FanPost

LeBron's Decision: What it Says About Him.

I'd like to open this analysis by stating that I am a life-long Kings fan. I feel for those of you who fear LeBron will exit Cleveland for the bright lights of New York, Chicago, or Miami. Sacramento has suffered similar hardships to Cleveland, but these instances have been nowhere near as heartbreaking (With perhaps the exception of the debacle that was Game 6 WCF Finals.).

I have been thinking about this 'Decision Day' for a long time and here is what I think can be drawn by LeBron's decision, whatever that may be. I will go from team to team and explain my thoughts about LeBron if he signs with them.

Chicago Bulls: If LeBron signs with the Chicago Bulls, despite them failing to grab Chris Bosh or Dwyane Wade, it tells me that he wants to chase history. In Chicago, he will be constantly compared to His Airness, Michael Jordan, and by choosing the best fit team to contend now; he is showing himself as a man who believes he can outdo Michael Jordan. I see this possibility as very unlikely at this point in his career. He has to win 7 rings over the course of the next ten years to go down in history as greater than Jordan if he were to go to the Bulls, who are already fit to contend (more-so with the addition of Carlos Boozer.). That is a feat that will not happen in today's league.

Likelihood LeBron Signs Here: 5%


Number of Projected Rings: Three.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New York Knicks: An interesting wild card in the top three teams that are jockeying for LeBron. Having invested the past two years in this attempt to sign the King, they greatly weakened their roster. Isiah Thomas wreaked havoc all over this team's future, and they will have to go through a series of crafty maneuvers in order to be in playoff contention, even with the addition of Amar'e Stoudemire. LeBron signing here will be the sign that his entrepreneurship is his greatest concern. New York is, quite easily, the biggest market available in the free agency and will be the easiest avenue for LeBron to accomplish his goals of becoming a billionaire. Paired up with Amar'e, as well as the burgeoning Danilo Gallinari and Bill Walker, LeBron will have to wait several years in order to be in title contention against the Miami Heat tandem of Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. The hypothetical situation LeBron heads to New York, it will be an almost entirely financially fueled decision.

Likelihood LeBron Signs Here: 20%

Number of Projected Rings: Two.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miami Heat: By far the most disappointing option in my eyes. For a talent as amazing and unique as LeBron James, going to Miami to make the next 'Big Three' is an admittance of defeat. In Cleveland, he has always been 'the guy'. But in Miami, there is no way he would be the leader of this team. Dwayne Wade has established himself, already winning a ring with a far weaker cast than LeBron would have if he were to go to Miami. Playing with such high-caliber players would be tempting for anyone, but for LeBron to go down in history as one of the game's best, he must not go to Miami. This will forever taint his legacy as a Scottie Pippen to Dwyane's Jordan. He will win, by far, the most rings in Miami. With a legacy to worry about LeBron James must pave his own path to glory, not just by riding Dwyane Wade's coat-tails.

Likelihood LeBron Signs Here: 40%

Number of Projected Rings: Five.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cleveland Cavaliers: Don't worry, I haven't forgot about you Cleveland. Out of every option LeBron has presented to him, this is the one with the greatest emotional pull. Can you imagine him leaving his hometown team? LeBron lived here his entire life, played here his entire life. This is his home. By choosing to stay in Cleveland, LeBron is electing to create a legacy unlike any other in all of sports. Cleveland is a town that is connected to futility in all sports, always has been. By staying in Cleveland, LeBron will be writing a new chapter in the city's history and has the most likelihood of going down as the game's greatest. He has done admirable things, amazing things. But winning a title in Cleveland, even if it is just one, will put him in the conversation of the G.O.A.T. that is already populated by Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and most recently, Kobe Bryant.

Likelihood LeBron Stays: 35%

Number of Projected Rings: Two.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In conclusion, the main worry about him leaving Cleveland is his passion for the game, or more specifically, what kind of passion. He is an amazing player with the tools to become Jordan's rival, but his heart is what we all must question. Jordan never dreamed of giving up on his team. LeBron James may not be cut from the same cloth. I see LeBron as more of a Julius Erving prototype. His passion for this game, is to amaze. No matter where he goes, he will be amazing. Michael Jordan was a man who only wished to become a legend, to dominate, to set a path that to follow would be to be entered in the annuls of legend. The business empire that Jordan established came from winning, winning, and more winning. LeBron James is marketable because he is amazing, but can anyone say that he has the heart of a champion just yet? He has no rings, unfortunately, and this last postseason against the Celtics was just pathetic on his part. LeBron will be judged by all in the upcoming hours, all Cleveland fans can hope for is that LeBron's love for the game transcends monetary gains or even individual awards. For the only way he will be remembered as the greatest, is to stay the course and force his will down the throats of the rest of the league in the Quicken Loans Arena.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on FearTheSword.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff at FearTheSword