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NBA free agency: Will LeBron James’ dominance drive players west?

By Kristopher Grimes

Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is guarded by Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) is guarded by Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) in game four of the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Cleveland defeats Indiana 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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As NBA free agency looms this summer, it will be worth watching to see if LeBron James’ dominance of the East forces free agents to the Western Conference.

If you are a team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, the path to an NBA Championship goes through LeBron James. It’s no secret.

“The King” as he is known is appearing in his seventh straight NBA Finals. For over a decade, James has outlasted the “Big Three” of the Celtics, the Derrick Rose led Bulls, and the Detroit Pistons.

At age 32 and in his fourteenth season, LeBron’s not showing any signs of slowing down. As the NBA Finals approach, and the NBA’s pending free agents get ready to decide their future, will LeBron’s James dominance drive players West?

The Thought Of Facing James

Imagine for a moment you are an impending NBA superstar about to enter free agency. You want to find the best opportunity to win an NBA title. On one side, you see LeBron James dominating the East, and entering his seventh consecutive NBA Finals. On the other side, you see the Golden State Warriors with a quartet of superstars in Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green making their third appearance. Where do you go?

For many players in the 2017 NBA free agent class, they are going to have to answer that question. Do they want to go through LeBron James in the East every year until he retires or take your chances against the Golden State Warriors in the West?

In most situations, you would like to think you would take your chances against one player versus such a dominant team like the Warriors. However, when that one player is as dominant as LeBron James, the answer is not so cut and dry. In fact, rumors have many free agents considering the path of joining teams in the tougher Western conference. Players like Toronto’s Kyle Lowry and Indiana’s Paul George, whom LeBron bested in this year’s playoff’s are among those looking to go west.

Now there are other factors that play into their decisions. As the thought of going to the tougher Western Conference versus staying in the weaker Eastern Conference doesn’t make sense at first thought. Until you think of the team’s and players LeBron has outlasted in the East.

He ended the mid-2000’s Detroit Pistons dynasty, he helped keep the “Big Three” of the Celtics to one title, and when the NBA threw Derrick Rose at LeBron, he let that rivalry last all of one MVP season. While injuries played a factor, Rose’s Bulls continually met LeBron James teams in the playoffs and lost.

May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks and scores against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) dunks and scores against the Boston Celtics during the third quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

The Dominance

LeBron James is appearing in his seventh straight Finals. Just think about that. It’s an accomplishment not seen since Bill Russell‘s Celtic days of yore. So can you blame players for wanting to get away from him and the East just to have a shot an NBA title?

This doesn’t mean teams don’t fear the teams in the West. The Warriors, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, and even the up and coming Utah Jazz are fearsome opponents. These teams have superstar players like Curry, James Harden, Kwahi Leonard, and Gordon Hayward. Yet none of the aforementioned teams or players are LeBron James. A talent whose drive and skills put him among the greatest to have ever played the game of basketball.

Everyone watched James put up 25 straight points in 2007 to lead the Cavaliers over the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. We saw his will to avoid losing when he averaged 35+points a game and a near triple-double in the 2015 Finals. Then there was the drive to help bring the Cavaliers back from a 3-1 deficit in last year’s Finals.

Now put yourself back in a potential free agent’s shoes. Think about what you’ve seen from LeBron James. Would you rather be in the same conference as him and have to go through him every year just to get out of the East? Or sit back in the West and hope that someone else beats him? Then think about the fact that if he stays healthy, James could play another four to five peak years.

May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) sticks his tongue out during a media timeout during the second quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
May 25, 2017; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) sticks his tongue out during a media timeout during the second quarter of game five of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /

What would you do?

Well, this year’s free agency and deals may tell the tale. The Boston Celtics are a player or two away from truly being able to challenge the Cavaliers in the East. They made the Eastern Conference Finals, and own the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

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Common sense would say that trading for or signing a player like Chris Paul, Paul George or Kyle Lowry could help a team like the Celtics more than any college player. One would have to assume that Celtics GM Danny Ainge knows this. Leading him to offer the number one pick to the Indiana Pacers for a player like George.

What will be interesting is what players like Lowry and George decide to do. Will they jump to the Western Conference because they don’t foresee beating James? Or do they opt to join a team like the Celtics? A team that’s a player or two away from challenging him and the Cavaliers?

Either way, as we settle into the Finals, it’s not hard to see the dominance of LeBron James has on the East, but the whole NBA. Just look at the Warriors. After a 73-9 record-setting season, they couldn’t beat James and a healthy Cavaliers squad. Then in the off-season, they went after the NBA’s second best player in Kevin Durant.

Next: LeBron's 8 NBA Finals' teams, ranked

If the best in the West has to go get a fourth superstar, what are teams in the East supposed to do? With LeBron James dominance, can you really blame anyone wanting to go West?

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