did LeBron purposely make himself the biggest fish of multiple small ponds?

ohio · Post #1 » by **ohio** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:08 pm

Hindsight is 20/20 but looking back to 2010 it's pretty clear he was never going to the Bulls per se, in order to be the greatest Bull he has a major obstacle to overcome. If Lakers or Boston were in a position to be able to sign him, those also wouldn't happen, too many large fish to compete with in the greatest of all time ranks.

But, the greatest player in Miami Heat uniform, easy. Greatest Cavalier, easy.

It actually makes me think that had he left Cleveland on good terms with a championship (tough to do), he wouldn't have came back and perhaps tried to conquer another untapped market.

But from marketing perspective I feel like it's genius, Shaq did it the best I think but he didn't do it as strategically as LeBron did, Bron did it in markets where it was relatively easy to become greatest in, something very few players have been able to accomplish... that's if any. KAJ maybe? Shaq left his mark on every market he played in, LeBron dominated it.

But I'm probably overthinking it?

H20FAN · Post #2 » by **H20FAN** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:10 pm

with this logic, that means after he wins this year, he'll def come to the knicks...he'll easily be the best knick ever lol

DarthDiggler69 · Post #3 » by **DarthDiggler69** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:30 pm

So hes going to hop on every insignificant team in the league so he can be their best player ever?

I think its more like he was trying to re-brand his image a few times

JonFromVA · Post #4 » by **JonFromVA** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:40 pm

Sort of? I think he was concerned with the exposure and scrutiny his family would be under in a big market city. His move back to Cleveland was very much about raising his family back in his home town where he and his family have always been very well protected.

With some athletes, it's just lip-service, but for instance LeBron continued to run his bike-a-thon in Akron while a member of the Heat even though he knew it was an opportunity for angry fans to vent and/or possibly worse. The event got smaller, and security got tighter, and access to him was limited but to his credit - he still ran it.

tidho · Post #5 » by **tidho** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:41 pm

Or he thought he needed Wade to win (and did) then became the player that doesn't.

Further he was drafted by Cleveland and was already their best ever so if the theory is valid at all he would have gone elsewhere.

Q C · Post #6 » by **Q C** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 4:42 pm

lets not rewrite history here..I remember people writing off Miami because he would never be able to pass Wade in rings

Buckeye-NBAFan · Post #7 » by **Buckeye-NBAFan** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:07 pm

ohio wrote:Hindsight is 20/20 but looking back to 2010 it's pretty clear he was never going to the Bulls per se, in order to be the greatest Bull he has a major obstacle to overcome. If Lakers or Boston were in a position to be able to sign him, those also wouldn't happen, too many large fish to compete with in the greatest of all time ranks.

That's not true. LeBron told me himself he Boston and LA were his #1a and 1b choices if they had had cap space... What, you can make stuff up but I can't?

LeBron obviously thought Wade was better than any player he could pair with in Chicago, New York or Cleveland, and that made his decision. In hindsight, if he signs with the Bulls, they might have won the title in 2011, but they also could have lost to the Spurs in 2013 with Rose out. And no way they win in 2012 with Rose and Noah both out. Wouldn't have won in 2014 either.

So in hindsight, he made the right decision to win titles (unless he wanted to sign for the MLE with SA in 2010). If he had played as well as Wade did in 2011, they would have won 3 titles.

RSCD3_ · Post #8 » by **RSCD3_** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:11 pm

When you think of who represents the heat franchise more, It'll obviously stay wade so I'm not sure I follow that his trip to miami was to establish himself as a florida legend or anything. The move to miami was the friends + winning idea.

Freighttrain · Post #9 » by **Freighttrain** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:11 pm

Not these kinds of posts again..

Wolfy1983 · Post #10 » by **Wolfy1983** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:11 pm

Miami is a small pond?

DarthDiggler69 · Post #11 » by **DarthDiggler69** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:17 pm

Buckeye-NBAFan wrote:LeBron obviously thought Wade was better than any player he could pair with in Chicago, New York or Cleveland, and that made his decision. In hindsight, if he signs with the Bulls, they might have won the title in 2011, but they also could have lost to the Spurs in 2013 with Rose out. And no way they win in 2012 with Rose and Noah both out. Wouldn't have won in 2014 either.

What? Their other supposed plan was both he and Wade join forces in Chicago, so Wade and Bosh also talked with the Bulls too. It wasnt just Lebron going there by himself. Remember they all colluded to join one team so they all went to talk with the same teams. Lebron wasn't going to go by himself

Dominator83 · Post #12 » by **Dominator83** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:36 pm

Buckeye-NBAFan wrote:
ohio wrote:Hindsight is 20/20 but looking back to 2010 it's pretty clear he was never going to the Bulls per se, in order to be the greatest Bull he has a major obstacle to overcome. If Lakers or Boston were in a position to be able to sign him, those also wouldn't happen, too many large fish to compete with in the greatest of all time ranks.

That's not true. LeBron told me himself he Boston and LA were his #1a and 1b choices if they had had cap space... What, you can make stuff up but I can't?

LeBron obviously thought Wade was better than any player he could pair with in Chicago, New York or Cleveland, and that made his decision. In hindsight, if he signs with the Bulls, they might have won the title in 2011, but they also could have lost to the Spurs in 2013 with Rose out. And no way they win in 2012 with Rose and Noah both out. Wouldn't have won in 2014 either.

So in hindsight, he made the right decision to win titles (unless he wanted to sign for the MLE with SA in 2010). If he had played as well as Wade did in 2011, they would have won 3 titles.

First off, If Lebron came to Chicago it would have been with either wade or Bosh. Bulls had 2 MAX slots open. Second, that could have changed everything. If they came, surely Rose/Noahs high usage(ie not having to work so hard to make every play) would not have been nearly as high. Perhaps they would have had much healthier careers as a result?? We obviously will never know, but its certainly plausible

Concrete Jungle · Post #13 » by **Concrete Jungle** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 5:50 pm

Craig Ehlo>LeBron James

Buckeye-NBAFan · Post #14 » by **Buckeye-NBAFan** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:15 pm

DarthDiggler69 wrote:
Buckeye-NBAFan wrote:LeBron obviously thought Wade was better than any player he could pair with in Chicago, New York or Cleveland, and that made his decision. In hindsight, if he signs with the Bulls, they might have won the title in 2011, but they also could have lost to the Spurs in 2013 with Rose out. And no way they win in 2012 with Rose and Noah both out. Wouldn't have won in 2014 either.

What? Their other supposed plan was both he and Wade join forces in Chicago, so Wade and Bosh also talked with the Bulls too. It wasnt just Lebron going there by himself. Remember they all colluded to join one team so they all went to talk with the same teams. Lebron wasn't going to go by himself

I think all evidence points to Wade recruiting guys to Miami, not talking about leaving Miami for another team. You can disagree, but I don't think Wade was interested in leaving Miami.

Edit: Also just to point out, while LeBron did sign a less than max deal, Florida doesn't have a state income tax like Illinois and the Bulls did not have room for 2 max contracts without making additional moves. Also if we're living in the alternate Universe where Rose and Noah don't get hurt, who's to say the Bulls even draft Butler with LeBron on the roster? Or who's the say they don't deal their 2011 1st to Cleveland for his bird rights the way Miami did.

rockersdash · Post #15 » by **rockersdash** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 6:21 pm

Wade was and is still the greatest Heat ever. Without Wade mentoring LeBron, he doesn't have those 2 rings.

It works both ways but Wade enabled him to be great.

username_taken · Post #16 » by **username_taken** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:02 pm

Inb4 LeBron dashes to go to Charlotte next offseason

jamesnamida · Post #17 » by **jamesnamida** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 7:19 pm

Wade is still the greatest heat player,
Lebron only recently surpassed mark price as the greatest cavs ever

MarvinGaye1983 · Post #18 » by **MarvinGaye1983** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 11:10 pm

I would say Wade is the greatest Heat player
LeBron the best though

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HeartBreakKid · Post #19 » by **HeartBreakKid** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 11:21 pm

When people talk about James they do not say greatest Cavs or best Heat ever even though he is both of those, they think one of the best ever and best of his generation.

I highly doubt he chose what team to join so he could be the best player in that franchise. Most teams that he would join in the NBA he would be the best player to ever play for that club.

Sign5 · Post #20 » by **Sign5** » Sat Jul 11, 2015 11:31 pm

FOH Wade is the greatest Miami Heat player ever, all Heat fans/non Cleveland LeBron homers will agree.