If there is one person that screams investigative sports journalism, it is definitely Jalen Rose...

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True, but I'll take whatever good news I can get to keep my Bulls getting Lebron hard on

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Team Cutler.

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Interesting part is the Bulls|Heat|Clips (ie, no Knicks or Nets).

Rose prolly still hates the Knicks from that time Ewing chased him around the court.

He played in NY if I'm not mistaken

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Oh, hell, then he def hates the knicks.

W&S saying Jalen is best buds with WWW.

I'll take positive news that he's leaving Cleveland, which in my mind is still the front runner, but this is Jalen Rose we're talking about. Then again, I probably wouldn't believe anything Ric Bucher or Chad Ford say either because they throw out all kinds of rumors that never happen.

The latest from JR:


#NBA as of 2day the Bulls have the best chance of landing LBJ...Miami would need to make more roster moves...Clips have a punchers chance!

I won't likely believe anything until July 8th or the night of June 30th at the earliest.

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Agreed.

all signs point to miami or chicago. miami because life would be amazing, chicago because of multiple rings... imo anyway...

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the world will always the world. your entire existence is defined by your response.

Did they play Yackety Sax during the chase?

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Power is always in the hands of the masses of men. What oppresses the masses is their own ignorance, their own short-sighted selfishness.
- Henry George

The way I see it if he opts out on June 30th then he isn't coming back. Why else would he lose more money if he is going to stay anyway? Signing an extension for the deal he already has will bring him even more money. Opting out IMO is a sign that he is gone.

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I think we'll know even before that. It's not like a whole lot is going to change between now and then between him and the Cavs. He knows what is there and if he wants to stay. If he really wanted to stay he'd be acting like Wade and telling anyone who will listen that he's staying and others should come here and win a title. Instead, we've got almost every rumor claiming somewhere else but Cleveland. I don't think on June 29th that he'll suddenly say "Let's stay in Cleveland!". He at least knows that he's gone from there. The only question is where else he's going to go.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

What is significant about July 8th?

My guess is that this will be resolved quicker than some would think when free agency begins. James and his people have had over a month to examine each of the teams involved, and I'm sure he knows most of these cities well by now. I do think you bring up a good point in that he's been so quiet about his intentions unlike Wade. It could just be his style, a resignation that Cleveland, with it's cap situation, isn't going to be able to add any premier free agents, but it could also be a sign of his intentions as well.

Well with another move or two, the Heat might be able to clear enough for THREE max contracts. That could certainly change things.

That is the day they can officially sign contracts.

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Can they accomplish that, and is one of those 3 spots reserved for Wade?

Maybe LeBron's thinking that this next team won't be his last team, or even a long-term thing.

That is, considering that all of Ohio is going to be butthurt by James leaving, James goes to some place like Miami for a couple seasons (one of which is likely to be canceled due to the lockout anyhow) and then after Cleveland gets over it a bit, he lands in Chicago or New York or somewhere more to his long-term preference.

Among the teams that he might possibly go to, the Heat have the best chance to contend in the 2010-2011 season. The Heat sign James to a 2 year deal, along with Bosch or Boozer or even Dirk, to play alongside Wade and then Riley returns to coach one more time and LeBron gets a quick ring and then he has that monkey off his back.

Even with the addition of LeBron, it's unlikely the Bulls contend next season or two.

The teams that make it to the Finals nowadays are all-star teams with experience and depth.

Adding 1 guy to the current Bulls lineup is not going to make the Bulls competitive with those teams in a 7 game series.

One of those 3 spots would be for Wade. The question is does he opt out. If he stupidly does it will save them another $700k in cap money. The Cook trade and the swap of draft picks will give them about $33M to spend in free agency if the salary cap is at $56.1M for next season. That right there is enough to sign 2 max guys to play with Wade. They no longer need to deal Beasley but I'm sure they will continue to try. Other than signing with their own teams every free agent can make more money in Miami because they don't have a state tax. Things just got even more interesting. If Bosh and LeBron join Wade in Miami the commissioner my need to cancel the next 5 seasons because they will dominate the league even if their stats suffer.

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You can forget about LeBron or any of these guys signing a 2 year deal. Only deals they will sign will either be for 5 or 6 years. Nothing less.

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I figure he thinks he's just a Lou Deng away from getting a ring, so how the hell could he even think of going anywhere else??

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Proud member of the white guy grievance committee

It aint the six minutes. Its what happens in those six minutes.

I think it's possible LBJ signs a 3-year deal to stay in Cleveland.

It would make any sense for a lot of reasons but mainly the fact the new CBA will slash salaries. Which means LeBron would end up taking a lot less in 3 years for even few years. There is absolutely no chance that happens or he would need to fire all of his advisers and everyone around him would need to be investigated for a crime.

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The CBA will be negotiated between current owners and current players. Any time a union renegotiates a union contract due to the employer's declining economic position (NBA franchises are hemorrhaging money) the current employees shift all the cuts to pay/pensions/benefits to future union workers. Maybe you'll see the NBA implement a rigid salary scale for incoming rookies and younger players.

I doubt they're going to cut current NBA superstar players ability to make as much as they can at all.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Sadly you are mistaken. All players will take a major cut in the amount of salary they can receive and the years.

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