Briefly mentioned in all of the stories about the potential of Shaq being traded to the Cavs was the notion that Shaq wanted a contract extension and some kind of guarantee that LeBron was going to be in Cleveland after the ‘09-‘10 season.
This suggests to me that the Cavs have a major opportunity this summer - if they can find the right players - to leverage any roster moves with the push to get Bron to sign an extension. Shaq’s concern is a natural one, and presumably, any other big-time player would feel the same way.
If the Cavs can first locate and then land the proper pieces to upgrade the team, there’s a chance then that they might be able to push the pressure back on LeBron to sign the extension now. At the moment, all of the pressure is on the organization to deliver - this could shift things.
Although it’s not crucial for LeBron to sign the extension this summer (except for the peace of mind of Cavs’ fans), and it’s hard to see LeBron bending when not signing the extension keeps the front office on their heels through the trade deadline and intensifies and extends his marketing profile to a level none of us have ever seen before over the course of the next year or so, there’s also a certain value in heading into next season with at least a longer term sense of stability.
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