Rapture for the Raptors and the Empire Strikes Back - by Ben Galli

As the NBA pantheon of bloggers and sportswriters and twitter trolls rushed to publish their freshest takes on how much this meant for Toronto as a franchise, a city, and an entire country; in less than 48 hours (or what I assume is one Canadian night), Toronto lost the NBA spotlight.  Just another indication that mainstream America only “fake” cares when it comes to our neighbors and their silly sports.

Great show Canada but no matter how many great comedians you have making it big on sketch comedy shows, you’ll never be bigger than Hollywood. And so it was approximately 43 hours after Toronto started celebrating an amazing and well deserved title, that the King laid down the decree that would alter the NBA’s entire 2019 offseason.  So at the risk of losing some words on how the Raptors won their first title of all time and deeper analysis of how the offseason will play out, here are some varied thoughts on the present insanity that is the National Basketball Association.

First, hats, I mean tuques off to Toronto.  Just a lot of success stories all around. Masai Ujiri, the President of Basketball Operations fired the eventual coach of the year/winningest coach in franchise history, Dwane Casey, before trading an all time favorite in DeMar Derozan for a Kawhi Leonard that had only played 9 games the previous season coming off a mysterious injury and would most likely not stay more than one year.  His moves put Toronto in this position. Kawhi Leonard showed how dominating and clutch he can be, carrying Toronto to an extremely impressive championship run. A lesser team would not have been able to take advantage of Golden State’s various injuries but Fred Van Vleet showed that anyone who sounds like the heir to a vacuum cleaner business can outplay even Steph Curry on a truly world stage.  

That was late Thursday night.  By Saturday afternoon, the sports world got rocked by news many were hoping for.  The Lakers had traded most of their young talent and 3 first round draft picks for Anthony Davis, the 26 year old player with the 3rd highest PER in NBA history (behind MJ and LeBron).  This. changed. everything. The Lakers, a southern California reality show as much a dumpster fire as you could imagine, just flipped a switch and turned off months of really, really bad press to become the preeminent NBA title favorite.

First off, it must be said that this trade really does stand out.  Both teams seemed to get what they wanted out of them. New Orleans got a historical haul including the 4th pick in this year’s draft and the Lakers did something that’s rarely been done before, trade for a superstar entering his prime.  Frankly it’s very reminiscent of when the Lakers traded Milwaukee for Kareem Abdul Jabbar who had the Lakers as one of his “chosen destinations”. For as much potential was sent New Orleans’ way, affording them a wealth of options on how to move forward with Zion Williamson, the Lakers got the one thing better: realized potential.

Most of the draft picks the Pels get will be in the 20’s most likely but if even one slips through, it could have major payoff.  A bigger win for Los Angeles was the ability to keep Kyle Kuzma. Some, myself included, would rather have Lonzo but admittedly, Kuzma makes more sense for this Lakers squad. Lonzo’s body and shot unfortunately haven’t yet proven dependable and it was Kuzma who repped the Lakers at the lottery with a ‘Hand of the King’ pin on his lapel.  He may have been the only one playing this Lakers version of game of thrones. The lessons with Kobe really paid off.

Besides saving the Lakers future and possibly LeBron’s, this trade along with the tragic Warriors injuries really changes the outlook on the upcoming free agency season.  The Lakers look a lot more enticing now with multiple superstars and have an outside shot of landing yet another one while Kevin Durant’s injury forced absence for next year has given pause to both teams and free agents alike on planning their futures.  Here’s my outlook:

Kawhi Leonard:  aka Saviour of Franchises.  At this moment in time, Kawhi Leonard can do no wrong.  After a historical playoff performance, Kawhi’s at the top of the world and this year’s free agency list.  Obviously, Toronto would love to keep him. But Kawhi is obliged to no one. I think he gone. And I think we’ll see him next in Los Angeles.  And for as much financial and career sense it would make for Kawhi to team up with LeBron and AD and win forever with the Lakers, Kawhi seems to be the guy that’ll take the path less chosen.  Or simply whichever path he wants to take. I think he becomes the biggest star in Clippers history (sorry Michael Olowokandi).

Kyrie Irving:  aka Destroyer of Franchises.  Kyrie Irving can take credit for much of the state of the current NBA. It was he who forced a trade out of Cleveland which severely crippled LeBron’s chances at winning more titles there.  Cleveland has not recovered. He then brought his whimsical musings and third eye to Boston. Before this season, he reiterated his commitment to resigning with Boston long term but all indications have him strongly considering the Brooklyn Nets with the Lakers as of late making a run for his services.  This really puts a crimp in Danny Ainge’s style. Kyrie’s not a guy that can really be figured out because I doubt he would ever tell you who he really is.(that’s deep, yo) With Durant’s injury, a possible team-up in Brooklyn seems unlikely but if I had to guess, Kyrie’s still going to New York’s Clippers.

Kevin Durant:  What a tough break for KD.  Almost makes everyone want to start rooting for him on his comeback.  He ends his Warriors run with a loss, albeit his injury was a large part of that, and doesn’t catch LeBron with 3 rings.  His return from a ruptured Achilles tendon may make a lot of people question the wisdom in offering him a max but offer him they will. And that would be the right move.  I think Durant, knowing next year is a lost year, is ready to move on from the Bay Area, a successful but tumultuous time in his career. And there will be hope now for a fan base that scarcely believes there’s any left existing. Kevin Durant will sign with the Knicks*.

*Watch for the Clippers as a dark horse.

Klay Thompson:  Let’s not waste words on Klay Thompson. Incredible shooter but does anyone really care? He’ll sign with Golden State.

Kemba Walker:  Kemba can get a $221 million dollar supermax extension with the Charlotte Hornets or try to sign with a team with a better chance of contending for a championship, or, or go back home to New York.  The Lakers have been reported as targeting Kemba and he seems to be a good 3rd option for them after Kawhi and Kyrie (although it’s not likely either sign with the Lakers). But Walker leaves around $80 million on the table if he signs with another team.  If Kemba values winning soon, he might come to LA but I think he’s gonna stick with the team he came up on, similar to a Dame Lillard.

Jimmy Butler:  For a good amount of time over the last couple years, Jimmy Butler was the aggressive ying to Kyrie’s passive yang approach to terrible leadership.  Butler was not doing himself any favors as teams and fans alike began souring on him. His past season in Philadelphia apparently helped smooth that image and Butler will have a few suitors. I think Philly and the Lakers will come calling and I think Dallas may make a surprise offer.  I think Butler’s best move is resigning with Philly where they showed promise last year. If the Lakers are desperate for a 3rd superstar, Jimmy Buckets might find himself there but it may be wiser for the Lakers to spend their cap space on several high quality role players.

Cavs Draft - There’s still this Thursday’s NBA Draft which seems like an outdated way of building a contender but remains a very important night for the smaller market have-nots of the NBA.  The Cavs didn’t get the luck of the draw this year but are in solid position with the 5th pick. The top 3 are considered set with Zion, Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett expected to be selected. The 4th pick will be chosen on behalf of New Orleans via the Lakers trade although it appears they may be shopping that pick to another team as we speak.  

I think if they do find a trade partner, Darius Garland (son of former NBAer Winston Garland) is most likely to be the 4th pick.  I think if New Orleans keeps the pick, they’re more likely to draft Jarret Culver, the Texas Tech hero. I think if Garland is available, that might be the pick with the best upside for the Cavs.  If Garland is taken, I think they’ll take the safer pick in Culver but should strongly consider Duke’s Cam Reddish who disappointed alongside his equally highly touted Duke Big 3 members but has high upside.

NBA Finals Preview - by Ben Galli

For the first time in nearly a decade (2010!), we will not see LeBron James in the NBA Finals.  The new King in the East may soon leave Canada for more (purple and) golden pastures but for now, he’s given Toronto the World Title shot that LeBron always took away.  The question now remains: can the East beat the best in the West this year? Here’s my preview of the NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors.

The Bucks racked up the best regular season record in the league this year and the likely League MVP (voting ended before the playoffs) in the astonishing Giannis Antetokounmpo but The Klaw snatched it all away leading Toronto to 4 straight wins after facing a daunting 2 games to none deficit in one of the all time performances in playoffs history.  To wit:

Not only did Toronto lose LeBron James as their main obstacle in the East, they got perhaps the next closest thing to him as Leonard averaged 29.8 ppg and 9.5 rebounds per game to become the only player other than the King to average a 29 and 9 in the Eastern Conference Finals since rebounding stats were recorded in 1963.

Another telling stat from this Ringer article:

What Leonard is doing in this postseason is timeless. Prior to 2019, only three players in NBA playoff history—Michael Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Rolando Blackman—had averaged at least 30 points on at least 51 percent shooting from the field, 38 percent from 3, and 85 percent from the free throw line. Jordan played only three games; Miller and Blackman played four; Kawhi has played 18.

Those are pretty eye opening stats that should have Lakers and Clippers fans in Kawhi’s hometown salivating while Raptors fans may be ready to sacrifice Drake if it means Kawhi signs with them.  But to most expert NBA bloggers like yours truly, this looks like the best shot Toronto may ever get at winning it all (at least for the near future).

Their foes, and Champions of the Western Conference, are the familiar Golden State Warriors who’ll be making their 5th straight Finals appearance.  This should be the last year of this particular rendition of the Warriors as Kevin Durant will most likely move on, needing to win a chip on his own to cement his legacy.  The Warriors have struggled more at times this year than in previous years and some claim to see ways to beat them.

But the only surefire strategy to beating this Durant and Boogie rendition of Golden State was always “Hope one of their best players gets injured”.  But even that may no longer work with Kevin Durant ruled out for Game 1 of the Finals and DeMarcus Cousins listed as questionable. These Warriors are 33-4 when Durant is out but Steph Curry plays (31-1 recently).  There’s the media driven talk about rift issues because Durant might be sitting out to prevent further injury and the Warriors wanting to prove they can win one without him. But I don’t think these Warriors will let petty distractions take away from a 4th championship in 5 years and bona fide dynasty status..

I kind of have a feeling Toronto might steal Game 1 but if it gets too close for the Warrior’s comfort, I do believe Kevin Durant will return to save the day/be an afterthought.  Also looking forwarding to Boogie getting to play in the Finals. It will be interesting to see how much time Kawhi spends chasing around Steph Curry and if Toronto’s vaunted defense gives the Warriors trouble.  I see a monster series from future Laker Kawhi Leonard but I just don’t think Kyle Lowry is enough. Warriors in 6.

Ben Galli files all his reports just before last call on his phone. Follow him @bengalli33

What's Raising Eyebrows in the NBA? - by Ben Galli

It’s hard to catch a dull day in the NBA anymore.  Mere days after the NBA announced the All Star game starters, and just a week after the Association’s forward thinking recent tradition of MLK Day games concluded, the bombshell of early 2019 dropped: Marquese Chriss, the 3rd year Rockets forward, he of the 1.9 ppg, demanded to be traded or get an increase in minutes off the bench.  But the most shocking news of the day would not be the biggest.

Although not much of a surprise (it was more a sense of when, not if) the news that owned the day was Anthony Davis’ agent (and LeBron’s), Rich Paul, announcing that Davis had no intention of signing an extension with New Orleans.  This pretty much forces the Pelicans to trade one of the top 5 players in the NBA, who at only 25 years old has a chance to be the next face of the sport. It’s pretty much between him and Giannis and Cedi, right? I mean the 6’10 big man is averaging a decent 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 2.6 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game.  That ain’t shabby, ya dig?

The bigger story, and a sad one for fans of non big market teams, is a mega superstar of a player forcing his way out of the Big Easy for the bigger markets of LA, Boston, or New York, the 3 locales rumored to have his ear.  On one hand, just like any other talent in any other industry, players should have the autonomy to decide where they want to work. But unfortunately, in a sport like basketball, one player can make or break playoff chances, ticket sales and even the very franchise itself.

Losing a LeBron hurts. Losing a Kyrie, a Durant, a Chriss, can sour the most hardest corest of fans into questioning why they should have shown any loyalty at all. It’s a major problem for the NBA and really troubling for non Lakers fans. In the case of the Pelicans, basketball has struggled in this city and losing hope for the future may be damaging enough to the prospects of staying in New Orleans that sports conspiracy lovers like Bill Simmons are starting to see a potential move to Seattle or Las Vegas for the franchise.

With all that said, I figured I’d do a bit of an update on some of the other goings on in the Association recently.

First a few thoughts on where Anthony Davis might go.  It seems fairly obvious that strings are being pulled to land Davis with LeBron in the nicer locker rooms at Staples Center.  The Pelicans have already released a statement implying tampering was afoot and there are the usual rumblings that grow louder on days like this of that wonderful word that I’m sure none of us ever tire of hearing:  Collusion!

The timing is interesting.  It came 10 days before this season’s trade deadline.  But Davis isn’t a free agent until after the end of the 2019-20 season.  Why now? Because the Boston Celtics, long rumored to be pursuing AD, appear to have the most talent and assets to unload in a trade for a superstar but cannot make any trades (not involving Kyrie Irving) until after July 1st due to the Derrick Rose Rule.

That gives the Lakers a big advantage and if they can overwhelm New Orleans with perhaps their whole slew of young, high upside talent, the reward is another player that will make Lakers fans even more annoying than previously thought possible.  But New Orleans and the rest of the NBA, sans Lakers, don’t want this to happen.

The Pellies can hold out for the off season to see what the Celtics and the Knicks, who should have a high draft pick, can offer while any number of teams can make a surprise offer to rent Anthony Davis for a year and a half.  No star has ever left a team after winning a championship. Can you imagine the two man bigs game Davis and Nikola Jokic can run in Denver?

Speaking of the Nuggets, they and Milwaukee have been the highest achieving teams this year.  Milwaukee finds themselves atop the Eastern Conference with MVP frontrunner Giannis the Greek while Denver has stayed ahead of or near Golden State most of the season at the top of the West. Although readers of this very blog predicted their success, both teams have surpassed the experts’ (this guy’s) expectations.  It’ll be interesting to see if either of them make a trade deadline move because although you don’t want to mess with success, neither seem to be taken seriously as a true contender without additional piece(s). Carmelo: Denver Redux anyone? And anyone have Michael Redd’s number?

I’d be remiss not to talk about the Beard in a post dominated by the Brow.  What James Harden is doing is pretty incredible and crazy as all get out. Say what you will about his style of gameplay but the man is scoring at levels only matched by Wilt freakin Chamberlain!  And until Sunday night’s game which saw the return of the Point God Chris Paul, Harden had scored a ridic 298 straight unassisted points. You read that right. That was 6 straight games where Harden averaged 49.6 ppg where none of his points came off of a teammate’s pass that put him in position to score.

Road to Zion Update: The Cavs have settled in nicely for their stank n’ tank strategy, joining the New York Knickerbockers, Chicago Bulls, and Phoenix Suns as the teams that are a cut below when it comes to putting their best product forward.  The Road to Zion is going to lead to Phoenix, New York, or Cleveland when it comes to announcing Draft Lottery winners in May. I think R.J. Barrett may receive strong consideration but I don’t think any of these teams will be able to withstand the wrath of their fans if they don’t choose Zion Williamson.  

The Emperor's New Clothes - by Ben Galli

As many expected, the Warriors defeated the Cavs in the 2018 NBA Finals.  Twas a disappointing end to LeBron’s 2nd run in Cleveland if he does indeed choose to leave.  I could hazard a guess that the next few weeks will reach levels of virtual insanity with the different sources, takes, and rumors surrounding where LeBron James will play next season.  

And we all know that no one really knows. But will that stop the legions of us whose hopes and dreams have been lit anew or those of us yearning to grasp tidings from Brian Windhorst that Cleveland still has a shot?  No, dear reader, I think not. So it’s very possible that I write this simply as a way to cope with the craziness the next few weeks will bring, but hopefully it also gives you some solace for your angst and anticipation.  

LeBron’s Options:

I took the options listed here, based on Vegas odds, and immediately eliminated Chicago, Oklahoma City, and Washington which were inexplicably hanging out near the bottom of this list.  (shout out to Ovi though!)

Golden State (+5000) - I mean in all seriousness folks, this really isn’t gonna happen.  It would be good optics for LeBron (from a brand standpoint, not as a competitor) to at least take a meeting with Golden State if approached.  Nothing wrong with listening to the winningest franchise in the NBA currently. But joining this team is another story entirely. I don’t see one player on the Warriors let alone anyone with any concern for LBJ’s legacy to be for this marriage at all.  Chances: The same as Javale McGee winning the 2019 Finals MVP.

Boston (+5000) - Boston’s many trade assets plus overall talent has invited many “experts” to nab them as a dark horse pick but much like the Warriors, LeBron has too much bad blood with the Celtics.  Unfortunately this means that we’ll never know if LeBron would be petty enough to go to whatever team Kyrie Irving was on just to take the spotlight back from him. It just won’t be in Boston. Chances:  Same as the earth being flat.

Cleveland (+3000) - The tweet below pretty much sums up my thoughts on the Cavs chances too.  Unless Cleveland can pull off close to a miracle in trades, there’re no good basketball reasons for LBJ to stay.  Can they trade Kevin Love for a star or will they have to include their 8th pick? Can they even trade Tristan and JR’s cap burdening contracts?  And the last 2 trades the Cavs front office have made, aren’t getting them high praise anymore. They basically traded superstar Kyrie Irving for a handful of average role players and the 8th pick in the draft.  The draw to stay in Northeast Ohio will come from family. It’s already being reported as such.

I lived in Northeast Ohio for the greater part of my childhood, some 15 years.  And it wouldn’t take much to be talked into leaving Northeast Ohio winters for sunny beaches and famous friends.  But there is something to be said for the ties that bind. And although Cleveland would seemingly be the worst basketball situation for LeBron to pick, I do think they’re his second most likely option especially if he’s being honest with how much influence his family may have.  Chances: How much does LeBron Jr. want to play under his father’s shadow or carve out his own path?

San Antonio (+2000) - There’s a lot of mutual respect on either side of these aisles.  LeBron greatly admires Pop and the Spurs’ culture. Pop looks at LeBron as a near perfect player.  Someone that cares about the beauty of the game as much as he does. And that type of potential cohesion of great basketball minds along with possibly teaming up with Kawhi could be enough for LeBron to seriously consider this option.  But San Antonio means nothing to his family and LeBron wouldn’t want to commit multiple years to that small of a market. Probably the most interesting move basketball wise but everything else says no including how much salary the Spurs have to shed to afford him.  Chances: Remember the Alamo? It’s not good.

Houston (+1000) - The biggest draw for Houston is that they have LeBron’s other bff, Chris Paul.  They also have likely league MVP James Harden and the 2nd best team in the league. But the trick for Houston is what they’ll have to give up to get James.  They would need to get rid of Ryan Anderson’s 2 year, $42 million contract for starters. If they can’t do that, they may need to trade up to 6 players to match LeBron’s salary in the also necessary sign and trade.  Not knowing who the Rockets can keep and certain questions about Harden’s commitment might be enough to keep James away from Houston. Chances: Houston, we may have a problem.

New York (+750) - The Knicks are here because they’re a big market (the biggest) and they’re the most important franchise in the NBA.  The Lakers are the most well known but the NBA gets lifted to another level when there’s a contender in Madison Square Garden. Hiring LeBron approved Dave Fizdale to be head coach is a shrewd move but I don’t see LeBron and his family trading Lake Effect winters for East Coast ones.  Chances: About as good as James Dolan is an owner.

Miami (+500) - Familiarity, location, and the Tao of Pat Riley most likely has Miami this high on the list.  They have a proven track record, a flashy, suave winner at the helm, and a nice no income tax plus nice weather combo with which to attract talent.  But Miami would have to make some moves to free up space and don’t currently have the most attractive pieces at least compared to most of these other teams.  And I don’t think LeBron pictures his legacy as going back and forth between the Cavs and the Heat. Chances: More Fredo than Michael.

Philadelphia (+350) - From a purely basketball talent perspective, LeBron probably couldn’t find a better spot than Philly.  Embiid and Simmons are on their way to becoming superstars and at ages 24 and 21 respectively, no other franchise can boast 2 young guys at their level.  Like these 2 could be the future of the NBA at each of their respective positions. The Sixers also have the cap space to sign LeBron. Although they don’t have enough to sign another max free agent, they have plenty of assets including the number 1 pick of the 2017 draft in Markelle Fultz and the 10th pick this year.  They could perhaps be the best trade partner for a Kawhi Leonard (who was recently seen privately by someone who’s also Philadelphia’s chief medical doctor).

That means Philadelphia can potentially present a lineup including Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard (or Paul George), and Ben Simmons.  That’s more talent than the Warriors big 4. There are questions of fit in the City of Brotherly Love however. Multiple sources say there are concerns with how LeBron will fit particularly with Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.  LeBron’s not really played before with as dominant a big man as Embiid and Simmons is a younger version of LeBron minus a semblance of a jump shot. I think they can make it work because although LeBron has usually been a ball dominant player, he doesn’t need to be.  With a proper point guard, LeBron can play off the ball and maybe work more out of the post. A way to transition into the twilight of his career.

Philly is also in the East and with Boston really the only major threat in their way, a Finals trip would be easier to come by.  But what about legacy? LeBron would still be joining 2 budding superstars and history may not look kindly on him coasting to titles on their team.  LeBron’s got a few games in play here and one them is ending up as the GOAT. How his next move will affect his legacy in this regard is something on LeBron’s mind.  LeBron’s future as a brand and his business plans are another of the games LeBron has his mind on. Philly’s proximity to NYC and it’s own status as the 4th largest television market in the country make that relatively palatable.  

But Philly doesn’t set off fireworks when it comes to where LeBron’s family may want to settle for the long run.  LeBron of course has the option of doing a 1, 2, or 3 year deal with player options. He can really play in any city while his family settles into their top choice.  But I sense a different mood this time around. Chances: About as good as Joel Embiid never getting injured again.

Los Angeles (+200) - The L.A. media hype machine is working overtime right now.  Its symbiotic relationship with the Lakers only growing stronger in times like these.  Laker Nation just caught some hopeflakes on their tongue and they’re drinking all of the Kool-Aid. So of course the media will drum up reports of free agents going to L.A. to get those ever profitable clicks.  And the media perpetuates its own bias in favor of advertising and LeBron to L.A. rumors gain credibility even though the Lakers really haven’t signed a superstar in free agency since 1996 with Shaquille O’Neal. (unless like me, you count 2006 (Jimmy Jackson)).  The rest of the league will hope that history repeats itself and Los Angeles is shut out once again.

It may not be so simple this year.  Out of all the teams listed, the Lakers come closest to hitting all of the marks.  They may not have the most talent presently but they’re the only team that can sign 2 max free agents, and have the assets to trade for a 3rd.  In 1996, Jerry West was the architect of that monumental Shaq signing. Magic Johnson who took on the mantle of ‘Mr. Laker’ from West is the new guy in charge now and the Lakers have been prepping for this summer of LeBron since the moment he took over.  They can free up $18 million if they can somehow trade Luol Deng which isn’t likely, but simply stretching his contract would allow them to sign James, another max free agent like Paul George/Chris Paul, and still retain young stud Julius Randle.

The Lakers are already set for the long term future with a lot of young talent in Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, and Josh Hart.  If LeBron signs along with a Paul George, the Lakers have choices. They’re young talent is probably 2 years away from entering their prime.  In two years, the Warriors are going to have to consider losing Klay Thompson or Draymond Green. This sets up L.A. perfectly 2 years from now and with Ingram, Kuzma, Ball, and Hart currently on rookie contracts, for a long time after that.  And if one year can’t be sacrificed in the quest for rings, a couple of those guys can be traded for veteran talent, possibly a superstar.

And believer you me, it will be easier to get veterans to take under value contracts with L.A. than it was in Cleveland.  And that’s another area L.A. does strongly in. LeBron has 2 mansions in Brentwood alone and his family spends the summers here.  His sons play basketball on teams in L.A. during the summer. It’s a place his family is already familiar with and I can only imagine the slumber parties at Jaden Smith’s or whoever else’s the kids think are cool these days.

I also do not want to discount the final aspect that also helps Los Angeles.  For someone looking to get their Hollywood production company off the ground, setting up home base in the 2nd largest market in the country, while under the guidance of a legendary basketball star turned billion dollar business entity based in that area makes a lot of sense.  If LeBron truly wants to set some roots down and transitional smoothly from the end of his NBA career to his dream of becoming a mogul, nothing could really be set up better for him. And if LeBron tells his family he wants to go to L.A., I don’t think he hears any sobbing.  

I think Los Angeles makes the most sense for him because it hits so many marks.  He might have to wait one year longer for true title contention but this team would be very close with the addition of two superstars.  It would take all of that falling into place and LeBron not being swayed by friendship in Houston, mentorship in Philadelphia, and knowledge in San Antonio.  But Magic doesn’t care. He’ll do what it takes, wink-winking his way to LeBron “buying” a small minority stake in the Lakers once he’s retired. I’ll also predict that he’ll play for about 4 to 5 more years before he ends his career playing one year wherever LeBron Jr. plays, if he’s ever as lucky as his father.  

An Appreciation of An Era by - Ben Galli

Minutes before I got a text about going to watch the Cavs game Sunday night, I was watching what I now consider one of the greatest episodes in television history:  Season 4, Episode 5 of “Friday Night Lights” - “The Son”. (Spoiler Alert) It’s about a son who recently led his team to a state championship and just lost his father in war.  I promise you you can watch it having never seen one episode of that tv show before and come away with deep down inside feelings.

Three hours later I watched a region triumph in what it seems many are conceding the cementation of LeBron’s GOAT status.  In the coming weeks, there will be deep down inside feelings had by many irrational sports fans and most will center around something having to do with LeBron James.  The Finals (Again!) and where he goes from now. If the Cavs win a title this year, there will be no more questions as to who the consensus greatest basketball player of all time is.  But the Cavs aren’t going to win this year. Sorry.

And so the saga continues.  Communities in Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, and Cleveland (and i guess New York) are anxiously waiting with bated breath for the days following July 1st when it seems evident LeBron James will announce where he decides to play next year.  The Finals are being played right now in Houston. Golden State will win. The Warriors would beat the Cavs in 4 or 5. If this Cleveland team can get to 6 games, mark that as the second greatest accomplishment in the 21st century* after Bobby Bonilla’s New York Mets contract.

*Technically the year 2000 (when Bonilla signed his agreement) is in the 20th century but those same people say the earth is round. Don’t @ me.

I’m not gonna waste your time by trying to convince you Cleveland has a chance. (they do! They always do!)  But the story of the year is what LeBron James has done in this, his 15th season. Nothing short of utterly remarkable.  As recently as March, disillusioned Cavs fans feared the Cavs may not even make the playoffs. The sudden rush of optimism from the deadline trades had morphed into a palpable sense of dread.  The team was not playing up to expectations.

But with the King, you always have hope.  Hope is cherished in Northeast Ohio. An area that has seen much better days but will always continue to fight upward.  A place that breeds almost equal parts disappointment and pride. LeBron James will always be one of us and we are better for it.  Only the haters can hate. Whether he wins or loses, stays or leaves, he will always be the chosen one that delivered a championship and lived up to incredibly unreal expectations.  

At the end of the next episode of that aforementioned television show, (Spoiler Alert) Matt Saracen (the qb of that state title run) leaves for what he considers better pastures.  Here’s to hoping LeBron James doesn’t do the same.