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Leagues and Governing Bodies

LeBron's Move West Seen As Win For NBA, But Not Eastern Conference

James' departure from the Eastern Conference now puts all seven current MVP winners in the WestGETTY IMAGES

There has been a "broader league-wide victory" from LeBron James' decision to join the Lakers because it has "made, and is making, the NBA unpredictable again," according to Dan Devine of YAHOO SPORTS. It is "creating a ripple effect that seems likely to reverberate throughout the league, potentially introducing some sorely needed chaos into an ecosystem that’s been enveloped by a saddening stasis." Before the last NBA season had even started, pundits and fans "bemoaned the grim certainty of what was to follow: a fourth straight Finals meeting" between the Warriors and Cavaliers. However, Lakers President of Basketball Operations Magic Johnson and James "shook the Etch-a-Sketch, and it’s going to be a while before we know what the new big picture is going to look like" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/2). In Detroit, John Niyo notes James "said plenty about the growth and popularity of the NBA without saying a word this weekend." The World Cup’s knockout stage "kicked off Saturday, and the Yankees-Red Sox series was a hot ticket in the Bronx, but the LA-Bron news seemed to trump it all." This is the "new reality with the NBA, a league that has become a soap opera its fans can’t quit" (DETROIT NEWS, 7/3).

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MAGIC? CBSSN's Adam Schein noted Johnson deserves "all the credit in the world," because he was hired by the Lakers "to land LeBron." Schein: "Not big-name players, to land LeBron James. ... He nailed it" ("Time To Schein," CBSSN, 7/2). In N.Y., George Willis writes the move is "akin to winning another championship for Johnson." Johnson and Lakers GM Rob Pelinka deserve "credit for hitting the proverbial home run right out of the gate." Johnson and the Lakers are "ahead of schedule" (N.Y. POST, 7/3). In Boston, Gary Washburn writes the fact that James "agreed to a four-year deal, instead of a one-year-deal with an option, is indicative of James' loyalty" to Johnson and "trust that the Lakers' president will feverishly put together a championship-caliber roster around him." But Johnson at least is "trying to make the Lakers competitive again with some veterans on one-year deals." Of course the "plan is to save money for the summer" of '19. So this will be an "interesting season for James" with the Lakers' "mashed-together roster that will include a handful of young talented players who haven't learned how to win" (BOSTON GLOBE, 7/3).

GOING HOLLYWOOD: ESPN's Stephen A. Smith said the Lakers after landing James "have returned to relevancy and beyond." Smith: "You can't say enough about they job they have done" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/2). In DC, Deron Snyder writes despite the NBA's ability to "market players in any city, and players' ability to promote themselves via the Internet, nothing really compares to luminaries joining the Lakers." Hollywood has a "knack for drawing the brightest stars and James is just the latest." The league's glamour franchise had "lost its luster lately" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 7/3). In Miami, Greg Cote noted the move is "all good for the NBA," as is the Lakers "mattering again, in much the same way the Yankees being good is good for baseball" (MIAMIHERALD.com, 7/2).

BALANCE OF POWER: In Houston, Jenny Dial Creech writes as James heads West, the Eastern Conference "becomes even less interesting than it was." The Celtics "are good," and the Raptors "provided some highlights." Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo is "one of the top five players in the NBA," and watching the 76ers as they "continue to trust the process is mildly entertaining." But overall, the East "is a snooze" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/3). In N.Y., Marc Stein notes the Western Conference is "now home to all seven active MVPs." The gulf between the conferences "has never looked wider" (N.Y. TIMES, 7/3). ESPN's Paul Pierce: "When you look at the first-team All-NBA players, most of them are out west, if not all of them" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 7/2). YAHOO SPORTS' Michael Lee wrote by "taking his talents" to L.A., James has "made the Eastern Conference more irrelevant than ever" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 7/2). FS1's Colin Cowherd said if 76ers C Joel Embiid "got hurt next year, there's no competition." Cowherd: "It's literally the Celtics and Giannis. What else is there rin the conference? ... The East is an injury away from not being watchable." FS1's Jason Whitlock: "What's really bad for the NBA is all the best talents are on the West Coast, meaning all the best talent's playing late at night. You're in bed on the East Coast" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 7/2).

BAD TIMING: AWFUL ANNOUNCING's Andrew Bucholtz noted several moves during this year's free agency period "came at times that were far from ideal for media coverage." This might "urge the NBA to try and shift the opening of free agency to a time more favorable for media coverage, and that could have a knock-on effect, with certain moves then likely to follow at a more favorable time." Opening the free agency deadline "up in primetime could make for quite a media event, and could perhaps pull in significant ratings." But even a "during-the-day deadline would work better for many media outlets across television, radio and print" (AWFULANNOUCING.com, 7/2).

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