LeBron James

[Gus Zing]

I'm starting to think the Spurs are more of a threat than the Lakers.

If he goes to the Spurs...you can't say he isn't trying to win..

Still think he stays though.

 

[ice cream man]

I'm starting to think the Spurs are more of a threat than the Lakers.

If he goes to the Spurs...you can't say he isn't trying to win..

Still think he stays though.

The Spurs could be a threat, but they would have to start this offseason.

They'd need to trade Aldridge and get some player of value for him. He's going to decline his option anyway. As of right now, the only players making any kind of significant money that will be under contract next offseason are Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. Maybe they can sign George Hill or something this offseason.

LeBron has a ton of respect for the Spurs. He would only go there if they clearly have a better chance at beating GS. LeBron/Kawhi/Pop and a bunch of nobody's isn't gonna get it done though.

 

[RuanuLaw]

This is just my opinion, but I'm kinda pissed that KD just put winning over everything like how we all wished LeBron would be.

He took less that he "should/deserved" to allow his team to have even more flexibility.

From the looks of things, in a few years, both KD and LeBron will have the same amount of rings. In a few years after that, who knows, KD can end up with more rings than LeBron.

But hey, at least LeBron really stuck it to Dan Gilbert and made him pay every last penny!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flight479]

I'll be shocked if LeBron ever takes less again. He's practically vowed never to do that again. Thank Pat Riley for how he handled Miller. He'll never take less to help Gilbert. Only way I see it is if it will directly help us sign a player he thinks could help us.

 

[Triple-S]

This is just my opinion, but I'm kinda pissed that KD just put winning over everything like how we all wished LeBron would be.

He took less that he "should/deserved" to allow his team to have even more flexibility.

From the looks of things, in a few years, both KD and LeBron will have the same amount of rings. In a few years after that, who knows, KD can end up with more rings than LeBron.

But hey, at least LeBron really stuck it to Dan Gilbert and made him pay every last penny!!!!!!!!!

When you have the Stephen A. Smith's and other wankers of his ilk create a narrative of making individual accomplishments defined by titles? This is what happens.

It doesn't matter how or where the ring is acquired.

KD could have made it on his own in theory. But we'll never know.

 

[Gus Zing]

This is just my opinion, but I'm kinda pissed that KD just put winning over everything like how we all wished LeBron would be.

He took less that he "should/deserved" to allow his team to have even more flexibility.

From the looks of things, in a few years, both KD and LeBron will have the same amount of rings. In a few years after that, who knows, KD can end up with more rings than LeBron.

But hey, at least LeBron really stuck it to Dan Gilbert and made him pay every last penny!!!!!!!!!

LOL

Man the takes are getting worse around here.

 

[Funkmastabuck]

So we hear that LeBron isn't recruiting players to Cleveland.

OK, but what is the point of "recruiting" guys when we have virtually no money to spend. Sure, we'd love to hear that LeBron was working behind the scenes to get either Butler or PG13 to demand traded to Cleveland, but I'm not sure that's realistic.

Also, not recruiting for the Cavs could have quite a bit to do with Griffin being let go. If you're LeBron, and your preferred and current GM is not retained, you have no clue what direction Gilbert intends to take the franchise. I'm sure at that point, he decided to take a hands off, wait and see approach. What do you have lined up, Dan? So far, not much.

 

[The Red Viper]

You guys do remember how LeBron was hammered when he took less money at Miami, right?

 

[Zog]

I bet if you told LeBron he could take a pay cut but be surrounded by the GSW team he'd give it some serious thought.

Him taking a pay cut at this point isn't going to do much because of all the other largish contracts we have.

 

[The Red Viper]

This is just my opinion, but I'm kinda pissed that KD just put winning over everything like how we all wished LeBron would be.

He took less that he "should/deserved" to allow his team to have even more flexibility.

From the looks of things, in a few years, both KD and LeBron will have the same amount of rings. In a few years after that, who knows, KD can end up with more rings than LeBron.

But hey, at least LeBron really stuck it to Dan Gilbert and made him pay every last penny!!!!!!!!!

Here's the thing. KD didn't have to take this much less. Just had to take a couple of millions less so that Warriors could re-sign Iggy & Livingston. But, he took much lesser than that.

Also, KD taking this much lesser money doesn't really change much for Warriors in terms of flexibility. They can still only sign players for vet minimum or MLE like they would have been prior to that. He did this as a favour to Joe Lacob really just so that he doesn't have to pay crazy luxury tax. I am assuming Joe Lacob returns the favour later in some sort of under the table stuff.

 

[The Red Viper]

It makes zero sense he's going to leave Cleveland, for either LA situation when those teams will be much worse, and in a much tougher conference. Even if the Lakers get both PG and LeBron. So what? They're still not even close to GS.

I'm not even sure why people are freaking out, or developing so much energy into where he's going.

Never say never, I get that, but at the moment, there's really no where for LB to go that's a better situation for him.

He knows that. He's not going to leave, just for the sake of leaving, and us not being good enough against Golden State.

Not sure there's a team in the league that's good enough against GS, he can realistically go to.

Exactly.

That is why I am not worried about him going to Lakers as well. Its pointless going to the Lakers if he wants to add to his legacy, which he values more than anything. Like @gourimoko said, a lot of Lakers fans already don't like him. Going to the Lakers where he won't be revered as much or have a better chance of winning the Championship than us doesn't make any sense.

The only team other than us, where he can go and has a legitimate chance to defeat the Warriors is Spurs really. But there's also another team whom I won't rule out. Philly. They have the young blood and talent to surround LeBron with. They also have the assets which they can turn into good role-players.

So, if LeBron wants to win vs the Warriors there are three teams which give him the best chance unless he takes a major paycut and plays for MLE or something lmao. They are Us, Spurs and Philly.

Which brings me to my last point. LeBron is also a businessman. He is the Vice President of the NBA Players Union and was a key part in constructing the super-max contract which he is eligible for. Next year, he will be 33 and also eligible for that massive super-max contract which would make him the highest paid player in NBA history. That 5-year contract won't be there after next year with the 38-year rule in the new CBA.

So, why would LeBron leave that much money on the table to go to a team where he has lesser chance to win a NBA Championship than we do now?

 

[bigfoot5415]

Until LeBron came back, he had never been the highest paid player on his team. I don't hate him for not taking a pay cut.

 

[bigfoot5415]

Until LeBron came back, he had never been the highest paid player on his team. I don't hate him for not taking a pay cut.

 

[Triple-S]

I'm a bit annoyed at the attitude towards the Cavs, Gilbert, and LeBron in light of what's happened recently, since 2011, etc.

Is Gilbert "really" that shitty of an owner? I ask this because I've heard stories about guys like Donald Sterling, James Dolan, the former owner of the Sonics, the former owners of the Kings, the owner of the Nets, and others.

I see people obsess over him in the media...but it's really puzzling to me because it feels like there's owners out there who are a.) much worse, b.) don't spend as much.

Is he really that "toxic" towards incoming free agents and the like? Do people like Chauncey, other gm's, coaches, really hate the idea of coming here, playing for him because they percieve him as someone who meddles in the affairs of the teams?

Are the Cavs "really" that shitty at finding talent, and making good trades? I mean, there's a lot of teams that would kill for the type of record we've had since 2014, hell since 2003. I hate to point out the record, but 4 finals appearances is uh..nothing to snuff at Franchises like the Nets, Pacers, Magic, Bucks, Mavericks, Trailblazers and Suns have all gone to less NBA Finals. One more and we're tied with the Heat, two more and we're tied with the Spurs, Bulls

I don't know, I'm confused about this. It feels like the fanchise has "made" it, despite what a lot of nay-sayers out there are saying. I don't understand the criticism. Would I rather be talking about 2 titles now instead of 1? SURE! But god...I'm sure my kings fan friend would kill to even be talking about 1.

 

[The Red Viper]

I'm a bit annoyed at the attitude towards the Cavs, Gilbert, and LeBron in light of what's happened recently, since 2011, etc.

Is Gilbert "really" that shitty of an owner? I ask this because I've heard stories about guys like Donald Sterling, James Dolan, the former owner of the Sonics, the former owners of the Kings, the owner of the Nets, and others.

I see people obsess over him in the media...but it's really puzzling to me because it feels like there's owners out there who are a.) much worse, b.) don't spend as much.

Is he really that "toxic" towards incoming free agents and the like? Do people like Chauncey, other gm's, coaches, really hate the idea of coming here, playing for him because they percieve him as someone who meddles in the affairs of the teams?

Are the Cavs "really" that shitty at finding talent, and making good trades? I mean, there's a lot of teams that would kill for the type of record we've had since 2014, hell since 2003. I hate to point out the record, but 4 finals appearances is uh..nothing to snuff at Franchises like the Nets, Pacers, Magic, Bucks, Mavericks, Trailblazers and Suns have all gone to less NBA Finals. One more and we're tied with the Heat, two more and we're tied with the Spurs, Bulls

I don't know, I'm confused about this. It feels like the fanchise has "made" it, despite what a lot of nay-sayers out there are saying. I don't understand the criticism. Would I rather be talking about 2 titles now instead of 1? SURE! But god...I'm sure my kings fan friend would kill to even be talking about 1.

See.

Both Gilbert and LeBron are at fault for some of the things that has happened and transpired. Dan more so, because our front office decisions, management decisions and draft choices under his ownership has been questionable. LeBron for being a passive-agressive primmadona.

Both of them are alphas and have massive egos. No one is bending to the other.

But inspite of all that, they made it work because both share one thing in common. To WIN.

Its just that, due to KD going to the Warriors, it has created all sorts of chaos. Because prior to that, our roster was constructed perfectly to create a sort of dynasty and win multiple championships. However, after that we have had no proper vision or planning about how we should respond. I am not questioning Dan's desire to win. I think he wants to win. But the decision to let Griff walk at such a crucial stage was really bad. The timing was awful because this free agency was vital for us to re-tool and get ready to face and look to defeat the Warriors again.

But due to Dan's decision not to bring Griff back, we are in all sorts of chaos instead of being focused to achieve one common goal. The good thing for us, there's still plenty of time re-focus and re-tool. We still have the best player in the world and that automatically gives us a chance. There is definite tension within the organization but like the saying "Winning cures everything!".