You “Pay” To Win the Game

What has happened to Major League Baseball? No, I do not mean the steroids controversy, I’m talking about “America’s Greatest Pastime” losing its appeal without a salary cap.  The game still has plenty of global appeal because of its high population of Hispanics and Oriental players, but being a fan from such a young age has compelled me to realize that America is ruining its sport. I don’t mean to  take any glory away from the Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies or Mets (who still lose despite Omar Minaya’s binge spending), but it is truly sad that a fan like me can predict the playoffs every year because these are the teams that spend the most money. Now, there are a few exceptions, like the Rays for example, but baseball has lost a tremendous amount of competitive nature without the presence of a salary cap. In my opinion, viewers have lost interest because the sport has become so predictable in terms of playoff expectations, but let’s get into some details of why Major League Baseball is slowly getting lost in the shadows of premier organizations like the NFL and NBA.

As an introductory idea, I will take a look at some notable teams and their salary caps from this season. According to cbssports.com, the Yankees $206 million payroll is number one in baseball, and by a mindboggling $40 million over the Bo-Sox! Now, we all know the Yanks won the “big one” last year, and of course it’s a great thing for baseball to see its most storied franchise win, but the baseball world has to be losing its patience. One must admit, it was much more thrilling to watch both the Marlins and the Diamondbacks beat the Yankees for World Series Titles, because especially for the Marlins, they had a payroll in the bottom third of the league. My point is, George Steinbrenner has set the bar in terms of spending to win, but it’s quite unfortunate that other teams must comply with the spending, just to compete. John Henry and Theo Epstein have certainly opened the wallet of the Red Sox organization, resulting in two World Series Titles this decade. The Yankees/Red Sox rivalry is baseball’s main attraction, so I’m sure Bud Selig loves seeing their front offices throw punches, and counter blows in the form of checks; but it seems like as long as a salary cap is non-existent in baseball, these two teams will never struggle. Now, let’s take a look at the other side of the spectrum: those who spend with no reward.

Exhibits A and B: The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets. These teams fit the criteria for what the “ideal” big market baseball team should look like these days. Both teams have great fans, play in cities that have the highest of prestige in terms of sports (look at Lebron James’ dilemma), have multiple rivalries, and most of all, owners who are willing to spend. But why cant these teams win? The Cubs have more explaining to do than the Mets. Omar Minaya has made it a pattern each offseason to spend an unlimited amount of money, bring in lots of talent, and just hope that it all falls together. He’s brought in pitchers like Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana while they were both in the primes of their careers, but we watched them plummet due to injury. The Mets lineup is loaded (with both talent and injury) too. There are stars like Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, David Right, Jason Bay, and Carlos Delgado that have graced the presence of that lineup, but got injured as well. We cannot blame injuries for the Mets’ epic 2008 collapse at the end of the regular season, but Omar Minaya has opened his deep pockets, bringing in players, even with the Yanks on the other side of town. As for the Cubs, this situation is a mess. That team has so much talent, year after year, and a great manager too, but they never pull it together. There was the miserable Mark Pryor injury, and the sympathetic decision that Steve Bartman made which probably did cost the Cubs a trip to the World Series, but this team has by no means lived up to the reputation of being the better Chicago baseball team. The team has only made the playoffs three times in the last 10 years, and of course has not won a World Series since 1908. The 2010 season is not going any better for the Cubbies, who continue to struggle as the bats of Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez continue to drag.

On another note, I just wish MLB franchises would more frequently take the rout that the Tampa Bay Rays rode to success. We saw them struggle for a while as an expansion team, but they shocked the world in 2008 with their World Series appearance. The Rays were patient, and the “Cinderella,” feel-good story that they offer to baseball is unique in itself. This team does not break the bank to achieve success, as they are all the way down at #21 in terms of team salary this season. Tampa Bay rose to the top with several struggles along the way, but the rise of young stars such as Carl Crawford, Scott Kazmir, Rocco Baldelli, James Shields, Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist made this team so appealing. If you ask me, a team that has grown up together has a special type of bond that you cannot buy. Along with the Rays, we’ve seen success from the Giants, Marlins, and even the Reds and Padres this year. As a sports fan, I love to see surprises, because not only are they fun to watch, but one can see all the front-runner fans scratch their heads as to why their Yankees or Red Sox had not prevailed in this lopsided system. Trust me, I’m a Cleveland Indians fan, and I know that with Larry Dolan as the owner of our club, the chances of him opening his wallet (other than to sign David Delluci or Austin Kearns) are worse than the New York Knicks’ chances of signing Lebron.

Next, I’d like to bring to the table the things that I have observed and the consequences I foresee while pro baseball’s “salary cap-less” era rolls on. Perhaps the most obvious point is the fact that Major League Baseball is no longer America’s best sport. It has been overtaken by the NFL and its phenomenal commissioner Roger Goodell. Just look at the postseason ratings! The Super Bowl is now the most watched event on television every year because the NFL’s competition has become so much of a joy to watch. The World Series actually had its lowest TV ratings ever in 2008!

Another reason why both the NFL and the NBA are surpassing the MLB is indeed their global appeal. Of course we know that Major League Baseball has the highest population of foreign players than any other sport, but Goodell and Stern are making drastic strides at achieving global greatness. The NBA has already considered expanding by placing a few franchises in Europe, and the NFL has now played regular season games in England. The Olympics are even considering adding American football to the medley of spectacular sports, which would certainly blow the doors open for the NFL, allowing it unlimited global recognition. It is obvious that with names like Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Yao Ming, the NBA is already a global juggernaut, but the population of American players leaving for Europe, and vise versa is off the charts. The NBA is home to stars like Dirk Nowitzki, Yao Ming, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Pau Gasol; and fans across the globe can see their country’s best players excel on basketball’s highest stage. We have also seen a number of NBA players leave for Europe in recent years because of the intriguing contract structure, and of course the exotic style of living that several countries have to offer. A player can earn $2 million a year in Europe, but have a place to live already paid for. One example is a rising young star who we all know as Brandon Jennings. The kid can play, and after skipping college to play ball in Italy, we saw him excel on levels that playing in college would not have allowed him to reach. Players like Linas Kleiza and Josh Childress departed for Europe and are playing for a championship too.  Veterans like Anthony Parker played in Israel for five years, and is considered one of the top 50 European players ever.

The last aspect of baseball that has been twisted by a “cap-less” league is the appreciation for the game itself. We see players making over $20 million dollars a year, this being the reason why those poor Rays wont be able to sign Carl Crawford when he becomes a free agent this winter. Ryan Howard’s recent contract has even gotten people to believe that if he is worth $25 million a year, Albert Pujols is worth $50 million; that’s just absurd! It is evident that the more money these guys make, the larger of an ego they entitle themselves to. For example, look at Alex Rodriguez. If he really wanted to win a World Series before last season, he could have signed with a better team than the Rangers in 2001, but of course the idea of signing the largest contract in sports history overshadowed the actual purpose of playing a sport, which is to win. We wonder why players like Manny Ramirez, who is still a good player, but far from great, is demanding over $20 million at his age. He made Dodgers owner Jim McCourt bend over backwards to sign him, and Manny broke my heart after signing with the Red Sox because although he was raised a Cleveland Indian and we were still the better team, he took the money and ran. What happens with a salary cap, is that it forces certain players who “don’t have it anymore” to lower their egos. Take the NBA for example. Players nowadays have options like the mid-level exception and the veteran’s minimum to keep them in check. There are also consequences like luxury tax in the NBA, and cap penalties in the NFL which are slapped on those teams who want to spend. Even if these teams pay the tax, they are essentially locked up for years to come if they choose to take on large and lengthy contracts. It would be nice to see one-year ex`piring deals worth something in Major League Baseball, like they are in the National Basketball Association. I find it hard to believe that an organization must make no financial sacrifices to achieve success in baseball, which is the reason why so many teams are left in the dust. I want so see close races in every division in baseball, but sadly the Orioles won’t be threatening the Yankees or Red Sox anytime in the near future. So Mr. Selig, I say to you, bring back the glory and purity of the sport, get rid of egos, and let us see the days where one could say that a team earned a championship instead of buying it.

http://yublog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/baseball-salary-cap.jpg

By: Constantine Madias

Scouting The Sports Analyst

2 Long Title Droughts, 1 Stanley Cup

This year’s finals will not be Penguins/Red Wings III, Ovechkin going for his first Cup, or a team from Canada trying to win for the first time since 1993.  Instead we get a match-up between the seventh seeded Flyers in the East and the number two seed Chicago Blackhawks from the West.  A Philadelphia Franchise that hasn’t won a cup since the Broadstreet bullies went back to back in ‘74 and ‘75 taking on an original six team that is looking for their first cup since 1961.  A Flyers/Blackhawks Stanley Cup seemed like a realistic pick in the beginning of the season.  Philadelphia had aquired veteran defensemen Chris Pronger in the off season, lined up some lethal goal scorers, and goaltender Ray Emery was poised to lead his team to the promised land.  Chicago brought back the league’s most talented young team and had signed Marian Hossa away from division rival Detroit, the team that took them out four games to one in last year’s Western Conference Finals.  At the start of the playoffs nobody had Flyers/Blackhawks.  Philly was on their second coach, lost Emery for the season, and needed a shootout victory over the Rangers on the last day of the regular season just to get in the playoffs.  Chicago although finishing with 112 points, had major concerns with Antti Niemi in net.  Now both teams are four wins away from hockey immortality.

How They Got Here
What a crazy ride it has been for Philly fans.  After battling down the stretch just to get into the playoffs the Flyers were matched up with Martin Brodeur and the number two seeded New Jersey Devils.  Not only did Philadelphia pull the upset, they did so in only five games.  In the second round the Flyers were matched up with the sixth seeded Boston Bruins, also coming off a first round upset.  It was a rematch of this year’s winter classic at Fenway Park in Boston, a game the Bruins won 2-1 in overtime.  After yet another overtime loss in game 1 and a couple more defeats thereafter, Philadelphia was trailing in the series three games to none.  Then it happened.  The Flyers pulled off four straight victories, including a three goal comeback in game 7 to become only the third team in NHL history to come back and win a series after trailing three games to none.  Philly stayed hot beating eighth seeded Montreal in five games to send the Flyers to their first Stanley Cup final since 1997.

In the first round the Blackhawks faced Nashville, the seven seed in the West.  After falling down two games to one in the series, Chicago rallied to win three straight including a wild come from behind overtime victory in game 5.  Next up were the Vancouver Canucks and Olympic gold medal winning goalie Roberto Luongo.  After being blown out 5-1 in game one, the Blackhawks as they did against the Predators won three straight games.  Chicago would drop game 5 at home but clinched the series by winning game 6 in Vancouver.  For the first time in the playoffs the Blackhawks would open on the road in the Western Conference Finals against San Jose.  The Sharks were coming off an impressive series win over the Red Wings.  But playing on the road continued to be no problem for Chicago.  They would win the first two in San Jose and complete the sweep back home at the United Center advancing to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992.

Coaching
Chicago’s Joel Quenneville after 13 seasons as a head coach in which he led his teams to 11 playoff appearances,  has finally led his team to the finals.  He was an assistant coach with the 1996 Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche and now gets his chance as a head coach.  Quenneville has done a great job of leading a talented, but very young team to this position.  Flyer’s head coach Peter Laviolette although younger than Quenneville has not only led his team to the finals before, but won the cup with Carolina in 2006.  After replacing John Stevens who was fired in December, Laviolette was able to coach through injuries and keep his team believing in near impossible situations.  Arguably no coach has done a better job with his team than Laviolette this season.
Advantage: Flyers

Special Teams
Any Flyers fan will tell you that Mike Richard’s short-handed goal in game 5 of the Montreal series was the goal of the playoffs.  Just as any Blackhawks fan will tell you Patrick Kane’s shorthanded tying goal with less than a minute to go in game 5 of the Nashville series was the goal of the playoffs.  Philadelphia has played in more odd man situations than any other team this postseason.  The Flyers have had 82 power plays compared to only 62 for the Blackhawks.  However it is Chicago who has scored on a better percentage of their chances, including a power play goal in the last three games of the San Jose series.  In the playoffs both teams are among the top three in killing off penalties and that has a lot to do with their defensemen.  Whoever has the advantage in special teams could go a long way in deciding who wins this series.
Advantage: Push

Offense
All year the Chicago Blackhawks have been a goal scoring machine.  This is a team that had six 20 goal scorers during the regular season.  Captain Jonathan Toews leads the NHL with 26 points in these playoffs.  Off season acquisition Marian Hossa has once again struggled in postseason play scoring only two goals thus far.  Detroit Red Wing fans know all about that.  But while Hossa has struggled,  Dustin Byuglien has shined in the clutch scoring the winning goal in three games during the Western Conference Finals.  The Flyers offense isn’t too shabby either with goal scorers in captain Mike Richards and Danny Briere.  Philly has also got contributions from Claude Giroux and Ville Leino.  Jeff Carter who led the Flyers with 33 goals during the regular season came back from a foot injury to score two goals in the series clinching win over the Canadians.  Philadelphia is averaging over three goals per game in the playoffs but their weapons can’t compare to those of Chicago.
Advantage: Blackhawks

Defense
The Flyers have rode their top defensemen to where they are now.  Philly has four guys playing over 24 minutes per game in the playoffs.  Led by Chris Pronger and Kimmo Timonen who are playing over 28 and 26 minutes respectively.  Those guys are both 35 years old.  Chicago’s top 3 defensemen are all younger and have had the luxury of playing less minutes.  Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and Niklas Hjalmarsson are all under 27 years old and haven’t shied away from the big stage.  It’s a classic comparison between old guys who have done it before and young guys who are ready to make their name.  In which is clearly a strength for both teams, Chicago has fresher legs and does a slightly better job of protecting their goalie.
Advantage: Blackhawks

Goaltending
Antti Niemi faced many questions in Chicago on whether he could get his team to this point and he has certainly answered the bell.  Many thought his confidence could easily be broken after a bad game.  That has not been the case.  In games following a loss in the playoffs Niemi has a microscopic 0.75 goals against average including two shutouts.  In the San Jose series Niemi posted a ridiculous .949 save percentage.  The playoffs are all about hot goaltending and he is hot right now.  But no one is hotter than Flyers goalie Michael Leighton.  When Brian Boucher went down with knee injuries in game five of the Boston series, Philly got the spark they needed.  Leighton would finish off a shut out in that game and then go on to win six of his seven starts en route to the Stanley Cup finals.  This is a guy that has been a journeyman in this league and ironically was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks back in 1999.  After bouncing around the AHL and NHL, Philadelphia picked Leighton up off waivers on December 15th.  The Flyers had no clue who they were getting.  In only seven games Leighton has three shutouts,  a 1.45 goals against average, and a save percentage of .948.  Niemi has been great but Leighton is the guy you want in net.
Advantage: Flyers

Outlook
Two great hockey cities who have waited too long for a Stanley Cup.  One team gets to bring home the cup for the first time in over 30 years.  Chicago is the popular pick and deservedly so.  They were better during the regular season, are more talented, and come in playing their best hockey.  But there is something about those Philadelphia Flyers.  They continue to somehow find ways to win.  This series could easily go seven games and Game 7 would be in Chicago.  Home teams are 0-4 in Game 7’s this postseason.
Prediction: Flyers in 7

By: Robert Nelson

Scouting The Sports Analyst

Super Bowl XLVIII: New York it is!

I want to believe that that everyone knew New York/New Jersey had the lock for the Super Bowl XLVIII bid. With a brand new state of the art stadium and as the first “cold weather” condition to host an outside Super Bowl, it just seemed too compelling to forego. But lets consider the consequences of hosting a ball game in freezing conditions. We can eliminate the fact that the weather isn’t going to be like Minnesota or Canada, where temperatures reach subzero degrees. However, the month of February is still considered one of the coldest months in New York and could bring a heavy downpour of monumental proportions. In fact, I remember having several snow days during my college years in February and as much as I loved my snow days, I don’t think the fans attending the Super Bowl will. More importantly, wasn’t the point of having the Super Bowl in warmer conditions to help the players concentrate on the game and not have to worry about getting frostbites?

I suppose what I really want is for the Super Bowl to return to Los Angeles but that’s a whole other story. Bad weather or not, Super Bowl XLVIII is coming to New York and hopefully luck will chime in for a nice day.

By: Grace Pak

Scouting The Sports Analysts

UPDATED: 2010 NBA Mock Draft Rounds 1-2

1. Washington Wizards – John Wall Ht: 6’4 School: Kentucky

Wall is crazy quick and athletic. He is at his best on the break because of his quickness, vision, and ability to finish. He needs to get a bit more comfortable in the half-court and work on his jump shot. The fact that anyone is even considering Turner at No. 1 is a testament to Turner’s ability and improvement, no slight against Wall. Within a few years he is capable of becoming a top tier Point Guard. Even Washington cannot mess this pick up.

2. Philadelphia 76ers – Evan Turner Ht: 6’7 School: Ohio State

Gifted player, a bit of an awkward shot, but hey it goes in. Showed he can play both the Point and the Shooting guard. Has already proven he is a clutch player which cannot be taught. To win almost every POY award with a midseason injury is all the more impressive. I foresee multiple All-Star appearances in his future. If the 76ers decide to run and gun again, no team is going to want to deal with the 1, 2, 3 of Louis Williams, Evan Turner, and Andre Iguodala, not to mention Jrue Holiday.

3. New Jersey Nets – Derrick Favors Ht: 6’9 School: Georgia Tech

Favors is a freak athlete with great reaction speed. He already has a solid midrange game and with hard work it will only improve his range. He still needs to bulk up a bit, but his upside is tremendous. He could become an impact player early in his career. Favors is a decent consolation prize for the Nets, and they do have holes pretty much everywhere but Center.

4. Minnesota Timberwolves – Wesley Johnson Ht: 6’7 School: Syracuse

Johnson is a long armed athletic wing. Smooth release on his jump shot, good range overall. I would say the best shooting guard in the nation if you count Evan Turner as a Point Guard. He has all the abilities to become an NBA starting guard. He definitely adds to an improving Minnesota backcourt.

5. Sacramento Kings – DeMarcus Cousins Ht: 6’11 School: Kentucky

Has great hands, solid footwork, and already has the size to bang down low with NBA bigs. Continued to improve though his tenure at Kentucky, and I think any doubts about his attitude have been erased. Definitely has the potential to become an All-Star. The Kings could definitely use a big man, Cousins seems like a perfect fit here.

6. Golden State Warriors – Al-Farouq Aminu Ht: 6’8 School: Wake Forest

Aminu has good basketball instincts, good, but not great athleticism. I like his passing ability for his size. He has great upside in that he already has good handle and shooting ability for his size. Just like in college, I think he will be a match-up nightmare for a lot of NBA teams. Don Nelson loves big men who can shoot so Aminu will fit in nicely.

7. Detroit Pistons – Cole Aldrich Ht: 7’0 School: Kansas

Aldrich’s height is his biggest advantage. He is a workhorse down in the paint. He is a solid, but not spectacular rebounder. By perfecting a hook-shot with both hands I could see him becoming a more offensively gifted version of Joel Przybilla. I think Detroit might go for size rather than talent and snag Aldrich instead of Greg Monroe.

8. Los Angeles Clippers – Greg Monroe Ht: 6’10 School: Georgetown

Monroe is a great passer out of the 4 position and he has shown flashes of ability to take over a game. He is a very unselfish player, which actually hurt him this year because his coach needed him to take over. Building a larger frame and continued improvement on his jump-shot will be a great asset to his game. He could become a very good combo forward. The three-headed monster of Monroe, Griffin, and Kaman occupying the majority of the four and five minutes is very intriguing in my opinion.

9. Utah Jazz – Hassan Whiteside Ht: 7’0 School: Marshall

Whiteside has great size and length. He led the nation in blocks, so obviously he has a knack for it. He definitely needs to work hard on bulking up. He is already capable of hitting 15-17 footers. Honestly I think he may end up being a steal at the 9th pick and could end up with the best NBA career of the big men in this draft. Not to mention he adds height to a team that was sorely lacking in it this season.

10. Indiana Pacers – Ed Davis Ht: 6’9 School: North Carolina

Very athletic lefty who would probably benefit from an extra year with Roy Williams, but his talent is unquestioned. Adding muscle to his frame and working on his handle will make him a very effective NBA player. High potential, but could turn into another Brandan Wright. While the Pacers need a point guard, I think the addition of a young athletic big man could really help the team.

11. New Orleans Hornets – Donatas Motiejunas Ht: 7’0 Country: Lithuania

Kind of what you would expect out of a European big man. Good skill set in terms of handle, passing vision, and shooting ability. His height is obviously a major bonus, but he needs to get bigger and more physical to be effective in the NBA. For every Dirk there is a Darko so buyers beware. Chris Paul will do wonders for this kid’s game, especially if they can get a feel for the pick and pop a la Stevie Nash and Dirk in their Dallas days.

12. Memphis Grizzlies – Xavier Henry Ht: 6’6 School: Kansas

Henry is a fantastic shooter and he has the body type to finish strong at the rack. He only has mediocre athletic ability and definitely needs to work on his defense, but he definitely has the potential to be a solid Shooting Guard. I think he and Mayo could be interchangeable at the 2 and 3 positions with Rudy Gay most likely leaving.

13. Toronto Raptors – Patrick Patterson Ht: 6’8 School: Kentucky

Not the most athletic guy, but has a great physique that is NBA ready. Patterson showed great work ethic throughout his college career, especially with improving his jump-shot. I picture him as a less athletic Amare Stoudemire in a few years. In a few years he could at least partially remove the sting of the potential loss of Chris Bosh.

14. Houston Rockets – Ekpe Udoh Ht: 6’10 School: Baylor

Very long arms as evidenced by his shot blocking throughout this past year. Has a developing jumper with mid-range and occasional long range at the moment. Overall he is a fairly raw talent, but if he can develop some efficient post moves he could be a very effective guy who could go inside and outside. Why not draft a talented big man to either back up Yao or replace him if he goes down again.

15. Milwaukee Bucks – Avery Bradley Ht: 6’2 School: Texas

I love this guy Bradley’s mentality; he wants to score early and often. A bit undersized, but has a fairly long wingspan to make up for it. He may have to transition to the point to become a high caliber player. He needs to improve on his decision making and passing skills. If this occurs just imagine the havoc Jennings and Bradley will cause to defenses.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves – Daniel Orton Ht: 6’10 School: Kentucky

Very athletic and has great length. Very big body will help out against NBA bigs. This guy is a bit of an enigma since he did not get a whole lot of playing time under Cousins, but how can you blame a guy for being the sub for the best Center in college basketball this year? With Minnesota most likely grabbing Johnson I see them grabbing a big man with this pick.

17. Chicago Bulls – Gordon Hayward Ht: 6’8 School: Butler

Obviously Butler’s great run through the tournament sky-rocketed this guy’s draft stock. Overall he just has a nice game: he is a great shooter, is more athletic than he gets credit for, and he just has good instincts on the offensive end. I foresee a possible 6th man of the year award in his future. I think Hayward could find a role on Chicago, even with the possible addition of Wade or Lebron, or both! (Hey a guy can dream)

18. Miami Heat – Solomon Alabi Ht: 7’1 School: Florida State

I forget who coined the term you cannot teach height, but that phrase definitely fits for Solomon Alabi. He is definitely a project, but he does have good touch on 10-12 footers and inside. I would say he is worth the risk. He could finally become the big man the Heat so desperately need after Shaq’s departure.

19. Boston Celtics – James Anderson Ht: 6’6 School: Oklahoma State

This guy is a scorer whose talent is quite evident. He has great range and he just finds a way to get to charity stripe. He needs to make better decisions with his shots sometimes and needs to improve his passing/teamwork. Probably would have been a top 10 pick if not for some character issues. It would be a very solid investment by this Celtics team, and he is a potential replacement for Ray Allen.

20. San Antonio Spurs – Larry Sanders Ht: 6’10 School: VCU

This guy is flat out a shot blocking machine with an incredible wingspan (7’7 you gotta be kidding me!). For teams that like to draft on potential I think this is a big man for them. He has quick feet and a great body frame. Give him time to polish his offensive game and he may very well become a force in the league. Hopefully he will help Tim Duncan down in the paint.

21. Oklahoma City Thunder – Paul George Ht: 6’8 School: Fresno State

Man this guy just made the game look so easy at times this year. He has a very nice jump-shot and he honestly just looks very relaxed on the court. Definitely needs to bulk up and may need to make his release just a tad quicker. He will only add to the young talent that is the Thunder.

22. Portland Trailblazers – Damion James Ht: 6’7 School: Texas

James is a very athletic player with good height and weight for his position. Improving his handle will add to his overall versatility. I could see this guy becoming a starting guard/forward in the league. He could be a great sub for the Blazers, taking over the role of the departed Travis Outlaw. Heck with all the Blazer’s injury woes, he could end up starting.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves – Luke Babbitt Ht: 6’7 School: Nevada

This guy is a pure shooter plain and simple. Very tricky offensive game especially with his ability to jab step and hit fade away jump shots. For teams that need a guy to spread the floor and hit shots coming off of screens this is their guy. If he works hard on his lateral quickness and bulks up, he could become a valuable 6th or 7th man. It definitely wouldn’t hurt Minnesota to have a shooter of Babbitt’s caliber.

24. Atlanta Hawks – Elliot Williams Ht: 6’4 School: Memphis

This guy is a crafty left handed player with astounding athleticism. If he works on his dribbling skills and just stay confident in his jump-shot, I think he will be a good if not great starting guard in the league. He is my steal of the draft at the 24th pick. He will probably have to grow up fast cause Atlanta looks like they will need a point guard ASAP.

25. Memphis Grizzlies – Stanley Robinson Ht: 6’9 School: Connecticut

Robinson is a long, lean versatile athlete. He is a very good defender who has gotten better every year. I see him being a good fit for a team like San Antonio or Orlando, especially if he continues to improve his jump shot. He could potentially become a more athletic Bruce Bowen. He may get a shot at starting with the potential loss of Rudy Gay.

26. Oklahoma City Thunder – Devin Ebanks Ht: 6’9 School: West Virginia

Ebanks is a very smart offensive player who is an absolute demon on the glass. His anticipation and long arms are great, especially on offensive rebounds. Definitely needs to be more assertive on the offensive end. He also absolutely has to get stronger. The potential is there and he is definitely worth a first round pick. His length and skill will add to the Thunder’s depth.

27. New Jersey Nets – Eric Bledsoe Ht: 6’1 School: Kentucky

Wow did Kentucky have a lot of talent this year. Bledsoe is a lightning quick point guard with a deceptively strong body. Hit more and more long range shots as the year went on for Kentucky. He did show bad decision making at time and had a very high turnover rate at about 3 per game. Definitely has the ability to be effective in NBA. He actually kind of reminds of Ty Lawson, and he could bring similar energy of someone’s bench. Maybe new Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov can trick Lebron into thinking Bledsoe is John Wall. But seriously though, Bledsoe is definitely a great talent who will help this Nets team.

28. Memphis Grizzlies – Gani Lawal Ht: 6’9 School: Georgia Tech

Lawal is a very talented athlete who plays bigger than his size due to his seven foot wingspan. Already good at establishes himself in the post and he is definitely worthy of a late round pick due to his potential. He needs to work on staying out of foul trouble and his footwork. He definitely adds depth to the Grizzlies backcourt.

29. Orlando Magic – Quincy Pondexter Ht: 6’7 School: Washington

I think Washington’s tournament run and the way this guy played puts him as a first round draft pick. I love his effort on the offensive glass, and he may not be the quickest guy, but has very good hesitation moves. This guy definitely has the potential to be a very good NBA player. Consistent hard work on his jumper and handle will be a key. May have to wait a year or two to get some quality minutes with Carter and Lewis in front of him, but he should definitely improve.

30. Washington Wizards – Craig Brackins Ht: 6’10 School: Iowa State

Wow does this guy have some potential. Hard work is the only thing preventing Brackins from becoming an NBA starter in the future. He already has a smooth outside stroke, now he just needs to improve his ball handling ability as well as get stronger. I predict him sneaking into this years Rookie Sophomore game. Brackins could be very helpful to the Wizards frontcourt.

Round 2

31. New Jersey Nets – Jordan Crawford Ht: 6’4 School: Xavier

The guy with the most hyped dunk of the summer followed that up with a solid season. Crawford is an explosive scorer with very solid handle, and he’s got NBA blood in his family. Bron Beware!

32. Oklahoma City Thunder- Willie Warren Ht: 6’4 School: Oklahoma

Warren’s first step is about as good as anyone in this draft class. His jump shot is very fluid and he has pretty good leaping ability. As long as he learns not to over-dribble and stay in control, he should be fine. As John Wooden once said, “Be quick, but don’t hurry.” He could be a very nice 2nd round pick up.

33. Sacramento Kings- Lance Stephenson Ht: 6’5 School: Cincinnati

This guy is probably the biggest risk/reward player in the draft. On the one hand his athletic gifts speak for themselves: Great height, nice handle, very solid build, finishes well at the rim. But on the other hand, he tends to complain too much, has shown poor leadership skills, and after just an average freshman season he already seems to feel he deserves NBA millions.

34. Washington Wizards- Jarvis Varnado Ht: 6’9 School: Mississippi State

One of the rawest athletes in this year’s draft by far is Jarvis Varnado. His statistics speak for themselves in terms of blocking shots in college. The guy is a pogo stick, in terms of both jumping ability and actual build. Could turn into an effective player with added muscle and work on his low post game.

35. Golden State Warriors- Dominique Jones Ht: 6’4 School: South Florida

This year Jones made vast improvements in his game, especially in a leadership role. He is absolutely deadly coming off of screens to get shots. He is definitely a tweener, but with a lot of work could become a very good scoring guard (Jason Terry comes to mind).

36. Detroit Pistons- Terrico White Ht: 6’5 School: Mississippi

Terrico has a nice ability to finish strong at the rim. He is not the most athletic guy, but he is definitely a capable scorer. He is a bit of project that needs to work on his free throws and outside shooting.

37. Milwaukee Bucks- Derrick Caracter Ht: 6’8 School: UTEP

When it comes to Caracter his talent is obviously undeniable. He has long arms, great rebounding ability, and has an NBA ready body. His problems revolve around off the court issues and keeping his weight down.

38. New York Knicks- Armon Johnson Ht: 6’3 School: Nevada

Johnson is definitely more of a score first type of point guard. He has a very nice ability to change direction and he finishes nicely at the rack. He is definitely not ready to be an NBA point guard in terms of leadership, but he definitely has potential and a solid upside.

39. New York Knicks- Jerome Jordan Ht: 7’0 School: Tulsa

Jerome is a definite project, but I think he is worthy of an early second round pick. He has great height and a decent build. If he can just learn to be more aggressive and continue to his expand his offensive game he can be a very solid NBA big man.

40. Indiana Pacers- Greivis Vasquez Ht: 6’6 School: Maryland

As a G.M. if you want a player with confidence, Vasquez is your guy. He has tenacity like no other, and has very good size for a point guard. If he works on his outside shot and decision making, he could become a very solid PG. Could be a very good pick up for a team in need of an energy guy off the bench.

41. Miami Heat- Art Parakhouski Ht: 6’11 School: Radford

This guy put up fantastic numbers his senior year being both top 5 in rebounding and scoring in the NCAA. He has good size and nice touch around the rim. He definitely played against some inferior competition while in college so his numbers were a bit skewed. His lack of lateral speed and vertical leap prevent him from being a first round pick.

42. Miami Heat- Trevor Booker Ht: 6’7 School: Clemson

Booker’s stats from the past two years do not tell the whole story of his game as he was double teamed a lot. He is a good athlete who proved himself throughout his college career as a very good defender. Work on his outside shot will help add to his playing time.

43. Los Angeles Lakers- Dwayne Collins Ht: 6’8 School: Miami

This guy could very quietly become a good player in the near future. He improved every year he was in college and he has impressive size and length. He is athletic enough to keep up with a lot of NBA bigs, but he is definitely a raw talent. I say he’s worth a mid second round pick.

44. Portland Trailblazers- Dexter Pittman Ht: 6’10 School: Texas

Sheer size is Pittman’s greatest strength as he checks in just a bit over 300 pounds. He shows nice touch around the rim and improved his shot blocking timing this season. He has absolutely no range beyond 3-5 feet, and still lacks lateral quickness. He could prove me wrong but I see him becoming a serviceable NBA big man at best.

45. Minnesota Timberwolves- Matt Bouldin Ht: 6’5 School” Gonzaga

Bouldin was a very effective college player with a great basketball IQ. He is certainly a capable shooter with great passing skills. He seems to me to be the type of player that might float around the league for a while until he finds his niche on a team.

46. Phoenix Suns- Luke Harangody Ht: 6’8 School: Notre Dame

I think for the most part everybody knows what Harangody brings to the table. He obviously had a great college career. His shooting ability, build, and leadership abilities are definitely his biggest strengths. His lack of great athletic ability is the only reason he is not a lottery pick. I see him becoming similar to Nick Collison but more effective offensively.

47. Milwaukee Bucks- Nemanja Bjelica Ht: 6’10 School: Serbia

This may be a guy people forget about in the draft and this is why I feel like he is going to fall this far. His talent is evident in his handle and much improved shooting ability. Definitely more of a point forward finesse type player. Like most European players he is not quite strong enough yet, and some scouts have doubts about his ability to keep up both with perimeter and post guys.

48. Miami Heat- Tiny Gallon Ht: 6’9 School: Oklahoma

For lack of a better phrase Tiny Gallon plays a bit too small at times. With his size and frame he is capable at times of dominating down low. This guy is definitely a work in progress but his youth and potential make him an intriguing pick.

49. San Antonio Spurs- Tim Ohlbrecht Ht: 6’11 School: Germany

Ever since Dirk it seems like every European big man who enters the draft can shoot, Ohlbrecht included. The guy is a lights out scorer from the perimeter. He needs to work really hard on defense and be willing to put in work on his post game to make an impact in the league.

50. Dallas Mavericks- Kevin Seraphin Ht: 6’10 School: France

This French born player may very well start sinking close to the first round as the weeks go by. His agent also represents Nicolas Batum and Roddy Beaubois two excellent players who were drafted very late. He has adept post moves and good athleticism. I don’t know if he has the frame to bang in the NBA, but agents are smart these days so his will most likely push to make sure teams don’t go 0 for 3 on Frenchman.

51. Oklahoma City Thunder- Sherron Collins Ht: 5’11 School: Kansas

I honestly think any team would love a Sherron Collins on their team. The guy is a great leader on the floor, has absolutely bruising strength for a point guard, and you can just see his passion for the game. His height and lack of blazing speed keep him out of the first round.

52. Boston Celtics- Lazar Hayward Ht: 6’6 School: Marquette

Lazar is a very scrappy player who had to deal with defending a lot of Centers and big forwards this year, so his toughness is not in question. Since he is not a great leaper nor overly quick he will struggle to score in the league. Capable of turning into a solid role player if he can add an aspect to his game that forces a team to keep him (defense, 3 point specialist, something).

53. Atlanta Hawks- Darrington Hobson Ht: 6’7 School: New Mexico

Being a San Diego State Alum I was relieved but a bit surprised to see Hobson declare for the draft. He definitely has an NBA level game, with great scoring ability and he can create his own shot with ease. I just honestly think another year of college will improve his game and see his draft stock go up, especially if New Mexico can make some noise in the NCAA tournament.

54. Los Angeles Clippers- Denis Clemente Ht: 6’0 School: Kansas State

Clemente’s biggest attributes are his confidence and his shooting ability. He will have to make the transition to full time point guard to have longevity in the league. Personally I can see him making some noise this year and sneaking into a few NBA.com Top 10 Rookie Rankings.

55. Utah Jazz- Jon Scheyer Ht: 6’4 School: Duke

If having a lot of heart is all one needed to be a high level player in the league, and then Jon Scheyer would probably be a top 5 pick. Unfortunately you need lateral quickness, athleticism to finish in traffic, and a great first step are need. Unfortunately again Scheyer has none of these things. His greatest assets are his shooting and his basketball IQ so we will see how he does in training camp.

56. Minnesota Timberwolves- Miroslav Raduljica Ht: 6’11 School: Serbia

This guy is a quickly improving center who could see his draft stock boost tremendously if he has a few good workouts in the combines. He runs the floor well, has good size and strength, and his passing skills are very good. This guy may turn into a very good player and surprise some people.

57. Dallas Mavericks- Charles Garcia Ht: 6’10 School: Seattle University

First of all, you have to be impressed when a big guy like this can handle the rock and show a nice pull up game. His ability to score and potential make him worth picking up and taking a look at. I think in order to even have a career in the NBA he is going to have to become an inside first, and then occasionally go to the outside player. Basically he needs to play like Rasheed Wallace 6 or 7 years ago.

58. Los Angeles Lakers- Mikhail Torrance Ht: 6’5 School: Alabama

Torrance isn’t the most well known player, but from what I have seen he has a very nice game. Very athletic and has good size for a point guard. Probably only fell this far because his overall numbers are not too impressive and Alabama did not have a great year.

59. Orlando Magic- Sylven Landesberg Ht: 6’6 School: Virginia

Overall talent level and size is average. He is a decent shooter and has serviceable handle. His best ability is to get into the lane and draw some fouls. Biggest reason why he probably will not succeed at the next level is his lack of athleticism and lateral quickness.

60. Phoenix Suns- Da’Sean Butler Ht: 6’7 School: West Virginia

I honestly feel like this kid would be a late first round/early second round pick if not for his devastating knee injury in the NCAA tournament. He has become a great leader with tremendous heart. I like his overall build; he is one of those guys who are “thick.” I foresee him becoming the best player since Ginobli to come out of the way late second round.

By: Michael Hartley

Scouting The Sports Analyst

Lebron James: The Most Wanted Man in America

After spending his first 7 years in the league with Cleveland, Lebron James will become a free agent on July 1st.  This comes after a  7 year run with the Cavaliers in which James has led his team to 5 straight playoff appearances, a trip to the finals in 2007, and the best regular season record in the league the last 2 years.  Individually King James has been named to 6 consecutive all-star games, including 2 all-star game MVP’s, was named rookie of the year, has won a scoring title, was named to 4 all-NBA first teams, and is the league MVP two years running.  Yeah all that in just 7 years.  Lebron James is a basketball talent unlike any other we have seen before.  A player who possesses the floor vision of a Magic Johnson, the athleticism of a Julius Erving, the strength of a Karl Malone, and even the speed of an Isiah Thomas.  When his career was over we expected to compare his greatness to Michael Jordan.  But despite all of his talent and individual accolades, Lebron, at age 25, has yet to win an NBA championship.  So now for a guy who seemed to have all the answers, there are many questions.  Will James ever win a title? If so when? How many will he win? Has James played his last game as a Cleveland Cavalier? And if so who will he sign with this summer?

It is that last question that has been discussed and debated throughout every dinner table and sports bar in America.  A question that has dominated talk radio and every ESPN program, even NFL Live and Baseball Tonight.  Yeah those guys are talking about it too.  So on the eve of this summer’s free agency one can only wonder of all the possibilities on where Lebron might end up. Will he team up with John Wall in the nation’s capital? Will Mark Cuban convince him that everything really is bigger in Texas? Will he try and resurrect that other team in Hollywood? Could he be willing to share the spotlight with D-Wade in south beach? Can ownership lure him to the garden state? Will he decide to blow away the competition in the windy city?  Does the idea of playing in Madison Square Garden give him the empire state of mind? Or is his heart really in Cleveland?

There are the long shots, a sleeper, and the favorites to land King James this off season and it has been decided 8 teams are in the running.  There is no exact science behind any of this since only Lebron knows what Lebron is thinking.  Nevertheless factors include possible teammates, coaching, location, climate, legacy, money, fame, winning and even where he can trust his mom.  Yeah Delonte West that last one was aimed at you.  So with no disrespect to Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, Joe Johnson and all of the possible big name free agents this off season here are the 8 teams and the chances that they land the biggest prize of the summer, Lebron James.

Washington Wizards – The Wizards have had the cap space to make a run at Lebron, but it wasn’t until those mysterious ping pong balls gave Washington the number one overall pick thus giving them a shot at James.  No Gilbert Arenas not your kind of shot.  Lets go with a chance.  The Wizards have a chance at getting James.  The only reason? John Wall.  One would assume that Washington would take the lightning fast point guard out of Kentucky in hopes of starting to turn around an embarrassed franchise.  If Agent Zero could get his head screwed on right and play the type of basketball he is capable of, this team has some potential.  The Wizards could play a line-up with Wall, Arenas, Lebron, Josh Howard and Andray Blatche.  Now that would be a fun, exciting, run and gun team.  No pun intended.  Possibly add another big name free agent and there could be some buzz in the nation’s capital.

Outlook: It all sounds good but in reality, as enticing as it would be to play with John Wall, Lebron would be taking a huge risk to play in what it is still a mess in Washington D.C.

Chances of getting Lebron – 1%

Dallas Mavericks –  Although the Mavs don’t seem to have the cap space to make a run at  Lebron or any of the big free agents, you would have to think Mark Cuban is going to be a player this off season.  Dallas is coming off yet another disappointing early exit from the playoffs.  The face of the franchise for the last decade has been Dirk Nowitzki.  For a guy who was an MVP in this league and has taken his team to the finals, Dirk has yet to win a championship and many feel that won’t change.  Nowitzki could opt out of his contract this summer and that could free up cap space for Cuban to go after Lebron.  But most likely it would take a sign and trade to bring in James.  If we have learned anything about Mark Cuban it is that he is willing to do anything in order to win.  There has been talk of Cuban pushing for the Mavs to play some home games at Cowboys Stadium which was  the site of the 2010 all-star game.  Cowboys Stadium can pack in over 100,000 fans and would be quite the stage to showcase a talent such as Lebron James.

Outlook: Dallas might be a long shot to land King James but don’t expect for Mark Cuban to stay quiet this off season.

Chances of getting Lebron – 4%

Los Angeles Clippers – LA’s “other team” is arguably the NBA’s worst franchise.  Throughout the years the Clippers have had terrible management, brain dead coaching, and players who seem to underachieve when coming to Hollywood.  The Clippers have missed the playoffs 12 out of the last 13 seasons, play in the same arena and city as Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, are currently without a coach, and their 2009 first overall pick Blake Griffin just missed all of his rookie season due to a knee injury.  So why in the world would Lebron James consider Los Angeles? Well if you ignore the history of failure this team has had and just look at it from a basketball standpoint, you will realize that the Clippers, yes the Clippers are an attractive choice.  Their roster includes one of the best young guards in the game in Eric Gordon, an all-star center in Chris Kaman, Baron Davis whose career could be revitalized playing with a player like James, and yes Blake Griffin.  If the number one overall pick in last years draft can stay healthy, one would think that the skills and athleticism that Griffin possess will make him a force in this league.  As far as coaching, at least Clipper fans know Mike Dunleavy and his 215-325 record won’t be on the sidelines next year.

Outlook: With a talented roster, a new coach (Larry Brown?), and the challenge of battling Kobe and the Lakers for headlines and championships, don’t rule out the Clippers in the Lebron sweepstakes.  At the same time if you’re a Clippers fan don’t get too excited, because after all you are still the Los Angeles Clippers.

Chances of getting Lebron – 6%

Miami Heat – Just imagine Lebron James and Dwayne Wade on the same team.  King James would go from having Anthony Parker/Delonte West as his shooting guard to D-Wade who not only is 100 times the player that those guys are but also has never been rumored to sleep with Gloria James.  These are 2 future hall of famers who have never played with anyone close to as talented as they are.  Both did play with Shaquille O’Neal who is without a doubt one of the greatest centers of all time.  Wade was with him when he was still pretty good and won a championship with him.  Lebron got stuck with the over the hill version of Shaq who prevented the Cavs from playing an up tempo style that ultimately led to their demise.  And no disrespect to Cleveland but have you seen south beach? Yeah that’s the point.  Joakim Noah agrees with that one.  The Heat not only offer Dwayne Wade and beaches but Pat Riley is lurking.  The 5 time NBA champion hasn’t ruled out a return to the bench if it helps lure a big name free agent to Miami.  With Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, and Pat Riley, it wouldn’t be a matter of if, it would be how many championships they win.  But despite all of the reasons to sign with the Heat, it just doesn’t seem likely.  Miami is Dwayne Wade’s city.  Who gets the ball in the final minutes of a big playoff game? And don’t forget that no matter how many rings they win together, it still leaves D-Wade with one more.  That matters.

Outlook: Miami is a beautiful city but it might not be quite big enough to welcome Lebron and his ego.

Chances of getting Lebron – 6%

New Jersey Nets – You wouldn’t think a 12-70 team who plays in New Jersey would have any chance of getting King James.  But the Nets are the sleeper in the Lebron sweepstakes.  Mikhail Prokhorov, the Russian billionaire is majority owner of the Nets and has promised big things to New Jersey fans.  Playoffs next year, a championship in no more than 5 years, and confidence that he will be able to lure the big name free agents to the garden state.  If Prokhorov can put together a team that looks as good as the supermodels and yachts he so often rides, he might actually come through on his promise.  Combine Prokhorov and minority owner Jay-Z who is good friends with Lebron, and the Nets might have the perfect storm of ownership to sign James.  New Jersey has a good young nucleus of talent in Devin Harris, Courtney Lee, and Brook Lopez.  Throw in the 3rd pick in this years draft and all of sudden everyone is forgetting that the Nets challenged the 1973 Philadelphia 76ers for the worst record in NBA history.  However there are a couple of factors working against Lebron signing with New Jersey.  The Nets although rumored to be moving to Brooklyn in the future, still play in New Jersey.  Nothing against the garden state but it is not exactly the ideal market to showcase King James.  The Nets lost 70 games this past season but none were bigger than losing the draft lottery and a chance to take John Wall with the number one overall pick.  Instead Jersey will most likely end up with Wesley Johnson, Evan Turner, Derrick Favors, or Demarcus Cousins.  All good prospects but none bring the excitement to play alongside with that Wall does.

Outlook: Nets ownership will make a strong push, but the biggest factor could be the timetable for a move to Brooklyn.  Keep an eye out for that.

Chances of getting Lebron – 14%

Chicago Bulls –  Big City, Derrick Rose, and tons of cap space.  Joakim Noah will also give you a few more things that Chicago has that Cleveland doesn’t.  There is also a coaching vacancy in the Windy City.  But it won’t be hard to find a big name coach to come to Chicago with the intrigue of what the Bulls could be next year.  On paper Chicago is the most enticing team for Lebron to sign with.  James has never played with a talent like Rose, Joakim Noah is a younger and all-around better version of Anderson Varejao, and the Bulls have the cap space to land another good player through free agency.  Chicago fans could forget about Jay Cutler throwing interceptions and the curse of the Cubs by celebrating NBA Championships like it was the 1990’s all over again.  You can’t ignore the rumors of John Calipari coming to the windy city to coach his good friend Lebron and former point guard at Memphis Derrick Rose.  Now James is certainly the big prize this summer but Chicago unlike the rest of the teams vying for Lebron’s services could still come out as the off season winners without landing the 2 time MVP.  The Bulls lack a knock down shooter and dominant post presence.  A combination of Ray Allen/Joe Johnson along with a Chris Bosh/Amare Stoudemire/Carlos Boozer might actually be a better fit.  That being said Chicago will still go after James just as hard as anyone else.  But will Lebron in hopes of creating his own legacy, want to play in the shadow of Michael Jordan whose statue stands outside of the United Center?

Outlook: If Lebron takes his show to Chicago the Bulls on paper would be the favorites to win it all next year.

Chances of getting Lebron – 20%

New York Knicks – Big City, Big lights, Big stage.  The league’s ultimate performer would showcase his talent on the grandest stage, Madison Square Garden.  King James would captivate Knick fans from his live performances on 8th avenue and 33rd street to packed bars throughout the 5 boroughs to the suburbs where fans would pay 3 times the face value for a ticket against the Timberwolves.  This is a New York franchise that has traded 1st round picks and starters to clear up cap space for this summer.  Knick fans have accepted losing these last couple of seasons in hopes that President Donnie Walsh will in fact be able to bring Lebron James to the city that never sleeps.  There is no better city to endorse yourself than in New York where King James would make millions more on top of the max contract he is sure to receive.  On the basketball court it is scary to think of the numbers Lebron would put up in coach Mike D’Antoni’s “7 seconds or less” offense.  Could he average a triple-double? 35 points per game? The possibilities are endless.  The Knicks have the luxury of not only signing Lebron to a max contract but another superstar as well.  Pair James with a Chris Bosh and the emergence of former 1st round pick Danilo Gallinari would make the Knicks title contenders year in and year out.  New York fans are desperate for Lebron to bring electricity and excitement to the Garden.  If James can bring the Knicks their first NBA championship since 1973 he will be forever idolized in the big apple.  Just ask Joe Namath, Mark Messier, and Derek Jeter who withstood enormous pressure to win a championship in New York.  Will Lebron dare to walk in their shoes?

Outlook: The Knicks NEED Lebron more than any other team besides the Cavaliers since the team has suffered through losing seasons just for a chance to get him.  The biggest factor could be who else New York brings in to play with James.

Chances of Getting Lebron – 24%

Cleveland Cavaliers – Lebron’s decision this summer will greatly impact the city of Cleveland.  And that is as big an understatement as saying Michael Jordan was pretty good.  With the state of the Browns and Indians, Lebron leaving the Cavaliers would give the city almost no hope of a winning team in the years to come.  Will the coaching of Mike Brown, front office decisions of Danny Ferry, as well as the play of Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison in big games lead to Lebron packing his bags? It is possible.  And that scares the living you know what out of Cleveland fans.  One would have to think that Mike Brown despite his regular season success will be fired.  The 2009 NBA coach of the year has lead the Cavs to the best regular season record 2 years in a row, but hasn’t seemed to make the correct coaching adjustments in a playoff series.  General Manager Danny Ferry has made questionable moves bringing in Mo Williams, Shaquille O’Neal and Antawn Jamison.  The Shaq experiment certainly failed but Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison are all-star caliber players.  Yes they have struggled in big games but the pressure that was on this team was comparable to nothing we have seen before. The Cavaliers were coaching, making front office decisions and playing not only to win a championship but to keep Lebron in Cleveland.  Not only did they crack under the pressure but so did King James.  In the last 3 games of the Boston series he shot a horrid 18-53 from the field.  So will Lebron take responsibility for his play or will he part ways with a franchise that has done everything they could to win a championship.  With the disappointment of how things ended this season and the notorious bad luck Cleveland fans have suffered through many feel Lebron’s time is over with the Cavs.  With that said Cleveland still has to be the favorite.  James has spent 7 years working to win an NBA Championship and leaving to do so elsewhere would make him a coward.

Outlook: The last 7 years Cleveland has been the average looking guy with the super hot chick in Lebron.  After a summer of dating others we will find out if Cleveland is Lebron’s true love.

Chances of getting Lebron – 25%

By: Robert Nelson

Scouting The Sports Analyst

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