2014-2015 NBA regular season thread.

[Al Bundy]

I will update this when the schedule is announced in a couple of weeks, but I will open with the new uniforms for the Charlotte Hornets below.

Introducing the brand new Charlotte #HornetsUnis! http://t.co/MgHy2DcOTX pic.twitter.com/w59MlUvRgd

— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) June 19, 2014

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Are you stupid? Irving was the All-Star MVP, Wiggins is the best prospect since Durant, Waiters has All-Star potential. Bennett, who was last years top pick showed flashes but didn't have much of a chance since Mike Brown doesn't like to play youth. Oh and that's actually the biggest problem, Mike Brown is a god awful coach. He didn't even instal an offense the first portion of the year because he wanted the team to just focus on defense.

There are a lot of exaggerated things in this paragraph.

Cleveland is a young and super talented team. They also have the chips to make another big move if they get LeBron.

This is absolutely true, though.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I don't think anyone's saying anything.

But I think anybody who doesn't live in Miami or any of the 2 or 3 other markets competing for LeBron's services knows that Cleveland is the best move for LeBron for a wide variety of reasons. He may choose to stay loyal to Miami and that's a very respectful decision, but I think most people see this move as sensible because his family gets to move back home, he probably ends up with a better supporting cast, and it looks really good on his legacy because he gets to heal old wounds + this doesn't look like championship chasing. He actually gets a chance to shape a young team from the ground up. It makes sense for too many reasons.

Oh I understand completely. It is either Miami or Cleveland IMHO. I am looking at it from a roster standpoint and I don't see any team that will be able to compete against the Heat in the East if he decided to stay. I guess it depends on what other players the Cavs could add...

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

It's not LeBron hate, at all. LeBron did what he did. A principled Cleveland owner would have nothing to do with him after that. This is not an issue for the other teams in the league. It won't happen that way, though, because they'll overlook the past and focus on James' ability.

Professional athletes leave as free agents and return to their prior teams all the time. If it were to happen, it wouldn't be unusual nor would it make the owner "unprincipled" (as if that should be any kind of concern in this instance anyway).

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by jd1020

An owner turning down cash... sure.

Do you ****ing people never read?

Cleveland should tell James to go **** himself, but that's not going to happen.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Professional athletes leave as free agents and return to their prior teams all the time. If it were to happen, it wouldn't be unusual nor would it make the owner "unprincipled."

Yeah, guys often have specials where they keep their hometown twisting in the wind and then tell the world that they're going to take their talents to South Beach.

It's a daily happening.

[penbrook]

Remember, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was with LeBron James eight days ago when meeting in Miami with Heat executives. He trusts Z.

[RustShack]

Another thing to note is LeBron is good friends with the Cavs new associate HC Tyronne Lue, they actually hang out from time to time. A lot of players who played for Blatt before coming over to the NBA also claim Blatt is the best coach they've ever played for. This might not be much since Brown and Scott weren't very good, but Kyrie hasn't been this excited about a HC either before.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Yeah, guys often have specials where they keep their hometown twisting in the wind and then tell the world that they're going to take their talents to South Beach.

It's a daily happening.

Oh yeah, it's not about LeBron hate at all with you.

Again, free agents leave and return all the time (whether the departure was amicable or not). It would be nothing unusual, nor is it something that should or will prevent them from signing the best player in the world.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by RustShack

Are you stupid? Irving was the All-Star MVP, Wiggins is the best prospect since Durant, Waiters has All-Star potential. Bennett, who was last years top pick showed flashes but didn't have much of a chance since Mike Brown doesn't like to play youth. Oh and that's actually the biggest problem, Mike Brown is a god awful coach. He didn't even instal an offense the first portion of the year because he wanted the team to just focus on defense.

Cleveland is a young and super talented team. They also have the chips to make another big move if they get LeBron.

Chiefs fans should know what bad coaching and youth together does for a team.

Irving is awesome the rest is just based on potential, the 76ers have alot of potential too

[tk13]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I hope you Cavs fans aren't getting your hopes up. I think the safe money is on him returning to Miami. I just don't see the Cavs as currently structured being able to win championships even with Lebron. Miami can easily get back to the Finals as is.

That ship has already sailed. I think a lot of Cavs fans are going to be stomach punched if LeBron goes back to Miami.

Maybe everyone will disagree with me... but I don't see why Irving, LeBron and Wiggins wouldn't be a a contender. Although if LeBron comes back they'll go after Love or Bosh.

[penbrook]

Rumor has it Dan Gilbert is on a plane to south beach to meet with Lebron

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by tk13

That ship has already sailed. I think a lot of Cavs fans are going to be stomach punched if LeBron goes back to Miami.

Maybe everyone will disagree with me... but I don't see why Irving, LeBron and Wiggins wouldn't be a a contender. Although if LeBron comes back they'll go after Love or Bosh.

No disagreement here. Barring Chicago adding Carmelo or something, LeBron and Irving in themselves would probably be enough to win the East even if Wiggins doesn't develop much at all in his rookie season. They'd obviously need to add a few more shooters and a big to fit LeBron's style of play, though.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Oh yeah, it's not about LeBron hate at all with you.

Again, free agents leave and return all the time (whether the departure was amicable or not). It would be nothing unusual, nor is it something that should or will prevent them from signing the best player in the world.

I think it would be unusual considering that the owner acted like a 12-year old girl that just got dumped. He said some really shitty things about Lebron.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by RustShack

**** you, LeBron James. ****ing **** you. You can't win unless your on an allstar team and have Wade to pick up your slack when you joke in the playoffs.

.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Oh I understand completely. It is either Miami or Cleveland IMHO. I am looking at it from a roster standpoint and I don't see any team that will be able to compete against the Heat in the East if he decided to stay. I guess it depends on what other players the Cavs could add...

In Miami, it doesn't sound like Bosh and Wade want to budge on their contracts. Especially Bosh, who knows teams are willing to pay him a lot more to leave the Heat. The Heat tried to convince Luol Deng and Lowry to go there and take a paycut. So what you'd have is the same point guards that were liabilities last year and Napier who's probably way too raw to be ready, Wade who is now older one more year, and maybe if they're lucky, an end of career version of Pau Gasol. Meanwhile, their bench depth will be pretty lousy.

So if you're Lebron thinking about the next 5 years of your life, you're probably going to hang your hat on the young, talented roster than the roster with a ton of money tied into players who are rapidly declining (by the way, I think the Suns can make that argument too). In my opinion, James played this very smart. He basically gave Miami an ultimatum that is reasonable but they know they can't possibly accommodate.