The LeBron James Thread

[Court_vision]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

It's begun........

[HMcCoy]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I really can't see LBJ taking that option. I just don't see it.

I don't either. I can't see James being happy with around 18-20 ppg, or watching Howard and Durant rack up his MVP's year after year because he had to sacrifice so much of his production to be on such a top-heavy squad. Most of all, I don't think Bron wants to be hated. Other fans may be disapointed, but no one will hate him for staying. It doesn't fit to me either.

Broussard has been heavily pro-CLE all along, and if he's reporting it, theres got to be some truth there. Man I would hate for SAS to be proven right.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I may be a little over the top like A.W. but this is the greatest post I've ever read on this board. And I've been here since 2002. Well said.

Thanks, man!

I love how all the NY guys are eating this up and all the CLE guys are calling it BS. I think he's going to NY.

When all NYkers feel the same way about something, I'll let you know.

I don't care at this point who it is as long it isn't Miami.

Ugh. I feel you.

Honestly...I think a trio of Wade-Bosh-James would kill interest in the NBA long term.

We'd lose all the natural rivalries...instead of the eras great players in Wade and LBJ battling it out, they'd be teamed. The East would be destroyed for the forseeable future and, aside from an inevitable showdown v LA next season, there'd be little interest in the playoffs.

Throw in that Miami is a tiny market with few real fans...throw in that the "chosen one" becomes a tail rider...damm it would be bleak.

Worst case scenario imo.

It'll kill interest if they become a dynasty. If they lose, the results are unpredictable.

I guess if you don't want to bother beating them, then I guess join em' then.

That's my main issue. With the other options available, I just don't feel like this is in the spirit of competition. If this was pickup ball, everyone would complain "nah, that's a slaughter, you go on the other side!"

If he goes to the Heat, the three of them will be the most hated three players in the NBA... and rightfully so. It's like, well we all took pay cuts just to make this "Dream Team." Congratulations?

I'm not complaining because it's the Heat. I'd be doing the same if it was the Bulls. Sure I want the Bulls to win but more importantly I want a great basketball product. This is not it no matter what way you look at it. I want these guy to compete against each other, not join up in some pay cutting way.

I pray this doesn't happen. As a Bulls fan my hate for the Knicks runs deep... however, I'd rather have LBJ go to the Knicks a millions times out of a millions times then this happen.

Agreed on all points. Except reverse the feelings about Bulls/Knicks

Its all about Lebron and his "Brand." Spoiled immature kid playing with his buddies on the playground. No regard for anyone but himself. To put the icing on the cake he is going to go on national tv and give a big **** you to Cleveland.

I don't care what anyone thinks about me for saying this. I am a Cleveland fan first. Not a Lebron fan. I want championships and I could care less who brings them. To me, this is the ultimate slap in the face to not only Cleveland, but the NBA as well.

It's a pretty big slap. Every b-ball fan in Cleveland will have a mysterious handprint show up on their face at 8:11 central if he leaves tomorrow.

I don't buy the Lebron to Heat story for a second.

Why would ESPN want to announce tonight that he's going to the Heat? That would certainly hurt the ratings for the "decision show", right? Why watch if his mind is made up?

Personally I think it's another smokescreen just to keep the hype machine going every single hour leading up to tomorrow night.

Part of me can't help but to believe you. In a situation where you're trying to keep a secret, disinformation is the best option.

So what about the current day Yankees? The Cowboys of the 90's, 49er's of the 80's, etc. Even the Lakers and Celtics were loaded way more than any other team back when Magic and Bird were setting the league on fire. Nobody is accusing them of undermining the sport. Think back to the Bill Russell Celtics and all of the HOF'ers on that squad, unreal. In team sports you want to assemble the best unit you can to win at all cost.

None of these comparisons apply. MVPs don't opt off of winning teams to join other MVPs. This is not about one team falling into a lot of talent. This is about "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" and "I'm scared of not winning a ring." So in Lebron's case, he is trying to take all risk out of the situation by joining two other players who are top 3 at their position. When you're a great player, you go out and get help, you don't become help.

NY Yankees, Man U, FC Barcelona, etc... It happens.

It does not bother me in the least, when Pau was traded to the Lakers everyone was up in arms, but as a Laker fan I loved it.

So who am I to hate on Miami now? Good on them if they can get all three of those guys.

Pau trade is no comparison. When he joined up with the Lakers, he had only 1 All Star appearance. He was never on the level of D-Wade. I think he's better than Chris Bosh NOW, but he wasn't a top 3 big man at the time of the trade. He was very good, but not a legit 1st option. Plus it was a trade. Opting out of a 60 win team to join the competition is really something else. If Lebron does this, he quit on Cleveland 3 times in a row, with the third time being permanent. Not only that, but going on TV and telling Cleveland fans, former teammates and organization that you're leaving is SO wrong. There are kids in Cleveland that are going to cry their eyes out(some adults too, sadly) and you're turning it into Deal or No Deal. When you turn down a job offer, it's supposed to be done face to face or via a private call, in a respectful manner.

If this Miami thing happens, they'd BETTER win If they lose, the entire rest of the league is going to go pee pee on their graves every day until tip off of the next season.

[Rocky]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

It will judge it very, very poorly Mac.

People here are mentioning Man United and Barcelona.......those are MASSIVE clubs worldwide with millions upon millions of supporters.

The Miami Heat...........are barely known.

Those other leagues are as boring as hell, with the same teams winning over...and over...and over...and over...again for decades. Those leagues survive because their supporter bases are entrenched. Those teams are parts of world culture. Manchester United is 10000000 times bigger than the LA Lakers worldwide. Those leagues survive being boring and predictable as they are so big.

The NBA.....with a league that maybe 3-4 teams will have any sort of chance over the next decade.......will be a farce bro. Interest will decline dramatically.

The exciting thing about the NBA has always been that feeling that one of a dozen could maybe win it most seasons.

This is just going to be bad for the game and it screams of "the softp__________option". Miami will always be Wade's team.

I really can't see LBJ taking that option. I just don't see it.

Well, if the Omaha Barnstormers got Bosh, Wade, and Lebron they would still be huge.

I don't like the way it came about but if this thing does come to fruition, it wouldn't be all bad. They would equal instant ratings and sell out every arena. They would be the most watched (in terms of relative exposure and popularity) professional sports team in history.

[Court_vision]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I don't either. I can't see James being happy with around 18-20 ppg, or watching Howard and Durant rack up his MVP's year after year because he had to sacrifice so much of his production to be on such a top-heavy squad. Most of all, I don't think Bron wants to be hated. Other fans may be disapointed, but no one will hate him for staying. It doesn't fit to me either.

Broussard has been heavily pro-CLE all along, and if he's reporting it, theres got to be some truth there. Man I would hate for SAS to be proven right.

I just see three options at this point......and two of them are basically "the ultimate challenge" v one is the p______ option.

1. LeBron says "hey, I am staying in Cleveland. I've got unfinished business." Massive respect if he does.

2. LeBron says "I'm going to MSG...I'm going to put New York basketball back on the world stage". Massive challenge if he does.

3. LeBron says "Hey, I'm going to cruise my career out riding D-Wade down the stretch of games, no need for 30-10-10 type numbers when you can put up 20 points and 6 and ride Wade half the week, feed Bosh the other week and cruise through 90% of the season".

Honestly, I just don't see an MVP calibre player taking the soft option right in the middle of his career. This isn't Karl and GP jumping on other players backs in their late 30s.........this is the MVP in his prime riding a coat tail.

No way it happens.

[Court_vision]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

They would be the most watched (in terms of relative exposure and popularity) professional sports team in history.

Rocky........the Miami Heat could win ten titles straight and they'd still not be watched by 1/100th of the avergage amount of people who watch Manchester United each week around the world.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

That's the thing. This is literally the worst PR decision he could have made. Go on TV and dump your girlfriend in front of everyone to announce you're going to date the head cheerleader. It's like, WOW. If you're gonna join the Heat, at least do it respectfully. The only reason I could see for doing the show would be if you want people to absolutely despise you. Like someone said, this would be one of the biggest heel turns in real life I've ever seen. While a lot of people were tiring of Lebron, he was still mostly worshipped.

If he dumps the Cavs on nat'l TV, everyone outside of Miami is going to tear off their LBJ23 badges, throw them on the grown and step on them while crying quiet tears of betrayal.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I haven't read all the posts, but Miami has Chalmers and Beasley under contract. Signing Wade, Bosh, and LBJ takes all their money, so how do they fill out a roster? I'm not trying to be critical of the move or anything, just really curious how they sign 7 other guys.

I'm guessing all NBA minimum guys? And if so, if they get an injury to one of the "3", are they done?

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I haven't read all the posts, but Miami has Chalmers and Beasley under contract. Signing Wade, Bosh, and LBJ takes all their money, so how do they fill out a roster? I'm not trying to be critical of the move or anything, just really curious how they sign 7 other guys.

I'm guessing all NBA minimum guys? And if so, if they get an injury to one of the "3", are they done?

It'll be minimum guys to fill the roster this year. I don't think they're done if one of the 3 goes down, because they'll still have at very worst the 2nd best 1-2 punch in the league, regardless of which of them isn't in the lineup.

[SPTO]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

That's the thing. This is literally the worst PR decision he could have made. Go on TV and dump your girlfriend in front of everyone to announce you're going to date the head cheerleader. It's like, WOW. If you're gonna join the Heat, at least do it respectfully. The only reason I could see for doing the show would be if you want people to absolutely despise you. Like someone said, this would be one of the biggest heel turns in real life I've ever seen. While a lot of people were tiring of Lebron, he was still mostly worshipped.

If he dumps the Cavs on nat'l TV, everyone outside of Miami is going to tear off their LBJ23 badges, throw them on the grown and step on them while crying quiet tears of betrayal.

This is my feeling 100%. In a sense I could see the marketing applications of having the traveling road show that is LBJ, Wade and Bosh but like I said the real life heel turn of Lebron against Cleveland on national TV might just negate any goodwill a move like this could engender.

[Rocky]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Rocky........the Miami Heat could win ten titles straight and they'd still not be watched by 1/100th of the avergage amount of people who watch Manchester United each week around the world.

Even if that is true, the Miami Heat will still be 100x's bigger than the Bulls, Knicks, or Cavs if James signed with them. The only thing that would rival this is if LBJ took the MLE and joined the Lakers.

We are looking at it as NBA fans. As NBA fans, yes it would be bad for the league. The Bobcats road to a NBA title just got 10x's harder if this is true. But as far as mainstream American culture, it is pretty saavy.

[Court_vision]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

That's the thing. This is literally the worst PR decision he could have made. Go on TV and dump your girlfriend in front of everyone to announce you're going to date the head cheerleader. It's like, WOW. If you're gonna join the Heat, at least do it respectfully. The only reason I could see for doing the show would be if you want people to absolutely despise you. Like someone said, this would be one of the biggest heel turns in real life I've ever seen. While a lot of people were tiring of Lebron, he was still mostly worshipped.

If he dumps the Cavs on nat'l TV, everyone outside of Miami is going to tear off their LBJ23 badges, throw them on the grown and step on them while crying quiet tears of betrayal.

As dumpings go..........this would pretty much not only set a new precedent for disrespect, but take it to such a whole new level that it would just about make him one of the most despised athletes in history.

"Thanks for everything Cleveland......but I didn't even have the nuts to dump you to your face. I didn't even have the nuts to pick up a phone and give you the courtesy of a private explanation".

Man, I seriously don't see it happening. This whole thing is set up tomorrow for a "Cleveland, we've got unfinished business" announcement.

I know he's immature and he's a media-whore etc etc...but this would be way, way, way too disrespecttful to your home city and team. I just don't see LeBron being 'that' kind of a guy.

[Jonesy]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

I just see three options at this point......and two of them are basically "the ultimate challenge" v one is the p______ option.

1. LeBron says "hey, I am staying in Cleveland. I've got unfinished business." Massive respect if he does.

2. LeBron says "I'm going to MSG...I'm going to put New York basketball back on the world stage". Massive challenge if he does.

3. LeBron says "Hey, I'm going to cruise my career out riding D-Wade down the stretch of games, no need for 30-10-10 type numbers when you can put up 20 points and 6 and ride Wade half the week, feed Bosh the other week and cruise through 90% of the season".

Honestly, I just don't see an MVP calibre player taking the soft option right in the middle of his career. This isn't Karl and GP jumping on other players backs in their late 30s.........this is the MVP in his prime riding a coat tail.

No way it happens.

That's how i basically see it.

He signs with Cleveland i'll think 'good on him, hope he can lead them to a title'.

He signs with the Knicks i'll think 'this is really interesting to see if he can lead the Knicks back to prominence'

If he signs with the Heat with Wade / Bosh i'll think 'what a cop out, are you kidding me!?'

I haven't read all the posts, but Miami has Chalmers and Beasley under contract. Signing Wade, Bosh, and LBJ takes all their money, so how do they fill out a roster? I'm not trying to be critical of the move or anything, just really curious how they sign 7 other guys.

I'm guessing all NBA minimum guys? And if so, if they get an injury to one of the "3", are they done?

The "cap guy" on sportscentre said that if they trade Beasley and get rid of his contract that lets them pay each Wade, LeBron and Bosh the maximum 16.6mil per year and leaves them a grand total of 1.8 mil to try to sign another player then the rest will have to be minimum contracts. Apparently they have 3 rookie 2nd rounders that will be able to sign to rookie minimum contract and the rest will have to be lowest tier free agents and d leaguer's. With no bench even if they have their big three it's no lock to win the title imo.

[55]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Since I have absolutely no vested interest in where LeBron ends up, my ultimate dream is for him to step up to the podium at 9:10 pm EST tonight and announce his decision in WWE heel form. Just like others have said, this is like a real life nWo in the making.

[Bornindamecca]

Re: The Official "Where is LeBron going?" Thread

Adande's last few Tweets on the subject. He also smells a fish.

Part of me thinks LeBron's camp is just floating this Miami thing to gauge the reaction. And what I've seen has not been positive.
about 3 hours ago via web

Younger could BE the problem. Egos 1st? RT @Lewis_Hull: @jadande well it worked for boston,well see about miami,and these guys are younger.
about 3 hours ago via UberTwitter

ESPN's @Chris_Broussard is saying LeBron 2 Miami. I had 1 source say its 90%
about 4 hours ago via UberTwitter