I'm just sort of "thinking out loud" here, but wouldn't a player like LeBron, Bosh, Johnson, Boozer etc. prefer to sign with a team fill with mid-level role players, all able to contribute to a championship rather than being teamed with another superstar?
For example, If LeBron was to sign with say Chicago, and attract the signing of another max-deal player (such as Bosh), won't that have people questioning his ability to win a championship without elite help?
Examples would be thrown around about his consistent 60+ win team in Cleveland which (in theory) had all the pieces in place to win it all, but failed when it came to crunch time.
I guess what I am getting at is:
Wouldn't LeBron be providing a better image for his "legacy" if he was to move to Chicago (or New York, or anywhere really), and encourage 2nd tier players to join him and fill out a reliable roster?
Imagine in Chicago, who now have the space to sign 2 max deal players (plus assets to pull of a Sign-and-Trade for a 3rd) if LeBron could bring in:
- a Shooter (ala Ray Allen)
- a Defensive big man off the bench (think Ben Wallace/Tyson Chandler mould)
- a Solid backup PG, capable of coming off the bench to rest Rose (someone like a Farmar or Duhon)
- a Veteran Big Man (ala Drew Gooden)
In Chicago, they could essentially go 10 deep with players who can all contribute on a given night, without completely crippling themselves financially. It also keeps young assets plus reasonable contracts to use to facilitate trades for future picks etc.
Just a thought I had....
