Err... I think the NBA gave cavs first pick because they were the only team who was going to pick Lebron first... just a move for hype. So Stoney... you got it backward
... just put it like this, the first three teams to pick are getting the player they want.
Also, the jump from Highschool to the NBA is a huge step... it's like jumping from Jr High and playing at a college level, or from Elementry to the High School level. I think LeBron should go for the money and straight to the NBA... BUT, I feel that he isn't going to be anything his first year. I see one of two things happening:
1) The team manages to get worse, and he averages 20ppg or more.
2) The team gets better, and he has a rookie year much like Jay Willaims.
High School and College are just development stages, both mentally and physically. College isn't a must, but it would teach him a lot more about scoring in a slower more defensive game. The defence in the NBA is tough, but in college it's like a stepping stone. Some defensive strategies in college can't be used in the NBA, the NBA is more about one on one...
Plus in college there is a little stepping stone for the three point line. Lebron may pull up and hit one in HS... but in the NBA that isn't even close to a three pointer. In HS there is NO answer for LeBron, in the NBA every team has a shoting gaurd who is a defensive master. Not to mention that the NBA game moves about twice as fast.
I bet any starting SG in the NBA could go to HS and put up stats as good or better than Lebron... the difference is he is still growing, and they are completly matured. All this hype is dumb, his first year he is going to get dunked on and took all day. But when he gets used to the game he will be scary.
The question is, was his success in HS mostly Athletic ability or Skill? If it's athletic ability he isn't going to be anything in the NBA... if it's mostly skill then, like I said, he will be scary.