LeBron Not Looking For A Max Deal. Also, I Have A Bridge I'd Like To Sell You…

Last night after the “game”, LeBron told reporters:

I think at the end of the day, a max deal or anything like that doesn’t really matter to me at the end of the day. It’s all about winning for me. So I’ve put myself in a position that when that day comes next summer, I want to win, and if I feel like the team is capable of winning, I’ll make my decision like that.

Naturally, ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan thinks LeBron is serious about taking less than a max deal to play for a contender:

Did you catch that part in the middle? The part about how a max deal doesn’t really matter at the end of the day?

That, folks, could be a game-changer — a statement of epic proportions that could shake up everyone’s preconceived notions about who has the best chance of landing the game’s best young player.

Cleveland, of course, can offer James the most money — a six-year deal in the range of $120 million. The Knicks and the Nets have the salary cap space to give James the maximum they are allowed to offer — a five-year deal in the mid-to-high $90 million range.

And then there are the Heat, who already have a max player in Dwyane Wade and who would like to add two more max-level players if Pat Riley can charm those two players into signing for something less than the max, giving all three players (let’s assume Riley will shoot for the stars and go after James and Chris Bosh, while also retaining Wade) opt-out clauses after three years. Put those three together with Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, and that right there is a bona fide powerhouse.

So let me get this straight. LeBron and Bosh are going to head over to Miami and sign for LaMarcus Aldridge money or less? Their egos are going to be OK with being paid less than Dwyane Wade? Why not just sign for the mid-level with the Magic or Lakers?

The Celtics big 3 all make the max. Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Vince Carter all make the max. Show me an example of any max player in his prime taking less than the max.

I don’t know what Chris Sheridan expects LeBron to say. Maybe something like “I don’t care about contending, I just want the money?” Well, he came pretty close, as Sheridan himself reported just about 1 year ago:

The New York media, never shy about calling out on athlete on something he just said, asked if James [would] take less than the maximum amount to help ensure how much quality he’ll be surrounded with two years from now.

“Oh, I didn’t say that. I like the talent part, bringing the talent in, but I didn’t say I’d take less,” James said.

Now, I don’t think that LeBron going to Miami is that far fetched. But it won’t be for less than max money. Max money in Miami, by the way would still be less than what Wade will make because of Bird rights. That begs the question, would LeBron be OK with being the second highest paid player on his team? If not, would Wade be OK with taking less money to placate LeBron? If they both went somewhere else together though, they’d both have to sign the exact same deal.

Another thing people need to realize is that the Knicks will have the ability to sign someone else besides LeBron, anywhere in the $8-max range, depending on the cap. Also don’t count out any midseason trades. If things break well for the Knicks, they may just have the talent LeBron is looking for this summer, making them a more attractive destination than Miami.