WI: Lebron Stays with Cleveland

I'm not sure if this is in the right section, but, being an Ohioan, after watching the last playoff game yesterday, I began to wonder how the NBA today would be different if Lebron stayed with Cleveland. So, if you have an idea, share your thoughts here.
 

birdboy2000

Banned
Celtics win it all this year, I'd imagine, unless you want to butterfly out injuries to the Bulls. The year before Dallas still triumphs, but it's hard to say who comes out of the east.
 
Celtics win it all this year, I'd imagine, unless you want to butterfly out injuries to the Bulls. The year before Dallas still triumphs, but it's hard to say who comes out of the east.

You pretty much have to butterfly injuries to the Bulls this year. They wouldn't have been playing Philadelphia in the first round, since the knock-on effects of LeBron staying in Cleveland would change the rosters of a good 20 teams by this point, and as a result, the standings are completely different.
 
Celtics win it all this year, I'd imagine, unless you want to butterfly out injuries to the Bulls. The year before Dallas still triumphs, but it's hard to say who comes out of the east.

Lebron's decision created a massive butterflies recently in the NBA and I think last year or this year, the Lakers or Celtics would have been the NBA champions by now and heck, it could have been averted the NBA lockout this season.
 
Bosh

I think that, for LeBron to have stayed, what needed to happen is this:

1. Re-sign Carlos Boozer around 2004-05.

2. Having better drafts. For example:

Drafting Josh Smith or Al Jefferson instead of Luke Jackson in 04.

Not trade your 07 first rounder for Jiri Welsch, and use it on Aaron Brooks or Big Baby Davis.

3. Drafting Nicholas Batum or Goran Dragic in 2008 in Round 1.

Those moves give LeBron a much better supporting cast, and they most likely win a title, which would have kept LeBron in Cleveland in all likelihood.
 
The only way to keep LeBron in Cleveland is to have him win a title. The allure of playing in Miami with Wade and Bosh far outweighs his desire to stay in Cleveland. Even if he didn't go to Miami, he would still be mighty tempted to go to New York or Chicago. But if he wins in Cleveland then there's no reason to go. He would have a ring, have the adoration of a city begging for sporting success, and made a legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.

But how does Cleveland win? The first POD is Carlos Boozer leaving. Boozer was a rising-star in his own right in 2004. That was just his second season in the NBA, and he was already averaging a double-double. Let's say the Cavs pick up his one-year option before negotiating a long term deal. In OTL, Cleveland believed Boozer would come back if they declined his option. Instead he signed with Utah for more money. Keeping Boozer in Cleveland gives LeBron a strong wingman going forward. They had totally different skills and would complement each other well, much Jordan and Pippen. If Boozer avoids the injury bug, then the two of them could mature into a dynamic one-two punch.

The second POD is the 2004 NBA Draft. Luke Jackson never amounted to much, and was a waste of a lottery pick. Let's assume that the Cavs don't select Jackson but instead pick Josh Smith. They weren't going to pick a big-man, especially when Big Z is at his peak and they just locked up Boozer. Smith gives them great athleticism at small forward and elite defensive ability. This moves LeBron to shooting guard, not his natural position but he'll still be a force. With Smith in the fold, the Cavaliers starting lineup for the next year looks like this: Jeff McInnis (PG), LeBron James (SG), Josh Smith (SF), Carlos Boozer (PF), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C). This is a solid starting group and one which has great potential going forward.

Obviously butterflies make it nearly impossible to predict what happens in the long term, as the draft lotteries and playoff results will be affected. But assuming that the basic arc of the NBA goes largely unchanged (i.e. the Celtics get the Big Three, Kobe stays in LA, etc.) than the Cavaliers have a great chance to win the title at some point with this core group. If they make upgrades in free agency and draft a little better, then they will be at the top of the power rankings around 2007/2008. With LeBron, Boozer, and Smith all playing great basketball, this group could very easily win a title. If that's the case, than LeBron stays in Cleveland and crafts a legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
 
Top