Will Miami retire Lebron's jersey?

[Paz]

A lot of people keep justifying the Mike Miller decision as a "basketball decision", aka he did not contribute to production in basketball success, or winning.

As if appeasing your best player isn't also a 'basketball decision'...

LeBron is no longer contributing to Miami's success, or Miami's winning.

I concede that nobody knows if it was the Mike Miller thing for real, or just a convenient excuse for LeBron who already had his mind made up.

The whole narrative that Riley is made of 'sterner stuff' and he wouldn't take that ish from an 'egomaniac' is really absurd from a fan's point of view. I want my team to win, and if that means doing everything possible to retain LeBron, then I want my team's management to do that.

As much as I don't particularly like him, I'd take him on my team at any cost, including that of my own team GM's pride.

Because my GM's pride, his ego, does not contribute to winning.

Thats because most NBA fans are desperate for not even a championship, but simply relevance. In Miami however, we PISS excellence. The Heat have a culture that isn't going to break for ANYONE...and Heat fans are proud that Riley & Co. didn't bend over for the Queen.

Bro... no we don't. We haven't done anything since Lebron left except win 37 games. Please put the bravado aside until we have something to celebrate. We have a whole lot of nothing but expectations right now.

[magicmerl]

Just clearing up that Bosh signed before James

For sure. He also planned on signing where LeBron was.

Just like this offseason, Tristan Thomson is signing after LeBron, but you better believe that his contract has been ironed out already.

I love fiction but if you're going to try to pass that off as fact, I'm sure you understand that some proof is required.

Well, it was more one of those reading between the lines of the rumors thing during free agent season. Even before the decision I remember seeing somewhere a quote that was purportedly from Bosh saying that he wanted to know where LeBron was going before he committed to a team.

Just like I assumed that DJ was going to resign with the Clips when I heard that he was playing cards with them in his home despite the fact that at that point he couldn't actually sign a contract one way or the other.

[Paz]

For sure. He also planned on signing where LeBron was.

Just like this offseason, Tristan Thomson is signing after LeBron, but you better believe that his contract has been ironed out already.

I love fiction but if you're going to try to pass that off as fact, I'm sure you understand that some proof is required.

Well, it was more one of those reading between the lines of the rumors thing during free agent season. Even before the decision I remember seeing somewhere a quote that was purportedly from Bosh saying that he wanted to know where LeBron was going before he committed to a team.

Just like I assumed that DJ was going to resign with the Clips when I heard that he was playing cards with them in his home despite the fact that at that point he couldn't actually sign a contract one way or the other.

So nothing but conjecture and tea leaf reading. Got it.

[magicmerl]

I love fiction but if you're going to try to pass that off as fact, I'm sure you understand that some proof is required.

Well, it was more one of those reading between the lines of the rumors thing during free agent season. Even before the decision I remember seeing somewhere a quote that was purportedly from Bosh saying that he wanted to know where LeBron was going before he committed to a team.

Just like I assumed that DJ was going to resign with the Clips when I heard that he was playing cards with them in his home despite the fact that at that point he couldn't actually sign a contract one way or the other.

So nothing but conjecture and tea leaf reading. Got it.

Dude, if you don't think that Bosh and LeBron agreed together (with Wade) where they would sign before any of them signed a contract, well, I don't know what to say.

[SoFlaKingReal]

A lot of people keep justifying the Mike Miller decision as a "basketball decision", aka he did not contribute to production in basketball success, or winning.

As if appeasing your best player isn't also a 'basketball decision'...

LeBron is no longer contributing to Miami's success, or Miami's winning.

I concede that nobody knows if it was the Mike Miller thing for real, or just a convenient excuse for LeBron who already had his mind made up.

The whole narrative that Riley is made of 'sterner stuff' and he wouldn't take that ish from an 'egomaniac' is really absurd from a fan's point of view. I want my team to win, and if that means doing everything possible to retain LeBron, then I want my team's management to do that.

As much as I don't particularly like him, I'd take him on my team at any cost, including that of my own team GM's pride.

Because my GM's pride, his ego, does not contribute to winning.

Thats because most NBA fans are desperate for not even a championship, but simply relevance. In Miami however, we PISS excellence. The Heat have a culture that isn't going to break for ANYONE...and Heat fans are proud that Riley & Co. didn't bend over for the Queen.

Bro... no we don't. We haven't done anything since Lebron left except win 37 games. Please put the bravado aside until we have something to celebrate. We have a whole lot of nothing but expectations right now.

Yes...we do. Three NBA Titles. 5 Conference Titles. That is MORE than enough for me to just never stop celebrating. In Pat RIley's 20 seasons with the Heat...we have made the playoffs 16 times. We have a winning culture in Miami and it started long before LeBron was in town. Now that he's gone, nothing has changed in terms of the organization's goals and expectations.

[BBallFreak]

I've already made my thoughts on this subject known, but having read through the rest of this drivel I have a few points to make.

1) LeBron left (IMO) because he was frustrated with the Heat for not being willing to spend (Miller), he was worried about the decline of the Heat roster (Wade, in particular), he wanted a new, younger, more durable core (Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. LOL), and he wanted to repair his image (which meant he could only go to Cleveland). I believe he also wanted a level of clout he was never going to get in Miami until after his retirement. I also believe his plan was always to go back to Cleveland at some point, though after the Gilbert letter, I'm shocked he didn't force an ownership change first. Really made me lose more respect for the guy that he went back to that same situation.

2) Some Heat fans (and I am one, so don't bash me for what I'm about to say) are coming off very badly in this thread. We piss excellence? Riley IS the Heat and he hurt our poor widdle Wiley? Come on! You're making all of us sound like entitled buffoons! Every Heat fan is pissed LeBron left, but it's because we're not adding any more banners up in the rafters for awhile, not because of anything else. Yeah, I don't like the way he dealt with our organization, but if you think for one minute that we wouldn't forgive him if he'd decided to come back this offseason and force his way to the Heat, you're fooling yourselves. We want rings. We want the championship high. He brought it. We all know it.

3) He will eventually get his jersey retired, and he should, but that doesn't mean Heat fans don't have the right to be a bit salty (just not as salty as some are acting. LOL). When he does get his jersey retired, I hope Riley is standing next to him and the two are shaking hands.

[Makaveli DaDon]

The guy left our team and tried to take half our bench but says he has no help? Lmao. How was Mike Miller this year Cleveland? Imagine paying him 5 years ago with a broken back 6 million dollars a year. His first week in training camp Lebron broke his finger or hand. People forget that the Miami admin asked miller to get surgery on his back or at least get it looked at and he refused, all the while he's doing MMA during our championship runs during the season.


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[Makaveli DaDon]

Well, it was more one of those reading between the lines of the rumors thing during free agent season. Even before the decision I remember seeing somewhere a quote that was purportedly from Bosh saying that he wanted to know where LeBron was going before he committed to a team.

Just like I assumed that DJ was going to resign with the Clips when I heard that he was playing cards with them in his home despite the fact that at that point he couldn't actually sign a contract one way or the other.

So nothing but conjecture and tea leaf reading. Got it.

Dude, if you don't think that Bosh and LeBron agreed together (with Wade) where they would sign before any of them signed a contract, well, I don't know what to say.

Players back out all the time. You don't think if Cleveland made a trade during those first 7 days of free agency to get Lebron help that'd he'd leave Cleveland the first time?


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[JVL]

We'll see in 10 years… Until then who the hell cares.

This

Haslem and Wade are next. Then Bosh probably

Wade I agree, Haslem and Bosh not at all. Bosh is every bit the mercenary you guys paint Lebron to be, and he was only the 3rd best player during those title runs.
Haslem is simply a loyal guy. He's never been anything but an ever so slightly above average player. By that standard you can hang the jersey of about 20 guys in your rafters. It wouldn't mean anything anymore.

[Makaveli DaDon]

I cringed while reading this.

Why? Carrying LeBron's water shouldn't hurt so much.

ITT, Miami fans get told how to feel about one of their former stars.

Also ITT, Miami fans don't care.

Why are Cavs and other fans telling us, how we should feel? Obviously we operate different than you guys. We retire players jerseys who never played for our team but still hand out the numbers. I believe Marino and mike miller both had the number 13. I bet if someone wanted 23 they could get it. Lebron tried us fans, tried Wade and Bosh and tried Riley. People really don't realize that in 2014 we had 0 payroll other than Norris cole. During the finals it was a heavy rumor that Miami would go after Carmelo to create a big four with everyone taking pay cuts. Last year was the opportunity to re-up and Lebron jumped ship. Any and every free agent was waiting on Lebron on whether to sign with the Heat without a commitment from Lebron but mike miller, Ray Allen and james jones knew where he was signing before Wade, bosh and Riley. Put this in perspective James Ennis wears Shaq number.


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[Makaveli DaDon]

We'll see in 10 years… Until then who the hell cares.

This

Haslem and Wade are next. Then Bosh probably

Wade I agree, Haslem and Bosh not at all. Bosh is every bit the mercenary you guys paint Lebron to be, and he was only the 3rd best player during those title runs.
Haslem is simply a loyal guy. He's never been anything but an ever so slightly above average player. By that standard you can hang the jersey of about 20 guys in your rafters. It wouldn't mean anything anymore.

Lebron is a mercenary because he left. It's similar in relation to a sperm donor and a father. A father sticks it out, a sperm donor hits it after he gets his nut. The same reason Lebron recognizes his mom and not his dad. When we thought we knew him, he left. Bosh stuck around, loyalty actually means something. The sad thing is Lebron was going to win over Miami from Wade, you can see it but he never embraced it. For a guy worried about his brand, he never tried or fake attempted to learn Spanish while living in Miami or even dabbed into any other cultures like Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bahamian, Dominican, Mexican and Puerto Rican. Miami is a big melt pot for all of these cultures and he didn't embrace none. Look at what Univision did to trump, and you were right down the street from it for four years and didn't even try.


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[SCHeat]

We'll see in 10 years… Until then who the hell cares.

This

Haslem and Wade are next. Then Bosh probably

Wade I agree, Haslem and Bosh not at all. Bosh is every bit the mercenary you guys paint Lebron to be, and he was only the 3rd best player during those title runs.
Haslem is simply a loyal guy. He's never been anything but an ever so slightly above average player. By that standard you can hang the jersey of about 20 guys in your rafters. It wouldn't mean anything anymore.

Haslem is a no brainer to me, dude sacrificed money multiple times to help the team and is universally loved. Been here 12 years. Right or wrong I think it happens

Bosh is another story but if Miami can put together some more good teams and he ends up finishing his career here I can definitely see his being retired as well. He's still got a lot of years left in his career

[RSCD3_]

This

Haslem and Wade are next. Then Bosh probably

Wade I agree, Haslem and Bosh not at all. Bosh is every bit the mercenary you guys paint Lebron to be, and he was only the 3rd best player during those title runs.
Haslem is simply a loyal guy. He's never been anything but an ever so slightly above average player. By that standard you can hang the jersey of about 20 guys in your rafters. It wouldn't mean anything anymore.

Lebron is a mercenary because he left. It's similar in relation to a sperm donor and a father. A father sticks it out, a sperm donor hits it after he gets his nut. The same reason Lebron recognizes his mom and not his dad. When we thought we knew him, he left. Bosh stuck around, loyalty actually means something. The sad thing is Lebron was going to win over Miami from Wade, you can see it but he never embraced it. For a guy worried about his brand, he never tried or fake attempted to learn Spanish while living in Miami or even dabbed into any other cultures like Haitian, Jamaican, Trinidadian, Bahamian, Dominican, Mexican and Puerto Rican. Miami is a big melt pot for all of these cultures and he didn't embrace none. Look at what Univision did to trump, and you were right down the street from it for four years and didn't even try.


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Bosh was ready to go to Houston until Miami offered him an MVP level contract

also that is an odd analogy as lebron james and chris bosh are both fathers in real life

[contract]

Surprised by the lack of gratitude from some of the heat posters. Guy wins you 2 rings as finals MVP and gets two MVP awards in your squads jersey? Not a large list of guys you can even say that about period for any team.

Is what it is I guess.

We got him 2 rings and he showed zero gratitude. In case you haven't noticed, he's 0 for 8 trying to win championships while not wearing a Miami Heat jersey.

[Joseph17]

They definitely should. It shouldn't even be a discussion. Leading them to two championships should be enough.

[Joseph17]

Surprised by the lack of gratitude from some of the heat posters. Guy wins you 2 rings as finals MVP and gets two MVP awards in your squads jersey? Not a large list of guys you can even say that about period for any team.

Is what it is I guess.

We got him 2 rings and he showed zero gratitude. In case you haven't noticed, he's 0 for 8 trying to win championships while not wearing a Miami Heat jersey.

Yeah, the Heat were amazing last year without Lebron.

[fishfuego.]

Surprised by the lack of gratitude from some of the heat posters. Guy wins you 2 rings as finals MVP and gets two MVP awards in your squads jersey? Not a large list of guys you can even say that about period for any team.

Is what it is I guess.

We got him 2 rings and he showed zero gratitude. In case you haven't noticed, he's 0 for 8 trying to win championships while not wearing a Miami Heat jersey.

Yeah, the Heat were amazing last year without Lebron.

More reasons to not care about his jersey being retired in AAA lol.

A mercenary act equates to a mercenary acceptance. What's so surprising?

[JVL]

What's so surprising?

The ungrateful attitude of Heat fans on this board who were balls deep in Lebron less than 2 years ago.

Not like it matters though. The Heat still have to retire Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Magic, Bird, Duncan, ... as well.

[Kidds BAC]

Miami Heat fans try so hard to make it seem like they have an iconic franchise. Bless their hearts.

[Ancalagon]

Surprised by the lack of gratitude from some of the heat posters. Guy wins you 2 rings as finals MVP and gets two MVP awards in your squads jersey? Not a large list of guys you can even say that about period for any team.

Is what it is I guess.

We got him 2 rings and he showed zero gratitude. In case you haven't noticed, he's 0 for 8 trying to win championships while not wearing a Miami Heat jersey.

I am normally okay with using "we" in the context of your favorite sports team, but in this case it just makes you look stupid. "You" got LeBron a ring? Hahaha.