Sam Amick: Melo and Lebron interested in joining forces

I must say, I think I'd just laugh if this did happen.

 

If max players start taking less than other free agents might get low balled (parsons, Stephenson). If this drops down salaries of all players it will create a more stingy front office for all the teams. This won't just impact the heat but the whole nba

 

How many superstars do you need? LeBron, tell us about that:

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Of course ESPN, Heat "fans", & LeBron fanbois thinks this is great idea! What's the big deal?!

 

Matter of time before Kevin Durant joins lol

 

If the Bulls of 1996 had featured John Stockton, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Karl Malone there wouldn't have been a lot of competition and fans would have grown sick of it.

The thing about the Jordan Bulls that makes them respectable and likeable despite their dominance, is that it was based largely on the greatness of Jordan.

The Big 3 already makes people sick. If they become the big 4 by adding another HOF to the squad I think a lot of people will tune out.

 

Yeah, fans of other teams would tune out.
The NBA doesn't care about diehard fans of other teams.

We're talking about casual fans who will bandwagon the hell out of Miami, that's who Silver and the NBA care about.
There will also be a massive influx of bandwagon haters. Bandwagon haters, lovers. Who cares? To the NBA that is just more people watching the NBA and the Heat to succeed or fail.

 

The Lakers lost because they had absolutely no depth behind Karl Malone. Horace Grant was hurt as well. They had to start Brian Cook because of their lack of depth. Yes...when you don't win the championship, it's a failed season.

Just like last years Lakers team that needed to start a combination of Chris Duhon, Andrew Goudelock, and Darius Morris at Point Guard because they insisted on adding a finished Steve Nash and an overrated Dwight Howard.

 

Not sure why Carmelo would want to play with Harden who is only happy when they run an ISO for him. Not enough shots to go around for those two to be on the same team. Plus, Dwight will start demanding the ball more next year even though he has no post moves.

 

I don't agree with this premise, but that's not actually the argument that was made.

Saying a big four is a "failure" and the Heat should learn that less from the Lakers because they lost in the finals with an injured roster is just plain dumb.

Any formula that can get your team to the NBA Finals is a successful one.

 

The whole 03 draft on one team.

 

They need to get Darko to have the 03 starting lineup.

Wade-LeBron-Melo-Bosh-Darko.

 

I don't know what to say, other than agreeing to disagree, if you think FOUR MEGA-STARS taking 50%+ paycuts in their prime is even remotely comparable to the Shaq/KG/Big 3 scenarios that you described. Each of those three scenarios essentially amounted to a slight pushing of the envelope. This would be a complete destruction of the entire model, and if you don't think that disapproval from everyone involved around the league would have some impact, I don't know what to say. FWIW, in the Shaq/KG scenarios, many players applauded them for landing those contracts, because it pushed forward the earning potential for stars in the years ahead. Seeing as how this would contract the earning potential, I don't think that's a good parallel at all.

As far as your endorsement math, that's yet another factor working against it. As you said, players will do what's best for themselves. There's NO WAY the $75 million each would leave on the table could be recouped by additional endorsements. It's not the best thing for those players, and the opinions of those around the league will undoubtedly play a role in them realizing that.

The bottom line here is that you're going to have attempted manipulation by Pat Riley on one side, and almost all common sense and logic on the other. The "impact on the marketplace" will give an incentive for people around the league to speak out, in turn likely steering each of the Big 4 toward a more logical position.

 

I would ask you defend this with evidence or statistics, but I know you can't.

 

The endorsement thing which I've seen some people spout is utterly stupid. When's the last time you saw Wade in a commercial? Or Bosh? Did they "recoup their sacrifice" with their first contracts with the additional endorsements? It's not like Nike or whatever has been ignoring Melo this whole time and is now going to throw a huge wad of cash because he joined a superteam. Melo's a superstar, he's going to get paid as long as he is one, which people will sincerely doubt as they've done with Bosh and Wade, not as the second option to LeBron.

 

I was only thinking a big 3 with Melo replacing Wade.

If Melo heads to Miami to for a big 4, the league should make a new O'Brien trophy made of tin with large, jagged holes in it. And they can only get paper championship rings because really it's all worthless except to the casual fan.

 

The only way Melo makes it to Miami is with Lebron and Bosh re-signing long-term and DWade taking a minimum salary deal for one season.

 

MJ should have teamed up with Bird/Magic earlier and Dream/Malone later to dominate the history of basketball... Also Lebron is joining forces with superstars still in their prime age wise.

 

Hmm, so why didn't they go 72-10 before they added one of the greatest rebounders and defenders in league history? Going 72-10 is competitive?

Which would you prefer, based on how the Miami players in mention are currently playing?

Jordan/Pippen/Rodman

LeBron/Wade/Bosh/Melo

Give me #1. Definitely give me #1 if I get the rest of the roster that has legit 7 footers, Kukoc, other shooters and defenders.

And your example is bad because it features 3 of the best players at their position and arguably a 4th (Stockton). Is Bosh the best PF? Top 5? Is Melo the best SF? Is he even the 2nd best? Is the current version of Wade, that can't play a full season, the best SG? 2nd best? Which of those players are as good as Pippen, Stockton or Malone were in 96? Which of those players will be considered greater than Pippen, Malone and Stockton when they retire? Only Wade, who is clearly not at that level anymore.

If y'all are going to keep using this argument can you at least give a relevant comparison, like if Jordan played with Richmond, Howard and Grant Hill. Hmm, kinda different huh?

 

the big 4 would be like the NWO back in the day...lebron = hollywood hogan, bosh = kevin nash, wade = scott hall, melo = macho man