Lebron's game is just so hard to build around.
Jokica had literally no help last year and still made play offs.
Luka had a smaller guard that wasn't even starting as his 2nd best player and made the play offs.
Lebron couldn't do anything with the Lakers. People seriously think Denver's rotation was better than Lakers last season?
Now Lebron is backing up last season by missing play offs again.
He might put up pretty numbers. But hell so would Westbrook if you let him ball for 36 minutes a night right now...
Jokica had literally no help last year and still made play offs.
Luka had a smaller guard that wasn't even starting as his 2nd best player and made the play offs.
Lebron couldn't do anything with the Lakers. People seriously think Denver's rotation was better than Lakers last season?
Now Lebron is backing up last season by missing play offs again.
He might put up pretty numbers. But hell so would Westbrook if you let him ball for 36 minutes a night right now...
Heat were crumbling. Wade was fading to retirement, team had no depth. Spo is a great coach, but front office mismanaged personnel decisions.
You obviously have to pay certain price to bring in a guy like Lebron, but they won 2 titles in 4 years, making the finals all four years. Solely because of LeBron
LeBron went back to Cleveland because he is from NE Ohio and had potential to build a decent team around him
Crumbling?
Wade was only 32 years old. 2 years later he was still averaging 19-4-4. Bosh was only 30. Still playing good ball (although he only played 1 more season)
HEAT made the finals for 4th year in a row. Not sure how they were "crumbling"
They played a lights out San Antonio team in the finals. Lebron didnt look so good in that finals.
The only front office mismanagment occured when they didnt resign Mike Miller as their owner did NOT want to go over the luxury tax for consecutive years.
Lebron could have informed the team before the draft that he was leaving as they would NOT have traded up to draft Shabazz Napier. HEAT also would have pursued others early in free agency had they known Lebron was leaving.
The New York Knicks are reportedly focused on acquiring 2x All-Star Zach LaVine from the Bulls. In the framework of a potential deal, Chicago could receive Evan Fournier, Derrick Rose, Quentin Grimes, Obi Toppin, and three first-round picks for LaVine and Goran Dragic.
The Milwaukee Bucks are acquiring Jae Crowder in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets for five second-round picks,
The Pacers are acquiring Bucks guard George Hill and a second-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
Wade wasn't remotely close to the player he once was by LeBron's last year. 19-4-4 isn't good if you aren't efficient, don't elevate others, and can't stretch the floor with 3 point shooting (Wade could NEVER do that). Plus his defense was starting to fade as well
They made the Finals because they had LeBron on their roster. LeBron was a free ticket to the Finals during that decade in that conference. They were nowhere near the team they were the previous 2 seasons.
I don't think LeBron was 100% sure what he was doing at the point that those decisions were on the table. They probably felt like there was a decent chance he was leaving, but also figured they should ride it out even if he walks given having LeBron automatically puts you in title contention at that time
LeBron honored his contract, it's not his fault that the Heat didn't plan for him to leave. Any GM should be prepared, that's part of the job.
I'm not saying Heat front office completely blundered it, but they didn't do the best they could've done either.
