It’s a done deal. Lebron James is joining the Miami Heat in the hope that he can win multiple championships with Dywane Wade and Chris Bosh (plus whoever else the team can get for low dollars).
Even though Miami was speculated to be the popular choice, I just couldn’t quite believe it. I understand some people saying that Lebron has sold out. He has betrayed his home team in Cleveland, who have done everything they could to help him win over the last few years. He has given up the challenge of winning by himself in the place that drafted him. He has forgone the opportunity to play under the bright lights of New York City. He didn’t want to follow the footsteps of Michael Jordan and play in Chicago.
Instead, Lebron went with the easiest way out — joining fellow All-Stars D-Wade and Chris Bosh to form the new Big Three.
I must say while I am intrigued by the prospect of such a terrific trio playing on the same court for an entire season (and possibly for many years), I have lost a little bit of respect for Lebron. I wanted him to be loyal and stay true to his fans in Cleveland, who are absolutely heart broken. I wonder if they will boo him (along with the fans in New York and Chicago?) when he returns to play next season. I’d be surprised if they didn’t.
However, I don’t fault Lebron for his decision. At the end of the day, all he cares about is winning. He is taking less than max money to play for a championship. When it’s all said and done, people are going to look at the number of championship rings he has on his fingers and make an assessment as to where he belongs in the GOAT discussion. If he only has one or two (or none), that’s not going to be enough to get him there. In Miami, he has the chance to win five or six, or perhaps even more?
On the other hand, if I were the Lakers, the Magic or the Celtics, I wouldn’t exactly be quivering in my boots just yet. Yes, this new Big Three is pretty impressive, but we’ll have to wait and see what other pieces they can scrap together. With these three guys taking up the majority of the cap space, who else are they going to get? Basketball is, after all, a team sport.
That said, I don’t see it being a huge problem for the Heat. For starters, Boston proved a Big Three could be enough. In any case, I bet there will be plenty of solid veterans and role players willing to play for the Heat at miminum money.
Provided there are no serious injuries, the Miami Heat are going to be lethal next season.
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