Labron to Miami

[SoFlaBassAddict]

He is making the same as he would in New York. Cleveland was the only one who could pay him more the way the NBAs agreement is setup. He gave up on his hometown and the people who helped him grow and handled the situation in a terrible way is my only problems with it.

Actually, he's making less than he would in New York.  There, he would have had a max contract.  In Miami, he won't.  He's taking probably two million less than he would in New York, Chicago, etc etc.  Yes, in Cleveland with the current CBA he would have banked quite a bit more.

[1inStripes]

1 million a year is like me deciding to go to another company and taking a 5 cent pay cut.  Its not any different really.   Cleveland was the only one with a substantial difference in their ability to offer a contract.  And with the Knicks signing Amare, there really wasnt a difference available to them versus what the Heat could offer financially.  Both the Knicks and Heat could offer around the same amount and the Cavs could offer $5 million more a year over 6 years so a $30 million dollar difference.

[5bass]

I'm not a fan of the hour long announcement, nor the fact that he didnt even give Cleveland a courtesy call to let them know beforehand....but then again, that would've probably made the decision that much more difficult. That being said, Chris Bosh confirmed that LeBron begged him to come to Cleveland all the way up until this past weekend and only when he realized Bosh really didnt want to play in Cleveland, did LeBron start taking other offers seriously. LeBron at least tried to work it out to stay in Cleveland.

I don't blame LeBron one bit for wanting to win and taking a pay cut to do it. It speaks volumes for what he wants to accomplish during his career and that it's not all about money. Good for him. And D Wade. And Bosh.

[Matt Fly]

Boston laid the blueprint for championships. 

Wade, Bosh, and Lebron are smart enough to know and have seen how the 3 amigos in Boston was plastered in tons of ESPN promos before even winning the title.

    As for the supporting cast, who was Rondo and Perkins?   Seems to me, Boston's bench showed up, and I wonder how game 7 would have been with a healthy Perkins in the middle in the finals this year.

    Shaq would play for peanuts to get another ring.  Who else is on the later end of their careers who would play for peanuts.   Last time, Pat Riley had Zo come out of retirement to play alongside Shaq.

  Pat Riley will fill the holes.   Staying healthy is the only question here that I see in the east.

    

   

[Grey Wolf]

GO BROWNS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The king is dead , long live the king.

And Florida , he is a quitter , he wilted in the play-offs , he realized he wasn't "The KING" and needed some studs to carry him to his championships that he craves so much.

You people that are defending him have no idea what you are getting but you do deserve him.

I can imagine your tune would be different had he opted to stay in Cleveland. It's amazing how the home team never says anything about their star until he decides to take his ball and play somewhere else.

BTW, football isn't exactly Cleveland's strong point either...

  Didn't say it was a strong point(I assume you mean winning) but when you are a loosing team and still sell out every game , you're a football town. When the Cav's and the tribe have loosing seasons they don't come close to selling out.

As I said ,Cleveland is a Brown's town.

[SirSnookalot]

Wasn't an issue of money, he may do almost as well in Florida as there is no state income tax, that's why so many athletes and celebrities live here.  New York 6.85%, New Jersey 8.97%,IL state tax is 3% of federal income tax liability.  State tax is due not only on salary but endorsements and any other income.......it adds up.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Tee hee.  Man that looks nice.  Riley's already working more magic.  Bosh and LeBron come on sign and trades instead of outright contracts.  Looks like Mike Miller is close to signing as well.

[SirSnookalot]

I saw the three's interview, cocky sob's.......I'm betting half the civilized world hopes they fall flat on their *****......if they don't produce several championships they're gonna have a lot of egg on their faces.

Always best to stfu and just play the game, rather than gloating before stepping on to the court, failing and looking like an *******.

[Root beer]

I saw the three's interview, cocky sob's.......I'm betting half the civilized world hopes they fall flat on their *****......if they don't produce several championships they're gonna have a lot of egg on their faces.

Always best to stfu and just play the game, rather than gloating before stepping on to the court, failing and looking like an I'm a dork.

Tell Lane Kiffin that.  : : I know it totally unrelated to this discussion, but it same concept.

[GLADES]

Athletes change teams all the time. Their careers are short and with the salary cap it is difficult to put a championship team together. You can't fault the players for wanting the best chance for a championship.

Pat Riley has done this before, and he understands that you cannot build through the draft in the NBA.

Cleveland lost a great player, and Miami now has the potential to win a few rings.

they just have to add a few complimentary players to fill out their roster.

The Cleveland coach's comments were in bad taste and a poor reflection of him as a man and coach in the NBA.

[GLADES]

I saw the three's interview, cocky sob's.......I'm betting half the civilized world hopes they fall flat on their *****......if they don't produce several championships they're gonna have a lot of egg on their faces.

Always best to stfu and just play the game, rather than gloating before stepping on to the court, failing and looking like an I'm a dork.

It was a publicity stunt. I am sure behind the scenes the was some smack going back and forth between the teams and owners.

Mickey Arison just stuck it in the eye of the Cav's owner. The players were just showing off for the fans...and maybe sending a message to the LA team? I thought the whole thing was amusing.

[SlateTundra]

The entire NBA is in an uproar because of this one man's decision. It goes to show how much power/influence he has and you can see why so many are so upset.

Sort of reminds me of the whole debacle here in WI when Favre left Green Bay. So quick to crucify & judge him after all he's done for the organization.

He honored his contract with the Cavs. Took their organization to a whole new level. Brought TONS of cash to their city/state. A free agent, free to sign with whomever. Took less in order to win. Isn't this the perfect painting of what the media & fans have desired for so long out of a pro athlete?! And yet...people continued to crucify him for a decision he had every right to make. Damned if you do...damned if you don't. Face it people...whatever decision he made...whether to stay or go...there was bound to be some type of backlash from it.

Dan Gilbert...wants to talk about LBJ's loyalty, narcissistic behavior, and desire to play the game. It's a business (he should know) and there's no loyalty in it. He and the Cavs made him into the monster that he is. If he's a quitter, why was he willing to pay top $$ for a quitter and why was he so upset that he decided to leave?! Sounds like he was more ticked off the fact that LBJ was walking out of town and taking all the $$ with him.

Well, what's been done is done. Miami's got BIG expectations in the upcoming season. All eyes will be on them.

[1inStripes]

Tee hee. Man that looks nice. Riley's already working more magic. Bosh and LeBron come on sign and trades instead of outright contracts. Looks like Mike Miller is close to signing as well.

Now, remind me again what you said about him taking less money to join the sizzle?  Like I said, I don't think so.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Cleveland simply could have given him more money with the current CBA.  He's taken what would roughly be like 30 million less over the term of a contract.

On another note, the Heat are sticking it to the Cavs fans again.  Looks like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who played for the Cavs for 14 years, is following LeBron to Miami.

[1inStripes]

In a sign and trade you can get the max deal, but players must be moved in equal value if I am not mistaken.  Still that little thing called income tax makes a difference too.

[Grey Wolf]

Cleveland simply could have given him more money with the current CBA. He's taken what would roughly be like 30 million less over the term of a contract.

On another note, the Heat are sticking it to the Cavs fans again. Looks like Zydrunas Ilgauskas, who played for the Cavs for 14 years, is following LeBron to Miami.

Z will probably be the worst player you guys will have.

He was an excellent player in his day but his day is over.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Not to make an unfair comparison, but a lot of the bit players on the classic great teams, Jordan/Pippen, Boston's Big Three, Old Boston with Bird, etc etc, all had players that were considered washed up, or way beyond their prime.  In many cases those guys turned out to be very important for the team in the long run.  I'm not saying he'll be one of those guys, but he's being surrounded by ridiculous talent.  You never know what can happen.

[SirSnookalot]

30 million dollars is a big deal to anyone on this forum but in the upper echelon of the sports world it isn't.  By the time fed and state income taxes are figured in the top income bracket 30 mil difference shrinks up pretty good.

The " 3 " have raised the bar pretty high for themselves by declaring to be the best "3" ever on a court at the same time.  A lot of championships already won would argue with that statement and be able to prove it.  They will be the laughing stock of the NBA if they fail to make the playoffs this year, let a lone a championship.