The second the buzzer sounded for Cleveland’s 9 point Playoff eliminating loss to Boston, speculation took over as to what jersey LeBron James would be wearing next basketball season. LeBron James has played his first 6 seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, being drafted by his home town team, as he grew up in Akron, Ohio. This past season he averaged 29.1 points per game, won his second of back-to-back league MVP trophies and led Cleveland to the NBA’s best regular season record at 61-21. All of that success seemed to mean nothing when Boston ousted the Cavaliers from the Playoffs in last Thursday’s Game #6.

It’s been no secret that James wants to win an NBA Championship, but winning an NBA Championship is not an easy task, only one team can do it each year. Just moving to a new city will not earn him the Title; something needs to be different from his situation in Cleveland that will allow everything to fall into place. With his contract up at the end of this season, the Experts agree that if he leaves Cleveland, there are 5 teams seriously in the running to have King James play on their court next year: Chicago, Miami, New York, New Jersey and the LA Clippers.

The main question that James needs answer is not “where,” but “what.” That is, “what makes this team a better situation than Cleveland?”

Chicago offers the best supporting cast for LeBron. He’d be partnering up with rising star, Derrick Rose, who led the Bulls with 26.8 points per game this season. The remaining supporting cast consists of 3 other starters averaging double digits in Luol Deng, Joakim Noah and Kirk Hinrich. Combine that with Chicago’s ownership and management commitment to winning NBA Championships- Winning 6 Titles during Michael Jordan’s career with the Bulls. The biggest problem is that LeBron and Rose will always be in the shadow of the Jordon and Pippen show, unless they somehow put together a string of 7 Championships. If James can take all of the comparisons to Jordan, especially every year they don’t win the Championship; the Bulls offer the best long-term move for LeBron.

Miami is a happening city on the water that likes to party as much as they like NBA Championships. The Heats features the biggest star, Dwayne Wade, to pair with LeBron. Wade averaged 26.6 points per game this year and has averaged at least 24 points per game in 6 straight seasons. While this might be the best combination since Jordan and Pippen wore the same jersey, there are two major problems: Can Wade and James get along and share the spotlight playing on the same court (See Kobe and Shaq) and how many seasons do they have together? Wade will be starting his 8th NBA season, is a year away from turning 30 and he’s already had several minor injuries the past few seasons. If Wade stays healthy, Miami gives James his best chance at wearing a ring.

New York is one of the largest sports markets in the world with the Yankees, Giants, Jets and Rangers all calling it home. James’ fan popularity and jersey sales will soar, but, other than that there isn’t much reason to head to New York. The Knicks ownership hasn’t proven that they are committed to winning. New York has missed the Playoffs for 8 of the last 9 seasons, including 6 straight years! Cleveland won 61 games this year, but since 1946 the Knicks have never won 61 games and have only hit their best 60 win seasons twice, in 1969 and 1992. New York’s supporting cast of Lee, Harrington, Chandler, Gallinari, McGrady and Walker can’t compare to Cleveland’s current roster. If James signs with New York, he’ll be waiting years before they get a team together that can compete for the Championship better than the Cavaliers.

Twelve! That’s how many wins New Jersey earned on their way to an NBA-worst 12-70 record last season. The ownership and management would love to sign LeBron just like everyone else, but the Nets have almost nothing to offer. With New Jersey only making the Playoffs in 10 of the last 24 seasons (mostly thanks to Jason Kidd) and have made no commitment to putting together a Playoff caliber team since the 2002 season. Even with James on the roster, the Knicks would have to acquire several other players in order to be a serious Championship threat. Just can’t see the King taking a step down to starting over with a team that won an NBA worst 12 games last season.

The ownership and management of the LA Clippers have put together the worst commitment to making the Playoffs in NBA history, only getting to the postseason in 4 of the last 34 years! In fact, the Clippers have only ended the regular season with a record above the .500% level in one of the past 18 seasons. The Clippers are coming off a 29-53 season and ended 2008-2009 by posting a 19-63 record. Their supporting cast resembles the Cavaliers from the 2003-2004 season, the year before LeBron was drafted by Cleveland. It’s been 6 seasons of building on that team in Cleveland without winning a Championship and while LeBron playing in Los Angeles along with Kobe would make for great headlines for California sports writers, James isn’t looking to go back 6 seasons and start the rebuilding process again.

Carlo Campanella is called “The Iron Horse” due to his profitable winning runs. He’s currently on an 11-2 (85%) Winning Streak, including an 8-1 (89%) run in the NBA Playoffs. Be sure to jump on board through the end of the Basketball season.

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