Injuries aren't a terrible think early in your career. It saves your legs. ie... Jordan, Michael. Minutes are what matters most if you came back from injuries healthy. We'll see. No matter what Wade is nothing close to an old 29.

 

That could be true. But, Jordan was never injury prone. He suffered one major injury that cost him the majority of one season. The only other seasons in which he played less than 78 games were the two times he returned from retirement.

 

Excluding the injury season and the season he came back from retirement, Jordan played in 895 of a possible 902 games in 11 seasons.

 

Conversely, Wade has never played 80 games in a season in his career. He's missed 103 games in 7 seasons. Maybe he just had some unfortunate injuries, but it's a valid concern, IMO, with his history and style of play.

 

If he can stay healthy, then I believe you're right. He has less mileage because of the time he's previously missed.

I believe that all of this free agency talk is honestly only going to hurt LeBron's legacy in the long run. Say LeBron decides to go to Miami, I think LeBron becomes one of the most hated players in NYC. I would also imagine that Cleveland fans wouldn't be thrilled either and you could possibly say the same about Chicago. I feel that because of how big ESPN (and honestly, LeBron loves it), the cities involved, and LeBron himself are making this, he is going to wind up making more enemies than he will fans.

My thinking is this:

 

LeBron pretty much plays PG and when he had to do it full time this year for a month averaged about 11 assists. Jordan didn't do that and really Pippen was the better ball handler between the two. Jordan had some big assist years though.

 

Kobe being a better ball handler and equal passer is a little extreme though I think. Kobe really doesn't bring the ball up much at all, and most of his offense comes off of mini-post ups or custs screens. Let's not even compare their career assist numbers, which LeBron wins by a landslide even though he has not played with the calliber of teammates Kobe has. Kobe's best assist year don't even match LeBron's career average so how valid is that claim?

 

I'll give it to you, LeBron soces and defends because of athleticism but he is a near Magic Johnson or Chris Paul caliber passer, which Jordan and or Kobe are or were.

Hater

I believe that all of this free agency talk is honestly only going to hurt LeBron's legacy in the long run. Say LeBron decides to go to Miami, I think LeBron becomes one of the most hated players in NYC. I would also imagine that Cleveland fans wouldn't be thrilled either and you could possibly say the same about Chicago. I feel that because of how big ESPN (and honestly, LeBron loves it), the cities involved, and LeBron himself are making this, he is going to wind up making more enemies than he will fans.

Nah. All of this will be an afterthought if he can win a few titles.

 

What is odd to think about is say that LeBron goes to Chicago or wherever and wins 4 titles over the next 7 years then retires. A LOT of people will forget he even spent the first half of his career elsewhere. It will basically be a chapter of history that never took place.

My thinking is this:

 

 

I'll give it to you, LeBron soces and defends because of athleticism but he is a near Magic Johnson or Chris Paul caliber passer, which Jordan and or Kobe are or were.

 

No one is anywhere close to the caliber passer Magic was. That's just crazy talk IMO.

 

 

It seems like you're using assists as your sole basis for determining how good of a passer a guy is. That couldn't be further from the truth, IMO.

My thinking is this:

 

LeBron pretty much plays PG and when he had to do it full time this year for a month averaged about 11 assists. Jordan didn't do that and really Pippen was the better ball handler between the two. Jordan had some big assist years though.

 

Kobe being a better ball handler and equal passer is a little extreme though I think. Kobe really doesn't bring the ball up much at all, and most of his offense comes off of mini-post ups or custs screens. Let's not even compare their career assist numbers, which LeBron wins by a landslide even though he has not played with the calliber of teammates Kobe has. Kobe's best assist year don't even match LeBron's career average so how valid is that claim?

 

I'll give it to you, LeBron soces and defends because of athleticism but he is a near Magic Johnson or Chris Paul caliber passer, which Jordan and or Kobe are or were.

I believe LeBron is one of the top PGs in the NBA. Whether that is because of strength, athleticism, or the size of head band I don't really care. But he creates havoc and is able to distribute effectively.

Nah. All of this will be an afterthought if he can win a few titles.

 

What is odd to think about is say that LeBron goes to Chicago or wherever and wins 4 titles over the next 7 years then retires. A LOT of people will forget he even spent the first half of his career elsewhere. It will basically be a chapter of history that never took place.

 

Very true on that last statement. If he can win multiple titles and then retires people will forget he even played for the Cavs.

Nah. All of this will be an afterthought if he can win a few titles.

 

What is odd to think about is say that LeBron goes to Chicago or wherever and wins 4 titles over the next 7 years then retires. A LOT of people will forget he even spent the first half of his career elsewhere. It will basically be a chapter of history that never took place.

 

You're telling me that if he goes to Chicago, that NYC fans won't completely hate him? You know how petty fans can be. I will almost gaurentee that if he doesn't go to NYC, he will probably be one of the most hated players ever in the city.

 

I just feel like all this uneeded coverage, attention, celebrity dinner parties, and everything is going to hurt his overall fanbase in my opinion. At the end of the day, at least three cities are not going to be happy about his decision and I believer firmly that in a couple, that will turn to hatred.

No one is anywhere close to the caliber passer Magic was. That's just crazy talk IMO.

 

 

It seems like you're using assists as your sole basis for determining how good of a passer a guy is. That couldn't be further from the truth, IMO.

 

It's a huge part of the equation, how could you dispute that?

No one is anywhere close to the caliber passer Magic was. That's just crazy talk IMO.

 

 

It seems like you're using assists as your sole basis for determining how good of a passer a guy is. That couldn't be further from the truth, IMO.

 

Magic did a lot of stuff for show. On those highlights he'd be in the middle of a 3-on-1 break, do a little razzle-dazzle, look one way and pass the other. It looked cool, but I think he could have made the same plays without all the show. But, they wouldn't have been the Showtime Lakers, huh?

 

He was a great passer, but I wouldn't say that he's in a league of his own in that regard. There have been some other great passers...Larry Bird, Jason Kidd, John Stockton. Perhaps Magic belongs at the top of the list, I'm not arguing that. But, the list doesn't begin and end with him.

Very true on that last statement. If he can win multiple titles and then retires people will forget he even played for the Cavs.

 

 

That'd be the same as saying that we forget Shaq played in Orlando. If he is done in Cleveland I don't think his time in Cleveland will be forgotten. Especially since the Cavs will never be relevant again if he does leave.

That'd be the same as saying that we forget Shaq played in Orlando. If he is done in Cleveland I don't think his time in Cleveland will be forgotten. Especially since the Cavs will never be relevant again if he does leave.

 

A lot of fans, not most hardcore ones, do forget that Shaq played in Orlando. He will always be remembered as a Laker and the three-peat of titles.

CCC since you made the smart comment I'll make a lunch bet with you. I'll bet you that Lebron opts out of this next deal as soon as he can to sign a new one. All of the good players do it now (ie..him, Wade, Bosh, Pierce, Amare, Dirk) The terrible players don't opt out b/c they, well they suck (ie...Ed Curry, and Tyson Chandler). He's opting out but thanks for playing. Why tie yourself to a franchise for 6 years when you can have all the power every three. Even if the top contract changes drastically he'll have more expeirence and he'll at the very least be in control after 3 years. If there's absolutelly no reason to he may not, but I'll bet you and take my chances.

CCC since you made the smart comment I'll make a lunch bet with you. I'll bet you that Lebron opts out of this next deal as soon as he can to sign a new one. All of the good players do it now (ie..him, Wade, Bosh, Pierce, Amare, Dirk) The terrible players don't opt out b/c they, well they suck (ie...Ed Curry, and Tyson Chandler). He's opting out but thanks for playing. Why tie yourself to a franchise for 6 years when you can have all the power every three. Even if the top contract changes drastically he'll have more expeirence and he'll at the very least be in control after 3 years. If there's absolutelly no reason to he may not, but I'll bet you and take my chances.

 

:laugh: He may do it, but you, I nor anyone else know if he will. For one, we don't know who he is going to sign with. Two, we don't know the structure of his contract.

 

Everyone is opting out this year to get a deal with this CBA not because it's the cool thing to do. James set up his contract last time to have options, he may do it again but to act like you know it's going to happen is ridiculous.

 

But, if he does opt out and you remember this thread 3 years from now I'll buy you lunch and treat you to a beer or two. :thumb: