the guy stated he wants to win now, now he has a chance to do so. Its obvious that he has stopped caring about his massive one man ego and decided to join a super team to do so. This happens often in baseball (see roger clemens with the astros, roger clemens with the yankees the second time, pedro with the phillies, matt stairs with the phillies, etc), and i don't mind him at all doing this.

Doing this on a national stage however was over the top, but taking less money to join d-wade and bosh is a stroke of genius. I wish he hadn't played those other 5 teams like that, because they didnt deserve to be part of this charade.

I guarantee if james had made his announcement in a more subtle matter, everyone calls him a genius because he really wants to win now, and is putting his ego and a few millions aside to do so. I dont think he cares anymore about being jordan, he wants to be a champion now, and i don't mind that all.

That being said, i am a heat fan who is very excited about this, but understand the anger of the people on the board calling LBJ a coward or "Queen" James, as he no longer is the top dog.

I have a question for those who said he quit on his team. What about 2007, when he singlehandedly dickslapped the pistons to take the cavs to the finals? or maybe all those game winners he hit for them in the playoffs, or the fact that he took that franchise from the depths of shawn kemp to uber-stardom? The owner and the city should've been more grateful to him, even though he didn't leave them on the most ideal terms.

I've heard rumors that he will sign a 5 year deal with an opt out after 3 years. Watch bron go to BKLYN next

well, for what is important to lebron, he absolutely made the right choice. and as best i can tell, what was important to lebron was playing with wade and bosh.

i personally think chicago gave him a better chance at winning now and in the future, so if winning were all that truly mattered, i think he should've gone there.

He did what was best for him...Cleveland tried everything to help him out, and it wasn't working. Miami got their stuff together and presented him with what he wanted: a practically guaranteed chance of winning.

Imagine what it would be like if he was a Cav 6 years from now and still didn't have a title. Everyone would be questioning his decision to stay loyal if that was the case.

If his #1 priority is to win quickly, I still think his best option was Chicago with another max FA (Bosh, Boozer, whoever) plus their existing core.

Miami would have been a clear 2nd ahead of the others.

But that's just me.

Maybe he didn't want to follow MJ. Maybe he didn't like the Bulls management. Maybe he felt like he wouldn't have to be the man as much in Miami with Wade there. Who knows.

I think winning wise and marketing wise, miami was the worst choice.

But hey, it is a free country. I think he puts his brand at a real risk with the Miami option, if they do not win a title.

We will see.

[This message has been edited by viva torrente (edited 7/9/2010 9:54a).]

yeah, i'm not buying it. how does he know this is the best team for him to win with? there are like 4 players right now. what happens if they can't get any role players to do things like rebound, shoot open 3 pointers, give them breathers, etc.? this team is not built like a team that's geared toward winning. we have years and years of champions and I can't think of one that's been built this way. Chicago was tailor made for him to win.

if he wants to play with his buddies, that's fine, but don't put it under the guise of winning. and again, if he DOES win, the impact of that on his career and legacy will be muted by the fact that he needed wade (a proven winner) to help him get there.

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how does he know this is the best team for him to win with?

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you're kidding, right?

bosh+wade+him+a ton of veterans who will gladly take the minimum to win a title will go to the finals next season

boozer is never healthy, and i truly think bron still hates boozer after 2005

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a ton of veterans who will gladly take the minimum to win a title

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LMFAO

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LMFAO

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me too

you want to bet a lot of multi multi millionaires jump on board for next to nothing?

hell i already filed papers to the nba to become a free agent

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you want to bet a lot of multi multi millionaires jump on board for next to nothing?

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yes

I can MAYBE see Shaq doing it because his ego can't handle Kobe having more rings. Outside of him, it ain't happening.

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what happens if they can't get any role players to do things like rebound, shoot open 3 pointers, give them breathers, etc.?

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They just signed Mike Miller to a 5 year deal...he's been a deadly shooter in the past, but kind of had a slump last year because he played for the freaking Wizards. Anyways, that's a start. (5 yrs, $30 mil btw).

Here's what I don't understand. How can they afford that Miller contract?

well here is the deal that ive heard.

All three would sign for a combined 51 million, and they would use the other 7 million to sign other players

oh and the mike miller deal is far from a done deal. it was reported on twitter this morning that mike miller hasn't been offered that deal by the heat

Sweet, so they have one dude who can shoot from the outside coming off the bench. Two dudes on the wing who can't shoot effectively outside but can create lots of open shots for...who? And finally, they have a post player who isn't actually an effective post. He would rather be about 15-16 feet out.

This experiment could be a disaster if everything goes right.

They'll have some broken down old men that used to be good players lining up, but they aren't good players anymore.

[This message has been edited by Danny Duberstein (edited 7/9/2010 10:17a).]

Honestly, I just don't see how these pieces fit together. Boston's 3 made sense from a basketball standpoint. Miami's make sense from a 'friends want to ball with each other' standpoint.

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He did what was easiest for him

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exactly

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fixed

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Boston's 3 made sense from a basketball standpoint. Miami's make sense from a 'friends want to ball with each other' standpoint.

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Best analysis I've heard so far.

If he wants to win now and cement his legacy as one of the greatest players ever, I think he made the wrong choice. If he wants to play and party with his buddies in South Beach, I think he made the right choice.

I think:
Joakim Noah/vet FA
Chris Bosh/Taj Gibson
Luol Deng/James Johnson
LeBron/vet FA
Rose/vet FA

is a better team than

Vet FA/Vet FA
Bosh/Vet FA
Bron/Vet FA
Mike Miller/Vet FA
DWade/Mario Chalmers

In addition, taking the deal in Chicago installs LeBron as THE MAN. HE is the leading force. In Miami, he joined Finals MVP Dwyane Wade's team.

On top of that, Wade hasn't been the healthiest guy ever. Do you think that a team of Bosh/Bron/Miller/Chalmers and a half dozen minimum-contract guys are going to win a ton of games? You let Bosh and Bron each score 35, and hold the rest of the team to 10.

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Doing this on a national stage however was over the top, but taking less money to join d-wade and bosh is a stroke of genius. I wish he hadn't played those other 5 teams like that, because they didnt deserve to be part of this charade.

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I agree, and the way he did that will always detract from his legacy.

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I've heard rumors that he will sign a 5 year deal with an opt out after 3 years.

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I could be wrong, but I believe you can only opt out with 1 year remaining on contracts.

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you want to bet a lot of multi multi millionaires jump on board for next to nothing?

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Most of those guys suck ass at managing their money and need to make as much as possible while they can. They can't take 400k for a year when they could make 5mm. It will break them.

You know why Stern completely bent the NBA players over in the 99 lockout and got pretty much everything he wanted? Because most of the NBA players were living paycheck to pay check, and while they were not playing, they were defaulting on their mortgages, their dozens of ridiculous cars they were upside down in and had a hungry entourage. That same thing will play out next year, too.

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They just signed Mike Miller to a 5 year deal...he's been a deadly shooter in the past, but kind of had a slump last year because he played for the freaking Wizards. Anyways, that's a start. (5 yrs, $30 mil btw).

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And they are officially out of cap space, now. They have 5 players. Wade/Bron/Bosh/Miller/Chalmers.

Good analysis GS. Chicago would have been built to last for a while. Miami is going to struggle to put a viable team around these 3.

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Most of those guys suck ass at managing their money and need to make as much as possible while they can. They can't take 400k for a year when they could make 5mm. It will break them.

You know why Stern completely bent the NBA players over in the 99 lockout and got pretty much everything he wanted? Because most of the NBA players were living paycheck to pay check, and while they were not playing, they were defaulting on their mortgages, their dozens of ridiculous cars they were upside down in and had a hungry entourage. That same thing will play out next year, too.

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i completely agree with this analysis

however, we'll see who signs with the heat. Those that do, i bet have a better hold of their finances than the average nba player

The Chicago vs Miami debate is a good one.

Miami:
Yes Wade has a history of injury problems, but with Lebron and Bosh to take a lot of the load, I think he won't have to take such a pounding.

I can't really argue the fact that Miami will have some trouble filling out their roster with good talent, but the big 3 will help make up for any lack from the other spots.

Don't they get Minnesota's 1st round pick next year or the year after? That will probalby bring them a top 10 rookie. Sure it is a year or 2 off, but it will help.

Was Bosh gauranteed to go to Chicago if LeBron went?


Chicago:
I think if Lebron is in Chicago, you take some of Rose's effectiveness away. Correct me if I am wrong, but he is a slashing scorer/passer. I don't think Lebron is going to turn into a spot up shooter.

I don't get/guy into all the Noah hype all of a sudden.

Who's to say Rose doesn't have the same injury problems Wade has had down the road? They seem like they play similar styles.

Again a good debate whether he should have gone to Chicago or Miami, but leaving the Cavs was the smart move. I obviously think Miami was the better move as you can tell by listing only pros for Miami and cons for Chicago.

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I don't get/guy into all the Noah hype all of a sudden

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You obviously didn't watch many Bulls games the last year or so. He is a VERY important component to their success, not unlike Dennis Rodman was. There was some All-Star talk for him, too. I don't think he's quite there yet, be he's not far off. Plus you have current All-Stars Rose and Boozer on the roster already, along with Luol Deng and a good young F in Taj Gibson.

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Miami:
Yes Wade has a history of injury problems, but with Lebron and Bosh to take a lot of the load, I think he won't have to take such a pounding.

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I disagree. Because you only have three guys who can really score (Miller needs to be set up) each player is going to have to carry a pretty heavy load. If one guy has an off night, the other two are going to have to work on everything.

You can't count on your bench.
You can't count on a role player having a big night.
Those three have to do it every night.

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Don't they get Minnesota's 1st round pick next year or the year after? That will probalby bring them a top 10 rookie. Sure it is a year or 2 off, but it will help.

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I believe the only outstanding pick Miami has coming to them is Toronto's first rounder next year, but it is top-14 protected for the next 4 years. That was for the Marion-ONeal trade.

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Was Bosh gauranteed to go to Chicago if LeBron went?

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I think if you told Bosh: Hey come with me to CHicago to play with Rose/Noah/Gibson/Deng he goes there over going to Miami to play with Wade, Chalmers and Beasley.

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I think if Lebron is in Chicago, you take some of Rose's effectiveness away. Correct me if I am wrong, but he is a slashing scorer/passer. I don't think Lebron is going to turn into a spot up shooter.

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Could you imagine a pick and roll with Rose and Bron, where LBJ sets the pick, then they both slash directly to the basket? That would be unstoppable. Or do the same thing with LBJ/Noah. Or LBJ/Bosh. Or Rose/Noah and Bosh sets the backside pick for Bron. That's a ridiculous team.

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I don't get/guy into all the Noah hype all of a sudden.

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He is one of the best defensive centers in the NBA, willingly does the dirty work and averaged 11/11/2 this year. And he is just 24.

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Who's to say Rose doesn't have the same injury problems Wade has had down the road? They seem like they play similar styles.

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I don't think styles necessarily dictate injuries. Neither guy throws themself with reckless abandon like Ginobili.

Noah is an effing gamer.

Does all the dirty work. Averages 10 and 10. Plays tough D and great helpside D. At the end of the Cleveland rout in game 6 this past year, he was still crashing the offensive boards hard and taking charges. The guy is a winner, bottom line. And he's a perfect complimentary piece. I'm not sure if he'll ever be an All Star, but only because I'm not sure if he'll ever have the numbers. I'm excited to see how playing beside another banger like Boozer will elevate his game.

Can't you also imagine a pick and roll with Wade and Lebron? Or Lebron and Bosh?

I still think Wade will have less wear and tear on his body with lebron driving the lane a lot and Bosh posting up versus counting on Wade to drive the lane every time.

I admit finding a defensive center in Miami for small money will be tough, but I still don't think Noah is a great center.

You may be right on the draft picks, but I thought Minnesota and Miami were switching 1st rounders next year or the year after. That is why I thought they would get a top 10 pick versus picking late in the 1st round where Miami's pick would probably be.

His only real choices were Miami or Chicago.

Chicago would have been a hell of a team, BUT I'm sure Lebron is looking at Miami as Jordan/Pippen, Bird/mchale, magic/Kareem, etc - as he said in his interview.

In Chicago you have no real second superstar. Would have been a great team to compete with the Lakers though.

In Miami I'll bet you see him become even more of a triple-double type player, and devote more energy to defense, let Wade lead or draw in scoring, and then he has bosh to put up 20. They def need some more pieces, but chalmers is gonna all the sudden look like a MUCH better player and others that go there will have their game elevated as well.

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You can't count on your bench.
You can't count on a role player having a big night.
Those three have to do it every night.

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That sounds a lot better than "(Insert Lebron, DWade, or Bosh) has to do it every night on his own." That's how it's been the past couple years. If you name the 2nd & 3rd best players from the 2009-2010 Cavs, Heat, and Raptors, you're not exactly going to have an All-Star team. Just sayin.

Rose is going to be that second superstar and Boozer isn't chopped liver. That starting unit would have been money. No glaring hole in the starting line-up. Can't say that about Miami.

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In Chicago you have no real second superstar. Would have been a great team to compete with the Lakers though.

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Phone's for you. It's Derrick Rose.

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In Miami I'll bet you see him become even more of a triple-double type player, and devote more energy to defense, let Wade lead or draw in scoring

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So you agree that he will become Pippen to Wade's Jordan?

rose is not a superstar

rose is an all-star