Lebron James will opt out of contract

[JLop]

Dwyane Wade will also opt out of the remainder of his contract; otherwise, the Miami Heat will be in the position to trade him to any team. I don´t think that Heat owner Micky Arison and President Pat Riley will do such a thing: they all consider Dwyane a family member of this organization. On the other hand, I don´t see Wade on going that far on tempting his good luck. The Miami Heat could make a trade with the Boston Celtics and obtain the picks Nos. 6 and 17 just to mention one example. We could select Joel Embiid (may be) or Dante Exum, and a good bench player (Shabazz Napier?). What´s more important, we could free the amount necessary to bring in Carmelo Anthony plus Pau Gasol if we pick Dante Exum or Kyle Lowry if we pick Joel Embiid.

[DeeDub]

Lol there's no chance he puts up those numbers if he doesn't miss those 28 games.. Keep living in a fantasy world

Sure, 'cause he's never played 70+ games and put up those kind of numbers. You are quite the medical and basketball expert.

Wade has always been a guy who takes a game or two to shake off the rust after a layoff. That is why he tends to struggle in season openers and the first game or two of the playoffs after resting the last few games of the regular season. As menioned earlier, he was better on 1 day of rest than on 2 or 3. In the first games back after being held out or after a long layoff, Wade averaged 17.5 pts on 50% shooting. When playing more frequently he averaged 19.5 ppg on 56% shooting. I think his numbers probably would have been better if he wasn't being held out so much. They were in previous seasons when he played more games. Through the first 3 games of the Finals, he was averaging 18.3 ppg on 54% shooting -- pretty much his season averages. He had two bad games at the end of the finals and the sky is falling and he is "finished" even though he was getting to the basket and just not getting the ball to go in from 2-3 feet away.

Doesn't matter what he's done in the past and whether he played 70+ games before, I'm talking about right now..

Also Basketball is a two way sport, his defense this year was atrocious.. Especially in the Finals

He's a 6th man now, he needs to reinvent himself as that

On the defense, I agree there are times he has some bad lapses but it simply isn't true that his defense this year was atrocious. His defensive metrics were actually quite good and better than many of the elite perimeter defenders in the league. According to Synergy Sports, here is how Wade's individual defensive metrics stacked up against some of the best (and compared to his own in 2010-11 before he got "old and injured"):

Overall

Wade 13-14 -- PPP (Points per possession) of .85 allowing FG% of 38.3
Wade 10-11 -- PPP of .88 allowing FG% of 36.8
TAllen 13-14 -- PPP of .88 allowing 37.9%
LeBron 13-14 -- PPP of .88 allowing 40.3%
Sefolosha 13-14 -- PPP of .94 allowing 42.6%
PGeorge 13-14 -- PPP of .84 allowing 38%

And Wade was particularly good in isolation, an area one would expect a major dropoff if he had declined as much physically as you claim.

Isolation

Wade 13-14 -- PPP (Points per possession) of .7 allowing FG% of 28%
Wade 10-11 -- PPP of .87 allowing FG% of 37.4
TAllen 13-14 -- PPP of 1.05 allowing 48%%
LeBron 13-14 -- PPP of .86 allowing 37.8%
Sefolosha 13-14 -- PPP of .73 allowing 32.1%
PGeorge 13-14 -- PPP of .81 allowing 36.3%

He'll be a 6th man when the team decides to put him there. He's not there now. The suggestion that he is not a starter-quality player anymore is ludicrous.

[DeeDub]

But it is an absurd point considering this is just the second organization he has played for. And to this point he has done absolutely nothing that could even remotely be considered disloyal. As for the Cavs, I don't see how he was disloyal there either. He gave them everything he had for 8 years. He turned that organization from trash to a title contender. He made Dan Gilbert tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars. But his contract expired and he wanted a fresh start and some new scenery. A free agent signing with a new team at the expiration of his contract is not being disloyal. These guys aren't slaves (no matter what Donald Sterling may think).

I'm not going to argue about Lebron's loyalty, I thought it was clear that he feels no sense of obligation to any organization. Hell the only reason we won 2010 is because Wade and him are like brothers, factor in Pat Riley and it was a no brainer. If Wade was to retire right now, I'm willing to bet he figures out a way to go play with his other best friends, Carmelo and Chris Paul.

I'm not seeing what the big deal here, you and the Lebron fan above are the only one's making this an issue. I'm not worried one bit about this offseason, as long as we improve the PG and C position, I'm good.

This is the last post I will be making about this subject, if you look at Lebron's track record and feels he has a strong sense of loyalty to a team then by all means be my guess

I don't care either way because the MIAMI HEAT will be ok either way.

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

[gmoney411]

But it is an absurd point considering this is just the second organization he has played for. And to this point he has done absolutely nothing that could even remotely be considered disloyal. As for the Cavs, I don't see how he was disloyal there either. He gave them everything he had for 8 years. He turned that organization from trash to a title contender. He made Dan Gilbert tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars. But his contract expired and he wanted a fresh start and some new scenery. A free agent signing with a new team at the expiration of his contract is not being disloyal. These guys aren't slaves (no matter what Donald Sterling may think).

I'm not going to argue about Lebron's loyalty, I thought it was clear that he feels no sense of obligation to any organization. Hell the only reason we won 2010 is because Wade and him are like brothers, factor in Pat Riley and it was a no brainer. If Wade was to retire right now, I'm willing to bet he figures out a way to go play with his other best friends, Carmelo and Chris Paul.

I'm not seeing what the big deal here, you and the Lebron fan above are the only one's making this an issue. I'm not worried one bit about this offseason, as long as we improve the PG and C position, I'm good.

This is the last post I will be making about this subject, if you look at Lebron's track record and feels he has a strong sense of loyalty to a team then by all means be my guess

I don't care either way because the MIAMI HEAT will be ok either way.

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

[PedroFlu]

I'm not going to argue about Lebron's loyalty, I thought it was clear that he feels no sense of obligation to any organization. Hell the only reason we won 2010 is because Wade and him are like brothers, factor in Pat Riley and it was a no brainer. If Wade was to retire right now, I'm willing to bet he figures out a way to go play with his other best friends, Carmelo and Chris Paul.

I'm not seeing what the big deal here, you and the Lebron fan above are the only one's making this an issue. I'm not worried one bit about this offseason, as long as we improve the PG and C position, I'm good.

This is the last post I will be making about this subject, if you look at Lebron's track record and feels he has a strong sense of loyalty to a team then by all means be my guess

I don't care either way because the MIAMI HEAT will be ok either way.

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

Extending once and giving his all for 7 years while playing with a bunch of bums is showing a lot of loyalty in my book. Anyway, he doesn't owe loyalty to no team. He owes loyalty to his friends and family. He's a professional.

Also if he chooses to leave Miami it's not an "unloyal" behaviour. You have a contract, you play according to your contract. As long as one does that, it's all good.

Wade is the one who clearly was coasting all season and was careless at crucial moments. This is what I call unloyalty.

[gmoney411]

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

Extending once and giving his all for 7 years while playing with a bunch of bums is showing a lot of loyalty in my book. Anyway, he doesn't owe loyalty to no team. He owes loyalty to his friends and family. He's a professional.

Also if he chooses to leave Miami it's not an "unloyal" behaviour. You have a contract, you play according to your contract. As long as one does that, it's all good.

Wade is the one who clearly was coasting all season and was careless at crucial moments. This is what I call unloyalty.

Leaving the Cavs and then leaving the Heat would show that LeBron does not have loyalty to franchises but like you said he doesn't owe them anything.

[DeeDub]

I'm not going to argue about Lebron's loyalty, I thought it was clear that he feels no sense of obligation to any organization. Hell the only reason we won 2010 is because Wade and him are like brothers, factor in Pat Riley and it was a no brainer. If Wade was to retire right now, I'm willing to bet he figures out a way to go play with his other best friends, Carmelo and Chris Paul.

I'm not seeing what the big deal here, you and the Lebron fan above are the only one's making this an issue. I'm not worried one bit about this offseason, as long as we improve the PG and C position, I'm good.

This is the last post I will be making about this subject, if you look at Lebron's track record and feels he has a strong sense of loyalty to a team then by all means be my guess

I don't care either way because the MIAMI HEAT will be ok either way.

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

So every player who has ever left a team in free agency is disloyal? Every player who doesn't consider himself bound in perpetuity to the team that drafted him is disloyal? I guess every person who has ever left a job for a better one is disloyal. Um, OK.

[PedroFlu]

Exactly. Loyalty is about respect. You are loyal and respectful if you keep your word, by playing your best during the time you are supposed to according to your contract. And Lebron did that.

The word loyalty must be used very very carefully in sports. It's a huge excecption when you are talking about professionals.

What LeBron did wrong in terms of respect was not the decision to go to whatever team he wanted to, but the silly way he did it. He showed immaturity, he has apologized. But the fact he leaved after the contract expired had nothing to do with it. The same can be said now. This has nothing to do with loyalty.

[gmoney411]

I just think is a a stupid cheap shot to impugn someone's character/loyalty with absolutely no legitimate basis for it. I guess you think it is OK. He took less money than he had to to come here, so that shows more loyalty than most players ever show any team. If he does it is again and takes any appreciable amount less than the max, then he'll arguably establish himself as one fo the most loyal players of all time. Leaving Cleveland because it, well, sucks and you want to live outside Ohio for the first time in your life at age 26 and want to win championships with friends isn't disloyal. He owed that team absolutely nothing. He gave it far, far more than it gave him.

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

So every player who has ever left a team in free agency is disloyal? Every player who doesn't consider himself bound in perpetuity to the team that drafted him is disloyal? I guess every person who has ever left a job for a better one is disloyal. Um, OK.

Most people aren't loyal to the company they work for. If I got offered a better job with better pay I'd take it in a second. I have plenty of friends that jump from job to job based on what they are offered and there is nothing wrong with that. But to act like they are loyal company men would be a joke because they aren't. I don't think LeBron is dishonest. I think he has played hard for the teams he has been on and has honored his contract but I will question his loyalty until he does something to make me believe in it.

[DeeDub]

Based on his past there is no real reason to believe that LeBron will show loyalty to the Heat. He was a free agent once before and he left for what he felt was a better situation in Miami. He has yet to show loyalty when it comes to staying with a team so questioning his loyalty to stay somewhere isn't an insult but is instead a reasonable assumption based on past behavior.

So every player who has ever left a team in free agency is disloyal? Every player who doesn't consider himself bound in perpetuity to the team that drafted him is disloyal? I guess every person who has ever left a job for a better one is disloyal. Um, OK.

Most people aren't loyal to the company they work for. If I got offered a better job with better pay I'd take it in a second. I have plenty of friends that jump from job to job based on what they are offered and there is nothing wrong with that. But to act like they are loyal company men would be a joke because they aren't. I don't think LeBron is dishonest. I think he has played hard for the teams he has been on and has honored his contract but I will question his loyalty until he does something to make me believe in it.

Leaving a job for a better one is not disloyal. Selling trade secrets or confidential information or stealing client lists is.

[contract]

Extending once and giving his all for 7 years while playing with a bunch of bums is showing a lot of loyalty in my book.

Some of those bums were brought in at Lebron's request/demand. The problem with caving in to a star's demand for immediate help is that you end up with a roster featuring guys like Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison.

[PedroFlu]

Extending once and giving his all for 7 years while playing with a bunch of bums is showing a lot of loyalty in my book.

Some of those bums were brought in at Lebron's request/demand. The problem with caving in to a star's demand for immediate help is that you end up with a roster featuring guys like Mo Williams and Antawn Jamison.

This is hard to know for sure. And it's not like after he left Cavs management was free to do a better job. They suck at it with or without LeBron, who is responsible for his game and not for the performance of his teammates.

[gmoney411]

So every player who has ever left a team in free agency is disloyal? Every player who doesn't consider himself bound in perpetuity to the team that drafted him is disloyal? I guess every person who has ever left a job for a better one is disloyal. Um, OK.

Most people aren't loyal to the company they work for. If I got offered a better job with better pay I'd take it in a second. I have plenty of friends that jump from job to job based on what they are offered and there is nothing wrong with that. But to act like they are loyal company men would be a joke because they aren't. I don't think LeBron is dishonest. I think he has played hard for the teams he has been on and has honored his contract but I will question his loyalty until he does something to make me believe in it.

Leaving a job for a better one is not disloyal. Selling trade secrets or confidential information or stealing client lists is.

That is dishonest and illegal. Disloyal would be leaving Google to go work for Apple for more money while dishonest would be selling google secrets to apple for money. I think LeBron would do the former but not the latter.

[PedroFlu]

Most people aren't loyal to the company they work for. If I got offered a better job with better pay I'd take it in a second. I have plenty of friends that jump from job to job based on what they are offered and there is nothing wrong with that. But to act like they are loyal company men would be a joke because they aren't. I don't think LeBron is dishonest. I think he has played hard for the teams he has been on and has honored his contract but I will question his loyalty until he does something to make me believe in it.

Leaving a job for a better one is not disloyal. Selling trade secrets or confidential information or stealing client lists is.

That is dishonest and illegal. Disloyal would be leaving Google to go work for Apple for more money while dishonest would be selling google secrets to apple for money. I think LeBron would do the former but not the latter.

It's not a valid comparison. LeBron never left Cleveland for money. It's actually the opposite. He went to the place where he could be the best at what he does.

Anyway, in Brazil, the concept of loyalty is stronger. I wouldn't use it in a case like this.

[dancing2thabeet]

True, concept of loyalty differs A LOT from culture to culture so I don't think you guys are getting somewhere soon with these comparisons.

High- vs Low-context cultures and whatnot.

[2thehoopand1]

Now that the the big 3 opted out a new head line I'm starting to see is "Lebron seeking max". He must know that going for max hurts the team chances to improve. Is this just a distraction so other Gm's will dump salary for a chance to sign Lebron or is he really seeking the max money he can possibly get.