How many players would you take over James.

[cdif911]

Will Solomon.

<3

[radiohead]

In terms of fantasy basketball, i have a rule when drafting: no laker players, and no lebron.

[Edgar]

Russell Westbrook
and
Blake Griffin

[Finkelskyhook]

It depends on whether your goal is to win championships or to sell jerseys and fill stands...

The messiah is the modern day Iverson.  A more talented, dynamic, and better marketed version...But the same result.  It's a safe bet that he'll always have a substantial following regardless of how his team does.  It's also a safe bet that like Iverson, he'll always fall short.

Durant, Kobe, Rondo, Williams, and Howard are among several on my list that I'd take over the messiah if my goal was to win a championship.

[Eja117]

Of the top of my head

Derron W

Rondo

Chris Paul

Kobe

Pau Gasol

John Wall

D Howard

Durant

R Westbrook

As much as I don't like to admit it that might be it....mostly big guys and pgs

[Eja117]

I just don't accept that wing players are so great even with these new rules.

[BballTim]

It depends on whether your goal is to win championships or to sell jerseys and fill stands...

The messiah is the modern day Iverson.  A more talented, dynamic, and better marketed version...But the same result.  It's a safe bet that he'll always have a substantial following regardless of how his team does.  It's also a safe bet that like Iverson, he'll always fall short.

Durant, Kobe, Rondo, Williams, and Howard are among several on my list that I'd take over the messiah if my goal was to win a championship.

  If your goal is to win titles, why would you pick Howard over James?

[guava_wrench]

It depends on whether your goal is to win championships or to sell jerseys and fill stands...

The messiah is the modern day Iverson.  A more talented, dynamic, and better marketed version...But the same result.  It's a safe bet that he'll always have a substantial following regardless of how his team does.  It's also a safe bet that like Iverson, he'll always fall short.

Durant, Kobe, Rondo, Williams, and Howard are among several on my list that I'd take over the messiah if my goal was to win a championship.

  If your goal is to win titles, why would you pick Howard over James?

Or Williams for that matter. Has Lebron been surrounded by more talent in Clev than Deron in Utah? I'm skeptical of that. Lebron made those Clev team great on his own.

[Eja117]

It depends on whether your goal is to win championships or to sell jerseys and fill stands...

The messiah is the modern day Iverson.  A more talented, dynamic, and better marketed version...But the same result.  It's a safe bet that he'll always have a substantial following regardless of how his team does.  It's also a safe bet that like Iverson, he'll always fall short.

Durant, Kobe, Rondo, Williams, and Howard are among several on my list that I'd take over the messiah if my goal was to win a championship.

  If your goal is to win titles, why would you pick Howard over James?

Or Williams for that matter. Has Lebron been surrounded by more talent in Clev than Deron in Utah? I'm skeptical of that. Lebron made those Clev team great on his own.

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak Obama "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

[indeedproceed]

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak John McCain "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

There are 3 reasons

1) No interior defense or rebounding. Andersen Varejao has long been the second most important Cavalier.

2) Poor offensive planning, poor offensive execution, or poor coaching communication of a plan

3) They really do need more time.

[action781]

Here is who I would take over LeBron NO PROBLEM.....

Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, and Dwight Howard.

Maybe even Al Horford (so underrated).

LeBron does not have a winning team mentality. He's a nightmare to coach and nobody wins championships with a guy that lords over your organization.

Ummm... Al Horford?  Sorry, but I almost started laughing in a library.  Think about that one again.  Even on a team not built for Lebron, that Atlanta team would still gain 10+ wins if you took Horford out and put Lebron on it.  Bibby, JJ, Lebron, Smith, and Zaza would be a better lineup than Atlanta currently has!  (Better than Lebron had in Cleveland at least, I'd say that team is 13-5 at worst right now.)

[action781]

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak John McCain "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

There are 3 reasons

1) No interior defense or rebounding. Andersen Varejao has long been the second most important Cavalier.

2) Poor offensive planning, poor offensive execution, or poor coaching communication of a plan

3) They really do need more time.

True, True, and True.  On #1, I actaully think (and posted weeks back) it would be worth it for Miami to trade Bosh for Hickson + Varejao + pick.  Start both of them and Haslem (or Hickson) becomes fantastic in a role off the bench.

On #2, it can't be said enough, they need to run.  Plain and simple and I'll keep saying it until they do.  High pressure defense to create turnovers and run.

On #3, yeah, they do.  Players that complement one another well can figure it out and gel fast.  These 3 players absolutely don't complement one another at all, so will need more time to.  Miami didn't get a chance to in the preseason to do so like the celts did in Europe.

[Eja117]

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak John McCain "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

There are 3 reasons

1) No interior defense or rebounding. Andersen Varejao has long been the second most important Cavalier.

2) Poor offensive planning, poor offensive execution, or poor coaching communication of a plan

3) They really do need more time.

Well wait a second.  Isn't Bosh better than Varejao?  And isn't Spoelstra at least as good as Lebron's last coach?


And if they are executing and poorly and need all this time, doesn't that mean they might not be such great players?  I mean what have any of these guys done?  Bosh = horrible teams, Lebron = NO post season success....Wade = Without Shaq slipped to the lottery instantly where they picked 2nd overall

Bird and Magic had instant success and so did Pierce, KG, and Ray

[wdleehi]

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak John McCain "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

There are 3 reasons

1) No interior defense or rebounding. Andersen Varejao has long been the second most important Cavalier.

2) Poor offensive planning, poor offensive execution, or poor coaching communication of a plan

3) They really do need more time.

Well wait a second.  Isn't Bosh better than Varejao?  And isn't Spoelstra at least as good as Lebron's last coach?


And if they are executing and poorly and need all this time, doesn't that mean they might not be such great players?  I mean what have any of these guys done?  Bosh = horrible teams, Lebron = NO post season success....Wade = Without Shaq slipped to the lottery instantly where they picked 2nd overall

Bird and Magic had instant success and so did Pierce, KG, and Ray

How many seasons did Pierce KG and Ray play in the NBA before they were successful by your definition?

[MBunge]

Then why isn't he making Miami great? And don't even bring that weak John McCain "Well they need time to gel" stuff here.

There are 3 reasons

1) No interior defense or rebounding. Andersen Varejao has long been the second most important Cavalier.

2) Poor offensive planning, poor offensive execution, or poor coaching communication of a plan

3) They really do need more time.

1.  True.

2.  How many times to we have to see LeBron playing exactly the same way he did in Cleveland before we realize that he's the problem on offense?

3.  More time to be a championship team?  Maybe.  More time to be better than 11-8?  Nope.

For me, the only player I'd take before LeBron would be Howard and that's only because I think he's proven that it would be easier to build a team around him.  Howard has shown zero problem sharing the ball with guys like Hedo, Jameer, Lewis and even Vince.  If you swapped the two, LeBron would probably make Orland better but Howard would make this Heat team a whole lot better.

Mike