Stephen A. Smith: LeBron to join Bosh in Miami

[MissileMike]

5 seconds to go, heat down by 1 in the NBA finals.... Who takes the last shot?

[TheAdmiral]

But that's not what we NEED to do in order to clear a second max.

I know that. So it all depends on whether we can at least get a lower salary in return, to clear a second max slot. Also, the lower the salary, the more/better we can fill out the roster with role players.

Still, not an easy thing to do.

[TheAdmiral]

5 seconds to go, heat down by 1 in the NBA finals.... Who takes the last shot?

Bosh, because he'd clearly be the centerpiece.

[boogydown]

5 seconds to go, heat down by 1 in the NBA finals.... Who takes the last shot?

Wade of course.

[Bulls_MIT]

haha, I've been to Miami once and I loved it. I was there only a week. The AA arena is in a perfect place IMO. I didn't feel like it was a different culture. Everything about that place is beautiful, and that includes the ladies of course Just comparing that place to the UC, Deerfield and to the Berto Center, I'd pick Miami.
I haven't been to Deerfield since last year, but I've been going there every year since the 80's. It's not like the place has developed much compared to Miami's developement.

[Sever82]

haha, I've been to Miami once and I loved it. I was there only a week. The AA arena is in a perfect place IMO. I didn't feel like it was a different culture. Everything about that place is beautiful, and that includes the ladies of course Just comparing that place to the UC, Deerfield and to the Berto Center, I'd pick Miami.
I haven't been to Deerfield since last year, but I've been going there every year since the 80's. It's not like the place has developed much compared to Miami's developement.

So you're a heat fan is what you're telling us.

[davhern]

Also, "putting yourself in LeBron's shoes" is about the worst way to approach analyzing this that there is.

It's the same type of speculation that brought out that Jordan's shadow nonsense.

[northbrookrich]

Rose Vs. Wade debate? Wade is better than Rose now but Rose is only 21 yrs old. Not to mention Miami is Wade's City, If Lebron goes there, he wont be number one over Lebron, can Lebron's ego and reputation handle that? Lebron is the best player in the NBA and the would be the best player on the Heat but around the NBA the Heat will still be known as Wade's Team and Lebron would take more of the Pippen Role than the Jordan role despite the fact that he's better than Wade.

I think this is an interesting point that deserves more discussion. I have seen this argument in a couple of places (maybe by you or maybe also by others).

There is little doubt that in any future GOAT conversation people would bring up Wade and/or Bosh as reasons why LeBron was not the GOAT if he went to Miami and won a bunch of championships. This goes without saying as Kobe will likely never have a legitimate stake at GOAT due to Shaq and to a lesser extent Gasol.

But, I think LeBron also realizes that he likely needs at least one other legitimate perennial all-star (sorry Mo Williams) on his team to win championships. So, where is that balance? You want teammates good enough to win championships, but not too good so you are overshadowed?

I'm not sure I buy it. I think the goal is to win as many championships as you can and let history handle itself. LeBron will likely be around and vying for championships long after Wade has retired. If he wins 3 with Wade and 8 overall and wins 5 Finals MVPs are people really going to say he couldn't win without Wade so you can't consider him GOAT?

After 7 seasons of frustration, I would think that LeBron would position himself the best place he can to win as many championships as possible over the course of his contract. Maybe he signs with Miami for 3 years with a 4th year option and goes through this again at that time in case Wade starts wearing down.

But, that's just my opinion - curious to hear other's thoughts.

[Neusch23]

5 seconds to go, heat down by 1 in the NBA finals.... Who takes the last shot?

Toni Kukoc would have...the stars would have sat and cried.

[jamesdiego]

I think if he was just an underperforming player it wouldn't be a problem at all. The problem is that he is underperforming and has been a complete train wreck in his two seasons.

Underperforming player, as in James Johnson. Didn't Woj also say that he was untradeable? I disagree on both accounts.

[boogydown]

haha, I've been to Miami once and I loved it. I was there only a week. The AA arena is in a perfect place IMO. I didn't feel like it was a different culture. Everything about that place is beautiful, and that includes the ladies of course Just comparing that place to the UC, Deerfield and to the Berto Center, I'd pick Miami.
I haven't been to Deerfield since last year, but I've been going there every year since the 80's. It's not like the place has developed much compared to Miami's developement.

I lived in Miami before. It was great at first, but it soon got old.I can't say you understand this because you went on vacation which is an entirely different scenario.

People who go to a city once love it. If you move there, the energy and desire to explore the city eventually ends pretty quickly. Miami is a great city don't get me wrong, but it isn't necessarily the best. There are a lot of nice places in the US, I can't really say one of them is #1 so if I had to let the people decide, the overall vote would go to New York. However, that wasn't even on your list.

For some reason, you think Miami is this great mystical city. There are pros and cons but in the end the reason there are more people in Chicago is because people prefer to have a job and live in the big city over Miami.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

We should totally try to make that three-way Chicago/Orlando/Boston trade that somebody else posted(what they wanted to happen, not a rumor or anything), where we get Rasheed's contract(instant cap relief when he files his retirement paperwork) and Pietrus, Boston gets a good replacement backup big in Gortat, and Orlando gets Deng in exchange for Pietrus and Gortat. Seems like everybody wins in that deal.

[miamiballer]

thing is, for young black multimillionaries, miami is one of the best place to live

[OldSchoolNoBull]

thing is, for young black multimillionaries, miami is one of the best place to live

That's a silly statement. What's black got to do with it? Or young, for that matter. Seems like there are plenty of old white non-multimillionaires in Miami too.

[umfan83]

Instead of all the speculating, put yourself in Bron's shoes. What seems most attractive. Honestly, I'd have to say Miami, then Cleveland, then in third place Chicago.
As far as picking a place to live, Miami has it beat, beautiful place, great weather, awesome location on the ocean.
As far as Wade vs. Rose, Wade has it beat. Wade has more experience and is on a different level. Rose will be there soon, but not there yet.
If I was Lebron, Miami would be very tempting. I wish I could say the same about Chicago, but with the brutal winters, brutal traffic, brutal roads around the Berto Center, beat down area around Berto Center, and location of the UC, Chicago is not as tempting as Miami.

It's Noah and Rose vs. Wade, and it's debatable short term, a no-brainer in the Bulls favor long-term.


And how is Cleveland more attractive than Chicago?

Again, it's Noah/Wade/Deng (or cap space) vs. Wade/Chalmers/Beasley

I know by far the biggest thing is having that potential superstar in Rose and starting C/role player/energy guy. But either Deng the player or Deng the tradable contract has some significant value as well. This is a guy that put up 18/7 last year. Put him off the bench and that's a valuable championship piece. If you must trade him, maybe in a S+T for Bosh, you are then granted around 9-10 million in cap space to sign a shooter.

For the Heat to get 3 superstars they have to somehow fit Wade, Bron, and Bosh with potentially one or two of them taking less than max to make it work. And then after that all that's left is Chalmers and whatever vets they might be able to sign.

For the Bulls to get 3 superstars they need to sign LeBron and another top FA, which they can do. Then after that we are left with Deng, Noah and Taj Gibson as pieces tomake up the team.

Honestly, I know Rose does not = Wade. But Rose is also 21 and Wade is 28, and Rose is still improving. If you look at all the facts involved, its a no brainer. If LeBron wants to be on the best team possible, he comes to the Bulls. If LeBron wants to live in a great climate, he goes to Miami, if he's loyal he stays in Miami, and if he wants to own New York, become a slightly bigger global icon and probably decrease his championship opportunities, he goes to NY.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

haha, I've been to Miami once and I loved it. I was there only a week. The AA arena is in a perfect place IMO. I didn't feel like it was a different culture. Everything about that place is beautiful, and that includes the ladies of course Just comparing that place to the UC, Deerfield and to the Berto Center, I'd pick Miami.
I haven't been to Deerfield since last year, but I've been going there every year since the 80's. It's not like the place has developed much compared to Miami's developement.

I lived in Miami before. It was great at first, but it soon got old.I can't say you understand this because you went on vacation which is an entirely different scenario.

People who go to a city once love it. If you move there, the energy and desire to explore the city eventually ends pretty quickly. Miami is a great city don't get me wrong, but it isn't necessarily the best. There are a lot of nice places in the US, I can't really say one of them is #1 so if I had to let the people decide, the overall vote would go to New York. However, that wasn't even on your list.

For some reason, you think Miami is this great mystical city. There are pros and cons but in the end the reason there are more people in Chicago is because people prefer to have a job and live in the big city over Miami.

If you're rich, its an awesome place to live. If you're not, well, then not so much. I don't miss living there and prefer being able to visit, but if I had all the money in the world, I'd gladly move back.

*waits for kryv to sarcastically comment on something in my post*

[greenwing]

New news from SAS on 790 the ticket.

SAS got a call last night, he claims, from a source. He called a second source that said the same thing that LeBron will go to Miami with Chris Bosh. He asked "every question" imaginable to confirm this. Based on his sources he hopes to G-d that he is absolutely right because of the magnitude of the story. And because he trusts his sources so much, he ran with this story and is reporting it.

SAS questioned about LeBron to NY claim. SAS says that Isaiah has been fired, Walsh is there and D'Antoni is there. LeBron doesn't like these factors - especially D'Antoni because he doesn't stress defense and defense doesn't equal championships.

LeBron wants to play with not just one, but two bonafide stars. MJ never won until Pippen was there and LeBron wants other guys like Pippen playing with him. SAS wants LeBron to go to NY but SAS now wants to be a reporter in South Beach. SAS claims he reported Bosh leaving to Toronto over a year ago. Admits that he might be wrong about this. If he's wrong he will come back to this show and eat "as much crow" as he wants.

Stu Gotts says to SAS that this is the classic "dog-and-pony show". SAS has no idea what that means. SAS admits once again that LBJ was going to NY based on his earlier sources. But now the situation has changed because the Cavs lost. SAS didn't presume that the Bulls and Heat would clear up huge amounts of cap room. The cap space created has caused the situation we're currently in. If SAS is wrong about this - and he's known this person for a decade - he's always trusted this source. You have to remember, he says, that people run their mouths and his sources hear what people's mouths are saying. SAS denies the NY Times articles about LBJ and Bosh to Chicago.

SAS claims that if anyone comes out with the real story first that they deserve the credit. SAS questioned on how close the source is to LBJ. He refuses to answer and says "you know the rules on sources". SAS boasts his former ESPN credentials. He says once again that he only talked to two sources. One actual source and one person who he "confirmed" it with. SAS is "putting himself out there" and admits again that he might be wrong. He's boasting again about how he's broken stories months and months in advance before but no one wants to recognize him. He's listing stories he's "broken" and his "record speaks for itself". "If I'm wrong, I'm wrong. But I believe I'm right".

Stu reminds listeners that Smith has a record of true stories. SAS asked where LBJ wants to play. SAS says LBJ does know but he has a tremendous amount of guilt about leaving Cleveland. SAS said making a choice where to go is easy but leaving is hard. SAS is worried that LBJ may be guilted into staying. SAS says again that "if he's wrong [he's] wrong". SAS says LBJ, Wade and Bosh will win championships because "of their size". SAS says Wade is the Jordan of South Beach and is the best closer in the game outside of Kobe Bryant. SAS describes Wade and Bosh's abilities. LBJ will come without a S&T deal but Bosh WANTS a S&T deal on a max contract because Bosh believes LBJ and Wade will earn more endorsements than him.

SAS says the league loves "evil empires" and this would be one. The league would prefer a team in NY, though. If Joe Johnson elects to go to Chicago with Amar'e, they could contend against a trio of LeBron, Wade and Bosh. That would be the team to beat in the East and they would play the Lakers in the Finals for the next two years. SAS claims that players hate playing for Pat Riley as a coach, but they respect him. Pat Riley is a "task master". Spoelstra is a young coach, deserves to be the coach, but needs to work on the perception that he is soft. It's not definitive that Riley will be the coach. But he will give Spoelstra a chance to coach for awhile before he replaces him mid-season.

Stu ends the interview by once again telling SAS that he's presenting a classic dog-and-pony show.

[miamiballer]

thing is, for young black multimillionaries, miami is one of the best place to live

That's a silly statement. What's black got to do with it? Or young, for that matter. Seems like there are plenty of old white non-multimillionaires in Miami too.

didnt mean it like that but nba players are known to love the club secene and miami is high class club galore

[gf2020hotmail]

Still waiting to hear where and how Miami gets a starting center in the LBJ/Wade/Bosh scenario. Because that's all Bosh has talked about for years -- not having to play center.

[JackFinn]

If you're rich, its an awesome place to live. If you're not, well, then not so much. I don't miss living there and prefer being able to visit, but if I had all the money in the world, I'd gladly move back.

I miss it. Where about did you live?