NBA Offseason Thread.

[thrill]

You've been consistently antagonistic against a bunch of Bulls fans hoping to get the best player in the sport.

There's a difference between stubbornly disagreeable and antagonistic. I don't think he's been antagonistic. Just wrong at times.

[Rieges]

Care to elaborate? You disagree that Jeter is a bigger NY star than LeBron would be?

Yes, yes, a billion times yes.
It doesn't matter that people are slightly bigger Bear fans than they are Cub or Bull fans. It doesn't mean LeBron wouldn't run things. He's already the biggest name in sports. I'm going to repeat that. He's already the biggest name in sports. Only someone like Tiger who doesn't play on a team(or play a sport, but that's another argument) is close.

LeBron is bigger to every day people. Non-sports fans. But just cause someone knows his name doesn't mean they are gonna buy his jersey.

No need to get snooty.

Anyways, what are the chances the Cavs can pull a PG better Mo Williams from place? Maybe sign Bosh or Amare?

Zero, IMO. They definitely have no cap room to sign a significant FA so it would have to be a sign-and-trade and they have no attractive trading chips other than Hickson, who isn't going to get you an upgrade over any of their current core players.

[vinsanity]

do other teams in the East counter by trying to get faster - to handle Rondo's speed and out-hustle the aging Celtics?

I think you still got to build to beat the Magic. Even though the Celtics turned on this post-season it's easy to count them out again. But is it Boston's speed that's helping against Howard? If that's the case, that's where I'd go.

I'm absolutely hoping the Suns pull it off. Obviously I don't like the Lakers. At the same time, the Suns are really fun to watch, I feel like Nash deserves a damned Finals experience for the first time, and in general I want the NBA to encourage fast, athletic play. I want teams in the off-season to respond as such, and not as much as a reaction to handle specific players (ie, we have to stop Rondo next May, or give a long 3 a huge contract because he can guard Kobe).

I think a lot of people hate the Lakers, and I think Nash is a class-act in the NBA. He's like David Eckstein...but good. I'd love to see him get to the finals and maybe win one.

[vinsanity]

Did anyone else hear the rumors a out James, Wade and Bosh and others meeting to discuss their futures?

Kinda like bringing the five families together.

[Socnorb11]

Did anyone else hear the rumors a out James, Wade and Bosh and others meeting to discuss their futures?

Kinda like bringing the five families together.

I've heard bits and pieces, but nothing concrete.

Wouldn't this constitute collusion?

[thrill]

Did anyone else hear the rumors a out James, Wade and Bosh and others meeting to discuss their futures?

Kinda like bringing the five families together.

I've heard bits and pieces, but nothing concrete.

Wouldn't this constitute collusion?

How would 3 free agents having lunch constitute collusion? They're free agents, they're allowed to meet, recruit, etc.

this isn't a rumor, btw. This is straight from Wade.
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Ba ... ree_agency

In February 1945, Joseph Stalin, Winston Churchill, and Franklin Roosevelt met at the European resort town of Yalta to discuss the post-war reorganization of the continent. The end of the war was not quite upon them, but it was in sight, and it was important to get a head start on issues such as German reparation payments and the new borders of Poland.

Soon, the NBA will see its own version of the Yalta Conference in advance of this summer's free agency period. From the Chicago Tribune:
The Cavaliers' LeBron James, the Heat's Dwyane Wade and the Hawks' Joe Johnson plan to discuss their respective plans with each other before making a decision once free agency begins July 1, Wade told the Tribune on Wednesday. [...]

"(Free agency) has been three years coming," Wade said. "We've discussed it prematurely, at different times. (But) you don't know what guys are thinking and where they're going. I think we'll all sit down, and before one of us makes a decision, all of us will have spoken to each other and (listened to the) thinking.

"A lot of decisions (will be based on) what other players are willing to do and what other guys want to do. So it's not just a 'me' situation here. We all have to look and see what each other is thinking."
There you have it: three superstars set to discuss their summer plans and plan everything out ahead of time. Yes, it's a little weird that Johnson is there with two of the game's best three or four players, like if Canada had been invited to Yalta. That should be Chris Bosh's spot.

Bosh is going too: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5224873

Wade's comments about the Bulls loyalty are hilariously hypocritical.

"I think the biggest question that you think about has to be loyalty," said Wade, a Richards grad who added he has been a Bulls fan for a long time. "I know one thing about Miami: It is a very loyal organization. I see what they do with their players when their players get done with the game of basketball … how loyal they are. I don't know about the Bulls."

Ok, Dwayne, never mind the fact that you are using loyalty to draw LeBron away from his home team, his home state and all the disloyalty that implies, never mind the fact that you are going through an ugly divorce right now for being disloyal to your wife and never mind the fact that you gave Pat Riley a public ultimatum to get you help or you'd leave, all that hypocritical nonsense doesn't matter. Let's just address the Bulls loyalty.

Hey, Dwayne, when Randy Brown was on the street selling his championship rings he was so broke, what did the Bulls do? They created a job out of whole cloth in their front office for him. Bob Love was taking food stamps. What did the Bulls do? They created a job out of whole cloth for him as Bulls ambassador. Jay Williams broke his contract by riding a motorcycle after they told him not to. He ended his career as the #2 draft pick after his rookie season (which was a disappointment) by shattering leg in a crash. What did the Bulls do? They paid out the remaining $6,000,000 on his contract and paid for medical treatments. When Bill Cartwright had a damaged larynx that doctors couldn't fix, what did the Bulls do? They flew him around the world to specialist after specialist until it was fixed. When Scottie Pippen was on his last legs and no one wanted him but Scottie didn't want to go ut a bum, what did the Bulls do? They allowed him to come to the Bulls on a sign and trade, paid him $6,000,000 more than anyone else wanted to and let him take his retirement tour around the NBA in a Bulls uniform. When Michael Jordan retired and wanted Reinsdorf to fire the entire front office and give him control of his team, Reinsdorf refused. Why? Disloyal? No, in fact he was being loyal to his front office that was filled with long-time Bulls employees. He was being loyal. So just because MJ has some beef with Jerry and you're the spokesplayer for the Jumpman brand, doesn't mean you have to be a dumbass and run your mouth to the press. I'm glad you did though. It lets me know that LeBron is seriously considering the Bulls and you're desperate.

[Maclowery]

Is there a way you could get that published?

[StL Dan]

Did anyone else hear the rumors a out James, Wade and Bosh and others meeting to discuss their futures?

Kinda like bringing the five families together.

ya, the guys on 810 radio were talking about it this morning on the drive in to work

[vinsanity]

I guess rumor is the wrong word. But some ex player was saying this morning he highly doubts it'll actuall happen.

Could be an exciting summer.

[Socnorb11]

Did anyone else hear the rumors a out James, Wade and Bosh and others meeting to discuss their futures?

Kinda like bringing the five families together.

I've heard bits and pieces, but nothing concrete.

Wouldn't this constitute collusion?

How would 3 free agents having lunch constitute collusion? They're free agents, they're allowed to meet, recruit, etc.

But if 3 owners meet for lunch to decide what their plan will be, then it's collusion?