Lebron's legacy will be truly tarnished if he left Miami

[OutlawImmortal]

Lebron's legacy is bigger than Miami, or Cleveland or Ohio. He has never been involved in a cover up of something illegal. He makes those around him better, and he seems to be maturing. Stop the drama.

Lebron is the face of the NBA right now. He could easily go to many teams. Heck Phil Jackson went where the talent was. I am guessing Phil's reputation is just fine.

He bragged about getting an illegal police escort. They all do some dirt when they're on top, LeBron has just been good at covering it up so far.

If Miami wins a 3 peat then there's no doubt he'll stay, if they get outed in the playoffs then he will at least listen to every attractive offer he gets.

 

[gordontrue]

I openly reject this idea with as much vehemence as is possible.

Give me a break. Can we stop pretending like whatever way the last big star did it is the only "right" way to do it? Where did this idea come from and how does anyone think it makes sense?

If this was reversed.... If MJ had earned his 6 titles with 3 different teams, taking paycuts, and pairing up with other great players and LeBron had stayed with one team and won several titles everyone would be all...

"LeBron needs to prove he can win multiple titles with multiple teams!"
"LeBron is such a money whore, he cares more about that than winning!"
"Of course he keeps winning titles, he stays with the same team!"
"LeBron is afraid of the challenge to succeed in a different situation!"
etc...

Exercising his option to become a free agent has no bearing on his legacy whatsoever. Winning games, winning playoff games, winning championships, setting records, filling up stat sheets, losing big games... that stuff will make his legacy.

 

[Flauge]

It ends up being a challenge to these guys and their egos to start again. I think he sticks in miami if bosh and wade go. Its one thing to be the man, but knowing you are the best player on the planet and constantly being considered part of the big three might need his ego fed elsewhere. His boys are growing too, maybe miami is not the place he wants to continue raising them. Some things are bigger than basketball.

With his shoe deals he doesnt need to make the big contract. He can play for the minimum and be the best paid guy on the team. This is the miami free agent situation


Miami
RESTRICTED
None

UNRESTRICTED
Ray Allen
Chris Andersen (P)
Joel Anthony (P)
Shane Battier
Michael Beasley
Chris Bosh (ETO)
Mario Chalmers
Udonis Haslem (P)
LeBron James (ETO)
James Jones
Rashard Lewis
Roger Mason Jr.
Greg Oden
Dwyane Wade (ETO)

Basically, every year they dont know if the owner is gonna decide to keep paying it out.

Joel Anthony is no longer on the team.

Also, I think Lebron stays. His wife just opened a juice shop on biscayne. Could he leave? sure. But there really isnt a better situation than Miami. 3 time EC champions.. back to back NBA champions. Im not sure there is a better spot.. if someone disagrees, by all means name the team.

 

[757Hokie83]

Coming off the recent report that "all teams are in play for Lebron"(which is something I disagree with as I don't see Miami signing and trading unless they got the motherload), I truly believe that he would tarnish his legacy for GOOD if he tried to leave another team for a better situation. Some already think it's tarnished for going to Miami, but I didn't really have a problem with it. Personally, I think he stays...but let's entertain the ultimate hypothetical. Let's say he somehow leaves and finds a better situation. That would mean he'd be on THREE teams in his PRIME. I could be wrong, but I can't recall of anybody doing that. I really couldn't put him with the elite of the elite if he jumped to 3 teams while in his prime. Not that my opinion matters, but he NEEDS to stick it out in Miami to get any respect(as far as ranking goes) from me. Now before anyone asks...sure I would like to have him as a Laker, but my opinion of him tarnishing his legacy would not change. If he left, the comparisons to Jordan and others are out of the window imo...because leaving one bad situation for a better is one thing, but doing it AGAIN, by leaving a pretty good situation for as much as you can get is unacceptable as far as legacy goes imo

I don't think Lebron leaving Miami would tarnish his legacy as Greatest Flopper of All Time in the least

 

[gordontrue]

I don't think Lebron leaving Miami would tarnish his legacy as Greatest Flopper of All Time in the least

Wouldn't the Greatest Flopper of All Time be someone that we never notice flop, because they're so good at it that it looks legit?

 

[757Hokie83]

Wouldn't the Greatest Flopper of All Time be someone that we never notice flop, because they're so good at it that it looks legit?

good call, Lamest Flopper of All Time

 

[Kold]

I openly reject this idea with as much vehemence as is possible.

Give me a break. Can we stop pretending like whatever way the last big star did it is the only "right" way to do it. Where did this idea come from and how does anyone think it makes sense?

If this was reversed.... If MJ had earned his 6 titles with 3 different teams

BUT HE DIDN'T. I never once said that one player did it this way so that's the way Lebron should do it....I SAID skipping to 3 different teams via free agency while in your PRIME would be pretty unprecedented for guys being compared to the elites. Like I SAID, leaving the Cavs is one thing...but leaving Miami after contending for a title is another thing. Nothing wrong with it, but don't come to me with comparisons to Jordan if he jumps to another team....imo, I don't think he surpasses Jordan even if he stays with the Heat, but that's another debate...

 

[gordontrue]

BUT HE DIDN'T. I never once said that one player did it this way so that's the way Lebron should do it....I SAID skipping to 3 different teams via free agency while in your PRIME would be pretty unprecedented for guys being compared to the elites. Like I SAID, leaving the Cavs is one thing...but leaving Miami after contending for a title is another thing. Nothing wrong with it, but don't come to me with comparisons to Jordan if he jumps to another team....imo, I don't think he surpasses Jordan even if he stays with the Heat, but that's another debate...

I agree that it would be "pretty unprecedented", I just wonder where the negative association comes from. IMO, it comes from being difference than the last big star.

Not directing this to you, but most LeBron detractors seem to think that anything he accomplishes differently from how Jordan did is a negative... a tarnish to his legacy. But if you isolate those actions from the historical context of the NBA, there isn't anything negative about it at all.

 

[Jims_Doors]

"The decision" tarnished his reputation. Can't sink any lower than that.

I'd rather sit in front of a camera and do what LeBron did, than stand in front of one with my wife by my side (fake crying) apologizing to her that I got charged with r*pe and had to pay a hefty sum of money because I lost a civil suit.

 

[Clayton]

Also, I think Lebron stays. His wife just opened a juice shop on biscayne. Could he leave? sure. But there really isnt a better situation than Miami. 3 time EC champions.. back to back NBA champions. Im not sure there is a better spot.. if someone disagrees, by all means name the team.

Its all about Wade, though, right? Lebron very obviously doesn't want to be the guy he was in Cleveland and if Wade can't play a whole season then Lebron has to be that guy. Maybe Lebron recruits someone to go to Miami and Wade takes a huge paycut but he isn't staying in Miami for Bosh.

 

[LogicMan]

Shaq moved around and his legacy is just fine. How soon we all,forget......

 

[elmouse03]

"The decision" tarnished his reputation. Can't sink any lower than that.

This is true.

 

[Kold]

Shaq moved around and his legacy is just fine. How soon we all,forget......

Moved ONCE through free agency. He was traded to Miami because Buss didn't want to pay him 30 mil, was traded to Phoenix when he was on the backend, and went to Boston when he was on the backend. Basically he left in free agency ONCE while he was young...and he actually left for a worse situation(basketball wise) then what he had in Orlando.

 

[LogicMan]

It simply does not matter kold

It's semantics

Stars move around in many sports now

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

It simply does not matter kold

It's semantics

Stars move around in many sports now

Thats the problem, lebron isn't like other stars, his fans want him to be the greatest of all time. With those expectations, you will be judged more harshly.

 

[LALakersboy24.7]

I don't think Lebron leaving Miami would tarnish his legacy as Greatest Flopper of All Time in the least

True.

 

[LogicMan]

Just not the big deal

Imagine, as I could imagine, he went to New York and brought the Knicks back to glory

He would be a legend, especially if he could win 2 or 3 there

That's a special feat. Two dynasties, two different teams

 

[Black Adam]

I'd rather sit in front of a camera and do what LeBron did, than stand in front of one with my wife by my side (fake crying) apologizing to her that I got charged with r*pe and had to pay a hefty sum of money because I lost a civil suit.

NATURALLY the Door prize made it about Kobe...:rollseyes:

and STILL doesn't excuse LeClown and his phony "Decision"...

 

[BOTSLAYER]

Joel Anthony is no longer on the team.

Also, I think Lebron stays. His wife just opened a juice shop on biscayne. Could he leave? sure. But there really isnt a better situation than Miami. 3 time EC champions.. back to back NBA champions. Im not sure there is a better spot.. if someone disagrees, by all means name the team.

Yea, I do not think LBJ is going to consider his wife's juice bar when looking at future NBA teams to play for but I understand what you are saying. Also, pretty much any young West team in the playoffs is a better position for LBJ next year. Look at all the FAs MIA is going to have, they have to refind a ton of role players that fit with the big 3 most likely the hardest piece of all, a Center. That is called a rebuild.

PHO will have $40m before the luxury to find a Center and sign LBJ, rest of cast in place. He would basically replace PJ Tucker.

DET $30m before luxury. Moving Smith is the only issue but that is not even necessary.

GSW will have $20m but they need to resign Bogut (or a D oriented Center) with that too, other wise the upside is gone.

NO with $17m and a pretty good young core. He would perfectly fit in to his Point Forward spot.

HOU is an obvious perfect fit but they would need to move pieces, or they could creatively structure LBJs contract to be low for the first year until Lin and Asik come off the books because in 2 years they will have ~$27m before the luxury.

If POR can move Batum or Mathews they would be able to offer plenty, problem is that in '15-'16 almost the entire team is off the books so it would be another rebuild situation.

So there you have it, the toughest part of being a GM is trying to get these players to be on your team. The how is not so difficult.

NATURALLY the Door prize made it about Kobe...:rollseyes:

and STILL doesn't excuse LeClown and his phony "Decision"...

Probably because all the Kobe nut huggers are the biggest LBJ trolls.

"Only Laker fans are allowed to make fun of other teams' players, that is unfair...WAAAA WAAAAA" -CL

 

[thunderc]

"The decision" tarnished his reputation. Can't sink any lower than that.

Bingo, his reputation is toast, can't get worse and won't get better.