Ringer: Cavs Standing Idle, Might Cost Them LeBron James

[Big333223]

I wonder what Cleveland could get if they decided to trade him now? Sure he'd be a rental but he could win that team a title before he left.

It would never happen but I'm laughing right now at the prospect of Dan Gilbert kicking Lebron out the door. That would be hilarious.

[celticsclay]

I wonder what Cleveland could get if they decided to trade him now? Sure he'd be a rental but he could win that team a title before he left.

It would never happen but I'm laughing right now at the prospect of Dan Gilbert kicking Lebron out the door. That would be hilarious.

He should trade him to the Magic.

[SHAQATTACK]

I wonder what Cleveland could get if they decided to trade him now? Sure he'd be a rental but he could win that team a title before he left.

It would never happen but I'm laughing right now at the prospect of Dan Gilbert kicking Lebron out the door. That would be hilarious.

He should trade him to the Magic.

I like that ! 

[Celtics4ever]

Not like CLE is a basketball town, they historically have only supported the Cavs when they are winning.   

[GreenEnvy]

If LeBron checks out mentally (possible) and they hover around the middle of the pack (remember, they were a mediocre team for like half of last year), maybe this is possible.

What can the Cavs do to get any better? The rumblings will only get louder the worse they do.

Throw an offer at Gilbert for him, he just may bite.

[RJ87]

I wonder what Cleveland could get if they decided to trade him now? Sure he'd be a rental but he could win that team a title before he left.

It would never happen but I'm laughing right now at the prospect of Dan Gilbert kicking Lebron out the door. That would be hilarious.

He should trade him to the Magic.

Pretty sure LeBron has a no trade clause because he resigned without full bird rights.

[Surferdad]

If Cavs can't beat GSW with LeBron, Kyrie and Love, then they are stuck.  They can't get any better.

Still, I doubt James leaves.

[Bobshot]

If James goes somewhere else, the logical places would be the biggest markets that can afford him--and that would be NY and LA. The Knicks and the Lakers could absorb his contract. And the Lakers then would be expected to sign George next year, which would make them serious contenders. You figure the Knicks would be contenders as well. James would be the drawing card for other FAs.

Any team that gets James becomes a contender. What you hope is he gets out of the East.

[Moranis]

If James goes somewhere else, the logical places would be the biggest markets that can afford him--and that would be NY and LA. The Knicks and the Lakers could absorb his contract. And the Lakers then would be expected to sign George next year, which would make them serious contenders. You figure the Knicks would be contenders as well. James would be the drawing card for other FAs.

Any team that gets James becomes a contender. What you hope is he gets out of the East.

James would only leave for a team that gives him a better chance to win titles. The market doesn't matter at all to him. If he doesn't see a team that increases his title chances he won't leave unless Gilbert keeps doing dumb things (which is certainly possible).

[the TRUTH]

Not like CLE is a basketball town, they historically have only supported the Cavs when they are winning.

Couldn't agree more with this. Before the Cavs won it all last year, a lot of people on here said they were rooting for the Cavs to beat GS out of sympathy for Cleveland sports fans. Browns fans are unbelievably loyal - perhaps the most loyal of any fan base in all of sports. But just because it's the same city, there isn't nearly as big of an overlap between Browns fans and Cavs fans as one might assume. Cavs fans - in general - are about as loyal as Laker fans. The vast majority of Cavs fans can't name more than two players that ever played for the Cavs before LeBron arrived in June of 2003, and rarely watched or attended games while LeBron was in Miami. Not a loyal fan base whatsoever.

[greece66]

It was very hard from the start of the summer for CLE to improve its roster. Now, it seems virtually impossible. Lebron leaving for a better chance at a title is possible, but I would not blame that on Cleveland.

[the TRUTH]

It was very hard from the start of the summer for CLE to improve its roster. Now, it seems virtually impossible. Lebron leaving for a better chance at a title is possible, but I would not blame that on Cleveland.

I agree. If LeBron had stuck to his role as a player only and not meddled in coaching and player personnel, then the front office would deserve much more blame for the lack of roster flexibility the Cavs have now. But this is the classic case of someone making their bed and now having to sleep in it.

[the TRUTH]

If James goes somewhere else, the logical places would be the biggest markets that can afford him--and that would be NY and LA. The Knicks and the Lakers could absorb his contract. And the Lakers then would be expected to sign George next year, which would make them serious contenders. You figure the Knicks would be contenders as well. James would be the drawing card for other FAs.

Any team that gets James becomes a contender. What you hope is he gets out of the East.

James would only leave for a team that gives him a better chance to win titles. The market doesn't matter at all to him. If he doesn't see a team that increases his title chances he won't leave unless Gilbert keeps doing dumb things (which is certainly possible).

I agree that market size likely won't be a major factor for LeBron.

I'm curious to hear your take on this since you seem pretty plugged in to the Cavs. What's your take on why the fan base embraced him so quickly when he returned from Miami? And do you know of any fans that refused to root for the Cavs once LeBron returned and/or root for them begrudgingly in spite of their dislike of LeBron?

[Moranis]

If James goes somewhere else, the logical places would be the biggest markets that can afford him--and that would be NY and LA. The Knicks and the Lakers could absorb his contract. And the Lakers then would be expected to sign George next year, which would make them serious contenders. You figure the Knicks would be contenders as well. James would be the drawing card for other FAs.

Any team that gets James becomes a contender. What you hope is he gets out of the East.

James would only leave for a team that gives him a better chance to win titles. The market doesn't matter at all to him. If he doesn't see a team that increases his title chances he won't leave unless Gilbert keeps doing dumb things (which is certainly possible).

I agree that market size likely won't be a major factor for LeBron.

I'm curious to hear your take on this since you seem pretty plugged in to the Cavs. What's your take on why the fan base embraced him so quickly when he returned from Miami? And do you know of any fans that refused to root for the Cavs once LeBron returned and/or root for them begrudgingly in spite of their dislike of LeBron?

fans in pretty much every city and every sport really only care about winning.  Even the diehards prefer their team to be winning.  Lebron led to winning.  It really isn't difficult to understand.

[Surferdad]

If James goes somewhere else, the logical places would be the biggest markets that can afford him--and that would be NY and LA. The Knicks and the Lakers could absorb his contract. And the Lakers then would be expected to sign George next year, which would make them serious contenders. You figure the Knicks would be contenders as well. James would be the drawing card for other FAs.

Any team that gets James becomes a contender. What you hope is he gets out of the East.

James would only leave for a team that gives him a better chance to win titles. The market doesn't matter at all to him. If he doesn't see a team that increases his title chances he won't leave unless Gilbert keeps doing dumb things (which is certainly possible).

I agree that market size likely won't be a major factor for LeBron.

I'm curious to hear your take on this since you seem pretty plugged in to the Cavs. What's your take on why the fan base embraced him so quickly when he returned from Miami? And do you know of any fans that refused to root for the Cavs once LeBron returned and/or root for them begrudgingly in spite of their dislike of LeBron?

I actually disagree.  He is learning that a small market team like the Cavs can't improve any further.  Gilbert has paid the tax and it's still not enough.  He has to go to a big market so the owner can afford better teammates.