The 1st Ever NBA Fan Free Agent! oh… and LeBron James

May 3, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers coach

before game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Possibilities

As a Fan–Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trailblazers and Washington Wizards

I put Houston here because I didn’t know where else to put them. I’ve never really liked them and don’t now. I dislike Captain Cry-Baby Dwight Howard and hate the Rockets for breaking up the Thunder, not their fault-who wouldn’t take that deal, but still. I planned on leaving to live in L.A. this past December before it got put on a year hold. Even then I was thinking of adopting a team to root for in the city, same way I’m a Colorado Avalanche fan (there was no Ohio NHL when I started watching hockey and the Avalanche had just become the Avalanche in Colorado so it was a perfect match) but I adopt the Blue Jackets because I live in the city. I was really trying to think of what team I would adopt. The Clippers came to mind but though I think they’re entertaining and I respect a lot of the players on the team, I just couldn’t find myself liking them enough. The same goes for the Washington Wizards if my career changes, high likely, and I’m sent to D.C. Problem is I don’t really like the Wizards or anyone of that team enough to root for them. I might also have some disgust for the mini-rivalry during the LeBron Cavs years. The Pelicans are a nice young team and who doesn’t like the Brow.  The front office has shown a competent strategy and has really worked to put a solid team around him. As interesting as it sounds, it just doesn’t click for me. Sometimes you just have to feel it, I’m not. The Portland Trailblazers have a similar feel as well. They’re interesting and exciting, especially with Damian Lillard, but there’s no connection here.

For LeBron–Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, L.A. Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trailblazers, Washington Wizards

As I said about connection earlier, I don’t sense a connection between the Grizzlies and LeBron. I think this would be a great fit for LeBron. Mike Conley is a solid point guard. He would get to play with Mike Miller again and Tony Allen is a terrific defender. That would be a scary 2-3 defensive shutdown between Allen and LeBron. And in the post you’d have Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. This would definitely be one of the scariest teams in not just the West but the entire league. I think from top to bottom this might be LeBron’s best pick. They have no #1 Alpha Dog here and LeBron would slide in perfectly. Remember this is a team that already took the Thunder to 7 last playoffs. He wouldn’t be ridiculed as much as jumping to the Thunder, Bulls (already have Derrick Rose), Spurs or Pacers. There is no one else that has a legacy in Memphis. You wouldn’t be in Bill Russell’s shadow or Jordan’s or Kobe’s or anyone else’s. This would be fantastic but for some reason there is no traction. (Before you discuss cap space Memphis is currently $6 million over, Tayshaun Prince is about $8 million and Courtney Lee and Kosta Koufos are another $8.5 together leaving them $10 million plus Zach Randolph is in the final year of his contract. They could re-do his and lower the cap hit for this season leaving more for LeBron -Randolph is currently the highest paid player on the team at $16 million). The Pelicans, Trail Blazers and Wizards all have young pieces and are trending north. In New Orleans he’d play with Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, Ryan Anderson and the Brow. Anderson would be ideal in spacing giving LeBron a lot of what Kevin Love would give him as well with that solid outside shot. Anthony Davis will probably be the best defender in all the league next season and for the next 10. Again there’s no alpha dog here. Why LeBron isn’t considering here is another mystery. Is it because it’ll be a tough road in the West? I believe it’s because he doesn’t think adding himself to this roster would beat the Spurs in 7. Here’s another team that might a year away from contending for LeBron. The talent is there, they just didn’t bring it all together this season. I think you can echo that with Portland, though their talent is a little more centralized on two players than scattered overall of the Pelicans. None of these teams are proven winners or big markets. Plus they’re all in the West, a place according to sources, LeBron doesn’t want to play because it’s too rough for the poor baby. The Wizards would be interesting. John Wall is improving each season, Bradley Beal is considered the next Ray Allen who LeBron loves to play with and they have Nene and Marcin Gortat thanks to the front office going in win now and getting after it. They finished 5^th last season and adding James would put them in the top 2 for the East. Still not getting the connection even with all the possible sense it could make.  Next is the Dallas Mavericks who are in win now mode but only for a short window. LeBron and Dirk Nowitzki would be straight nasty together. Tyson Chandler would be the defensive rim protector LeBron would love to have, especially to go against Tim Duncan, Roy Hibbert or even Pau Gasol (if he does go to the Thunder). Plus there’s an energetic go for it all owner in Mark Cuban who is constantly doing whatever it takes to accommodate his team and win championships.  I just think the window is too small for LeBron to make the leap especially into the deadly West, and especially with Chandler’s injury past.  The Houston Rockets are probably the best out of all these choices. You’d get to team up with James Harden who will be what he envisioned when he signed up for 4 years with Dwyane Wade plus Dwight Howard is far superior then Chris Bosh. Putting LeBron in the middle of that would probably be the best big 3 created recently.  The issue, as the issue is in Miami, is what would you surround it with. Would there be enough to fill out your roster for the foreseeable future especially in the deadly West? Can you count on Dwight Howard in the big games in the deadly West?