The season ended Cavs thread...and NBA discussion in general

[Warthog]

He should have done what I so often do. I type out exactly what I want to say and then press "delete."

From the Plain Dealer's Cavaliers beat writer Brian Windhorst: "Trust me from as who's dealt with Gilbert, I can only imagine what the first draft looked like. This was probably PR team's compromise."

[Jacobs4Heisman]

Wow - kind of odd for a guy that powerful to be that ill-tempered. Personally - I love it. He might have just shot into my top-5 owners.

As far as LeBron, I'll never respect him again. This was the worst possible thing he could have done as far as his legacy. No matter what happens for the rest of his life, he'll be remembered as the guy that not only had no idea how his actions reflect upon him, but also could not get it done without a superteam. It's not that much different from Kobe getting Shaq, or Jordan having Pippen. But those guys had it on their team, and were clearly the alpha male. LeBron just gave up his lead status to go try and win a 'ship on Wade's team. Unprecedented, and really stupid for a guy who seems to care so much about his image and legacy. Like I said, I'll never view him as one of the greats after this, and many others won't as well. He could win the next 10 titles, and I'll still think he's a bitch.

[Lord_Byron]

. . . He could win the next 10 titles, and I'll still think he's a bitch.

LOL. . .

I haven't gone to any sports sites yet, came here first.

In my mind, he'll never be as bad as the Browns owner who shall remain nameless. He could have owned NE Ohio for the rest of his life (see: Feller, Bob; Kosar, Bernie) but he chose not to.

I was a Cavs fan long before he was born, and remain one today and in the future. I share Mr. Gilbert's sentiments, and hope he can follow up.

Sorry, J4H, but the only good news out of this is that he's not in Chicago.

[Globetrotter]

You have to love Dan Gilbert. Its like pro wrestling now with them calling eachother out. "Let me tell you something brother".

Lebron looks like a complete moron for not going to Miami but for holding a press conference to publicly tell everyone he is going to Miami. He was only going to please 1/6th of the people he was teasing so making a spectacle out of turning down the other 5 teams was ridiculous, even if he did it under the veil of the big brothers big sisters. My two favorite teams are now the Bulls and whoever plays Miami. They just became the Yankees.

What annoys me more than anything are the ESPN apologists who know where their bread is buttered and are kissing lebrons azz. If you watch the guys less tied into the system keep challenging the situation as absurd and the more party line guys just get quiet or change the subject. Hilarious.

[Lord_Byron]

Good analysis by Rosenberg on SI.Com:

Rosenberg Column July 9

As I was thinking about this, a memory came back to me that I had forgotten. A couple of years ago, the Cavs played an exhibition game here in Rochester. The arena sold out. Packed with kids wearing LeBron shirts.

Well, Lebron decides he needs to rest and sits out the game. No problem so far, but a lot of people are pissed. In the second half, he gets up and starts walking to the scorer's table like he's going to check in to the game. People cheer, he turns around walks back to the bench and starts laughing.

Sort of like last night.

[Flipper]

Maybe we'll start hearing a lot of juicy "yeah, I hit that too...a couple of times with Delonte" ...stories from his former teammates...

[Warthog]

LeBron just gave up his lead status to go try and win a 'ship on Wade's team.

Couldn't agree more. If Lebron was the leader that we thought he was, he would have convinced Bosh to come to Cleveland. He would have told Bosh, 'I'm staying here, you want to play with me or D-Wade'. (Had to use D-Wade because I don't think James used any other name for him last night, it was D-Wade this, D-Wade that.) Give him the 'you're either with me or against me'. But no, he let Bosh pick Miami over Cleveland. So James then decides, well, I might as well go there too.

Honestly, I dont even believe that is how it went down. I think these guys had this figured out weeks ago. The whole Wade in Chicago thing was just for show. Make this all the more dramatic. But they screwed it up by letting Bosh announce he was going to Miami. That's what makes James look even more like a follower. If James says Miami first with Wade, then it looks like James is making the decisions. This way just makes it look like Wade is the top dog. And given that James is going to Wade's team in Wade's town just gives that more weight.

[Redwingtom]

It's too bad we don't have access to the old forum as it would be neat to re-visit some of the old quotes about him leaving/not leaving.

Anyway, I never respected him as a player because of all the antics so I have nothing invested in his decision. I think this could eventually come around to really biting him in the arse as he has even more pressure on him to win now. Anything short of a title will be considered a demonstrative failure on his part.

And Jordan was held down by the Pistons for three years before they broke through. He did not give up and give in and leave for perceived greener pastures. Instead he re-focused and got better.

[factman]

Maybe that was the deciding factor......mom was looking for some new men!

[Jacobs4Heisman]

LeBron just gave up his lead status to go try and win a 'ship on Wade's team.

Couldn't agree more. If Lebron was the leader that we thought he was, he would have convinced Bosh to come to Cleveland. He would have told Bosh, 'I'm staying here, you want to play with me or D-Wade'. (Had to use D-Wade because I don't think James used any other name for him last night, it was D-Wade this, D-Wade that.) Give him the 'you're either with me or against me'. But no, he let Bosh pick Miami over Cleveland. So James then decides, well, I might as well go there too.

Honestly, I dont even believe that is how it went down. I think these guys had this figured out weeks ago. The whole Wade in Chicago thing was just for show. Make this all the more dramatic. But they screwed it up by letting Bosh announce he was going to Miami. That's what makes James look even more like a follower. If James says Miami first with Wade, then it looks like James is making the decisions. This way just makes it look like Wade is the top dog. And given that James is going to Wade's team in Wade's town just gives that more weight.

I think they had this decided years ago, and this whole build-up to this summer and spectacle was for show. I don't think Bron will ever be mentioned among the greats, no matter what he does in Miami.

I'm also terribly surprised the union is allowing these guys to take less money to make this happen.

Now we can all root for Wade to breakdown. Or for a lockout to eat into these douchebags' primes.

[Class of 61]

I respect the sentiment, but Dan is retarded if he thinks the Cavs will come anywhere near a title before the superfriends win 1. They could win 3 before the Cavs even make it out of the first round.

Would have been good for the NBA had he stayed, but the writing was on the wall for a looooooooooong long time. Surprised at what happened, but not at all that he left.

Bulls missed out on the Big 3, but at least they now have a lock on the central for the next few years. The rest of the league better hope Wade breaks down, because if those 3 stay healthy, they will crush everybody in the playoffs. Every team in the league should bring back the "Jordan rules", and rename them the Heat rules. Any time one of those 3 gets in the lane, clothesline. It will be the only way to beat them.

The only question I have now is.... if EACH of these guys is "willing" to take a paltry 17 million...then Miami has a TOTAL of Seven Mill. for the REST OF THE ROSTER according to the 58 mill. salary cap... supposedly, there are only 2 other guys currently on their roster now.... so how do you spread 7 million out among NINE other players? Personally, I hope they fall apart financially as well as artisticly....... As to Gilbert's letter, good for him...though he's probably a bit "over the top" re: Cavs winning NBA before LBJ and Co.

[jacojdm]

Maybe we'll start hearing a lot of juicy "yeah, I hit that too...a couple of times with Delonte" ...stories from his former teammates...

It's clear that he took his mother's advice to heart since he decided to screw his teammates.

[hammb]

See, I'm really not that pissed at LeBron for leaving. It was well within his rights to leave as a FA, and I really don't think he owed anything to the city of Cleveland. Hell, I know I'd much rather be in South Beach than Cleveland (or any of the other mentioned cities)...who wouldn't? You also cannot argue that leaving puts him in a better shot to win titles than what he has in Cleveland (you could make a case that Chicago makes more sense than Miami, but either way). I just don't think he owes Cleveland anything, and it's his right as a FA to move on.

That being said I do think that he was a total egomaniac douche bag throughout this process. I do believe he probably led the Cavs to believe that he was going to re-sign with them. I also think the dog & pony show he put forth was nothing more than ego stroking...did you see his face last night how he smiled at how much he LOVED the "process". He enjoyed having all these NBA execs sucking his dick for the past weeks. I also think creating this hour long TV special just so he can rub it in the face of his hometown fans is ridiculously selfish.

All along I thought he would stay in Cleveland for no other reason than I thought he cared more about his legacy than anything. Clearly that has been proven incorrect. He has DESTROYED his legacy. He says he will still live in Akron, but he will no longer be able to show his face in that city. I still don't think he's as hated as Modell (The city wil always be Browns first and foremost anyhow). More than just alienating his hometown fans I said last night as soon as he announced it the exact same things that J4H is saying. He has now set himself up to not possibly EVER be considered one of the greats in NBA history. He'll always be a mercenary that had to join up with a super team to win. I commend him for choosing winning over money, but he also showed that he's quite wiling to be the Robin to Wade's BatMan. You know damn good and well that Jordan or Kobe or any of the other great NBA stars would have never made that decision. You don't go down as an all time great when you choose to play second fiddle. It's just not what we admire in an athlete.

On the plus side I now no longer have to pretend to care about the NBA. I've never been a big fan of the game at that level anyhow, but LeBron made me interested. Hometown boy becoming a superstar in his home city was a great story. Now that he's a bag of douche and gone from Cleveland I have no idea why anybody would care about the Cavs...they certainly didn't care before he got there.

[Redwingtom]

I still don't think Miami will win the title next year. They have a nobody for a coach and it takes a great coach to handle one superstar, much less 2-1/2.

And who is going to take the shots down the stretch?

Not to mention as previously noted, Miami has nothing left on the roster and no money to acquire anybody of value. If the big 3 have to play 45-46 minutes a game during the season, they will be shot for the playoffs.

[truth]

I think the Bulls are the better overall team. NBA teams have to have a bench to win in the playoffs.