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Post by mikecubs on Jul 15, 2014 21:32:57 GMT -6
Can't believe no one mentioned this. LeBron James has returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a free agent. espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11203027/lebron-james-says-returning-cleveland-cavaliersLeBron James move to go to Miami was the most brilliant move of all time. He wins 2 titles in 4 years with 2 other finals appearances. Cleveland absolutely sucks without him and gets the number 1 pick 3 times and the number 4 pick the other time. The move to leave Miami is also smart because the Heats roster is VERY old and Dwayne Wade has a bad knee and is turning 33 years old this season. The Cavs line up(age in parenthesis) sf- LeBron James(29) PF- Tristian Thompson(23) (a Canadian and number 4 pick in the draft a few years ago) C- Anderson Varejo(31) SG- Andrew Wiggins(19) (the number 1 pick in the draft this years, being tutors by L.James will do wonders) PG- Kyrie Irving(22)(A number 1 pick and already an all star, he just signed a 5yr extension) Bench SG-Mike Miller(34)(great shooter just signed him today) SG-Dion Waters(22)(a high lottery pick and double digit scored, a bit of a ball hog, may be trade bait) PF- Anthony Bennett(21)(from Canada, a god awful rookie year, he's in better shape now, won't be worth number 1 pick ever but maybe he can become a solid role player) C- Brendon Haywood(34)(your average vet backup center) Cleveland is rumored to be signing shooters Ray Allen and james jones yet. If Andrew Wiggins develops quicker than we think offensively(he's raw on that end) Cleveland at worst should be favorites in the east. Wouldn't surprise me if they won it all though I think Oklahoma City will be tough. This is the year San Antonio slips a bit. Cleveland has never won an NBA title, the Browns have never won a super bowl, the Indians haven't won the world series since 1948. Might not be this year but I bet the Cavs will be the team to break Cleveland's streak.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 5:15:17 GMT -6
east is going to be tough, that team is going to have to deal with with a wizards team, maybe hornets if they get stephenson.
Indiana is still tough with george hibbert combo.
I dont think lebron plans on getting a title there for a year. he has gone to 4 straight finals he actually could ue a summer off if they get bounced early. I dothink they will get better in next years free agency.
lebrons plan is to be magic and jordan financially which means he wants to own a team. i honestly think an ownership group would use him as a figurehead.
but the east? i got indy and i dont think lebron minds not to win this year.
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Post by Guardian on Jul 16, 2014 9:27:40 GMT -6
Reminds me of when the NHL returned to Winnipeg.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 10:47:02 GMT -6
it was a smart move for lebron i gained a ton of respect for him. He finally was able to humanize himself something he has lacked for YEARS. They turned him to much into a superhero. Now people get to see that he is a dad, has a family, and is now a relatable person.
I also think he will be the future owner of the cavs
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Post by USApegger on Jul 16, 2014 10:56:00 GMT -6
Reminds me of when the NHL returned to Winnipeg. Sorry this is nothing close to the NHL coming back to Winnipeg to me. This is a rich athlete signing as a free agent, nothing more. Sure a little feel good story for the fans he spurned, but the Jets coming back is way way bigger story than this, (to me) of course, i couldn't care less about the NBA anyway
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 12:42:13 GMT -6
east is going to be tough, that team is going to have to deal with with a wizards team, maybe hornets if they get stephenson. Indiana is still tough with george hibbert combo. I dont think lebron plans on getting a title there for a year. he has gone to 4 straight finals he actually could ue a summer off if they get bounced early. I dothink they will get better in next years free agency. lebrons plan is to be magic and jordan financially which means he wants to own a team. i honestly think an ownership group would use him as a figurehead. but the east? i got indy and i dont think lebron minds not to win this year. I think the reason LeBron said it will take time is to take the pressure off the young guys. I think the main thing with Cleveland is how fast they gell and how good is Wiggins is right away. If Wiggins is a good solid player to start out(not a star) I think they are the favorites in the east. If he's totally raw probably not. Other big thing is I think the Cavs will have problems with Dion Waters. He is already complaining about how he has to start and won't accept 6th man role. The guy is a ball hog and a loser who I doubt would sacrifice for a championship team. My guess is he will have to be dealt for 50 cents on the dollar for an older less selfish/less talented role player. There are solid teams in the east but everyone has their problems. Indy looked absolutely horrible in the 2nd half last season. I think they will lose Stephenson to the Hornets. Paul George is going to be much better next season though, he's adding a post up game to his arsenal. I don't trust Hibbert. He disappears too much, but he is a free agent after the year so he might step it up this year. Wizards overachieved last year my guess is they take a step back. Hornets could be much improved getting Stephenson will help plus having excitement/fans for a change(with the name change) will help a lot. Still I can't see them actually making the finals. If Dwayne Wade's knee doesn't completely give out this season I think Miami is still a contender. Deng is really an underrated player and an almost all star. I think Chris Bosh will explode this year. I think the Cavs biggest risk is Chicago. If Rose stays healthy with a Gasol-Noah front line that could be tough. That European kid Misrotic(sp) will probably be a pretty decent rookie.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 13:16:18 GMT -6
agreed though Paul peirce with washington has shown his ability to adapt to the 4 position.... doesnt need speed anymore and they guy can hit very awkward shots
Hornets signed Stephenson today
Im picking the hornets now
Big Al Jefferson is a Double double a night guy hugely underrated player
Looking at their team.
Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, Noah Vonleh/cody zeller, and Big Al?
Im telling you dont sleep on that team, they are serious now Jordan may have pulled something off.
Lebron will carry them far I predict a title Next year just not this season for them...you are right it depends on wiggins.
but i also feel miami with deng, a healthy wade, and Bosh? they now have the salary to go fill that roster. Miami could still be a threat.
I still think my celtics can go get love we have a million draft picks just waiting to be traded. Though we are either in quick rebuild or long rebuild (meaning trade rondo)
either way a west team will win it all next year (thunder IMO)
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 13:18:28 GMT -6
Update- Lance Stephenson today signed with Charlotte. That's a big blow for Indy. Throw in how Larry Bird and Frank Vogel don't like each other, how poor they finished I'm not sure Indy comes out of the east.
James Jones did sign with Cleveland today. Ray Allen might be next. Besides adding much needed shooting for a team that lacks it these vets will add leadership so LeBron doesn't have to take on that role alone.
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 13:57:55 GMT -6
agreed though Paul peirce with washington has shown his ability to adapt to the 4 position.... doesnt need speed anymore and they guy can hit very awkward shots Hornets signed Stephenson today Im picking the hornets now Big Al Jefferson is a Double double a night guy hugely underrated player Looking at their team. Kemba Walker, Lance Stephenson, Noah Vonleh/cody zeller, and Big Al? Im telling you dont sleep on that team, they are serious now Jordan may have pulled something off. Lebron will carry them far I predict a title Next year just not this season for them...you are right it depends on wiggins. but i also feel miami with deng, a healthy wade, and Bosh? they now have the salary to go fill that roster. Miami could still be a threat. I still think my celtics can go get love we have a million draft picks just waiting to be traded. Though we are either in quick rebuild or long rebuild (meaning trade rondo) either way a west team will win it all next year (thunder IMO) I'm NOT sleeping on the HOrnets. Jefferson was always underrated. Only guy in the east to average a double-double. I just don't see them as the favorites. But they are very dangerous. Miami has filled out the roster. They resigned Haslem, Chalmers, Birdman, they brought in Josh McRoberts and Granger. Yesterday they officially ran out of cap room for the year and renounced the rights to the rest of the bench from last year. So basically they lose James+ probably Allen and gain Deng, McRoberts/Granger. I think either Cleveland wins the east gets destroyed by Okc or San Antonio in the finals this year and wins the title next year or they lose in the east finals to the bulls if Wiggins isn't ready then win the title next year.
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 13:59:12 GMT -6
I have a feeling Love still goes to Golden State somehow. With the Celtics drafting a point guard I think ROndo gets traded and the Celtics go for the LONG rebuild.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 15:04:35 GMT -6
ugh its the 90s again for my celtics..... im fine with it though
gotta doit. Should have had 3 titles if not for injury (KG year after, Then Perk in game 6, lost all presence on the glass)
Smart could be a 2 i think if Ange can get Love he will doit, if not its trade rondo, Take the lottery picks from brooklyn (and they are lottery picks brooklyn will suck in a year)
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 15:17:41 GMT -6
Ya, Brooklyn will be bad this year. But I'm not sure if they will be bad enough to make those high lottery picks. I do think they should go for Love if possible than a long rebuild. Love is only what 25 years old?
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 16:35:42 GMT -6
Ya, Brooklyn will be bad this year. But I'm not sure if they will be bad enough to make those high lottery picks. I do think they should go for Love if possible than a long rebuild. Love is only what 25 years old? yea the brooklyn picks are in 2017-2018 actually and are unprotected I predict them to sink pretty low at least in 2017 when all their guys leave. Celtics traded 3 old guys for the future, But id still push to trade them for love becasue a lot of teams would want the nets unprotected picks. Celtics have something like 9 picks in the next few years in the first round
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Post by mikecubs on Jul 16, 2014 20:51:06 GMT -6
Oh wow!!! Those could be really high picks by then. At some point Brooklyn has to bottom out and there is a very good chance it will be at that time. That was a great trade. I just don't know if Minnesota can wait that long for a return on Love. I think they'd like to get back young players like Klay Thompson or sooner high picks.
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Post by Bruinsfan on Jul 16, 2014 21:53:18 GMT -6
which is dumb. in that league young players who arent blue chippers are pretty much useless. you need THE guy on your team or it wont work.
What i hate about the NBA is the max contract. I wish teams could offer stupid contracts and hurt their cap situation. It hurts teams like boston and even NY. If its cold and everyong is offering the same thing? whats the point of free agency.
They are the only league with as bad a problem of players only wanting to go to the beach. Thats why the lebron situation was so awesome it shifted the power away from the beaches and all of a sudden NY signs Melo, Gasol goes to chicago...the nba lost its way a little bit. it seems to be getting it back. As lebron goes so does the league. Hopefully destination teams become less prevelant and players want to play for big strong fanbases like NY, Chicago, Philly, Boston etc.
Maybe wishful thinking but lebron going home seems to have created a conscience change amongst players.
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