DivineBovine

Is there any possibility that they are not that good next year? We can only hope the whole is less than the sum of its parts. If the US olympic team can ever lose, then we know that's possible. I'm going to love watching them get eliminated in the playoffs if it happens.

I can't wait to root for that team to lose. Doubt it will happen too often though.

All of LeBron's friends are still blabbing it all over town that he's going to Miami with just hours left. Right. All the more reason he's not going there and he's probably going to Cleveland. Which I can certainly live with.

So you think the lack of rebounding and defense provided by Grant had nothing to do with the Bulls losing to the Magic? Also, how do you explain the Bulls, with Grant and without Jordan, losing to the Knicks only because of a crap call the year before that? Grant was hugely important to those teams and they wouldn't have gotten the second 3 if they hadn't gotten a defensive and rebounding guy to replace him at the PF spot. Agreed. Grant was an awesome role player. Was pissed to see him go.

Doesn't really matter. Can Dwight Howard guard LeBron, Wade and Bosh at the same time? Howard is not an offensive player. Defense is a great thing, but guys who can create for themselves and score consistently are a rare asset in the league. The Heat would have 3 guys who could do that.

I don't buy this talk that LeBron/Wade/Bosh and a bunch of scrubs can't win a ring. No team can possibly guard all three.

Now Broussard is backing off a bit on Miami. He's saying that it's not definitely not a done deal. It's also interesting he's saying that multiple people close to LeBron have been saying Miami, as if they are broadcasting it. I still don't buy it. My gut still tells me Cleveland.

This just in. From a reliable source close to the situation. LeBron has discovered which member of his posse has been leaking stuff to Chris Broussard and ruined his ESPN special tomorrow. The unnamed person has been kicked out of LeBron's pool house and all Xbox 360 privileges have been revoked. Stay tuned.

Broussard Tweets: Some were right, some were wrong, some were obvious. Regarding LeBron, first the Bulls were frontrunners with Cleveland, then Miami, then NJ just blew LeBron away, then the Knicks were all the sudden big time players, and now he's going to Miami. Either LeBron changes his mind like an 8 year old or Chris Broussard's sources aren't so reliable. 20 minutes ago via web about 18 hours ago via web 11:47 PM Jul 6th via mobile web 11:37 PM Jul 6th via mobile web . 9:36 PM Jul 6th via mobile web 11:40 AM Jul 6th via web 12:26 PM Jul 5th via web 11:11 PM Jul 4th via web 11:40 AM Jul 3rd via web 8:04 PM Jul 2nd via web 8:03 PM Jul 2nd via web 4:30 AM Jul 1st via mobile web 11:13 PM Jun 30th via web 10:36 PM Jun 30th via web 9:42 PM Jun 30th via web 12:31 AM Jun 30th via web 1:31 PM Jun 29th via web 10:01 PM Jun 28th via web 1:53 AM Jun 28th via web

I still can't believe it. I won't believe it if he walks onto that show tomorrow wearing a Heat jersey.

This myth has already been debunked. If he doesn't come to Chicago, it won't be because he doesn't want to follow Michael. How has it been debunked? Because a few people in the media said they don't think it's an issue? Either way, if it's true that a big part of the Bulls pitch was about Jordan, then I think that was a horrible, horrible mistake. James himself has said he had no problems following Jordan. If he means it is another story. This following in MJ's footsteps is so overblown. If LeBron is going to make a decision based on that, then more power to him. The guy hasn't played in Chicago in nearly 15 years. People already have forgotten about him. Look at all the idiots who actually think Kobe is better than MJ was. People think Kobe is the best Laker ever, better than Magic or Kareem, 15-20 years after them. If LeBron wins championships with Chicago, then its all good for LeBron. Is he actually going to make a decision based on the ghost of MJ? Says who? David Falk? To me, its an absurd notion.

What report?

Ugh. Say what you want. I've lived in Chicago for 15 years, New York for 15 years, live in California now. There is no city as sports crazed as Chicago. It has the combination of a large population and a sports crazed fan-base. NY can't compare. I don't think any other city can, quite frankly. Not even Boston. Look at the Cubs attendance when the team is marginal. Look at the Blackhawks victory parade. I'd like to see another city have that kind of turnout for a world series or superbowl parade. This is after they had an owner for years who didn't put games on TV. Look at the Bears. Brian freaking Urlacher is one of the most famous athletes in the country and sells more jerseys than many better football players. The Bulls filled the arena when they sucked. I love NY, I love California. And to be honest, I'd rather live in either NY or California than Chicago now. But in terms of being a sports town, there's no comparison.

A second meeting with Riley?! No one backs out after a second meeting! If he already decided on playing in Miami, then I don't understand why he needs to meet with Riley before the announcement. Sounds more like Riley trying to sell dynasty to LeBron. I would still be shocked if superteam happened in Miami. Shocked.

With the cap going up to $58 mill, Miami could offer Lebron the max, provided they can move Beasely. You know teams, they know Miami is trying to build superteam and a lot of teams don't want a hand in that, thus Beasley doesn't seemed to be highy valued right. And I really doubt both Bosh and Wade will take less, and we know James won't take less and be Wade's lapdog. Never say never tho about Miami. You would think the Bulls are in prime position, but who really knows. So I will remain passive about the situation. If we get him, I will go apecrazy, but if not, oh well. Yeah, so the $58 million figure does it for them. But I still think it would be absurd for LeBron to play with Wade and Bosh. LeBron is all about King James and has no interest in being part of a "big three". Besides, if he's smart, he'd realize that Boozer, Rose, Noah is one hell of a supporting cast and he'd get all the credit. He'd be the King. I would really be interested in knowing where all these experts with close knowledge of the situation get the info that LeBron is so intrigued about playing in Miami. As a casual observer, I can't think of a team now that's less likely to get him than the Heat.

Come on LeBron. Just get it over with. I'm so sick of the speculation. 1) LeBron is going to Miami to play with Wade and Bosh: I say complete BS. No way he wants to play with them. There is no money unless Wade takes less than 6/125 and/or Bosh takes less than 5/96. It sounds like something completely made up by somebody just speculating out of their a$$ like all of us here. 2) LeBron is going to NY: Whatever. These same "experts" were saying NY had no chance 3 days ago. Then they overpay for an overrated guy who plays no defense and all the sudden are in the game, because the announcement is in Connecticut. 3) LeBron is going to NJ: Way more probable then the scenarios above, IMO. 4) LeBron is staying in Cleveland: probably the most likely It's so funny that all these "experts" who are "close to the situation" contradict themselves over and over. I'm still holding out a glimmer of hope he ends up in Chicago. Because quite honestly, I think its the smartest choice for him. He wins rings, he gets all the credit for it, and he plays in front of the best fanbase in the country.

Sounds like a sweet deal to me. Johnson, Gay and Amare all got a lot more money.

It certainly doesn't look good now for the Bulls, but I don't think Greenwich means NY/NJ is a forgone conclusion.

I really think he's going to the Knicks. I can see him wanting to build his legacy in NY. I don't understand it. Everyone thought the Knicks were totally out of it a few days ago. What has really changed? Amare Stoudamire. That's it. We all knew they had money for 2 max. So how does getting Amare really change anything. He's not that much better than Lee. The Bulls and the Nets are still better options in terms of winning.

It annoys me how the media keeps saying all these guys are "leaving $30 million on table". OK, partially true, but not really. They are taking 5/96 rather than 6/125. That's leaving $29 million AND 1 year. You have to figure that these guys are good for $20 million or so in that last year. Even if they get old and suck, they are still good for at least $10 million. So nobody is really leaving $30 million on the table.

So you've already reached stage 5 on the Kübler-Ross model? Congrats. Sorta. But seriously, having Lee/Boozer at something less than the max and being able to retain Noah is better than having Bosh at the max and no Noah. The only way it's not is if Bosh is the only avenue for Lebron or Wade which I admit is entirely possible. Who's to say that Bosh would've taken the max with the Bulls. Miami had a few things going for them. Bosh is Wade's buddy with the same agent. There is this perception that Bosh and Wade can make a team a contender. And finally, there is no state tax in FLA.

I'm withholding judgment until I see where James goes. I still say Chicago is the best place for him if he wants to win. If he goes to Miami it will be James/Bosh/Wade and then a bunch of minimum salary scrubs. They'll compete, but they will have absolutely NO depth on their bench. If he goes to New York he'll get all the money and fame he wants but I'm not sure that Stoudamire/James is going to be enough to win anything. However, if he comes to Chicago he'll have James/Rose/Noah plus plenty of money to go out and get either Lee or Boozer and maybe another role player or two. Not to mention they already have Deng under contract; not that that's a huge draw, but it's more than Miami has. That's really only true for this year and somewhat next year. As time goes on, their bench will fill out and they'll likely have plenty of depth to go along with the 3 stars and that's a much better situation than any other of the cities can offer. Of course, the money is not likely to work out to let all 3 of them come in the first place. Of course Miami can win with James/Wade/Bosh. Only a matter of time. But does LeBron really want to do that? Play with 2 other all stars on a team everyone EXPECTS to win? Dilute his stats? Will he really go down in history as one of the greatest ever if he does that? And can it even happen from a money standpoint? In my very biased pro-Bulls opinion, the Bulls are still the best option for him. LeBron, Boozer/Lee, with Rose and Noah will destroy Miami and be a championship contender. Let's see if LeBron is smart enough to realize this.

Its so funny how the media makes Stoudamire and Bosh seem like such studs. Bosh couldn't even make the playoffs last year. And somehow Amare is going to convince LeBron to possibly play for the Knicks? The Knicks had Lee last year who is almost as good as Amare and they were sh!t. Get Lee. F@#$ the big three. Rose, Noah, Lee + a shooter is a decent team. Without the Noah injury and the disasterous losing streak, the Bulls could have been # 4 or 5 in the East. If the Wade and Bosh think they're so damn good that they can win with a bunch of scrubs, lets see it. If LeBron ends up there as well, then of course I'll agree that they are favorites. But Wade and Bosh- we'll see. Lee put up nearly the numbers as Bosh last year, and NEITHER the Knicks of the Raptors made the playoffs.

I still don't understand this LeBron to Miami talk. A lot of people who know way more than me are speculating it, but I'll be floored if LeBron ends up there. 1) Is there the money? 2) Does he want to play with the other guys and "dilute" his brand?

There's no way an egomaniac like LeBron actually thinks that he can't win a championship in Cleveland. Maybe he thinks is more likely that he wins elsewhere, but he's can't possibly think he doesn't have a decent chance in Cleveland.