sight. He ruins the salary cap for the Knicks for the rest of his deal, as he is virtually untradeable.
Lebron, on the other hand, has won back-to-back championships with the Miami Heat roster, and most likely a third this upcoming season with almost the same team as the last few years, sans Mike Miller. Miami had to axe Miller, a fan favorite, due to luxury tax reasons because the new Collective Bargaining Agreement crushes teams that go over the cap.
After this season, though, the Heat will have cap space especially if Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh opt out their contracts. Wade and Bosh would probably only do so if Lebron does come back, restructuring their deals to keep good players on the roster and, of course, Lebron. But if Lebron bolts for greener pastures, Wade and Bosh would most likely opt in because they may not be offered as much per year, especially Wade, who is slowly breaking down.
Teams are clearing cap space for another Lebron sweepstakes, like in 2010, to offer him the most money they can and for roster flexibility. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Lakers lead the rumor mill for Lebron, who, at this point in his career, probably cares about winning more than money.
The Cavs have the best team to surround him, like young stud Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Anderson Varajao and the 2013 number one overall pick Anthony Bennet.
The Lakers have Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant and Kobe Bryant.
But Miami has a selling point that no other team can offer and something general manager Pat Riley will probably use as his main attraction for the King to stay: a dynasty.
Yes, a dynasty. Like Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan.
Those are some names.
This dynasty pitch could be enough to sway Lebron to stay, but it significantly depends on Dwyane Wade. Chris Bosh will be at about the same production level as he's been throughout their championship runs; but an old, injured Wade is not a good number two guy to sustain a dynasty. Maybe Wade will have a terrific season, one to convince Lebron to stay, but they have to win the 2014 championship for this dynasty pitch to even happen. If they don't, well, Lebron will surely be looking elsewhere more so than if they win in '14.
Lebron is all about legacy and nothing creates a better legacy in sports than a dynasty. But at the same time Lebron wants to create his own kind of legacy and, as we well know, he is not shy about spurning his current team (also his hometown team.) Joining the Cavs or Lakers could just as easily bring him another championship in 2015, sustaining his own personal dynasty.
Nobody has any clue what Lebron is thinking, but my guess is this 2014 season will be the most important season in Miami Heat history - purely because of Lebron. If they win it all, it doesn't guarantee he stays, but has a player ever willingly walked away from his team after capturing a championship, let alone three in a row?
Once the Melo drama ended, the Dwightmare started. And now that the Dwightmare ended, the Lebron-athon now begins, again. So get ready for another year full of annoying speculation and ridiculous rumors.
No comments:
Post a Comment