2014 NBA Free Agency and Draft

[irishog77]

I think your story is missing the part when the two lawyers leave their companies in a manner that embarrasses and disrespects them.

And venture off in this grand experiment to sign a contract paying the same amount of money.

 

[greyhammer90]

Haha you KNOW it's different than that though. Because in your example, you don't have millions of fans + billboards + etc. etc.

It'd be more akin to being a member of a band with lots of fans, deciding that you want to go to a rival band, embarrassing your former band in the media with your decision, setting your former band back decades as they had been completely catering to you... and as such putting the album all your fans had been waiting for on indefinite hold. You can't expect your former bandmates to be happy nor the fans of your former band nor your record label.

That's the difference. Tough business decisions get made all the time. For people who are part of the public trust, you're supposed to be careful with how you do them or suffer the consequences. LBJ definitely suffered the consequences...

The difference is that if we're using your example, none of LBJs band members could barely play music, his record deal consistently would not surround him with talent and he basically wrote and led all their best songs.

Then he was given an opportunity to work with the beatles instead.

Also I don't get the "he embarrassed Cleveland" thing. Is Cleveland a 13 year old girl? He had a better offer. He took it. The most embarrassing part of the Decision was the forty year old men burning jerseys.

 

[Emcee77]

I think your story is missing the part when the two lawyers leave their companies in a manner that embarrasses and disrespects them.

So is LeBron's, imo.

Also I don't get the "he embarrassed Cleveland" thing. Is Cleveland a 13 year old girl? He had a better offer. He took it. The most embarrassing part of the Decision was the forty year old men burning jerseys.

I agree.

Some embarrassment and perceived disrespect is essential and intrinsic to the transaction. To go back to my earlier example, if the lawyers leave their old firms to work together at a new firm, a trade paper (ours in CHI is the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin) might reach out and do a piece about it, and the lawyers might say that they are looking forward to the new opportunities that the new firm can give them that the old firms couldn't, and the old firms might perceive that as embarrassing or disrespectful. They are disappointed to lose talented people. But it is what it is. These people had a better opportunity and they took it. It's business. No different for LeBron. Even the ESPN special was business. Dealing with the media is his job, and that's all he thought he was doing. It was ill-advised and even insensitive, but not the egregious, malicious act that so many people seem to consider it, imo.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Cleveland!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>EXCLUSIVE: I'm Coming HOME by <a href="https://twitter.com/KingJames">@KingJames</a> <a href="http://t.co/3dAzWO3ZXH">http://t.co/3dAzWO3ZXH</a> (via <a href="https://twitter.com/SI_LeeJenkins">@SI_LeeJenkins</a>) <a href="http://t.co/wIxfyojPIQ">pic.twitter.com/wIxfyojPIQ</a></p>— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) <a href="https://twitter.com/SInow/statuses/487632034534555648">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[ndfi78]

LeBron James announces return to Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA - SI.com

 

[greyhammer90]

Hoooooly shiiiiiiit

 

[#1rish]

WOW. The prodigal son.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Now Bosh can cash that check and never look back. The Heat are screwed:
No LeBron
Probably no Bosh
Traded to move up in the draft, but that was to keep LeBron
Already have agreements with second-tier guys
Dwayne Wade's body is OLD

 

[Ndaccountant]

LeBron James announces return to Cleveland Cavaliers - NBA - SI.com

A great way to announce this. Well done.

 

[greyhammer90]

That letter is fucking awesome. Go kill it Lebron. Please don't kill the Grizz.

 

[woolybug25]

I love how he did this. The "anti-Decision".

espn confirms, btw
LeBron James says he is returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers - ESPN

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Kudos to Lebron. He sent ESPN a flaming bag of dog shit for their endless rumor mongering.

 

[woolybug25]

Also... TP is going to get crunked tonight. lol

 

[rtrn2glory]

seriously contemplating going up to cleveland right now!

that place is going insane!!!!

 

[#1rish]

Gotta hand it to LeBron, that was a great statement. Shows that home is really is where the heart is.


Also loved his not so subtle F you to ESPN by announcing it through SI.

 

[Emcee77]

Awesome. Great essay.

 

[greyhammer90]

Miami just went from school yard bully to wheelchair kid.

 

[woolybug25]

I wonder if this statement is telling of whether Wiggins would be included in the Love trade? His absence says something at least.

I’m going into a situation with a young team and a new coach. I will be the old head. But I get a thrill out of bringing a group together and helping them reach a place they didn’t know they could go. I see myself as a mentor now and I’m excited to lead some of these talented young guys. I think I can help Kyrie Irving become one of the best point guards in our league. I think I can help elevate Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. And I can’t wait to reunite with Anderson Varejao, one of my favorite teammates.

 

[tussin]

WOWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!

What a great story. I'm shocked... I know I predicted it but part of me never believed he'd actually do it.

 

[tko]

ahh NBA, next.

 

[IrishLax]

Ghost writers did a hell of a job on that essay. Wow. So powerful. Heard it narrated on the radio driving from job site to office. Had me amped up and ready to go... and I'm not a LeBron fan nor do I have an affinity for Cleveland.

 

[IrishLion]

Wow, that letter is awesome.

Props to LeBron for manning up about "The Decision," and for being able to put aside Gilbert's own mistake.

They both did dumb things, now they move past it. That's business.

 

[woolybug25]

Cleveland is so hot right now...

 

[Ndaccountant]

Ghost writers did a hell of a job on that essay. Wow. So powerful. Heard it narrated on the radio driving from job site to office. Had me amped up and ready to go... and I'm not a LeBron fan nor do I have an affinity for Cleveland.

We'd all like to flee to the Cleve and club-hop down at the Flats and have lunch with Little Richard, but we fight those urges because we have responsibilities.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Whatever...Lebron is a flip floppier. I'm not a heat fan, but I'm not a Lebron fan again.

Stick to one team and stop moving around. Things didn't go your way in Miami this past year, so he runs away again. Just like he did to Cleveland previously. I'm sure after this contract he will run away from Cleveland again and head to NY or LA.

SMH.

Just my opinion.

 

[zelezo vlk]

We'd all like to flee to the Cleve and club-hop down at the Flats and have lunch with Little Richard, but we fight those urges because we have responsibilities.

Can't rep but excellent reference.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

LOVE IT!

Been a huge LBJ supporter since his high school days. Hated that he went to the Heat, but I can forgive and forget. Glad he's back where he belongs.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Houston and Chris Bosh moving quickly on securing deal, and with Bosh, Rockets will match Chandler Parsons offer sheet, source tells Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/statuses/487642323174846465">July 11, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Houston could be damn good this year.

 

[Emcee77]

Ghost writers did a hell of a job on that essay. Wow. So powerful. Heard it narrated on the radio driving from job site to office. Had me amped up and ready to go... and I'm not a LeBron fan nor do I have an affinity for Cleveland.

Haha same here ... no connection to Cleveland or LeBron but I was pumped up after reading that.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Was happy with this, but then I realized that the Bulls don't have a chance in the near future if they miss on Melo. Even with him, it'd be very tough (but make for great games vs Cleveland).