soxfan2003 wrote:Celtic fan here who was actually rooting for Lebron/Miami to win it this year.
Forget about the Lakers. Lebron certainly is not going there unless perhaps Kobe was truly gone from the Lakers and the Lakers got Wiggins...even then I don't see it happening. Lakers don't even have a draft pick in 2015. They would have to build their entire team via free agents and not just add 2 stars. So, they are a mess with no young talent right now. Second of all for all of the reasons others have stated. Kobe has been overrated in comparison to Lebron for years and I doubt Lebron wants to help Kobe win titles and be considered a failure by spoiled Laker fans if he doesn't.
I do think Lebron if Cleveland has a legitimate/strong chance to win a title in 2014-15 or 2015-16 eventually bolts for Cleveland but he probably won't leave if he thinks its a lost cause. And Lebron will be smart enough to evaluate a modest decline in his own abilities when assessing Cleveland's chances or even Miami's chances. At first, I thought that Anthony Bennett was probably a bad first pick in the draft that would harm the Cavaliers chances to get Lebron back but the more I think about it, it may have been a very good fairly safe choice since he projects to be a very efficient 3rd option. I'm not sure if the Cavs were in the position to gamble for a potentially better player in Nerlens Noel.
Unless its with a player like Kevin Durant, I don't think Lebron wants to play for 3 different teams so I tend to think Miami or Cleveland. If Cleveland did a better job with its rebuild then I would see him leaving for the Cavs without question and not even considering any other team besides Miami.
If Irving has a bad year or Bennett doesn't look too good as a potential 3rd scorer then I see Lebron heading back to Miami for at least one more year after this season.
Counting titles when evaluating players is pretty dumb but Lebron getting Cleveland just 1 title would pretty much count as 2 titles anywhere else. I'm sure he recognizes that. A title with LA doesn't do nearly as much for his legacy and I just can't picture him abandoning Wade for LA. I think if he goes back to Cleveland, most Heat players and fans would understand but he looks worse if he prematurely goes to some other team.
The best case for Heat fans is Lebron sticks around for 3 more years and then lures Kevin Durant to the Heat. I even see an outside shot at those 2 teaming up in OKC or Cleveland since with the right supporting cast, they could challenge the Bulls 72 win season. With OKC it would be probably a sign and trade for Westbrook and only happen if Miami didn't look like a strong championship contender going forward.
What exactly is the theory for how or why LeBron would even consider playing for Dan Gilbert again? Especially to give up $30 million or so do so. I am pretty sure that Gilbert's comments and actions when LeBron left are the most insulting, demeaning and disrespectful comments any pro sports owner has ever made publicly about a player. He called him "narcissistic," "cowardly," "disloyal," "heartless" and "callous." He called him a "former hero" who made a "shameful display of selfishness." He openly wished LeBron ill and said Clevelanders should not want their kids to grow up like him. Why would anyone want to work for someone who has said those kind of things about him/her? It would be virtually inconceivable for anyone with even a normal sized ego to do that, let alone someone like LeBron. And to take $30 million less in order to make that person tens of millions of dollars more would just be ridiculous. Especially when it would mean leaving the team and owner that created the environment that helped you win 2 NBA titles.
It's amazing that none of the articles or pundits ontificating about LeBron going to Cleveland even address this issue. It is similarly amazing that their articles or comments don't address any of the statements LeBron has made about how much he loves the Heat and Miami and how his ultimate goal is to stay and win many more championships. While the "not 1, not 2 . . . not 6, not 7" comment at the rally may have been hyperbole and in fun, it did pretty strongly imply that at that time LeBron expected or hoped to be here beyond the term of his initial contract. Since then, he has been to 3 Finals, won 2 titles, 2 MVPs and 2 Finals MVPs. His team seems like it is nothing short of a non-sexual lovefest, with every player and insider talking about how close this team is, how it is like a family, and how they are all willing to play for less money to be here. Meanwhile, LeBron himself has said the following:
“That’s the goal. That’s the ultimate finish. We all hope that can happen, obviously, to be able to have success with two guys and with Riles and Spo.
“This is what we came here for. That would be the ultimate. But I don’t know. Life changes, things happen, and you have to be prepared for that. But this is what we all want to be here for. And that’s to be able to compete for a championship every year. If we can do that, then it would be awesome.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/26/3 ... rylink=cpy“It’s like, ‘Damn, I wish we could come into the locker room — have another practice, take another flight, another bus ride. Those 15 guys. You start to miss the guys throughout the summer.”
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/26/3 ... rylink=cpy"It feels great. This team is amazing. And the vision that I had when I decided to come here is all coming true. Through adversity, through everything we've been through, we've been able to persevere and to win back‑to‑back championships. It's an unbelievable feeling. I'm happy to be part of such a first‑class organization."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/ju ... -came-true"I love the fans of Miami."
"I've got everything thing invested with this team. I'm looking forward to the years to come."
The fans of Miami shouldn't be worried about anything at this point."
"It was a very difficult year for me last year(2010-11), a transition year for myself on the court and off the court," he said. "I'm very comfortable when I'm with my whole family.
"My family is down there and I feel great."
http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/story/2 ... -heat_copyAgain, what are the reasons why he would leave Miami for Cleveland, LA or anywhere else?
More money? Nope. Heat can pay more than anyone else.
Lower income taxes? Nope. Florida has no state income tax.
Longer contract? Nope. Heat can offer longer contract than anyone else.
Better chance to win championships? Nope. Heat has won 2 straight and was 2 games away from winning a third.
Better owner? Nope. Arison is one of the best and richest owners in the NBA who has proven he is willign to pay to win.
Better management/GM? Nope. Riley has everyone else beat.
Better coach? Nope. Spo has won 2 titles in 5 years. He has put together a team and system that has enabled LeBron to improve and win multiple MVPs while also winning titles.
Better teammates? Nope. by all accounts, this Heat team is unusually close and cohesive.
Play with friends? Nope. He is already playing with some of his best friends.
Better weather? Nope. Certainly not in Cleveland. Maybe LA if you hate humidity and love smog, but . . .
Better party scene? Nope. South Beach is as good as anywhere.
Hotter chicks? Nope. And he'll soon be married anyhow. (Not that that means much . . .)
Fans that love him? Nope. He's got that in Miami. Cleveland? No. LA? No, most Laker fans hate LeBron and will always love Kobe more?
Bottom line is that there is no real reason for LeBron to leave Miami. I guess crazier things have happened and anything is possible, but . . .
