LeTravel, LaQween, LaDouche - La Going to LA

[LyricalRico]

The Cleveland Cavaliers found out they were getting LeBron James back the same way the rest of the world did, when they read James' essay that was posted on Sports Illustrated's website on Friday afternoon, sources said.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert joined his family after hearing the news, sources said.

The Miami Heat were also not informed of James' decision until it was posted on the Internet and were not expecting it. The Heat had left their meeting with James earlier this week in Las Vegas feeling good about their chances to retain him, even if it was on a short-term deal.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11203 ... ion-online

Interesting...

[FAH1223]

I would say the Pistons killed the Lakers dynasty. Even if the Spurs beat the Lakers in 2003, the Lakers beat the Spurs in 2004

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqd1Rx82bno[/youtube]

While that's true, the Spurs prevented them from a four-peat. Tim Duncan was the best player in the NBA and just dominated them in 2003.

But the Pistons was just one of the biggest sonnings I've ever seen. The Spurs beating Miami is right up there this year.

[Higga]

So.... Wiz/Cavs ECF. Rivalry reborn.

[LyricalRico]

The Cleveland Cavaliers found out they were getting LeBron James back the same way the rest of the world did, when they read James' essay that was posted on Sports Illustrated's website on Friday afternoon, sources said.

Cavs owner Dan Gilbert joined his family after hearing the news, sources said.

The Miami Heat were also not informed of James' decision until it was posted on the Internet and were not expecting it. The Heat had left their meeting with James earlier this week in Las Vegas feeling good about their chances to retain him, even if it was on a short-term deal.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11203 ... ion-online

Interesting...

Correction from Windhorst:

Brian Windhorst: Correction: LeBron spoke to Pat Riley and Micky Arison on the phone before essay posted. They were informed first. Twitter @WindhorstESPN

Good, cuz I was about to say...

[montestewart]

I miss wondering where LeBJ will go.

[Hidden Eye]

Who's gonna keep count of all these "Heat" fans jocking on the Cavs now? That's gonna be too many to count.

[hands11]

I don't know if I ever expressed this on RealGM at the time, but before free agency began I thought the Cavs were the best destination for LeBron just because of all the young talent and draft picks they began to stockpile.

Wade was declining and Bosh would not be enough to get LeBron to another ring against tougher West teams in the Finals. There was also no way Wade would leave/retire to free up money for someone like Melo to come play with LeBron and Bosh, so just pack your bags and go home. And he did. Now Bosh gets to go to his home state with a max contract and chill out for the rest of his career and maybe win another ring, maybe not, you already got two so no big deal.

I do feel bad for Wade though. Guy left 40 mil on the table thinking they'd get the band back together. I think Pat Riley will take care of him though, give him a Kobe-like thank-you-for-everything-bro contract as the Heat tank for a bit and rebuild. If Pat doesn't though, then I'll really feel bad for Wade.

What a fun story.

You should have chimed in.

I did posts about him and his legacy. Some agreed. Some didn't.

Its was about the best of the best. The MJs, Magic, Bird, Duncan, Hakeem, etc.

They all played on one team. I felt LeBron, if he was considering legacy, would need to stay in Miami, or go back to CLE.

NY and LA where big stages I though he might choose, but then he would have bounced around. Been viewed as lesser for going places to team up. At CLE, he has gone home. and he laid it out basically saying, we aren't good enough to win, but in time, I will help up grow into that.

Much better for his legacy to do it that way. Now he has a real story to complete.

[hands11]

Feels like this puts a lot more pressure on us to chase after Durant.

Come on Durant, you've got to want to have a family in D.C. and play basketball in your home city.

Oh yeah. LeBron just helped lay that story right in our laps.

KD vs LeBron

Home town hero vs Home town Hero.

And ours will be younger.

Its going to happen people.

That's why we started the thread. Oh, you laughed then when it was created. You doubted. You hated.

Look at you know.


[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvehBd6B1bE[/youtube]

[barelyawake]

Bosh back to Miami. So, Rico and Nate, want to argue a LeBronless Miami has more to offer to Bosh than us? Or are we going with the "who could have known" excuse?

[hands11]

So.... Wiz/Cavs ECF. Rivalry reborn.

We have some unfinished business.

Wizards on the phone to ...

Spoiler:

D Sleezy

Oh, its on

[LyricalRico]

Bosh back to Miami. So, Rico and Nate, want to argue a LeBronless Miami has more to offer to Bosh than us? Or are we going with the "who could have known" excuse?

Are you still using Chris Bosh not coming to DC as a reason to bash Ernie? That we shouldn't have signed Gortat on the off chance that ALL of the following would happen:

1) LeBron would go to Cleveland
2) Bosh would turn down going to his home state
3) And Bosh would also leave $30M on the table (the difference between a max with Miami vs another team)

Seriously?

[keynote]

So, as per the Wiretap: CLE is leaking that they told Wiggins that he won't be part of any trade package for Love.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... ternatives

I'm sure CLE has to take that position -- at first. I assume they'll relent and include Wiggins eventually. But if they're really unwilling to part w/ Wiggins, are we back in the mix for Love? Or would they truly value a knucklehead + a possible bust w/ sleep apnea (and picks) over Nene/Porter (and picks)?

If I were MIN, I wouldn't want *any* part of Waiters.

[barelyawake]

Bosh back to Miami. So, Rico and Nate, want to argue a LeBronless Miami has more to offer to Bosh than us? Or are we going with the "who could have known" excuse?

Are you still using Chris Bosh not coming to DC as a reason to bash Ernie? That we shouldn't have signed Gortat on the off chance that ALL of the following would happen:

1) LeBron would go to Cleveland
2) Bosh would turn down going to his home state
3) And Bosh would also leave $30M on the table (the difference between a max with Miami vs another team)

Seriously?

Rico, the wealth of things we "coulda done" instead of sign Gortat is so voluminous, please don't act like we had to be Noatradamus to predict there would be options better. Of course there were going to be better options. And of course the fact that there were was predictable. As I have said continually, we should have signed a safety and then waited to see. For all the times you bash EG bashers, you are going to increasingly have to bend over backwards to justify how we "could never have known" x player would be available for a good two years. Gortat is not that good. At all. And we clogged our cap to sign him to maintain status quo. It was a dumb god damn idea to trade for him in the first place. Resigning him a bloated contract only sealed our fate. We have a sliver of a chance to recover from it now, when we had the world at our doorstep before -- multiple options to get better or step back and then become great.

Seriously Rico, if I (and if I could put that in the biggest font possible) could see these players becoming available, our god damned GM should have too. It was obvious the number of possibilities.

[hands11]

Bosh back to Miami. So, Rico and Nate, want to argue a LeBronless Miami has more to offer to Bosh than us? Or are we going with the "who could have known" excuse?

Are you still using Chris Bosh not coming to DC as a reason to bash Ernie? That we shouldn't have signed Gortat on the off chance that ALL of the following would happen:

1) LeBron would go to Cleveland
2) Bosh would turn down going to his home state
3) And Bosh would also leave $30M on the table (the difference between a max with Miami vs another team)

Seriously?

Isn't it obvious. Come on Lyrical. Get with the program.

[nate33]

So, as per the Wiretap: CLE is leaking that they told Wiggins that he won't be part of any trade package for Love.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... ternatives

I'm sure CLE has to take that position -- at first. I assume they'll relent and include Wiggins eventually. But if they're really unwilling to part w/ Wiggins, are we back in the mix for Love? Or would they truly value a knucklehead + a possible bust w/ sleep apnea (and picks) over Nene/Porter (and picks)?

If I were MIN, I wouldn't want *any* part of Waiters.

If Golden State and Cleveland keep trying to lowball Minnesota, I think Minnesota is just going keep Love. I think they'd rather take a shot at having a breakthrough season this year and enticing Love to stay, rather than trading him for the weak proposals that are currently on the table.

I also agree with you that Cleveland is going to eventually capitulate and trade Wiggins. Fact is, Wiggins is a fairly raw talent. He's a few years away from being a good player, and it's far from certain he'll be a great player. Lebron only has 3 or 4 prime years left. They can trade Wiggins right now for a top 10ish player in the prime of his career. They should do it. It's a no-brainer. It would be different if Wiggins looked like the next Kevin Durant, but he doesn't. I think he's more like the next Iguadola, and we're going to have to wait 2 or 3 years for even that.

[dangermouse]

LeBron and Kyrie isnt as scary as the Heatles. I mean, LeBron has grown as a player since leaving CLE, and he can carry a team. But this Cavs team, as currently constructed, ain't all that.

[stevemcqueen1]

So, as per the Wiretap: CLE is leaking that they told Wiggins that he won't be part of any trade package for Love.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... ternatives

I'm sure CLE has to take that position -- at first. I assume they'll relent and include Wiggins eventually. But if they're really unwilling to part w/ Wiggins, are we back in the mix for Love? Or would they truly value a knucklehead + a possible bust w/ sleep apnea (and picks) over Nene/Porter (and picks)?

If I were MIN, I wouldn't want *any* part of Waiters.

There seemed to be this widespread misconception today that Anthony Bennett and Dion Waiters actually have trade value.

[stevemcqueen1]

So, as per the Wiretap: CLE is leaking that they told Wiggins that he won't be part of any trade package for Love.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/23 ... ternatives

I'm sure CLE has to take that position -- at first. I assume they'll relent and include Wiggins eventually. But if they're really unwilling to part w/ Wiggins, are we back in the mix for Love? Or would they truly value a knucklehead + a possible bust w/ sleep apnea (and picks) over Nene/Porter (and picks)?

If I were MIN, I wouldn't want *any* part of Waiters.

If Golden State and Cleveland keep trying to lowball Minnesota, I think Minnesota is just going keep Love. I think they'd rather take a shot at having a breakthrough season this year and enticing Love to stay, rather than trading him for the weak proposals that are currently on the table.

I also agree with you that Cleveland is going to eventually capitulate and trade Wiggins. Fact is, Wiggins is a fairly raw talent. He's a few years away from being a good player, and it's far from certain he'll be a great player. Lebron only has 3 or 4 prime years left. They can trade Wiggins right now for a top 10ish player in the prime of his career. They should do it. It's a no-brainer. It would be different if Wiggins looked like the next Kevin Durant, but he doesn't. I think he's more like the next Iguadola, and we're going to have to wait 2 or 3 years for even that.

Wiggins will be more than Iggy IMO, but I completely agree. If trading him gets you love, you do it. His window is wholly different from LeBron's and they play the same position. He's not a shooter. They will struggle to get him involved and fully developed. Love would be sooooo much more valuable to them than Wiggins.

But Wiggins can be pretty good faster than you think and he can be a lot more than Iggy IMO. He's a potential 6'8 Derrick Rose IMO. He'll be the best athlete in the NBA when he gets his man strength.

He needs his own team though.

I like him in Minnesota with Rubio. Wiggins and LaVine with Rubio would be pretty damn fun to watch.

[barelyawake]

What I love in this thread is the absolute assurance that we could never sign a major free agent. We have the best backcourt in the league. We have cap. We are one of the greatest cities on earth.

But, I'm to believe that some hick city has more pull. I'm to believe that we have to settle for what we got.

F' those who say that. And f' management who makes them believe that.


Seriously.... F U...

[Kanyewest]

What I love in this thread is the absolute assurance that we could never sign a major free agent. We have the best backcourt in the league. We have cap. We are one of the greatest cities on earth.

But, 'm to believe that some hick city has more pull. I'm to believe that we have to settle for what we got.

F' those who say that. And f' management who makes them believe that.


Seriously.... F U...

I think we have a chance at Durant in 2016 because it is hometown. Not sure why you believe that a star would come to DC this offseason. Players really believe in past history which the Wizards don't have much of over the past 30 years. The Wizards don't have a general consensus top 10 player.

I agree that the Wizards aren't going to be in the game because they don't have cap space. But you don't want to give up 1st round picks like the Houston Rockets and lose out in the race for a major free agent.