Longtime readers know (and oftentimes lament) my tendency to speculate and play the what-if game. So when Gregory Broome of the great Miami Heat blog Peninsula is Mightier invited me to contribute something to his Trade Journal, my what-if wheels started spinning.
My first thought was the seemingly untouchable LeBron James. At the tender age of 23, James is regarded as the best player in the world by some, and the second best player in the world by everyone else. LeBron is the face of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the poster boy for the NBA. So coming up with a trade scenario that would give Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry even a moment’s hesitation took a little extra thought.
Given LeBron’s age and unlimited potential, there isn’t a player in the NBA that the Cavaliers would trade LeBron for straight up. But what about a group of players? That group would have to be comprised of players of a similar age and all-world ability.
Enter the Portland Trail Blazers: LeBron James for Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge.
The trade works under the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement since Oden, Roy, and Aldridge’s contracts equal $12,727,320 of LeBron’s $14,410,581 dollar salary. In Oden, the Cavaliers would receive a once-in-a-generation big man who is all but 20 years of age. Yes, Oden’s been injury-prone thus far, but his upside is undeniable. Roy is 24 years of age and won the Rookie of the Year award in 2006-2007. Roy was also named to the All-Star team in just his second NBA season. Aldridge is 23, and averaged 18 points per game last season. Aldridge has reportedly added a midrange jumpshot to his repertoire and has been tabbed by many to lead the Blazers in scoring this season.
In short, the Cavaliers would receive three All-Star caliber players at or under the age of 24. The Trail Blazers would receive a player that has dominated the NBA since his second NBA season. James averaged a league-high 30 points per game last season and threw in averages of 8 rebounds and 7 assists for good measure. Physically, there isn’t anything LeBron can’t do on the basketball court. And he’s still improving. James made strides defensively over the summer and will come back with increased confidence (is that possible?) after knowing he was the undisputed leader of Team USA. In short, the Trail Blazers would receive the most talented player of all-time before he’s entered his prime.
It’s next to impossible to get equal value for a superstar of LeBron James’ caliber. That’s why the Lakers were unable to find a deal to accommodate Kobe Bryant’s trade demands last summer. Very few teams had the assets to acquire Bryant, and those that did would have been completely gutted upon the exchange. But this trade makes some sense for both teams.
The Cavaliers have LeBron and little else. Adding Oden and Aldridge would solidify their porous frontcourt. Brandon Roy could play alongside the recently acquired Mo Williams in the backcourt. Oden, Aldridge, and Roy are the same age (Roy is five months older than LBJ) or younger than LeBron so the Cavs wouldn’t be mortgaging their future for the chance to win immediately. Cleveland’s future would be just as bright … maybe even brighter.
The Trail Blazers would be forced to give up a lot to acquire LeBron. But it’s not as if their roster would be completely depleted. Portland would still have Rudy Fernandez, Jerryd Bayless, Travis Outlaw, and Martell Webster. And as LeBron proclaimed last season, “a LeBron James team is never desperate.” Portland wouldn’t be trading to fill a need by acquiring LeBron, it would be an extremely unconventional move to grab a truly transcendent talent.
Let’s be honest, neither one of these teams is looking to move their franchise cornerstones. The only way a deal of this magnitude could come close to fruition is if LeBron James made it clear that he had no intention of extending his deal in Cleveland. But it’s an interesting scenario isn’t it? If you’re Kevin Pritchard, how do you say no to LeBron James? If you’re Danny Ferry, how do you say no to Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge? James is a proven commodity, relatively injury free, and the same age as Brandon Roy.
But triumvirates have a long championship history. Oden, Roy, and Aldridge could play the next ten seasons alongside one another. Just as encouraging as their talent has been their absence of ego thus far. If I’m Cleveland, I pull the trigger. If I’m Portland, I turn down LeBron James and hope that our decision turns out better than passing up on Michael Jordan did.
Click here to read Greg’s analysis. And don’t forget to check Greg’s Trade Journal for expert analysis of NBA trades past, present, future, and fantasy.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Stop it.
October 13th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Carolyn,
I guess I should have prefaced this blog by stating that I don’t think it’s going to happen. Nor do I want to see LeBron leave Cleveland.
I just thought it was an interesting scenario and a good way to spark discussion.
I hope you didn’t take it too seriously. I know you’re a die hard Cavs fan.
October 13th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Lebron is just about all that Cleveland has left. Without him, the Cavs have nothing. Season ticket sales will plummet. Perhaps Gary Payton was right, if Lebron is gone, so is the team. Seattle will be the next home! Let’s hope Lebron commits to this franchise.
October 13th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I wouldn’t do that trade. Oden is a big if – Roy is overrated and Aldridge doesn’t play D or rebound.
October 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Maybe the most useless thing I’ll read all week. LeBron James is probably the best player in the game right now, but there’s no way Portland gives up its three cornerstones of a dynasty for one player. Kevin Pritchard has even said he wouldn’t trade Oden for anyone in the league.
And Tsunami, maybe you should watch a little more basketball before making uninformed comments like “Roy is overrated.”
October 14th, 2008 at 9:51 am
YeahRight,
It’s a fantasy trade.
It wasn’t meant to educate or inform.
But I agree with you, Pritchard probably wouldn’t give up Oden, Roy, and Aldridge for James.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Arguably, Oden came into the league as hyped as LeBron. No way Pritchard gives up on Oden until he proves he’s not LeBron plus 4 inches and 30 pounds and less 3 years. Some day it could become a LeBron for Oden deal. Roy is all-star and Aldridge will be soon. Throw those guys in and Cleveland would be nuts not to pull the trigger now. But ain’t going to happen at Portland’s end. Right now, they don’t need LeBron to win a championship.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
BlazerBall,
I don’t think anyone has entered the league with as much as hype as LeBron had. His high school games were televised on ESPN. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated before his senior season. I don’t remember Oden’s high school games receiving that type of fanfare.
If he remains healthy, Oden has a chance to be a great center. But talent-wise, LeBron James is on an entirely different level.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Yeahright – I watched LeBron beat the blazers all by himself last year IN Portland. The Portland media fawns over Roy like he’s a superstar. They talked about him for MVP after the Blazers went on their big winning streak. He’s not an MVP – but a really good second year player. Saying he’s overrated is not a knock on his production – but a knock on his reputation. To me, he is like Joe Johnson only with a better midrange game and a much worse outside shot – and plays less D. Is Joe Johnson a superstar? No – he’s overrated too.
I like Roy’s game, though.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
The only 3 players the Cavs would trade LeBron for are CP3, David West, and Tyson Chandler.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Brandon,
Perhaps LeBron was more hyped. But you wouldn’t know that by the way Portland reacted when it won the lottery. We knew getting Oden was huge. More like getting Shaq than James. No question James is more skilled right now than Oden. But Oden’s upside is enormous and with young, very good players like Roy, Aldridge, Fernandez around him, the championship window for Portland is long. Send Roy, Aldridge and Oden out of here — even for James — and I, for one, believe Portland takes a large step back. Webster, Fernandez, Outlaw, Bayless and James and a few other secondary players won’t win championships. That to me looks a lot more like Cleveland’s roster today.
March 5th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
tsunami you couldnt be any more wrong, if anything brandon roy in underrated.
that was the single dumbest thing ive ever read
May 31st, 2009 at 5:16 pm
LeBron for Oden, Aldridge,Roy wont happen even if its considerd i doubt it will go thought KP is to smart for that tho i would love to see lebron on the same team as roy,oden,aldridge but i can dream cant I?