Official Offseason News and Rumors

[trojanfan12]

T minus 1 hour and 52 minutes.

 

[gordontrue]

If a max contract is required and talent and roster is the only consideration ... I'd say PHX has far-and-away the best situation. The talent there is underrated... and they have plenty of flexibility and cap room to make big moves beyond getting LeBron.

The problem is, the Suns are in the West. I'd agree that of all the eastern teams that have a max slot available.. the Heat would provide the best chance to contend. But, honestly, the rest of the teams in the East wouldn't be that far behind... and if LeBron leaves Miami, Miami obviously drops a lot. (And not to ... but Love showing up on the Cavs would certainly elevate Cleveland above Miami)

 

[RobToxin]

I am thinking there is a different factor to all this that no one is really talking about....

it is a bit of a convoluted amateur psychobabbly theory but....

what if LeBron already has his mind made up and is just keeping everyone waiting until after Melo and the rest of the free agents make their intentions public....

therefore leaving LeBron as the final announcement to be made.....

and keeping him and him alone at the center of attention.

Think about it. For his entire adult life and most of his developing teen years, he has been the center of attention. The basketball world has revolved around him. After all, he was the only player in history to ever have an hour-long tv special where the whole point was to find out where he was going to play the following season.

Now, we hit the crazy free agent summer of 2014. We have LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Melo all free agents.

If LeBron declares today while the others are still undecided....

he becomes an afterthought while all the attention goes to others. Specifically Melo.

Not going to happen.

LeBron isn't declaring until after Melo does. And not because he wants to see his best option to play at. But because then he would be the final big fish in the pond and all the attention would go to him and him alone.

 

[DJ Fieri]

He's moving a few cars.......so what???

He already has cars in Akron. He's about to leave the country people on vacation, maybe he'd like something he can drive?

Yeah, it's already been reported that they are going home for the summer.

 

[gordontrue]

True enough.....but those rosters won more than 30 games last year with a much more veteran team and better coaching.

I'd put my chips on either of those teams before this Cleveland roster. I mean lets be honest here........how do you not win 30 games in the EAST and then think you're a contender simply by adding Lebron?

I just can't see that. They will improve, but does Lebron really want to carry a bunch of wet behind the ears rookies again? When he hits the bench, who is going to carry them? Isn't this what he wanted to avoid, carrying a roster again?

I'm going to be a bit biased here, because I've been a big LeBron fan for years... but I think LeBron's talent might actually be being a bit underrated when it comes to discussions on how these other teams would do with him.

Its possible I'm underrating the 2007-2010 Cavs rosters... but IMO those rosters <<< 2013-14 Cavs roster. And LeBron is actually a much better player now than he was then.

 

[Sportsman]

If Lebron wasn't from Akron and had never played for Cleveland, would this even be a discussion? Cleveland has a young inexperienced roster that still wouldn't be the favorite to win the EAST, much less the NBA Finals. Miami is getting old but with some tweaking they would still be the favorites in the east if the big 3 return. LeBron is too concerned with redemption and trying to do the right thing. He's potentially going to make a huge mistake.

If Bosh leaves to sign with Houston and Riley uses that cap space to make some key signings then Miami is a better choice, otherwise I like the Cavs chances better than the Heat's chances at competing for the ring.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Melo expected to sign with Knicks tomorrow

Howard Beck ‏@HowardBeck 1m
Re Melo: Source says "no decision yet." Teams pursuing him have not received definitive word.

 

[trojanfan12]

I am thinking there is a different factor to all this that no one is really talking about....

it is a bit of a convoluted amateur psychobabbly theory but....

what if LeBron already has his mind made up and is just keeping everyone waiting until after Melo and the rest of the free agents make their intentions public....

therefore leaving LeBron as the final announcement to be made.....

and keeping him and him alone at the center of attention.

Think about it. For his entire adult life and most of his developing teen years, he has been the center of attention. The basketball world has revolved around him. After all, he was the only player in history to ever have an hour-long tv special where the whole point was to find out where he was going to play the following season.

Now, we hit the crazy free agent summer of 2014. We have LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Melo all free agents.

If LeBron declares today while the others are still undecided....

he becomes an afterthought while all the attention goes to others. Specifically Melo.

Not going to happen.

LeBron isn't declaring until after Melo does. And not because he wants to see his best option to play at. But because then he would be the final big fish in the pond and all the attention would go to him and him alone.

I really, really want to call this bs. But I can't because most of today's players are attention whores.

 

[Sportsman]

I'm going to be a bit biased here, because I've been a big LeBron fan for years... but I think LeBron's talent might actually be being a bit underrated when it comes to discussions on how these other teams would do with him.

Its possible I'm underrating the 2007-2010 Cavs rosters... but IMO those rosters <<< 2013-14 Cavs roster. And LeBron is actually a much better player now than he was then.

I completely agree.

 

[Hambombs]

I don't know why but he could pick another team not named Cleveland or Miami. Everyone thought Knicks in 2010

 

[DJ Fieri]

Isola is speculating.

 

[Andresrenee]

I think Lebron wants to meet with Riles about what he's going to do with WADE

It's clear Wade is on his way out in terms of playing days. His health I think is the issue for Lebron. I don't think he wants to talk about Wade with him in the room.

Even with all this smoke, I won't believe he's going to Cleveland until he says he is.

I just can't accept a man as smart as Lebron would trust a team and owner that's never built anything over an owner and GM that's won 3 titles and took him to 4 straight finals series. He doesn't owe the city of Cleveland anything.

Maybe he wants to go home and that's cool......but it has to be more than that driving him. Everything I've read is that he's all about championships RIGHT NOW, not years from now.

Melo I think is really waiting to see what kind of DEAL Lebron signs......if he signs a 2 year, I think Melo goes back to NY. If he signs longer than that, I think he goes to LA.

I think its about going home and winning for a cursed town that could enhance his legacy. Having lost 3 times in the finals already and having won, I don't think he needs the Heat anymore so he is moving on..Also, his wife is expecting their daughter so that is 3 young kids and she loves Ohio. Sounds like she wants to go home.

 

[DJ Fieri]

*Pops some more Rolaids*

 

[gordontrue]

I am thinking there is a different factor to all this that no one is really talking about....

it is a bit of a convoluted amateur psychobabbly theory but....

what if LeBron already has his mind made up and is just keeping everyone waiting until after Melo and the rest of the free agents make their intentions public....

therefore leaving LeBron as the final announcement to be made.....

and keeping him and him alone at the center of attention.

Think about it. For his entire adult life and most of his developing teen years, he has been the center of attention. The basketball world has revolved around him. After all, he was the only player in history to ever have an hour-long tv special where the whole point was to find out where he was going to play the following season.

Now, we hit the crazy free agent summer of 2014. We have LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Melo all free agents.

If LeBron declares today while the others are still undecided....

he becomes an afterthought while all the attention goes to others. Specifically Melo.

Not going to happen.

LeBron isn't declaring until after Melo does. And not because he wants to see his best option to play at. But because then he would be the final big fish in the pond and all the attention would go to him and him alone.

He'll be the center of attention regardless of what he does.

If he was actively seeking out the center of attention... I don't think he would be doing literally nothing publicly. He couldn't be avoiding the center of attention more. The attention is there in spite of his actions, not because of them. And its not going away even after he announces his decision.

 

[avalon2423]

Those pics of the cars moving are a farse right? I mean those homes arent anything like the area he lives in, or even 30 miles of where he lives lol.

 

[Kold]

Howard Beck ‏@HowardBeck 1m
Re Melo: Source says "no decision yet." Teams pursuing him have not received definitive word.

Interesting

 

[DJ Fieri]

Woj bomb:

Melo's people took the $ with an eye to trade later if it doesn't work in NY.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.

 

[Shanemansj13]

This is a mindfuck!

 

[DJ Fieri]

Plan B, Mitch!!!!!!!

 

[starbigd]

There's so many layers to this.

So lets say he goes to Cleveland. Now, he's been there before......and NOBODY would come to play with him there. What makes THIS time any different?

Let's also assume the role players they have, the young kids, all bloom into their FULL potential......aren't they going to want to get paid? What happens then?

Also regarding Melo, I don't think his contract matters anymore......because he's probably thinking he can force a trade like he did before - so he's probably going after the money in NY.