National Basketball Association

What if blockbuster summer fizzles?

Published Jun. 28, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Forget a kid at Christmas. We’ve been looking forward to this NBA summer of 2010, this July 1 independence day, not for months — but years. There has been speculation. Buzz. Buildup. We have pointed to this date in anticipation. Good grief, there was even talk of a free-agent summit.

And now, it’s finally here. We’re about to run downstairs to see what Santa left us. Only, what happens if nothing happens?

Here is the question: Has it gotten to the point that if people stay put, the summer falls flat?

Because it very well might.

We’ve heard time and again these past few months that LeBron James is an extremely loyal person. That’s what he values most. That’s who he is. Expert after expert has said that if he had to put money on it, LeBron remains a Cleveland Cavalier. The possibilities are exciting, intriguing. But the mantra remains. In the end, you go with your heart, on something like this. The guy’s heart is in Ohio.

(On the other hand, maybe he could leave it there, on loan. Like Tony Bennett.)

So what level of letdown will it be, after the way he’s drawn this out, if that’s what happens? If nothing happens?

Has it been blown up to the point that anything less than a spectacular new destination goes over like a lead balloon?

Well, maybe.

Hey, nothing against Cavs fans. Before all this started, I wanted the guy to stay with the hometown team. In fact, I kind of still do (even if it would be boring). An in-state hero, a twice-in-a-generation talent, slipping away? Leaving at this point . . . well, there’s something just wrong about having to endure a loss like that.

But after all of this, the guy has to do something spectacular or he comes off as the biggest tease since . . . well, I’m not going to name names. But you know who you are.

And even Cleveland. I’m not on the ground in Ohio, but the tone we’ve seen seems to say it’s not so much that they would be excited to see the guy return. But more that his leaving Cleveland would be the last, worst heartbreak. It would devastate the city. It would be Jordan over Ehlo, Modell leaving, the Indians losing, a river on fire. It would be what always happens to Cleveland, happening to Cleveland. Again.

This loss would go beyond punch line. It would be a humiliating kick in the crotch. (Yes, I’ve been watching VH1 Classic.)

No city deserves this.

Could he possibly leave after the way he went out last year, on the sour note of his self-described third bad game in seven years?

(Actually, that infamous Game 5 stink bomb of a loss is the only way he could have gone out in Cleveland. Any further in the playoffs, and he was honor-bound to come back. It was the early exit that gave him an escape clause.)

LeBron leaving would mean nuclear winter for a city’s soul. But would his staying elicit much more than relief?

I mean, you saw the playoffs. Would you be psyched about seeing that team come back intact? We’ve seen how that turns out.

With as much begging as has been done, with as long as this has been drawn out, with emotions having been tugged not for months, but years, with the way last season ended . . .

Yeah, they’ll throw a parade. Then what?

And Dwyane Wade. This is a guy who should retire a Miami Heat. (A Miami Heat?) He’s synonymous with the franchise. He won a championship there, he has a ring. I can’t imagine him playing anywhere else. He might, but I just can’t see it. He’s Mr. Heat. If they give him any reason to stay, he should, and they will.

And there’s your buzz. The Summer of LeBron. Gone.

Amar'e Stoudemire is an exciting prospect, but raise your hand if you can see him remaining a Sun. Yeah.

Tell me, exactly, why have I been clearing all this emotional cap space?

Chris Bosh is a really good player, and it sounds like he’s as good as gone. But if he’s the headliner, my heart isn’t skipping any beats.

I’m not wishing the worst for anybody in Cleveland, Miami, Phoenix or the rest. But if nobody moves what has all this time, all these words, all this energy, all this speculation meant?

We’ll be coming downstairs, excited for Christmas, only to find out it’s already Dec. 26.