NBA Free Agency

[ABQCOWBOY]

uhhh, no disrespect.. acknowledge a lot of what you said, but the bulls are three.. their 6 championships in 8 years, which probably would have been 8 had Michael not retired/pops died/gambling problems/played baseball..... Besides before D. Robinson, the spurs were one of the worst franchises in the NBA ... But again, respect to them, they are a great franchise now.
Yes the Spurs have been awesome recently, but besides boston's run with Big Bill, Micheal had the most impressive run... hence that franchise deserves its due.

Go Sixers

PS, the Packers is the best small market team in all 4 major sports of all time IMHO...

You may be right, It might have been 8. I think probably closer to 7 but doesn't matter. It could have possibly been 8. I would say this thou. Had he not retired, it's very, very possible that he would have been suspended for Gambling. When he went to Baseball, it's probably the best thing that could have happened to him. Stern would have been forced to take action, had the investigation went further and that would have tarnished the League and Jordan. It is what it is I suppose.

 

[bounce]

Watching the Bad Boys documentary, they were talking about how, at a point you just hit the wall. You lose the championship fire. Now, Jordan was a different mold, so he may well have never wavered after 10 straight titles, but I feel like that break in the middle kept them rejuvenated for the second three-peat. It definitely was a dominant era, though. They were the kings of the league.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Watching the Bad Boys documentary, they were talking about how, at a point you just hit the wall. You lose the championship fire. Now, Jordan was a different mold, so he may well have never wavered after 10 straight titles, but I feel like that break in the middle kept them rejuvenated for the second three-peat. It definitely was a dominant era, though. They were the kings of the league.

This is also a good point. I think that what happens is that you have external stuff start getting in the way. People start wanting to get paid, players start believing that they are more valuable then they actually are and things happen. In Chicago, the situation was a little different because, on other teams, players might question who is more important or who is better but in Chicago at the time, everybody new nobody was better then Michael and there was no question of that. However, you are right, you do hit a wall and we can't say if that would have happened in Chicago or not. Certainly possible but like the 7 or 8 championships, we can't know because it never happened.

Good point thou.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

It's really scary to think of how impressive Jordan's legacy would have been if he was so obsessed with his own legacy like many players of today are. Not to take anything away from Kobe, but he came into the league at 18 and probably won't retire until he's like 38.

Jordan came into the league at 21 and retired at 29. In 8 years, he was being called by his contemporaries Magic and Larry, the great to ever play the game. 3 championships, a bunch of scoring titles, unebelieveable numbers. Then he retired. And it wasn't just the death of his father that caused it. He admitted he'd been planning to retire since the previous season (after they won their 2nd title), and the death of his father was just the nail in the coffin.

So by LeBron's current age, Jordan had played 3 fewer seasons (since he went to college) and already had a far stronger legacy than LeBron currently has.

I won't count the season he came back since he only played the final month of the season and wasn't in playing shape. He trained all season after that and came back stronger than ever (now 32 years old). This is Dwyane Wade's current age and people think Wade is finished. This is the age that most players are pretty much done. Well, not Jordan. he averages 31/7/5, 30/6/5, 29/6/4 the next three years and win his second 3-peat.

He probably still would have played because he had the desire and a lot left in the tank, but problems with ownership, Pippen demanding a trade, and Phil Jackson retiring caused him to retire for the second time. If all was well in Chicago, I don't see why he wouldn't have stuck around.

So at 34 he retires for the second time, clearly as the GOAT, and still has a lot left in the tank. That's 5 years fewer than Kobe had by that age (he's 35 now) since Jordan entered the league at 21 and missed 2 seasons due to retirement. And he still played decent enough at 38 and 39 with the Wizards (23/6/5 and 20/6/4, playing all 82 games at 39) so you'd think he could have played at a high level for at least another 2-4 years after he retired at 34. And even without those 8 years of potential playing time, he still is #3 on the all-time scoring list, #3 on the steals list, 6 championships, 5 MVPs (only trailing KAJ who has 6), and a bunch of other accolades.

 

[bounce]

It's really scary to think of how impressive Jordan's legacy would have been if he was so obsessed with his own legacy like many players of today are. Not to take anything away from Kobe, but he came into the league at 18 and probably won't retire until he's like 38.

Jordan came into the league at 21 and retired at 29. In 8 years, he was being called by his contemporaries Magic and Larry, the great to ever play the game. 3 championships, a bunch of scoring titles, unebelieveable numbers. Then he retired. And it wasn't just the death of his father that caused it. He admitted he'd been planning to retire since the previous season (after they won their 2nd title), and the death of his father was just the nail in the coffin.

So by LeBron's current age, Jordan had played 3 fewer seasons (since he went to college) and already had a far stronger legacy than LeBron currently has.

I won't count the season he came back since he only played the final month of the season and wasn't in playing shape. He trained all season after that and came back stronger than ever (now 32 years old). This is Dwyane Wade's current age and people think Wade is finished. This is the age that most players are pretty much done. Well, not Jordan. he averages 31/7/5, 30/6/5, 29/6/4 the next three years and win his second 3-peat.

He probably still would have played because he had the desire and a lot left in the tank, but problems with ownership, Pippen demanding a trade, and Phil Jackson retiring caused him to retire for the second time. If all was well in Chicago, I don't see why he wouldn't have stuck around.

So at 34 he retires for the second time, clearly as the GOAT, and still has a lot left in the tank. That's 5 years fewer than Kobe had by that age (he's 35 now) since Jordan entered the league at 21 and missed 2 seasons due to retirement. And he still played decent enough at 38 and 39 with the Wizards (23/6/5 and 20/6/4, playing all 82 games at 39) so you'd think he could have played at a high level for at least another 2-4 years after he retired at 34. And even without those 8 years of potential playing time, he still is #3 on the all-time scoring list, #3 on the steals list, 6 championships, 5 MVPs (only trailing KAJ who has 6), and a bunch of other accolades.

It also would be interesting to see how Jordan's legacy would be perceived if he played in an era as saturated with social media as today. You look at the hate that Lebron gets because of his exposure, but Jordan would have been EVERYwhere - and by all accounts, was a terrible teammate and just a jerk. I imagine his legacy is lucky he played in the era he did.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

It also would be interesting to see how Jordan's legacy would be perceived if he played in an era as saturated with social media as today. You look at the hate that Lebron gets because of his exposure, but Jordan would have been EVERYwhere - and by all accounts, was a terrible teammate and just a jerk. I imagine his legacy is lucky he played in the era he did.

I agree. I mean, really the only boneheaded thing LeBron ever did was The Decision. He did make a few dumb comments in the heat of the moment after losing to the Mavs in the Finals about how he's better than the average person or something. The guy is a saint though. Law abiding, good father, good teammate, not a party animal, role model, reads books, rides his bike, charitable, good to his mom. There's nothing you can find on this guy. Jordan would have been a nightmare. He had the baggage of Tiger Woods but didn't try to hide it. Gambler, adulterer, made homophobic comments to teammates, punched teammates, bitter, angry, real piece of work.

 

[DFWJC]

It also would be interesting to see how Jordan's legacy would be perceived if he played in an era as saturated with social media as today. You look at the hate that Lebron gets because of his exposure, but Jordan would have been EVERYwhere - and by all accounts, was a terrible teammate and just a jerk. I imagine his legacy is lucky he played in the era he did.

Some truth of over exposure.
It would have helped MJ that he remained a Bull through all the title years.
When things were not perfectr early on, he didn't bail out.

The "by all accounts was a terrible teammate and a jerk" statement is nuts though.
If anything, he was a lot like Michael Irvin as a teammate. He would get in your grill, like Irvin, if you were slacking. I think Jordan a bit worse about at time though. So that is true. On the other hand, he hung our with his teammates a ton off the court...and it didn't matter if you were a star or not. He liked hanging with the guys, playing cards, playing golf, maybe smoking a cigar, etc.

I know guys that played with him and I know him (not as a buddy but certainly have had a beer with him). The dude is not a jerk but was hypercompetitive--which could be annoying to some.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Watching the Bad Boys documentary, they were talking about how, at a point you just hit the wall. You lose the championship fire. Now, Jordan was a different mold, so he may well have never wavered after 10 straight titles, but I feel like that break in the middle kept them rejuvenated for the second three-peat. It definitely was a dominant era, though. They were the kings of the league.

If it weren't for Jordan retiring, they likely would've kept Horace Grant, and a few years later, not brought in Rodman. If that happens, they don't win 8 straight, they run out of gas, prior to 98'

 

[Biggems]

Picking up Marshall off the waiver wire was a good move for the Bucks. He had a decent season for the Lakers, though he did have some teammate issues. Still, you cannot discount 8 pts and 8 assists a game. He will be the backup PG, and if he can produce similar numbers for the Bucks, it can only help them improve. I honestly feel like the Bucks have a talented young roster. Too bad for them that they chose Jason Kidd as their coach, instead of someone like Mark Jackson. I still believe they are a couple of pieces away from being serious playoff contenders, but there is no doubt that they are on their way up in the standings. In a weak East, I see no reason why they cannot even compete for a 6-8 seed.

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

Picking up Marshall off the waiver wire was a good move for the Bucks. He had a decent season for the Lakers, though he did have some teammate issues. Still, you cannot discount 8 pts and 8 assists a game. He will be the backup PG, and if he can produce similar numbers for the Bucks, it can only help them improve. I honestly feel like the Bucks have a talented young roster. Too bad for them that they chose Jason Kidd as their coach, instead of someone like Mark Jackson. I still believe they are a couple of pieces away from being serious playoff contenders, but there is no doubt that they are on their way up in the standings. In a weak East, I see no reason why they cannot even compete for a 6-8 seed.

I watched him with the sixers D-League team, and some with the lakers. The kid still has tremendous court vision & he's improved his jump shot. He will help the Bucks a lot.

 

[jterrell]

Picking up Marshall off the waiver wire was a good move for the Bucks. He had a decent season for the Lakers, though he did have some teammate issues. Still, you cannot discount 8 pts and 8 assists a game. He will be the backup PG, and if he can produce similar numbers for the Bucks, it can only help them improve. I honestly feel like the Bucks have a talented young roster. Too bad for them that they chose Jason Kidd as their coach, instead of someone like Mark Jackson. I still believe they are a couple of pieces away from being serious playoff contenders, but there is no doubt that they are on their way up in the standings. In a weak East, I see no reason why they cannot even compete for a 6-8 seed.

Marshall has a ways to go but at less than a mil per year that is a heck of a valuable get.
He should develop into a rotation level guy and could end up as trade bait as soon as next off-season.

I don't understand the Lakers at all. On a young team with middling or worse talent they renounce this cheap contract to bid 3.25m on Boozer whom they can't trade?
3-4 more wins this year are probably meaningless.

Milwaukee is in full rebuild mode and if they wanna pay Kidd to learn on the job that's not a bad fit... --young coach, young team.
Main issue is Kidd will leave as soon as he can get a better situation.
Dude has zero loyalty to anyone.

Mark Jackson will rebound with a team that has playoff talent imho.

 

[bounce]

It's not technically FA, but twitter is saying that Love for Wiggins/Bennett is "a done deal," but gives no timetable.

 

[casmith07]

So LeBron, Bosh, and Wade joined together as free agents to create a super team, Gilbert openly bashed and campaigned against teams like the Lakers trading for Chris Paul, and now they're doing the same thing -- and fans are gobbling it up. Unbelievable.

If that trade is pulled off I hope the Cavaliers never win a title.

 

[WoodysGirl]

In a nod to next year's draft class -->>>

 

[bounce]

So LeBron, Bosh, and Wade joined together as free agents to create a super team, Gilbert openly bashed and campaigned against teams like the Lakers trading for Chris Paul, and now they're doing the same thing -- and fans are gobbling it up. Unbelievable.

If that trade is pulled off I hope the Cavaliers never win a title.

I don't care so much for the "super teams" because that's just what the league is, now. I would never want the league to step in and dictate who can sign where, or who can be traded for who. If these guys decide to take paycuts to make it happen, then more power to them.

Mainly I don't care about the super teams issue because, it doesn't work nearly as well as people are afraid of it working. The Lakers were the first, I guess, with Malone and Payton joining them (albeit way past prime) and they lost. Boston got one title. The Heat were very close to going 1-3 in the Finals with that team, and a lot of their success was due to the weak East. And forming a super starting lineup guts your bench, which killed the Heat in the Finals. So, it's a risk you take, I guess.

But, in the West, the best teams are the Spurs, Thunder, Mavs, Clippers, Warriors, Blazers, etc. And none of them are bringing a TON of talent from the outside. Their cores are all home-grown.

That said, I don't worry about Kyrie/Lebron/Love as a super team. I think any of the top five seeds in the West could beat them - and Chicago, if they stay healthy, beats them in the East.

I do think that the stars from the 80s-90s would laugh at this new age of superstar who feels the need to buddy up to have success.

 

[casmith07]

I don't care so much for the "super teams" because that's just what the league is, now. I would never want the league to step in and dictate who can sign where, or who can be traded for who. If these guys decide to take paycuts to make it happen, then more power to them.

Mainly I don't care about the super teams issue because, it doesn't work nearly as well as people are afraid of it working. The Lakers were the first, I guess, with Malone and Payton joining them (albeit way past prime) and they lost. Boston got one title. The Heat were very close to going 1-3 in the Finals with that team, and a lot of their success was due to the weak East. And forming a super starting lineup guts your bench, which killed the Heat in the Finals. So, it's a risk you take, I guess.

But, in the West, the best teams are the Spurs, Thunder, Mavs, Clippers, Warriors, Blazers, etc. And none of them are bringing a TON of talent from the outside. Their cores are all home-grown.

That said, I don't worry about Kyrie/Lebron/Love as a super team. I think any of the top five seeds in the West could beat them - and Chicago, if they stay healthy, beats them in the East.

I do think that the stars from the 80s-90s would laugh at this new age of superstar who feels the need to buddy up to have success.

I think a Healthy Chicago and an improved Washington team can beat the Cavs.

Hell, I think with the right moves the Heat could beat the Cavs.

 

[casmith07]

In a nod to next year's draft class -->>>

$1.2M to dominate in China is easy money.

 

[bounce]

I think a Healthy Chicago and an improved Washington team can beat the Cavs.

Hell, I think with the right moves the Heat could beat the Cavs.

Toronto is a threat, too. The East has some good young teams. But, the West winner takes it.

 

[visionary]

So LeBron, Bosh, and Wade joined together as free agents to create a super team, Gilbert openly bashed and campaigned against teams like the Lakers trading for Chris Paul, and now they're doing the same thing -- and fans are gobbling it up. Unbelievable.

If that trade is pulled off I hope the Cavaliers never win a title.

Some just hate for no reason

Cleveland is a great town and is the ultimate underdog sports town

I wish cleveland the best and hope they win not 1, not 2, not 3......... Titles

 

[RonSpringsdaman20]

In a nod to next year's draft class -->>>

For anyone who hasn't seen this kid...
he is very special. size, vision, athleticism, unselfishness.
weakness is his jumper... but that's normal.
He may be the first pick in next year's draft.
pest PG prospect in several drafts.