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发帖数: 9146 | 1 http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lebron-james-influence-over-caval
LeBron James' influence over the Cavaliers' roster moves may not be as great
as everyone believes
When LeBron James re-signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers last summer, the
widespread belief was that he would have a voice in all personnel moves.
After James devastated the team by leaving as a free agent in 2010, the NBA
world believed that the chance LeBron could leave again would give him
leverage over the Cavs' front office.
There's some validity to it. James reportedly had a hand in approving the
Kevin Love trade, and he said he signed off on the trade that brought J.R.
Smith and Iman Shumpert to the Cavs midseason.
Despite LeBron continually signing short contracts, however — a move that
also earns him more money — his control over the front office may not be as
strong as people believe. In a video for Bleacher Report, Ric Bucher says
the Cavs don't fear LeBron's leaving Cleveland again after he decided to
return last summer.
In discussing the Cavaliers' ongoing negotiations with free-agent power
forward Tristan Thompson — whom LeBron has publicly said he wants re-signed
— Bucher says, "I'm told that, privately, the Cavaliers are convinced that
LeBron cannot afford to break Cleveland's hearts a second time and leave
and therefore does not have the leverage that everybody supposes he has."
This could have a direct impact on Thompson's future. Thompson has been
holding out for a maximum contract, threatening to sign a one-year deal this
season and become an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn't get
his max. The Cavs, clearly, don't believe Thompson is a max player, and
though they would surely like to re-sign him, they haven't caved to his
demands.
The belief, however, has been that because LeBron wants Thompson back, the
Cavs will eventually have to pony up to re-sign Thompson. With several
players making eight-figure salaries next season, a max contract for
Thompson would balloon the Cavs' payroll into near-historic tax levels. If
the Cavs' front office isn't willing to cater to LeBron, it may not believe
Thompson is worth the millions the team would pay in taxes for maxing him
out.
Where the Cavs could bend, however, is signing Thompson to his preferred
contract because they can't easily find a replacement for him. If that's the
case, LeBron would still get what he wants, but not because of his own
personal power.
Still, if the Cavs don't seriously fear LeBron bolting in free agency again,
it could have major implications on how the team is built in the future.
The team clearly values his opinion, and he will have a say, but if a player
is demanding a contract the Cavs aren't comfortable with, the team won't
just cave because LeBron wants said player around. | J***J
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