2010 NBA Off-Season Thread

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by habernac

is it true that Bosh actually hired a crew to follow him around and film a documentary? At least James has the talent to carry his huge ego. I'm no basketball expert, but Bosh isn't even in the same universe as Lebron.

Bosh is making a documentary about FA. Rubbed some team the wrong way, I forget which one though. He said he wasn't filming the meetings though.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Dagger

Read the quote from Lebron I gave above.

He resigned specifically so he could have the opportunity to be an FA with these guys. He's always played both sides of the ball on this.

Actually, he could have just left when his contract expired the first time.

As for re-signing with the opportunity to sign with the others, the opportunity was also there for them to all sign in Cleveland. If the Cavs had one other elite player they may have.

Originally Posted by Dagger

The Cavs felt very certain he was going to stay there judging from everything, and I'd say Lebron gave them those signals.

The Cavs were blustery about Lebron staying, Lebron never said he would.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Dagger

On RealGM all the fans hate Lebron. Every team except the Heat feels terrible for that franchise, think Lebron is a dick and will root for him to fail. Even Knick fans and Bulls fans feel worse about him leaving the Cavs than them not getting him.

Honestly, I've always like Bulls fans, I've never met a really bad one when I traveled through the states. I'd say the same for Bear fans, but they've been beaten into submission by a a decade of really bad football.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

And you wonder why Lebron has an ego? Gilbert created it by giving him obscene power. You can say Lebron was given $100 million but how much did Gilbert make on the back of Lebron?

There's a difference between having an ego as well as decency and then Lebron.

All superstars are babied everywhere in every sport. But you won't see Crosby, Ovechkin, Manning, Peterson, Lincecum, Halladay or any of them drag on like Lebron and then spit in the face of every team that made a move for him, let alone his home state.

Gilbert made $5m last year from the Cavs.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Actually, he could have just left when his contract expired the first time.

As for re-signing with the opportunity to sign with the others, the opportunity was also there for them to all sign in Cleveland. If the Cavs had one other elite player they may have.

Wrong. He was an RFA. He couldn't have left. So actually, please get your facts straight.

Lebron was the one that said get Larry Hughes, Lebron was the one that said get Shaq, and Lebron was the one that said Jamison over Stoudemire at the deadline.

The Cavs were blustery about Lebron staying, Lebron never said he would.

Read the quote I gave from 2 months ago. There's no getting around the meaning of that statement. The Cavs weren't blustery about him staying. They liked their chances the whole time. They were getting signals from Lebron's camp that they were in the lead for a good chunk of the time.

[flames_1987]

Knicks trade David Lee to Warriors for Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf and Kelenna Azubuike.

Ahhh just when I was becoming a big warrior fan. Ronny is one of Gonzagas alumni who has actually found a niche in the pros. He does play with the kind've passion and hunger that the Knicks have been missing though.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Honestly, I've always like Bulls fans, I've never met a really bad one when I traveled through the states. I'd say the same for Bear fans, but they've been beaten into submission by a a decade of really bad football.

Bulls fans are classy. Knick fans are obnoxious. They're so far into denial about most things it's hilarious. I remember when the story came out that they were out of the race, the Knicks beat guy tried to say it was Prokorhov(nets owner) planting the story.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Gozer

I understand that sentiment, but don't wholly agree.

Why are there never calls for class regarding draft picks being shown crying on draft day, or Aaron Rodgers twisting in the wind for twenty-five picks. USC is offering scholarships to twelve year olds. Let's not romanticize the amount of class shown to athletes by society.

Sure but most of those players understand the draft and the emotions of the day, and these players know they're heading into a life where they are treated like gods. Lets not talk about college sport which is a whole other bowl of corrupted fish.

Originally Posted by Gozer

As for the lack of warning to the teams, I also agree and disagree. I certainly would have shown some deference, but I've never heard of an unwritten rule requiring a team to warn a player of a trade.

Except teams will let players know that they've been traded before they go running to the media, or at least try to break the news personally. For the most part players that aren't being resigned are told before the free agency period so they have a chance to find another job.

Cleveland did nothing but treat James like a god while he was there, they gave in to every demand that he made, and he tells them on T.V. that he's outta there. Thanks James thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by Gozer

Demanding a trade while under contract is classless, signing on the first day of free agency is not.

No you're right, its not the fact that he's signing there. Its the way he handled it and made it a big ego fest, and didn't have the class to pick up a farking phone and let the Cavs know. Instead he stated on T.V. that he hadn't informed the losers and they would have to learn his answer by watching his show. Its equivalent to not only being dumped by your girlfriend on the Springer show but finding out that she's a pre-op transexual nazi at the same time, while your not there.


I think fans are overreacting for two main reasons:
Calgary fans may be holding these guys to the Flames level of respect and class, which certainly is not universal.
And globally, there's something to resenting his opportunity without doing the standard "aw shucks" and "golly gee."[/QUOTE]

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Sure but letting his team know that he was outta there on a national T.V. special . . . totally "a$$ cracker". Basically to me it was a slap in the face to the Cavs and his fan base. but he had to have the top rated show.

Yes, to a point. I think Pronger or Heatly demanding a trade while under conract is worse, Vince Carter quitting on court is much worse.

Signing as a free agent during free agency is not the same. The Cav's can't say they were blindsided by this, they were just in denial or bluffing (about being certain he'd return).

As for the Cav fans, it was an event for Heat fans, Knick fans, Bull fans, Clipper fans, and everyone else. But if you don't want to follow it then don't, watch the games and ignore the hype.

The real villian is the Bulls, Knicks, and every other team that mortgaged their future to sign him and made this such an ugly desperate spectacle.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Dagger

There's a difference between having an ego as well as decency and then Lebron.

All superstars are babied everywhere in every sport. But you won't see Crosby, Ovechkin, Manning, Peterson, Lincecum, Halladay or any of them drag on like Lebron and then spit in the face of every team that made a move for him, let alone his home state.

Gilbert made $5m last year from the Cavs.

I'm not arguing with you that Lebron has turned into a (you know what). But Gilbert has a hand in that by giving him that much power.

$5m? come on, you know the value of the team with Lebron is hundreds of millions more. We could easily be talking about 3 stars in Cleveland tonight. Why not lure Bosh with maybe a sign a trade and that in turn might have lured Wade too.

Gilbert failed.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Gozer

Yes, to a point. I think Pronger or Heatly demanding a trade while under conract is worse, Vince Carter quitting on court is much worse.

Signing as a free agent during free agency is not the same. The Cav's can't say they were blindsided by this, they were just in denial or bluffing (about being certain he'd return).

They got something back for their respective players. From what I see, most Raptor fans who understand the situation hate Bosh more than Carter now.

I don't know if you understand how awful this is for Cavs fans. This was worse than any player demanding a trade. He said in April he was staying. He was giving indications to the Cavs that he was going to stay. He then bolts on national TV, no thank you or sorry to Cav fans, instead just basically saying they were lucky to grace his presence.

As for the Cav fans, it was an event for Heat fans, Knick fans, Bull fans, Clipper fans, and everyone else. But if you don't want to follow it then don't, watch the games and ignore the hype.

The real villian is the Bulls, Knicks, and every other team that mortgaged their future to sign him and made this such an ugly desperate spectacle.

What were they supposed to do? As a Net fan I have by far had the worst experience this year but it wasn't us who made this an ugly desperate spectacle. It wasn't the teams that lost out, it was Lebron who made it ugly. It was Lebron who backstabbed everyone who cared about him on national TV, it was Lebron who carried us though all this. Don't get it backwards.

[Blaster86]

Parity? What parity! I didn't see any parity around here!

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I'm not arguing with you that Lebron has turned into a (you know what). But Gilbert has a hand in that by giving him that much power.

$5m? come on, you know the value of the team with Lebron is hundreds of millions more. We could easily be talking about 3 stars in Cleveland tonight. Why not lure Bosh with maybe a sign a trade and that in turn might have lured Wade too.

Gilbert failed.

The club is worth $100m more than when he bought it. But he didn't buy it to sell it. His operating cost has been huge. He's made $5-20 each year, which while good isn't world beating.

The Cavs and Raptors had a sign and trade ready to go. Only problem? Bosh said anywhere but Cleveland. Wade was never going anywhere but Chicago or Miami, with Chicago always(minus 3 days) being viewed as a long shot.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Dagger

Wrong. He was an RFA. He couldn't have left. So actually, please get your facts straight.

LeBron chose to sign an extension.

I'm not really sure how this is a debate, nor how I am losing.

Originally Posted by Dagger

Lebron was the one that said get Larry Hughes, Lebron was the one that said get Shaq, and Lebron was the one that said Jamison over Stoudemire at the deadline.

And now the Cavs are stuck with a bunch of horrible contracts and players they don't want just like when Vince Carter did that exact thing to the Raptors.

No wait, that's not the same thing at all. He green-lighted a bad contract swap via trade (Hughes) and a green-lighted a desperate trade for Shaq. I'm sure he did others, but it seems like every post-season he's fighting 5-on-1, from the 48 Special to the last game vs the Celtics.
The Cav's never had the best team in the league, that's the level you need to have to keep the game's best player. The Lakers learned that when they almost lost Kobe (who did demand a trade during the season while under contract before they acquired Gasol).

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Dagger

The club is worth $100m more than when he bought it. But he didn't buy it to sell it. His operating cost has been huge. He's made $5-20 each year, which while good isn't world beating.

The Cavs and Raptors had a sign and trade ready to go. Only problem? Bosh said anywhere but Cleveland. Wade was never going anywhere but Chicago or Miami, with Chicago always(minus 3 days) being viewed as a long shot.

That means something is wrong with Cleveland.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Dagger

What were they supposed to do?

Just to be clear, you're asking what other choice the Knicks had but to trade away their veterans in packages with prospects and picks to purge their rosters.

You're asking what else Chicago could have done but trade away a solid PG on a fine contract with a 1st round pick for nothing?

Originally Posted by Dagger

I don't know if you understand how awful this is for Cavs fans. This was worse than any player demanding a trade. He said in April he was staying. He was giving indications to the Cavs that he was going to stay. He then bolts on national TV, no thank you or sorry to Cav fans, instead just basically saying they were lucky to grace his presence.

LeBron didn't sign an extension. The Knicks openly courted him, Mark Cuban indicated his interest, and
LeBron didn't sign an extension. He didn't even promise to like Boozer or McGrady did.
He did not leave his engaged wife at the alter, he left his longtime girlfriend that is now clinging to an old reference of "we're going to be so happy" out of spite.

Originally Posted by Dagger

They got something back for their respective players. From what I see, most Raptor fans who understand the situation hate Bosh more than Carter now.

A bought out center + Aaron and Eric Williams?

Those fans are moron.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by Gozer

LeBron chose to sign an extension.

I'm not really sure how this is a debate, nor how I am losing.

I'll rephrase it. There was a 0% chance Lebron could leave Cleveland. Any team that offered him the max was going to be matched by Cleveland in 2 seconds. He stood to make more money by signing with Cleveland than taking an offer sheet as well. He wasn't going to leave.

And now the Cavs are stuck with a bunch of horrible contracts and players they don't want just like when Vince Carter did that exact thing to the Raptors.

No wait, that's not the same thing at all. He green-lighted a bad contract swap via trade (Hughes) and a green-lighted a desperate trade for Shaq. I'm sure he did others, but it seems like every post-season he's fighting 5-on-1, from the 48 Special to the last game vs the Celtics.
The Cav's never had the best team in the league, that's the level you need to have to keep the game's best player. The Lakers learned that when they almost lost Kobe (who did demand a trade during the season while under contract before they acquired Gasol).

I'm not gonna argue the Cavs roster sucks. What I have a problem with is the way he handled the situation in regards to communication with the Cavaliers. It was classless, unprofessional and narcissistic

Lebron orchestrated every big move the Cavs made. He had a say in it. He told them what to do, it wasn't "yeah, I'm fine with that."

I know about Kobe. He only stayed because he thought the Bulls were paying to much for him, and that they would suck ass when he got there. But did you know that Kobe whined his ass to the Lakers in his draft year? He walked into a dream situation with Shaq down the road.

[Dagger]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

That means something is wrong with Cleveland.

The town is terrible. It's a dump.

[OldDutch]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I'm not arguing with you that Lebron has turned into a (you know what). But Gilbert has a hand in that by giving him that much power.

$5m? come on, you know the value of the team with Lebron is hundreds of millions more. We could easily be talking about 3 stars in Cleveland tonight. Why not lure Bosh with maybe a sign a trade and that in turn might have lured Wade too.

Gilbert failed.

Raptors offered Bosh a sign and trade a few days ago, just before the MIA announcement. Bosh declined because Cleveland wasn't a "big enough market"

Although by that point I am sure the 3 junior high sisters had all phoned each other and co-ordinated matching outfits.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Dagger

I'll rephrase it. There was a 0% chance Lebron could leave Cleveland. Any team that offered him the max was going to be matched by Cleveland in 2 seconds. He stood to make more money by signing with Cleveland than taking an offer sheet as well. He wasn't going to leave.



I'm not gonna argue the Cavs roster sucks. What I have a problem with is the way he handled the situation in regards to communication with the Cavaliers. It was classless, unprofessional and narcissistic

This is a perfect juxtaposition of the double standard.

In the first paragraph, you talk about how LeBron had no rights and belonged to the Cavs. The Cavs could do as they pleased because LeBron didn't have enough service time to decide for himself. You seem to have no problem with LeBron having to do whatever the heck the Cavs wanted (although I think he could have just played out the team-option year and been an UFA two years earlier).

Then, in the second paragraph, instead of staying on this path of acting within rights and stating "there was a 100% chance of LeBron leaving" you slide into emotional arguments.

By going to free agency he already had communicated to the Cav fans that he could leave. Then he did. He may have gone about it arrogantly...this is the guy who was nicknamed The King as an 18-year old. Hardly new.