The Michael Jordan of this generation
I am not comparing LBJ to Jordan since that is the essence of frivolity. Each player has their own talents and abilities and both are great. However, James does have the same impact Jordan did on the game. James is larger than life, a natural advertisement for the NBA. His game is a mixture of flash, determination, and sheer athleticism. He has his own shoe line and endorsement deals and is a global icon. A player like him comes along rarely, and teams like the New York Knicks are looking to cash in.
James is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2009-10 season. Teams are starting to clear up cap space now in hopes of attracting the biggest name in the game. The Knicks have basically rolled out the red carpet for James, treating him like a star in Madison Square Garden even though he played for the opposing team. Nike game him a special shoe to wear for the occasion and celebrities showed up in the stands to root James on. While this was an event to highlight a true star it sent the wrong message. Although the Knicks may already be in disarray, making moves and deals to prepare for something that is not guaranteed spits in the faces of the fans who are paying good money to see a poor product.
Glorified Tanking?
Tanking is essentially losing on purpose to gain an advantage, whether it be a higher draft pick or space to work with. Everyone in the world knows that the Knicks want to have LeBron James in a year and change, but giving up on being competitive now stoops pretty low. James wants to win; you can see it when he plays. His goal is to win a championship, but that is tough to do when he is surrounded by marginal talent. That could very well be the case if he does end up with the Knicks.
As of right now, the Cleveland Cavaliers from office has assembled a strong core of talent around him. They have navigated a tough balancing act, bringing in selfless players who will fall behind James but perform well on the floor and fit roles. Jordan had a similar set up in the 90's and that turned out pretty well. The Chicago Bulls won a handful of championships and cemented Jordan with his iconic staus. While James may not have his Scottie Pippen yet, the Cavs are off to hot start after finishing just short of a berth in the NBA FInals. Cleveland has decided to win now and may be making a better case for LeBron to resign with them. The Akron, Ohio native may love the spotlight New York would provide but winning may be the ultimate motivation. It looks like Cleveland is providing that right now.
Too soon to tell
While James is the biggest, there are other marquee names that will be available in the 2010 off-season. Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwyane Wade, and Steve Nash are only a few of the all-stars that will be available. These players can be at the heart of a franchise and will be in high demand. General Managers need to realize that LeBron is not the only player in the game. Sure it would be great to have him but sacrificing current success for a mere opportunity to land one player does not seem right. Trading away expensive players to get future tradeable assets defeats the purpose of competition. The NBA may as well stop play until 2010, when the games will begin to matter again.
