DOB Weighs In With A LeBron Update

LPS's own Dan O'Brien (known around these parts as DOB) wrote a piece for us yesterday updating us with his thoughts on where LeBron will announce he intends to sign. (Editor's note-this was written an hour before Carlos Boozer announced his intentions to sign with Chicago).

"Well I missed on where Bosh was heading, but I was at least correct in my statement that his decision was the most critical one.

I'm honestly a bit surprised that Bosh chose Wade as his dancing partner, over the more talented King James. And over playing with a better crew in Chicago. A team of Mario Chalmer, Wade, and Bosh isn't scaring anyone if they don't add a lot more talent. If they can nab another point guard (Jason Williams, Felton, Foye – who would actually fit well with Wade as both are combo guards), a shooting small forward (Mike Miller?), and a center who allows Bosh to play his natural position of PF (Ilgauskas? Brad Miller?) and a ton of bench talent then I'll put them up there with Orlando and Boston. But until then, I see a team of two all-stars and a guy who's an undersized point (this is assuming that Beasley is dealt in a sign and trade for Bosh – if they keep him then I'll be a bit more impressed).

The signing, along with his hour long special tomorrow night, makes me feel 100% confident that LeBron James will not be a Cleveland Cavalier next season.

Like I've said before, that team is devoid of top talent outside of James and will be a continual one to two rounds and done team in the playoffs if he stays. If they sign and trade Varejo and Mo Williams or Delonte West for Boozer, the result will be a net zero effect. LeBron has one third starter on a championship team in Jamison and that's it. For a guy that wants to win, the talent on the roster is not going to cut it.

Even more telling than the Cav's inability to upgrade is the hour long special tomorrow (7/8/10 9 pm Eastern) on ESPN. If he appears on the podium and says he is going to re-sign with the Cavs then 12 to 15 million television viewers are going to change the channel. Re-signing with the Cav's could have been announced through Twitter for God's Sake and does not take an hour long special. Everyone would know the reason why he stayed: hometown love. NOW an hour long special is ABSOLUTELY needed if he announces he is signing with the Knicks, HEAT, or Bulls.At this point in the game, the Clippers seem to be the only major team out of it with the Nets floating in a gray area.

Rumors are flying that James would have stayed with the Cavs if they could have pulled a sign and trade but since that didn't happen he feels he has to go elsewhere to win. The Bulls STILL make sense because they can sign both him and Boozer and with the addition of those two become the favorites to win the '10-'11 Chip.

The HEAT make sense as a super team composed of those three could put on 7 rings in a row, however naysayers continue to chirp that Wade doesn't want to play Robin to James' Batman. So we're left with the Knicks who could pull off a 15 length come from behind win in this race.  Blame it all on Amare and his chatter of Carmelo wanting to play in NY with him. With Anthony being from Baltimore and his wife being from New York, this talk makes complete sense. If Anthony goes there he automatically becomes King of New York. Add him to Amar'e and you have the Knicks' forwards for the next ten years. Combine that with the rumors of a potential trade for Tony Parker and the Knickerbockers look like a pretty formidable team.

These thoughts had to have gotten Lebron's brain churning with "I should be King of NY" and "what if I sign there now and Carmelo signs there next year?" and "Carmelo has never expressed a desire to be the single go to guy, he'll be my Robin and Amar'e can be Nightwing or Batgirl (whatever he's into)." Hell, even if Carmelo stays in Denver the Knicks still look attractive with Amar'e and potentially Tony Parker or Boozer.

I really have no clue where he's going to sign but if I have to put my money on what hat he puts on tomorrow night, LeBron won't be a rocking black and red (like I thought he would be) but will don the blue, orange, and black and become the single most hated Philadelphia adversary of all time. If you thought Philadelphian's hated Michael Irvin or Jose Reyes, wait until LeBron is a Knick."
"If you fail to plan than you plan to fail"