NBA 2014 Off-Season Thread
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Vandyn
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You forgot about Manziel.
Got to give him credit, that's about as good as an article you can write about going back home.
fanaskin
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Djay
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I just wrote this in my article, but if they trade for Love, the Cavs will be in the same situation as last year's Heat. They'll be great, and a favorite, this year, but then they're out of cap space and have to rely on exceptions to sign role players. It's better to keep Wiggins on a rookie contract, grow him under LeBron and be a favorite for years.
Pharazon
Silver Knight of the Realm
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This is kind of my thinking as well. It's a pretty tough decision because Love definitely gives them a better chance to win next year. However, they're going to be near the top of favorites regardless of whether or not they trade for Love. If they do trade for Love, they will be THE favorite with a better trio than Miami had last year.
The scary thing is, they may actually have enough assets to get a Love deal done without even giving Wiggins up lol. Talk about dynasty in the making.
Fight
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Brilliant move by Lebron and not to come off as synical, because I think is genuinely hear-felt. After this move, he will have a +90% approval rating with NBA and casual sports fans everywhere. As bad as he botched "The Decision", he is righting all wrongs here.
He is basically off the hook, legacy wise, to win many (any) more championships... but if he does bring one to Cleveland, the credit he will be given will be like wining 3-4 more. He basically has taken the argument, "Lebron has fewer championships than Jordan, therefore he can never be the greatest ever" and thrown it out the window. Realistic expectations are so long in Cleveland, that actually winning there is a surprise and not a given.
He is basically off the hook, legacy wise, to win many (any) more championships... but if he does bring one to Cleveland, the credit he will be given will be like wining 3-4 more. He basically has taken the argument, "Lebron has fewer championships than Jordan, therefore he can never be the greatest ever" and thrown it out the window. Realistic expectations are so long in Cleveland, that actually winning there is a surprise and not a given.
In terms of the Love issue, the Cavs really are holding all the cards while the Wolves have few options. Point being, if the Wolves don't get a trade done he walks after the year and they gain nothing. That said I don't think the Cavs will add Wiggins as even LeBron said in his letter that the process will be long so in this case all they would need to do is wait a season and he is theirs with no loss added.
I think the best the Wolves can do here is a package that includes one first (maybe two) and Anthony Bennett who supposedly is looking good. I don't see the Cav's getting rid of Wiggins who is a good defender and has a huge ceiling and I especially don't see them getting rid of him when they know Love will likely come to them next year anyhow. It isn't out of control that the Wolves would trade Love and another player (for them to clear a contract) for two 1st round picks and Bennett. The wolves are in a bad position and since Love has openly stated he will go to the Cavs and sign a long term deal they are stuck with either dealing with a shitty trade or watching him walk and getting not a single thing in return. The Cavs can sit on this and rip the Wolves off.
Ambiturner
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popsicledeath
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I'd be more interested in seeing Wiggins stay and Love not go to the Cavs. One of the few unchecked boxes in the Lebron legacy is can he turn a team and players into champions. Can he make young, good players into great ones (or at least the perception of greatness that comes with winning). He couldn't do it the first time with the Cavs. That wasn't the situation with the Heat. If he can do it with Kyrie and Wiggins and the current Cavs, I think people will be more willing to talk about his legacy being akin to Jordan and Bird and Magic who have the reputation for not just being great, on great teams, but being in large part responsible for bringing about that greatness in others and their team.
Bring Love in, though, and there will be a continue impression that Lebron is a great player, but doesn't draw greatness out of others or his teams.
Bring Love in, though, and there will be a continue impression that Lebron is a great player, but doesn't draw greatness out of others or his teams.
That is my thinking too. LeBron has to be ecstatic to not only finally have a talented PG but also a player he can mentor who is young, athletic and has a big upside.
If LeBron brings a championship to that city.... shit man. He will be the guy who brought a title to a city that hasn't won any in fifty plus years and is considered "cursed". Don't even get me started on if he wins more than one.
Djay
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Bringing a championship to Cleveland really isn't as big of a deal, legacy-wise, to those of us that aren't from, or rooting for, Cleveland teams. I've already went on record as Lebron being a Top 4 player all-time. It means more for him to finish what he started than continuing with the Heat, but the whole Cleveland thing is something most sports fans don't care about.
*Edit* Fuck, my 1000th post was about LeBron.
Raptors, Vikings, Adrian Peterson, Andrew Luck, Cubs...okay, I feel better now.
*Edit* Fuck, my 1000th post was about LeBron.
Raptors, Vikings, Adrian Peterson, Andrew Luck, Cubs...okay, I feel better now.
popsicledeath
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No diggity no doubt!
Just saying, if James does it without importing super stars even I'll be convinced he's Jordan level of great. And I kinda hate Lebron so it's hard for me to admit that.
popsicledeath
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The talking heads in sports do care about it, and will turn it into a story that will be something regular sports fans absorb and it will become a talking point in legacy discussions.
I agree those outside of Cleveland won't care as it happens, but it will build to being a big deal in the grand scheme of Lebron legacy talk.
Djay
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Yeah, I agree with that. I can already hear the undertones of it starting on the ESPN coverage today. I underestimate how easily the public are influenced by media sometimes.