While We’re Waiting…LeBron Reaction Outside of NE Ohio
July 10, 2010Cavaliers Should Finally Focus on Future, Not on Winning Next Season
July 10, 2010“I’m not up here just blowing smoke at these fans, because that’s not what I’m about.”
With the wounds from Thursday night’s “Decision” still open, scenes from an extravagant and unseemly premature celebration in Miami on Friday night poured an entire box of salt right into them. If the spectacle in Greenwich had not angered everyone in the country outside of So. Florida, the spectacle in Miami seemed to convert the few remaining holdouts who had not yet been irked by the behavior and words coming from the stars of the new superteam. Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch, a removed and even-handed analyst of sports media, tweeted “Not trying to be alarmist or hyperbolic: I honestly believe the Miami Heat are now the most hated team in all of professional sports.” As with Thursday evening, LeBron James’s words seemed to be the troublesome sparks for this inferno of anger and disillusionment borne from the great summer of NBA free agency. Brand and image in tatters, LeBron, impetus for the new nickname “Three Mi-egos,” lit those tatters on fire and finalized his heel turn to supervillain.
On ESPN’S Outside the Lines, a Miami radio host admitted that the city is as fair-weathered as they come but that it is an “events” town – where the ability to stage and generate buzz is unmatched. It was apparent last night in a celebration fit for a championship. Of course, the only hardware newcomers Bosh and James received were keys to the city and the county.
This was after they were raised slowly through the floor and up on stage amidst fog and flashing lights – just like your average night at your favorite West 6th discotheque. Bosh let out a primal scream and LeBron smiled and nodded his head to the music. He would later say that it just felt right to have his Heat uniform on and they were “going to make the world know the Heat is back.” Wade called it arguably the greatest basketball trio ever assembled. A flurry of angry reaction and mocking tweets erupted each time they opened their mouths. The general tone displayed unawareness and a hubris that this was going to be easy street from here on out – an elaborate interpretation of that fantasy football commercial where the couch potato presumptuously exclaims “championship!”
After the stage celebration, the 3 Mi-egos retired to their dressing room to change for a press conference and signing ceremony. In the delay between the events, the Cavs and Heat worked to finalize a sign-and-trade of LeBron James. The Cavs acquired two first round picks, beginning no earlier than 2013 and continuing through 2017. They also received two second round picks, one in 2012 and one for a TBD future draft. They also have the right to swap first round picks with the Heat in 2012.
The Cavaliers also received a potential $16 million trade exception which expires in a year. This means that they will not immediately renounce the rights to their free agents to get themselves under the cap. The trade exception is essentially transferable cap space. David Aldridge surmised that this puts the Cavs in the “Al Jefferson Sweepstakes.” Whether or not it’s Jefferson, the Cavs plan to use it along with Delonte West’s palatable contract to add a significant piece. The trade benefitted James by allowing him to sign for a full 6 years, although not a full max deal but $110.1 million. He, along with Bosh and Wade, were given early termination options which take effect after 4 years in 2014.
There will be analysis on the merits of the trade for the Cavaliers in the coming days. There were mixed feelings amongst us here with some wishing the Cavs had simply let James walk and taken the cap space with an eye towards a more protracted rebuilding effort. The trade signals that they will aggressively try to maintain their winning ways by immediately adding a piece which could, in fact, lead to an overall middling existence. The trade does bolster our asset collection and emphasizes Dan Gilbert’s pledge to keep his foot on the gas and avoid any sort of full rebuild.
That was one of the clear points of his caustic letter Thursday night. The other was to fire away at his former superstar. LeBron addressed the letter in an interview with Rachel Nichols and characterized Dan Gilbert and his partners as “having to look in the mirror as it may cost him in the long run.” LeBron issued a decree himself in the self-congratulating celebration of these 3 coming together – in an unoriginal nod to the famous scene of MJ counting up on his fingers with trophy in hand, LeBron slowly counted up the future likely championships that the Heat would attain and stopped at 7. A decree that, in light of the past 2 days, did not seem to jive with his 2006 pledge of “I don’t want to go ring-chasing. I want to stay with the Cavs and build a champion.” That’s now a pledge that probably requires that he “look at himself in the mirror” as it cost him, his image, and his legacy in the long run.
28 Comments
Beautiful work Brendan. This whole article is so spot on.
It made me sick last night. Looked like something out of pro wrestling. Where was Ric Flair?
Also, just a thought, but this is a huge opportunity for Kobe Bryant. He’s often been the bad guy. But now, he has a chance to be America’s champion–our “Hulk Hogan” if you will–who is our only hope to destroy the three-headed monster. Think about it, Kobe. Your brand may be the biggest winner in all of this.
Great post.
I’m in favor of keeping the foot on the gas. This team is pretty deep. If you add one significant piece it will easily be a playoff team.
Hey heat fans.
When Lebron promises championships, just remember you heard that before from him.
Agreed CleFan – Kobe suddenly looks like someone who is obsessed with the right things, even if he’s still a bit of a tool…
One of the Spanish papers down there called them “Los Tres Fantasticos.” I like the Three I’m Egos or maybe the Three “I’m Me” Egos. What, are they going to play 3-on-5 this season?
I hope the preening vulgarity continues unabated. They just continue to make fools of themselves.
Finally, it’s now clear that we cannot believe a single word that His Quitness says. Ever.
LeBron can promise away now because he doesn’t have the pressure of carrying the load. It would be like Jason Statham bragging about Oscars his movie was going to win after signing on to be in a World War II epic starring Tom Hanks, directed by Spielberg.
I don’t see this “super” team working for long. Sure things look good now, because it’s new and exciting, but these 3 have always been the 1.
It will fall apart around the time those early termination options are able to be exercised.
Al Jefferson this year, Paul in ’12 AND LEBRON IN 2014!!! ZOMG – CLEVELAND IS THE BEST!
It will be really interesting to see how LBJ holds up to getting booed at a lot of arenas. Cleveland, NY, New Jersey, Chicago for sure. Orlando already hates him. This preening won’t make Boston fans very happy.
He’ll probably end up loving those western conference road trips as those folks don’t care because they still have better teams.
I can’t decide if Bosh looks like more of a joke with his new haircut or before.
@7 Denny–Can you use your prodigious photoshop skills and conjure up a LeBron “Quitness” pic ala the 6th Street building monstrosity?
2 first round pics that are likely to be late, and aren’t vested for at least 3 years. ZZZZ?
Oh, and how great would it be if there is a holdout next year, and the owners install a hard-cap that basically prevents them from ever adding another piece?
@swig- Maybe they are banking on the Heat to implode and firesale everyone by the time the picks come rollin around they could be lottert picks!…
.. o you say thats another crazy thought only dreamed of in cleveland… o ok.. never mind.
Sign and trade is a good thing for multiple reasons. 1) Gives all of us Cavs fan more of a reason to hope this ridiculous ego trip in Miami doesnt work (better picks for us) 2) makes LBJ’s contract longer and more expensive, which will screw the Heat more if it doesn’t work 3) gives us more assets to trade in future years (don’t forget we got Jamison for the last pick in this years draft) and 4) is Gilbert’s first pseudo apology for going a little too far in his criticism (quitting). WFNY guys commented in other articles that Gilbert should back off a bit and eventually apologize for that part of his statement. This was the first step towards that result.
Bill Simmons has been saying for a while now that the two big winners in this whole ordeal are Bryant and Durant. Couldn’t agree more. Durant signed an extension with his team and didn’t hold them hostage under the guise of “making them build for a championship”. Kobe, for all his faults, never acted like this and looks more and more like a quality guy compared to these three. Also, is anyone else now a Magic fan after reading their GM’s comments on this?
I like what Magic GM Otis Smith said about all this, but I will always hate Stan Van Gundy and Dwight Howard, so I could never be a fan of them. I’d root for them to beat Miami, but I’d root for and of the other 28 teams to beat Miami too.
@10
repost of mine from other article:
you can forget Chris Paul ever coming to the Cavs after leaving Octagon and signing with LRMR the other day.
i really dont see James or Maverick letting one of their talents sign with the Cavs after Gilbert’s little temper tantrum.
Gilberts letter was a good gesture but completely aimed wrong. he may have done more long term damage in acquiring free agent talent that he realizes.
it is great to see passion from an owner, but nobody likes a loud mouthed jerk. (even if it was EXACTLY how we all felt that night.)
oh and i am not calling Gilbert a “loud mouthed jerk”; just that his actions may seem like that to other talent in the NBA.
Wait a minute…so are you telling me Denny didn’t photoshop this image?
@13
http://twitpic.com/243rem/full
@18 – I commented to a friend the other day that “this may make the Magic the second most-hated team in Florida, but that’s like saying a Steelers Superbowl is the second worst thing after a Ravens Super Bowl.”
The draft picks aren’t all that great being so spread out but at least the Cavaliers got’em. The exception is the biggest benefit it’s just a shame they have to use it within a year otherwise I’d have thoughts of Carmello. That’d be tough as I’m sure his buddy LeBron will probably advise against the idea.
I like Al Jefferson but his injury history concerns me. CP3 is my guy.
I still love everything Gilbert wrote minus the guarantee. It is weird but all of america has adopted the cavs as their second favorite team. People want to see us rebuild and take down the queen.
Well I’m sure Boston, Orlando, and the Lakers will be looking to take down the three stooges for sure now. What I find incredible is no one is pointing out their flaws. Wade is great but is not a good perimeter shooter. Bosh is soft and plays no D at all. And we all know LeFraud doesn’t deliver when it really matters- see 2010 Boston series. He also loves to throw up 3s and miss too. Ball hog, lousy teammate, huge ego, etc. But it is ESPN so we all should expect it. Btw who throws more softball questions Jim Gray, Larry King, or Rachel Nichols?
@22 – I disagree. I have hated the Magic, but they are the least of the evils going into next year.
Heat – uh, no.
Lakers – ditto.
Celtics – no way.
Bulls – MJ history AND they signed Boozer? no.
West’s other best were Suns and Jazz who lost Amare and Boozer. Maybe Nuggets revive with Karl back behind the bench or the Mavs actually do well in the postseason, but can’t count on that.
That leaves the Magic and the Hawks. I doubt the Hawks are good enough and the Magic HC and GM are mocking the Heat, which helps put me in their corner.
What made the Heat choose John McCain’s choreographer?
That last paragraph hit the nail on the head. Nice job.