Wade and Heat

[MU B2002]

Most people would say they were too busy watching LBJ and Melo and didnt believe Wade was / would be at the same level.

Im not bashing on you Im just going to be pissed when I hear, "yes we all knew this day would come.. LeBron is and was born a champion."

And then they will turn and hand the finals MVP trophy to Dwade.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Not getting why you would watch Wes and Lazar and dis Wade, the best player MU has ever produced. What--his divorce--his wife was a fruitcake firing several attornies and going ballistic in the media.
wWat is wrong with Wade and Lebron teaming up? It is OK for Bryant/Gasol and Anthony/Stoudemaire and the Three musketeers in Boston. but becuase Wade took less money than the others to make it happen, you are turned off by the Wade?Lebron duo.
Oh well, to each his own.

Wow willie, for once we completely agree.

Do people not get it?  The more championships Wade accumulates, the more he is lionized, the easier it is to recruit to Marquette.  It couldn't be clearer.  Even if you hate the NBA, Wade winning it all as many times as possible will pay massive self-compounding dividends to the Marquette hoops program for several generations.  I don't understand how even the most casual MU fan has any trouble seeing that.  I was no LeBron fan before The Decision and I'm neutral at best now, but if his move to Miami delivers those championships, it directly aids MU recruiting.  And we can all take solace in the fact that Wade will always have one up on him.

[HoopsMalone]

Wow willie, for once we completely agree.

Do people not get it?  The more championships Wade accumulates, the more he is lionized, the easier it is to recruit to Marquette.  It couldn't be clearer.  Even if you hate the NBA, Wade winning it all as many times as possible will pay massive self-compounding dividends to the Marquette hoops program for several generations.  I don't understand how even the most casual MU fan has any trouble seeing that.  I was no LeBron fan before The Decision and I'm neutral at best now, but if his move to Miami delivers those championships, it directly aids MU recruiting.  And we can all take solace in the fact that Wade will always have one up on him.

Agreed it helps recruiting to an extent, just not sure whose recruiting it helps most . 

There are  people on this board, including me, who see an open spot at the SG in Chicago where Wade would be challenging the 72 win mark for the next couple of years.  These guys lead on New York and Chicago, so there is some bitterness there out of what could have been from the fans and the media.  The NBA almost had Lebron in New York, Wade in Chicago, and Kobe in LA.  David Stern's dream. 

While there is some rejection anger in the big markets, it still is not the most courageous thing in sports to do regarding teaming up voluntarily.  Wade and James are much higher in caliber than any of the modern "Big whatevers."  It does seem like Lebron admitted that he could not get past Wade so he needed his help.  Fairly or unfairly, no one of his caliber has done that in his prime.  It is different when it is a trade for some reason, too. 

I love Wade, but I really don't like the Heat at all.  The Lebron, Carmelo, Deron Williams, etc. generation is not as fun for me to watch as the Rose, Durant, and Blake Griffin generation.  There is a different competitive edge to these young guys and it is fun to watch. 

[ATL MU Warrior]

While there is some rejection anger in the big markets, it still is not the most courageous thing in sports to do regarding teaming up voluntarily.  Wade and James are much higher in caliber than any of the modern "Big whatevers."  It does seem like Lebron admitted that he could not get past Wade so he needed his help.  Fairly or unfairly, no one of his caliber has done that in his prime.  It is different when it is a trade for some reason, too. 

The only thing it indicates to me is that Lebron wants to win it all and he didn't see it happening in Cleveland (ever) and didn't see it happening any time soon in NY.  Hard to blame a guy for that. 

If a guy wants to win and also happens to be a close friend with another superstar player on a team that wants to take him, I don't see the harm in that or why that's such an objectionable decision.  In fact, you could construe it as laudable...he gives up the chance at indvidual glory (and max money) in order to give himself the best possible chance to win multiple titles. 

However, the way in which the whole thing played out was a disaster and left me liking lebron a whole lot less...and I didn't really care for him all that much before it all went down. 

[willie warrior]

The only thing it indicates to me is that Lebron wants to win it all and he didn't see it happening in Cleveland (ever) and didn't see it happening any time soon in NY.  Hard to blame a guy for that. 

If a guy wants to win and also happens to be a close friend with another superstar player on a team that wants to take him, I don't see the harm in that or why that's such an objectionable decision.  In fact, you could construe it as laudable...he gives up the chance at indvidual glory (and max money) in order to give himself the best possible chance to win multiple titles. 

However, the way in which the whole thing played out was a disaster and left me liking lebron a whole lot less...and I didn't really care for him all that much before it all went down. 

Yeah, Lebron handled "the decision" poorly and needs some PR help. Yeah, Wade got a divorce and it does take two to tangle, but his wife went into the outer limits. The NBA is big time business, and LeBron made a business decision.
Face it, Lebron is one of the three best basketball players on the planet, and he and Wade are three of the 5 best in the universe. None of them took max money, and Wade took less to make this happen.
They are all about Bball, and I would watch Wade before Lazar and Matthews any day.
But come on, no dis to Lazar or Mathews, but they are not in the same basketball celestial trajectory as Wade.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Not getting why you would watch Wes and Lazar and dis Wade, the best player MU has ever produced. What--his divorce--his wife was a fruitcake firing several attornies and going ballistic in the media.
wWat is wrong with Wade and Lebron teaming up? It is OK for Bryant/Gasol and Anthony/Stoudemaire and the Three musketeers in Boston. but becuase Wade took less money than the others to make it happen, you are turned off by the Wade?Lebron duo.
Oh well, to each his own.

Because a lot of Bulls fans wanted him to go to Chicago.    If he went to Chicago, then a number of folks wouldn't have an issue. Of course many will say they didn't like how he went about it...that's fair.  I'd love to know why there is no outrage then from folks when Jerry West, long time Laker, goes to Memphis as a GM and then trades Gasol to the Lakers (his former team) for a bag of peanuts.  Talk about a joke of a trade that was incredibly one sided.  Or let's look at how Shaq ended up being a Laker....same thing.

People get upset about one thing and turn their head the other way on some others that are actually engineered and agreed upon by the league.  The NBA had to approve that Gasol trade...ridiculous that they did.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Marc Gasol is hardly playing like a bag of peanuts. He outdoes his brother each time they go head to head and he's a big reason Memphis is still in the playoffs. But I agree that trade was a doozy

[4everwarriors]

I don't understand the blah reaction to wade.

Is it because he already has a ring and a finals mvp?

I loved him at MU obviously, and vowed to be a fan of whatever team he made in the league.

Anyone remember his game winner against charlotte his rookie year?  He is a phenomenal talent that attracts the best to come play with him.

It's the IU shorts thing.
Rest up till Saturday HEAT!

[brewcity77]

Yeah, Lebron handled "the decision" poorly and needs some PR help. Yeah, Wade got a divorce and it does take two to tangle, but his wife went into the outer limits. The NBA is big time business, and LeBron made a business decision.
Face it, Lebron is one of the three best basketball players on the planet, and he and Wade are three of the 5 best in the universe. None of them took max money, and Wade took less to make this happen.
They are all about Bball, and I would watch Wade before Lazar and Matthews any day.
But come on, no dis to Lazar or Mathews, but they are not in the same basketball celestial trajectory as Wade.

Not sure I agree with the LeBron angle here. Did he make a business decision? I don't think so. If he was strictly motivated by the business, he'd be in New York. Far more opportunities for marketing dollars, and he would have been The Man in the biggest city in the NBA.

And as good as LeBron is, my issue with him is that he doesn't have a desire to be the best. He doesn't have the heart of a Jordan, a Bryant, a Bird, a Magic, or any of the all-time greats. He chose to be Robin to D-Wade's Batman. Miami was always Wade's town, and was always going to be Wade's town. As much as LeBron may be one of the best basketball players all-time in terms of talent, he'd rather be Scottie Pippen than Michael Jordan.

It's not because he left Cleveland. He could have been The Man in New York, New Jersey, even in Chicago (where a year ago, D-Rose didn't have near the Q-rating he has now). He went to the only city in the bidding where he didn't have to be the alpha male. I respect his game, I just wish he had half the desire of the true all-time greats. I can't even imagine how good LeBron could be if he had as much passion and desire for the game as Jordan has in the last knuckle of his pinky finger.

He made a decision because he wanted the easy path to getting the title monkey off his back and because he didn't have to be the leader in getting that title. Great player, but a follower, not a leader. Because of that, he'll never reach his true potential. As a basketball fan, that disappoints me greatly.

[HoopsMalone]

It's not because he left Cleveland. He could have been The Man in New York, New Jersey, even in Chicago (where a year ago, D-Rose didn't have near the Q-rating he has now). He went to the only city in the bidding where he didn't have to be the alpha male. I respect his game, I just wish he had half the desire of the true all-time greats. I can't even imagine how good LeBron could be if he had as much passion and desire for the game as Jordan has in the last knuckle of his pinky finger.

I think that people did get upset a little bit about leaving Cleveland.  That was a pretty cool storyline.  The hometown kid lifts the curse of Cleveland or dies trying.  The hometown hero leaves home to go party with his buddies on the beach. 

[brewcity77]

I think that people did get upset a little bit about leaving Cleveland.  That was a pretty cool storyline.  The hometown kid lifts the curse of Cleveland or dies trying.  The hometown hero leaves home to go party with his buddies on the beach.

Without a doubt, but the point I was trying to make is that he didn't have to stay in Cleveland to be "The Man" on his team. In New York, New Jersey, or Chicago he would have been seen as "The Man". But Miami was always and will always be Wade's team and Wade's city. LeBron chose to go to the one place where all the blame wouldn't fall on him. That choice proved he doesn't have the same competitive fire that makes guys like Jordan, Bird, and Kobe the kind of dominant players that they are. He shied away from that choice, instead playing second fiddle (despite all his talent) to the obvious face of the Heat franchise, Dwyane Wade.

[jmayer1]

I'd love to know why there is no outrage then from folks when Jerry West, long time Laker, goes to Memphis as a GM and then trades Gasol to the Lakers (his former team) for a bag of peanuts.  Talk about a joke of a trade that was incredibly one sided.  Or let's look at how Shaq ended up being a Laker....same thing.

People get upset about one thing and turn their head the other way on some others that are actually engineered and agreed upon by the league.  The NBA had to approve that Gasol trade...ridiculous that they did.

1. West was no longer the GM when Gasol was traded. There's been plenty of bad trades made in the NBA, and that wasn't a great trade, but it doesn't rank anywhere close to the worst. There's no reason the league should be mettling in team's business.

2. Shaq signed as a freee agent with the Lakers, not sure how there can be much questionable there.

[HouWarrior]

There's no reason the league should be mettling in team's business.

Actually, it has happened. In the early 80s, The Cleveland Cavaliers made so many bad trades of  players and draft picks, under owner Ted Stepien, that the NBA barred them from any trades without prior league review and approval...and it only lifted the ban after Stepien  sold to the Gund brothers, who, although one of them was blind, still knew how to run a team better than trader Ted--lol.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

dirty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcVcPVSYzJ4

[Pakuni]

Because a lot of Bulls fans wanted him to go to Chicago.    If he went to Chicago, then a number of folks wouldn't have an issue. Of course many will say they didn't like how he went about it...that's fair.  I'd love to know why there is no outrage then from folks when Jerry West, long time Laker, goes to Memphis as a GM and then trades Gasol to the Lakers (his former team) for a bag of peanuts.  Talk about a joke of a trade that was incredibly one sided.  Or let's look at how Shaq ended up being a Laker....same thing.

There was loads of criticism over that trade (though West wasn't Memphis' GM at the time), most prominently from Gregg Popovich.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/08/popovich.grizzlies/

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/4447/memphis-gm-chris-wallace-to-critics-show-your-faces

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-heisleygasol060308

Funny thing is, in hindsight it was a pretty good deal for Memphis. That trade (or assets acquired through it) turned into Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young and Greivis Vasquez. Not bad for a guy who desperately wanted out.

[El Duderino]

There was loads of criticism over that trade (though West wasn't Memphis' GM at the time), most prominently from Gregg Popovich.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/08/popovich.grizzlies/

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/4447/memphis-gm-chris-wallace-to-critics-show-your-faces

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-heisleygasol060308

Funny thing is, in hindsight it was a pretty good deal for Memphis. That trade (or assets acquired through it) turned into Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young and Greivis Vasquez. Not bad for a guy who desperately wanted out.

Yea, initially that trade looked to be a travesty, but with the strong development of Marc Gasol, not so much anymore, and Marc is younger with even more room to keep getting better.

[The Maestro]

Congratulations to Dwyane Wade and the Heat on a big series win last night! To expand on an earlier post about Wade win titles helps our recruiting, I couldn't agree more! A few years ago ESPN aired a story about Wade and his helping a young boy who was sick and in the hospital. It was a very moving story and they showed Wade with the boy's family and how he gave Heat tickets to the family. For the entire story Wade wore Marquette gear, not Heat gear. So yes, he's a great ambassador for our school and I wish him continued success this season!

[ringout]

I could care less about Wade now. He did his thing down there. Everyone knows how good he is, and now he has Bron Bron on his teet/nuts as they carry each other to a hopeful NBA title. Not to be all old school, but there is no chance in hell that this happens in the 80s/90s. Not top two players set things up to play w/each other instead of against each other. It's a joke.

The Wade/Bron marriage has turned me even more off the NBA (and Wade) than ever. Toss in his not-exactly-father-of-the-year antics, and I'm just tired of Wade. Not to say he's not the best thing of MU ever and he deserves all his props, I'm just saying for me, personally....meh.  

Bring on the hate.

Wade's character has been revealed.  NBA manwhore.  After all his "aw shucks, I love my wife and my kids" nonsense when he was at MU,  I expected more.

[Hards Alumni]

Really?

I know of a Prince in Nigeria who needs to borrow some money from you.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

Here's hoping to see one of these tonight!

Go Heat!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnAKjeElUzc

(Note: Brad Miller's face is priceless)

[HoopsMalone]

Yea, initially that trade looked to be a travesty, but with the strong development of Marc Gasol, not so much anymore, and Marc is younger with even more room to keep getting better.

And that trade helped them clear space for Zach Randolph.  In hindsight, a great trade for both teams.

[ChicosBailBonds]

There was loads of criticism over that trade (though West wasn't Memphis' GM at the time), most prominently from Gregg Popovich.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/02/08/popovich.grizzlies/

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/4447/memphis-gm-chris-wallace-to-critics-show-your-faces

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-heisleygasol060308

Funny thing is, in hindsight it was a pretty good deal for Memphis. That trade (or assets acquired through it) turned into Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph, Darrell Arthur, Sam Young and Greivis Vasquez. Not bad for a guy who desperately wanted out.

That trade also gave two championships to the Lakers on a silver platter....plus three straight trips to the NBA Finals.   Put another way, commissioners that are interested in competitive balance wouldn't let this stuff happen, especially for unproven players like that. 

[TallTitan34]

Being a Bulls fan, I am cheering for Wade to score 60 but the Bulls to win  

Back in 2006 when the Heat won the title, I cheered for the Heat over the Bulls since there was no way the Bulls could compete for a championship like the Heat and Wade could.

I also don't want to see Lebron ever win a championship.

[ChicosBailBonds]

1. West was no longer the GM when Gasol was traded. There's been plenty of bad trades made in the NBA, and that wasn't a great trade, but it doesn't rank anywhere close to the worst. There's no reason the league should be mettling in team's business.

2. Shaq signed as a freee agent with the Lakers, not sure how there can be much questionable there.

I think this article shares how involved West was with the deal...you are correct (I was wrong) he had just recently given up his GM title.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-heisleygasol060308

On number 2, if you harken back to 1996 there was a big rift about whether O'Neal was even qualified to be a free agent.  Not coincidentally, this was prior to the last time we went down the path of a NBA Lockout.  At issue was whether he was truly a free agent based on the August 8th tentative CBA reached in 1995.  Orlando said he was not a free agent and his agent said otherwise.  This was the era of such agent beauties as Armato (Shaq's agent), Falk, etc and such.  Orlando had the ability to sign him for what ever they wished to pay under the rules in those days, as he was under their control...a team could sign their own free agents to unlimited amount while a competing team could not.

Yes, once O'Neal was "interpreted" to be a Free Agent by the NBA, a condition that many in Orlando disagreed with because they argued that is not what the tentative CBA stated, the Lakers signed him.  That is what my reference was.  One has to wonder if Shaq was playing for the Lakers, Knicks, Bulls or another big market team if the NBA would have ruled in such a manner as it did with Orlando.  A number of journalists wondered that out loud back in the day.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Being a Bulls fan, I am cheering for Wade to score 60 but the Bulls to win  

Back in 2006 when the Heat won the title, I cheered for the Heat over the Bulls since there was no way the Bulls could compete for a championship like the Heat and Wade could.

I also don't want to see Lebron ever win a championship.

I hope Lebron wins 10 just to piss people off.  I find it hilarious that big market teams lure guys all the time to play for them with no repercussions at all, but this guy chose to leave but because he had a "decision" televised it gets everyone so damn bent.  When Dwight Howard goes to the Lakers or Bulls or wherever next year, people aren't going to give the guy the 3rd degree, the very same fans of these teams that whine incessantly at James.  If James went to the Bulls, would Bulls fans be all anti-Lebron?  LOL...of course not.

Doesn't much matter...BRING ON THE LOCKOUT. Can't wait.