Why was it a big deal with the Heat and not with others?

[Deepness5134]

I've read even this year many fans saying it's bad for the league that James, Wade and Bosh teamed up. I'm not going to rewrite what everyone has been saying since they got toghether but, why don't those same fans complain about:

- Lakers: so it's wrong for LBJ to join Wade cause they're both MVP candidate caliber players but it's right for Howard to join Kobe? If Bosh is the big difference, then how about a All-Star PF Pau Gasol and a great playmaker like Nash that won 2 MVP awards in the past?

Well...it's not. Im pretty annoyed there too. However it was a Trade and not D12 signing striaght up w/ say BRK. At the VERY least the LAL did trade away the 2nd best Center for howard. If Wade somehow got traded to Cleveland, I doubt you'd hear any of this talk.

- Boston: so KG joined Pierce and Allen and it was never a big deal. Why not? Cause they were older? They lasted 4 years... And could even still do it this year. Why didn't anyone complain?

Also a trade, and also for atleast some value (at the time). Al Jeff was a decent haul for a Late/Past prime KG.

- NYK join DPOY with all-star PF and Melo (for some a MVP candidate, I'd say he's a lock for top 10 players in the league). But no one seems to care. Why? Because they played below expectations?

Lole...they don't belong in this discussion.

So what? Was it just an excuse because people hate LeBron? Just another excuse to hate him? Specially with LAL, why don't the same fans complain about it? I mean, it's a super team and Howard acted the wrong way like no one else and yet he doesn't get any hate for it.

What the Heat did changed the league. The big de3al for me was that it was with all of them being in the primes. You can think it's foolish, you can think it's dumb, you can think it's "hating". But this is how people feel and felt. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. It doesn't make any of it less valid. Heatles are allowed to think we're being stupid. Thats fine. We're allowed to think otherwise.

In the grand scheme, no they didn't do anything illegal. But when you talk about sports people want their athletes to be "honorable" in the sport. I could give two **** how "gay" Bosh acts, cuz on the court he balls (pun intended). LBJ as well in the same light, but he's not an **** on the court, just one off of it but even that doesn't matter as much since he's so good.

Point is...you want your athletes to fight for themselves. I get the argument against this thought, that there has never been anyone to win it by themselves. But this is more of a shot at the franchise (cavs) and less at LBJ. They should have gotten him more help, but LBJ went to the "best" destination. Hell...forget the bulls (which i think it was a good place), forget the knicks (because they spent a lot of money), forget the Clipshow (who at the time were a SF away from being imo better than Heat currently)...

Why didn't he pick the Mavs? He would have a superstar (arguably better than Wade/Bosh) and a full team around him, AND a owner willing to do anything to win.

All of this is a side track...your question on why MIA got heat vs LAL was all of this and a few more things. But it's just an opinion. You can agree w/ it or disagree w/ it and have a discussion about it. But you can't disrespect it because it's not how you view the world (and this is something that gets lost the bickering that is RGM)

[High 5]

Hate comes with being the best at anything. And LeBron amplified it with "The Decision." That's really all there is to it.

[Tave]

The "Oh those other guys were traded," "Lebron is supposed to be an alpha-dog," and "So-and-so was 30 not 27" chants ring really hollow, IMO. I'm not even a Heat fan but I admire what Wade, Lebron, and Bosh did. In an era of me-me-me Superstars and outrageous max contracts, they decided to take less money and sacrifice their personal stats in order to build a winning legacy in an expansion organization without much history. IMO, that says a lot more about a person's will to win than all mean mugging and bravado in the world. It's the type of dedication to the game that would make Russell proud, though I'm sure he didn't like their premature celebration. It reminds me a lot of what Duncan/Parker/Manu did in San Antonio, or what (to a lesser extent) Dirk did in Dallas.

It shocks me that a number of posters openly admit they hate the Heat but wouldn't have hated Lebron for going to Chicago or New York with another superstar, and even more so attempt to justify that sentiment outside of simply being a fan of either team.

[Tien]

The entire league has been heading in the direction of super teams. You either become one and win, or go solo and lose.

Whether players do it or GM's do it, the result is the same. Deal with it.

[Protoss]

So it's OK to team up when you're 30-31 and ruin the chances of a superstar who hasn't yet teamed up? If the Celtics and Lakers didn't team up, and LeBron was the first to do it, then I could see where the criticism comes from.

If it's OK for Gasol/Bryant and Garnett/Allen/Pierce to team up and potentially get in the way of LeBron's Cavs, who's to say an older Dirk wouldn't have followed? Or another person? And he may end up never winning.

The fact that it's acceptable "only if you're old" is laughable and I question the intelligence of anyone who buys into that argument.

[Dupp]

People are over it now and i even see some of Lebrons biggest haters respecting him now because he won that first title. So who cares right? Its over with, people are over it why the need to keep bringing it up?

[Fantaxp7]

The situations you mentioned are all completely different then the miami heat situation.

Lakers - howard didn't sign there as a free agent. He was traded there, and he wanted to go to brooklyn. Gasol was also traded there, years ago, and the two didn't decide together to team up.

Celtics - again, ray allen didn't sign there, they traded jeff green for him. Kg didn't sign there, they trade al jefferson for him and kg didn't even want to be a celtic at first.

Knicks - lol, how is this even relevant? Chandler is far from a star player and knicks didn't make it out of the first round.

+1000000

Please, get your facts straight, OP.

This.

The Heat scenario being unique. Stop grouping all these other examples to help you reason out why the Heat shouldn't be hated.

[Fantaxp7]

People are over it now and i even see some of Lebrons biggest haters respecting him now because he won that first title. So who cares right? Its over with, people are over it why the need to keep bringing it up?

I'd say no one bitches about it much nowadays. And yes, credit is given where credit is due for his performances. But it will still be at the back of people's minds anytime they are succesfull...unavoidable as far as I am concerned.

But you're right there's no changing it.

[RexBoyWonder]

People are stupid. That's basically it.

Whatever loophole or excuse they try to come up with to support their bias are stupid too.

A perfect summary of the GB on RealGm.

End thread.

[Honey Bear]

Looking back, the comments people made after LeBron joined the Heat are hilarious.

"He's never going to be in the MVP discussion again"

"Now he can never be Michael Jordan!!"

"When you're the MVP they come to you!!!!"


And all he's done since joined the Heat is won a title, won an MVP, been in contention for another, and enhanced his basketball legacy.

Well the 2nd quote is correct. He can't be Michael Jordan. He's not on that level.

[Tave]

The situations you mentioned are all completely different then the miami heat situation.

Lakers - howard didn't sign there as a free agent. He was traded there, and he wanted to go to brooklyn. Gasol was also traded there, years ago, and the two didn't decide together to team up.

Celtics - again, ray allen didn't sign there, they traded jeff green for him. Kg didn't sign there, they trade al jefferson for him and kg didn't even want to be a celtic at first.

Knicks - lol, how is this even relevant? Chandler is far from a star player and knicks didn't make it out of the first round.

+1000000

Please, get your facts straight, OP.

This.

The Heat scenario being unique. Stop grouping all these other examples to help you reason out why the Heat shouldn't be hated.

Every situation is unique. The question is, do the minor differences matter?

For example, KG had to OK the Boston trade before it could go through. It was a sign and trade. Ditto for Melo. Why don't people blast them for "not winning on their own," or "teaming up with other superstars?" They had as much control over their destinies as Wade/James/Bosh. You're arguing over distinctions without merit.

Some of the other attempts at rationalization are even more absurd. The "knicks didn't make it out of the first round," really? Howard wanted to create a superteam with Brooklyn so it's OK Mitch traded for him and created a superteam on the Lakers, really? REALLY? Those are justifications? C'mon man, talk about the sourest of grapes. Like the Heat or not, it doesn't matter, but don't blast them for doing what every competitive organization in the history of the league has always done: whatever was in their power to field the best squad possible.

Hate them for their arrogance or entitlement. Don't hate them for wanting to win.

[samfisher83]

Because Lebron is held to a standard that even mj wasn't held to.

[MaliBrah]

why the hell does it matter if teams were built through trade or free agency? whats the difference? i dont get it

[Quake Griffin]

LOL at there being a difference between someone signing somewhere and someone allowing a trade to go through to be somewhere else.

cognitive dissonance is not an excuse people.
if the truth makes u uncomfortable...say that.

[Mars]

The dramatic swing in opinion on Bosh among the critics here at RealGM has impressive...

In the span of only two seasons he's conveniently shifted from the insignificant, disposable "Half" of "Two and a Half Men", and not even a Top 20 player in the league, to an unquestionable superstar and future Hall of Famer. Quite the accomplishment on his part.

[Heat fan06]

Bosh has always been underrated

[Trader_Joe]

This.

Every situation is unique. The question is, do the minor differences matter?

For example, KG had to OK the Boston trade before it could go through. It was a sign and trade. Ditto for Melo. Why don't people blast them for "not winning on their own," or "teaming up with other superstars?" They had as much control over their destinies as Wade/James/Bosh. You're arguing over distinctions without merit.

Some of the other attempts at rationalization are even more absurd. The "knicks didn't make it out of the first round," really? Howard wanted to create a superteam with Brooklyn so it's OK Mitch traded for him and created a superteam on the Lakers, really? REALLY? Those are justifications? C'mon man, talk about the sourest of grapes. Like the Heat or not, it doesn't matter, but don't blast them for doing what every competitive organization in the history of the league has always done: whatever was in their power to field the best squad possible.

Hate them for their arrogance or entitlement. Don't hate them for wanting to win.

KG was not a sign and trade, he was under contract for 2 more years.

[Michael Lucky]

These three made plans to join the Heat together while leaving their teams two years prior to that FA. On the other hand on the Lakers everyone of the current big 4 on the Lakers was acquired through a trade.

Speculate much?

On the other hand on the Lakers everyone of the current big 4 on the Lakers was acquired through a trade.

Nash signed as a free agent and Orlando got nothing in return for Dwight Howard. When are trades okay with people when players hold franchises hostage like Howard did, but LeBron signing free agent else where... that's a BIG NO NO!

LeBron promised Cleveland a title, it didn't work out. Cleveland management is more to blame for allowing that to happened than LeBron is.

I don't see anything speculative about it. In fact anyone who remembers Bosh and Wade sitting at that dining table saying someone was missing can easily fit the pieces together before the articles concerning the 2008 olympics came out.

Phoenix still had the option to trade him to another team.
Orlando still had the option to trade him to Brooklyn and would have gotten a better deal in doing so. Can't blame the players for the choices of their management.

[Trader_Joe]

LOL at there being a difference between someone signing somewhere and someone allowing a trade to go through to be somewhere else.

cognitive dissonance is not an excuse people.
if the truth makes u uncomfortable...say that.

As is big market teams will always have an advantage in free agency versus smaller market teams. Teams with stars in place will have an easier time attracting free agents than teams without stars. They also tend to have financial resources that small market teams don't have.

The Heat took advantage of their market appeal as well as star appeal. Teams/small market team that build via drafts/trades worked with the actual player assets they had and are at a disadvantage in that regard.

Put it this way, I'd be much more impressed by Presti and OKC winning the title than Kupchak+ LA or Riley and the Heat.

[FlashKing]

These three made plans to join the Heat together while leaving their teams two years prior to that FA. On the other hand on the Lakers everyone of the current big 4 on the Lakers was acquired through a trade.

Speculate much?

On the other hand on the Lakers everyone of the current big 4 on the Lakers was acquired through a trade.

Nash signed as a free agent and Orlando got nothing in return for Dwight Howard. When are trades okay with people when players hold franchises hostage like Howard did, but LeBron signing free agent else where... that's a BIG NO NO!

LeBron promised Cleveland a title, it didn't work out. Cleveland management is more to blame for allowing that to happened than LeBron is.

I don't see anything speculative about it. In fact anyone who remembers Bosh and Wade sitting at that dining table saying someone was missing can easily fit the pieces together before the articles concerning the 2008 olympics came out.

Phoenix still had the option to trade him to another team.
Orlando still had the option to trade him to Brooklyn and would have gotten a better deal in doing so. Can't blame the players for the choices of their management.

You're still speculating on the Heat big 3. You can throw out articles, dinning together, it's still speculation. Regarding Nash, Phoenix wouldn't have gotten equal value for a player his age. A deal for Brooklyn was proposed but the Nets jumped the gun and sign Lopez. You can't blame free agents for bailing the franchises that drafted them when management made little to no effect of putting better pieces around them. LeBron played out his contract, Howard didn't.