Will Miami retire Lebron's jersey?

[DreDay]

Mike Miller had about two good games for the Heat. He was well overpaid. We didn't cut a guy who was a consistent producer. The false narrative on this story is so bad. If he would have been a contributing member of the team he wouldn't have been amnestied.

Mike Miller was great in his last two Finals series with the Heat and had a nice year with Memphis the year after. You cut him to save money after players took a paycut to win. It's a **** move and they paid for it.

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

[Young_Buc]

He did more than Kareem did for Milwaukee or Wilt for la. Both those numbers are retired.

[LLcoleJ]

That's considerably more than Michael Jordan did for them, and they retired his jersey.

underrated joke here. Lolz

[fishfuego.]

Mike Miller was great in his last two Finals series with the Heat and had a nice year with Memphis the year after. You cut him to save money after players took a paycut to win. It's a **** move and they paid for it.

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

[Flashpoint]

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

How is paying someone 6 million to sit on the bench conducive to winning championships? Riley knows damn well how to win championships and it doesn't involve hurting the team to stroke Lebron's ego. Miller was a failed signing. Overpaid him for 3 years, hoping he'd recover and play better. Never happened. Miller was making 5x what someone like Battier was making who came in asking far less yet gave far more. This ignorant narrative about what the Miller amnesty was about needs to stop. It also had jack to do with Lebron's decision to go back.

[DreDay]

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

Try again. I saw instantly through that crap and said just as much when he signed that it was all about joining a team. I never said LeBron left solely because of the Miller situation but you're kidding if the owner pinching pennies didn't play a role. I say he didn't trust him to provide the help needed because of these tendencies, because the Heat's cast was capped out in 2014 and it wasn't that great.

[DowJones]

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

And you are buying the Dan LeBatard BS.

Gilbert absolutely has a choice, he just chooses to send. LeBron isn't bolting...you and I both know that. Gilbert is spending because that is the type of owner he is. LeBron isn't last to sign, his boy doesn't even have a contract (Thompson) and the Haywood chip hasn't even been traded yet.

[spacemonkey]

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

Nevertheless, his point stands. Clearly, to the best player on the Heat team during those 4 consecutive finals runs, Mike Miller had some value besides on the court value.

I think it's silly that some fans on here are defending the Heat as some kind of principled organisation (we don't do business like that) when losing LeBron cost you a fifth consecutive finals appearance. It's absurd.

I cheer my team winning, not their owner / GM's stubborn pride.

[fishfuego.]

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

And you are buying the Dan LeBatard BS.

Gilbert absolutely has a choice, he just chooses to send. LeBron isn't bolting...you and I both know that. Gilbert is spending because that is the type of owner he is. LeBron isn't last to sign, his boy doesn't even have a contract (Thompson) and the Haywood chip hasn't even been traded yet.

Initial stand seems to be to send a message to the owner to not hold back or else. Of course after multiple signings and possibly assurances he finally signed. Seems obvious. Gilbert does not want a disgruntled Lebron after all the spending.

[MaxRider]

why not? LeBron actually did play for them

[fishfuego.]

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

Oh please, the Cavs owner has NO CHOICE but to play along and break his bank or Lebron is bolting. Why the heck do you think he's last to sign.

ESPN and NIKE fed you the "I'M COMING HOME" bull sh*t lol.

Nevertheless, his point stands. Clearly, to the best player on the Heat team during those 4 consecutive finals runs, Mike Miller had some value besides on the court value.

I think it's silly that some fans on here are defending the Heat as some kind of principled organisation (we don't do business like that) when losing LeBron cost you a fifth consecutive finals appearance. It's absurd.

I cheer my team winning, not their owner / GM's stubborn pride.

And I cheer for my team winning as well, that's why I consider it was a snake move by Lebron to try and hold hostage the Heat until the last minute and try to recrute Heat players.

Why should Heat fans give a rats ass if his jersey is retired or not? The man never ever talks about Heat fans like we never had to defend his arrogancies.

[MrBaynes]

Let's say LeBron plays another 8 years in the league (he'd be 38). Almost a decade has passed since he left Miami and the NBA has their whole retirement tour for LeBron. He is honored at the All-Star game (Like MJ was) and the media slurps him up like everyone did with Derek Jeter a couple years ago. Wade and Bosh are retired/retiring and are seen as pillars of the Miami Community, and are possibly even members of the Heat organization (even if it is just in PR Roles).

A couple of years roll by.

Does anyone honestly believe that a majority of the organization isn't going to be seeing this whole situation through Rose Colored glasses (graduation goggles, etc)? Not to be crass either, but will an 80 year old Riley and a late 70's Arison even be heavily involved in the organization anymore at those ages? Will the Arison children still hold that grudge if they are the primary decision makers?

Everyone is pissed one year later after an unfortunate season in Miami. However it would be naive to think that there is not a good chance that changes by the time LeBron is done, even if the same decision makers are in place.

[runlikehell]

Let's say LeBron plays another 8 years in the league (he'd be 38). Almost a decade has passed since he left Miami and the NBA has their whole retirement tour for LeBron. He is honored at the All-Star game (Like MJ was) and the media slurps him up like everyone did with Derek Jeter a couple years ago. Wade and Bosh are retired/retiring and are seen as pillars of the Miami Community, and are possibly even members of the Heat organization (even if it is just in PR Roles).

A couple of years roll by.

Does anyone honestly believe that a majority of the organization isn't going to be seeing this whole situation through Rose Colored glasses (graduation goggles, etc)? Not to be crass either, but will an 80 year old Riley and a late 70's Arison even be heavily involved in the organization anymore at those ages? Will the Arison children still hold that grudge if they are the primary decision makers?

Everyone is pissed one year later after an unfortunate season in Miami. However it would be naive to think that there is not a good chance that changes by the time LeBron is done, even if the same decision makers are in place.

I think they'll get over it eventually. Wade will probably convince them anyway. But that's so far away it's not even worth thinking about.

[fishfuego.]

Let's say LeBron plays another 8 years in the league (he'd be 38). Almost a decade has passed since he left Miami and the NBA has their whole retirement tour for LeBron. He is honored at the All-Star game (Like MJ was) and the media slurps him up like everyone did with Derek Jeter a couple years ago. Wade and Bosh are retired/retiring and are seen as pillars of the Miami Community, and are possibly even members of the Heat organization (even if it is just in PR Roles).

A couple of years roll by.

Does anyone honestly believe that a majority of the organization isn't going to be seeing this whole situation through Rose Colored glasses (graduation goggles, etc)? Not to be crass either, but will an 80 year old Riley and a late 70's Arison even be heavily involved in the organization anymore at those ages? Will the Arison children still hold that grudge if they are the primary decision makers?

Everyone is pissed one year later after an unfortunate season in Miami. However it would be naive to think that there is not a good chance that changes by the time LeBron is done, even if the same decision makers are in place.

One never knows, but things are not always simply forgotten.

[gom]

Always thought this was funny:

[instagram]https://instagram.com/p/a1qDuViTBw/[/instagram]

[sixerswillrule]

4 finals and 2 titles. No way they should be upset at LeBron, regardless of how he left. He could've taken a dump on Riley's face, literally, and they should still thank him for what he brought them.

[MFlash321]

If he doesn't win one in Cleveland, it'd be a good gesture. Doubt it though. Wade, obviously, is next along with UD to come.

No doubt that those 4 years were something else for Miami fans.

[Heat3]

Mike Miller was great in his last two Finals series with the Heat and had a nice year with Memphis the year after. You cut him to save money after players took a paycut to win. It's a **** move and they paid for it.

they didn't take a pay cut for him anymore than they took a pay cut to play with Joel Anthony. It was miller who took the pay cut. Riley met with him before he ever met with any of the big 3. only a fool would believe miller was In the top 100 reasons of why he left. It would still probably qualify you to report for ESPN though.

He had ONE good game vs okc in a blowout and he was serviceable vs the Spurs.

Year 1 he was broken
Year 2 he was broken
Year 3 he was riding the pine while Miami won 27 straight.

Why was this guy needed again? What value did he give to the Cavs this year that prove Miami was wrong in dumping him?

Reasons why Lebron would want to leave?

Misses home, family wants to return
Winning in Miami wasn't easy and losing here hurts his legacy more than losing as a cav. As evident this year where he chucked in the finals almost to an mvp while knowing his team had no chance to win.
No control in Miami. Cavs let him and his friends do as they please.
Heat role players getting older and Wade breaking down, sees Cavs as an easier route to the finals.

Or

End of the bench player got amnestied.

People act like they traded harden away to save a buck. It was a dude that couldn't get on the floor

Jesus, it's not Mike Miller the player although that had some role. It is the message it sent to LeBron that saving money is more important than winning championships. Arguing how good Mike Miller was or was not or how injury prone he was is not the point. Gilbert for all his faults is going all in and I can guarantee LeBron respects that he is willing to spend any amount of money.

For whatever reason you are confusing spending money on players that do not contribute to "winning". If Miller had indeed been beneficial to winning he would not have been amnestied.

It's a ridiculous notion to say Gilbert is all about winning/"all in" and the Heat prioritize saving money. When you look at what the Heat have consistently been for the past 20 years and what the Cavs have been. The Heat have actually won. They have won without Lebron. They have been contenders before Wade and Lebron even entered the league. In that time where would the Cavs be if Lebron wasn't born in Akron?

If your logic is to do whatever Lebron wants to keep him happy (assuming for whatever reason keeping mike miller was the key to everything which I think is laughable), that is no guarantee to winning. In fact it is prioritizing stroking the stars ego over winning. It sure as hell didn't work the first 7 years he was in Cleveland. The Heat do things a certain way and it has shown results. The Cavs can go about it differently. Get back to me when that method actually provides better results.

[Rock Hardy]

He is the best player to ever play for the franchise hands down. He has the only two regular season MVP's in team history. He has the most Finals MVP's in team history. He has the most All-NBA first team selections in team history. He has the most All-Defensive first team selections in team history. Lead the Heat during the greatest years the franchise has ever experienced. But no we can't put it up next to Hardaway and Jordan LMAO.

The team owner and team president took it very personally last summer. Laugh, but the franchise preaches family. It will almost certainly take a change in ownership or a significant softening of those feelings before it's considered.

Look at Riley's words, "smiling faces with hidden agendas." The team mortgaged some of its future to get him here with the contract he wanted, only to have him leave in a backhanded way. Lebatard had mentioned repeatedly that Riley felt "betrayed." This isn't a small thing. We've never seen or heard Pat speak so openly and angrily about a former player before. Not even Shaq, and he left on bad terms.

LeBron is Fredo Corleone to Riley. He went against the family.

Yes LBJ should have told Riley, he is going to leave in the beginning of the free agency. But dont tell me your team mortgaged some of its future when you won two rings and went to 4 straight finals. Your teams has been piss poor in drafting during these period, aside from Cole but even he is MEH.

So, you guys were not creative enough to infuse youth in the line-up knowing that you got aging roster. Given you guys had to cut Miller for the tax implications and you guys gave away Joel Anthony along with the pick you acquired from sixers for previous years trade of the pick. So, you guys got rid of two players and a pick and didnt even bring anyone to replace them that last year. And dont tell me you brought Beasly that year. It would have been fine if you guys spent that MMLE but you didnt even do that after losing Miller.
They opted for flexibility the upcoming year but i dont see how you could have flexibility if all three players were to receive MAX contract unless the front office were assuming LBJ would take a discount again lol. When you dont have cap space and you dont draft well, it is hard.

We traded picks just to s&t for him for the extra year and annual raises. The plan wasn't for 5 years. You know nothing about his franchise, so it's not surprising that you can't comprehend the situation.

There's a reason we were never and to fill the roster with adequate depth during the run. We were cap strapped and had no assets. Did Cleveland give up their flexibility to take him back?

Riley did the best he could given the situation. LeBron is free to leave. The franchise and fanbase is free to hold a grudge.

[Rock Hardy]

Did you not remember how you got LeBron in the first place?????? How is anything he did when leaving Miami a surprise? If Riley didn't think this was an option then he was incompetent. Riley should be the first guy to know what LeBron was capable of, he did Cleveland even worse.

Cleveland lost him, but got compensated for his departure. Tell me again how the Heat was compensated for LeBron leaving last year.

SMH. People don't like Miami. We get it. But the situations weren't the same. If we got assets in return, I don't Riley would've been mad. Maybe understanding the situation better would make it easier to understand the reactions.

Again. Riley's been doing this longer than many of you have been alive. Name another time he the shade at a leaving player. Oh... I'm sure there's no justification....