Whither LeBron James?

[Scurrilous]

James Will Reveal His Decision on Live TV 9 PM Thursday (EST)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=215x153646

[madinmaryland]

1. Other...

Boston Celtics.

[Condem]

2. Gosh o' golly!!

I'll be sure to be tuned in tomorrow night to see where this pompous fuck lands. Oh, thats right. I have to make a turkey sandwich.

[DinahMoeHum]

3. You gotta admit; it's been great entertainment to watch the owners,

coaches, mayors and media people toadying and genuflecting before LBJ to please please come play for our city's team.

:evilgrin:

[Condem]

4. Much, much more important news , today, Dinah.

RINGO IS 70!!!!! Happy Birthday, Rings. Pure irony that the frailest youngster has a chance to outlive them all. Of course, besides an assassins bullet.

[madinmaryland]

6. Huh?

[JonLP24]

5. Miami

Gut feeling.

[Scurrilous]

7. Sources: James leaning toward Heat

<snip>

"All indications are that LeBron James is leaning toward signing with the Miami Heat on Thursday night, according to several sources with knowledge of the situation.

Barring a late change of heart, sources say James has decided to join fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to form a potential NBA powerhouse."

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5363055

:thumbsup:

[Scurrilous]

23. More:

"Media speculation about LeBron James' future has given way to the cold reality inside NBA war rooms:

The overwhelming consensus among league executives is that Cleveland Cavaliers free-agent forward LeBron James is coming to South Florida to become a member of the Miami Heat.

An NBA team executive told the Sun Sentinel Thursday afternoon, "All of our contacts from CAA say he is coming to you guys."

CAA is Creative Artists Agency, the firm that not only represents James, but also Heat guard Dwyane Wade and Toronto Raptors free-agent power forward Chris Bosh, who on Wednesday agreed to sign with the Heat."

<snip>

"It is a story that continues to take odd twists. US Magazine.com has reported that James has rented six cabanas at the W Hotel South Beach this weekend to celebrate his team decision. As it is, the hotel also is being utilized by Bosh, with his own event scheduled there.

James also has been linked to a significant real-estate purchase in South Florida."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-lebron-james-miami-heat-070810,0,1000319.story

[Scurrilous]

25. And:

Heat near deal to move Beasley sign that LeBron to Miami no smokescreen

<snip>

"At this point in the funhouse of mirrors that are the rumors of LeBron James' next move, reality has been hard to tell from dead ends and distorted reflections. Everything, every reaction looked like it could be the way out.

But this afternoon, one tangible piece of evidence came though -- the Heat are working very hard, and are very close apparently, to trading Michael Beasley.

That is evidence LeBron is headed to South Beach. More than the reports from multiple sources. More than the booked cabanas at the W Hotel in South Beach for a LeBron James party. More than anything.

Miami needs to move Beasley if it wants to give LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all max deal money. And Miami wants to give them max money. The fact they are busting this hard to get it done is a sign."

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/07/heat-near-deal-to-move-beasley-sign-that-lebron-to-miami-no-smokescreen.php

[JonLP24]

29. Heard about that yesterday

I had ESPNNews for a promotional limited time and that was the first possible was to trade Beasley, sign the rookies to minimum contracts, to make room once they have LeBron. It was at that time where I got the gut feeling James was heading to Miami.

[TZ]

8. If he goes to Miami

He will be as hated as Art Modell in Cleveland. He will never be able to go back there.

[HughBeaumont]

9. So, by going to the Heat, that proves he can only win a title on a stacked-deck superteam?

Will he handle being 23rd in scoring? Will he forgo chasing the Oscar Robertson averages? Will this pull the veil off the NBA once and for all as a Large-Market Sports Entitlement Machine, just like Basebusiness? Not that it isn't almost a given anyway; only 8 teams have won the NBA title since 1980, seven of them were large market teams.

Given Wade's and Bosh's injury histories, a title, let alone multiple titles, isn't really guaranteed. Bosh is no Howard stopper and had padded stats on a weak team. The Heat has to keep the remaining underachievers and scrubs they have because they'll have no room.

Call me optimistic, but is he going to be that cold-blooded and stab arguably the most snake-bitten and heartbroken 3-sports city in the balls? Is he really going to do that? He doesn't strike me as a Modell. I think he's better than this.

[TZ]

20. You are talking about the same person that wore a Yankees cap

to Cleveland Indians game. He strikes me as a front runner big time. He'll probably go to Miami. I don't think he'll have any better success down there than in Cleveland though.

[Ganja Ninja]

10. Other: He's going to play in Europe or China.

:wow:

[Renew Deal]

11. That would be hilarious.

"I have decided to go to Le Mans Sarthe Basket in France!" :party:

[Yavin4]

12. If He Goes To Miami, He'd Be Making A Huge Mistake

First, he won't win in Miami even with Bosh and Wade because Miami is not that good. Second, he'll be playing in Wade's shadow the entire time. So, even if he does win, it will be because of Wade not him.

[trumad]

14. Yavin---

I've been posting in the sports forum a long time and I must say your post is the first to make me literally spit my coffee out.

Your first line: "First, he won't win in Miami even with Bosh and Wade because Miami is not that good."

Fucking funny ass line. Why?

Correct--Miami wasn't that good last season or even the season before.

But dontcha think that with Wade, Bosh and Lebron on the team they'll errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr be good?

Again---fucking funny line.

[Yavin4]

15. With Bosh, Wade, and LeBron

What I mean by "win" is "win championships". Yes, the Heat will be able to beat the Nets and the Knicks in the regular season, but the NBA is about winning in the playoffs.

And the Heat won't win in the playoffs because they are not as good as the Magic or the Celtics. They simply are not. Bosh is not nearly as good as Dwight Howard.

Heck, even the Bulls might catch up to them.

[trumad]

16. What are you smoking..

You do no it was just a couple of years ago that the Heat won a championship with Wade and an old Shaq.

So you're telling me that with Wade--Bosh---and Lebron, the Heat won't be as good as the Celts or Magic?

If that's what you're saying--- well--- then that's the 2nd funniest line I've read in the forum.

[Yavin4]

18. "So you're telling me that with Wade--Bosh---and Lebron, the Heat won't be as good as the Celts or..

Magic?"

Yes, that's what I'm saying exactly.

Also, the Bulls, Hawks, and Bucks may even catch up to them as well.

[Yavin4]

19. Even Bill Simmons Agrees with Me

Let's say LeBron signs with Miami. Can you even make the Finals with LeBron, Bosh, Wade and nine minimum-salary guys? Because that might be next year's team … and if that's what happens, the answer is "no effing way." You don't win titles just because of your top three. That belittles the meaning of guys like Derek Fisher, Robert Horry, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Brian Shaw … you could go on for hours naming role players who swung a title. The 2008 Celts lucked out by getting James Posey, Eddie House and P.J. Brown for practically nothing; Miami wouldn't have that luxury this summer, not with so many role players jockeying for contracts one year before the possible lockout. Nobody is taking less money to showcase themselves for a summer that might not happen. Even if Miami could spin Michael Beasley for a fourth guy (say, Trevor Ariza), that's still not enough. They'd need one more rebounder, point guard, a 3-point shooter and a center. Good luck.


http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100708

[JonLP24]

21. Riley

could always talk role players into getting those contracts for a chance to win a title. If not I (don't have the details exact) know you can go over the salary cap to sign a qualifying veteran free agent to an average salary. Again not sure on the details. He does bring up "nobody is taking less money" but Dwayne Wade just yesterday said this move "isn't about money". It's about "winning multiple championships." He then went on to say that he is willing to take to pay cut for that to happen. So we'll see.

If they get Lebron and everything else falls into place I think they got a good chance but he does bring up good points regarding role players.

[trumad]

24. Snarf...

Agrees with you... Your first statement said that LaBron wouldn't go to Miami because they weren't that good. And now you're saying that even with LeBron they still won't be good.

Dude---you're nuts.... and I'd take the genius of Pat Riley over the comments of a fish rap sports writer. Do you know how many role players will jump to play on a team with these 3?

This team will dominate for the next several years.

[H2O Man]

27. I agree.

I asked my younger son, and he said that your prediction is accurate. He said it would be unlikely that they would fail to blow opponents out for the next four years. However, both of us wish (against all rational thought) that he would go to New York. Bringing the Knicks back to the top would make him part of something much bigger than a multiple-championship-winning team. Madison Square Garden is sacred ground to all sports fans (especially boxing buffs).

[Yavin4]

30. "This team will dominate for the next several years."

I will bookmark and remember this quote.

"Do you know how many role players will jump to play on a team with these 3?"

With what money? Heat are capped out.

Besides, weren't you supposed to dominate with Shaq? Sure, you won one over the choking dogs known as the Mavs, but what else did your team do?

Finally, you really feel that the Heat will be better than the Magic, or the Celts, or the Lakers????

[trumad]

31. Fucking meme after meme from the sports experts..

say that role players will jump fast to play with these 3 superstars...oh and BTW: They are not capped out.

Again---Yavin4 or Pat Riley... uh--no fucking contest.

[Yavin4]

32. We'll See

BTW, the Heat don't have a veteran exception for this coming season.

[Auggie]

13. Miami

[Iggo]

17. Knicks.

You'll see.

[era veteran]

22. I think Coach Cal will sign him at Kentucky

Where ever he goes good luck. A remarkable player with character.

[taterguy]

26. Wouldn't matter, they'd still choke to some pissant team like West Virginia

LeBron's best pal Chris Paul would know how that feels.

[era veteran]

28. Haw, Haw, Haw