OT: What happens now to LeBron?

[PapaG]

I can't see LeBron ever leaving Cleveland. He's a guy conscious of his legacy, and ditching a team for the bright lights would hurt his image. Besides, the bright lights follow him, so it doesn't matter. He could be a Buck, a Blazer or a Thunder and he'd be in the media spotlight.

James got a lot of crap for wearing a Yankee hat to a baseball game. Then, after snubbing the Magic, his teammates, and the media, he shows up Sunday to meet the press wearing a ... YANKEE HAT.

I hear him loud and clear. Heh

 

[Toko]

He was pissed about the loss and didn't want to do anything he might regret in public. What an arrogant doucheyhead.

He's a sore loser. He'll be posing for pictures when things are going well, but can't even be bothered to take a loss like a man?

I bet he expected Atlanta/Detroit players to shake his hand after he beat them.

 

[alex42083]

He's a sore loser. He'll be posing for pictures when things are going well, but can't even be bothered to take a loss like a man?

I bet he expected Atlanta/Detroit players to shake his hand after he beat them.

No doubt. LeBron's probably been sucked up to since he was born, and was then actually humbled for one of the few times in his life. He didn't know how to take it, so he bowed out ungraciously.
Doesn't mean he's now a terrible guy, but don't be a sore loser about it.

 

[JE]

He's a sore loser. He'll be posing for pictures when things are going well, but can't even be bothered to take a loss like a man?

A Laker fan says something stupid. Isn't this new.

Take it like a man? He was really fucking upset about the loss and dashed out of the arena in the understanding that saying nothing when you're upset is a lot better than taking shots at Mike Brown or possibly teammates when he's upset. Not hard to grasp. Everyone that plays the 'take it like a man' card is a total *edited*. Not a single one of you will ever be in that situation, the closest you will ever come to feeling what he felt (being on the fast track to a title, and in the blink of an eye being handled fairly easily by an underdog) is by watching TV. So shut the fuck up, because you don't know dick about what you're talking about. Thanks.

 

[JE]

No doubt. LeBron's probably been sucked up to since he was born, and was then actually humbled for one of the few times in his life. He didn't know how to take it, so he bowed out ungraciously.
Doesn't mean he's now a terrible guy, but don't be a sore loser about it.

So you mean to tell me that had you been in the exact same situation and felt his exact same anger and disappointment, you would have easily bottled it up, talked to the press completely level-headed and unbothered, and even gave hugs to the opponents that just kicked the living shit out of you. That is, if you've ever even played sports. lol k

 

[JE]

James got a lot of crap for wearing a Yankee hat to a baseball game. Then, after snubbing the Magic, his teammates, and the media, he shows up Sunday to meet the press wearing a ... YANKEE HAT.

I hear him loud and clear. Heh

He could just be a Yankee fan. I wear my Red Sox hat pretty much everywhere I go. No difference.

 

[MrJayremmie]

I agree with JE on this one. It probably wasn't in his best interest to do this (for his image that is) but I dont see how its such a big deal. He probably congratulated some of the Orlando players either by their locker (which he did for San Antonio and Boston the last 2 years but a lot of fans didn't know that and crucified him as a poor sport, but I think this scenerio is doubtful because I heard he just left right away) or he probably called some of them up by phone (at least Dwight who was a teammate on the USA team) and congratulated them. SO the big thing is he didn't do a media interview after he lost. Big deal, he did on the next day.

Either way, successful season for LeBron. MVP award, led the league in wins, got to the ECF game 6 and pretty much solidified himself as the best player in the game. Sucks that he didn't at least get to the finals but he will get there. He is really young still at 24 which is insane. I really enjoy watching him play.

Can't wish him luck next year though, because its my Blazers year! YEEEEAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!

 

[Uther TheGardener]

baseball sucks!

 

[JE]

baseball sucks!

Bite your tounge.

 

[Minstrel]

baseball sucks!

So does basketball and football. But what other choice do we have, hockey?

 

[Wheels]

baseball sucks!

it isnt for the weak minded thats for sure

 

[MAS RipCity]

baseball is below hoop, football, and hockey
too many damn games, too slow moving..too many juicers
I follow baseball, but it is definitely not my fv and don't get into it until the all-star break.

 

[Minstrel]

baseball is below ...football
...too many juicers

You mean, not enough juicers to measure up to football?

 

[Wheels]

baseball is below hoop, football, and hockey
too many damn games, too slow moving..too many juicers
I follow baseball, but it is definitely not my fv and don't get into it until the all-star break.

def below Basketball and Football for me.. but Hockey.. not so much

 

[alex42083]

So you mean to tell me that had you been in the exact same situation and felt his exact same anger and disappointment, you would have easily bottled it up, talked to the press completely level-headed and unbothered, and even gave hugs to the opponents that just kicked the living shit out of you. That is, if you've ever even played sports. lol k

99.9 percent of the NBA players do it, why can't he? LeBron is not above sportsmanship or the sport of basketball or the NBA. And yes I've played sports, and understand how frustrated you can get with it. Not to his degree obviously, but I don't care for sore losers.

It's not like I'm saying he should've kissed Dwight and held up his hand and say 'look here folks, here's your champ right here!! ... Oh Dwight, here let me hand you this Eastern Conference championship trophy."
Please... give me a break. LeBron's teammates were gracious enough. LeBron is not above anything, and that's why I don't like him. The guy finally didn't get what he wanted when he was the clear favorite to get it, no one spoon-fed him a trip the Finals, and he just left huffing and puffing.

 

[JE]

99.9 percent of the NBA players do it, why can't he? LeBron is not above sportsmanship or the sport of basketball or the NBA. And yes I've played sports, and understand how frustrated you can get with it. Not to his degree obviously, but I don't care for sore losers.

Because LeBron absolutely has 'I'm going to be a sore loser because these meanies beat me' after dealing with a really shitty loss and series KO after being the favorite almost the whole season.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he called up Dwight and the other Magic players the next day and congratulated them. If that is indeed the case, then all this is moot (unless you're pissed off he didn't do it in public, which would be petty beyond belief).

It's not like I'm saying he should've kissed Dwight and held up his hand and say 'look here folks, here's your champ right here!! ... Oh Dwight, here let me hand you this Eastern Conference championship trophy."
Please... give me a break. LeBron's teammates were gracious enough. LeBron is not above anything, and that's why I don't like him. The guy finally didn't get what he wanted when he was the clear favorite to get it, no one spoon-fed him a trip the Finals, and he just left huffing and puffing.

Yeah, his performance in that series totally indicates that he expected to be spoonfed into the finals.

 

[alex42083]

Because LeBron absolutely has 'I'm going to be a sore loser because these meanies beat me' after dealing with a really shitty loss and series KO after being the favorite almost the whole season.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if he called up Dwight and the other Magic players the next day and congratulated them. If that is indeed the case, then all this is moot (unless you're pissed off he didn't do it in public, which would be petty beyond belief).

Well, he didn't. He sent Dwight an email. I'm not pissed off either. I just don't enjoy seeing LeBron showing like he's above the game of basketball and the NBA.
He hasn't won anything yet, and he's been appointed The King already. Dwight said he was 'real surprised' and David Stern said he wasn't too happy about it either. The whole aura around LeBron simply turns me off, that's all.

 

[Boob-No-More]

cap space wut

Cap space don't mean shit. The Cavs hold LeBron's Bird Rights. If you understood even the basics of the CBA, you'd know the Cavs can offer LeBron a lot more money than any other team. They can offer him a higher starting salary, bigger annual raises and a longer contract than any other team - even if they are $100 million over the cap and the Knicks are $50 million under the cap.

If LeBron leaves, it will be about winning titles, not who can offer him the biggest contract - becuase NOBODY else can offer him a contract nearly as big as what the Cavs can.

BNM

 

[JE]

Cap space don't mean shit. The Cavs hold LeBron's Bird Rights. If you understood even the basics of the CBA, you'd know the Cavs can offer LeBron a lot more money than any other team. They can offer him a higher starting salary, bigger annual raises and a longer contract than any other team - even if they are $100 million over the cap and the Knicks are $50 million under the cap.

If you even understood the basics of reading comprehension, you'd know that I added a caveat in that post in the form of 'if LeBron were to leave Cleveland'. Actually I'll pull up the statement for you:

If LeBron left Cleveland, it would be for the money. The Knicks have the most money to offer (an obscene amount, I might add).

So I took the Cavs out of the equation before saying that. Understand now?

If LeBron leaves, it will be about winning titles, not who can offer him the biggest contract - becuase NOBODY else can offer him a contract nearly as big as what the Cavs can.

I've said it before, but by the time summer 2010 rolls around, I think LeBron will have already decided whether he's staying in Cleveland or leaving. I'm basing my theoretical assumptions off the idea that he would be leaving.

 

[BrianFromWA]

i'm really not trying to argue , but I think what everyone else was saying is that that's kind of a weird point to take.

If he wants the most money, he stays in Cleveland. You said if he leaves, it would be to NYK for the money (since they have most cap space). But it doesn't matter how much cap space some team has, as long as they can absorb a max contract. So if he's in it for the money, he's not leaving CLE. And therefore, if he doesn't stay in CLE, but goes to NYK, it's for some other reason than the money. What am I missing here?

 

[JE]

i'm really not trying to argue , but I think what everyone else was saying is that that's kind of a weird point to take.

If he wants the most money, he stays in Cleveland. You said if he leaves, it would be to NYK for the money (since they have most cap space). But it doesn't matter how much cap space some team has, as long as they can absorb a max contract. So if he's in it for the money, he's not leaving CLE. And therefore, if he doesn't stay in CLE, but goes to NYK, it's for some other reason than the money. What am I missing here?

If you're looking for reasoning as to why LeBron would leave Cleveland, I can't help you. My core point is, he will either be a Cav or a Knick.

 

[Boob-No-More]

If you even understood the basics of reading comprehension, you'd know that I added a caveat in that post in the form of 'if LeBron were to leave Cleveland'. Actually I'll pull up the statement for you:



So I took the Cavs out of the equation before saying that. Understand now?

You're still wrong. There will be SEVERAL teams in the summer of 2010 that will have enough cap space to offer LeBron a max. contract. The Knicks won't be able to offer him a penny more than any of those teams.

Several teams have made trades specifically to clear cap space to sign free agents during the summer of 2010. LeBron is not the only high profile free agent that will be on the market. So, teams have been planning accordingly. The Pistons made the Billups/Iverson trade specifically to shead salary. The Heat have only 1 guaranteed contract on the books beyond next season. That's D-Wade's contract - and he holds a player option. They also have some team options on some of their younger players, but they could re-sign Wade to a max contract AND still have enough cap room for two additional max. contract players.

If LeBron leaves the Cavs, he will get the exact same salary from any of the several teams that will be far enough below the cap to offer him a max. deal. So, if the money is equal (and less than Cleveland), he will choose his new team based on other factors - and very high on that list will be the chance to win multiple NBA championships.

Who knows, he may shun both the Cavs and the Knicks to join fellow Redeem Teamers Wade and Bosh in Miami. Oh, and speaking of money, Florida doesn't have any state income tax. New York has a 6.85% state income tax rate. So, LeBron could end up saving several million dollars in state income taxes, over the life of his contract, if he signs with the Heat instead of the Knicks.

BNM

 

[JE]

You're still wrong. There will be SEVERAL teams in the summer of 2010 that will have enough cap space to offer LeBron a max. contract. The Knicks won't be able to offer him a penny more than any of those teams.

Correct.


Now list the teams that would have any money left over to put a team around him, or even fill out an adequate NBA roster. That narrows the field a bit.

Several teams have made trades specifically to clear cap space to sign free agents during the summer of 2010. LeBron is not the only high profile free agent that will be on the market. So, teams have been planning accordingly. The Pistons made the Billups/Iverson trade specifically to shead salary. The Heat have only 1 guaranteed contract on the books beyond next season. That's D-Wade's contract - and he holds a player option. They also have some team options on some of their younger players, but they could re-sign Wade to a max contract AND still have enough cap room for two additional max. contract players.

So they should blow their cap on three players, is what you're saying.

If LeBron leaves the Cavs, he will get the exact same salary from any of the several teams that will be far enough below the cap to offer him a max. deal. So, if the money is equal (and less than Cleveland), he will choose his new team based on other factors - and very high on that list will be the chance to win multiple NBA championships.

The Knicks have a couple of subtle advantages in this area.

1) D'Antoni's offense tends to get the most out of subpar (offensive) players. Case in point, David Lee is not nearly as good as the numbers he put up this past season. Neither is Nate Robinson. Meaning they can sign under the radar guys and expect solid enough contribution from them.

2) Combine that with the fact that D'Antoni typically only plays seven guys, that is both less money the Knicks have to spend on getting depth around LeBron, and less depth they really need to fill in.

Aside from LeBron, let's say the team grabs Steve Nash in 2010 as well (because its realistic). Nash could come cheaper than expected, given all the max-contract guys that will be out there. His price could shrink, especially considering what his age will be, due to the fact that no one will be willing to dish out a huge contract to him with much better options available. So he could be signed fairly comfortably. Tyson Chandler could be had as well. Those three (possibly with Gallinari, since he's one of three Knicks with any contract after 2010 and might not be blacklisted like Eddy Curry) provide a good core for the team, and they'll be able to round out the depth chart on the cheap, and expect good results.

I think denying the Knicks' chances to be title contenders with LeBron is foolish.

Who knows, he may shun both the Cavs and the Knicks to join fellow Redeem Teamers Wade and Bosh in Miami. Oh, and speaking of money, Florida doesn't have any state income tax. New York has a 6.85% state income tax rate. So, LeBron could end up saving several million dollars in state income taxes, over the life of his contract, if he signs with the Heat instead of the Knicks.

So they should blow their cap on three players, is what you're saying.

Your own past statements have made the taxes argument moot.

 

[Masbee]

Who knows, he may shun both the Cavs and the Knicks to join fellow Redeem Teamers Wade and Bosh in Miami. Oh, and speaking of money, Florida doesn't have any state income tax. New York has a 6.85% state income tax rate. So, LeBron could end up saving several million dollars in state income taxes, over the life of his contract, if he signs with the Heat instead of the Knicks.

BNM

Plus, New York State just enacted a soak-the-rich income tax surcharge on incomes above $500,000 of 8.97%. The old rate was 6.85%.

Plus, if he lived in New York City he would pay an additional NYC income tax of 3.648%. Total of 12.62%.

So, live in South Beach and pay $7,000,000 in federal income tax on $20,000,000 in income. Or, live in Manhattan and pay $9,524,000 in fed and local income taxes.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Now list the teams that would have any money left over to put a team around him, or even fill out an adequate NBA roster. That narrows the field a bit.

Too many possible scenarios to list. Funny though, the Knicks are one of the teams that are totally gutting their roster, practically giving away players and letting them walk for nothing in order to clear cap space. They will most likely loose both David Lee and Nate Robinson to free agency because they won't pay them what they are worth this summer for fear of losing out on the LeBron sweepstakes next summer.

So, who exactly are the Knicks going to hasve left under contract after next season? Looks like Eddie Curry at $11.2 million and Jared Jeffries at $6.9 million. That's $18 million tied up in worthless crap. And, they will also hold team options on Danilo Galinari at $3.3 million and Wilson Chandler at $2.1 million. And, this is the "quality" supporting cast that's going to lure LeBron to NY? Yeah, right.

So they should blow their cap on three players, is what you're saying.

If those three players are D-Wade, LeBron and Bosh, HELL YES! Christ, that would be like winning the lottery. Any GM in the league would kill to have three players that talented on their roster - and they would all be young enough to keep the team competing for titles for a decade.

Plus, Miami is in a much better roster situation than the Knicks. They have ZERO bad contracts (See Curry and Jeffries) after next season eating up valuable cap space and payroll dollars. And, they will have affordable team options on Michael Beasley ($4.9 million), Dequan Cook ($2.1 million) and Mario Chalmers ($847K). Who knows, since Wade has a player option at $17 million for the 2010-11 season, he could decide NOT to opt out, allow the Heat to sign LeBron and Bosh to max deals, and then get his own max. 6-year contact starting in 2011-12. The Heat would hold his Bird rights and could go as far over the cap as they want to res-sign him. They could fill out their roster using exceptions - and since the NBA requires all teams to have at least 13 players under contract, they would be able to pick up multiple vets for the veteran's minimum salary (which is based on years in the league). Who wouldn't want to play on a perennial contender with LeBron, D-Wade and Bosh in sunny, tax-free Miami?

Your own past statements have made the taxes argument moot.

What????? How so? Several NBA players have mentioned they'd rather play for teams in states with low, or no, state income tax. The savings can easily add up to over $10 million over the life of a 5 or 6 year contract. What player in his right mind wouldn't want an extra $10+ million in his pocket?

The Heat are in a MUCH better situation than the Knicks. They already have one superstar with championship exprience, no bad contracts, better cheap, young talent, better weather and no state income tax. There will be other teams with lots of cap space, but if I was a player looking for the best possible situation, it would be Miami, without a doubt. The Knicks will have cap space, but they won't have shit on their roster, they have no recent history of winning, they have lousy weather, and ultra high state and city taxes.

BNM