The LeBron James Free Agency Thread

[SandraC]

I SAID there were advantages to signing with either a Texas team or a Florida team because of the tax situation. I ALSO stated that because of those tax situations, Lebron MAY chose to play in Miami. The more than likely reason he never signed with Florida is because he knew full well they would never pay his signing price. IF Florida HAD the money to do that....they would have signed him a LONG time ago.

I brought up him living in Florida because he has ALWAYS chose to live here for those and a way of life reasons, not to mention he is from here and his children are here.

The bottom line is as A-Rod has proven, you don't have to play in the city or state to reap the tax benefits, you just have to live there. So while Lebron may choose Miami for other reasons (I don't know, something like...winning ), saying he'll choose it for tax reasons is very much a stretch.


Sandra

 

[SabresRule]

IF LeBron were to go to Chicago, he could solve world hunger and cure the economic crisis, yet he would still have the Jordan shadow looming over him no matter what. IMHO, a no-win situation.

 

[salsadancer7]

The bottom line is as A-Rod has proven, you don't have to play in the city or state to reap the tax benefits, you just have to live there. So while Lebron may choose Miami for other reasons (I don't know, something like...winning ), saying he'll choose it for tax reasons is very much a stretch.


Sandra

I did not say that was the reason, I said that was one of the benefits of signing with them....Jesus, Mary and Joseph...what part did you not understand?

 

[salsadancer7]

IF LeBron were to go to Chicago, he could solve world hunger and cure the economic crisis, yet he would still have the Jordan shadow looming over him no matter what. IMHO, a no-win situation.

I don't know where this whole shadow thing is coming from. For as spoiled as those fans were...they would take ONE MORE championship in a heartbeat. Believe me when I tell you....they KNOW the difference between Michael Jordan and anyone else. And they KNOW that Lebron is just not there yet.

 

[SandraC]

I did not say that was the reason, I said that was one of the benefits of signing with them....Jesus, Mary and Joseph...what part did you not understand?

The part where you think someone would actually sign with one team over another not because of the chance to win a championship, not because of coaching, not because of who his teammates will be, not because of endorsements or other business opportunities, not because of family considerations...but because the sales tax is lower.


Sandra

 

[salsadancer7]

The part where you think someone would actually sign with one team over another not because of the chance to win a championship, not because of coaching, not because of who his teammates will be, not because of endorsements or other business opportunities, not because of family considerations...but because the sales tax is lower.


Sandra

You have some SERIOUS read comprehension issues.....

At NO POINT did I say that was THE ONLY reason to sign with either a Texas or Florida team, I stated that HAS TO BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. I ALSO stated it as to South Beach and the weather not being the only reasons alot of athletes sign here and live here.

As far as endorsements, that is no longer an issue in a global, virtual market. Has living in Cleveland actually stopped Lebron from making millions in endorsements? He can hop in a lear jet and be in NYC, Chicago or LA within 4 hours.

But that is ok, continue convoluting the issue with ....."fluff"...LOL!

 

[salsadancer7]

Lebron, Bosh and Wade IN MIAMI.....hmmmm....

VERY interesting....

According to Steven A. Smith, Lebron AND Bosh will sign with Miami with Wade.

The Flagship Station for South Florida Sports

Click on the section where it says "790 the Ticket in demand"....

...then click on Steven A. Smith - Philadelphia Enquirer 06-28-10 ...

Great audio and fun to listen to. Do I think it will happen? I don't think so. But I hope I am wrong.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

IF LeBron were to go to Chicago, he could solve world hunger and cure the economic crisis, yet he would still have the Jordan shadow looming over him no matter what. IMHO, a no-win situation.

Does Kobe have an Earvin Johnson shadow?
Did Larry Bird have a John Havlicek shadow?

Many great players have come after great players and created their own legacies. LeBron would be no different. Enough years have passed and the fans are hungry to win again.

 

[Sparkman]

Does Kobe have an Earvin Johnson shadow?
Did Larry Bird have a John Havlicek shadow?

Many great players have come after great players and created their own legacies. LeBron would be no different. Enough years have passed and the fans are hungry to win again.

Completely agree with Cosmo. Chicago fans won't worry about comparing LeBron to Michael, they want Lebron there to win. Period.

 

[salsadancer7]

Does Kobe have an Earvin Johnson shadow?
Did Larry Bird have a John Havlicek shadow?

Many great players have come after great players and created their own legacies. LeBron would be no different. Enough years have passed and the fans are hungry to win again.

excellent point! :up

 

[HD MM]

You know what, I've been thinking. If LeBron teams up and joins forces with another superstar or two and he goes on to win a Championship, to me, it will be tainted and won't mean nearly as much as if he did it here.

Wasn't this the guy that hated losing so much that he wouldn't shake the Orlando Magic's hands after the '09 ECF loss? Wasn't this the guy that was supposed to be the MVP of the league two years in a row and take the team on his shoulders when it mattered most? I realize he can't do it all on his own, but the team he had the last two years was plenty capable of winning, but they flopped. And when you're the leader of the team, that falls back on LeBron. Not the coach, not the GM, not the guy sleeping with LeBron's mom, it falls on LeBron himself.

To me, if he leaves now, it's a cop-out. A sign that he is scarred of flopping again. A sign that he's too weak to do what he came here to do. A sign that he needs help. A sign that the media appointed "chosen one", aka "king" can't handle the pressure cooker and needs someone else to pick him up when the stakes are at the highest. That to me is weak.

Isn't that what a superstar is supposed to do? Be the guy when it matters most? That didn't happen these past playoffs. LeBron was a shell of his former self in these playoffs. If he leaves now with unfinished business, a future championship (if it ever happens) will forever be tainted.

 

[cosmo_kramer]

You know what, I've been thinking. If LeBron teams up and joins forces with another superstar or two and he goes on to win a Championship, to me, it will be tainted and won't mean nearly as much as if he did it here.

To whom, LeBron?? Joining forces with another superstar is probably what he needs to get that ring. It's clear the Cavs as currently constituted are built for the regular season. Cap-wise, they are limited in making major additions other than retaining LBJ.

Look at Kevin Garnett. The T-Wolves tried for years to get the right cast around him. After joining Pierce and Allen in Boston he has won one ring and almost a second. Remember KG's comment after the Cavs series??:

"Honestly, he's gonna have to make a decision on not just him, but his family and his future," Garnett said when asked in his postgame press conference what LeBron would have to deal with.

"Loyalty is something that hurts you at times because you can't get youth back. I can honestly say that if I can go back and do my situation over, knowing what I know now with this organization, I'd of done it a little sooner.

Wasn't this the guy that hated losing so much that he wouldn't shake the Orlando Magic's hands after the '09 ECF loss? Wasn't this the guy that was supposed to be the MVP of the league two years in a row and take the team on his shoulders when it mattered most? I realize he can't do it all on his own, but the team he had the last two years was plenty capable of winning, but they flopped. And when you're the leader of the team, that falls back on LeBron. Not the coach, not the GM, not the guy sleeping with LeBron's mom, it falls on LeBron himself.

I've bolded the key part of this statement.

To me, if he leaves now, it's a cop-out. A sign that he is scarred of flopping again. A sign that he's too weak to do what he came here to do. A sign that he needs help. A sign that the media appointed "chosen one", aka "king" can't handle the pressure cooker and needs someone else to pick him up when the stakes are at the highest. That to me is weak.

In this year's playoffs, did Kobe do it all on his own?? He may have been voted the MVP, but he obviously had key help from several other teammates throughout the playoffs...

 

[HD MM]

The difference between KG in Minnesota was that the T-Wolves were never the best regular season for two consecutive seasons.

I am still convinced the Cavs were plenty capable of winning at least one Championship in the last two years, but we didn't play up to potential.

 

[SandraC]

You have some SERIOUS read comprehension issues.....

Here we go again. When your argument doesn't work, attack the other poster. Directly from the "Internet Tough Guy 101" handbook.

Good stuff


Sandra

 

[Sparkman]

As heard on Mike & Mike this AM?

Were Jordan's championships tainted because he had Pippen?
Were Magic Johnson's because he had Kareem?.
How about Wade when he had Shaq?

LeBron should needs to win one before this discussion even becomes relevant

 

[SandraC]

In this year's playoffs, did Kobe do it all on his own?? He may have been voted the MVP, but he obviously had key help from several other teammates throughout the playoffs...

This is a very good point. Even Kobe is not winning the championship with the cast they have right now in Cleveland. Take Kobe off LA, take Lebron off Cleveland, and have the two teams play each other. Not even close.


Sandra

 

[HD MM]

As heard on Mike & Mike this AM?

Were Jordan's championships tainted because he had Pippen?
Were Magic Johnson's because he had Kareem?.
How about Wade when he had Shaq?

LeBron should needs to win one before this discussion even becomes relevant

Hand raised! Can I answer?!!!!

The difference here is that Jordan, Magic and Wade were on the same teams they won a Championship from day 1. Teams and players were built around them or were already there.

A true leader/ elite player/ MVP doesn't run off for a better situation. He does everything in his power to win with the situation he has, which in my opinion has been enough for him to win, although he hasn't capitalized, yet.

If he runs off to hand pick his "perfect destination", then any future Championship will be tainted.

 

[HD MM]

BTW, what is all this "team up" speculation? Can you imagine Jordan colluding with Bird or Magic in their hey-day to form some sort of hand picked dynasty? Hell no! Jordan, Bird and Magic hated eachother and did it on their own!

 

[Sparkman]

Question? Is this a basketball only thing that makes championships tainted? Otherwise, just about every World Series champion is tainted. And I don't think you can compare this to the Bird days like that, free agency like this wasn't an option, who know what they would have done if they could have changed teams.

 

[HD MM]

Question? Is this a basketball only thing that makes championships tainted? Otherwise, just about every World Series champion is tainted. And I don't think you can compare this to the Bird days like that, free agency like this wasn't an option, who know what they would have done if they could have changed teams.

It's a basketball only thing.

Each of the major sports are too dissimilar to compare.

In the MLB, there's no cap, so buying the "best players" at every position is within the realm of possibility... if your team has the money. Even so, a starting lineup consists of 9-10 players and 1 or 2 players having an effect on the overall game is debatabley much less than in the NBA.

In the NFL, there's a hard salary cap, as well as a much larger field of players, so strategy & coaching are just as important as having a couple of the "best players" on your team.

In the NBA, there's a soft cap, which essentially gives each team the same amount of money to work with to construct the best team. In the NBA, individual stars have more of an effect on their team than any other sport because there are only 5 players on the court at the same time. If you couple 2, 3 stars on the same team, well that would be the same percentage of having to face an Albert Pujols 6 times in the same batting order or having to go against a football defense constructed of 7 Troy Palamalu's!