They certainly have the talent to reach the ECF, but they didn't beat them. They've fallen short twice and they've been beaten by arguably the better team two straight years. They aren't far off at all. But all series long, you heard how LeBron needs help, he needs help from his teammates, he can't do it all himself. And it ended up that his teammates just weren't good enough. They certainly wouldn't have beaten the Lakers if it got that far. There's no doubt if LeBron had a legit second scorer like a Turkoglu or Lewis, Cleveland would be breezing to the Finals. As currently constructed, they aren't good enough. Role players don't win championships. You certainly need them but LeBron was the only indisputable All-Star on a team that won 66 games. (Mo gets an asterisk since the coaches didn't select him, and originally selected Jameer Nelson. And Mo proved not to step up his game in the big time.)
Trading for Lebron leaves us with talent? So what do you think they will accept for Lebron? Rudy + TO and Picks?
On kind of a side note, does anyone else think if this was Kobe, or a few other stars who have not quite as outgoing of an image as LeBron, they'd just be getting absolutely hammered for just jetting out of the arena like that? Now I understand he was pissed, but he could have at least shaken the Magic players' hands. I could care less about him skipping out on interviews with the media, but at least give D12 and company some congratulations. You could tell in the interview with ESPN that Howard was surprised that LeBron didn't talk to him after the game. Just seems to me if this was Kobe or a few others, people would be calling him a jerk and not letting him off quite this easily.
Isiah Thomas did the same thing, when the Bulls finally beat the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. He led his whole team off the court without shaking hands. Only Joe Dumars didn't follow Thomas' lead, and went over to shake the hands of the Bulls. I don't recall Thomas getting hammered at the time, though over the years whenever that series comes up, it's viewed as a bit of childish petulance on Thomas' part.
Even if we did trade Roy and Aldridge for LeBron, I think a team that had Bayless, Rudy, Oden, and LeBron would be exceptional. We'd have to round out the bench though. Might take some more Pritchard magic. Either that, or maybe we could sign a couple guys to play backup. The biggest question, who would play power forward?
Thomas had won titles before that display of poor sportsmanship, and you must not recall him being hammered for walking off of the court because you were too young? My circle of hoops fans always felt that was a window to the real Isiah, and his poor decisions since only reinforce that position.
I'm not sure why that's relevant, unless you mean that media excuses bad behaviour if the player has won before, which I'd agree with but I don't think that media behaviour actually makes any sense. I meant in the media, which I assumed was what LameR was referring to. I was 13 when it happened, and I remember the media flurry over the Bulls finally going to the Finals and the Jordan v Magic angle talked about endlessly. I didn't read anything or see anything on TV about Thomas' actions after the series.
If LeBron left Cleveland, it would be for the money. The Knicks have the most money to offer (an obscene amount, I might add). This LeBron to the Nets idea is just some hopeful babble created by the legions of 11 year old Net fans who laugh at the notion that other professional basketball teams exist outside of New Jersey.
You remember things differently than I did. I remember Zeke being hammered for his poor sportsmanship, and frankly, it is his lasting image as a player to me, and likely added to his '92 exclusion from the "Dream Team".
The most I would offer LeBron would be Oden, LMA, Rudy, Batum Sign Milsap/Lee Bayless/Roy/LeBron/(Milsap/Lee)/Joel Over It would never happen, but we would be plenty loaded with him And yes, he has a lot of growing up to do.
on the off chance that Joel Freeland isn't the next Buck Williams, I'd think that the other Joel could fetch a servicable PF. ahhh the off season, when reality takes flight. The chances of LeBron becoming a Blazer are obviously minute, but dreaming up wild scenarios is fun and free... and I'm still pretty stoked about the team as is STOMP
Each of the last 2 years (3 years now I guess) LeBron has left the court without congratulating anyone and then gone over to the other lockerroom later to congratulate them. He did it with the Spurs and Celtics. Probably just needed to gather himself. Leave him alone, imo.
I would not ever, ever ever ever ever, trade LMA and Roy for LBJ. I would rather have Roy. LeBron is a ball hog and a poor sport. Then ONLY thing I would consider is LA and Oden for him. Because Roy and LeBron on the same team would be deadly. Better then Jordan and Pippen.
http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/104752-lebron-im-not-leaving-cavs-yet? The Cavs won't trade LeBron any time soon. There is no trade they could make (that LeBron would approve) that would come close to filling those shoes. So, they would rather hold out whatever hope they may or may not have that he will resign in 2010. The only way they do a sign-and-trade is after LeBron has already agreed to sign with another team with cap room. It would be just like the Rashard Lewis deal with Orlando. Orlando had cap room. Offer to Rashard. The whole world knows Rashard is gone from Seattle. Seattle and Orlando THEN work out a sign-and-trade. I know the losing team doesn't get much from that trade, but I can't see Cleveland daring to make any sort of proactive trade of LeBron. They can't win with their fans if they do.
He was pissed about the loss and didn't want to do anything he might regret in public. What an arrogant doucheyhead.
I can't see LeBron ever leaving Cleveland. He's a guy conscious of his legacy, and ditching a team for the bright lights would hurt his image. Besides, the bright lights follow him, so it doesn't matter. He could be a Buck, a Blazer or a Thunder and he'd be in the media spotlight.
