Miami Heat: Pat Riley's Grease Fire

[Grin&MartyBarret]

 
Reportedly. And since the media has been chasing every proverbial LeBron ambulance, who knows if even that's true... The media is driving the story (and they're not wrong to), but LeBron's team has been mum on the whole situation.

 
Fair enough. But given that LeBron's been mum on the whole thing, and the media's been grasping at straws which has driven this frenzy, it's kind of odd to call him an attention whore. He didn't even travel to meet with any team other than his own.

 

[zenter]

 
Fair enough. But given that LeBron's been mum on the whole thing, and the media's been grasping at straws which has driven this frenzy, it's kind of odd to call him an attention whore. He didn't even travel to meet with any team other than his own.

 
Yup. Was agreeing with you and realized it didn't seem that way. Edited above to clarify.

 

[RG33]

I want him to make the announcement A-Rod style at about the 65' minute mark of the 0-0 WC Final.

 

[ElUno20]

I think it was even debatable. Regardless of him being mum, he isnt living in a cave. him and his team know exactly the frenzy this has caused and it was easy to predict.

The entire nba free agency has been paused for him. he loves this.

 

[Blacken]

Dude hasn't spoken to the media once since the finals ended and is planning to post his announcement on a website then flee the country.

Your basic observations about reality have no place in Celtics superfandom.

 

[Tony C]

what would you have him do to avoid being labeled an attention whore? Go Ted Kaczynscki on the world? Of course it's getting attention, he's the greatest player in basketball today and arguably will end up the greatest in history. So of course there's a frenzy. That doesn't equal "attention whore" except in the minds of insane haters.

 

[bowiac]

I think it was even debatable. Regardless of him being mum, he isnt living in a cave. him and his team know exactly the frenzy this has caused and it was easy to predict.

The entire nba free agency has been paused for him. he loves this.

I don't know if he does know. Not everyone has a desk job that they're trying to avoid by compulsively checking twitter.

 

[DJnVa]

 
Web dev here, I think some bored web dev is having a go at his friend. First, Firebug is a Firefox add-on developer tool that lets you inspect a pages' HTML, CSS & JavaScript and other things like network response times, so you don't "run a Firebug," you use it. Secondly, there is no way for someone, to not only view unpublished web pages but to determine when they were created, without first hand knowledge of the website (the nerds working on it or hack3rz). We go to great lengths to avoid that by developing in local (to your own computer) environments and only push things live when required. 
 
Lastly, I am so enjoying the hoopla LBJ stirs up. I seriously wish he could become a FA every 2 years because this kind of hysteria is awesome.

 
 
https://twitter.com/chrislittmann/status/487228543554691073
 
Chris Littmann‏@chrislittmann 2h
So, we sat here and tried to find this code hidden in LeBron's site with a dev here, couldn't find it. Anyone else actually seen it?

 

[moondog80]

I don't know if he does know. Not everyone has a desk job that they're trying to avoid by compulsively checking twitter.

 
 
Come on, he knows it.  I think it's unavoidable and he's not necessarily seeking it out, but of course he's aware of it. 

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

I think it was even debatable. Regardless of him being mum, he isnt living in a cave. him and his team know exactly the frenzy this has caused and it was easy to predict.

The entire nba free agency has been paused for him. he loves this.

 
Free agency started 11 hours and 43 minutes ago.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I think it was even debatable. Regardless of him being mum, he isnt living in a cave. him and his team know exactly the frenzy this has caused and it was easy to predict.

The entire nba free agency has been paused for him. he loves this.

Again, the NBA has strived to become a year round league. This event is the realization of that goal. I don't know if LeBron actually loves the attention or not but I feel reasonably certain that those who oversee his past and future employers are thrilled that people are intensely focused on their product in the midst of the offseason.

 

[zenter]

I think it was even debatable. Regardless of him being mum, he isnt living in a cave. him and his team know exactly the frenzy this has caused and it was easy to predict.

The entire nba free agency has been paused for him. he loves this.

 

I don't know if he does know. Not everyone has a desk job that they're trying to avoid by compulsively checking twitter.

 

Come on, he knows it.  I think it's unavoidable and he's not necessarily seeking it out, but of course he's aware of it. 

 
So what?
 
Like literally, he has no choice in this matter. He's a top-5-ever player and he's a free agent.
 
IIRC, the moratorium included players talking about handshake deals, by the way, so it's only been 12 hours that he could talk to the media if he wanted. But even so, anything he says other than "I will sign here. Deal is in place" will either be seen as a signal or him attention-whoring. It's a no-win situation.
 
If he says nothing, he stays out of the fray and gets publicity. Since he looks like an asshole either way (apparently), no point in digging himself further into a hole. His choice is simple - silence.

 

[moondog80]

 
 
 
So what?
 
Like literally, he has no choice in this matter. He's a top-5-ever player and he's a free agent.
 
IIRC, the moratorium included players talking about handshake deals, by the way, so it's only been 12 hours that he could talk to the media if he wanted. But even so, anything he says other than "I will sign here. Deal is in place" will either be seen as a signal or him attention-whoring. It's a no-win situation.
 
If he says nothing, he stays out of the fray and gets publicity. Since he looks like an asshole either way (apparently), no point in digging himself further into a hole. His choice is simple - silence.

 
 
I agree.  I'm just saying the notion that he doesn't even realize what is going in is silly.

 

[zenter]

I agree.  I'm just saying the notion that he doesn't even realize what is going in is silly.

 
I'm still not sure. These guys occupy a media spotlight constantly and are forced to tune it out. Someone on his team knows, but they might be telling him that it's the usual free agency crap. In fact, if I were him, I'd hire someone to manage me in exactly that way.

 

[Leather]

 
Not sure I believe this, Cleveland isn't Miami (meaning the city itself). 

 
This has come up in other threads, and I think points like this (NBA players will only play in "cool" cities) are way overblown.  You don't become a successful NBA player if having warm weather and cool clubs to go to is your primary concern.  It's almost insulting.

 

[luckiestman]

 
This has come up in other threads, and I think points like this (NBA players will only play in "cool" cities) are way overblown.  You don't become a successful NBA player if having warm weather and cool clubs to go to is your primary concern.  It's almost insulting.

Isn't it a bit of a straw man to say primary concern? Young rich guys might not want to live in cities that kind of suck. This is true in almost any profession.

 

[Devizier]

Isn't it a bit of a straw man to say primary concern? Young rich guys might not want to live in cities that kind of suck. This is true in almost any profession.

 
San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Indianapolis are the 25th, 42nd, and 33rd largest metros in the United States with the 182nd, 168th, and 47th highest median incomes, respectively. None of the three are recognized as great cities for weather or culture, yet the franchises housed in those places have had no problem fielding some great teams. Yes, this has been conditional on great drafting, but that's pretty much the case for everyone. Big free agent signings have often come to franchises with an implicit guarantee of winning (i.e. Wade recruiting James and Bosh). Even Shaquille O'Neal was coming to a Lakers squad that had won 53 games the season before he signed there.

 

[luckiestman]

What's your point man. The argument is that given a choice location matters. You respond that teams have landed great players when those players didn't have a choice

 

[PedroKsBambino]

 
San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Indianapolis are the 25th, 42nd, and 33rd largest metros in the United States with the 182nd, 168th, and 47th highest median incomes, respectively. None of the three are recognized as great cities for weather or culture, yet the franchises housed in those places have had no problem fielding some great teams. Yes, this has been conditional on great drafting, but that's pretty much the case for everyone. Big free agent signings have often come to franchises with an implicit guarantee of winning (i.e. Wade recruiting James and Bosh). Even Shaquille O'Neal was coming to a Lakers squad that had won 53 games the season before he signed there.

 
Which great player who was not drafted by the team are you thinking about going to those cities, out of curiosity?

 

[Devizier]

What's your point man. The argument is that given a choice location matters. You respond that teams have landed great players when those players didn't have a choice

 

 
 
Big free agent signings have often come to franchises with an implicit guarantee of winning

 
No one gave a fuck about Miami before Dwyane Wade was drafted there.

 

[Leather]

What's your point man. The argument is that given a choice location matters. You respond that teams have landed great players when those players didn't have a choice

 
You're the one making strawmans.  The comment I responded to was that veterans searching for a ring would not want to join LeBron in Cleveland because Cleveland is "not Miami."
 
So no, the argument is not that "location matters".  The argument is that veterans who are primarily concerned with winning a title would by-pass Cleveland because it's not a nice place to live for 6 months.   I find that position ridiculous. 

 

[Devizier]

 
Which great player who was not drafted by the team are you thinking about going to those cities, out of curiosity?

 
David West to the Pacers.
 
I think a better question is -- relative to the low rate of free agency movement, how disfavored are the "bad location" teams? I think the sample is too small to get rigorous about it, but I challenge the bald-faced assertion that "premier" cities land all the desirable free agents (not just the max guys, but the MLE guys and everyone in between).

 

[luckiestman]

 
You're the one making strawmans.  The comment I responded to was that veterans searching for a ring would not want to join LeBron in Cleveland because Cleveland is "not Miami."
 
So no, the argument is not that "location matters".  The argument is that veterans who are primarily concerned with winning a title would by-pass Cleveland because it's not a nice place to live for 6 months.   I find that position ridiculous. 

Cleveland isn't a nice place to live for 12 months ( relatively)

But the vet point is valid. I thought you had made this general argument before about Minnesota

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Lebron is announcing his decision tonight, and the police have been informed to watch his house in Akron tonight.

#VoteKluber
 

 
 Also apparently tweeted by Phil Trexler (ABJ) and Bob Jones (WEWS).

 

[DJnVa]

I read that as bad for Cleveland, but it appears that Cleveland thinks that is good news.

 

[MakMan44]

I read that as bad for Cleveland, but it appears that Cleveland thinks that is good news.

Yeah, that doesn't sound great. 

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

I read that as bad for Cleveland, but it appears that Cleveland thinks that is good news.

 
It really could mean either. Police present could just be for crowd control if people plan to flock to his house to celebrate his return, or it could be to protect it from vandals if he stays in Miami.

 

[DJnVa]

Yeah, that doesn't sound great. 

 
But a few tweets after makes it seem that the locals are going to be there celebrating and they are feeling good.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
But a few tweets after makes it seem that the locals are going to be there celebrating and they are feeling good.

They are only focusing on the positive LBJ news and not allowing themselves to think that he isn't coming.  They're going to think he's coming until he announces that he isn't.

 

[rembrat]

Perfect time to gauge the collective gut of SOSH. Someone fire up the Poll Machine! 

 

[bowiac]

Between skipping his Cleveland trip, and the calls for the riot squad, I'm guessing it's going to be a 2 year deal with Miami.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Unfortunate crop on this guy's twitter mug
 
https://twitter.com/PhilTrexler

 

[E5 Yaz]

They are only focusing on the positive LBJ news and not allowing themselves to think that he isn't coming.  They're going to think he's coming until he announces that he isn't.

 
But that's the way it is -- and should be -- with every possible deal. The fanbase, and the media, spin it toward the best possible outcome for the home team. Look at our main board for example, or even in BBTL where the Andre Johnson thread has turned into some sort of inevitable conclusion that the Texans will have to deal him only to the Patriots

 

[soxhop411]

Between skipping his Cleveland trip, and the calls for the riot squad, I'm guessing it's going to be a 2 year deal with Miami.

Riot squad are also called when a team wins the championship..(good news)

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Maybe I'm underestimating Lebron's capacity for vindictive and narcissistic behavior but, after everything that happened with The Decision, its hard for me to fully wrap my mind around the idea of him leading Cleveland on, inducing them to trade their 1st rounder to us, and then dicking them over again.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

 
David West to the Pacers.
 
I think a better question is -- relative to the low rate of free agency movement, how disfavored are the "bad location" teams? I think the sample is too small to get rigorous about it, but I challenge the bald-faced assertion that "premier" cities land all the desirable free agents (not just the max guys, but the MLE guys and everyone in between).

 
David West really proves the proposition that great players don't switch to small city teams, doesn't he?    He can't be among the top 25 free agents who have changed teams in last dozen years, and he's the best one initially thrown out there.
 
I do think that as we get down from premiere guys to "good" players (like West) and MLE guys that the issues goes away.   At least for me, the idea that the top-tier, All NBA-caliber guys strongly prefer the top cities when changing teams has some real resonance.

 

[Devizier]

 
But a few tweets after makes it seem that the locals are going to be there celebrating and they are feeling good.

 
The weird thing about sports is that fans like to riot, win or lose.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
But that's the way it is -- and should be -- with every possible deal. The fanbase, and the media, spin it toward the best possible outcome for the home team. Look at our main board for example, or even in BBTL where the Andre Johnson thread has turned into some sort of inevitable conclusion that the Texans will have to deal him only to the Patriots

I don't read the Johnson thread as a place where he can be dealt to only the Patriots.  People are only coming up with possible ways that a trade could be worked out and how the salary could fit under the cap.  That's a bit different from saying well he's obviously going to the Pats.  I know full well the chances of a AJ trade to the Pats are 1 in 100, but it's fun to think about.
 
The LBJ situation is much different.  Patriots fans won't be burning anything because Johnson doesn't get dealt to NE.  Cleveland fans will be legitimately devastated and depressed if LeBron doesn't come. 

 

[RedOctober3829]

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m
Cavs pressed Celtics/Nets officials to complete paperwork on 3-way trade in last hour, needed it done "immediately." Cap space is clear now.
 

 

[E5 Yaz]

The LBJ situation is much different.  Patriots fans won't be burning anything because Johnson doesn't get dealt to NE.  

 
No, but there will bandwidth trees destroyed bemoaning how the Pats made more sense and the Texans got a bad deal with Team X. The overall point is, local fans and media think in terms of their own desires first ... so of course the spinning coming out of Cleveland and environs would be in their favor

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Why would fans celebrate Lebron returning to Cleveland by going to his house? The only reason for a fan to go to a players house is to throw a brick through the window.

 

[MakMan44]

 

Adrian Wojnarowski ‏@WojYahooNBA 1m
Cavs pressed Celtics/Nets officials to complete paperwork on 3-way trade in last hour, needed it done "immediately." Cap space is clear now.
 

 

Okay, this is interesting. 
 
EDIT: Right?

 

[bowiac]

Maybe I'm underestimating Lebron's capacity for vindictive and narcissistic behavior but, after everything that happened with The Decision, its hard for me to fully wrap my mind around the idea of him leading Cleveland on, inducing them to trade their 1st rounder to us, and then dicking them over again.

This is kind of what I was getting at that LeBron's not hanging out on twitter. How did he lead them on? He didn't meet with them, he didn't say anything, etc... Basically we've had Chris Sheridan "reporting" a lot of nonsense, people trolling his website for color schemes, etc... What did LeBron do or say to lead people on, other than maintain radio silence?

 

[E5 Yaz]

Why would fans celebrate Lebron returning to Cleveland by going to his house? The only reason for a fan to go to a players house is to throw a brick through the window.

 
You're making the assumption here that Cleveland fans actually know proper celebration etiquette. 

 

[Devizier]

I'm secretly hoping that Lebron is getting set to announce that he's signing with the Charlotte Hornets.

 

[ifmanis5]

Personally, I think he's going back to Cleveland and I think he's sick of being the villain and sick of the hate.
Interesting that he hasn't met at all with the Cavs or has given any indication of any contact with them, yet the Cavs are acting like he's totally coming.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Okay, this is interesting. 
 
EDIT: Right?

Maybe it's all a smokescreen for use to use the MLE on LeBron. Make it happen Danny.

 

[DannyDarwinism]

This is kind of what I was getting at that LeBron's not hanging out on twitter. How did he lead them on? He didn't meet with them, he didn't say anything, etc... Basically we've had Chris Sheridan "reporting" a lot of nonsense, people trolling his website for color schemes, etc... What did LeBron do or say to lead people on, other than maintain radio silence?

 
Well presumably he or his agent led the Cavs to believe that they had a chance, or are you buying that they would've moved what- without Lebron- would likely be a decent pick and a young, cheap big in order to make space for Trevor Ariza?

 

[DJnVa]

Hearing a 3:30 announcement is expected. At least that's what the cops on scene (5 of them) are saying.

 

[rembrat]

Lebron instantly wins me back if he returns to Cleveland for the sole purpose of bringing them a championship and stating so in the presser. I think that's the only thing motivating a return home.