And yet, here we stand on July 2nd, and the Clippers had a confident, brief meeting with the largest of super-stars. Other teams are sending in owners, famous and successful former head coaches, and celebrities. The Clippers sent in two yahoos that have interim stuck on the end of their job title.
In my opinion. Brilliant.
And if Lebron is smart and listens to the ManSpeak, he will sign a contract with the L.A. Clippers.
Here is why we think he should:
1. The Roster is right!
No other team in the Lebron Sweepstakes with the exception of maybe the Chicago Bulls can compete with the starting unit that the Clippers could put together. Take a look.
It feels like Baron Davis has been around forever. But the truth is that Davis is only 31 years of age and still has 3 good seasons left on his re-constructed legs. Davis is a leader. The offense can go through Davis and Davis only. He is savvy and unselfish and when motivated, which he would be with Lebron by his side, can be one of the nastiest, toughest players on the court on any given night.
Davis shares the back court with Eric Gordon out of Indiana, who will be entering his 3rd year in the league. Gordon can purely fill it up, averaging 16.9 points per game and only projects to continue to get better and better with experience.
Chris Kamen is probably the most under-rated Center in the entire NBA. Kamen average 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds per game while contributing on the defensive end 1.24 blocks as well.
Finally, the wild card is Blake Griffin. The number one pick from a year ago did not suit up for a single game during his rookie season, but that doesn't mean that expectations are any lower. Griffin is an athletic freak and micro-fracture surgery should only slow him down a little bit (see Amare Stoudemire for reference). Griffin can be a game changer as he makes for a tough match-up for other 4's in the league. Imagine Pau Gasol or Tim Duncan chasing this young horse down. Not going to happen.
You throw Lebron in the mix and add another upper-tier player to come off the bench like a David Lee, and this bottom-dweller franchise might instantly be the best team in their own building finally. Which leads me too...
2. Lebron would get to match-up with Kobe 4 times per year!
Playing in the Eastern Conference limits fans' exposure to seeing Kobe vs. Lebron. But what would it be like seeing it 4 times a year, with all the games played in the Staples Center? Both guys would be in their element, on their home floor. It would be a hotter ticket than the Golden Globes. The NBA would have to eat this up from a marketing stand-point, as I'm sure all 4 games would either be during prime-time or played on Christmas Day.
Plus, if Lebron wants to build this legacy that everyone keeps talking about, he will need to prove that he can beat Kobe. What better place to do it than in a Conference Finals, guaranteed to be in Kobe's town, on Kobe's home floor? Toss aside the Housewives of Whatever County, this would be made for TV Drama.
3. L.A. has better marketing opportunities than New York!
Seriously, New York has the edge on L.A. when it comes to serious big money. I'm talking like Wall Street, politics, global businessmen, I get it.
Lebron wants to be a global icon, so what better place to promote himself than the worlds biggest pop culture propaganda machine? The city clearly lives in La La land and follows the hottest show that is around like a smoker needs nicotine. It would be incredibly easy for Lebron to make himself the biggest show in town. Lebron can quickly become the "King of Hollywood." And nothing is an easier sell than Hollywood or anything affiliated with it.
4. China!
Over $300 million people in China play basketball. For comparison, there are just over $320 million people in all of the United States. Talk about a huge target market.
And who right now has the number one jersey sales in China?
Kobe.
And where does Kobe play?
L.A.
Lebron can tap into the largest market and fan base that there is in the world with L.A.'s large Asian population and its iconic image. If Lebron truly wants to become the next "Billionaire Athlete," then he must figure Asia out and have them as truly loyal, adoring fans. L.A. is the best place to do this. Not New York, or Miami, or Chicago.
5. Lebron can Win Where Nobody Else Has Even Tried
The Clippers have been a mess since the beginning of time. Most think that when the Clippers win anything that the World may freeze over.
Lebron, with the supporting cast, can win with the L.A. Clippers. And he can win there next season.
Nothing will matter in the Lebron James story if he never wins a title. But I honestly think that he can do it with the Clippers and it will make him one of the richest, most heralded athletes of this generation.
Go ahead Lebron. Take a chance and listen to our advice. Sign with the Clippers. They can't be terrible forever.
Like what you see here? Great. Let us know. Leave a comment below on your thoughts where Lebron should go. If you think we are crazy for suggesting the Clippers, then we want to hear that too.
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