Lebron James Opts Out...and comedy ensues

[Szczepanik]

Cleveland wasn't building it. They were and continue to be a poorly run franchise. Any superstar in that position would have and should have left.

And in sports there isn't any difference between building it and buying it. They are one in the same. You have to go out and buy good players in order to build a team good enough to win it all.

I believe there is a difference between the 2. The spurs built it, and have an extremely deep bench that is not composed of former past stars. *Boris Diaw is there biggest name*.

 

[Szczepanik]

Why don't people give Shaq this much flak for leaving Orlando? He's just as big of an attention ***** as Lebron, only difference is in 96' ESPN, Twitter and ect weren't what they are today or didn't exist.

Shaq joined Kobe as his sidekick essentially. Lebron joined Miami as a part of a 3 headed all star monster, which then brought in former players who ALL were highly skilled. Birdman , and especially Ray Allen.

What Ray Allen did was worse than Lebron, but that is a different story for another day.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Too bad Lebron didn't get drafted by an organization as shrewd as the Spurs. The best piece Cleveland was able to add was Mo Williams and in his prime he would be the 6th best player on the Spurs? Maybe lower right?

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Lebron joined Miami as a part of a 3 headed all star monster, which then brought in former players who ALL were highly skilled. Birdman , and especially Ray Allen.

Birdman.....highly skilled......really? Who else was part of this HIGHLY SKILLED group? Mike Miller? Udanis Haslem? Mario Chalmers? Norris Cole?

What Ray Allen did was worse than Lebron, but that is a different story for another day.

I don't think there is anything wrong with what either player did, especially Ray Allen who at this point is a role player.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I believe there is a difference between the 2. The spurs built it, and have an extremely deep bench that is not composed of former past stars. *Boris Diaw is there biggest name*.

I think the Spurs are unique. If Duncan doesn't play for 10 Mil instead of 20 Mil like every other player in the NBA, the Spurs can not do what they do with other players. That's a credit to the Spurs and especially to Duncan but it's uncommon.

 

[Rockport]

I think the Spurs are unique. If Duncan doesn't play for 10 Mil instead of 20 Mil like every other player in the NBA, the Spurs can not do what they do with other players. That's a credit to the Spurs and especially to Duncan but it's uncommon.

He's only played for 10 mil last year and now this upcoming year.

 

[DallasEast]

Terez Owens ‏@TerezOwens 12m
BREAKING NEWS: Heat fans now become free agents too

LMAO!

 

[WoodysGirl]

Shaq joined Kobe as his sidekick essentially. Lebron joined Miami as a part of a 3 headed all star monster, which then brought in former players who ALL were highly skilled. Birdman , and especially Ray Allen.

What Ray Allen did was worse than Lebron, but that is a different story for another day.

Wait, what? Nah, that's now how that played out. When Shaq went to L.A, HE was the man, not Kobe. That first championship was all about Shaq. By the 3rd championship, the fracture between them and the struggle for BOTH to be the man was what killed that dynamic duo and he went to Miami and he became Robin to Wade's Batman.

Birdman was never highly skilled. He's an old Rodman 2.0. Rebound and defense only, with the occasional putback layup.

 

[burmafrd]

I don't hate anyone. Go hijack another thread.

yeah sure. You do know that everyone is laughing at this idea that you claim you don't hate him, right?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

He's only played for 10 mil last year and now this upcoming year.

Perhaps, but if he doesn't play for 10 last year, the Spurs probably don't have a championship this year and no hope for one next.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Wait, what? Nah, that's now how that played out. When Shaq went to L.A, HE was the man, not Kobe. That first championship was all about Shaq. By the 3rd championship, the fracture between them and the struggle for BOTH to be the man was what killed that dynamic duo and he went to Miami and he became Robin to Wade's Batman.

Birdman was never highly skilled. He's an old Rodman 2.0. Rebound and defense only, with the occasional putback layup.

This is true. When Shaq signed with the Lakers in 96, Kobe had not even played a game in the NBA. Shaq was averaging 26 points a game and pulling down 12 rebounds on average. Kobe was a rookie averaging just over 7. Shaq was the driving force on the Lakers.

 

[WoodysGirl]

This is true. When Shaq signed with the Lakers in 96, Kobe had not even played a game in the NBA. Shaq was averaging 26 points a game and pulling down 12 rebounds on average. Kobe was a rookie averaging just over 7. Shaq was the driving force on the Lakers.

Glad you backed me up. I know my memory can be fuzzy sometimes, but I remember how big it was for Shaq to go to L.A. Almost a power shift from the East to the West.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Glad you backed me up. I know my memory can be fuzzy sometimes, but I remember how big it was for Shaq to go to L.A. Almost a power shift from the East to the West.

You're not kidding. Most people don't remember this but the 95-96 season, the one just prior to Shaq signing and Kobe getting drafted, Magic came back to play for a single season (after having retired for 4 seasons because of HIV) and the Lakers were decent but not what they were in prior years. Magic was still decent averaging something like 15 pts and 6 boards and 7 assts but that was way down from his previous years. The Lakers had talent but not that dominating player they needed to be a championship team. Magic retired after that season and the Lakers had all of these pieces but not that one player. They signed Shaq, drafted Kobe and the rest is history.

 

[Rockport]

Perhaps, but if he doesn't play for 10 last year, the Spurs probably don't have a championship this year and no hope for one next.

But my point is he won 4 while being maxed out. Which shoots down your take in post #105

 

[Rockport]

yeah sure. You do know that everyone is laughing at this idea that you claim you don't hate him, right?

And why would that concern me?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

But my point is he won 4 while being maxed out. Which shoots down your take in post #105

Not really. They won four but hadn't won one since the 06-07 season. If Duncan doesn't take less money, the Spurs probably go the other way quickly and they have no chance to win a Championship last year.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Not really. They won four but hadn't won one since the 06-07 season. If Duncan doesn't take less money, the Spurs probably go the other way quickly and they have no chance to win a Championship last year.

Putting this in perspective, Tim Duncan salaries: Between 2006 and 2012

2006-07 San Antonio Spurs NBA $17,429,672
2007-08 San Antonio Spurs NBA $19,014,188
2008-09 San Antonio Spurs NBA $20,598,704
2009-10 San Antonio Spurs NBA $22,183,220
2010-11 San Antonio Spurs NBA $18,700,000
2011-12 San Antonio Spurs NBA $21,164,619
2012-13 San Antonio Spurs NBA $9,638,554

http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/duncati01.html#salaries::none

 

[burmafrd]

And why would that concern me?

not that it matters - just thought I would throw that out there. And I laugh at the idea that it does not concern you at all

 

[Rockport]

not that it matters - just thought I would throw that out there. And I laugh at the idea that it does not concern you at all

Good for you.

 

[WoodysGirl]

But my point is he won 4 while being maxed out. Which shoots down your take in post #105

He was never a max salary player when they won.