Ugh (Lebron / Wade / Bosh on the same team)

[ssspence]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&page=wojciechowski/100223&sportCat=nba

please don't come true, please don't come true, please don't come true, please don't come true.....

[the_Bird]

Union rep would break their kneecaps if they signed a contract that far below their fair market value. 

You've got to presume these are all guys with a healthy dose of ego; can you really see all three deciding that they didn't want to be The Man?  Players want to win, but even moreso they want to be the REASON the team's winning. 

As to how history will define them by titles won...  doesn't DJ have trouble getting into the HoF in part because people discount his contributions on such star-heavy Celtics teams?  Bosh might win three titles, but will people look at him the same as the third wheel on those titles versus if he won only a single title, but on a team that he domininated? 

[CelticG1]

I'm having some serious deja vu. I think i saw basically this same article in SI a couple months ago. In any case it's not coming true

[footey]

Will never happen. 2/3 but not 3/3.

[CelticG1]

Also that would kind of taint the championships IMO. It wouldn't be a "normal" NBA team. What if a bunch of superstars decided to do that? It would just ruin the league and turn it into the WWF

[the_Bird]

Also that would kind of taint the championships IMO. It wouldn't be a "normal" NBA team. What if a bunch of superstars decided to do that? It would just ruin the league and turn it into the WWF

There's no guarantee that it works, regardless.  Guys get hurt.  You need a bench.  You'd really prefer to have Wade play the SG.  Guys all have to commit to playing D.  Gotta share the ball consistently. 

Celtics tried the three-superstar thing, and it worked.  Lakers tried it with Kobe/Shaq/Mailman/Glove, and failed.

I could see Wade and LeBron teaming up together, Wade seems like the one superstar in the League who's most comfortable sharing the spotlight.  Bosh, I'm not sure he's quite in the same league as those two. 

[Onslaught]

It won't happen. And I'll be happy when this is all over with so ESPN and all the others shut up about it. How long has this talk been going on now?

I'll say this. IF the Celtics can't win it all this year then as much as I don't like them I hope the Cavs do. That way it will be more likely that LBJ stays in Cleveland rather than going to NY.
And I want to hear the crying of all the NY fans all the way down here in NC.

It would also help keep LA from winning it if they make it out of the west. I don't like the Cavs but I hate them less than LA and NY.

[GranTur]

These players would never give up tens of millions of dollars. Ever. Period. This article is worthless.

That said...let it happen....honestly......D'Antoni is such a bonehead coach it's not like it'll matter..

The Knicks are a messed up organization that does NOT have championship qualities.

[ssspence]

I'm not saying it's going to happen; it probably won't.

But let's assume for a moment that the article is correct and they could actually make back every dollar they forego via endorsements. Like, literally one-for-one.

Would they NOT do it?

[MMacOH]

I'm so glad there are other websites and TV stations around for sports so I don't have to go to ESPN TMZ for my sports information.

[ssspence]

These players would never give up tens of millions of dollars. Ever. Period. This article is worthless.

That said...let it happen....honestly......D'Antoni is such a bonehead coach it's not like it'll matter..

The Knicks are a messed up organization that does NOT have championship qualities.

This is a crock. Did the Celtics have any "championship qualities" before the Garnett and Allen trades?

Like the Celtics of a few years ago, the Knicks have finally upgraded to a legit GM and coach. Not that it really matters -- the NBA is a players league.

[the_Bird]

I'm not saying it's going to happen; it probably won't.

But let's assume for a moment that the article is correct and they could actually make back every dollar they forego via endorsements. Like, literally one-for-one.

Would they NOT do it?

I say no.  It's not just winning - it's winning under your own terms, meaning you win a title because you were the best player, not because you were a  teammate of LeBron (and viewed in the public eye as such).

I don't buy that these guys' ego would let this happen. 

[ssspence]

I'm not saying it's going to happen; it probably won't.

But let's assume for a moment that the article is correct and they could actually make back every dollar they forego via endorsements. Like, literally one-for-one.

Would they NOT do it?

I say no.  It's not just winning - it's winning under your own terms, meaning you win a title because you were the best player, not because you were a  teammate of LeBron (and viewed in the public eye as such).

I don't buy that these guys' ego would let this happen. 

The only guy I can imagine having this probem is Bosh (he's said as much, though it could just be a smokescreen). Wade doesn't need to stroke his ego -- he's tired of carrying his team every night; knows it takes more to win.  That could mean they just end up in Miami.

But couldn't the Knicks find a 3rd if it's not Bosh? Wouldn't Amare take less to go triple his endorsements playing with LeBron and Wade?

[Cman]

I'll say this. IF the Celtics can't win it all this year then as much as I don't like them I hope the Cavs do. That way it will be more likely that LBJ stays in Cleveland rather than going to NY.
And I want to hear the crying of all the NY fans all the way down here in NC.

TP agreed.  Except I live in NYC, and I don't think I could bear hearing about how awesome LBJ is on the news every night, nor would I like seeing those slightly sacrilegious "Witness" billboards everywhere...

[the_Bird]

I think that's the core problem; Amare ain't a max player, or should be paid as such.  He can score, but doesn't rebound or play D.  He's not carrying a team on his back like LeBron and Wade can.  He doesn't deserve the same $$ as LeBron and Wade.