Lebron James to Miami

[LittleAsianGuy]

Just glad hockey players are a bit more classy and didnt have a 1 hour show telling people where they are signing. What's up with the goofy looking shirt and annoying one hour show? He knew all along where he was going so why waste everybody time?


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[DaMix]

thought this was similar to NHL's Wayne Gretzky Trade News Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nE58aXXjU

Miami is going to be a heck of a team, surely be entertaining to watch.
Im thinking they will lose no more then 20 games next season the Heat will

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

How was it similiar to the great ones new conference? Lebron had a 1 hour tv show just for his free agency announcement. If they where simliar talk radio n tv would have said the two where very similiar.

thought this was similar to NHL's Wayne Gretzky Trade News Conference
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nE58aXXjU

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Miami is going to be a heck of a team,

I'm not a basketball fan so I need to be educated but doesn't the NBA have a salary cap. To me it seems like they've blown their wad on 3 players and don't have much left for the other 2 places on the floor or a strong supporting cast. Now, just because of the numbers on the court and the nature of the game, basketball is probably the least of a "team sport" of the big 4 (NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB) where 1 or 2 players can really carry you but unless these 3 can play the full game and play all 5 positions they are not going to win the championship.
I'd appreciate some insight from someone who knows more about the NBA than I.

 

[porcelianprincess]

I think that Lebron is a complete Narcissist to set up a "1 hr special" to announce his decision. I understand him wanting to be on the winning team and it is great for Miami but it isnt fair to the rest of the NBA. I really liked the statement that was given by Cleveland's coach.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

He's selfish pretending to wait till the very last min to announce this. He knew all along where he was going and had a bunch of teams wait for his decision....leaving them hanging.

I think that Lebron is a complete Narcissist to set up a "1 hr special" to announce his decision. I understand him wanting to be on the winning team and it is great for Miami but it isnt fair to the rest of the NBA. I really liked the statement that was given by Cleveland's coach.

 

[twentytwo]

The Heat only have 2 other players under contract right now (Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley) besides James, Bosh and Wade. I think that the new Big 3 haven't actually signed any deals yet so its unknown how close the Heat will be to being capped out but they are going to have to sign a lot of minimum-rate players to fill out the roster. Plus the NBA collective bargaining agreement runs out next year (unless the league chooses to extend it by December) so its less likely that veterans would sign for a "chance at a ring" discount but we'll see I suppose.

In any case, the Big 3 will have to play a ton of minutes and they had better hope that there aren't any major injuries because the Heat definitely won't have much depth.

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

what was the statement?

I really liked the statement that was given by Cleveland's coach.

 

[porcelianprincess]

He's selfish pretending to wait till the very last min to announce this. He knew all along where he was going and had a bunch of teams wait for his decision....leaving them hanging.

They have known for years. They all played together in the Olympics in 2006 then signed 3 year contracts. I would put money that this has been in the works since then.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baske...wner-expresses-outrage-in-open-letter-to-fans

 

[wilde]

What is wrong with arranging your affairs in such a way as to have the best probability to enjoy the ultimate measure of success in your chosen profession?

 

[porcelianprincess]

What is wrong with arranging your affairs in such a way as to have the best probability to enjoy the ultimate measure of success in your chosen profession?

I would be lieing if I were to say that I wouldnt want to be on the winning team. I understand why he did it. I dont agree with the way that Lebron did it. I also think that this going to change the nba for the next few years.

 

[picknshvl]

I'm not an NBA fan, haven't been for years. The way David Stearn treated Seattle was disgraceful. That being said, I understand WHY james went to Miami, I don't like the way he did it. It would have been much more noble to stay in Cleveland, but it is a business! It will be interesting to see how those three egos share the ball and the spot light, it might not work. But, like I said I'm no fan.

 

[curmudgeon]

I'm not a basketball fan so I need to be educated but doesn't the NBA have a salary cap. To me it seems like they've blown their wad on 3 players and don't have much left for the other 2 places on the floor or a strong supporting cast. Now, just because of the numbers on the court and the nature of the game, basketball is probably the least of a "team sport" of the big 4 (NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB) where 1 or 2 players can really carry you but unless these 3 can play the full game and play all 5 positions they are not going to win the championship.
I'd appreciate some insight from someone who knows more about the NBA than I.

The NBA salary cap for 2010-2011 is just a little over 58 million.

At the end of the season, Miami had only 2-3 players under contract for the 2010-2011, valued at less than 10 million total. So they had a ton of room under the salary cap to pursue free-agents.

The league maximum salary for players with 7+ years of NBA experience is something like 14 million, so they could accomodate these 3 guys (James, Bosh and Wade), and still have money to fill the bench (with part timers, guys who are probably going to get about 5-10 minutes of floor time per game).

And the NBA salary cap is not like the NHL and NFL salary cap. The NBA salary cap has at lot of exemptions available to the general manager. And I believe that Wade's contract falls under one of those exemptions (the Larry Bird Rule) so his signing doesn't count against the salary cap.

 

[steverino]

Anyone here been to South Beach? Anyone been to Cleveland? Nuff said.

 

[87112]

Why would anyone buy Cleveland Cavs season tixs now?

 

[LittleAsianGuy]

I heard Lebron has some family members living near cleveland during the off season. Not sure he meant to burn so many bridges leaving this way. When Ray bourque left Boston he did it in a more classy way....after playing so many yrs there.

I would be lieing if I were to say that I wouldnt want to be on the winning team. I understand why he did it. I dont agree with the way that Lebron did it. I also think that this going to change the nba for the next few years.

 

[BJhunter]

At least this won't happen to our frigging Nucks. No top 3 free agents would sign here. Great city except for our BW, just no winning tradition to attract top end free agents of Lebrons' skills.

 

[snif]

At least this won't happen to our frigging Nucks. No top 3 free agents would sign here. Great city except for our BW, just no winning tradition to attract top end free agents of Lebrons' skills.

wouldn't you know this homo would come in with a ignorant comment about the canucks in a nba thread.
please please please , how can we get rid of this homosexual cocksucker?

 

[BJhunter]

wouldn't you know this homo would come in with a ignorant comment about the canucks in a nba thread.
please please please , how can we get rid of this homosexual cocksucker?

please please please how do we convince Sniffy that our Nucks still are 3 players away from the Cup?

That we are probably the most pathetic of NHL teams--no winner in our 40 year history?

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The NBA salary cap for 2010-2011 is just a little over 58 million.

At the end of the season, Miami had only 2-3 players under contract for the 2010-2011, valued at less than 10 million total. So they had a ton of room under the salary cap to pursue free-agents.

The league maximum salary for players with 7+ years of NBA experience is something like 14 million, so they could accomodate these 3 guys (James, Bosh and Wade), and still have money to fill the bench (with part timers, guys who are probably going to get about 5-10 minutes of floor time per game).

And the NBA salary cap is not like the NHL and NFL salary cap. The NBA salary cap has at lot of exemptions available to the general manager. And I believe that Wade's contract falls under one of those exemptions (the Larry Bird Rule) so his signing doesn't count against the salary cap.

Thanks.
That makes this whole thing make a bit more sence. So with 10 Million already used up that leaves 48 Million. Lebron undoubtedly will get the maximum, not sure about Bosh but lets say he gets 10. What does Wade earn? I'm sure they'll have to pay him more than Bosh so lets say taht between the Big 3 they eat up 24 - 26 Million. That leaves another 22 - 24 Million to fill out the roster. I guess with smart management they could find the right players to fill those spots and play some minutes. Should be interesting although we know form past experience that you can't always buy a championship.
Are you saying that Wade's salary doesn't count against the salary cap? What's this "Larry Bird rule"?

BTW, I'm sure the league and David Stern are loving this. What better way to keep your league in the spotlight during the offseason.