What would Lebron James need to accomplish to be considered the G.O.A.T.?
Given G.O.A.T. is not a real award, but more of a water cooler discussion, it is based around perceptions and legacy. While he has been a freak of nature I personally don't think it can happen but let's look at both sides.Why it won't happen:Has lost more Finals than wonAlienated huge portion of fans with his "decision" of quitting the hometown teamHas a reputation as a whinerIs now already starting to decline - in 2015 you can make a case he isn't a Top 3 player any longerHe has played in the lEastern Conference for his entire career giving him a pass to the Finals which have not been his best momentsGiven the wear and tare on his body - he has already played too many minutes for his own good - he won't be able to generate additional legacy moments for much longer at the high level we have been accustomed toSo what would he have to do to make this happen:Win - He needs to bring 2-3 Champions to the Cavs in his Final years of relative high productivityHave some clutch moments in the Finals and playoff runs that are replayed everywhereRepair image (he has been doing much better at this - returning to the Cavs definitely helped)Needs longevity and to avoid injury in the coming seasons - he really needs to watch minutes and continue to rest some back to back gamesSame goes to his teammates - he needs a healthy Kyrie Irving for the Cavs to be relevant in the FinalsAdd some additional nuances to his game since he is definitely starting to lose some athleticismIconic commercials or branding could help - while he licenses his name to Nike and does commercials nothing has been that memorable - his name is in every household but it isn't very likeableEdit 6/27/2016 - Having brought a Championship to Cleveland Lebron greatly helped his cause. I was particularly impressed how he carried the team. I have watched Lebron whither and defer in key Final’s moment in past years. Coming back from being down 1–3 was clutch and he definitely created some magic. He needs 2–3 more years of this to really make his case.Edit 6/28/2017 - Not sure there is much LeBron could have done about the Finals in 2017 but it looks like his window with Cleveland could be closing quickly. Cleveland will have to pull something off big this summer to have a realistic shot at winning the Finals next year. Even getting to the Finals in 2018 will be much tougher than it has been with Boston likely to present much more of a challenge if Cleveland sticks with the status quo.
Was Kevin Durant's move to the Golden State equivalent to LeBron James moving to Miami?
No, it wasn’t. Durant moved to GS, which had won 73 games, an all time record, the previous season and had played but lost in the finals to Cleveland. In Durant’s first year with GS, GS dropped from 73 to 67 wins, but recaptured the NBA championship. Only 1 player was involved in the move.In contrast, LeBron moved to Miami, which had won 47 games the prior season. His first year with Miami, the Heat increased their wins to 58 and went to the finals before losing to Dallas and big Dirk. LeBron’s move, sometimes loosely referred to as “the Decision,” involved 3 players: LeBron, Chris Bosh, a PF from Toronto, and Dwayne Wade, a SG then with Miami. I think Wade elected to resign that year, but I could be wrong about that.LeBron orchestrated the move, and had actually discussed with Bosh and Wade, his friends, the possibility of playing together a year or two before. Pat Riley was very aggressive and innovative in putting the package together.Kevin and LeBron opted to move from a fairly good team, which was not quite good enough to win the championship. Exactly what the motivation was in each case I am not sure. There was a lot of negativity in The Decision, and there still is, despite LeBron’s 2 titles in Miami and 1 in Cleveland. There was considerable negativity in Durant leaving OkC, but now Durant is viewed quite positively. Durant has become the best player and main man on GS, surpassing Steph Curry.There are similarities in the two moves, but LeBron’s was more complex. Durant won a title in his first year, and LeBron in his 2nd and 3rd years. LeBron eventually went back to the angered city- Cleveland- and led them to a title. Durant hasn’t yet given anything back to OkC, but it’s only 1 year. Who knows what will happen? Neither player is under obligation to return and make amends to the “aggrieved” city.
Which was the better move for Lebron James, going to Miami or going to Los Angeles?
I have to say Miami,And the answer comes from my perception of better and that's better team to win rings.If you are talking from the business side, LA is definitely where LeBron will earn more fame and money but move to Miami was crucial for LeBron for one thing that he could be called in the Cavs: NBA ChampionAt the time of the arrival in the Heat, LeBron was surrounded by better player and they instantly became best time in the league.Move to Lakers certainly made them a play-off team, but they are in my opinion 4/5 best team in the West and 6/7 in the whole league.Move to Miami was a good one, they won 2 rings and played 4 finals, but we have to wait for young Lakers to show potential they have to compare the moves better.
Why are people so upset with the decision by LeBron James to sign with the Miami Heat?
After hearing people in the media and friends who live in Ohio talk about the decision, I think that people in general are upset by:the way he made the announcement. Orchestrating a one hour primetime special shot in a rich part of Connecticut in a room full of silent kids with an interviewer asking softball questions on the biggest cable sports network came across as self-serving and over-the-top, even by today's standards of popular media.the fact that he didn't tell the Cleveland management or his team of his decision before announcing it on TV. After everything the organization did for LeBron over the last 7 years, they seemed pretty hurt that he wouldn't tell them goodbye to their face, or give them another chance to convince him to stay. Dan Gilbert's open letter is a result of these feelings.the feeling of jealously that the Miami Heat now have 3 of the top players in the league, and their favorite team doesn't. Unless you're a Heat fan, it was a major blow to next year's hopes.the possible (but unproven) suggestion that LeBron, Wade, and Bosh colluded in deciding to all join the same team to go for the championship. In the extreme, some described it as three players taking the league hostage and eliminating fair competition, while others alleged that this was a master plan that the three of them concocted 2 years ago when they played for team USA.(for people in Ohio) the realization that the relationship between Cleveland and LeBron was clearly unbalanced. Cleveland loved and needed LeBron more than LeBron needed Cleveland, and fans finally had to deal with the notion that LeBron may have been exaggerating when he previously talked about his love for the city, and that he treated it just as a "business".(for people in Ohio) the economic devastation that him leaving Cleveland will have on the city. When you consider loss of revenue from ticket sales, merchandise sales, missing the playoffs, fewer patrons at local restaurants and shops, the numbers add up. In general, it's unfortunate that people are upset by the decision, because from LeBron's side of it, he actually might have done the unselfish thing. He gave up a chance to claim credit as the leader of a team (since Wade is there in Miami) and took a non-trivial pay cut. Usually athletes get bad press for putting money above all else, but LeBron clearly favors championships. If only he announced his decision better (1, 2 above), then he might have come out of this with fewer people upset.
What happens to Dwyane Wade and Michael Beasley if LeBron goes to the Heat?
There is enough cap space for all three of them. The projected cap for 2010-11 is $56 million. Wade and LeBron will each make around $17 million as max players, and Beasley will make $5 million, totaling to $39 million for the three players. This leaves them enough room to fill out the rest of their roster with low-salaried players.Heat 2010-11 salaries are here: http://hoopshype.com/salaries/mi...
If you were LeBron James, and you decided against playing for Cleveland next year, how would you weigh the decision to play for the Knicks vs. the Heat?
There's two major arguments against joining the Heat, and in my opinion they are deal breakers (or would be for me anyway):Wade has already won a title there, is the most popular athlete in Miami, and if LeBron joins him will always have one less championship and be viewed that way.Miami is a crappy place to play. Even when they're winning nobody goes to the games. Even when they play great games against formidable teams and win, crickets. Great owner, great organization, good enough supporting cast, fantastic area, best tax break you can get, but a crappy place for professional basketball. Along with a number of other major market cities that can't seem to fill the arena like Atlanta, Orlando, etc. A shame really, but it is what it is.One more thing: If I could choose where LeBron would play, I'd stick him in New Orleans for league minimum. I'd have him dedicate his career to bringing that city back. He is such a big draw I think he could literally impact tourism there. Also, I have dreams of him playing alongside Chris Paul. It doesn't make any sense and it would never happen, but a man can dream, can't he?