Jack Terry

Host

The Decision, Part II

Jul 12, 2014·13 visitors

Steve Johnson

Cohost

Stage· 46 messages

Jul 12, 2014

Jack Terry and Steve Johnson quickly get back together to talk about Lebron James's decision and the impact it will have on the NBA and Cleveland. You won't want to miss this tawk!

Jack Terry · 2:30 PM

Well, well, well, let's jump right into this Steve. Did you think this was going to happen?

Steve Johnson · 2:30 PM

No, but you did! Kudos to you.

Jack Terry · 2:30 PM

Lebron James back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. How about that?

Steve Johnson · 2:30 PM

It's surprising and not too surprising at the same time?

Jack Terry · 2:31 PM

Are you back pedaling from what you said the other day?

Steve Johnson · 2:31 PM

I prefer the term "qualifying"

Jack Terry · 2:32 PM

Fair enough. So what makes you say it's not surprising?

Steve Johnson · 2:33 PM

Cleveland did just what many other teams did to attract Lebron James. they made the moves both player wise and moneywise to make themselves seem like an attractive fit.

Jack Terry · 2:33 PM

But if every team did that, naturally Cleveland would have the advantage.

Steve Johnson · 2:33 PM

And that's what makes it not so surprising. Have you read the article from Sports Illustrated?

Jack Terry · 2:34 PM

Only the parts that have been quoted.

Steve Johnson · 2:34 PM

The first thing Lebron James says is "Before anyone cared where I would play basketball, i was a kid from Northeast Ohio."

Jack Terry · 2:34 PM

It was all about the homecoming.

Steve Johnson · 2:35 PM

He mentions that a couple of more times, including that he always knew if it wasn't Miami it would be Cleveland.

Jack Terry · 2:35 PM

Didn't he also compare his time with the Miami Heat as like being in college?

Steve Johnson · 2:36 PM

Yes he did. People seem to forget that he never had that experience. he went straight from high school to the pros.

Jack Terry · 2:36 PM

It's certainly a feel good story for a city that could use it.

Steve Johnson · 2:37 PM

I don't know. Cleveland seems like it's on a roll. First Johnny Football is drafted by the Cleveland Browns, then they beat out Dallas to host the republic National Convention, and now this. Maybe people will stop calling it "The Mistake on the Lake.

Jack Terry · 2:37 PM

Didn't they catch Lake Erie on fire one time?

Steve Johnson · 2:38 PM

No, well not really. It was the river that caught on fire.

Jack Terry · 2:38 PM

So what does all this mean for the NBA?

Steve Johnson · 2:38 PM

Well, first it means they're going to sell a boat load more jerseys. Beyond that, however, it may not be what they were hoping for.

Jack Terry · 2:39 PM

Why is that?

Steve Johnson · 2:39 PM

Because Cleveland isn't the major metropolitan area Miami is.

Jack Terry · 2:39 PM

But wouldn't that be good? Miami doesn't need someone of Lebron James' stature to draw attention to it.

Steve Johnson · 2:40 PM

No, but the feel-goodness of this story will wear off eventually, and the casual fan will stop paying attention if the cavaliers aren't winners right away.

Jack Terry · 2:40 PM

I guess. So how does his signing affect the rest of the free agent market?

Steve Johnson · 2:42 PM

I think the far bigger piece is that Chris Bosh did not sign with the Rockets but went back to Miami. That moves has a lot more immediate resonance in the NBA than Lebron's does.

Jack Terry · 2:42 PM

I'm sure the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs are breathing a sigh of relief right now.

Steve Johnson · 2:43 PM

Exactly. That would have made Houston a preseason favorite and further tipped the scales in favor of the west being the more powerful conference.

Jack Terry · 2:43 PM

I've read that some people are saying Cleveland is already a contender for the title because of this move. True or trite?

Steve Johnson · 2:44 PM

Trite. They have a lot of young athletic players, but the emphasis is on "young." Even the coach is in his first year, and last year he coached in Israel. Lebron James is the elder statesman on this team.

Jack Terry · 2:44 PM

Does he have the patience for that role?

Steve Johnson · 2:44 PM

He better if he wants his team to win.

Jack Terry · 2:45 PM

I think he will, because now he isn't just playing for his own personal legacy. i think the weight of winning a championship (or two, in this case) is off of him and now he can focus on giving back to his hometown area.

Steve Johnson · 2:46 PM

That's how they write the script in Hollywood. let's see how it plays out in the real world. The next, and possibly last, big piece is the Kevin Love sweepstakes

Jack Terry · 2:46 PM

Even more so than Carmelo Anthony?

Steve Johnson · 2:47 PM

Yes, because Kevin Love isn't yet a free agent. To acquire him means trading and then hoping you get him to sign an extension.

Jack Terry · 2:47 PM

So it comes down to possibly signing a hired gun for a year.

Steve Johnson · 2:48 PM

Exactly. If the Cavaliers want him, and odds are there he would sign an extension to play with Lebron James for several years, it means trading away a future perennial NBA All Star in Andrew Wiggins.

Steve Johnson · 2:49 PM

Carmelo, on the other hand, will be signed for four years, five if he stays in new York.

Jack Terry · 2:49 PM

Any reason why he should stay there?

Steve Johnson · 2:50 PM

If the offers he gets are from other rebuilding teams, like the Knicks are, then he should simply stay where he can get paid the most. if a team that is already built to make a run makes an offer, he should go there.

Jack Terry · 2:50 PM

Heady days in the off season, but everyone knew they would be. Steve, thanks for helping to shed some light on the fallout from Lebron James's decision.

Steve Johnson · 2:51 PM

My pleasure. See you on the hardwood Jack.

Jack Terry · 2:51 PM

If I don't double dribble first!