NBA - Sports Rumors

Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:52 am EDT

Could Jay-Z lure his buddy LeBron to Brooklyn with Nets?

By Joe Zedalis

Jay-Z

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"So in a couple years baby, I'm a bring you some Nets," rapped Jay-Z in a recently released song called, "Hello Brooklyn." And after a big trade last week, the hip-hop star/Nets minority owner is in position to bring LeBron James to Brooklyn, too.

The Nets stole headlines from the rival Knicks by trading forward Richard Jefferson to Milwaukee for 20-year-old Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. By making the move, New Jersey is expected to be $20-22 million under the salary cap in 2010, when James becomes a free agent. While the struggling Knicks are New York City's longtime franchise, the Nets will get a piece of the Big Apple by moving to Brooklyn, probably in 2011. But in two years, don't be surprised if Jay-Z helps bring his buddy James to a franchise that will be attractive to play for by then.

"We didn't have cap space in 2010," said Nets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe. "This deal brings us some cap space."

James was born in Akron, Ohio, and plays for the Cavaliers. But his love for Jay-Z and New York is readily on display. It's not uncommon to see James don a Yankees cap, not a Cleveland Indians cap. James even flashed a Roc-A-Fella Records hand signal, for Jay-Z's label, when he was introduced at the 2005 All-Star Game in Denver.

When James and Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson had a war of words during the first round of the playoffs, Jay-Z sided with "King James" by dissing Stevenson in an underground rap song. The lone Celtics home game Jay-Z attended this season occurred when James and the Cavaliers were in town in the playoffs. Also, James loves Jay-Z's music so much that the majority of the songs played at Cavaliers' home games are Jay-Z's. Coincidence? Yeah, right.

"So in a couple years baby, I'm a bring you some Nets."

Source: Boston.comNew Window

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44 Comments

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  1. hcdouglass
    1. Posted by hcdouglass Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    Time will tell. I would have expected Lebron to be a Cavalier for life until I saw him at the MLB playoff game with a Yankees hat on his head.
  2. jd
    2. Posted by jd Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:32 pm EDT

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    If Jay-Z has anything to do with getting him he'll be a Net in the future indeed LeBron would lvoe to leave Cleveland right now if he could he knows the NYC market is where he wants to be.
  3. infest_then_ruin
    3. Posted by infest_then_ruin Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Hes going to take a pay cut and play for the HEAT. You watch! Plus South Beach is much nicer.
  4. infest_then_ruin
    4. Posted by infest_then_ruin Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    There is no way he is going to win with Cleveland or New Jersey. If he goes to New Jersey it will be Lebron and a bunch of scrubs. It's like playing for Cleveland all over again.
  5. Claude M
    5. Posted by Claude M Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:58 pm EDT

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    He is going where the money is. He is a fan of Jay-z, who just so happens to be a fan of him. Don't read too much into it.
  6. D. L
    6. Posted by D. L Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:50 pm EDT

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    C - B. Lopez/ Kristic/ Swift
    PF- Yi / J.Boon / S. Williams
    SF- LeBron / B. Nachbar
    SG- VC / Douglas-Roberts
    PG- D Harris / M. Williams
    Who's FN wit that? It's a rap!!!!
  7. mark
    7. Posted by mark Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

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    Hope he makes out better with lebron,then he did with lil wayne tried to still him from baby from cash money but the deal fell thru!
  8. LB
    8. Posted by LB Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    one word. BROOKLYN! LeBron's James got money. that nike show deal is insane and he'll get an even bigger one in 4 years.. what he really wants now is a ring. Jay-z's been mentoring this kid and teaching him entrepreneurship. he's def. shown him the other financial benefits of coming to NYC even if its w/o a completely maxed out contract, even though that's what he's going to get. The Nets have definitely positioned themselves perfectly and are gonna make it real hard for any other team to have a shot at him.
    if D Harris can prove he can stay healthy and produce at a high level next season, this will be a nasty team. They'll probably need a more athletic PF,C like stoudamire since Lopez projects to be more of an off the bench type center.
  9. LB
    9. Posted by LB Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:42 pm EDT

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    shoe*
  10. Dad
    10. Posted by Dad Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:32 pm EDT

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    He will stay in Cleveland. I have no doubt in my mind. The Cavs WILL WIN the NBA Championship in one of the next two years mark it down.
  11. philiafan14364
    11. Posted by philiafan14364 Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    Or, the Cavs will start throwing gobs of cash at him now so that he resigns with them, I heard theyre even willing to change thier name to the Lebrons.
  12. TERROR SQUAD
    12. Posted by TERROR SQUAD Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 pm EDT

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    Uh I believe that's called tampering. IT'S YOUR BOY HOLLA! ROC-A-FELLA YALL! I'd love to see Lebron in a big market team. Would be nice. Cleveland's management needs to step up or the King will leave town and become the King of NY!
  13. Daniel H
    13. Posted by Daniel H Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:35 pm EDT

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    Don Imus said that Lebron will go play in Europe when his contract is up
  14. The great and powerful swami
    14. Posted by The great and powerful swami Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    Cavs owner Dan Gilbert will give Lebron the biggest contract that you will see in quite a while, Lebron stays in his homeland and brings Cleveland the much starved for title!!
  15. gianni_m27
    15. Posted by gianni_m27 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    well he happend to "lure" a pretty hot singer who is so why not.
  16. whoaaa
    16. Posted by whoaaa Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    i dont like the cavs anyways. If james wants to win though, he will go to the nets. Devin Harris is a star in the making, VC still has some game, and this team will have so many big men that can shoot lights out. Yi is gonnna be interesting, if he develops into a star this team will be loaded. Nets are gonna be a force.
  17. sean h
    17. Posted by sean h Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:23 pm EDT

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    Recently Lebron was asked what his favorite places were in the US. 5.- Cleveland. 1.- not just New York, but Brooklyn.
  18. Charlie
    18. Posted by Charlie Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:43 pm EDT

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    #23 thats becuase being king of NYC is better than being the Pope of NE Ohio
  19. JayTang
    19. Posted by JayTang Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:29 pm EDT

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    Lebron will opt-out. FYI, Lebron has family and friends in brooklyn. Keep that in mind. Lebron will be partying with Jay-z all day and night. Lots of headlines with Lebron once he hits the big market. Jay-z will pay him out of his own pocket.
  20. Drizzle
    20. Posted by Drizzle Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    I don't know if he can "lure" LBJ, but he D@mn sholl can cool a pot of soup!!!!! LMAO
  21. oLLie BoomBayay
    21. Posted by oLLie BoomBayay Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:44 pm EDT

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    Lebron signing with the Nets because Jay-z is his buddy makes little sense. Players don't sign with teams because they are friends with management. They sign with teams to win and make money. Location of city is a distant 3rd. Lebron will get paid no matter where he goes. So next on the list is winning. How is this ramshackle roster that the Nets are sporting any better then what the Cavs got?
    Might as well sign with the Knicks, or Miami. Knicks = more fame, money, Miami = better city.
  22. therunner515
    22. Posted by therunner515 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:05 pm EDT

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    Okay, okay. I can see why LeBron would want to go to NJ (soon to be brooklyn nets) but i honestly dont see it happening. The nets are even worse than the cavs, and i dont see cavs management letting him go. i see them throwing up some crazy amount to keep him in cleveland. I mean cleveland is one player away from a great team. New Jersey needs a lot of parts still. its no good when your best player is vince carter cuz he's kinda old and on the decline. in 2 years if the cavs get someone i see them winning at least 1 title. and if the nets continue to play terrible than LeBron will be drawn away. the only chance the nets have is to put together two great seasons of making it late into the playoffs
  23. Zo "Chitown"
    23. Posted by Zo "Chitown" Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    I've been trying to tell all the unplugged people for the longest that LeBron is going to The Nets when they move to Brooklyn. I've even had dummies argue me down that that was just a rumor and to let it rest. I guess they will see in 2010 won't they? lol..... You won't here me telling nobody nothin unless its coming from a credible source! LBJ in the BRONX!! The merchandise is gonna sell like crazy and the chinese dude Yi whateva is gonna bring the organization money from the Chinese NBA fans.. Don't know if they are gonna get a tiltle though because he is still gonna need help..
  24. youngsta
    24. Posted by youngsta Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:53 pm EDT

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    L
  25. NBA Master
    25. Posted by NBA Master Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    It is all about the money not for the love of basketball.

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