The newest additions to the Nets roster — Damion James and Derrick Favors – told the New York Daily News that they’re hoping they get to learn a thing or two firsthand from LeBron James during the 2010-11 season.
However, as each day goes by, that seems more and more unlikely. One of the reports has LeBron masterminding a plan with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh that will land all three of them in the same city next year (aka doomsday for the rest of the league), while other (more conservative) reports claim that LeBron will be content to just stick around in Cleveland.
The man himself is staying mum on his plans for the future and is likely to test the waters with a vengeance before making his final decision, but there are plenty of people — fans, players and media members alike — broadcasting their wishes for a new LeBron-headlined Golden Age to commence next season in the Garden State.
Count the newest members of the Nets among them.
Damion James, whom the Nets selected with the 24th pick in last week’s draft out of Texas, told the Daily News that learning from LeBron would be everything any rookie could wish for.
"I would love it, man, I would love for him to come here," Damion James said. "I would love to be able to play with that guy, and just one player like that can turn the whole franchise around. I look forward to seeing who we get. I think they're going to get the best fit for this team and they are headed on the right path to building this organization back up."
But would LeBron be all it would take to turn the franchise around? After all, the most recent several NBA champions seem to have proven that it takes more than one superstar to produce a champion.
Last season, the Nets had a record-setting run of futility on their way to a last-place finish (12-70) in the Atlantic Division. They finished last in the league in points per game (92.4) and did not win a game until Friday, Dec. 4 — their 19th game of the season.
Is LeBron really enough to turn that around? It couldn’t hurt. Would LeBron want to come to a team with such deep concerns? That’s another story.
Still, Favors believes the chances of the superstar ending up in New Jersey are 50-50.
Then again, the Georgia Tech alum also told the Daily News that the Knicks, Heat and Bulls also have a 50-50 chance.
"I would love to have him," Favors said. "I would love to play with him so it would be an honor. I hope he decides to come here."
