ESPN: LeBron will opt out

[The Social Chair]

That has not stopped the LA sports talk shows from 24/7 lebron, melo, and kobe fantasy talk for the last 2 days

 
Yep. The Clippers actually have at least some shot of realistically landing Lebron, and the convo here is still about some magical universe where Lebron wants to play with Kobe.

It makes me so happy that the Lakers gave that stupid extension to Kobe. If they didn't they could have offered to let Lebron and Melo build a team from scratch.

 

[bbc23]

 
Yep. The Clippers actually have at least some shot of realistically landing Lebron, and the convo here is still about some magical universe where Lebron wants to play with Kobe.

It makes me so happy that the Lakers gave that stupid extension to Kobe. If they didn't they could have offered to let Lebron and Melo build a team from scratch.

They still can so long as they dump Nash's contract (which would probably go into one of these deals with the #8 for MCW).

 

[ElUno20]

Lebron and his coat tails had salads today to discuss just how much they need him.

 

[Grunherz54]

Lebron and his coat tails had salads today to discuss just how much they need him.

 
And Dwyane Wade informed LeBron that he was opting out...of his salad.

 

[Sox and Rocks]

 
Also, the Knicks were not the best team to start with. He chose New York for the city rather than the Knicks per se.
 
It's a shame that the Sixers roster doesn't fit him better. If Nerlens Noel and Thaddeus Young were better shooters he could redeem himself by being a leader on a promising rebuilding team while also staying next to New York for his wife and playing in the 6th largest market.
 
Personally I hope he picks the Lakers. Overpaying for both Kobe and Melo would destroy their next two seasons, and there's a 99.99% chance Kobe and Melo would publicly feud.

Absolutely.  It's easy to forget the Nuggets with Melo took the Lakers to 7 games in the WC finals (when the Lakers were a perennial contender) with a good, young nucleus that included Lawson, JR Smith, and Nene, along with Billups, KMart, and Birdman.  
 
Winning in Denver was never an issue.  The size of the market was. 
 
Which further reinforces JA's point.  

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

ESPN: LeBron wants max salary next year.
 
So, does this put to lie the idea that he was opting out to force Miami to spend money to improve his surrounding cast?

 

[BostonFan23]

ESPN: LeBron wants max salary next year.
 
So, does this put to lie the idea that he was opting out to force Miami to spend money to improve his surrounding cast?

 
No...he just wants Wade and Bosh to sacrifice. I don't necessarily blame him.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

ESPN: LeBron wants max salary next year.
 
So, does this put to lie the idea that he was opting out to force Miami to spend money to improve his surrounding cast?

 
No, he still wants Arison to spend.  There's a long discussion about this in the Heat thread.

 

[ifmanis5]

So the guy insisting on the max deal also has the right to complain about not having a good supporting cast? 
 
LeBron certainly has earned the max deal and if he feels a max deal is a sign of respect that's fine, too. But then don't turn around and grouse about the crappy help. Once you're on the max deal there's only so much talent that you can afford in capped league.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

So the guy insisting on the max deal also has the right to complain about not having a good supporting cast? 
 
LeBron certainly has earned the max deal and if he feels a max deal is a sign of respect that's fine, too. But then don't turn around and grouse about the crappy help. Once you're on the max deal there's only so much talent that you can afford in capped league.

Miami amnestied Mike Miller who was already under contract to the Heat so they could save luxury tax dollars. They had the $5m MLE to spend last summer on a quality player and didn't. The salary cap is not a restrictive block on acquiring and keeping talent in this league under the current CBA.....a cheap owner about to lose LeBron due to his frugality is.

 

[Soxfan in Fla]

 
Huh, I don't get called stupid very often, so kudos back at you?
 
Back on topic, I have followed Melo's career pretty closely and I don't think he really cares that much about winning a title. If he did, he wouldn't have forced NY to move so many of their assets in exchange for him, when he could have gone to NY the next summer anyway. 
 
Anyway, maybe you could elaborate on your statement? Do you really believe that every top NBA player wants to win a title first and foremost, over money, quality of life, etc.? Because if you do, I'm pretty sure I'm not close to the dumbest one in this dialogue. 

That's shocking. After all, you are a Yankees fan do of course you're stupid.

 

[ifmanis5]

Miami amnestied Mike Miller who was already under contract to the Heat so they could save luxury tax dollars. They had the $5m MLE to spend last summer on a quality player and didn't. The salary cap is not a restrictive block on acquiring and keeping talent in this league under the current CBA.....a cheap owner about to lose LeBron due to his frugality is.

Not every owner is cool with losing Nets-level money and LeBron knew what he was getting into. I'm not going to defend the Heat but their cap situation was a mess and adding quality pieces was difficult without the major restructuring happening now.

 

[jon abbey]

That's shocking. After all, you are a Yankees fan do of course you're stupid.

 
A good rule of thumb when calling someone stupid while adding zero content of your own is to make sure your post doesn't have a typo rendering your statement nonsensical. A better rule of thumb is to actually add content. 

 

[Devizier]

Not every owner is cool with losing Nets-level money and LeBron knew what he was getting into. I'm not going to defend the Heat but their cap situation was a mess and adding quality pieces was difficult without the major restructuring happening now.

 
Lebron has some leverage here, and it has been so ever since he signed the contract. Arison could have taken this into account when he decided to cheap out on the roster. Consequences can be a bitch sometimes. Not like Arison has any right to complain.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Not every owner is cool with losing Nets-level money and LeBron knew what he was getting into. I'm not going to defend the Heat but their cap situation was a mess and adding quality pieces was difficult without the major restructuring happening now.

I view it the opposite. Arison knew what he was getting into and what he needed to commit to that would keep LeBron happy. Bron has the leverage here but Arison made his bed last summer......now he either sleeps in it while spending or throws the baby out with the bath water.