Miami Heat: Pat Riley's Grease Fire

[jon abbey]

I wish there was a third option (in his mind). I want to see Riley and Wade left on their own, but I also would love to see him say on live TV that he would have come back to Cleveland if anyone but Gilbert owned the team, but instead he's going to XXX.  

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Wade is either a really great friend or squeezing one last lbj first class flight out of this

 
Seems like Wade has been spending a lot of time with LBJ this week - dinner, clubbing, showing up at his camp, now plane ride.  Maybe this was all pre-arranged but to the uniformed, it sounds like a recruiter babysitting a prospect until signing day.
 
Only in this instance, we don't know when signing day is.
 
If I were LBJ, I'd make Bosh decide first.

 

[Granite Sox]

Rumor is a porcelain doll collection as a throw in for the cavs sealed the deal for Lebron.

 
They're FIGURINES!!

 

[HomeRunBaker]

 
Seems like Wade has been spending a lot of time with LBJ this week - dinner, clubbing, showing up at his camp, now plane ride.  Maybe this was all pre-arranged but to the uniformed, it sounds like a recruiter babysitting a prospect until signing day.
 
Only in this instance, we don't know when signing day is.
 
If I were LBJ, I'd make Bosh decide first.

Let's recap their day:

Wade lands in Vegas hanging out with Bron at Skills Academy.

Bosh take a flight to Ghana with his family and is last seen in Dubai posing for pics with his wife, kids, and random ducks wearing soccer keeper gloves.
http://instagram.com/p/qSJH00ybS3/

What a strange crew that Heat team is.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

Broussard saying source tells him that if not for the Letter by gilbert, LeBron would be in Cleveland already. To me that means 1) he is trying to save face with the players in league who might think less of him for going back to work for a guy who said those things; 2) he wants Gilbert to grovel; 3) he is going to Miami and doesn't want to look like the bad guy and is already trying to deflect criticism
 
its crazy to think that if he goes back to Cleveland he could be loved and hailed as a hero and if he stays in Miami could be the most hated pro athlete in a long long time.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Broussard saying source tells him that if not for the Letter by gilbert, LeBron would be in Cleveland already. To me that means 1) he is trying to save face with the players in league who might think less of him for going back to work for a guy who said those things; 2) he wants Gilbert to grovel; 3) he is going to Miami and doesn't want to look like the bad guy and is already trying to deflect criticism
 
its crazy to think that if he goes back to Cleveland he could be loved and hailed as a hero and if he stays in Miami could be the most hated pro athlete in a long long time.

Broussard was on yesterday saying that LeBron had thick skin because he was the most criticized guy in the league and that he "100% doesn't hold grudges," so the letter wouldn't have an impac one way or another. Sounds like LeBron may be changing his mind and using Gilbert as damage control. Broussard is as close to a mouthpiece as LeBron has in the media.

 

[DJnVa]

The thing with what Broussard is now saying, is that it seems we (the public) perceive it as something "new"...like LBJ was all set to go to Cleveland and then remembered the letter, all because Broussard just came out with this info. But it's not new. It's always been baked into the cake. Just because some source is just now telling him doesn't really change the equation, it was already part of it.
 
 

Sounds like LeBron may be changing his mind and using Gilbert as damage control

 
I think LBJ is a smarter guy than Broussard. I read this more as Broussard was talking out of school and was reminded of it.

 

[Auger34]

After listening to LeBatard and that Miami crew yesterday, I really really want LeBron to go back to Cleveland. They were so arrogant and so entitled in their fandom it was shocking. Lakers fans you can somewhat understand with the tradition (I still hate it) but Miami!?!?

 

[RedOctober3829]

@JasonLloydABJ: Regarding yesterday's report on LBJ flight: Bath police were expecting him to arrive last night. Were informed in a.m. he wasn't coming home

 

[jose melendez]

Let's recap their day:

Wade lands in Vegas hanging out with Bron at Skills Academy.

Bosh take a flight to Ghana with his family and is last seen in Dubai posing for pics with his wife, kids, and random ducks wearing soccer keeper gloves.
http://instagram.com/p/qSJH00ybS3/

What a strange crew that Heat team is.

I've got to say, Chris Bosh seems like a guy I could hang out with.

 

[Yaz4Ever]

So, is LeBron joining the Celtics or can I continue to not give a shit about all of this?

 

[DJnVa]

So, is LeBron joining the Celtics or can I continue to not give a shit about all of this?

 
If only the Celtics matter you can not give a shit---but sports is entertainment to me and once the Celtics are out, I follow it for the entertainment value of the what's happening. LBJ back to Miami would swing me to whoever they are playing. LBJ to Cleveland would likely make me pull for them.
 
None of this is important--although I guess it's important enough to come in here when you don't give a shit and let everyone know.

 

[jmcc5400]

From a pure Celtics oriented perspective, you want him to stay in Miami. Enhances the value of the Cleveland pick and prevents the rise of a young potential superpower in the East. The theater is just a bonus.

 

[Carmine Hose]

Hoping a return to Miami is part of a well orchestrated The Revenge plan for LBJ against Gilbert for The Letter.
 
Although, Miami does not and would not have, and cannot get, what it takes to defeat a West team in the finals, and Wade and Bosh not getting any better.  The move to a next title is better in Cleveland with the young talent.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

With that said, I'm sick of Miami and rooting for Cleveland. The Heat have become stale. They've already won 2 titles in 4 years so the fun of rooting against them, while never completely gone, is definitely vastly reduced for me. I'd much rather see LeBron try to win a title in Cleveland with a ton of pressure on his back.

Stale about sums it up. Watching the Heat coast through regular season knowing that none of the 82 regular season games will affect them playing in the NBA Finals isn't bad theatre and poor entertainment.

 

[swingin val]

Although, Miami does not and would not have, and cannot get, what it takes to defeat a West team in the finals, and Wade and Bosh not getting any better.

I think it is pretty much a toss-up between CLE and MIA as to who would be better next year with Lebron. Either case though, that team would likely be the favorite in the east to make the finals, and at worst would be a slight underdog against the western conference champion.

 

[Buster Olney the Lonely]

I wish there was a third option (in his mind). I want to see Riley and Wade left on their own, but I also would love to see him say on live TV that he would have come back to Cleveland if anyone but Gilbert owned the team, but instead he's going to XXX.  

Interesting. Hadn't considered the whole possibility of a porn career, but I like this better. That would really stick it to Miami and Cleveland. 

 

[DannyDarwinism]

As an NBA fan, I'd love to see the prodigal-son-return-to-lift-a-downtrodden-city narrative, but on the other hand, it's looking more and more possible that Celtics just traded a soon-expiring TPE for a young 7-footer and late lottery pick.  And I like that narrative too.

 

[swingin val]

it's looking more and more possible that Celtics just traded a soon-expiring TPE for a young 7-footer and late lottery pick.  And I like that narrative too.

Isn't the pick top 15 protected?

 

[DannyDarwinism]

Isn't the pick top 15 protected?

 
Top 10, according to what I've seen.

 

[DJnVa]

While we wait for the next UPDATE!!!!!!----what if a baseball player was as dominant as LBJ: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/lets-imagine-a-baseball-playing-lebron-james/
 
 
 
 

All of the numbers you see below are approximations. This is intended simply for fun, and because this is intended simply for fun, we’re going to take two different approaches, because I can’t make up my mind over which is more accurate. Each approach will target a different single-season WAR. Obviously, the first step is figuring out James’ single-season value, and this is why we’ll have two approaches.
 
One idea: last year, James was worth about 2.3% of all basketball WAR. Because a baseball season has 1,000 total WAR, that would give us a target of about 23.
 
The other idea: James is projected for about 21 WAR. That’s over an 82-game season, so over a 162-game season, you’d be talking about almost 42 WAR. I don’t know which way to go, so I’ll go both.

 
23 WAR:

What does it take? A literal full season of being an incredible defensive shortstop. And, to go with good baserunning, the player hits about .438/.527/.820, with a .560 wOBA.

 

By this approach, the baseball equivalent of LeBron James is absolute peak Barry Bonds at the plate with, I don’t know, absolute peak Ozzie Smith in the field. And, presumably, this imaginary player is better both at the plate and in the field. And he doesn’t miss a single game. So.

 
42 WAR:

Based on our construction, we have a hybrid shortstop/starting pitcher. When playing the field, the guy hits better than Barry Bonds and fields better than Ozzie Smith. When pitching, the guy still hits better than Barry Bonds, and he doesn’t really ever get removed, and he allows an average of basically one run per nine innings. Craig Kimbrel has allowed an average of 1.64 runs per nine innings. This guy would be a lot better than Kimbrel, and he’d throw nine innings a game instead of one.
 

 

[Devizier]

I'm hoping Gilbert learned his lesson and will use Arial 12 in The Apology.

 

[teddykgb]

I'm hoping Gilbert learned his lesson and will use Arial 12 in The Apology.

 
He should go the other way and leverage wingdings

 

[Silent Chief]

 
He should go the other way and leverage wingdings

 
Gold.  :bravo:

 

[ElUno20]

I doubt the letter is a real issue. Seems like it's something riley pushed out there or the new storyline of the day for espn

 

[bosockboy]

Every minute that goes by hurts Cleveland.  It's very unlikely that LeBron would ruin Bosh's chance at the Houston deal (with Parsons being on the 72 hour clock).

 

[Grin&MartyBarret]

Every minute that goes by hurts Cleveland.  It's very unlikely that LeBron would ruin Bosh's chance at the Houston deal (with Parsons being on the 72 hour clock).

 
My favorite theory right now--which I made up myself--is that LeBron is ice cold and is still planning on Cleveland but is going to screw Houston and Bosh in the process in order to put one less great team between him and a title.

 

[Carmine Hose]

I think it is pretty much a toss-up between CLE and MIA as to who would be better next year with Lebron. Either case though, that team would likely be the favorite in the east to make the finals, and at worst would be a slight underdog against the western conference champion.

 
Agreed .... for next season.  But what about the next 5?  Miami is on a downward plane, while Cleveland is rising, with LeBron.  I mean he went to the finals and conference finals with dogshit when he was with Cleveland in the past.  Now they have some young elite level talent.
 
If he goes back to Miami, he is giving himself as many opt out options as possible, and he'll probably wait until Houston hs to match the Parsons offer, forcing Bosh back with him.

 

[someoneanywhere]

I doubt the letter is a real issue. Seems like it's something riley pushed out there or the new storyline of the day for espn

Riles better not have put that out there. Certainly The Letter was raw and much more personal -- but its central message -- that it's cowardly to abandon ship, that you don't desert when the chips are down, that you make the hard decision and don't take the easy way, that you don't quit on loyalty to your brothers -- is exactly, precisely what Riley said in his own presser.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Dan Wetzel ‏@DanWetzel 18s
LeBron sources: Gilbert letter a non issue. Pull of "saving" Cleveland considerable. If just about hoops, stays in Miami w short term deal
 

 

[HomeRunBaker]

 
My favorite theory right now--which I made up myself--is that LeBron is ice cold and is still planning on Cleveland but is going to screw Houston and Bosh in the process in order to put one less great team between him and a title.

This is a great call. It would screw Houston for sure which is great motivation as they could be seen as a potential roadblock down the road......but Bosh is going to get paid regardless.

I hate to sound like Gerald Wallace but I'm convinced that MJ and Kobe wait until the 73rd hour if they were to return to Cleveland. They are stone cold killers.....it will be interesting how this plays out for sure.

 

[DJnVa]

 

Dan Wetzel ‏@DanWetzel 18s
LeBron sources: Gilbert letter a non issue. Pull of "saving" Cleveland considerable. If just about hoops, stays in Miami w short term deal
 

 

 
That doesn't make sense. Cleveland should be better than Miami, especially if they get Love too.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 
That doesn't make sense. Cleveland should be better than Miami, especially if they get Love too.

Miami w/James, Wade, Bosh, and the new guys would be better next year.  Cleveland going forward with James, Love, Irving, Thompson, Varajeo, Wiggins would be real good down the road.  I can see why it's a hard decision.

 

[jon abbey]

If it was just about hoops, he would go to the Clippers or Phoenix or Portland or any number of other teams over either of these two. 

 

[Marbleheader]

Not really. Staying in the East pretty much guarantees an annual trip to the finals.

 

[CSteinhardt]

James swings the entire balance of power in the EC. Even if they don't get Love, I like that team better than any other team in the EC with the possible exception of Chicago if Melo goes there and if Rose is healthy (a big IF) at this point.

 
So then just go to Chicago...

 

[ElUno20]

And didnt he just get his ass kicked? Why are people ignoring the spurs model. Have a big 3 stay together for a long ass time and supplement them with good role players. They've proven experience and chemistry trump talent. Duncan has 5 friggin titles

 

[bbc23]

http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers
Boo, was hoping he'd stay with crappy Wade

 

[SoxFanInPdx]

If it was just about hoops, he would go to the Clippers or Phoenix or Portland or any number of other teams over either of these two. 

 
Wish the Blazers were a possibility. Would be interesting with Nike headquarters being here, what they'd do if he came here.

 

[Clears Cleaver]

"im coming home"

 

[BigA27]

ESPN saying he is going to Cleveland. Just breaking.

 

[Carmine Hose]

So the Celts are getting the Cavs 2016 pick for sure

 

[bbc23]

The one positive is that Miami has to carry around Wade's corpse for 4-5 years to "save face", it's really unfortunate Cleveland has their 1st though.  

 

[Carmine Hose]

When you think about it, he had to do the return now.  Waiting until he was on the downside is less of a savior effect and more a Jeter-esque retirement tour.
 
Bosh to Houston, Parsons to Dallas, Melo stays in NY, and if Wade had any balls, he'd go home to Chicago.
 
Josh McRoberts nut punch for sure.

 

[Devizier]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r54m_mEXdSg&feature=kp

 

[bbc23]

When you think about it, he had to do the return now.  Waiting until he was on the downside is less of a savior effect and more a Jeter-esque retirement tour.
 
Bosh to Houston, Parsons to Dallas, Melo stays in NY, and if Wade had any balls, he'd go home to Chicago.
 
Josh McRoberts nut punch for sure.

Houston can match on Parsons after signing Bosh, which I assume will be done by tomorrow. 

 

[Future Sox Doc]

Great letter.
 
http://www.si.com/nba/2014/07/11/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers
 
That's the way you announce something.  Very well done.  

 

[Devizier]

Houston can match on Parsons after signing Bosh, which I assume will be done by tomorrow. 

 
Can they? I thought Asik's status has gone back up in the air due to the lower cap. But there's so much bullshit flying around these days, it's hard to know.

 

[Silent Chief]

Good for Cleveland.  Great theater.   The NBA is just fun right now. 

 

[Cellar-Door]

Dwyane Wade is probably pretty pissed right now.
Lebron better get him in a commercial or something.