http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AkfNpNITqUSh5Dp9zGDAqNy8vLYF?slug=mc-lebronreaction070910 LAS VEGAS – Don Nelson stared at the flat-screen television. The Golden State Warriors coach had come to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a charity event to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The night was also being used to honor Denver Nuggets coach George Karl, but given Nelson’s interest in the TV, there was no denying who was the man of the moment. Even some 2,300 miles away from Greenwich, Conn., all eyes were on LeBron James(notes). Once James announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers to join Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) with the Miami Heat, the NBA coaches and executives filling the Hard Rock ballroom turned their attention back to the true reason for their presence. But they also had some pointed opinions about whether James’ departure for South Beach would be good for the league. Karl, who is recovering from his second battle with cancer, found a chair to sit in and tried to make sense of it all. “I’m suspicious,” Karl said. “I’m suspicious about the whole system. I think it buried [Cleveland]. It’s going to bury them for a while with the combination of your best player ever [leaving] and then keeping him in the same conference where you got to play him four times.” Said Nelson: “I thought, ‘Poor Cleveland.’ I’m not shocked. Things are changing. Times are changing.” Karl knows Cleveland well having coached the Cavaliers for two seasons from 1984-86. His son, Nuggets guard Coby Karl(notes), also is a former Cav who played with James. George Karl hoped James would give the Cavs one last shot to try to win the franchise its first championship, but it was for naught. “I was hoping for LeBron to go back to Cleveland for three more years and then after 10 years say, ‘Guys, I got to go win my championship.’ That’s what I was kind of hoping he would do,” Karl said. “Give them another two more years, three more years and then he’d have another seven years some place else.” James’ teammates undoubtedly would have preferred that scenario. Cavs guard Mo Williams(notes), who was acquired two seasons ago from Milwaukee to help deliver a championship, said on his Twitter account that hearing James’ decision made him feel “like my heart has been pulled out.” Williams said James should have spared Cleveland the heartache by not going on national TV to announce the decision. “I know u made your decision for the rt reason but we could have got it done here and u would have enjoyed it in cle a whole lot more,” Williams tweeted in a message meant for James. Williams said the Cavs have “taken leaps and bounds backwards.” “Let’s pray he have a change of heart 2nite,” Williams tweeted. “It is the night of the unexpected.” Then, in a moment of clarity, “Who am I kidding?” James now rivals Art Modell, who moved the former Cleveland Browns to Baltimore in 1995, as the most vilified sports figure in Cleveland’s history. Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who grew up in Cleveland, still rates Modell No. 1. “I think moving the franchise is a bigger crime,” Morey said. “To me, it’s hypocrisy if teams put some sort of value judgments on where players choose to go, but at the same time were negotiating hard for their contracts to go the other way.” While the Heat now have three All-Stars and shooter Mike Miller(notes) also figures to join them, Nelson said the test will come when Miami tries to add some big men. “They got to get some size,” Nelson said. “I think people expect too much because they have three great players, but you still need size in this league. They’d have to accumulate that, but they’ll be a fun team to watch.” Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry was just happy James, Wade and Bosh remained in the East. He thinks the Heat should be considered favorites to advance to the NBA Finals – with one caveat. “Chemistry,” Gentry said, “can be a strange thing.”
Morey is as low-key and diplomatic as always. And I'm always surprised when I hear Don Nelson mention size when his teams were always the antithesis of that very thing.
heh, couldn't agree more. While the other coaches basically gave their opinion from their heart, Morey looked at it logically and pointed out the hypocrisy of Daniel Gilbert, the Cavs owner.
Geez, it's not like this is the first time this has ever happened. Was there this kind of outrage when Shaq went to the Lakers? He was even more dominant than Lebron is now, and that's saying something. I think it's far more egregious when a bad trade happens, since those are theoretically self-regulated by the involved parties. I mean, Lebron leaving under his own decision is one thing. Gasol being gift-wrapped to the Fakers is much, much worse.
No, but it's the first time it's happened in this age of media over-saturation. The internet, twitter, all that, has changed how things work permanently.
The biggest complaint is how he did it. No player has ever announced their decision in that fashion. If he did it the normal way then I would say Cavs fans should just suck it up and be thankful that he tried for 7 years. The burning of his jersey is stupid though. Congrats for putting money in his pocket and then burning your jersey that you spent money for.
I was ROFL when I read that Nelson quote. He and D'Antoni should never talk about needing size. Shaq went from a city that only drafted him to the entertainment capital of the world. Also, as there was no "max" salary at that point, the Lakers also outbid the Orlando Magic, who wouldn't give him at that time the biggest contract in the NBA.
He's a free agent that left his team when his contract was up. If the city can't survive without him, then that shows that they have bigger issues to worry about. You're allowed to choose where you work in this country.
So the rich keep getting richer by giving free agents an excuse to join "the entertainment capital of the world" without fear of public backlash? And Lebron is public enemy #1 because he happens to be from a city with historically crummy sports teams? Shouldn't Wade, Lebron, & Bosh be praised for taking a pay cut when every other superstar demands ridiculous money? Or is it bad because they are forming a superteam?
Aren't you going off tangent here? I never said I think Lebron is a villain or anything. I just said they're totally different situations. Players who go to bigger city for more money happen all the time. Shaq was simply one of many to do so. What Lebron did was unprecedented. I really could care less about the superteam unless they play the Rockets in the finals. Although from an NBA standpoint, collusion is always frowned upon. So I'm not so sure the league's happy.
Well, as I understand it, the issue here is that coaches are "sympathizing" with Cleveland because this was such kick in the face, but really Lebron didn't do anything that venemous (aside from the stupid publicity project). He was a free agent and he moved on. It happens. It was a big deal because he's the best player in the league and (I guess) he's from Ohio. I don't think the salary thing is a big part of this. It'd be the same situation, maybe worse, if he demanded a trade, like Kareem did and Kobe (sorta) did a few years back. When Lebron, Wade, & co rattle off a ridiculous number of titles, this will all be dust in the wind. And make no mistake about it, the NBA LOVES this; in fact, I'm sure that's why they raised the salary cap this year to make it all possible. The prospect of a Heat-Lakers superteam Finals has Stern salivating, trying to salvage this corrupt, dying league.
Did they buy the jersey after his decision? It seems to make sense that they bought it while they were fans, so why would they bother to wear it now? Burning makes "sense" as an "act of defiance" or whatever less grandiose term I can't think of at the moment.
What are you, nuts? NBA had the possibility of having Lebron to Knicks, Wade to the Bulls, and Bosh to the Rockets, effectively cornering LA/Boston/NY/Chicago/Houston + China. Stern would have to be senile to prefer the current situation over the above.
Agreed, since the 90's the NBA has been selling players to its audience... not "super teams" and each of the three will take a hit on their "star" value by being on the same team. When Ray Allen and KG left their teams to come to Boston it made them an amazing team but made each one of them a little less "spectacular".
