Bulls Offseason Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

By doing this, I don't think Lebron really cares about whether people in the cities who lost out respect him or not.

 

If all he wanted was rings, he would have just signed the deal with Miami. The show that he put on makes it very clear there are plenty of other things that interest him besides rings.

[RedFlash]

I can't believe the Legion of Doom is now a reality.

[erik316wttn]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

[erik316wttn]

It may have hurt him to leave, but he did leave. I don't think Cleveland will get over it, because Lebron is all they had.

 

That said, it is what it is. Sports stars change teams sometimes. That's the reality.

 

Cleveland would have dealt with it just fine if he'd talked to them...explained that he felt like he needed to go somewhere else, and was just a decent human being about it. Sure, he'd have had haters, but nothing like this. Certainly not Gilbert throwing a temper tantrum. Instead, James decided to announce on a TV special to the Cavs (and 4 or so other teams) that he wasn't going to be joining them.

 

I've lost a massive amount of respect for Lebron James through this....even if he had come to the Bulls, which I still wanted. Clearly a very skilled basketball player, but clearly not as mature as most thought.

 

Probably true. I think the Cleveland hate was coming no matter what. Maybe it would have been less.

 

By doing this, I don't think Lebron really cares about whether people in the cities who lost out respect him or not. He wants rings. Rings = legacy. It was obvious to me that's how he thinks of it. He was concerned he would never get the legacy he wanted in the NBA if he stayed in Cleveland.

 

To me, that makes him a lesser legend than Jordan automatically. And I know many, many others feel the same way.

 

But, this is apparently the new NBA. Work out a team-up deal and get your rings. To hell with everything else. Now watch the cavalcade of almost-retired pseudo-stars who will want to play on this team for peanuts to get their rings, too.

 

I'm not saying I like it. But I'm not losing any sleep over it. The NBA isn't important enough to me for that.

 

A lot of that happened in Boston after KG and Allen went there. A lot of guys went there just to be role players and win a title.

[Soul]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

That feels like a fantasy to me. That team is destroyed.

[Flames24Rulz]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

Do you think people there care about how good the Indians were in the mid-late 90's? They won a pennant but they ultimately didn't win a title. Of course we have the Cubs, but basically everyone on here has been part of at least one championship celebration in their life. Cleveland has never had that. Their one true shot of winning a title anytime soon hit them in their junk and threw up a peace sign on national television to that whole city.

[Guest]

LBJ staying in Cleveland would have been a great story, but I don't think fans of any team that he spurned should be mad at him, least of all Cleveland.

 

He had to make a business decision.

[erik316wttn]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

That feels like a fantasy to me. That team is destroyed.

 

You could be right. I don't follow the NBA enough to say for sure. Just my opinion, not facts.

[C.C.]

LBJ staying in Cleveland would have been a great story, but I don't think fans of any team that he spurned should be mad at him, least of all Cleveland.

 

He had to make a business decision.

 

It's not so much that he left Cleveland, it's how he left Cleveland. Which wasn't very business-like.

[Formerly Snayke]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

That feels like a fantasy to me. That team is destroyed.

 

I don't know if I'd go that far. Byron Scott is still a really good coach and I'm guessing Dan Gilbert would sell his soul to get Chris Paul.

 

They are going to be a 40-win team at best right now, but they've also got what...$36 million in cap room after clearing LeBron and Shaq alone?

[rawaction]

LBJ staying in Cleveland would have been a great story, but I don't think fans of any team that he spurned should be mad at him, least of all Cleveland.

 

He had to make a business decision.

 

Business decision would have been playing in NYC.

[SouthSideRyan]

I really want a Heat-Cavs 1st round match-up. Cleveland would probably get destroyed, but damn, just 1 win for the Cavs in Cleveland would be epic.

 

Anyone think the letter from the owner is going to hurt their potential to sign a star in the future?

[jersey cubs fan]

I really want a Heat-Cavs 1st round match-up. Cleveland would probably get destroyed, but damn, just 1 win for the Cavs in Cleveland would be epic.

 

Anyone think the letter from the owner is going to hurt their potential to sign a star in the future?

 

Not anymore than being Cleveland hurts.

[Soul]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

That feels like a fantasy to me. That team is destroyed.

 

I don't know if I'd go that far. Byron Scott is still a really good coach and I'm guessing Dan Gilbert would sell his soul to get Chris Paul.

 

They are going to be a 40-win team at best right now, but they've also got what...$36 million in cap room after clearing LeBron and Shaq alone?

 

It's just that, given how important destination is to many NBA players, it's hard for me to see the cream-of-the-crop wanting to go there now. Not that it eliminates any possibility, but they just lost their biggest draw to rebuild the team, in addition to losing the bulk of their performance from the team itself.

 

NBA players do have too much power, IMO. I'd like to see a pullback in some way, shape, or form in the next CBA.

[Jon]

According to JA Adande, LeBron in the 2007 finals got a 6.2 rating while, according to Stewart Mandel, his Decision special got a 7.3 rating, which is higher than 95% of NBA games.

[17 Seconds]

what if the heat get shaq and then face the lakers in the finals?

 

kobe going for 6 and tying jordan, shaq going for 5 and tying kobe, wade going to for 2, lebron going for his first

[Banedon]

According to JA Adande, LeBron in the 2007 finals got a 6.2 rating while, according to Stewart Mandel, his Decision special got a 7.3 rating, which is higher than 95% of NBA games.

 

Thursday night’s LeBron James “The Decision” on ESPN drew a 7.3 household rating in the preliminary overnight ratings.

 

Compare that to the top rated show on broadcast last night, a repeat of The Mentalist on CBS, which drew a 6.0 household rating in the preliminary overnights.

[Banedon]

I'd love to see a half hour breakdown on that...I bet a LOT of tv's turned off for the second 30min.

[Formerly Snayke]

It's just that, given how important destination is to many NBA players, it's hard for me to see the cream-of-the-crop wanting to go there now. Not that it eliminates any possibility, but they just lost their biggest draw to rebuild the team, in addition to losing the bulk of their performance from the team itself.

 

NBA players do have too much power, IMO. I'd like to see a pullback in some way, shape, or form in the next CBA.

 

That's true. I just think they're going to be able to grab enough decent players that won't have any other option. I could also be overrating how much players would want to play for Scott.

[erik316wttn]

Again, he didn't win a damn thing in Cleveland. His time in Cleveland won't end up mattering at all. Favre at least led us to a Super Bowl. LeBron didn't win anything in a city that hasn't won anything in generations.

 

I agree that he didn't win a championship, but he led them to the first Finals appearance in the history of the franchise. He gave them respectability over a prolonged period, something Cleveland hasn't had before. He gave them national media attention. Sure, they didn't win a title but they were able to raise themselves from "Perennial NBA Doormats" to "Eastern Conference Title Contenders" with him there. I don't think they'll win the East for a while now, but they might be able to still hang onto that respectability and maybe be able to develop some good talent in LeBron's wake. They do have quite a bit of cap room to go out and maybe sign someone or pull off a trade. All is not lost in Cleveland.

 

That feels like a fantasy to me. That team is destroyed.

 

I don't know if I'd go that far. Byron Scott is still a really good coach and I'm guessing Dan Gilbert would sell his soul to get Chris Paul.

 

They are going to be a 40-win team at best right now, but they've also got what...$36 million in cap room after clearing LeBron and Shaq alone?

 

It's just that, given how important destination is to many NBA players, it's hard for me to see the cream-of-the-crop wanting to go there now. Not that it eliminates any possibility, but they just lost their biggest draw to rebuild the team, in addition to losing the bulk of their performance from the team itself.

 

NBA players do have too much power, IMO. I'd like to see a pullback in some way, shape, or form in the next CBA.

 

I don't doubt you. I would just like to know how, as I know very little about the economics of basketball and the powers granted to the players that are above and beyond the other major sports.

[1908]

The Bulls would never do it because he's radioactive at this point, but I think their quickest path to going for it could be to trade for Gilbert Arenas, assuming he's 100% healthy. They have the cap space open and the Wizards would love to get rid of him. He'd come to Chicago angry and embarrassed with a lot to prove, and I don't think there's a more talented SG option out there at this point.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Bulls would never do it because he's radioactive at this point, but I think their quickest path to going for it could be to trade for Gilbert Arenas, assuming he's 100% healthy. They have the cap space open and the Wizards would love to get rid of him. He'd come to Chicago angry and embarrassed with a lot to prove, and I don't think there's a more talented SG option out there at this point.

 

His radioactivity is fairly tame though, no? He didn't actually do anything other than bringing guns to the clubhouse, no?

[1908]

That's correct. I'd do it, but I don't think Bulls management would.

[rocket]

So, with the huge ratings this thing got, did Lebron just start a trend for all future big time free agents?

[SouthSideRyan]

The Decision: Josh Boone