The VAST majority do, unless its a money issue. Melo - At the time Stoudemire wasn't broken and NY had cap space, which they used to add Tyson Chandler. That "looked like" a formidable team. LeBron/Bosh - Self evident DWill - Nets had just traded for Joe Johnson and they had Brook Lopez. They were also desperately trying to trade for Dwight. CP3 - Doc Rivers + Blake Griffen. Winning isn't the only factor, but it is significant, and only takes a backseat to money. If the money is there, then most players go where they think they have a chance to win. In 2015, there shouldn't be a question of who is more likely to win between Houston and LA.....not even close.
Melo was traded because he wanted to play for a bigger market (=$$). He signed an extension because he got his wishes to play for said bigger market. The Knicks GUTTED their team for him. If he was smart he would have kept, quiet, played out the last year in Denver, and make the Knicks' brass work on getting him signed as a free agent while keeping Gallo and Wilson Chandler. Williams was traded because he wanted to play for a bigger market (=$$) and because he wore out his welcome in Utah. The only player of note they had when Williams got there was Brook Lopez. Saying that Deron Williams left Utah to go to Jersey/Brooklyn because he wanted to win is ridiculous. Paul was traded to LA because (among basketball reasons) New Orleans knew he wasn't going to stay. Sure Paul wants to win but it wasn't like that was his de facto destination. Not everyone chases the big bucks and some sign and play for teams because they want to win, I'll give you that, but your examples (aside from LeBron/Bosh) don't really back your point up.
In each case, the teams those players were going to were better positioned to compete than the teams they were on. I guess it's po-ta-to/po-tat-o. I don't think there's much chance those players end up where they are if the don't think they can win there (and by win, I mean make a run in the playoffs). The rest of the stuff is mostly media garbage, with some sprinkle of truth.
Like I said before, I'll agree with you that there have been instances where a player will choose a chance at a ring over money but the examples are far and few in between. Carmelo had a perennial playoff team in the West and he fully knew that forcing Denver's hand to trade him to New York meant the Knicks team he was going to had little talent to build around him. I just think the allure of the Lakers organization/history plus the fact that Love's from Cali will be the reasons why he'll go to the Lakers, regardless of how well built (or not) that team would be when he arrives. Is it logical? Nope but since when did NBA players base all of their decisions on pure logic?
Just to add, I don't think it's lost on players/agents that winning leads to money. Money starts and ends with winning.
That's not what I'm saying. Players have shown that they will almost always take the money first and foremost. That is never in question. And by money, I mean their player contracts. Their endorsement income is driven mostly by winning...not location. Someone did an analysis on how star players endorsement deals changed when they switched teams. It wasn't significant. If the Rockets can convince Love that he can get his money and win (thus leading to more money) in Houston, then I'm 95% sure their argument will win out over the "LA lifestyle" pitch.
It's not just a lifestyle pitch though. When Love goes there Kobe will only have one more year left on his deal and if they have enough space to sign Love it means they didn't go out and sign someone like Melo so the team will have tons of cap space in the summer of 2016 to go after Durant or whoever else they want. I think Love likely stays if the Rockets get him and they are winning but never underestimate how much LA people love that town.
why would one think Love would want this after 6 seasons of losing, perhaps if he wanted to win he could help his team now (or in any of his past 5 seasons) instead of being a stat padder and fantasy darling...... to date he has shown nothing to show he plays the game to win (talked alot about it, but not done anything) so really a move to a dying Kobe, cap suffocated Lakers, cause he likes the city would be his perfect move
Love isn't from Cali, he's from Oregon fyi. No doubt he's drawn to the Lakers, but there's also some reluctance related to Jimmy Buss.
You have to think that Love might have been slightly surprised that the Lakers would be keeping Kobe around. Why would Love want to step into that mess?
