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The Future of the NBA [6:45am EST]

I'm not a huge NBA fan. You might even say that I couldn't care less about it, but with the upcoming free agency bonanza coming up, I figured I'd throw in my two cents.

James. Bosh. Wade. Three of the biggest names in the NBA right now, and all three could be on the move after the playoffs. Chris Bosh seems like he's sure to go, but DeWayne Wade and LeBron James are uncertainties. Wade has come out and said his heart is in Miami and would love to stay, so there's a chance he won't go anywhere (although he is from Chicago), but what about King James? You can argue he is the best player in the game right now. Not only does he score alot of points, always competing for the scoring title, but he has mastered the chase from behind lay-up block (is there an easier name for that?), so he is a good defensive player as well. Not only that, but his face is everywhere now, even more than Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant ever were.

James has come out and said he would like to build a global empire and become a billionaire, which is something he can easily do. The idea of him taking a huge contract overseas seems to have died down, so he will look to get a max contract here in North America (thought I doubt he would go to the Raptors, so it's safe to narrow it down to the States). The Cavaliers can give him the most money, and he can try to continue on what he has already built, as well as staying in his hometown. So it would all make sense then, right? Hometown team, a ton of money, and a chance at a championship every year.

As logical as it seems, there is one huge issue: marketing. James wants to be an icon, and Cleveland isn't exactly a huge media city, which is why the rumors of him in a New York Knicks or Los Angeles Clippers uniform have been going around for a few years. They can afford to offer him a max contract as well (though for some reason the Cavs can pay him more. I don't know the NBA, so I have no idea why), and put him into a huge market where he can start to market himself even more, and work towards that global icon goal.

A few years ago, the Boston Celtics traded for a couple of huge stars, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and teamed with Paul Pierce, led them to an NBA championship in the first season. That's the thing that both is awesome about the NBA and flat-out drives me nuts; it's an 11-player team, so replacing one or two players can pay dividends immediately, especially when a few young players are already in place. That's why there is only one logical place for James to go assuming he leaves Cleveland, and that place is New Jersey.

The Nets were the worst team in the league this year, barely missing out on setting the all-time loss record, so they should have a good shot at the first-overall pick (I hate the lottery pick). NBA rookies differ from the rest of the other major sports in that they are already NBA-ready, and had to be forced to spend a year in college, so assuming they don't get injured they can make a huge impact in the first year. Now if you take whichever rookie they take, add him to the young nucleus, then add LeBron James, you could be looking at a contender next year. Yes, the Celtics, Magic and Hawks will still be threats, but the Cavs will fall off without James, and the Nets could replace them.

This is all hypothetical, and there is still some NBA left to play, which makes me wonder; does the Cavaliers' result in the playoffs impact James's decision?

If the Cavs win the NBA championship, LeBron will have the first (of hopefully many) championships in his career, not to mention the Cavs' first championship, so it would make sense for him to stay in Cleveland and work on creating a dynasty. Or would it?

James leading the Cavs to a championship could be his closing act, seeing he has nothing left to prove and wanting to move on to a new town to try it again. Yes, it seems rediculous that he would want to start all over, but with one ring to his name, he can't be labeled as the best player to win nothing, so he doesn't have anything to lose. Again, hypothetical, and hard to judge because I'm not LeBron James.

My prediction? James stays in Cleveland, Wade stays in Miami, and Bosh goes to Chicago. If I'm wrong, well, that's alright. Football season is less than five months from now.

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