tOfficial "2014 LeBron James" Superthread

[Arizona_Sting]

I STILL feel that he's going back to the Heat....but things are going to get mighty interesting if Memo signs with a team that can fit Lebron in as well

I'm trying to not be a homer here... but from a basketball standpoint Phoenix does make a lot of sense. Hear me out.

-He's great friends with Bledsoe, who happens to share the same agent as him.

-Phoenix could give him a max deal AND have enough room to sign another player to a max deal with him without giving up Dragic or Bledsoe.

-A core of Dragic, Bledsoe, LeBron, a player of his choice, Plumlee, Frye, Markieff, Warren, Ennis, Green, etc. is much deeper than any other team can offer him atm.

-Best training staff in the league. Great weather during the season... Scottsdale is a premier place to live for celebs now.

I know it's a longshot, but with how much young talent, picks and cap space they have it really does make sense if he's thinking about being on a great team for now and the future.

I would LOVE to see him in Hornacek's offense.

 

[Kold]

At this point I don't care if he leaves

I think he's done the heat and himself a disservice by waiting this out. On one hand it gave him leverage, but on the other these Fa's don't know what he'll do, so they're heading elsewhere. Also IF he's taking the max, with Bosh and Wade not going to 10 or 11 mil that hurts as well. You can't expect a young star to take much less when this is their FIRST chance at a big contract. It should be interesting to see how this all actually plays out. Getting tired of reportedly this, reportedly that

 

[Kold]

At this point I don't care if he leaves

I think he's done the heat and himself a disservice by waiting this out(assuming he goes back to Miami). On one hand it gave him leverage, but on the other these Fa's don't know what he'll do, so they're heading elsewhere. Also IF he's taking the max, with Bosh and Wade not going to 10 or 11 mil that hurts as well. You can't expect a young star to take much less when this is their FIRST chance at a big contract. It should be interesting to see how this all actually plays out. Getting tired of reportedly this, reportedly that

 

[Nosferatu]

Not sure I can see him in the west, if he stays in Miami there is really nobody in the way of him making at least a couple more finals appearances. In the west it would be a fight to get there every year... Nah, he stays in the east and most likely with the Heat.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

Not sure I can see him in the west, if he stays in Miami there is really nobody in the way of him making at least a couple more finals appearances. In the west it would be a fight to get there every year... Nah, he stays in the east and most likely with the Heat.

Exactly my thoughts. If the East wasn't such a cake walk then I think he'd seriously consider some teams in the West. Only thing going against WC teams going after him right now.

 

[bksballer89]

I think he's done the heat and himself a disservice by waiting this out. On one hand it gave him leverage, but on the other these Fa's don't know what he'll do, so they're heading elsewhere. Also IF he's taking the max, with Bosh and Wade not going to 10 or 11 mil that hurts as well. You can't expect a young star to take much less when this is their FIRST chance at a big contract. It should be interesting to see how this all actually plays out. Getting tired of reportedly this, reportedly that

Exactly these other FA are not going to sit and wait until next week for him to make his decision. They don't have time to wait.

Even if he does re-sign with Miami he done fucked us over unless he re-signs by the end of the weekend. If he signs next weekend we are so screwed.

 

[Kold]

I'm trying to not be a homer here... but from a basketball standpoint Phoenix does make a lot of sense. Hear me out.

-He's great friends with Bledsoe, who happens to share the same agent as him.

-Phoenix could give him a max deal AND have enough room to sign another player to a max deal with him without giving up Dragic or Bledsoe.

-A core of Dragic, Bledsoe, LeBron, a player of his choice, Plumlee, Frye, Markieff, Warren, Ennis, Green, etc. is much deeper than any other team can offer him atm.

-Best training staff in the league. Great weather during the season... Scottsdale is a premier place to live for celebs now.

I know it's a longshot, but with how much young talent, picks and cap space they have it really does make sense if he's thinking about being on a great team for now and the future.

I would LOVE to see him in Hornacek's offense.

This might come as a shock...but the moment Pho. cleared cap space for 2 max fa's...the first thing I said was why in the world WOULDN'T Melo and Lebron at the least consider that? They'd have a tough time in the West, but that's a really good core....unfortunately, I don't think these guys consider Phoenix "attractive" enough. If it were the Knicks or Lakers or Celtics with Dragic and Bledsoe, they'd probably be right in the thick of things as an attractive destination....LA should still at least be considered IMO, if we can land a bargain PG, but I don't see us having a chance at landing them, we'll see though.

 

[Shanemansj13]

At this point I don't care if he leaves

I understand how it makes you feel, but why not at least look and at least imagine being in other cities. It makes sense. But I know you care deep down.

That last game against Boston I said the same thing, but I felt like shit when he left. Had no control though.

 

[bksballer89]

I understand how it makes you feel, but why not at least look and at least imagine being in other cities. It makes sense. But I know you care deep down.

That last game against Boston I said the same thing, but I felt like shit when he left. Had no control though.

I think Pat will be more prepared for Lebron leaving than the Cavs front office. He's been in this league too long to know that nothing is guaranteed so I'm assuming there is a plan B if he does leave that will still be good enough to keep us in the top 4 out East

 

[Kold]

Exactly these other FA are not going to sit and wait until next week for him to make his decision. They don't have time to wait.

Even if he does re-sign with Miami he done fucked us over unless he re-signs by the end of the weekend. If he signs next weekend we are so screwed.

Agreed. I mean, Lowry didn't even wait to see if Miami was gonna have the cap space. I think their best bet now is to get one of those veterans that's been in the league for forever to take less. There's always Ariza, but I see him going back to Was for the money. I REALLY want him in LA if/when "plan A" doesn't happen

 

[Shanemansj13]

I think Pat will be more prepared for Lebron leaving than the Cavs front office. He's been in this league too long to know that nothing is guaranteed so I'm assuming there is a plan B if he does leave that will still be good enough to keep us in the top 4 out East

No doubt and the Cavs FO couldn't get players to Cleveland and Lebron knew it.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Agreed. I mean, Lowry didn't even wait to see if Miami was gonna have the cap space. I think their best bet now is to get one of those veterans that's been in the league for forever to take less. There's always Ariza, but I see him going back to Was for the money. I REALLY want him in LA if/when "plan A" doesn't happen

I think Gasol and a couple cheap shooters is the best option. I doubt Ariza passes up the big bucks from Washington.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

This might come as a shock...but the moment Pho. cleared cap space for 2 max fa's...the first thing I said was why in the world WOULDN'T Melo and Lebron at the least consider that? They'd have a tough time in the West, but that's a really good core....unfortunately, I don't think these guys consider Phoenix "attractive" enough. If it were the Knicks or Lakers or Celtics with Dragic and Bledsoe, they'd probably be right in the thick of things as an attractive destination....LA should still at least be considered IMO, if we can land a bargain PG, but I don't see us having a chance at landing them, we'll see though.

No one saw the original Big Three forming either though, and Miami didn't exactly have a great history before the Big 3 showed up either. Sure, they had the ring in 2006, but the main selling point was for LeBron to go to the best situation possible to win a couple rings and live in South Beach.

Phoenix is one of the largest cities in the world, has the 4th highest winning percentage in NBA History and has a nice team in place and could give him "eternal life" if you will.

I think he should give them a long hard look.

 

[Davis_Mike]

Ariza is not going to play for cheap when he is in line for good payday. And realistically, Was should continue to improve and could be a top 3 seed next season.

Besides that, is Ariza going to come off the bench for Miami? I doubt he would be down for that.

 

[Arizona_Sting]

I feel like LeBron is setting Miami up for failure if he does leave though. The next couple days you can probably expect to see at least a few more of their targets to get signed and if he waits too long and ends up leaving then there won't be much for Miami to choose from.

 

[bksballer89]

As I said he is fucking us over either way. He needs to make a decision by Sunday to not fuck us over

 

[Davis_Mike]

Yep, the mid level guys will start signing over the next couple of days trying to get the cash money before it's gone. Miami was in a tough spot from the start. It's hard to have $60+ mil dedicated to 3 players and still field a complete team. They got away with it for 2 years because some old players were chasing rings instead of cash & the big 3 were performing at a high level. Now that they need to retool, the allure of playing for less money & the fact that there aren't too many end of career good players out there in FA chasing rings, is going to make it hard for Miami to bring in players.

 

[wildturkey]

How is he fucking you over? He opted out a week earlier so Miami could plan everything out if they hadn't already. He's stated what he wants and its up to Miami to figure out the rest. He is totally within his right as a free agent and it isn't affecting Miami negatively. And if he leaves Miami, that's not fucking them over either. Because newsflash, you aren't signing anyone capable of replacing that talent. You could sign 3 guys and it wouldn't help. It sounds more like bk is just convincing himself of something to mask the pain of losing Lebron if by the odd chance it happens.

 

[bksballer89]

How is he fucking you over? He opted out a week earlier so Miami could plan everything out if they hadn't already. He's stated what he wants and its up to Miami to figure out the rest. He is totally within his right as a free agent and it isn't affecting Miami negatively. And if he leaves Miami, that's not fucking them over either. Because newsflash, you aren't signing anyone capable of replacing that talent. You could sign 3 guys and it wouldn't help. It sounds more like bk is just convincing himself of something to mask the pain of losing Lebron if by the odd chance it happens.

Nobody is signing with Miami not knowing if Lebron is coming back. If he really think Pat can land someone like Gasol & other decent players without them knowing if he will be back he is fooling himself.

It's the same thing with Melo. Guys are waiting for these 2 to make the moves so they can know if they should sign with those teams.

Miami aren't going to be able to bring in anyone relevant until a decision is made on his part. In 2010 they didn't re-sign Udonis or bring in Mike Miller until he and the others signed so I don't see why he think 4 years later Pat will be able to magically bring players in without those players knowing if Lebron is coming back or not.

 

[bksballer89]

And if he signs back with Miami next week what are the likely chances any of the players they were eyeing are still available? I don't even think guys like Vince Carter who Miami also been interesting in will be available by next weekend. If he plans on signing back with Miami next week, Pat won't have anything to work with except to pick up the crumbs off the floor. Everything else that Pat probably set his eyes on should be gone by next weekend for the most part