ESPN* - Lebron opting out of contract...here comes the summer of speculation.

[RoofTop]

I wish Lebron would've stayed in Cleveland and won a ring there. He could've been governor of that state. He can win as many rings as he wants but will never be loved and admired like Jordan, Bird, Isiah, Duncan, or Kobe..

 

[Knightrofins]

Just a few thoughts....Bosh & Wade have the same agent. Wade & Riley have been super loyal since day 1 so Wade will opt out for whats best for the team (look for Wade to be employed by the heat, if he wants to be, after he retires).

Funny how Lebron haters always want to say that Jordan was better than Lebron. I've never met a Heat fan that has said Lebron is better than Jordan. Lebron is the #1 player in the nba today but he's not the #1 clutch shooter in the NBA. Probably not even top 5. We're just happy that he made our favorite team better and was the best player on a team that went to 4 straight championships and won 2 of em.

Yes Lebron gave himself a negative perception during "the decision". However people forget that "the decision" raised $$ for a charity involving kids.

Kevin Love is nowhere close to Lebron. In fact, if Kevin Love wasnt white, he'd be Chris Bosh. A good player on a crappy team.
About the not 1, not 2, not 3, etc. What the hell do u want your star player to say? I'm here to take your money and whatever happens, happens? He took LESS $$ and played his arse off every game. You'd be pissed if your favorite team went to 4 straight championships and "only" won 2 of em?

 

[Enfuego]

Let me start by saying that i'm a heat fan (yes in the Seikally & Harold Minor days as well). I wanted Lebron to opt out. By opting out (hopefully bosh and wade do as well), the Heat can resign the big 3 at a lower salary and will give them more $$ to sign other quality free agents (would love to have Kyle Lowery at poing). If the heat go over the salary cap, they have to pay $2.50 per dollar spent over the cap so it can get pricy.

I see the big 3 signing for 13-15 mil a season. I see Wade coming off the bench next year in a Manu Ginobli type role. Not sure why Lebron would want to leave the Heat. They have been a 1st class organization and Pat Riley is a pretty straight up guy. I cant see Lebron in the west since its easier to make it to the finals in the eastern conference.

Pat Riley is on the clock now. He has brought Zo to Miami, he's brought Shaq, and now he's brought Lebron. In Riley we trust!!

I can give you a reason. Because they just got kicked squarely in the nuts by the Spurs and will not win with this team. Not only did they lose, they got destroyed and embarrassed and I can pretty much guarantee you they probably would've got beaten in round 2 had they been in the West.

 

[HacheMan]

Kevin Love is nowhere close to Lebron. In fact, if Kevin Love wasnt white, he'd be Chris Bosh. A good player on a crappy team.

Wow cmon knight...

Kevin Love top 3 scorer AND top 3 rebounder in entire NBA.

Rarely do you find such a physical player & rebounder inside who can also shoot & score from anywhere on the floor.

He's far better than Bosh...

 

[slapshot]

He stays in Miami, he does this so the team has a better chance to WIN now... And Whoever said not 6 not 5 not 4 but 2...2 isn't a failure...4 straight Finals, 2 Championships. Not a failure. Most ridiculous post of 2014.

who said it was a failure the big 3 only have won 2 good thing someone remembers the losershno:

 

[festeringZit]

I wish Lebron would've stayed in Cleveland and won a ring there. He could've been governor of that state. He can win as many rings as he wants but will never be loved and admired like Jordan, Bird, Isiah, Duncan, or Kobe..

Isiah is loved and admired?

I respect his talent, but I always got the impression that his scandals/antics put him way down the list as far as "love and admiration."

Scandals:
- Sexual harassment scandal w/ Knicks
- Drug overdose, blaming on daughter
- 1991 Isiah leads the Pistons in walking off the court (during the game) w/out shaking Bulls hands in the Eastern conf. finals
- 1992 Isiah denied from the Dream Team, because players didn't want him there
- I'm probably forgetting some...

 

[HacheMan]

FesteringZit beat me to it as I was thinking the same thing about Isiah.He's the one player on the list you named who i definitely don't admire.Didn't he and Magic Johnson's friendship end abruptly because of Thomas...???

 

[Enfuego]

Wow cmon knight...

Kevin Love top 3 scorer AND top 3 rebounder in entire NBA.

Rarely do you find such a physical player & rebounder inside who can also shoot & score from anywhere on the floor.

He's far better than Bosh...

Hache, I love KL but come on man. After 6 years in the league, he's not even good enough to get his team into the playoffs. Almost everyone gets in the playoffs. Get in at least once? He's an awesome #2 but can't be the lead dog.

 

[packer2012]

Better keep this focused on sports and not behavior. Maybe Isiah found out Magic was shacking up with and load of infected whore-dogs?

Also, please keep this discussion on basketball because I happen to think Magic was one of the top handful of players of all time. Not sure we can be sure he did not make some bad mistakes in judgement off the court?

 

[HacheMan]

Hache, I love KL but come on man. After 6 years in the league, he's not even good enough to get his team into the playoffs. Almost everyone gets in the playoffs. Get in at least once? He's an awesome #2 but can't be the lead dog.

But fuego, Garnett couldn't get that far with the Twolves either, and he had more help than Love.

That franchise blows no matter what star they seem to have they don't get them a supporting cast...

 

[Knightrofins]

Wow cmon knight...

Kevin Love top 3 scorer AND top 3 rebounder in entire NBA.

Rarely do you find such a physical player & rebounder inside who can also shoot & score from anywhere on the floor.

He's far better than Bosh...

He's the same player Chris Bosh was on the Raptors. He's not the next Garnett, he's the next Bosh. A double double machine on a crappy team. He will add value to his new team but he wont be the badass that everybody thought he was

 

[Knightrofins]

I can give you a reason. Because they just got kicked squarely in the nuts by the Spurs and will not win with this team. Not only did they lose, they got destroyed and embarrassed and I can pretty much guarantee you they probably would've got beaten in round 2 had they been in the West.

I dont disagree with your statement however the Heat play in the east so the playoff run in the eastern conference is easier than the west. Thats why i see Lebron staying in the east. Miami is a well run organization and Lebron opting out isnt shocking to anyone. The spurs beat up the heat in those last 3 games but the spurs are the 1 team that the heat match up horrible against (heat would have beaten okc in 5 or 6 but thats another argument for another time)

Lets just say if Lebron resigns with the Heat for less $$, wouldnt that say something for the Heat as an organization?

 

[Knightrofins]

He's the same player Chris Bosh was on the Raptors. He's not the next Garnett, he's the next Bosh. A double double machine on a crappy team. He will add value to his new team but he wont be the badass that everybody thought he was

btw, bosh in toronto- 7 yrs and averaged 20 pts 9 reb
Love in minny- 6 yrs and averaged 19 pts and 12 boards

same player except 1 is a good looking white guy

 

[RoofTop]

Isiah is loved and admired?

I respect his talent, but I always got the impression that his scandals/antics put him way down the list as far as "love and admiration."

Scandals:
- Sexual harassment scandal w/ Knicks
- Drug overdose, blaming on daughter
- 1991 Isiah leads the Pistons in walking off the court (during the game) w/out shaking Bulls hands in the Eastern conf. finals
- 1992 Isiah denied from the Dream Team, because players didn't want him there
- I'm probably forgetting some...

Are you from Detroit? You think Bird is loved in LA? How bout Kobe in Denver?

 

[FairWarning]

Isiah is loved in Detroit.

 

[festeringZit]

Are you from Detroit? You think Bird is loved in LA? How bout Kobe in Denver?

Of course people in Detroit like Isiah. But the very clear fact remains, as a whole, Isiah doesn't garner anywhere near the love, devotion and respect that the others in your list do.

"Jordan, Bird, Isiah, Duncan, or Kobe.."

 

[Enfuego]

But fuego, Garnett couldn't get that far with the Twolves either, and he had more help than Love.

That franchise blows no matter what star they seem to have they don't get them a supporting cast...

I disagree big time. In only his second year, Garnett took them to the playoffs and the T-Wolves made the playoffs the next 8 years in a row and in the 8th year, he took them to the Western Conference Finals. How can Love compare to that?

 

[pocketrockets]

I hope LeBron keeps flopping. Only thing that comes to my mind right now.

 

[Enfuego]

That's BS. He's played in one of the most difficult leagues. The 8 seed this year would have been the 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. Talking heads and ESPN have done Lebron a favor by never expliclity stating that all of his success has been in what has historically been one of the worst conferences ever in the NBA. Meantime, last year Memphis won 56 games in the West, and their reward was a 5 seed. Would have been #2 in the east. Further, that same year, Milwuakee finished 6 games BELOW .500, and beat the 9th slotted team(s) by FOUR games. The Heat would have made maybe 1 finals appearance max if they played in the West the past 4 years.

My post was not specifically about this year alone. I'm talking 6 years with no playoff appearance. The #8 seed in the West usually averages between 45-50 wins. You mean to tell me the T-Wolves cannot go 47-35 just one out of 6 years? He's a superstar and superstars carry their teams to playoff appearances.

 

[Enfuego]

He's improved over 6 years. So you're holding him accountable for not leading his team to the playoffs over the first couple years of him being in the league?

Show me where the average of an #8 seed in the west averaging 45-50 wins and that being realistic for a team with 1 bonafide superstar to make the playoffs. Look at the eastern conference. If he plays in the east, he probably makes the playoffs with the Milwaukee Bucks or any other bottom feeder at least half of those years. You're judging him based on playing in a conference that has dominated for years. And he has been relatively dominant in that conference. Don't agree with you at all.

Not first couple, first 6. I just looked at the playoffs Dsethi and checked out the wins of the 8 seed. Not talking about the East...that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. He has been dominant but can't take his team to an 8 seed at least? I mean, in 2009, the Utah Jazz were the 8 seed at 48-34. The 2010-11 Grizz were 46-36. We just disagree I guess. No big deal.