I feel myself vomiting - Melo and Bron????

[freshinthehouse]

There is no way that all four of those guys will sign in Miami.  They would have to give up tens of millions of dollars to make it happen, and I don't care how much they make off endorsements, that aint happening.

[Kane3387]

I'd take a break from the nba. What's the point?

[WeMadeIt17]

Would not watch anymore. Would really turn me away from the game. I'd hope Melo has some spirit in him to compete against these guys instead of running and joining them.

[MBunge]

Free-market opinion, not a basketball opinion: I have no issues with this. I actually kind of applaud it. Individuals should be allowed to choose their employers and coworkers.

Pro sports isn't a free market.  Are thousands of people going to pay money to watch the Heat with Melo scrimmage against themselves for 82 games?  NBA franchises aren't competing companies.  They're different brands from the same company.  This would be like a car company that makes 8 different models putting all their focus on making one of those models great and letting the other 7 be pieces of crap.

Besides, I can't believe that Bosh can really afford to give up millions of dollars a year.  He's not exactly an endorsement machine.  I also think the players union, players in general and the other 29 owners would not tolerate it. 

And in case any LeBron butt-kissers in the media wonder why people don't like him, this is why.

Mike

[colincb]

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11068709/miami-heat-discussing-options-target-carmelo-anthony-free-agency

If this happens I'm done with the NBA. Does anyone want to earn a ring anymore and compete against each other? Or just team up and take the easy way out? Where are the competitors in the NBA this league is becoming a joke if this happens.

I had the same thought when I heard this. Better to watch the Globetrotters who would also win every game, but be entertaining to boot.  This would kill ratings.

[pearljammer10]

Why do I keep getting the crazy suspicion that this is actually going to happen...

Oye.

[D.o.s.]

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11068709/miami-heat-discussing-options-target-carmelo-anthony-free-agency

If this happens I'm done with the NBA. Does anyone want to earn a ring anymore and compete against each other? Or just team up and take the easy way out? Where are the competitors in the NBA this league is becoming a joke if this happens.

I enjoy the contrast between your outrage and your username.

[fairweatherfan]

Seems like the Class of '03 is as tight as ever.  But when will they get Mo Williams there to round out the lineup?

...in all seriousness people talk a lot about how players should take less money to get a better team around them - we had a thread about it today.  You're already insanely rich, so be unselfish, championships are all that matter.  Kobe got a lot of criticism for taking a big extension and hampering the Lakers' ability to put stars around him.  If LeBron et al really are going the other route, why is that a bad thing?  I mean, the competitive advantage would suck, but really, aren't we just getting mad about seeing an unusually unselfish generation of guys all wanting to maximize their chances at rings?

[D.o.s.]

Seems like the Class of '03 is as tight as ever.  But when will they get Mo Williams there to round out the lineup?

...in all seriousness people talk a lot about how players should take less money to get a better team around them - we had a thread about it today.  You're already insanely rich, so be unselfish, championships are all that matter.  Kobe got a lot of criticism for taking a big extension and hampering the Lakers' ability to put stars around him.  If LeBron et al really are going the other route, why is that a bad thing?  I mean, the competitive advantage would suck, but really, aren't we just getting mad about seeing an unusually unselfish generation of guys all wanting to maximize their chances at rings?

You get your logic out of here. 

[beklog]

Why do I keep getting the crazy suspicion that this is actually going to happen...

Oye.

With Melo's relationship with LBJ and his draftsmen, I think it's very plausible...
Although I hate this superfriends, but there should be drawback if this happen like a very thin bench like what Nash, Kobe, Gasol and Howard did in the Lakers.. but this might be a case as these 4 players' chemistry is not yet known and they're playing under Mike Brown...

[Rondo9]

Seems like the Class of '03 is as tight as ever.  But when will they get Mo Williams there to round out the lineup?

...in all seriousness people talk a lot about how players should take less money to get a better team around them - we had a thread about it today.  You're already insanely rich, so be unselfish, championships are all that matter.  Kobe got a lot of criticism for taking a big extension and hampering the Lakers' ability to put stars around him.  If LeBron et al really are going the other route, why is that a bad thing?  I mean, the competitive advantage would suck, but really, aren't we just getting mad about seeing an unusually unselfish generation of guys all wanting to maximize their chances at rings?

While I don't mind players teaming up, I feel this is bad for the NBA. There'll be very little competition now that it feels pointless to watch.

[fairweatherfan]

Seems like the Class of '03 is as tight as ever.  But when will they get Mo Williams there to round out the lineup?

...in all seriousness people talk a lot about how players should take less money to get a better team around them - we had a thread about it today.  You're already insanely rich, so be unselfish, championships are all that matter.  Kobe got a lot of criticism for taking a big extension and hampering the Lakers' ability to put stars around him.  If LeBron et al really are going the other route, why is that a bad thing?  I mean, the competitive advantage would suck, but really, aren't we just getting mad about seeing an unusually unselfish generation of guys all wanting to maximize their chances at rings?

While I don't mind players teaming up, I feel this is bad for the NBA. There'll be very little competition now that it feels pointless to watch.

I completely agree, that's the biggest problem with it.  On paper that's a crazy team.  But nothing is guaranteed - the Mavs beat a healthy Heat in 2011.   And all four guys would be over 30 next year.  Whatever comes of it, it'll have a limited shelf life.

I hope it doesn't happen for the record.  That'd be a huge roadblock to getting our next contender going.  But all the moral indignation about it seems pretty silly, since they'd be doing something in reality that a lot of the same people like as a hypothetical.

[LarBrd33]

99 percent Lebron is staying with the Heat regardless of what happens vs the spurs

Bron, Wade and Bosh all have the ability to opt out this season.  They could all opt out, take 5 mil less... and sign Melo.   I brought that up a couple months ago jokingly, but it's actually a possible scenario.

Also possible Melo and Bron join with Kobe on the Lakers.  They'd just need to dump Steve Nash's contract and let Pau walk.

its possible but it won't happen.

Lebron as ****ly he was to join with two other all stars (only way he knows he has a chance to win it all) wouldn't have left the Cavs if he was provided one other legit top two way player.

Instead they gave him Mo Williams, Gibson, Verajao.  If Boozer another son of a gun didn't leave maybe they would of won something.

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014/story/_/id/11068709/miami-heat-discussing-options-target-carmelo-anthony-free-agency

Funny... here's an article that suggests pretty much exactly what I have been saying was a possibility for months.  Miami's big 3 opt out... they all take paycuts to sign Melo and all of them take about 12-15 mil a year.

Cap will be about 63 mil.  They got haslem with a 4.6 mil player option + 2.1 for Cole and 1.5 for Anderson.  That leaves about 55 mil... split it 4 ways they each get about 13.75 mil.

That would be INSANE pay cuts for them to do that.  Each of them could make about 7-10 mil more per season.  But if they do that... I mean...  whatever.  If they are willing to collectively sacrifice over 100 million dollars for the love of basketball... so be it. 

[crimson_stallion]

Meh, Lebron could sign for the league minimum and still make more than anyone.  For that matter, put these four together and they'll all make way more off endorsements than they ever could on the court.

As much as I'd like to complain about teams stacking, if the Celts somehow pulled Love, Melo and Asik to Boston, I wouldn't be too upset about it.  I know, those four aren't exactly the Miami four, but "any given Sunday" doesn't exactly apply in the NBA.

Mike

How would Melo be in both Miami and Boston at the same time?   

[beklog]

Meh, Lebron could sign for the league minimum and still make more than anyone.  For that matter, put these four together and they'll all make way more off endorsements than they ever could on the court.

As much as I'd like to complain about teams stacking, if the Celts somehow pulled Love, Melo and Asik to Boston, I wouldn't be too upset about it.  I know, those four aren't exactly the Miami four, but "any given Sunday" doesn't exactly apply in the NBA.

Mike

How would Melo be in both Miami and Boston at the same time?   

Boston will be getting Fab Melo instead