The LeBron James Thread

[Eman5805]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Jason Whitlock with his opinion...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/lebron-james-returning-to-cleveland-but-will-never-change-113010

I like it!! I am looking forward to tomorrow night.

...oh God. I can't be on the same side as Jason Whitlock, can I?

[luv_mist]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

The Cavs felt they had to cater to him because they were in constant fear that they were going to lose him. In hindsight it was not the best move, but they could've lost him if they didn't make him happy here.

Still, that's the business. Players lose and teams lose. It just depends on who loses less and contains their losses enough to leap forward. Simple as that. If Michael Jordan would have left Chicago during his prime and played for another team, I would have been ticked, BUT I would have expected my team to gather themselves and focus on their future with backup plans. What happens if James died? What if he resigned but had a career ending injury? There needs to be a backup plan in place more often. I mean, I look at Portland who is still playing solid ball even though Greg Oden AND Brandon Roy are basically done. They also loss one of their key men from last year in Travis. Still, they are going forward. Just my thoughts.......

[ehh]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Amar'e Stoudemire: LeBron James would have re-signed with Cavs if Cleveland had acquired me

Cleveland's trade for Antawn Jamison last winter meant Amar'e Stoudemire and LeBron James (below) wouldn't be united on the Cavaliers. Turns out, the Cavs couldn't even keep the King.

Amar'e Stoudemire believes that LeBron James would have re-signed with the Cavaliers last summer had Cleveland pulled the trigger on a deal to acquire Stoudemire from the Phoenix Suns.

In fact, Stoudemire was committed to becoming James' full-time running mate until the Cavs shifted their focus from Stoudemire and instead traded for Antawn Jamison last winter.

On the eve of James making his much-anticipated return to Cleveland, Stoudemire acknowledged Wednesday that the power structure in the NBA would look dramatically different today if the Cavs had acquired the All-Star power forward before last February's trading deadline.

"He would have stayed in Cleveland," Stoudemire told the Daily News. "And I wouldn't have had a problem playing in Cleveland. I would have signed there. But it didn't happen."

The Cavs' decision to turn down a deal for Stoudemire had a ripple effect throughout the league. Stoudemire ended up signing a $100 million contract with the Knicks over the summer, and that move revived a dormant franchise.

Stoudemire has been a force at both ends of the court, and the Knicks are 10-9 heading into Friday's game at New Orleans. The franchise has not been above .500 this late in the season since January of '06.

Last May, with Jamison struggling in the playoffs, Cleveland was eliminated by Boston in the second round. Two months later, James famously announced that he was taking his talents to South Beach. The move outraged his once-adoring fans in Cleveland and Akron, and James will witness their vitriol in person tonight.

The Heat is off to a slow start, and some NBA people, including Detroit's Tracy McGrady, have summarized that Miami's biggest problem is that James and Dwyane Wade can't play together because they both need to dominate the ball.

In theory, Stoudemire and James would be a more natural pairing. That's what the Cavs had in mind last season when they first spoke to Phoenix about a possible deal. However, there were two major issues with dealing for Stoudemire, according to a Cavs official familiar with the negotiations.

The Cavs were hesitant to make a deal because, according to the source, Phoenix insisted on Cleveland waiving Stoudemire's physical. Stoudemire has a history of knee problems. The same official says it was a moot point since James preferred Jamison, a power forward with three-point range who would spread the floor and play to LeBron's strengths.

Following Tuesday's win over the Nets, Stoudemire dismissed a question about Miami and James, saying that his only concern now is the Knicks. James only wishes he had so few worries.

10 charact

[dickey1331]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I used to like Lebron but recently Ive grown to really dislike him and I hope he fails in Miami. People with big egos really get under my skin.

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Amar'e Stoudemire: LeBron James would have re-signed with Cavs if Cleveland had acquired me

Meh...well, blame Mr Sarver and Steve Kerr.

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

The franchise has not been above .500 this late in the season since January of '06.

This is the part that stood out to me most lol. 10-9 is the best start to a season they've had in 5 years? That's impressive.

[SPTO]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I will be watching this game only because of what could potentially happen. I sure as hell hope we don't get some riot in the building or someone literally going after LeBron.

As for Amare....That's interesting.

[King_B_Mack]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Meh...well, blame Mr Sarver and Steve Kerr.

The same official says it was a moot point since James preferred Jamison, a power forward with three-point range who would spread the floor and play to LeBron's strengths.

And Bron, don't forget him.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

WTH?

That makes no sense. If LeBron was going to sign a long term deal if Amare came why did he opt for Jamison?

I call BS on that story and BS on all other stories about what really happened with the deadline.

In my view, Kerr got cold feet because he knew Amare was still a tremendous talent and that they had a chance to make a run with Amare/Nash.

If you guys want to believe in all of these reports so be it. That report made no sense though whatsoever

[jeebs9]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I really love the people who loved LeBron. But now hope he dies lol

[OSUFan_88]

Re: The LeBron James Saga

I really love the people who loved LeBron. But now hope he dies lol

My transition was really easy since I didn't like LeBron all that much anyway.

[Dice]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Why do players, who are great on the court, think they’re great as GM’s? So Amare goes to Cleveland and LeBron re-signs with the Cavs. So then what’s next? Amare averages less points and still grabs less than 10 boards a game and plays little-to-no defense. Then they get bounced out of the playoffs again by either the Celtics or Magic because Howard or Garnett had career playoff series because Amare was guarding them.

And LeBron is not first(nor the last) last great player who wants to be a GM. As some pointed out, he wanted Jamison and he got him. And did a championship result from the Jamison trade last year? Nope. Not even a conference finals. So these GM’s need to stop catering to the ‘desires’ and ‘likes’ of these players. Mostly all of them have no clue how to structure a championship team.

Anybody remember back in 1995 when Jordan was calling for the Bulls to draft David Vaughn from Memphis? How about Kobe wanting the Lakers to trade for Jason Kidd and clowning Andrew Bynum in the process? Yeah, Kobe ain’t clowning him now! He’s wishing he was playing now. And I’m not going to even start on Jordan. We got a firsthand look of him as a GM and he sucked big time.

[ex carrabba fan]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

Why do players, who are great on the court, think they’re great as GM’s? So Amare goes to Cleveland and LeBron re-signs with the Cavs. So then what’s next? Amare averages less points and still grabs less than 10 boards a game and plays little-to-no defense. Then they get bounced out of the playoffs again by either the Celtics or Magic because Howard or Garnett had career playoff series because Amare was guarding them.

And LeBron is not first(nor the last) last great player who wants to be a GM. As some pointed out, he wanted Jamison and he got him. And did a championship result from the Jamison trade last year? Nope. Not even a conference finals. So these GM’s need to stop catering to the ‘desires’ and ‘likes’ of these players. Mostly all of them have no clue how to structure a championship team.

Anybody remember back in 1995 when Jordan was calling for the Bulls to draft David Vaughn from Memphis? How about Kobe wanting the Lakers to trade for Jason Kidd and clowning Andrew Bynum in the process? Yeah, Kobe ain’t clowning him now! He’s wishing he was playing now. And I’m not going to even start on Jordan. We got a firsthand look of him as a GM and he sucked big time.

I agree with the overall tone of your post. Star players sometimes think they know best.

I still don't 100% believe Amare was on the table for Cleveland, and I think Jamison was the only option out there for them.

Just because Amare was 'on board to stay in Cleveland' doesn't mean Kerr was on board with trading him for JJ freakin Hickson.

[boomhauertjs]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I don't know if LeBron wanted Jamison. He seemed to be pouting after the trade was made for a couple of games (then probably got over it when he decided he was going to Miami).

[23]

Re: The LeBron James Thread

I guess Amare just debunked the myth that players wouldn't have come to CLE because of LeBron