Quote:
Originally Posted by staylor26
Why? Not that I disagree, I'm just curious to hear your explanation.
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I don't recall the exact figure, but when LeBron left the Cavs the first time, the estimated value of the franchise fell by something like a
billion dollars. Now if you're Gilbert, the NBA has just signed a massive new TV deal and you just won a championship. You have LeBron under team control for 2 more years and the goodwill in Cleveland is through the roof. Durant hasn't signed with the Warriors (yet).
If you're shopping that to potential buyers, there are a TON of positive selling points that could have netted him something near that same $2 billion that Balmer paid for the Clippers (maybe even more thanks to the crazy television contract). The Cavaliers were at the absolute peak of their value and he'd have likely been able to find a willing buyer.
Cash in your chips at that point because things were never going to get better and the best case scenario is that they stay the same for 3-4 years and then get worse.