Jenksismyhero

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 11:39 AM) What about aging veterans looking for their last chance at a title? There has to be a few of those. 99.9% of players go for money. That's why Bosh/Wade/Lebron has been so strange (though really only Bosh at this point is potentially signing for under the max of what he can get). I find it incredibly hard to believe that someone would give up a couple of million (or more).

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 11:35 AM) Vets all over the league will be looking to jump on that bandwagon. It won't be that hard at all. I think you're wrong here. No one of significance is going to go from making a couple million a season to what, like 800k, just for the chance to win a title, especially if there's a potential lockout.

As I said back on page 62, look ahead about 2 years. Chicago will be a contender due to the continued development of rose/noah/gibson. They've just added an all-star player and people don't think that's an improvement? You guys are nuts.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 11:18 AM) Why do people keep saying this? The Lakers struggled against a Boston team who NO ONE gave any credit to here, now all of the sudden its different? If Miami gets LeBron they will be the best team in the league next year.. anyone who disagrees is either a bitter Bulls fan or a moron.. Guess I'm a moron then. I think they'd be good, probably one of the top 3-4 teams in the league. But I think everyone is overrating Bosh and not understanding the physical beating these three will have to take over the course of a season.

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 10:49 AM) Well that's not a great comparison because Malone and Payton were old men then. But I think your overriding point is correct in that this isn't a video game. Having great players will get you a long way, but it doesn't guarantee a ring. Particularly when their cap hits limit what help you can get them. That's because they wouldn't be. I'm still not convined they'd be better than the Thunder if OKC continues their rapid development. It's not a perfect one, but really Shaq and Kobe were nearly as dominant as Lebron and Wade (Shaq maybe more so since he was the most dominant player that no one could stop). But people are arguing that all they need to do is grab a couple of cheap veterans to round out the roster. I think an aging Payton and Malone are about as good as they could get.

Anyone who says the "Miami Thrice" and crap players would win titles need only look at the 2003-2004 Lakers. 4 hall of famers on that team and they couldn't win. I think Miami will be a really good team with all three, obviously, but it's not guarantee that they'll win a bunch of rings.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 09:08 AM) Bill Simmons: Countdown to the LeBroncalypse Yep, agree.

QUOTE (Palehosefan @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 08:46 AM) Translation: "ESPN told me to back off." he's back tracking a little on mike and mike now too. still says miami the favorites "but you never know"

QUOTE (DrunkBomber @ Jul 8, 2010 -> 08:35 AM) Why would ESPN scoop their own press conference by letting Broussard run with this if it was true? While theyre saying his source is credible, it definitely isnt LeBron himself or Maverick Carter. There have been smoke screens to keep interest from each of the potential fan bases and keep the hope alive in every city. Obviously none of us know what he is truly thinking but despite all the bs ESPN and the media is spewing there are really only 2 logical destinations that would satisfy the most obvious requirements for someone that has presented themselves the way LeBron has, New York and Chicago. At this point money isnt an issue, he is getting paid anywhere he goes and the endorsements will be there no matter where he plays. LeBron has done nothing to make me assume he can check his ego at the door and go play a role in Wade County. There is an ENORMOUS difference between accumulating rings with other superstars (one of which has won a championship in that city already) and going into a situation where its your team with the right mix of players around you that you can carry to a championship (IE Kobe the past 2 years). I think a lot of people are underestimating LeBrons opinion of himself. He is coming into his prime right now and isnt at the stage in his career where he needs to piggy back other superstars in a last attempt to get his ring (IE Kevin Garnett). He wants to go down as the GOAT and he simply cant do that from Miami, it simply would never happen. Multiple championships in New York or Chicago immediately gives him notoriety as an all time great. The reason I lump the Knicks with the Bulls is because they already have Stoudemire , they would more then likely add Mello, Chris Paul or Tony Parker. In Pauls/Mellos cases neither has a ring and they would be joining him in NY which is much different then joining Wade in Miami. The Bulls still make the most sense by far and should be his choice. I still think it will be but I guess we will find out tonight. All makes sense, but his decision could be as simple as appeasing his crew (cleveland) or wanting to play with friends (miami). We've all assumed he's all about legacy and basketball, but maybe he's not.

am I the only one that thinks that Lebron/Wade/Bosh and no one else isn't automatically the team to beat? I know the differences with Boston, but to me the "big 3" didn't do it on their own, they needed an up and coming all star in Rondo to get over the top. Good? Absolutely. Unbeatable? Hardly.

Amen (nsfw due to language if you read while at work)

QUOTE (EvilJester99 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 05:15 PM) I find it amusing that Broussard says the Bulls aren't out of it but certainly not the favorite for LeBron.. yet the f***in Knicks are?? The Knicks have noone and they will suck for years to come even with LeBron. I'm telling you, it's an ESPN hype machine.

I bet if you looked over Broussards tweets from the last week his "gut" has included every possible scenario. And at least according to Woj at Yahoo!, he get the inside scoop on Miami/Bosh from Lebron's inner circle, who clearly play everyone all the time. Just saying, consider the source.

I heard they played this and it kinda made him mad:

QUOTE (iamshack @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 05:05 PM) Broussard just said on ESPN he thinks the Bulls are still alive. Broussard is a f***ing tool. This morning he said Miami, all Miami. Then he said maybe Miami and Cleveland. Then he said Miami Cleveland and NY. In other words, his sources are full of s***, or being the "expert" of NBA FA over at s***ty ESPN, he's just gaining viewers.

adande didn't say they bombed, he said from what he heard it wasn't what lebron wanted to hear, i.e., their whole pitch was come be the next michael jordan and he wasn't about being the NEXT MJ, but the FIRST LBJ. So, they didn't stroke his ego like everyone else. Still, I dunno how a "bomb" of a presentation lasted 3 hours... I wouldn't read too much into it.

Where Noah and Rose fail, perhaps Boozer becomes the hero:

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 04:28 PM) Boozer, in 44 playoff games has averaged 23.5 points and 12.5 boards. ugh, he's awful

QUOTE (whitesoxfan99 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 04:07 PM) So like I said earlier we would basically be the Atlanta Hawks. A solid team that makes the playoffs and 2nd round but with no chance to win a title. Not a great position to be in. you're ignoring the fact that this is a young team getting better and better, while the "favorites" are getting older and older. If this move (w/o lebron) sets us up for a run in 2 seasons for a couple of titles, it's totally worth it.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 03:59 PM) If Cleveland did that, they won't sell out any games and their fans will despise them forever. If he's leaving anyway, might as well get something for him.

dumb question, why no sign and trade for lebron so he can get the max? out of the question? ship deng, taj, (anyone) picks, trade exception and all?

yep, booz, 5 years 80 mil, just under the max. i'm good with that. either get lebron or add a SG.

athomeboy, put bucher back on the list for the love of god!!

QUOTE (whitesoxfan101 @ Jul 7, 2010 -> 03:35 PM) I'd be willing to bet every bit of "information" we get between now and tomorrow night is misinformation from the James camp designed to get more ratings and interest. Don't buy any of it. Our buddy @Ric Bucher: "Rumors of NYK having legit shot at LeBron or him going to Mia seem like an attempt by LRMR to create suspense for Thurs show."

Not to bust bubbles, but KC Johnson doesn't think the Bulls have much of a shot, and I trust what he says. What he's hearing is that the Bulls haven't heard a "no" yet, but he didn't know if that means anything. He seems to think the Bulls are working aggressively on plan B.