Bron did the best thing by playing it out in Cleveland and not demanding a trade. For all the criticism he took for the Decision it would have been even worse if he left Cleveland via a forced trade. Other than the Decision he did every thing the right way. Even if he knew he was going to Miami he listened to every team's pitches that he wanted to and then made his final decision. People got mad when he didn't inform Cleveland of his intentions beforehand but if a team trades a player they don't give them the courtesy of telling them ahead of time. So why should the players do the same when they are free agents?
Question if Lebron asked for a trade while with the Cavs...
- Thread starter ajnapoleon
- Start date
QuarterCenturyLegend
Stoopid Life
What did you not understand about LeBron being the GM? You can blame the front office for giving him full personnel control but every move going into his 3rd year was LeBron's call. Another thing, stop w/ this Amare shyt. Steve Kerr said they turned trade down numerous times, I don't know why people keep bringing it up
I wouldn't say they overachieved during the reg. season. They just weren't equipped for the playoffs. The playoffs are another level and beating a team 4/7 is way harder then beating them one night in Jan when they are
playing their fourth game in five nights. The Cavs had a bunch of regular season players and Bron.
Ironically he is pretty much doing the same in MIA. Only difference is he has guys that step up when needed and he is even better individually.
The draft (in every sport) is a crap shoot. You can't always know who will turn into a star player and who will fail.
In 2004-2005, the year after Lebron was drafted, the Cavs had the 10th overall pick. They took Luke Jackson. But whom could they have taken instead? Jameer Nelson went 20th. Josh Smith and JR. Smith went 17th and 18th, but they were high school kids and a huge risk. And Josh Smith plays the same position as Lebron. It wouldn't have worked. And nobody else in that draft amounted to anything.
In 2005-2006, they didn't have any picks in the draft. And they were a 50-win team.
In 2006-2007, they had 3 picks, all of them worthless because of the great season before. At #25 they took Shannon Brown. Then they took Daniel Gibson and Ejike Ugboaja in the 2nd round. Ugboaja never played in the NBA. And 2nd rounders hardly ever become anything in the NBA. It's worth noting that even with this lame draft, the Cavaliers still had a 50-win season.
In 2007-2008, they didn't have any picks in the draft. They still won 45 games, finished 2nd in the division and lost in Game 7 to the Celtics -- who ended up winning the NBA title that year.
In 2008-2009, they had the 19th overall pick, taking JJ Hickson. Who else was available at that slot? George Hill and Serge Ibaka? Ibaka is a power forward. I guess you could make a point for George Hill. Though I doubt anyone thought Hill (at pick 26) would become what he did. The Cavs won 66 games that year, anyway.
In 2009-2010, Lebron's last year with the team, they drafted Christian Eyenga 30th overall and Danny Green 46th overall. I'm sensing a trend here. When you have a great season, you tend not to draft very high. And outside of the top 10 in NBA drafts, the pickings are slim. The Cavs won 61 games anyway but lost to the Celtics in 6 games. Boston would eventually lose to the Lakers in the Finals.
After that, Lebron leaves.
The point is that the draft isn't a great way to improve your team if you don't have an early pick. And even then it's hard. Getting management to work out creative trades to bring in talent can be a more reasonable argument, but nobody here is making that point. Is it more difficult to get a guy to agree to come to Cleveland versus, say, Los Angeles? Absolutely. But those are the breaks.
I hardly think the Cavaliers ownership and management didn't do everything they could to put a winning team on the floor.
You don't win 60 games two years straight af be overachieve.
Majestic Pape
The-Coli = W SOHH = L
Yes, you can. Another example of a team that is overachieving in the regular season consistently RIGHT NOW is the Bulls.
Are you serious? Unless you are LA or NY or some other destination city the draft is your only hope. Cavs dropped the ball there as well as with Boozer and Hickson. Its hilarious how the FO gets a pass for trying but players get shat on if they do anything but get the job done.
Boogie
Been a joint call me Mr. Backwood
Could you show examples?
What powerhouse players did the Bulls draft in the 90s?
I'll help you out.
1990 - Tony Kukoc (who was a 2nd rounder and didn't play with Chicago until 1993.
1991 - Mark Randall
1992 - Byron Houston, Corey Williams, Litterial Green, Matt Steigenga
1993 - Corey Blount, Anthony Reed
1994 - dikkey Simpkins, Kris Bruton
1995 - Jason Caffey, Dragan Tarlac
1996 - Travis Knight
Are those really the stars that put Michael Jordan over the top? Is that your argument?
Scottie Pippen? He was never drafted by the Bulls.
Maybe the early 2000s Lakers dynasty fared better in the draft. I think 5 years back is a good starting point.
1995 - Frankie King
1996 - Derek Fisher
1997 - Dujuan Wheat, Paul Rogers
1998 - Sam Jacobson, Ruben Patterson, Toby Bailey
1999 - Devean George, John Celestand
2000 - Mark Madsen
2001 - No draft pick
2002 - Chris Jefferies
2003 - Brian Cooke, Luke Walton
26 guys drafted for 2 teams that had the biggest dynasties over the last 20 years.
Two were actually solid players, Kukoc and Fisher. Neither of them stars.
That's what the draft produces. It's a crap shoot. And Fisher was a 24th overall pick. It doesn't get much luckier than that.
I just don't see how the draft, unless you have a Top 10 pick is going to help most teams.
mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
I think it would have been less, because then fans would've known for a long time what he knew for a long time: that he was leaving. I think the hate ultimately came from the fact that he had Cleveland fans hoping he might come back when he knew all along he was leaving.
And by asking for a trade, you would have had the whole NBA lining up to trade good players to Cleveland, meaning they would've stayed competitive.
And by asking for a trade, you would have had the whole NBA lining up to trade good players to Cleveland, meaning they would've stayed competitive.
Bulls were already a contender in the 90s. They got Jordan, Pippen, and Grant all in the draft in the 80s.
Spurs got Duncan, Ginobli, and Parker in the draft. OKC got Durant, Russ, Beard, and Ibaka in 3 straight drafts.
Majestic Pape
The-Coli = W SOHH = L
A team can't overachieve in the regular season? Focus here, lil' buddy.
You win 60 games in back to back seasons and many have you picked to win the championship birth seasons, you didn't overachieve. If anything, you underachieved