Although winning a championship prior, Lew Alicindor (aka Kareem Abdul Jabar) requested to go to the LA Lakers in search of greener pastures and more championships.

 

Wilt Chamberlain did basically the same thing. This was a time in which free agency was not as prevalent but guys often opted to get traded to where they felt would give them the best shot at championship glory.

 

Clyde Drexler got his request honored to be traded to the Rockets to be a part of a contender. And to win a CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

Dennis Rodman wanted to win another ring and found his way onto a Bulls roster.

 

Shaq had a promising Magic team that had went to the Finals, but opted to leave for LA in hopes of getting a ring.

 

KG and Ray Allen teaming up with Pierce and the Celtics, both on ring quests.

 

 

 

 

Many guys have done what Lebron is thinking about doing and perhaps will do tonight at 9. It doesn't make him evil, it just shows he wants to win. Winning is the ultimate goal, and I am very proud that superstars still value winning and not the almighty dollar in todays sports world. So many fans are super hypocritical saying that guys are all about the money, then when they try and put themselves in the best situation to win rings they are all of a sudden sell outs......Welcome to America

 

None of those are quite the same thing. Who did LA have when Kareem went there? Chamberlain, Rodman, KG and Ray Allen were all much older than LeBron. Shaq left for LA but what stars did they have there when he went? Drexler got traded, maybe he requested it though. Still let's not compare Rodman, Ray Allen, or even Drexler to LeBron.

 

How is it not a sell-out for the supposed best player in the NBA to go and play on someone else's team? Especially when that player has proven he can win a championship. Could you imagine Larry Bird leaving to play with Magic?

I know it was brought up earlier but to quote Bill Simmons:

 

I think it's a cop-out. Any super-competitive person would rather beat Dwyane Wade than play with him. Don't you want to find the Ali to your Frazier and have that rival pull the greatness out of you? That's why I'm holding out hope that LeBron signs with New York or Chicago (or stays in Cleveland), because he'd be saying, "Fine. Kobe, Dwight and Melo all have their teams. Wade and Bosh have their team. The Celtics are still there. Durant's team is coming. I'm gonna go out and build MY team, and I'm kicking all their BUTTS." That's what Jordan would have done. Hell, that's what Kobe would have done.

Total cop-out. The move of someone who, deep down, doesn't totally trust his own talents any more. And maybe he doesn't.

Just know that Kobe would have caught a whiff of those rings and gone to Chicago. Same with Jordan. Same with Magic and Bird. Chicago had the biggest competitive advantage of anyone: room for two max guys along with an under-23 franchise point guard and one of the only elite defending/rebounding big men in basketball. How can you care about winning and NOT go to Chicago?

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100708

I'm with Jim Leyland lol.

 

I bet Spike Lee makes a "Spike Lee Joint" about this.

^ Thing is that Lebron has tried building "his team" and has failed more than once. He can't do it by his self.

CCC, thanks bub. Here's what you're missing. LBJ has never looked to be the competitor that MJ or Kobe are. Jordan wanted to win titles more than anything. Kobe wanted to be better than MJ more than anythiing. The reason I love Kobe is he is so determined to be the all time best and he thinks the way to do that is get to 7 titles or more and chase the all time scoring title. LBJ wants to be a celebrity that wins titles more than anything as of now. I love LBJ b/c he is the most talented player I've ever seen. He doesn't have to be the ultra competitive player that Kobe is.

 

Also people are pounding him and he hasn't made a decision yet.

CCC, thanks bub. Here's what you're missing. LBJ has never looked to be the competitor that MJ or Kobe are. Jordan wanted to win titles more than anything. Kobe wanted to be better than MJ more than anythiing. The reason I love Kobe is he is so determined to be the all time best and he thinks the way to do that is get to 7 titles or more and chase the all time scoring title. LBJ wants to be a celebrity that wins titles more than anything as of now. I love LBJ b/c he is the most talented player I've ever seen. He doesn't have to be the ultra competitive player that Kobe is.

 

 

 

Also people are pounding him and he hasn't made a decision yet.

 

 

I have a hard time believing a guy who nicknamed himself "King James" doesn't want to go down as the best ever. If he is never the ultra competitive player that Kobe is, he'll never be better than Kobe. Never. However, he'll be off to a good start playing Kobe to Wade's Shaq.

None of those are quite the same thing. Who did LA have when Kareem went there? Chamberlain, Rodman, KG and Ray Allen were all much older than LeBron. Shaq left for LA but what stars did they have there when he went? Drexler got traded, maybe he requested it though. Still let's not compare Rodman, Ray Allen, or even Drexler to LeBron.

 

How is it not a sell-out for the supposed best player in the NBA to go and play on someone else's team? Especially when that player has proven he can win a championship. Could you imagine Larry Bird leaving to play with Magic?

 

I see what you are saying, but they didn't always have a salray cap. They didn't always have a max amount a player could make. The way the system is set up now you have to have helpers and they have to be really good. His aren't. He's a free agent. If he decides to try to win a title in Miami good for him. He has the power. A huge difference between these guys and Bird and Magic are they were competitors through and through. All the guys that generation didn't grow up playing w/ and against each other . They had general dislike and a desire to pound each other. These guys hang out together and all get along. Even their biggest competition is someone they hang out with and party with.

^ Thing is that Lebron has tried building "his team" and has failed more than once. He can't do it by his self.

 

I agree to an extent. It's not like the Cavs are an awful team. They have had the best regular season record for the last 2 years. I would think he could stay in Cleveland, keep the same success and ultimately find that piece that gets them over the top. They know what hasn't worked so one would think that with the right moves made they could get over that hump. Let some people tell it, they get Leon Powe back this year and Cats is not the only person who has sung JJ Hickson's praises. For all we know, they may have the pieces and now they actually have a guy, Byron Scott, who can coach. If Riley doesn't come back to coach Miami are they really going to trust the guy who shot t-shirts out of a cannon during timeouts(shoutout to whoever said that first:lol::thumb:) to lead the Superfriends? If so, I'd love to see the Lakers and Heat.

I have a hard time believing a guy who nicknamed himself "King James" doesn't want to go down as the best ever. If he is never the ultra competitive player that Kobe is, he'll never be better than Kobe. Never. However, he'll be off to a good start playing Kobe to Wade's Shaq.

 

He may say that's his goal, but I don't think he's shown that to be true. I admire Kobe's desire to be the best. I think LBJ is missing it. No question in my mind who the more talented player God given is though.

 

I have a hard time believing people think Wade is better than LBJ. Did Magic lead every team he played in in scoring? LBJ leads his team in points, rebounds, aand assists seemingly every big playoff game.

I agree to an extent. It's not like the Cavs are an awful team. They have had the best regular season record for the last 2 years. I would think he could stay in Cleveland, keep the same success and ultimately find that piece that gets them over the top. They know what hasn't worked so one would think that with the right moves made they could get over that hump. Let some people tell it, they get Leon Powe back this year and Cats is not the only person who has sung JJ Hickson's praises. For all we know, they may have the pieces and now they actually have a guy, Byron Scott, who can coach. If Riley doesn't come back to coach Miami are they really going to trust the guy who shot t-shirts out of a cannon during timeouts(shoutout to whoever said that first:lol::thumb:) to lead the Superfriends? If so, I'd love to see the Lakers and Heat.

 

The East is way better than it was the last two years.

I see what you are saying, but they didn't always have a salray cap. They didn't always have a max amount a player could make. The way the system is set up now you have to have helpers and they have to be really good. His aren't. He's a free agent. If he decides to try to win a title in Miami good for him. He has the power. A huge difference between these guys and Bird and Magic are they were competitors through and through. All the guys that generation didn't grow up playing w/ and against each other . They had general dislike and a desire to pound each other. These guys hang out together and all get along. Even their biggest competition is someone they hang out with and party with.

 

I can't buy that. He didn't shake his Olympic teammate's hand after losing to the Magic last year. Those guys also probably played plenty of AAU ball against each other as well. They may be friends but I am not buying that he doesn't care just because they like each other. Bird and Magic liked each other. Magic and Isiah.

Sports Guy nailed it today. Completely on top of his game on that one.

Cleveland has tried to get CP3 and the Hornets have balked at everything the Cavs have threw there way. They have nothing anybody else wants.

 

Most of the contracts they have right now they are also locked into for at least a couple of years. So with about the only trade bait being Delonte West and his only half a mil guarantee, theres not a lot they can do until they get out of those contracts. Will Lebron really want to stand pat with what they have and keep trying until eventually they "may" bring some help?

 

They once had Boozer but could not hang onto him, Bosh didn't want to be there. Guy's just don't want to come to Cleveland.

 

CP3 will be a free agent this year or next. IF LBJ is still in Cleveland as is Byron Scott, he'd look really hard at Cleveland.

Sports Guy nailed it today. Completely on top of his game on that one.

 

Yes, he did. I thoroughly enjoyed that article. I had to send it to Cats.

He may say that's his goal, but I don't think he's shown that to be true. I admire Kobe's desire to be the best. I think LBJ is missing it. No question in my mind who the more talented player God given is though.

 

I have a hard time believing people think Wade is better than LBJ. Did Magic lead every team he played in in scoring? LBJ leads his team in points, rebounds, aand assists seemingly every big playoff game.

 

Me too. Wade is spectacular but he's 3rd best.