Editor’s Note: This guest post comes from staunch Cleveland Cavaliers fan and aspiring writer, Benjamin Jackson. His blog, LeBron James Is Underrated, is not a site about Kobe Bryant — I’ll let you guess what it focuses on. Benjamin muses on the potential employer of King James in 2010-11.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind; LeBron James will be a Cleveland Cavalier next year. ESPN and the New York media want you to believe that LeBron has already made the decision to go to New York after this season. It’s an easy story. James is the most desired player of the 2010 free agency, as every team would love to have the best basketball player in the game today.
Please just stop, take a minute, and really think about it. Why would LeBron leave something he built from the ground-up? It just doesn’t make basketball sense. The Cavaliers have made the playoffs now 4 straight years in a row. Dan Gilbert is not Larry Dolan, and he has every intention of keeping his prized jewel in the city of Cleveland.
LeBron plays for the best team in the Association. They’ve already swept the Lakers with two wins this season, and the Cavaliers are the front-runner to come out of the Eastern Conference. If this much is true, then the world gets to see the much anticipated LeBron v. Kobe NBA finals showdown. The Cavaliers have already proven they can beat the Lakers, and all signs point to LeBron bringing home a championship trophy to Cleveland this June.
Now you’re telling me, that LeBron is going to pack-up and move to New York after he wins it all for the city he put on the map? No chance. LeBron will win a title this year, and he knows in his heart that playing for the Cavaliers next season gives him the best chance to repeat. “King James” has already stated, above all else, he wants to win.
The Cavaliers are committed to LeBron, and have done everything in their power to show him how serious they are about being a contender every single year. This season alone, GM Danny Ferry has brought in veteran all-stars Shaquille O’Neal and more recently Antawn Jamison. Owner Dan Gilbert knows that his investment in the Cleveland Cavaliers essentially comes down to resigning LeBron this summer. He’s shown LeBron he is more than willing to spend big bucks to bring in marquee players. At 38 years of age Shaq Diesel, although pretty effective this season, is on the downside of his career.
With Chris Bosh on the market this off-season as well, don’t be surprised when the Cavs pull the trigger on bringing yet another high-level player into the mix. Mo Williams, Delonte West, LeBron James, Hickson, and Chris Bosh? Daniel Gibson and Anderson Varejao coming off the bench? That would be a team that could win titles for years to come.
LeBron won’t leave the city he grew up in. Why would he build a castle just outside of Akron if he wasn’t planning on living there for the foreseeable future? LeBron knows that with the collective bargaining agreement will allow the Cavaliers to offer him more money than any other NBA team, including the New York Knicks. LeBron is already well-regarded as a global icon, and going to either the Brooklyn Nets or NY Knicks wouldn’t significantly impact how much money he could make. He has already built an international empire, and winning multiple titles in Cleveland will cement his legacy.
Just this week, James officially requested to change his jersey number from 23 to 6 after this year. Why do that if you’re considering going to a new team anyways? If you play for a new team, you get to choose your number anyways. It doesn’t add up. LeBron wants to win multiple championships, not start over with a team who is rebuilding. He already is considered the face of the NBA, and going to a franchise that is widely considered a joke doesn’t make sense for someone who wants to be contending for an NBA title each year. You don’t leave the best thing you have going. LeBron will stay in Cleveland.
Check out more of Benjamin Jackson’s writing at his blog, LeBron James Is Underrated.
