tOfficial "2014 LeBron James" Superthread

[Lone Granger]

My prediction... Pacers still suck... Bye Lance Stephenson and Hello Roy Hibbert.

Hibbert's bitch ass is gone, and I kind of don't give a fuck about hot head Lance.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

You would be better off directing your anger towards Riley.

Curious as to what you depict as anger?

I was just trying to have some fun picking apart this latest spin session out of the James/Nike camps.

It's real easy to say your 'homesick' when your home all of the sudden has positioned themselves to be a power team in the East for the rest of the prime of your career.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but he had 2 young children when he uprooted 4 years ago that he was perfectly happy to raise here.
Now they all of the sudden need to be raised in Akron?
No problem leaving the same friends and family then for the season, so why now?

See, it's really not that hard.
4 years ago the future of the Cavs looked pretty bleak. Not much roster. No cap space.
1 month ago, the future of the Heat looked pretty bleak to him. Not much roster ( at least championship level and the uncertainty of Wade). No cap space....although the other 2 of the Big 3 did their best to at least give Riley the opportunity to upgrade....if James would have been even remotely interested.

He wasn't. That's fine. Just say so.
Instead he wants somebody to believe that he suddenly isn't ring chasing?
That he understands the Cavs probably can't or shouldn't win right away?

See, that's more total bullshit.
I'd love to hear the phone calls to Miller and Allen asking them to come to the Cavs to rebuild with him.

 

[tlance]

All the "proof" that you have is just speculation though. You are drawing inferences just like the rest of us. It does not matter when the essay was written, what matters is when he decided to publish it. He could have written it last year, but still not have been sure that he wanted to go through with leaving Miami for Cleveland.

Like LeBron said, that decision was finalized Thursday. There is no reason for him to string everybody along otherwise.

 

[bksballer89]

I find it hard to believe.

Sheridan isn't some new guy in the business. He's a very credible source.

Someone told him something after the Cavs met with Lebron which is why he said 90% on Monday ( the day after they met with Lebron) and on Wednesday evening after he met with Pat, he said LBJ decided.

Him & Broussard both had sources from that meeting. Broussard on Sunday also came out of the blue and said the Cavs are the favorites to land Lebron and had a 75% chance of bringing him back.

Someone who knew about the meeting on Sunday spilled the beans to Broussard & Sheridan which is why both were so confident Lebron would go back

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

All the "proof" that you have is just speculation though. You are drawing inferences just like the rest of us. It does not matter when the essay was written, what matters is when he decided to publish it. He could have written it last year, but still not have been sure that he wanted to go through with leaving Miami for Cleveland.

Like LeBron said, that decision was finalized Thursday. There is no reason for him to string everybody along otherwise.

I'll tell you what.
Try to rent multiple billboards and getting numerous Nike ads ready and up in 24 hours.
Try lining up multiple moving trucks and having your stuff ready to go in 24 hours.

Why hide the fact that you met with Gilbert Sunday ( which IS the night he knew he was leaving)?
Why was Gilbert lying about it saying he was home in his backyard?

The list can be made a lot longer, but hopefully you get my point.

This deal was DONE, and it wasn't on Thursday.

 

[bksballer89]

yeah the cavs didn't know he was coking back until yesterday but LBJ and his inner circle knew he was going back to Cleveland sunday night.

The meeting with Pat was a waste of Pat's time. I knew something sounded fishy when it was said that it was Lebron's agent who actually set up the meeting and not the Heat

 

[Kold]

Lebron knew what his decision was much before the day of, just like he knew in 2010, that's the only thing I disagree with. What I do find strange and refreshing at the same time is that rings has been SO much of a discussion in his career...and while I think he's the potential big 3 he could have, now it feels like he has the attitude of "well I got 2 chips, so let's take 3 or 4 years to see if we can build something up in Cleveland". If they got Love that could speed up the process however. What will be intersting to see is the Lebron/Kyrie dynamic. I could see Lebron being better than Kyrie for atleast 3 more years. I'd like to see if Lebron is willing to pull a D-Wade once Kyrie does reach that level though.

 

[GNG]

All the "proof" that you have is just speculation though. You are drawing inferences just like the rest of us. It does not matter when the essay was written, what matters is when he decided to publish it. He could have written it last year, but still not have been sure that he wanted to go through with leaving Miami for Cleveland.

Like LeBron said, that decision was finalized Thursday. There is no reason for him to string everybody along otherwise.

I agree. I'm sure LeBron weighed all the pros and cons and made a decision that was best for him and his family.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I agree. I'm sure LeBron weighed all the pros and cons and made a decision that was best for him and his family.

He did exactly that, but not on Thursday as they are trying to spin.

Explain all the other actual proof and evidence that says otherwise.


In 2010, didn't he say he made his final decision that morning?
Did anyone believe that?

How can people be so gullible now?

 

[trojanfan12]

Sheridan had sources. Nobody who been in this business for so long will make such a bold statement like that knowing that his credibility would be gone if it wasn't true.

His source was in the meeting Lebron had with Gilbert on Sunday

I don't know about that. There's no accountability with these guys.

When was the last time any of these guys got called out for being wrong? Sheridan doesn't name his source. So, if he's right, he gets to say so and everybody thinks he's "plugged in". If he's wrong, he just blames his source and his source suffers no backlash or embarrassment because no one knows who it is.

Also, we tend to move on and forget things like this quickly.

When the Lakers traded for Dwight and Nash, Magic Johnson talked about what an incredible move it was, praised Jim Buss, Jeanie and Mitch and all but proclaimed the Lakers champs.

Then, when it didn't work out, he went on the air and ripped the Lakers for making such a horrible trade. No one called him out on it.

 

[trojanfan12]

Curious as to what you depict as anger?

I was just trying to have some fun picking apart this latest spin session out of the James/Nike camps.

It's real easy to say your 'homesick' when your home all of the sudden has positioned themselves to be a power team in the East for the rest of the prime of your career.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but he had 2 young children when he uprooted 4 years ago that he was perfectly happy to raise here.
Now they all of the sudden need to be raised in Akron?
No problem leaving the same friends and family then for the season, so why now?

See, it's really not that hard.
4 years ago the future of the Cavs looked pretty bleak. Not much roster. No cap space.
1 month ago, the future of the Heat looked pretty bleak to him. Not much roster ( at least championship level and the uncertainty of Wade). No cap space....although the other 2 of the Big 3 did their best to at least give Riley the opportunity to upgrade....if James would have been even remotely interested.

He wasn't. That's fine. Just say so.
Instead he wants somebody to believe that he suddenly isn't ring chasing?
That he understands the Cavs probably can't or shouldn't win right away?

See, that's more total bullshit.
I'd love to hear the phone calls to Miller and Allen asking them to come to the Cavs to rebuild with him.

It occurs to me that the bolded should have been a red flag. All 3 opt out and the narrative was that it would be to clear cap space to get what they needed to win more titles.

Then, a few days later, it changed to a narrative that basically said Wade and Bosh were going to have to take big paycuts because Lebron wanted a max deal and "has never been the highest paid player on his team before".

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I don't know about that. There's no accountability with these guys.

When was the last time any of these guys got called out for being wrong? Sheridan doesn't name his source. So, if he's right, he gets to say so and everybody thinks he's "plugged in". If he's wrong, he just blames his source and his source suffers no backlash or embarrassment because no one knows who it is.

Also, we tend to move on and forget things like this quickly.

When the Lakers traded for Dwight and Nash, Magic Johnson talked about what an incredible move it was, praised Jim Buss, Jeanie and Mitch and all but proclaimed the Lakers champs.

Then, when it didn't work out, he went on the air and ripped the Lakers for making such a horrible trade. No one called him out on it.

When have you ever seen someone as high profile as Sheridan say 100%?
Sure, maybe it would have fallen apart if he found out Kyrie was banging his mom, but other than that, he had either seen, or had been quoted the letter.

I've never, ever, seen something that seemed so uncertain to most others taken to the extreme of confidence that he did.

 

[trojanfan12]

When have you ever seen someone as high profile as Sheridan say 100%?
Sure, maybe it would have fallen apart if he found out Kyrie was banging his mom, but other than that, he had either seen, or had been quoted the letter.

I've never, ever, seen something that seemed so uncertain to most others taken to the extreme of confidence that he did.

True. Quoting the letter before it was released is a bit telling.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

It occurs to me that the bolded should have been a red flag. All 3 opt out and the narrative was that it would be to clear cap space to get what they needed to win more titles.

Then, a few days later, it changed to a narrative that basically said Wade and Bosh were going to have to take big paycuts because Lebron wanted a max deal and "has never been the highest paid player on his team before".

Exactly...
This is how we play the game.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

True. Quoting the letter before it was released is a bit telling.

 

[Kinzu]

Good to know some of you think life changing big money decisions that will effect the lives of a lot of people are made on the drop of a dime.

That big company that decided to cut 500 employees on Monday probably made that decision a week earlier. How dare they waste those employees time by not announcing it immediately? Oh I don't know maybe because they wanted time to think it over? Look at other options? Find the right way to put a PR spin on it?

I mean look at Bosh. He made it pretty well known from the start he wanted to stay in Miami, and yet he strung along Houston til the very end. He could have told them days ago he was not interested and saved them a few draft picks. Why didn't he? Probably to keep his options open since at the time Miami was not offering a max contract and the situation in Miami with Lebron was unresolved. He likely knew deep down though the odds of him going to Houston were well below 50%.

I think it's pretty clear Lebron made his mind up he wanted to go back to Cleveland prior to the Friday announcement, but he had no reason to make that decision official any sooner than the Thursday before when he could officially sign a contract. He kept his options open and continued to look at things from all angles to insure he was making a sound decision.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

to above...
Who said he made it at the drop of a dime?
It's been well thought through and planned for a while.

You actually are debating backwards.

 

[lakersrule]

to above...
Who said he made it at the drop of a dime?
It's been well thought through and planned for a while.

You actually are debating backwards.

You misread his post.

 

[Kinzu]

to above...
Who said he made it at the drop of a dime?
It's been well thought through and planned for a while.

You actually are debating backwards.

Well the way it comes across is that he should have announced his intentions sooner once his mind was made up. I'm just pointing out that most big time decisions are not made and then immediately acted on. The league year did not begin until Thursday so he had no reason to announce his decision at any point before then just in case anything changed his mind. So he waited an extra 24 hours for who knows why. I'd assume to prepare that letter with SI.com and go over marketing details with his sponsors and such as they were likely some of the first to know. The problem with letting any of them know sooner would clearly have been leaks which he was trying hard to avoid. Can you imagine if it leaked out he was going back to Cleveland a week earlier, and then some how Riley or something about the Cavs changed his mind? He could have kissed legacy good bye or at least the one he wants to have.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

You misread his post.

No I didn't.
I never said James had a reason to announce it any sooner.


I've said it was made sooner.

No way that decision and letter were made and written on Thursday as spun to us.


Also, Kyrie's max kicks in next year. He's playing for next to nothing this season.
This was the summer to be able to build.
James had to go back now if he was going.