Lebron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

[NFBuck]

Don't think for two picoseconds that this would be unfolding right now had Miami beat San Antonio...

Absolutely. Like I said, LeBron is, first and foremost, and opportunist. The second he walked off that court after watching San Antonio whoop their ass all over the court for 4 games, his mind started working. He just had the presence of mind not to tear off his jersey like he did four years earlier. And I'm pretty confident Nike played a roll in this too. They have a marketing bonanza on their hands with this "return/redemption" horseshit.

 

[NFBuck]

It's also going to be fun watching/reading e!spn totally turn on him for giving the scoop to SI...

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

Miami saying he left because the Cavs offered more "perks"

 

[kujirakira]

He (and his inner circle) were all 25 years old. Probably not the whole of it, but I think 'young & stupid' is more believable than 'willfully malicious'.

He was obviously swept up in the Garnett & Allen to Boston hype too and saw his own window for a shot at rings the easy way.

It also seemed like a direct ripoff of NCAA recruiting announcements. I hate those too... largely why I refuse to get too caught up in recruiting of kids; half of whom will never pan out for various reasons. While many of the most important players end up being overlooked (by the media) unhyped 3 stars.
Then again, I never had an issue with his decision. Just with the way he did it; and it's since been recognized that "the decision" was a bad idea. I was disappointed, but not bitter or feeling betrayed -- he wanted to compete for rings and it seemed obvious Cleveland wasn't able to assemble a team to legitimately do that. I mean, best they could get was guys like Parker, Gordon, Igaulskas, and a post-mortem Shaq ? You can get to the playoffs every year with amazing numbers just by having a Peyton Manning or Lebron James... but the road becomes infinitely steeper in playoffs when your team is blatantly missing additional pieces.

Oh, no doubt. But after they came to the realization he was, in fact, gone...you could feel the life sucked out of them. Much like it was here four years earlier.

I think it's different though. LeBron came to Cleveland promising the world and being "one of us", then left to chase the rings he promised to Cleveland on a personal level. I understand his decision, but I don't see the comparison at all. His relationship to Cleveland was always personal and emotional... his relationship to Miami was always business.
He went to Miami as a straight up mercenary, and now he's leaving. That's professional sports.

It reminds me of how Baltimore still plays the victim over losing the Colts... even after stealing another city's beloved team like rampant hypocrites. Miami doesn't have anything to mourn here. They got lucky with 3 super stars willing to take pay cuts just to play together in order to stack a team -- and choosing to do it in their city. It could've been any other city. They should be thankful.

 

[TooTall]

No way I'm letting go of Wiggins. The only player I'd give up Wiggins for is Kevin Durant, straight up, and that ain't happening.

K-Love is not as good IMO as his statistics would have you think. I feel the same way about Melo, BTW.

This. Wiggins will be a monster for the Cavs with the current starting cast they have to go with him.

 

[Buckeye86]

On the other hand is there any doubt that the Cavs are a better team now than they would have been if he hadn't spent the last 4 years in Miami?

I think it was all a giant longplay conspiracy between LeBron, Nike and the NBA. Weren't the chances of Cleveland getting the #1 overall pick in 3 of the 4 years LeBron was gone something like .0005%?

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

Bosh returning to the Heat. At first I was like "Bosh, you so stupid lol" and then I saw the amount of money.....then I was like "Riley, you so stupid lol"

5 yrs $118M

http://espn.go.com/nba/truehoop/mia...chris-bosh-miami-heat-finalizing-new-contract

Edit: The only way I would say it could work is if he's able to wheel and deal Carmelo and then then convince Wade to sign for like $5M. Otherwise, waaaaaaaaaaay too much money.

 

[colobuck79]

I would have loved to see him play in Houston.

 

[UpNorth_Buckeye]

I would have loved to see him play in Houston.

Me too. I think they would have been even a little better than the Heat last year. harden's much better than Wade, obviously Howard isn't as good as LeBron but still good and other pieces are better than what the Heat had. I guess that's if they could have kept Parsons.

 

[ImFrigginFly]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Wolfe is wrong, Lebron can.

 

[OHSportsFan]

I actually never really got the impression James was happy in Miami.

The return trips to Cleveland, with the raucous booing, I don't think he liked that. I don't think he liked what he saw in Miami in regards to fans, in regards to the people. Maybe for a bit when it was young LeBron being a rockstar, but the overall support- he missed Cleveland, he missed what he had. I really thought after the first year loss in the Finals that LeBron probably wished he had done something different the summer before. But, credit to him, he stuck by his business decision and won 2 rings. Still wasn't what he had at home.

So I'm kind of the opposite as some of you- I think he genuinely wanted to be in Cleveland again. He wants this town back. It just so happened to offer a good opportunity- as anyone near the organization and probably LeBron himself were hoping and tracking all along.

Time to get back to business again.

 

[kujirakira]

Live thread and radio links here:

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/20...ron-to-cleveland-miami-sports-talk-radio-open

The denial is strong. These guys have already signed Bosh (ok, probably done deal) and Carmelo in their heads... and going on about how they're going to have another trophy and beat Lebron.
Ummm, lol ?

As an aside, I've found it very amusing how all the fanboys at ESPN have been harping on about that letter from Gilbert 4 years ago... but long since swept that Pat Riley press conference from two weeks ago under the carpet.
Selective memory

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

The denial is strong. These guys have already signed Bosh (ok, probably done deal) and Carmelo in their heads... and going on about how they're going to have another trophy and beat Lebron.
Ummm, lol ?

As an aside, I've found it very amusing how all the fanboys at ESPN have been harping on about that letter from Gilbert 4 years ago... but long since swept that Pat Riley press conference from two weeks ago under the carpet.
Selective memory

I just think it's funny that they clearly made the whole "If it weren't for the letter, Lebron would be a Cav right now" shit up. Unless SI has the fastest writers and web developers in the world.

 

[OHSportsFan]

I just think it's funny that they clearly made the whole "If it weren't for the letter, Lebron would be a Cav right now" [Mark May] up. Unless SI has the fastest writers and web developers in the world.

Everything was made up.

The most bullshit coverage of any event I've ever seen. Everytime I saw people up in arms over one thing or another, I just thought, "says who?"

I hope this is the death of "sources" but I know better. Journalism is a f'n disgrace anymore.