2025 Offseason Thread Vol.6

[SoFlaKingReal]

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[Michael Doleac]

Well, we've reached the low point of the off-season. The good news is that this time, unlike a few years ago, nobody (yet) is suggesting we sign Michael Beasley. I guess I only had to wait until he got past age 35 for that discussion to end.

He had plenty of chances with other teams and coaches, and sucked with all of them. A no defense playing, low efficiency chucker. He was a tweener in the worst way (too slow to play SF, and too small to play PF), while a guy like Lamar Odom around those times was one in the best way.

Luckily we ended up with Chalmers via trade in that draft.

[jbsays]

Beasley was crazy in college. 26ppg, 12.4rpg, 53 FG% and 37.9% from three. With those numbers you figured even if he couldn't play D it didn't matter. But, like others said... he was the ultimate tweener and it just didn't translate to NBA. He was a capable sixth man, but when you tank to wind up with a top pick you don't want a 6th man. The Heat didn't exactly treat him great either, but it's the NBA. You're a pro getting paid good money to ball. I remember Wade called him out once and said he was supposed to be the quote-unquote second best player on the team. Meanwhile, undrafted Udonis Haslem was giving the team more on a nightly basis.

I was a big poster on Ira Winderman's Sun Sentinel page during that time. It was really active. The posters were split on Beasley. I wanted him to work because he was the second pick. I remember someone posted about Westbrook being the next Wade type player. I think he would have worked next to the Wade-Lebron-Bosh era. Spacing wasn't as important back then. Love also probably would have fit. Chalmers was a great second round pick, but there were a lot of bust in the first round.... OJ Mayo was mentioned, but wasn't Anthony Randolph also supposed to be a stud?

Some good NBA players in that draft class though. Dragic, Deandre Jordan, Hibbert, George Hill, Lopez brothers, Eric Gordon. And of course guys like Westbrook, Love, and Rose.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

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[ZoStrong]

Honestly Beasley's introspection into his career is fascinating because it largely echoes what people thought of him, "you have that much talent, how can you not be an all-time great?" Almost as if he's self aware enough to know what his potential was, and also kind of acknowledge that some of his failure to reach that level was on him, but not all of it. Which makes sense, you have to protect the ego to some degree.

More minutes or more leeway wasn't going to bring greatness out of him though, we saw that in Minnesota. He just didn't have the drive, and no it wasn't all weed, it goes beyond that, plenty of guys smoke and still push themselves. It just takes an extra level of dedication, and that's not easy to do, if it were every talented player would make the leap.

Michael Jordan and LeBron aren't goats because they were the most talented ever. They're goats because they're talented guys with legendary drive/motors. It takes both. There's plenty of guys in NBA history that could beat those guys 1v1 (hell Beasley claims he did with LeBron), but being able to show up every day and be a professional even when you don't feel like it or would rather relax and enjoy your fame and riches, is what allows you to produce every night.

I agree w you on most pts, but LeBron was the "chosen one" at like age 13, so you could actually say he was one of the most talented (if not the most) and gifted talents to enter NBA. The fact that he had the relentless drive to excel is what set him apart from other otherworldly physically gifted prospects.

[carnageta]

Wiggins, Rozier, and the rights to hang Solomon Hill's jersey in the rafters for LeBron at the deadline. Book it.

[jbsays]

Honestly Beasley's introspection into his career is fascinating because it largely echoes what people thought of him, "you have that much talent, how can you not be an all-time great?" Almost as if he's self aware enough to know what his potential was, and also kind of acknowledge that some of his failure to reach that level was on him, but not all of it. Which makes sense, you have to protect the ego to some degree.

More minutes or more leeway wasn't going to bring greatness out of him though, we saw that in Minnesota. He just didn't have the drive, and no it wasn't all weed, it goes beyond that, plenty of guys smoke and still push themselves. It just takes an extra level of dedication, and that's not easy to do, if it were every talented player would make the leap.

Michael Jordan and LeBron aren't goats because they were the most talented ever. They're goats because they're talented guys with legendary drive/motors. It takes both. There's plenty of guys in NBA history that could beat those guys 1v1 (hell Beasley claims he did with LeBron), but being able to show up every day and be a professional even when you don't feel like it or would rather relax and enjoy your fame and riches, is what allows you to produce every night.

Lebron was someone who actually lived up to the hype. That rarely happens. In highschool he was on magazine cover with Sebastian Telfair and on the cover of Sports Illustrated by himself. This was when people still bought magazines.

I think it is impossible to rank players from different generations against each other. So Lebron vs. Jordan or Lebron vs. Kobe is hard to rank. But, for his generation Lebron is clearly the best player. He was best basketball player in the world for 12-15 years. When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

[ZoStrong]

Honestly Beasley's introspection into his career is fascinating because it largely echoes what people thought of him, "you have that much talent, how can you not be an all-time great?" Almost as if he's self aware enough to know what his potential was, and also kind of acknowledge that some of his failure to reach that level was on him, but not all of it. Which makes sense, you have to protect the ego to some degree.

More minutes or more leeway wasn't going to bring greatness out of him though, we saw that in Minnesota. He just didn't have the drive, and no it wasn't all weed, it goes beyond that, plenty of guys smoke and still push themselves. It just takes an extra level of dedication, and that's not easy to do, if it were every talented player would make the leap.

Michael Jordan and LeBron aren't goats because they were the most talented ever. They're goats because they're talented guys with legendary drive/motors. It takes both. There's plenty of guys in NBA history that could beat those guys 1v1 (hell Beasley claims he did with LeBron), but being able to show up every day and be a professional even when you don't feel like it or would rather relax and enjoy your fame and riches, is what allows you to produce every night.

Lebron was someone who actually lived up to the hype. That rarely happens. In highschool he was on magazine cover with Sebastian Telfair and on the cover of Sports Illustrated by himself. This was when people still bought magazines.

I think it is impossible to rank players from different generations against each other. So Lebron vs. Jordan or Lebron vs. Kobe is hard to rank. But, for his generation Lebron is clearly the best player. He was best basketball player in the world for 12-15 years. When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

[HeatFanLifer]

When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

The one thing I would say that is holding him back from being an all time great is he team shopped.

And yeah, as great as Wade was, that ligament in his knee he got removed instead of repaired shortened his career for sure.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

LeBron is the best player to ever play the game of basketball, if you like Jordan that’s fine as it’s likely an eras thing but if you have LeBron lower than 2nd all time you’re simply wrong on his standing. Hopefully Simmons and Lowe are right and we get him for Wiggins Terry and Jaime or some sort of steal

[Johnny Fontane]

Lebron was someone who actually lived up to the hype. That rarely happens. In highschool he was on magazine cover with Sebastian Telfair and on the cover of Sports Illustrated by himself. This was when people still bought magazines.

I think it is impossible to rank players from different generations against each other. So Lebron vs. Jordan or Lebron vs. Kobe is hard to rank. But, for his generation Lebron is clearly the best player. He was best basketball player in the world for 12-15 years. When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

Incredibly long career for Lebron but all manufactured. From the media glazing since the early 2000s, the constant team hopping when the going gets tough, obvious PED use, and finally using Klutch influence over the league to bring in good players for nothing through buyouts/trades.

2011 finals disqualified him from ever being in any goat conversation as he stole a finals mvp from Wade. Just couldn’t be a robin for his first championship. He’d rather lose than face the media/fan scrutiny

[MettaWorldPanda]

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He’s not wasting anytime lol. Guess we get the Rozier trade package ready for when he ask out at deadline right?

[HeatGuyInChicago]

Lebron was someone who actually lived up to the hype. That rarely happens. In highschool he was on magazine cover with Sebastian Telfair and on the cover of Sports Illustrated by himself. This was when people still bought magazines.

I think it is impossible to rank players from different generations against each other. So Lebron vs. Jordan or Lebron vs. Kobe is hard to rank. But, for his generation Lebron is clearly the best player. He was best basketball player in the world for 12-15 years. When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

Incredibly long career for Lebron but all manufactured. From the media glazing since the early 2000s, the constant team hopping when the going gets tough, obvious PED use, and finally using Klutch influence over the league to bring in good players for nothing through buyouts/trades.

2011 finals disqualified him from ever being in any goat conversation as he stole a finals mvp from Wade. Just couldn’t be a robin for his first championship. He’d rather lose than face the media/fan scrutiny

What a cynical take! LOL. I think being out played by JJ Barea is worse for his legacy.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Read on Twitter

He’s not wasting anytime lol. Guess we get the Rozier trade package ready for when he ask out at deadline right?

Edrice to LA soon, we thought he was recruiting but it was really Luka the one doing the recruiting. Bams put in his work on that end and the FO never went through with it, we’ll see if he’s been brainwashed enough to waste his prime here. I personally think he is

[Johnny Fontane]

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

Incredibly long career for Lebron but all manufactured. From the media glazing since the early 2000s, the constant team hopping when the going gets tough, obvious PED use, and finally using Klutch influence over the league to bring in good players for nothing through buyouts/trades.

2011 finals disqualified him from ever being in any goat conversation as he stole a finals mvp from Wade. Just couldn’t be a robin for his first championship. He’d rather lose than face the media/fan scrutiny

What a cynical take! LOL. I think being out played by JJ Barea is worse for his legacy.

Remember he hadn’t won his first ring at the time and the noise surrounding him not breaking through was growing. Him being a robin for a championship is arguably worst for his goat case than losing

[ZoStrong]

Lebron was someone who actually lived up to the hype. That rarely happens. In highschool he was on magazine cover with Sebastian Telfair and on the cover of Sports Illustrated by himself. This was when people still bought magazines.

I think it is impossible to rank players from different generations against each other. So Lebron vs. Jordan or Lebron vs. Kobe is hard to rank. But, for his generation Lebron is clearly the best player. He was best basketball player in the world for 12-15 years. When it comes to all time greats I think Lebron definitely deserves to be in the conversation. 80s you had Magic and Bird. 90s you had Jordan. After that Duncan, Shaq, and maybe Kobe. Then it was the Lebron era. Wade is still one of my personal favorites, but realistically he only had a 5-6 year stretch for argument as best player in the world. Still as a Heat fan it was fun to watch. It may have been a Tuesday night game vs. the Knicks or Bulls, but you knew Wade was going to bring it.

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

Incredibly long career for Lebron but all manufactured. From the media glazing since the early 2000s, the constant team hopping when the going gets tough, obvious PED use, and finally using Klutch influence over the league to bring in good players for nothing through buyouts/trades.

2011 finals disqualified him from ever being in any goat conversation as he stole a finals mvp from Wade. Just couldn’t be a robin for his first championship. He’d rather lose than face the media/fan scrutiny

We're just talking about his basketball play, not his off Court moves. and I'm not gonna do any goat conversations until LeBron is retired for several years. No player is perfect and it's especially magnified when they are still playing. And players do evolve. That first-year Miami Heat LeBron is gone by the second year. Jordan wasn't exactly the Jordan in our collective brain until he won the championships.

[Johnny Fontane]

Yup, it's absolutely amazing those hypes didn't get to his teenage brain and he just kept working on his game.

Incredibly long career for Lebron but all manufactured. From the media glazing since the early 2000s, the constant team hopping when the going gets tough, obvious PED use, and finally using Klutch influence over the league to bring in good players for nothing through buyouts/trades.

2011 finals disqualified him from ever being in any goat conversation as he stole a finals mvp from Wade. Just couldn’t be a robin for his first championship. He’d rather lose than face the media/fan scrutiny

We're just talking about his basketball play, not his off Court moves. and I'm not gonna do any goat conversations until LeBron is retired for several years. No player is perfect and it's especially magnified when they are still playing. And players do evolve. That first-year Miami Heat LeBron is gone by the second year. Jordan wasn't exactly the Jordan in our collective brain until he won the championships.

There’s no argument lol. Even if he ring chases one more time and wins a few more as a robin nothing will change. There’s nothing he can do at this stage of his career that puts him ahead of Jordan

[Johnny Fontane]

All that said Foolish of me to take the bait here in the first place from the resident master-baiter

[dolphinatik]

Espn evaluation of rozier as our worst trade showed that all our trades were good. I don't believe rozier forgot how to play basketball but somehow he or someone he loves is being threatened if he plays well. 30 unders is crazy. He doesn't need the money. It's a series situation and I pray for him.

[3ammy3uck3ts]

All that said Foolish of me to take the bait here in the first place from the resident master-baiter

Who baited you lol?