NoYork

"Hey Chris if YOU get traded YOU could mess up our plans!"

As many of you know the NBA trade deadline is a month from tomorrow (February 18th). The newest rumor is that Chris Bosh will be dealt before that deadline, which could dramatically change the landscape for this summer. If Bosh were to get dealt here’s the way things may shake out.

ESPN’s Chad Ford reported that both Knicks and Nets officials have told him that “the only scenario in which they think the would have a real shot at prying LeBron out of Cleveland,” is by signing James and another superstar next season. The superstar that they’re referring to most often is Chris Bosh. If Bosh is traded this scenario probably won’t play out.

According to Ford, New Jersey is already rethinking a LeBron or nothing summer plan. Apparently New Jersey is afraid that gambling on the LeBron lottery could force their hand if they come up short. A team source had this to say about the situation, “Because of our record we are going to be forced to overspend on guys like David Lee and Rudy Gay and perhaps Boozer if you can’t land LBJ. I don’t want to be like Detroit and spend to just spend.” Instead the Nets are looking to trade their expiring contracts and anyone besides Brook Lopez to improve the team right now.

The Knicks are in a similar situation, but they haven’t given up the hopes of signing a big free agent in 2010. Mike D’Antoni doesn’t want to wait until 2011, but may be forced to do so if the Knicks don’t land LeBron. In 2011 both Jared Jeffries and Eddy Curry have expiring deals, so they could make some serious noise in the free agent market.

With New York and New Jersey out of the hunt things open up for Chicago, Miami, and believe it or not Oklahoma City. Miami feels that they have the best shot of landing LeBron and Bosh this summer. They would have to let go of a lot of quality players in the process, but I’d say it’s worth it for that three headed monster! Chicago has been after Bosh and Wade for as long as we can remember, but without New Jersey or New York running interference they may have a realistic shot. Oklahoma City isn’t a huge market, but they’re anchored by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.

This could be a very interesting turn of events, but I don’t see LeBron in Oklahoma City. I’m convinced that LeBron won’t leave Cleveland unless it’s for a big market or the shot at playing with Wade and/or Bosh. Chicago does have a lot of good players to surround a superstar free agent or two, but would LeBron really want to play in Jordan’s shadows for years to come?

Truthfully the only team that I see LeBron gravitating toward if New York and New Jersey bow out of the race is Miami. It would be hard to pass up the chance to play on a team with Wade and Bosh. For now LeBron seems very content in Cleveland though. Last night when asked if he knew how to spell I Love LA, LeBron responded with, “I know how to spell I love Akron and O-H-I-O.” That’s enough for me, for now.