The Summer of LeBron: What His Future Means To The Eastern Conference
It's a glorious time to be an NBA fan.
The playoffs, of course, are about to get really good, with two enticing series about to kick off.
The NBA world was turned upside down when LeBron James' Cavaliers were defeated by the Boston Celtics.
The Cavs had the best record in the league, but it wasn't the major upset that people are claiming—Boston is a very good team.
The loss of a series, however, means little compared to the possible scenarios that could stem from Cleveland's dismissal.
Literally every team in the Eastern Conference will be watching LeBron's moves this summer. The greatest athlete on the planet, being a free agent, could mean big things for many teams.
The LeBron watch will go on for about seven weeks, so if you can't stomach seeing his face everywhere on ESPN, then you won't be interested in anything I have to say.
But for those of you who are intrigued by the Summer of LeBron, let's examine his impact on every team in the East.
The Hawks could be in transition now after their elimination in the playoffs and the removal of Head Coach Mike Woodson.
Woodson improved the Hawks in each of his six seasons on the bench, but their embarrassing four-game sweep against the Orlando Magic seemed to suggest that he had run his course in Atlanta.
Joe Johnson could also be on his way out of Atlanta this summer.
The 6'7" guard is one of the big free agents on team's radars this summer, and he'll be looking for more money, more opportunities to win, or in all likelihood, both.
The Hawks' window to win a championship may be closing each passing day.
The LeBron Factor:
If LeBron leaves Cleveland, he'll be looking for a running mate to go with him; this could mean Joe Johnson is on his way out.
Boston Celtics
Before the playoffs began, many thought the Celtics were on their last legs.
Ray Allen, 34, Kevin Garnett, 33, and Paul Pierce, 32 had already won their championship, and didn't seem capable of winning another NBA title, much less the Eastern Conference.
But here we are, and Boston is just four wins away from going after another title.
The LeBron Factor:
They are not a player in the LeBron sweepstakes, and their chances to win another NBA title are shrinking. Time to go for broke, Celtics fans, LeBron's out of the way—for now
The Bobcats have a young nucleus to work with and their trip to the playoffs this season seems to offer hope for the future. But if LeBron forms a "super team," can the Bobcats be taken seriously?
The LeBron Factor:
King James won't be playing his ball in Charlotte; they'll have to hope Gerald Wallace, Stephen Jackson and company can keep them a winning ball club.
The future of the Bulls' franchise will be decided on what happens this summer.
With or without LeBron James, the Bulls need to make a splash this free-agent period.
They have a very impressive core of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich, but they won't join the realm of title contenders until they land a James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, or Joe Johnson.
If James can be coaxed into signing with the Bulls, the Bulls will become the new top dogs in the Eastern Conference.
They would have the best player on the planet in James, and a budding superstar point guard in Derrick Rose to distribute the ball to him, with center Joakim Noah available down low to rebound and do all the dirty work.
The LeBron Factor:
The Bulls are believed to be one of three destinations for LeBron this summer.
They can offer him the coveted max contract, key players to build around, and LeBron can even give his opinion on their coaching search (or he can just coach the team himself...who cares).
He'll play in the House That Jordan Built, which means he'll be in the city that idolizes one basketball legend already, but would be willing to idolize another.
James-to-the-Bulls rumors will be swirling all summer; stay tuned to see how this plays out.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Obviously, no team in the NBA has more on the line in the Summer of LeBron than the Cavs.
James is a hometown kid who has taken them from obscurity and transformed them into an NBA power.
Attendance at Cavs' home games has skyrocketed, and LeBron-mania in Cleveland has been a seven-year love fest that the city has never seen before.
But the city has also never seen an NBA championship, and that will be the biggest factor for LeBron to consider this offseason.
Kevin Garnett, now with the Boston Celtics, suggested to James that he abandon loyalty if it means selling himself short.
Garnett toiled in Minnesota for too many years, and only became part of a winning franchise until he left town.
James' loyalty to Cleveland is understood, but if they're not the team for him to win a title (or, titles), he has to go.
The Cavs would be devastated if LeBron were to leave, but they've had seven years to build around him, and they can't even reach the Eastern Conference Finals?
The LeBron Factor:
The Cavs will sink or swim. LeBron keeps them relevant to the NBA world—his departure will spell doom for Cleveland.
There's reason to hope, however, as the Cavs can offer James $120 million over a seven-year deal, whereas other NBA teams can "only" give James $95 million over a five or six-year stretch.
Of course, LeBron will make his millions with endorsements, so what's another $25 million?
The Pistons had a legitimate dynasty only a few seasons ago, but now they find themselves in the bottom tier of the Eastern Conference.
The decision to trade Chauncey Billups in favor of Allen Iverson was a laughable move, and the signings of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva make less sense each day.
The LeBron Factor:
There's probably a 75% chance that LeBron stays in the Central Division, either with the Bulls or Cavs, so Detroit will be affected by the Summer of LeBron.
Thank God for Danny Granger. He's the only player on the Pacers that I can even use to fill this space. They're not very good, so they won't be worth following this summer.
The LeBron Factor:
Like the Pistons, the Pacers reside in the Central, so they might be seeing a lot of LeBron next season, either in a Cavs uniform or donning the red and black in Chicago.
LeBron's moves will be key for Heat superstar Dwyane Wade. Whatever team DOESN'T get LeBron, then you have to believe Wade will be everybody's No. 2 man.
Some will say Wade is more valuable and would be a bigger acquisition, but either way, the activity in Cleveland will trickle down to Miami.
James could lure a player like Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire with him if he's on the move, so that would be one-less player for Wade to play with if he were to stay in Florida.
Wade's Heat made the playoffs, but hardly looked like title contenders this season.
Had Chicago taken Michael Beasley No. 1 overall two drafts ago, the Heat would be a lot more attractive to LeBron, as Derrick Rose would over hope for an inside-outside threat if he teamed up with LeBron.
Of course, Chicago is now in that position.
The LeBron Factor:
Wade could stay put, but if LeBron moves, Wade might have a tough time recruiting a new pal to Miami to help him secure championship No. 2.
The Bucks are the Portland Trail Blazers of two seasons ago.
They have a very exciting future built around center Andrew Bogut, 25, guard Brandon Jennings, 20, and veteran Michael Redd, 30.
Throw in a player like Carlos Delfino, and there's reason for optimism in cheese country.
They made a nice postseason run and will look towards better things next season, hoping that LeBron leaves the Central division in the meantime.
The LeBron Factor:
The Bucks could win the Central if LeBron heads to New York; otherwise, they'll be nothing more than second-place year after year.
The Nets were awful last year.
Brook Lopez and Devin Harris are cornerstones to build around, but they were just 12-70 last year.
The LeBron Factor:
He won't be a Net.
12-70? Seriously?
New York Knicks
The Knicks are a serious player in the Summer of LeBron.
They can offer something no team can: room for two max-level contracts this offseason.
That means LeBron could go to Madison Square Garden and have Chris Bosh already on the court practicing free throws.
LeBron would still be the man of course, but at least he'll have a partner in crime while playing under the scrutiny of the New York media.
While the Knicks can offer serious financial flexibility, what they can't offer is good talent to build around King James.
Their best returning players as of now are Wilson Chander and Danilo Gallinari—not exactly what Chicago has returning with Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Joakim Noah, and Taj Gibson.
James will be the Mayor of New York, but will the team win?
Maybe not at first, as it will take time to re-build a team around LeBron (and maybe a Chris Bosh as well).
Does LeBron want to hear the word "re-build?"
Would you?
He can stay put in Cleveland or head west to the Windy City, and he'll be in a position to win from Day One.
The LeBron Factor:
The mystique of playing in New York appears to be a little overblown in my mind, but there's no denying that LeBron in New York would be the biggest thing since Alex Rodriguez joined the Yankees—at least in the minds of people who live on the east coast.
If he's convinced the Knicks can win with him, then he likely can't do any better than New York.
I, however, am not convinced they will win with him.
Orlando Magic
Not a candidate for LeBron, but the Magic don't care.
They have Dwight Howard and other exciting players in Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, and Rashard Lewis.
They are only worried about the present—they have a chance to return to the NBA Finals and go after a ring.
The Celtics will be a tough out, but the Magic appear to be playing with a purpose.
The LeBron Factor:
James is no longer a factor in the East playoffs, so there's no real impact in Orlando.
The Magic should pay attention to LeBron's moves this summer, however, as his new destination (if he leaves Cleveland) could become the new beasts of the east.
Of course, I'm referring to the Chicago Bulls.
Like Boston, the time is now for the Orlando Magic.
The 'Sixers don't have a chance of landing LeBron and they don't appear to be a factor in the Eastern Conference for a long, long time.
The LeBron Factor:
One of the few teams in the East that have nothing on the line in the Summer of LeBron; they're a mess.
All you need to know about the Raptors is Chris Bosh is a free agent.
Unlikely to stay in Toronto, he'll be looking at a chance to get paid and win with a new franchise this summer.
The cupboard won't be completely bare in Toronto, but if they're not a playoff team with Bosh, what will they be without him?
The LeBron Factor:
LeBron will need a running mate at some point if he changes teams and this could mean hooking up with fellow Olympic Gold-Medalist Chris Bosh.
Bosh and James (sounds like a law office) could wreak havoc in the East if they're up to it.
Toronto's future looks a lot less rosy without Bosh roaming the paint.
I was thinking of a good gun-related joke here, but the Wizards are the real joke.
They used to have a nice trio of Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, and Caron Butler (with Josh Howard and Brendan Haywood nice role players), but now they have nothing.
The LeBron Factor:
LeBron would be a big fish in a small pond if he ever played for the Wizards.
There's no wizard in the world that is going to turn around this franchise any time soon.
15 teams. Dozens of scenarios depending on the movement of LeBron James.
He will be the most talked-about man in sports until July 1, when teams can officially make offers to free agents.
The Summer of LeBron has begun.
Don't forget you sunscreen.
