OT: LeBron returning to the Cavaliers

[art4life]

Yannow, he got 2 rings playing for Miami.
I never hated LeBron - I just didn't like the Heat (until they traded for Bazz)...
He's going home. Good for him.

 

[Kitaman]

It will be interesting to see what happens with this rumored Kevin Love to the Cavs deal. Not sure if it was a backup plan if he didn't sign or trying to add a nice stretch four to the mix if he did.

Cavs have Wiggins unsigned and 3 1st round picks next year. One of which ironically is the Heat's. They are sitting pretty and are the big dealer at the table now.

 

[amory]

Cavs have Wiggins unsigned and 3 1st round picks next year. One of which ironically is the Heat's. They are sitting pretty and are the big dealer at the table now.

Really pisses me off that they won the lottery AGAIN this year despite not even being that bad.

Now they can flip Wiggins and a couple of picks over to the TWolves for Love, and then they really have something going.

Bron
Love
Kyrie
Waiters
Varejao

That's a Finals roster. Maybe even a championship roster.

 

[Horatio]

He'll bring Ray with him to Cleveland and Ray's work ethic will help Wiggins,
Irving and Waiters. Lebron and Ray could also turn Bennett around.

 

[ZenConn]

Would be interesting if Melo, Bosh and Wade end up in Miami.

 

[JaYnYcE]

cleveland will absolutely compete for championships with their current roster, and it'll only get better now. Plus they're virtually guaranteed to at least make the finals every year because the east blows. i don't see how this hurts his legacy, if anything it eliminates the silly "villain" persona that some people still attributed to him.

The east just evened out in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, they're in the top 2 or 3 but I can't give them the top spot before seeing what the rest of the roster is going to look like. Cleveland isn't guaranteed to go to the finals like the Heat were the last four years. His legacy takes a hit in the fact that he game genied his way to two rings and now he can play out the rest of his career for his home team. Definitely the greatest player in the world, but leaving to join a borderline all star team to get rings just to return home the moment he was allowed to leave is suspect imo.

 

[tcf15]

Larry Brown ‏@LBSports
Chris Broussard confirms LeBron's decision after LeBron writes first-person essay for SI - video http://Post original url/1oNQImQ

 

[JaYnYcE]

Its actually more terrible for the Knicks 'perpetual' legacy in the East than Lebron's. I don't think he cares, because he just wants to 'go home'. Jordan playing for the Wizards didn't hurt his legacy (didn't help it either).

I assume Bron is happy and at peace. I expect him to be even more dangerous than ever.

He's happy, thats all that really matters.

 

[Husky25]

I was on vacation when the NBA Draft happened, but the Heat absolutely traded for Napier in an effort to keep James.

LeBron JamesVerified account‏@KingJames Jun 26
My favorite player in the draft! #Napier

 

[J-dog]

The personal essay was brilliant… Complete turnaround from the Miami announcement 4 years ago… Kid grew up & learned… Good for him…

Cleveland will win championships…

Things just got very tough for Shabazz…

 

[Inyatkin]

Yes poor LeBron's legacy will be ruined when he brings the first championship to Cleveland since the Stone Age. He may never recover.

 

[nomar]

he leaves cleveland to win a championship on a super team. goes back to cleveland to play out his career. good for cleveland, but terrible for his legacy.

Totally disagree. He was the best player on those teams. He's the best player on the planet. Now that he's got the rings, he's heading home.

I wonder, did you read the article?

 

[blackbird]

I feel bad for Shabazz. Also Danny Granger. I expect Lebron will take Ray with him.

 

[Gurleyman]

The personal essay was brilliant… Complete turnaround from the Miami announcement 4 years ago… Kid grew up & learned… Good for him… Cleveland will win championships… Things just got very tough for Shabazz…

Keeping with tradition, our All-Americans who win titles end up on train wreck franchises. Now 4-for-4 (at least Rip was traded to Detroit).

 

[UConnSportsGuy]

The personal essay was brilliant… Complete turnaround from the Miami announcement 4 years ago… Kid grew up & learned… Good for him…

Or he has hired a much better PR agency and agent. Do you really believe that he actually sat down and wrote the essay himself?

 

[James]

Things just got disastrous for Napier . The heat don't have a first rounder next year either, maybe they can get some FA's? He's now a punch line

Other than that, this is probably the greatest sports narrative ever...
If he wins.

 

[Kembacity]

I respect that. He is not a bad person by any means, and probably felt saddened by the reactions in his home state (which he contributed to) when he left. In a short time he has matured and certainly handling this better than the last go around.

For our Bazz it doesn't really matter because he is in the NBA and immediately learning that there are no personal allegiances in this business. Lebron helped get him to a decent team, so he wins anyway as his dream has come true.

No he does not, he will suffer with an awful team, whereas the team he thought he was getting drafted to was tailor made for him to succeed there. He'd be wide open for threes and have a few of the best offensive players in the league to get easy dimes... If the heat didnt trade up for him, he could have ended up on a better team. Do you think if the Heat and LeBron didn't like him, he'd have gone undrafted? unbelievable take on it

 

[J-dog]

Or he has hired a much better PR agency and agent. Do you really believe that he actually sat down and wrote the essay himself?

Never said he wrote it, but that's not the point...

 

[Husky25]

Things just got disastrous for Napier . The heat don't have a first rounder next year either, maybe they can get some FA's? He's now a punch line

Other than that, this is probably the greatest sports narrative ever...
If he wins.

Summer League performance notwithstanding, this is Napier's first, "Welcome to the NBA," moment.

Gotta ask though, How is Shabazz a punch line?

 

[UCONNfan1]

cleveland will absolutely compete for championships with their current roster, and it'll only get better now. Plus they're virtually guaranteed to at least make the finals every year because the east blows. i don't see how this hurts his legacy, if anything it eliminates the silly "villain" persona that some people still attributed to him.

Plus maybe Cleveland will be better without an aging Wade (and Allen for that matter). They have a younger team and can look for other pieces to put together an even stronger championship contender. I think there are a lot of better PG's at the league now than Wade who is in the twilight of his career IMHO...

As for Shabazz, I see his situation similar to Walker when he joined Charlotte 4 years ago. It's not like the Bobcats were loaded at the time and I'm sure Walker had defenders draped all over him all the time. It will force Shabazz to "grow up in the NBA" even faster and he may stumble at times (even often), but I think ultimately it will help him become a better player...

 

[partial]

It's interesting Lebron leaving and the cavs getting number one picks like tic tacs might have been the best thing to happen to that franchise, also all those people burning jerseys and the crazy cavs owner look somehow even more stupid now that he's coming back. I figure bosh will also leave and wade may stay but i think Miami will struggle to make the playoffs next season...sucks for Shabazz.

 

[Husky25]

Shabazz Napier is going to make $2.5 Million over two years and a projected $6.25 Million over 4 years, doing exactly what he loves in a city with nude topless beaches and a state with no income tax. He also has a college degree from the University of Connecticut. Something tells me the young man will be quite alright.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

How bad did Wade get burned now by opting out of his guaranteed money? He'll never get a contract anywhere near what he could have signed up for.

 

[noeynox]

He is the rear young superstar that does not sound self absorbed when he speaks. He is articulate and sounds like a true professional. He was 25, when left Cleveland, but that letter sounds like someone who has matured a lot since he left. I really want him to win one in Cleveland.

 

[Dogdeacon]

How bad did Wade get burned now by opting out of his guaranteed money? He'll never get a contract anywhere near what he could have signed up for.

Arguably the Heat have a ton more money to 'thank you' pay Wade for his past accomplishments especially if Bosh also bolts. Maybe not over 2yrs, but I'd bet a nice 5-6 year return. Tough decision for them though as it becomes a Kobe-like contract and situation with an aging overpaid star and selling not team quality but historical rep and lifestyle of area. Maybe the two franchises should merge