Lebron's Beefs (Merged)

[celticsclay]

I'm not usually a big fan of Windhorst at all, but I do believe he actually has access to Lebron so some of this stuff is kind of interesting given the Cavs very uncharacteristic struggles right now. Windhorst hypothesizes/knows Lebron is upset that

- After initially feeling confident, "James is stone-cold sober about how challenging his mission is for this season."
-Hilary Clinton lost after he campaigned for her
- His "signature Nike shoe hasn't created as much buzz with collectors recently"
- Jr Smith got injured and Kevin Love recently missed a game (this seems weird cause most NBA teams including the Celtics have had at least this bad injuries)
- "The fact that the Cavs have left a roster spot open for nearly a month puzzles him to no end."

The article also mentions some beef with Barkley that I am not familiar with.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18591231/angry-lebron-sounding-off

Overall I find this article kind of surprising and weird. Windhorst has always been a huge advocate for Lebron and has written several puff pieces for him over the years. He has to know including in an article that Lebron is upset his shoes are not selling well and that Hilary Clinton lost is not going to go over well with the average fan. Does anyone know why Windhorst would do this?
What is happening?

[tankcity!]

LBJ is such a baby. He left Cleveland, and then he left Miami after their roster was weakening to join Irving and the potential of KLove. Man, he just always wants to be on the best team. I guess Durant feels the same way now. What a shame for the league.

[green_bballers13]

Not sure about anything Windhorst related. I do get that he would be peeved by Charles Barkley's comments. Chuck never won, so he was definitely talking out of his element. A very chuck thing to do. I liked Shaq's chirp about how he never had to worry about going back to back.

Hearing Lebron talk about his legacy doesn't sit well with many average fans. I'm sure he was shocked when Durant signed with GSW, which effectively ended his chance of a repeat. His team underperforming isn't helping. He's probably thinking that he's going to have to play well into his 40s to achieve his championship goals. Not great for the Celtics.

Re: Lebron's drama, I think its mostly a media creation. They ask him a ton of questions everyday. No shock that there will be some colorful answers.

[green_bballers13]

LBJ is such a baby. He left Cleveland, and then he left Miami after their roster was weakening to join Irving and the potential of KLove. Man, he just always wants to be on the best team. I guess Durant feels the same way now. What a shame for the league.

This is the new NBA. I'm not sure why it has taken so many people so long to figure out that this is a one horse show. Lebron wants the chance to repeat, even though its probably not going to happen. Carmelo would be a mistake for them. I think they should definitely trade Love for cap space, then sign the best available FA in the summer. I can't imagine a player not wanting to ride Lebron's coattails for a championship.

[celticsclay]

Not sure about anything Windhorst related. I do get that he would be peeved by Charles Barkley's comments. Chuck never won, so he was definitely talking out of his element. A very chuck thing to do. I liked Shaq's chirp about how he never had to worry about going back to back.

Hearing Lebron talk about his legacy doesn't sit well with many average fans. I'm sure he was shocked when Durant signed with GSW, which effectively ended his chance of a repeat. His team underperforming isn't helping. He's probably thinking that he's going to have to play well into his 40s to achieve his championship goals. Not great for the Celtics.

Re: Lebron's drama, I think its mostly a media creation. They ask him a ton of questions everyday. No shock that there will be some colorful answers.

What is interesting to me is that is has always seemed like all of Lebron's answers and moves are carefully orchestrated surrounding his business empire. I agree with you that Charles Barkley is making some unprofessional comments as an analyst. However, he has been doing that for like 20 years now so I am surprised Lebron would give them the time of day.

It seems like he may be having some sort of meltdown right now. The Cavs are working out Kirk Heinrich, Mario Chalmers and Lance Stephenson right now. Heinrich is aincient and looked fully cooked last season. I don't think he will help. Chalmers could help IF he is really at top form. However, as we saw with Rondo it seems dubious to be in top form only a year after the injury unless you are adrien peterson. The Concept of Stephenson on the Cavs is pretty hilarious after he blew in Lebron's ear.

[saltlover]

As I posted elsewhere, filling that roster spot with even a D-leaguer on a 10-day contract costs the Cavs $200k in luxury tax (and $30k in salary).  It's not much money in the sense of the Cavs budget.  But they're stuck -- 10 days of a D-leaguer isn't worth $230k, but the optics of only being able to dress 11 guys despite having an open roster spot makes ownership look really cheap.

[celticsclay]

As I posted elsewhere, filling that roster spot with even a D-leaguer on a 10-day contract costs the Cavs $200k in luxury tax (and $30k in salary).  It's not much money in the sense of the Cavs budget.  But they're stuck -- 10 days of a D-leaguer isn't worth $230k, but the optics of only being able to dress 11 guys despite having an open roster spot makes ownership look really cheap.

I guess if it costs them home court advantage in the playoffs that is worth waaay more than 230k. I am just unclear how much of a difference these guys make. Is Yogi Ferrell (who the article references as being tough to watch play against Lebron for Lebron after being signed out of the d-league) really better than Felder? Felder was drafted and Ferrell was not, but now it somehow seems clear Ferrell is better?

[Donoghus]

Barkley is an idiot but Lebron also needs to stop being thin-skinned and having rabbit ears.

[Tr1boy]

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/2017/1/31/14451950/lebron-james-charles-barkley-beef-history?client=ms-android-rogers-ca

Agree or disagree?

[hodgy03038]

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/2017/1/31/14451950/lebron-james-charles-barkley-beef-history?client=ms-android-rogers-ca

Agree or disagree?

I tend to agree as much as I hate to because I am not a LeBron liker but ne surely has a beef. First off, Barkley is an idiot and thinks he is more important than he is. Kenny Smith is far more legitimate to listen to.

[Tr1boy]

Its an old school mentality vs lebaby battle

I think lebaby went a bit too far with the vegas criticism

Has nothing to do with ball

[celticsclay]

Its an old school mentality vs lebaby battle

I think lebaby went a bit too far with the vegas criticism

Has nothing to do with ball

https://www.google.ca/amp/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/2017/1/31/14451950/lebron-james-charles-barkley-beef-history?client=ms-android-rogers-ca

Agree or disagree?

What are you asking if we agree or disagree with? We probably don't want to go down the rabbit hole of arguing about where Lebron ranks all time (which is a lot of what Barkley has jabbed him about)

I think some of Barkley's criticism are petty (the all time rankings)
I think saying Lebron missing two key teammates running out of gas was also weak/silly
I think some are valid (the decision telecast was obviously a punk move that James himself regrets)
The public complaints for roster improvement on a team with the highest payroll probably should be done behind closed doors.

It is pretty interesting, and probably a bad moment by Lebron, to take it from professional to personal. Most, if not all, of the criticisms Barkley has levied against Lebron were related to stuff on the court (or at least to basketball, roster construction and free agency). Discussing whether Barkley got drunk at an all star game in vegas, momentarily had an unpaid tab in vegas or got in a bar fight 25 years ago are a lot more personal than Barkley's criticisms in my mind. I am sure Lebron has done some partying off the court and there are some stories out there that Barkley could run with if he wanted to get really personal.

[danglertx]

If Lebron is upset because the Cavs aren't bringing in a bunch of 10day contracts, he needs a reality check.  They obviously aren't signing anyone because they want to see what the buy out market is like first and they need that roster spot. 

This is the roster Lebron the GM got.  Live with it.

[Ed Hollison]

"It's so hard to take the high road," James said in June after Klay Thompson took a shot at him during the Finals. "I've been doing it for 13 years. It's so hard to continue to do it."

Oh my goodness.

[celticsclay]

If Lebron is upset because the Cavs aren't bringing in a bunch of 10day contracts, he needs a reality check.  They obviously aren't signing anyone because they want to see what the buy out market is like first and they need that roster spot. 

This is the roster Lebron the GM got.  Live with it.

They seem likely to add Kirk Heinrich, Mario Chalmers or Lance Stephenson per ESPN.