King James, World’s Tallest Smokescreen

Say what you will about LeBron’s anodyne, focus group-tested public persona: It works. Just like Jordan’s did before. But like MJ, James is hardly dumb, or simple. Instead, he’s wily enough to see why it’s to his corporate advantage to avoid anything resembling controversy.↵
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↵Sometimes, though, this act can take on qualities of the absurd. Case in point: This Plain Dealer interview, in which James is asked about the draft:↵↵⇥We’re at 19 [in the first round]. You look for the best available player, I guess. I haven’t really been up on it like I should be. I think our front office will do a good job of trying to pick the best player to fit our team ... I don’t know what we need. We’re just going to have to continue to get better. At 19, you want to try and find the best player who can help us win.↵↵

↵Or his blissfully oblivious take on the free agent market:↵↵⇥I haven’t got a good grasp on what’s going on with free agents. I think the front office knows. I just know, as an individual, we have to get better. That means guys have to come back better as individuals. That helps our team automatically. If it means personnel change, so be it.↵↵Sorry, but I’m not buying this for a second. James has colossal basketball IQ. He’s one of the two or three best players in the league. His team runs pure muck on offense, and at various times LBJ has griped about this pace. Anyone’s mom could tell you that this team needs more talent, and that if LeBron’s not kept happy he just might bolt. For him to completely sidestep the subject of the draft, or the team’s needs may be politically astute, but it’s about as disingenuous as athlete quotes come. At this point, everything the Cavs do is with an eye toward retaining James. Which, I guess, accounts for this cryptic exchange:↵↵⇥Q: Will you make any suggestions to the front office?↵⇥
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↵⇥A: I think they know. If my opinion is asked for, I’ll offer my opinion, because I am the guy out there playing, and I know talent, I guess you could say. But I think they know.↵↵Believe me, they know. Everybody does. It’s what we call “the hundred-ton elephant-gorilla hybrid monster sitting under the table.” Beware!↵↵(Hat tip: True Hoop)↵

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