THE “LeBron Trend”

Earlier this month, the enormously talented NBA star announced to the world (during a poorly planned ESPN live TV special) that he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to join forces with fellow NBA stars Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.  Everyone from former NBA players to current fans had an opinion about what it would do to the sport to have 3 of perhaps the best players in all of basketball come together on the same team.  Most sports analysts called such a move damaging to the NBA, but the buzz eventually died down as the summer brought about other discussions.

But wait — not so fast!

It appears a few other enormously talented NBA players may be looking to borrow a page from the LeBron James playbook and create a “Dream Team” of their own.

Just after the LeBron James “Decision” aired, most of NBA royalty gathered in New York City to attend the wedding of Denver Nuggets star player Carmelo Anthony.   During a toast to Anthony and his new bride, New Orleans Hornets star player Chris Paul suggested that perhaps he and Anthony should force a trade to the New York Knicks, to pair up with Knicks star player and newest acquisition Ama’re Stoudamire.  Then, the Knicks would have 3 star players of their own in Stoudamire, Paul, and Anthony.  Hmmm…

Now in the interest of fairness, I must be honest and admit up front that I am a die hard New York Knicks fan.  So I’m not at all ashamed to admit that the very idea of Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony joining the Knicks makes me almost as giddy as a Girl Scout on cookie day.  But on the flip side of the argument, is this type of move really healthy for the NBA?

As of now, the NBA employs a system that sort of evens the playing field for all its teams.  Or to put it plainly, most teams have at least one star “franchise” player who can carry the team with their talent and keep the sport competitive.  But if the “LeBron trend” catches on, we could soon see 2, 3 or more franchise players on ONE team, with other teams left barren to fend for themselves.  Which begs the question: would that be fair or even interesting to watch?

With the departure of their meal ticket LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers are already preparing for a HUGE loss in ticket and vendor sales, while the city of Cleveland is gearing up for lost hotel, restaurant, parking, and million of dollars in other revenue formerly generated by the popularity of James’ presence. Cleveland is a smaller market team.  And with the loss of the face of the franchise,  some say the team may need to be sold, or could fold all together at some point in the future.  But Chris Paul’s New Orleans Hornets is also a smaller market team.  New Orleans is also still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina a few years ago.  So if Paul were to up and leave for the bright lights of Broadway, it could mean the end of the road for that NBA franchise as well.  And although Carmelo Anthony’s Denver Nuggets are in a much better position to survive without him, losing him would definitely take a toll on the team and, to some degree the city.

So LeBron:  Do you see what you’ve caused?  You’ve gone and created this “Dream Team” concept of franchise players.  So now other franchise players believe the only way to beat you is to play “follow the leader” and do as you’ve done.  Now as a fan of the New York Knicks, I have to admit I LOVE the idea of Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony in a Knicks jersey at Madison Square Garden nightly. But as a fan of the sport of basketball, I can’t help but wonder if this is the opening of Pandora’s box and a nightmare of an idea in the long run.