War Of Words: Barkley Vs. LeBron (Is Barkley Right?)

[Clueminati017]

Charles Barkley had a message for LeBron James this week. James gave him one back on Friday.

On TNT's "Inside the NBA" show Thursday, Barkley criticized James for entertaining questions about 2010 earlier this week in New York.

"The outside forces should never affect your locker room," Barkley said. "I think LeBron has made some of the right comments, but he hasn't made the perfect comment. He still alienated 11 guys in his locker room. What I mean by that, he hasn't said, 'We are 12-3 right now, we are a championship-caliber team and we are going to win multiple championships here while I'm here, period, end of story.' "

The comments echoed what Barkley said on Dan Patrick's nationally syndicated radio show on Wednesday when he said, "If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up." On Friday, James shook his head when asked about the comments.

"He's stupid," James said of Barkley. "That's all I have to say about that."

Barkley, who in the past has been highly critical of the Cavs and, at times, the city, also said James isn't being considerate of the fans.

"LeBron James is one of my favorite players, but he's been 100 percent wrong in this situation," Barkley said. "It's unfair to the city of Cleveland and it's unfair to the Cleveland Cavaliers team. If it was a year away it would still be unfortunate. I wish he would sign a lifetime deal with the Cavaliers."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leg2qrkFzp4

[bowdown]

Yea barkley is right. Lebron is in Cleveland right now and is their leader. A leader does not go around giving mixed messages to his followers. Especially now that his team is showing great promise, he needs to stop flirting with his team and fans. It doesnt matter if he thinks he has the right to say whatever he want. He has a moral obligation to make the fans feel like they are not being screwed around with and he is not looking to just bolt.

PS: and I AM SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THIS ATTENTION HE IS GETTING EVEN 2 YEARS BEFORE. ESPN NEEDS TO STFU

hehehe

[Patr1ck]

"I'm not thinking about making a change at this point, I'm just trying to focus on the team I have here and the relationship I have with the Cavs,"
"When I decide to make the decision, it's going to basically put me in a position where I feel like I can win multiple championships. If it's staying here, I'll be here. If it's moving elsewhere, I'll have to look at my options."
"You do what's best for you and your family and what's best for your career. Loyalty definitely has a big part to do with it, but the time you spend with that respective team, you give a lot of loyalty. Every night I go out, I play hard. That's loyalty."
"It's hard. It's a business. The franchise is going to do what's best for the franchise. For some odd reason, when the players do what's best for the players, it always comes back on us and almost looks bad. But when a franchise decides to give up on a player, then it's OK. So we've got to do what's best for us."
"You've got to see how the season plays out. Just because you go to a different team with different players doesn't automatically guarantee you a championship. So I have to be smart about things and be patient."
"I think July 1, 2010, is a very big day. It's probably going to be one of the biggest days in free-agent history in the NBA. So a lot of teams are gearing up to try to prepare themselves to be able to put themselves in position to get one of the big free-agent market guys."

All I see is him being honest about the situation.

[Andrew]

I see where Barkley is coming from, perhaps honesty isn't the best policy in a situation like this and it would arguably be more tactful for LeBron to refuse comment on the summer of 2010 and steer things back towards what's happening this season. However, I don't think Barkley can accurately make the call that LeBron has alienated all his teammates and he's certainly not phoning it in so far this season. As for LeBron's comeback, he probably could've done better.

[Clueminati017]

Honestly, it's not right because I see this all the time. Superstars jumping to different teams because they want more money or a ring, and superstars complain they don't have any help because they can't bring anyone in to help out because of the franchise cap they have. LeBron is no Jordan. Just like Kobe although he's wising up now. Players in the 90s and below played the game because of the love. Where you can have a favorite player like Dominique Wilkins for the Atlanta Hawks, or Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't be a issue on saying. "I need more money." Or. "I want more players, but don't cut my salary." That's just selfishness to the extreme, and when players back then had endorsements to fall back on more than asking for more money. Look at the greed and downfall of Latrell Sprewell as a perfect example. LeBron may not be on that collision course like that, but playing with fans emotions as a Cav or Knick. He's basically making himself the most hated player that may come out. I agree with Chuck on that one, and the sport is a business where there's no need to tease fans like that.

[Patr1ck]

He's sort of building an expectation from Knick fans, and if he doesn't go there in 2010, I bet they will boo him. The same with Cleveland fans if he leaves.

[Clueminati017]

He's sort of building an expectation from Knick fans, and if he doesn't go there in 2010, I bet they will boo him. The same with Cleveland fans if he leaves.

Exactly. It's kinda like a morality killer for people to see. He's a remarkable player point blank where he was a watched talent since the 7th grade. I just wouldn't want that ego trip to happen.

[Oznogrd]

Honestly, it's not right because I see this all the time. Superstars jumping to different teams because they want more money or a ring, and superstars complain they don't have any help because they can't bring anyone in to help out because of the franchise cap they have. LeBron is no Jordan. Just like Kobe although he's wising up now. Players in the 90s and below played the game because of the love. Where you can have a favorite player like Dominique Wilkins for the Atlanta Hawks, or Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers shouldn't be a issue on saying. "I need more money." Or. "I want more players, but don't cut my salary." That's just selfishness to the extreme, and when players back then had endorsements to fall back on more than asking for more money. Look at the greed and downfall of Latrell Sprewell as a perfect example. LeBron may not be on that collision course like that, but playing with fans emotions as a Cav or Knick. He's basically making himself the most hated player that may come out. I agree with Chuck on that one, and the sport is a business where there's no need to tease fans like that.

I'm not saying I'm a fan but you do realize that these superstars are businesses doing what they do to make money right? They go where they can be paid the best according to them and the people close to them: Be that money (most), loyalty (scarcely any), or a championship (i.e. KG). For lebron at his age and the time barring horrific injury ahead of him: loyalty isnt going to be high on the list. Thinking that in the 90's players played "for the love of the game" anymore than they do now is nuts. Its never been about the love of the game as soon as you get paid the absurd amount of money even the worst player in the NBA makes.

[Andrew]

Well, I think it does come into play but it manifests itself in a different way. The players that are also playing for a love of the game, a passion for the sport, they're the ones that always give 100% and strive for excellence even when they've got millions of dollars guaranteed to come their way for x amount of years.

Found this interesting:
Knicks Tried To Lure Jordan In 1996

I can't help but wonder how serious the talks were and how close it truly was to being a reality. We'll probably never know, though the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, closer than David Falk would admit but not exactly one-foot-out-the-door close to Jordan leaving the Bulls either. It's an interesting parallel with LeBron's situation, though Jordan's success at the time as well as the Bulls having won the championship and being in a position to win more (which they did of course) and Chicago being a large market as well are key differences. However, my guess is that LeBron will likewise pick the team that he perceives as being able to compete for a championship since he'll make a lot of money one way or another whomever he plays for.

[Cleveland wins]

I'm a big fan of the cavs since 1982 16-66 year, but really don't care if they do loose lebron, and you know why? $60 million is why. The cavs will have plenty of cap room by then especially if they trade ben wallace. The summer of 2010 is gonna be one of the greatest summers for the nba offseason, probably ever. Cleveland could get bosh, wade and some other superstar free agents, danny ferry's smart, if they loose lebron then he can a bunch of other guys.

[Andrew]

Trading Ben Wallace is easier said than done though. Also, if LeBron James leaves because he doesn't feel the Cavs can be competitive enough, what incentive would other free agents have to sign with them? I wouldn't be surprised if at least one or two big names change teams in 2010 but I also think that offseason might turn out to be a little more boring than a lot of people anticipate, with a healthy amount of free agents staying put. Much can change between now and then though so come 2010 all our predictions could be out the window.

[Its_asdf]

What makes you think Wade won't command a similar amount to LeBron? With the way that he's been playing lately I'm sure he's not going to settle for anything less than what LeBron will get.

[Cleveland wins]

The cavs need another big man, particularly a powerforward. Bosh would be a great fit and if lebron leaves then bosh could be the main scorer down low. As much as i like wally z because he can shoot threes, he'll be a free agent at the end of 09 i think they should have at least 13 million in cap space. Maybe they can save that money maybe sign a couple of young 1 or 2 million dollar players to 1 or 2 year deals and use the rest to sign a superstar free agent like bosh in 2010. I hope there are some good small forwards that will be in this years draft in particular and maybe cleveland can scout a small forward who can be like a rudy gay or someone. What would make chris bosh come to cleveland is the fact that, he has a better chance to win a championship with cleveland then where he is now. Like i said, as much as i like wally, i don't think they should resign him, they need as much cap space as possible. But as far as other teams signing lebron to the max, how much more money does the guy need?

[Andrew]

What would make chris bosh come to cleveland is the fact that, he has a better chance to win a championship with cleveland then where he is now.

Who's to say that he would, especially if LeBron was to leave?

[Clueminati017]

What would make chris bosh come to cleveland is the fact that, he has a better chance to win a championship with cleveland then where he is now.

Who's to say that he would, especially if LeBron was to leave?

Really... You know how many players that they have to release in order to keep LeBron just to get Bosh? They have Mo Williams which that's good, but you're talking about Chris Bosh too as well placing him on the Cavs roster of 2010. LeBron is the highest paid player out of that draft class with Wade, Melo, & Bosh. In order for the Cavs to get Chris Bosh and keep LeBron James. They have to do the same thing like the Boston Celtics did when they've acquired both Kevin Garnett & Ray Allen. Danny Ainge dismantled the whole roster just to get them two for Doc Rivers, and look what both the success and the off season criticism they received. Is the GM of the Cavs are willing to do that for Mike Brown in order to get Bosh? Ask yourself that because I stand by Andrew on this one. Not only LeBron is thinking about New York, but there's another player thinking about New York too where I forgot his name. Along with bringing back Jamal Crawford where that's a huge possibility.