LeBron going to Miami

[Lamrock]

From #2 overall pick in the draft to swapped for cap space in two years. Quite the fall from grace. Beasley now goes from perhaps the best team in NBA history to a team who has spent the entire summer acquiring forwards.

[antho]

Wesley Johnson vs. Corey Brewer vs. Michael Beasley in a three way Cage Fight for the starting forward position? lmao.

[Lamrock]

Don't forget Martell Webster. Beasley can also play the 4 though. His only competition there is Al Jefferson, Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic.

[antho]

Oh yeah, much easier. Al Jefferson would maul him haha.

Martell plays Guard though? I know he plays abit of SF, but he's mainly an SG isn't he?

[George7]

So it seems that Lebron won't do a big sacrifice then in the money thing.
Now that more cap is free,LeBron will get his money...

[antho]

But I think he is still taking a salary cut, seeing as the Heat signed Mike Miller to a 5 year, 30 Million$ deal, and they still need to sign more players? I think now that Beasley's shipped out, they have only the big three, chalmers, miller and probably the guys they drafted.

[koberulz]

re-signed.

About time someone got it right. All this talk of players 'resigning' starts to grate. Particularly since it means pretty much the exact opposite.

However, it's spelled 'sacrifice', not 'sacrifise'.

As far as being pissed at LeBron vs Heat fans being okay with Wade leaving is that Wade didn't make a big deal out of it, need an entire TV show, and spend two years playing with everyone's heads. That's probably got more to do with it than merely his departure.

[kevin02]

Wow did anyone see the letter by the cavaliers GM. It got me motivated even though I don't see how Cleveland could win a championship before the heat. Lebron screwed us by waiting and not telling he was leaving. We missed out on all the good free agents.

[Andrew]

Beasley's gone to the Wolves for the picks, I think, no more on Heat roster.

Win an NBA championship even before LeBron gets one.

I am hating this bullshit betrayal talks on Lebron. Idiots acting like a woman dumped on the wedding day.

Does Dan Gilbert actually believe he's done everything right for Lebron, and why is he talking like Lebron was his or theirs for granted. No respect for the player that has done a lot for the franchise, NO fucking wonder why Lebron deserted them. At least, Dan Gilbert deserves it. I am not even going to mention about sacrifises made by all Heat's big 3, but CLE fans gotta respect a player's decision as it came with much sacrifise and consideration. Of course being an attention whore raised frustration and anticipation level, but CLE played to it the most. After all, it was only his decision to make. The Heat fans I knew most told me they wouldn't hold against Wade if he was to leave. Have some class, fucking Dan Gilbert and his followers. To me, you sound more like crying over the money you could have made off Lebron if he re-signed.

I see where you're coming from and I don't entirely disagree. The Cavs have to take some responsibility for LeBron leaving, a trade here or there and they might have a championship by now which surely would've given them a better chance of persuading him to stay and who knows what else went on behind closed doors. They've given him reason to doubt the front office, no question. It's his career, his life and while loyalty is a meritorious quality, if wants to move on then that is his right.

However...having said that, the Cavaliers and Cavs fan have every right to be upset and it would be unfair to suggest otherwise. Sure, ultimately everyone has to accept that it's his choice to make but they just lost one of the best players in the NBA, who on top of that is essentially a hometown hero to boot. It's only natural that they'd feel disappoint and upset and rightfully so, especially given the way the whole announcement was handled along with the feeling that they were lied to. Now, did LeBron lie to anyone? Tough to say, he hinted at this and that, paid lip service to all of the teams that were courting him at one point and did mention that the Cavs had the best chance of signing him at one point. Things change, minds change, and perhaps that's what happened here. But I don't think we can blame Cavs fans one bit for feeling as they do, or deny them that point of view. Burning LeBron jerseys might be a step too far, but at the same time it might be cathartic.

Gilbert's open letter wasn't the classiest move, but then neither was the way LeBron handled this free agency. He said during the interview today that he's glad it's over, but I'd still agree with the notion that at least a part of him really enjoyed the whole process or at least the attention if nothing else. And some of Gilbert's comments - though made in anger - did ring true. And again, he, along with the rest of the organisation and Cavaliers fans, have a right to feel that way and express those feelings. Both sides are entitled to their say and their feelings, which is why I have to somewhat disagree with the sentiment of "stop crying/whining" and so forth (and I don't mean to single you out here because you're not alone in saying that and I also see the position it's coming from). I see that argument employed a lot online and I often feel it's a lazy dismissal of a valid point. And like I said, I do believe the Gilbert, the Cavs and Cavs fan have a valid point here.

Fans of other teams seem to be joining in a bit and I'd suggest there's a myriad of reasons for that, not the least of which is that LeBron spurned their favourite team as well. But I liken the situation to that of the Seattle Supersonics becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder: everyone could see what had happened and whether you were a Sonics fan or not, if you didn't have any ties to Oklahoma chances are you still identified or sympathised with Seattle fans, disliked the way Clay Bennett and the rest of the ownership group handled the situation and felt that there was some injustice. Here, LeBron's handling of the situation clearly rubbed a lot of people the wrong way because even though I do like LeBron, it was a fairly egotistical move that reveled in the idea that he's bigger than the league or the sport of basketball and left the Cavs in the dark until pretty much the last moment, or so it appears. It's a little messed up, I know I'm repeating myself here but the Cavs have a legitimate axe to grind.

As far as Heat fans not holding it against Wade if he left, that may be true (at least for some, there'll always be that element of the fanbase who it one step too far) but I'd suggest that's easier to say when it didn't actually happen. I think there would've been a fair amount of Heat fans who would've been upset - at least disappointed - had he signed with Chicago, just as I'm sure there are Raptors fans who are disappointed that Bosh is going to Miami. We can't say for sure either way with Wade because that situation will not come to pass, at least not for six more years.

[Lean]

Gilbert's open letter wasn't the classiest move, but then neither was the way LeBron handled this free agency.

I agree on this. For one, LeBron shouldn't have done this on TV. Much like of an attention-whore to me. While on Gilbert's side, it's like reading a transcript for a wrestling promo.

[kevin02]

I can't wait for the first Cavaliers home game vs the Heat! I'm for sure going to go to that game!

Edit: Andrew I just read your last post and I would like to say that the Cleveland Cavaliers did everything possible to keep Lebron. Remember we traded for Antwan Jamison to help win a Championship and we were aggressively trying to get Chris Paul before Lebron made his decision. Lebron leaving had nothing to do with a lack of effort from the Cavaliers organization.

[shadowgrin]

LeBron could have avoided making Dan Gilbert insane if he just called him personally and told him he's not going to Cleveland.

[NovU]

Andrew and koberulz, I see your points.

I maybe biased in my opinions, but I still think Lebron is being criticized little too harsh, especially considering the sacrifice he's made to come to the Heat.

[George7]

it's not that big the sacrifice he made.For some millions?
He will get the double from commercials and contracts with companies!
Won't we see new commercials with the new Heat Trio?
Moneywise it's not that great sacrifice.

[Martti.]

Anyone who saw 'The Decision', what was the rest of the hour like? I meant to watch it, but it started at 4 AM here and I fell asleep at like 3.45 AM.

[Dan's Brain]

LeBron could have avoided making Dan Gilbert insane if he just called him personally and told him he's not going to Cleveland.

That was the biggest "dick move" for me. When just before he announced, he said that only the team that he's going to knows where he's going. That's when all of the other suitors found out that he wasn't going to play for them. A quick personal phone call to each one, especially the Cavs, would have been the more decent thing to do.

The most decent thing to do? Not the fucking TV show that's for damn sure.

[shadowgrin]

What sacrifice?

[Andrew]

In a nutshell: about twenty minutes of ESPN analysts talking, somewhere between five and ten minutes of Jim Gray asking LeBron a bunch of questions leading up to "Where are you going?" then another half an hour of the analysts talking to LeBron and amongst themselves.

[NovU]

it's not that big the sacrifice he made.For some millions?
He will get the double from commercials and contracts with companies!
Won't we see new commercials with the new Heat Trio?
Moneywise it's not that great sacrifice.

Lebron, Bosh and Wade all only get paid 16.6 mil I think or somewhere around there. All sacrificed 30+ mil. Didn't think Lebron would give in due to his known ego problems. That deserved some credits imo.

Lebron now has to share the spot lights with fellow stars. That should be a huge risk in case if it doesn't work out, it'll surely end up hurting his legacy and fame. Him leaving the CLE, he took some heavy blows to his reputation yet he still went through it to be with his friends. That also deserves credits. Overall, he gave up a lot to be with Wade and Bosh as he already stated in his interview. That is being overlooked by angry fans. Most importantly, some even go far and claim he's no longer in the discussion of the greatests.

[George7]

He will be in the discussion of the greatests for all his career.But if he win a championship now,it will be different with winning a ring at a team where he's the only star (Cleveland ,NJ,LAC) or where he has stars with him,but of lower caliber(Chicago,New York).He won't get that credit for it,unless HEAT are plaged by injuries and takes the team on his own without the other Big 2 healthy in the Playoffs.
Kobe won a ring both ways.And with Huge Help(Shaq) and with less than that (2009-10)
Jordan won a ring leading his team(Despite having a decent squad,the players on the roster were from a lower calliber.Only Pippen was considered somewhat near to him)
Now LeBron will have Wade and Bosh,who(especially Wade and Bosh not that much,he's a level lower than those 2) are on his level.
Wade of 2006 should be in the discussion of the greatests.he took the team on his own with not that big help by Shaq.

[shadowgrin]

Lebron, Bosh and Wade all only get paid 16.6 mil I think or somewhere around there. All sacrificed 30+ mil. Didn't think Lebron would give in due to his known ego problems. That deserved some credits imo.

Lebron now has to share the spot lights with fellow stars. That should be a huge risk in case if it doesn't work out, it'll surely end up hurting his legacy and fame. Him leaving the CLE, he took some heavy blows to his reputation yet he still went through it to be with his friends. That also deserves credits.

Financial sacrifice? You make it sound like they are bums that desperately need the money. The contracts will probably be not front-loaded, that's about it.

Hurt his legacy? How?

His reputation will take a blow? He did all those things to himself - the Magic playoff incident, the dunk tape, the dancing to mock opponents when they are losing and he gets angry when someone (Noah) calls him out on it, his whole attention whoring of the free agency. All the "heavy blows" to his reputation are self-inflicted. Don't make him out to be the victim.

[Oznogrd]

Kobe won a ring both ways.And with Huge Help(Shaq) and with less than that (2009-10)

when are people going to admit Pau Gasol has as much to do with Lakers championships as kobe?

[koberulz]

His reputation will take a blow? He did all those things to himself - the Magic playoff incident, the dunk tape, the dancing to mock opponents when they are losing and he gets angry when someone (Noah) calls him out on it, his whole attention whoring of the free agency.

Also, the dunk contest.

[NovU]

shadofuckingrin, how is he not a victim in this case?

Don't be a hypocrite. Are you telling me classless billionaire clown owner and his stupid followers are the victims here? We only talking on this simple issue of Lebron signing with the Heat over Cavaliers and his current bashers.

[Jeffx]

Wow, Gilbert isn't pulling any punches. Can't blame him for being upset and he's certainly got a point about the way LeBron handled his decision and subsequent announcement, but there are some pretty bold statements there; not the least of which is the guarantee the Cavs will win a championship before the Heat. And as has already been pointed out, part of the reason LeBron is leaving has to be the shortcomings and mismanagement of Gilbert and his appointed brass. Still, I'm interested to see what else he has to say.

It's sour grapes from Gilbert, Andrew. I understand the anger from him and Cavs fans, but in America, people have freedom of choice to work wherever they want. I guess that doesn't apply to pro athletes.