It really was. It does give you all of the reasons why Uncle Jerry will do everything he can to get LeBron. Some idiot writer for the Sun-Times suggested that Jerry wouldn't want to give LeBron a max deal because he is cheap. That was one of the dumbest articles I've read in a long time. Jerry would pay LeBron $30M a year if he could. He knows how much money that man will make his team.

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Yeah that seems like a lazy way to force a "original" idea or storyline out there. It's such a damn shame that Amare will be paid almost as much as LeBron and like $30 million more than Rondo.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Where is that Rondo agent should be fired thread?

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Yeah Simmons mentioned that too. Most underpaid guy in the league and the extension hasnt kicked in yet. They are gonna have alot of cap room/assets to rebuild on the fly to a championship caliber level I think, if it's done right.

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Im done with this if your going to get pissy. I have watched enough of his games to make my feelings known. I think the guy will be good, I just feel that Turner will be the star from this draft. I think NBA coaches will be able to draw up defenses that prevent him from just driving to the hoop all the time. He must be able to develop a jump shot. He hasnt yet. Even Jordan had to develop a jumpshot. Being a guard you can't just continue to drive to the hoop everytime otherwise you wont be around that long. I think the kid is stubborn and was handed shit all his life thus delaying the process of him fine tuning his game.

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I think this could pertain to alot of "superstar" athletes. They are used to being the best at every level they play, however I am not to sure if that is the reason he hasn't "fine tuned" his game. He is young still, give the guy a shot before you start saying he hasn't developed a jumpshot.

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

+1000 This is a case where I believe (could be wrong) that Chris made a statement and didn't know what the hell he was talking about. You challenged him on it and he went into defense mode and started throwing out a bunch of bullshit reasons. None of them have backed up his point about Wall. In fact Wall is a far better player than Rose was coming into the NBA.

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Curious, what do you base this on? Their stats for their one year in college are pretty comparable and Rose led his team farther in the tourney. How does that add up to Wall being a "far better" player?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He is a better shooter and playmaker and everything else (at worse) is pretty much the same. Kentucky had 5 players declare for the draft and at least 3 will be lottery picks. The fact that their stats are comparable says a lot about Wall.

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Again, how are determining this? Rose shot better from the Field and 3 point line during their one year in college. Wall was a little better from the FT line.

Rose

48% FG

34% Threes

71% FT



Wall

46% FG

33% Threes

75% FT

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Rose made a lot of layups.

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Oh my god how can you not see Wall is so much better than Rose. Its because he is so much quicker than him. I dont have proof, but he must be. The way he drove past all those guys is proof enough. How is anything your saying Nas more concrete fact than me saying my opinion? Show me facts that proves this guy will be better than Rose or one of the best in the league. What Im saying is......... Dont just say the same shit that ESPN keeps telling you.

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I don't care who the better shooter is...just tell me who is more now

There are no facts because he hasn't played a single game in the NBA yet.It's all subjective, I don't think he will be as good as Rose but I do think he will be up there in the conversation.

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You never miss your wealth, till your well went dry
Seem like only yesterday, you were here smiling
Now you gone away, but I know you in a better place
No traces of you, what can I do?
Alone and confused

I don't know whether he will be as good as Rose is or not, I just do not see any way in the world you can look at their one year in college and say that Wall is a far better player coming out of College.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Look at it. Stats don't always tell the real story. LeBron had a triple double in game 6 and he quit. I think any objective observer would say the same thing.

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You are right, they do not tell the whole story, but they do tell a part of it.

So Nasova, you can have Rose or Wall on your team long term, you taking Wall?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I'll go with the kid from Simeon. Wall seems like a guy that will love the fame but not work on his game as much as a guy like Rose. I guess that is my way of saying he may not maximize his potential. I don't doubt Rose will.

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The biggest question in the NBA is not, "Who's going to win the championship?'' but rather, "Who's going to get LeBron James?" Speculation swirls daily, rumors fly regularly, but the fact is, no one (perhaps not even James) knows what city he'll call home next season. But there is speculation and then there's informed speculation; there's guessing and then there's educated guessing. So after speaking with several folks around the league, here are our top five likeliest destinations for LeBron. Despite Mark Cuban's open courting of LeBron, we purposely omitted sign-and-trade possibilities, because for the Cavaliers that's either the ultimate last resort or no option at all. In the unlikely event the Cavs open themselves up to a sign-and-trade, then Dallas, Houston and perhaps the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers could enter the discussion. But the Cavs know there would be no way to bring back equal value in a sign-and-trade, and they'd kill their future cap flexibility in the process. With that in mind, here are the five likeliest destinations for LeBron. Sorry, Clippers fans, you didn't make the cut. As usual.

5. Miami Heat

WHY -- James and Dwyane Wade would form the league's most formidable perimeter tandem since Jordan and Pippen. Heat prez Pat Riley is a master architect, capable of putting the right pieces around the superstar duo. Sun, fun and South Beach. 'Nuff said.

WHY NOT -- After James and Wade, the Heat would, at least next year, have hardly anything of note. Heat fans aren't exactly raucous, typically waiting until the second quarter to show up and fill in the lower bowl of American Airlines Arena. And do James and Wade, two of the league's three biggest stars, want to share the spotlight? Winning titles in Miami would perhaps open James up to arguments that he couldn't win a ring without Wade.

4. New York Knicks

WHY -- The Knicks have enough cap room to add James and another max-salaried free agent such as Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire or Joe Johnson. Danilo Gallinari is a sharp-shooter who would play well off James, and James' numbers would be otherworldly in Mike D'Antoni's offense. James loves the limelight and the lights don't get any brighter than those at Madison Square Garden, where he'd play before a host of celebrities every night. Bringing the Knicks their first title in nearly 40 years would make James a hero of the highest order, and some say he can only maximize his off-the-court financial potential in the Big Apple.

WHY NOT -- There's no guarantee Bosh, Stoudemire or any other big-name free agent would want to follow James to New York as his sidekick. Those cats have egos, too. Even landing two max-quality free agents doesn't guarantee greatness for the Knicks, because the club won't have much money left to pay their still-to-be-acquired supporting cast. The media glare will not only be focused on James but on his family and friends, who don't want to read about themselves on Page Six of the New York Post. Owner James Dolan also hasn't exactly proved himself to be a builder of champions, a la Jerry Buss, and if James doesn't win a ring in New York, his failure will be magnified, thereby damaging his legacy.

3. New Jersey Nets

WHY -- Despite their horrible 12-70 mark this season, the Nets have a supporting cast that would fit nicely around James. Brook Lopez would perhaps be the best center James has played with, and Devin Harris is an All-Star talent at point guard. Courtney Lee, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Yi Jianlian and Terrence Williams would all improve next to LeBron, as would whomever the Nets draft with the third overall pick. Plus, New Jersey has the cap room to add another talented player along with James. Billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov is poised to spend whatever it takes to get James and the Nets a title. And in two years, the Nets will be in Brooklyn, where LeBron's buddy and minority Nets owner, Jay-Z, is from.

WHY NOT -- Despite their talent, the Nets' players haven't displayed a winner's mentality. They should have won far more than 12 games, yet they gave in and underachieved. Are they a collection of losers? Plus, the team will play in Newark the next two years before heading to Brooklyn. Does King James really want to be in limbo for the next two seasons? Leaving Cleveland for another club would double the already-immense pressure on James to win a title, and while Prokhorov is a big spender, unlike baseball, you can't just buy a championship in the NBA. Finally, as the league's longtime version of "Clippers-East,'' are the Nets fit for a King?

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

WHY -- LeBron loves his hometown of Akron and, by extension, Cleveland. His family, friends and ultra-palatial home are in the area. He can be a normal person there, going to local restaurants and stores without being bombarded by fans and media. Basketball-wise, Cleveland is set to be a title contender for the next several years and, with a few roster tweaks, the Cavs could win a championship. He's also comfortable within the organization, which has gone out of its way to please him for the past seven years. Leaving the Cavaliers ring-less is, on some level, to leave in failure, but there is that extra $30 million the Cavs can pay (Cleveland is allowed to spend more than anyone else to re-sign its own player).

WHY NOT -- The Cavaliers don't have the cap space and don't appear to have the trade bait to land a true second star for LeBron. Antawn Jamison is very good, but he's not a perennial All-Star, and Mo Williams has struggled in two straight postseasons. While staying in Cleveland would be a feel-good story, it could potentially cost James a title.

1. Chicago Bulls

WHY -- Of all the clubs with max cap space, the Bulls have the most talent to put around James. He's never had a teammate the caliber of Derrick Rose, and Joakim Noah is an amped-up, more skilled version of Anderson Varejao (not to mention one of the best rebounders and shot-blockers in the game). The positions are a bit different, but could that trio become reminiscent of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman? The Bulls also have other solid players who might be able to fetch another star-caliber talent in a sign-and-trade. The city of Chicago isn't not New York, but it's not Cleveland either. The Chi would give LeBron a nice mix of big city excitement and suburban peace.

WHY NOT -- The Bulls don't have the pieces to entice Cleveland into a sign-and-trade deal without giving up Rose and Noah, who are major reasons James would consider playing in Chicago. That means -- barring a three-team sign-and-trade -- that James would have to leave nearly $30 million on the table to move from the Cavs to the Bulls. And playing in The House that Mike Built would perhaps prevent LeBron from one day being recognized as the greatest player of all time.

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You'd have to be the worlds dumbest person to think that Lebron won't get judged independently because another player was there over 10 years ago.

It didn't hurt Kobe or Magic or Bird to play on a team with a storied past of great players.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

. . . but Kobe, Magic, and Bird won.

The pressure would mount on LeBron to fill Michael's shoes as those three did and if he could not he has signficant downside in with this vs. choosing Cleveland, Miami, New Jersey, New York, etc.

Are you saying that there would be less pressure if he went to New York and did not deliver a championship? I find that hard to believe.

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Not so sure. When you look at those teams there are at least 5 great players that came before guys like Magic and Bird. When you look at the Bulls there is really only 1 because most people don't give Scottie as much credit. Therefore many may judge LeBron by the Jordan scale. They're doing it now even though he is in Cleveland. All great players that come into the league are now evaluated on the Jordan scale.

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From a historical perspective you are correct, but their history of championship is so ancient that there would be less pressure there to deliver than Chicago.

Maybe stoneroses can swing by and talk about the pressure to win in NYC

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If he didn't win a title in New York he'd get the A-Rod treatment.

If he doesn't win at least 2 titles he'll be considered a failure regardless of where he is.

I can promise you that it will hurt his legacy much more to never win a title in Cleveland given that he was supposed to be the one to finally deliver that.
I think your last point shows how little wearing the Bulls uniform would matter. Lebron will always be compared to Jordan even if he goes to Oklahoma City.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I agree. Is it really a bad thing to be compared to MJ? For most players I doubt it would be. Kobe has tried to copy everything MJ ever did. Even the way he walks and talks.

I'm hoping Cleveland says no when it comes to sign and trades from teams without cap space. I would hate for him to go to Dallas and it wouldn't be fair if he went to the Lakers.

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You may be right but I think if he has success somewhere else (wins a couple titles) most people will probably forget his failure in Cleveland. I believe his failure this season will force him to dedicate himself to the game and change many of his pregame antics. If that happens they may as well cancel the next few seasons because he will take his game to a level never seen before.

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http://www.chicitysports.com/2010/05/21/lebron-escaping-the-shadow-of-a-basketball-icon/

Article on LeBron playing MJ's shadow.

James has done things on a basketball court that Jordan, dare I say, has never been able to physically do. James may be the highest leaper to ever lace up a pair of basketball sneakers. Not only his “ups” are unsurpassed. He is a 6′8” 255-lb bull. He has a “get out of my way” approach to the game itself. The NBA has never seen a player at LeBron’s size to run as fast as he does. There has never been a player at LeBron’s foot-speed to be as strong as he is. Even those who thought of Michael Jordan’s physic as the pinnacle, and those who said it was God’s gift to basketball, were left biting their tongues when LeBron James showed what he could do… physically.

Now, with all of that said, Michael Jordan was still great. He’s still the best player the world has ever seen? Why? – Because of the psychological edge he had on a nightly basis with those he played against. Jordan not only dominated you physically; he beat you mentally. His competitive nature and his thirst to be the best could never be quenched. He only got hungrier and hungrier. This was even to a fault – Michael Jordan, the man, is not Santa Claus. He’s not the nicest guy in the room. He’s not the most polite guy either. His competitive streak burned in him in his playing days, and that fire rages on inside him to this day – as made visually evident in his Hall-Of-Fame Acceptance Speech one year ago. LeBron James is the better of the two physically, but not mechanically. Nor mentally. Nor is James as tough or resilient (again, mentally or physically) than Jordan… at least yet.

LeBron is not being taken seriously enough by his teammates nor opponents to be a real title contender. James needs to stop dancing and start getting into the head of his opponents. If he did, there would be no debate between him and Kobe Bryant, in terms of “who’s the best.”

I guess this is what I've been trying to say when comparing LeBron to Jordan or Kobe.

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