OT: LBJ-Bosh-Wade/Rose

[Rastapopoulos]

What are people's thoughts about James teaming up with Bosh and/or Wade?
On the one hand, I sort of want it to happen, just for the wow factor. And I don't hate Miami or Chicago (at least, not for a good 12 years). And it might be enough to push Phil Jackson into retirement.
On the other, of course, it would put a huge roadblock in the way of us. But on my mutant third hand, I'd sort of given up on Portland winning a championship in my lifetime. Those dreams snapped like a brittle kneecap a while back.

I used to think that James would return to Cleveland or go to New York. But now I don't know. I would be surprised if he went to Miami, because Wade already has one ring there, and I don't think he'd like to always be one championship behind and in Wade's house. I have to say I'm leaning to NJ, especially with the new owner and the looming move to Brooklyn. Plus, he would instantly be the greatest player in franchise history without winning a thing.

 

[CelticKing]

LeBron should go to Bulls and team up with Rose and Bosh there. I wouldn't mind that team, on the other hand I'd hate a Heat team with Wade/LeBron/Bosh.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The NBA is about to get a lot less interesting to me. Lack of competitiveness around the league, no chance for small market teams to build a roster through deft trades and smart drafting. It will be great spectacle, but terrible sport.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

LBJ-Bosh-Wade-Boozer-Johnson-Amar'e-Dirk

Personally, I'd like to see:
Wade and Dirk to Chicago
Johnson, LBJ, and Boozer to Miami
Amar'e and Bosh to NY

 

[maxiep]

It's a chickenshit move, IMO. I'm a believer if you're a good enough player, people will want to come to you. Furthermore, the people of Cleveland have been beyond loyal to LeBron and he's about to shit all over them by going to their primary rival. How would we feel if Clyde decided to go to the L*kers in 1990 because we fell short against Detroit? It would be a betrayal of all the affection we had shown him.

LeBron should stay in Cleveland, Bosh should either stay in Toronto or give them an opportunity for a sign and trade. Wade is already staying in Miami, so good for him. Amare will get traded, but it's unlikely he'll leave the Suns for nothing.

I have no problem with trades for stars; I have a real problem with players getting together and trying to form "superteams". That's how shit bands like Damn Yankees get started.

 

[LameR]

I don't like LeBron so I'm hoping he teams with a couple of tier 2 guys if anything. I'm hoping that Wade gets with Nowitzski or Bosh at the very least. Maybe throw Ray Allen in there for fun.

 

[maxiep]

The larger problem in pro sports is that the fans of the team have a blood loyalty to their individual teams while the players look at themselves as being in a fraternity with their uniform being little more than laundry.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

I have no problem with trades for stars; I have a real problem with players getting together and trying to form "superteams". That's how shit bands like Damn Yankees get started.

So you have no problem with management using players like pawns, but you have a problem with free agents actually getting to choose where they want to work and with whom?

If that's the Damn Yankees, what is it when teams trade for a superteam, like the Celtics? The Spice Girls? Menudo?

(And what about Cream?)

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The larger problem in pro sports is that the fans of the team have a blood loyalty to their individual teams while the players look at themselves as being in a fraternity with their uniform being little more than laundry.

That's a ridiculous and insulting generalization! Some players are motivated purely by the money.

 

[maxiep]

So you have no problem with management using players like pawns, but you have a problem with free agents actually getting to choose where they want to work and with whom?

If that's the Damn Yankees, what is it when teams trade for a superteam, like the Celtics? The Spice Girls? Menudo?

(And what about Cream?)

I have zero problem when teams use players to maximize the value to the team. Gosh, it's a terrible burden for these players to be paid in exchange for having to be wed to a specific team. It's not like these players will make less money if they stay with their current teams; they'll actually make more than if they go elsewhere. As for the Celtics, they made shrewd trades that traded the future for the present. They didn't just act like Duke and wait for the recruits to come to them.

I think the NBA should be for the fans, not the players. I much preferred the days when a player was identified with a team.

As for Cream, I preferred the Yardbirds.

 

[Paxil]

I think it is very sad and screws the fans.

 

[illmatic99]

Sources say a Bosh to Miami trade has been agreed in principle. CB4 will be signed and traded for Beasley, Chalmers, and Joel Anthony.

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=1026058

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Sources say a Bosh to Miami trade has been agreed in principle. CB4 will be signed and traded for Beasley, Chalmers, and Joel Anthony.

Wow. That would be their last remaining guaranteed contract from last season. This is basically like an expansion team, with superstar free agents instead of an expansion draft. Crazy!

 

[maxiep]

Well, at least Toronto gets some talent for Bosh, rather than having him leave without compensation. I still think LMA + Rudy + whatever else is a more attractive package to the Raps.

 

[illmatic99]

Well, at least Toronto gets some talent for Bosh, rather than having him leave without compensation. I still think LMA + Rudy + whatever else is a more attractive package to the Raps.

Yea, but that was predicated on Bosh actually choosing POR.

 

[maxiep]

Yea, but that was predicated on Bosh actually choosing POR.

Bosh will choose whoever will pay him that extra year and the 10.5% annual increases as long as they're competitive. Going to a team with Roy, Oden/Camby and Batum isn't like going to the T'Wolves.

 

[CelticKing]

News coming out that Bosh will be traded to Heat for Beasley, Chalmers and Anthony.

 

[illmatic99]

It's looking like we made a mistake in signing Miller, Roy, and Aldridge last year and Camby this year. I never thought there would have been this large likelihood of stars actually moving so I was vehemently FOR our signings last summer.

We could have had a ton of caproom to entice the likes of Bosh, Stoudemire, Boozer, Johnson, or even LBJ. If we didn't extend Roy or Aldridge, they would still have been restricted free agents this summer and we could have gone over the cap to match any offers they received, so there would have been no chance of us losing them. Our 'Big 3' with one of the FAs this year would have been sick.

 

[illmatic99]

Bosh will choose whoever will pay him that extra year and the 10.5% annual increases as long as they're competitive. Going to a team with Roy, Oden/Camby and Batum isn't like going to the T'Wolves.

Well, that deal isn't official yet.

You think we might put a call out to Bosh tonight and try to lure him here?

 

[maxiep]

It's looking like we made a mistake in signing Miller, Roy, and Aldridge last year and Camby this year. I never thought there would have been this large likelihood of stars actually moving so I was vehemently FOR our signings last summer.

We could have had a ton of caproom to entice the likes of Bosh, Stoudemire, Boozer, Johnson, or even LBJ. If we didn't extend Roy or Aldridge, they would still have been restricted free agents this summer and we could have gone over the cap to sign them, so there would have been no chance of us losing them. Our 'Big 3' with one of the FAs this year would have been sick.

IIRC, Roy and Aldridge would have been UFA's come July 1st (they would have been RFA's last year). We would have risked losing them both.

BTW, since you spent time at Case, can you give us the perspective from Cleveland right now? They have to be devastated that James is even considering leaving.

 

[maxiep]

Well, that deal isn't official yet.

You think we might put a call out to Bosh tonight and try to lure him here?

I'm quite certain we already have. The same with Amare.

 

[illmatic99]

IIRC, Roy and Aldridge would have been UFA's come July 1st (they would have been RFA's last year). We would have risked losing them both.

oops.

BTW, since you spent time at Case, can you give us the perspective from Cleveland right now? They have to be devastated that James is even considering leaving.

Most of my friends are already resigned to the idea of a LeBron-less future. They tried to avoid any and all news about his impending free agency initially, but have grown more and more apathetic as of late. I sincerely hope he re-signs there because that city will be dead without him. He truly IS a large part of the economy that drives the city.

 

[mook]

Bosh will choose whoever will pay him that extra year and the 10.5% annual increases as long as they're competitive.

If that were true, I think Bosh would be a Blazer. Because I would think the Blazers have already suggested such a deal. And I have little doubt that deal is a hell of a lot better than the Beasley one.

So if the Blazers like it and the Raptors probably like it, who is left to nix it? I think it's Bosh. It'd seem to me he either doesn't want to play in the rainy northwest, or he doesn't like the idea of sticking a friend of his (Aldridge) in the exact same position he's trying to extricate himself from, or both.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

IIRC, Roy and Aldridge would have been UFA's come July 1st (they would have been RFA's last year). We would have risked losing them both.

No, they would have been RFA's this summer, much like Rudy Gay (from the same draft class) is now. However, we would have had salary cap holds for each equal to 300% of their previous year's salary, which would have prevented us from having enough space for a top tier FA, so the point is moot.

 

[maxiep]

No, they would have been RFA's this summer, much like Rudy Gay (from the same draft class) is now. However, we would have had salary cap holds for each equal to 300% of their previous year's salary, which would have prevented us from having enough space for a top tier FA, so the point is moot.

Repped for the correction! Thanks for the info!

 

[illmatic99]

ha, so I was right?

Damn, a core of LBJ-Roy-Aldridge-Oden would win title after title. Hell even adding a guy like Joe Johnson would have been awesome.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

Repped for the correction! Thanks for the info!

I "correct" you on politics and social views all the time . . . where are my reps?

 

[maxiep]

I "correct" you on politics and social views all the time . . . where are my reps?

I tried to give you rep points, but they were taken by the current administration as a new tax.

 

[maxiep]

ha, so I was right?

Damn, a core of LBJ-Roy-Aldridge-Oden would win title after title. Hell even adding a guy like Joe Johnson would have been awesome.

Read it again: The cap holds on Roy and LMA would have put us over the cap.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't see Lebron meshing well with Wade . . . so if Bosh is off to Miami, I don't see Lebron following.

Colin predicts Lebron will stay in Clev and trying to bring Joe Johnson to with him.