By: Eric Michael (University of Miami)
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Has everybody fastened their seat belts? Ok, good because you are going to need to be buckled in as LeBron James announces tonight where he is going to play next year.
The man also known as King James has scheduled a press conference for tonight at 9 PM ET on ESPN to announce where he is headed next year. James is the most highly coveted free agent to hit the market since Shaquille O’Neal back in 1996. James is part of the best free agency class in years consisting of Chris Bosh, Dwayne Wade and Amar’e Stoudemire. LeBron has taken everyone on the ride of a lifetime on where he will sign, so let’s briefly review the main contenders in the race for the LBJ.
Chicago Bulls
The team with the best roster at the moment with Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, but will playing in Jordan’s shadow be too much of an issue for LeBron?
Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron’s hometown team and the only team he’s every played for. He has a lot of loyalty and owns the town. Would he really want to give up all that?
New Jersey Nets
LeBron is tight with Jay-Z – a partial owner of the team. The organization plans to move to Brooklyn in a few years, but if LeBron wanted to play in New York wouldn’t he rather want to play for the Knicks?
New York Knicks
I think the Knicks are the wild card of this whole race. They signed Amar’e Stoudemire on Monday, so LeBron already has a star player to work with. The lure of the Big Apple is there and LeBron’s right hand man William Wesley a.k.a. the most powerful man in the NBA has been trying to get LeBron out of Cleveland. Will this be the place?
Miami Heat
This team is looking like the potential front runners after agreeing to deals with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh yesterday. LeBron is “reportedly” down to either Miami or Cleveland. Is the lure of playing with two other superstars and South Beach to much for LeBron to pass up?
Prediction: Let’s be honest, if you’ve read any LeBron rumor in the last three months, it’s probably just that, a rumor. No one has any idea where he is going, and I’m pretty sure LeBron doesn’t even know where he’s going. With that said, I think he wants to win an NBA title, and I think the best place for him to do that is in Miami. Thoughts?
