Excuse Pat Riley if he's starting to get excited.
That's because LeBron James (kind of pictured) is now ONE loss from being a free agent.
A very unhappy free agent.
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The NBA has the Larry Bird rule in place to do the following: keep star players put.
The basis of the rule is that the CURRENT team can offer more money than any other bidding team to a free agent.
That's the reason I foresee Dwyane Wade staying in South Florida for a long time (well that and the restraining order he's going to take out on his bat***T crazy ex-wife, Glenn Close anyone?)
So yes, Cleveland can give LeBron more money than anyone else can.
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But, there's something that Miami has that Cleveland does not.
Cap space.
Right now, Cleveland is tapped out.
GM Danny Ferry has constructed his best shot at a title.
He brought in Moe Williams (even though Riley wanted him at the time) and he brought in Shaq (who the Heat were done with--- remember 'win a ring for the king').
And what's it gotten them?
If Boston knocks out Cleveland in the 2nd round of the playoffs, LeBron is going to have to do some serious thinking.
Cleveland has done EVERYTHING possible to build a winner, and can't get out of the conference finals. In the EAST.
Sure, you're a God here. Everyone is a witness, to your mediocrity.
You can throw up ALL the chalk you want, but you're left with no rings.
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And then there's Miami calling.
Go down and play with your buddy Dwade.
You both get max contracts.
The Heat will have some flexibity to throw in a few extra parts.
LeBron has two MVPs and is clearly the best overall player in basketball, but he has zero rings.
Riley has plenty.
He can shine them in LeBron's face and say: Magic, Kareem, Wade, Shaq... I got them all their precious. Do you want to be a part of that?
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Yes, New York can come calling.
They'll sell him on the big apple and Madison Square Garden.
But be honest, with Wade, Miami's closer.
I always say this, the Knicks are NOT the Yankees.
They have SOME tradition, but not the type that would lure LeBron.
Sure, there are marketing possiblities in New York.
But LeBron is already a one-man global brand.
No state income tax is a nice little cherry on top.
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One of my favorite Pat Riley expressions is: Hard work won't guarantee you anything, but without it, you don't stand a chance.
Well, if the Celtics get one more win over Cleveland, Miami has a chance at LeBron.
You could roll out Wade, LeBron, and put Justin Bieber at the point, and you'd reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
Can Leaveland say the same thing?
