Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

[Jake]

But what others players think is. Why do I want to go play for a guy who is going to go off the deep end if and try and throw me under the bus at any given moment?

He didn't throw him under the bus at any given moment. He threw him under the bus after LeBron publicly ripped the heart out of his fan base. While LeBron was there he never did any such thing.

 

[buckeyesin07]

As I prepared myself for the inevitable disappointment of last night, I was ready to write off the NBA entirely. The league has a big problem - from a collective bargaining standpoint and a cultural standpoint.

Coming into this offseason, everybody knew Chris Bosh would not return to Toronto. From a geographical and cultural standpoint, Toronto isn't an attractive place to play for a young, American-born basketball player. What David Stern has hopefully found out is that his league is full of Torontos. Think of it this way: Pick an NBA city. If that city is more likely to be shouted out in a '70s rock song than in a 2000s rap song, that city is not going to be able to sign free agents or pull off sign-and-trades. Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Portland, Memphis, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, etc. There's no room for them in the NBA.

The new reality of the NBA is that players are making lifestyle choices, and the power centers in the NBA are structured around nightlife and celebrity culture. In this version of the NBA, the only cities that can host viable teams are going to be Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami, New Orleans, Houston, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

This couldn't be more spot on. I thought of the same thing when I was watching that debacle last night. The one thing that I disagree with, however, is that I'd remove from your list of "haves" and place on your list of "have-nots" the following cities: Philly, Washington, Atlanta, and maybe Dallas, Phoenix and Houston. It really wouldn't surprise me if in the next 10 years or so we see that all free agents are going to NY/NJ, Boston, LA, Miami or Orlando. Finding out a way to fix this could be Stern's biggest challenge, as the current trend threatens the ongoing viability of the NBA.

 

[Jake]

I think it was a crappy way to reveal it if you're a Cleveland fan...

I think it was a crappy way, period. Again, I don't give a shit about the Cavs.

 

[Tlangs]

Bingo. At the end of the day, even mentioning LBJ in the same sentence as Michael Jordan is a joke. From the NBA titles, to the ability to make clutch shots, to the killer instinct, to the desire to win, to not trying to get in the spotlight at every chance he gets, MJ and LBJ are nothing alike.

It has been a joke all along....not just because he left for miami.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

But what others players think is. Why do I want to go play for a guy who is going to go off the deep end if and try and throw me under the bus at any given moment?

Because you want to play for a man that will stick up for his town and the rest of his players that were fucked over...It is not about one person...

I would love an owner that loved his team that much. Because you know Mo, Hickson, Jamison, etc. all felt that LBJ quit on them as well.

And at any given moment, doesn't hold weight with me. It was one time...

 

[Bucklion]

Because you want to play for a man that will stick up for his town and the rest of his players that were fucked over...It is not about one person...

I would love an owner that loved his team that much. Because you know Mo, Hickson, Jamison, etc. all felt that LBJ quit on them as well.

And at any given moment, doesn't hold weight with me. It was one time...

Until you decide you want to leave or you want more money, in which case, well, here comes the dirt...

Not a good way to conduct business. Every NBA player (well, except maybe AC Green) has skeletons in their closet, and the last thing anyone wants is the possibility of the owner spilling it all at a "convenient" time. If you think other NBA players aren't wincing at something like that, I think you're crazy.

EDIT: no pun intended

 

[buckeyefool]

He didn't throw him under the bus at any given moment. He threw him under the bus after LeBron publicly ripped the heart out of his fan base. While LeBron was there he never did any such thing.

Sure last night it was Lebron leaving, maybe next season it is West not playing hard enough in Gilberts eyes, maybe the day after that Z is late for teh team bus. Is he gonna flip out when shaq leaves? I mean shaq was brought in the be the big man and help with the title, seems if shaq leaves he didn't do what Gilbert paid him to, so he should be ripped to. And fuck that guy who isn't selling enough hot dogs rip him publiclly to while we are at it.

 

[buckeyefool]

Until you decide you want to leave or you want more money, in which case, well, here comes the dirt...

Not a good way to conduct business. Every NBA player (well, except maybe AC Green) has skeletons in their closet, and the last thing anyone wants is the possibility of the owner spilling it all at a "convenient" time. If you think other NBA players aren't wincing at something like that, I think you're crazy.

Exactly

 

[buckeyefool]

Because you want to play for a man that will stick up for his town and the rest of his players that were fucked over...It is not about one person...

I would love an owner that loved his team that much. Because you know Mo, Hickson, Jamison, etc. all felt that LBJ quit on them as well.

And at any given moment, doesn't hold weight with me. It was one time...

Except it has been widely reported about email he has sent ripping fans that question him also. Dan Gilbert will be loved until he moves the Vegas. And people here wonder why Modell skipped town with HIS team.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Sure last night it was Lebron leaving, maybe next season it is West not playing hard enough in Gilberts eyes, maybe the day after that Z is late for teh team bus. Is he gonna flip out when shaq leaves? I mean shaq was brought in the be the big man and help with the title, seems if shaq leaves he didn't do what Gilbert paid him to, so he should be ripped to. And [censored] that guy who isn't selling enough hot dogs rip him publiclly to while we are at it.

I know people in Reno who have zero rooting interests in the Cavs or even the NBA who will now root against LBJ and Miami because he's shown himself to be such a gigantic ass with the great irony being that he's really--and for the foreseeable future--tainted his "brand." I wouldn't be surprised if b-schools don't use this as a case study in self-inflicted damage.

If Gilbert's letter hurts him with other NBA prima donnas, I guess that's a price he'll have to pay, but I respect him for speaking his mind.

 

[TresselstillownsTSUN]

I'm not a Cav's fan by any means, but what LeBron did last night was a bitch move. He couldn't of handled it with less class IMO.

 

[jlb1705]

They were sign and trades which is the same thing. KG wouldn't sign with Minnesota unless they aggreed to trade him to Boston. Same with Allen. Bosh may still be a sign and trade with Toronto.

Wrong. Ray Allen had three years left on his contract when he was dealt.

Sonics draft franchise player, trade biggest star to Celtics

But what others players think is. Why do I want to go play for a guy who is going to go off the deep end if and try and throw me under the bus at any given moment?

Because for players who act like a man and deal with their teammates, ownership and management respectfully, Dan Gilbert will apparently have their back and go to the greatest lengths he can to put them in a position to be successful.

Keep in mind there are other players that are still going to be playing for Cleveland next season. They thought they were going to be playing for a championship. They've seen the special treatment LeBron got while he was with them, they've seen the way he left. Gilbert's communique meant to say he has their backs as much as he meant the same for the fans.

 

[buckeyefool]

I'm not a Cav's fan by any means, but what LeBron did last night was a bitch move. He couldn't of handled it with less class IMO.

Sure he could have...He could have held the show at the Q

 

[kn1f3party]

I just don't agree with the notion that players aren't going to come to Cleveland because of that letter. I'm sure there are players out there that agree with what Gilbert did. That letter may have dissed one player, but it stuck up for the rest of the roster and teams like the Toronto Raptors.

If people don't come to Cleveland to play, it will because it is Cleveland, not Gilbert. All Gilbert has done is shown he will pour money in to the franchise to win. Players care about that.

 

[Piney]

But what others players think is. Why do I want to go play for a guy who is going to go off the deep end if and try and throw me under the bus at any given moment?

That was the point Drennan and the Cleveland media (some of them anyway) were making last night, and I think it is a good one.

That is really the only downside to him doing what he did. It will be VERY interesting what happens at this 1pm press conference.

But that is something that can be explained away as he is sticking up for the Cleveland fans and for the current players on the team. And wouldn't you want an owner that backs up his players?

Of course it will turn off other players. But money has a way of making them turn back on.