Hoops

Chris Paul Wants Out Now

Re the comments above about all the superstars becoming concentrated on new teams, I think you'll find that this will be thwarted because:
1) teams will go back to trading star players in their final year if they think there is any chance they won't accept an extension;
2) Stern and the owners may attempt to make this sort of thing more difficult in the new CBA agreement.

Agree that CP3 should try to find a way out of NO, they have done nothing to suggest they will even try to put a team around him thats capable of challenging for a title. Probably not a lot he can do for a couple of years though as he still has 3 years (final one a player option) on his contract.

Agree with Nutwork's post above too. The idea that one player carries his team to the title is just wrong. EVERY team that wins the title has several very good players to support their main star.

Ha! Big Ads, if I sent you my Facebook page with me bitching about my beloved Heat signing LeBron, would that be enough? ;-)

Speed44, can you forward contact details of your mates, just want to confirm your really don't like LeBron :-)

I hereby propose a new corollary for Godwin's Law: as the number of internet posts about basketball increases, the probability of the thread turning into a debate about LeBron James approaches 1.

I agree the TV 'show' was ridiculous and over the top, but unfortunately, that's what him, his entourage, and his fanboys have created....a media monster/whore.

And yes, he should have been better to the Cavs in the end too. I believe they did get a sign-and-trade in the end with Miami for a cap exception (correct me if I'm wrong), not much I know, and they could've got a better deal had he signed earlier, but still it's not like they are completely empty-handed.

And every free agent will lie to some team eventually during the process. They'll say that they're considering them, even if they know they're not.

Look, I am not a fan of LBJ (in fact, if you ask my mates, you'll find out I don't really like him much at all), I just think that to be critical of him (and Bosh, to a lesser extent) for teaming up together is crap. That is sport in the modern age, it's been happening for 20 (or more) years now.

I love Durant, but that is the difference...he has not had his ear pissed into since early High School about being the G.O.A.T. (haha!) like LBJ has. He is a level-headed, mature young man, where LeBron is not. But, mark my words, if OKC fall in a massive hole in the next 5 years, he will ask to be sent somewhere with another good player present to win as well....great players want to win, role players and scrubs will play anywhere for a cheque. Loyalty in Pro Sports is dead.

As a Hornets fan, I've been hoping this would happen. I'd be fully in favour of a trade for the right player(s). We have an excellent drop-in replacement with Collison, and the Hornets are doomed to eternal mediocrity with the current squad. A trade for another stud or two certainly wouldn't make them any worse, and would hopefully make them better.

Let me preface this by saying I am a Lakers fan:

"The true stars like MJ and Kobe who didnt need 7 other superstars to win must be sick at so many of the stars seemingly wanting to team up these days."

Kobe won his first three rings with the most dominant player in the game. He wasn't the best player on the team. He won his next two rings with a future hall of famer, Pau Gasol (for his NBA & international exploits), Lamar Odom (one of the most versatile & talented players to ever play the game), Andrew Bynum (one of the most talented young big men in the game today) & for his last title Ron Artest a former Defensive Player of the year.

Jordan also had help, namely Scottie Pippen (Named one of the 50 greatest players of all time) and Dennis Rodman one of the best ever defensive players & rebounders.

Bird had Parish & McHale & a cast of superstars (Walton, DJ, etc.)

Magic had Kareem & Worthy & Cooper & Scott & Nixon & others.

Most of the best teams in the history of the league have had 2 or three superstars.

Give these guys a break, enjoy watching them play and enjoy even more the lakers getting a 3peat.

I find it funny that people hate on players for being "disloyal", but teams/franchises can trade players like they are cattle, and barely any comment is made.

Let's be honest here, Bosh would NEVER have won anything in Toronto, I know that, you haters know that, and he definitely knew it. He was a FREE (emphasis on FREE!) agent, so he moved where he thinks he can win, good luck to him. Why would he move to somewhere like, the Kings for instance, where it would ostensibly be the same situation for him? Of course he is gonna go where there is another good player or players.

And people always bringing up the "LBJ should've gone to the Bulls" argument, when trying to sledge LBJ/Miami really irks me. So it wouldn't have been just as disloyal to join the Bulls? Sounds like some bitter Bulls fans to me.

Wade = building block. One team, entire career, teams built around him.

Good luck to CP3, he does need to leave that club, they have no chance of ever winning anything with their attitude. Should've been a major player in the West a couple of years back, but have only gone backwards. Try and get to Miami CP3, the Heat would love to have ya!!

He really has no say where he goes. He doesn't have a no trade clause and is under contract. The hornets will just deal him to the highest bidder if they are smart. He really shouldn't have signed that extension a few years back.

CP3 is a competitor and can clearly see his current franchise is all about financial statements, not championships.

Fair call to say you want out in a situation like that- you only get one career.

Knicks would LOVE to have him, but i can see Cuban working hard for that trade to Dallas.

Magic would be an imposing situation too.

I must admit, all the rumour about the New York big three of Paul, Melo and Amare is exciting too.... but can it really happen when sign n trades need to occur and the knicks don't have much to offer???

LeBron would definitely have been better off with the Bulls, their squad is far deeper and better balanced both inside and out to compete in the East.

As for Kobe and Jordan, yes, there was Gasol and Pippen, but both KB and MJ showed that they were "The Man" of their respective team. Furthermore, these guys didn't jump ship to join other "stars" which is something LeBron and Bosh have done, and it appears that Paul wants to do something similar. Kobe and MJ were the building blocks of the team, the team was built around them, and they were players who have stayed with one club for the majority (if not their entire) careers.

Not that I disagree entirely with the sentiment posted above, but Gasol is definitely equal if not better than Amare and Bosh, and Shaq was at his peak in 2000-02 so its hard to say Kobe did it alone. I would also ague that Pippen was a true superstar in his own right (see Bulls 1994-1995), and his defensive abilities perhaps even put him above Anthony.

All megastars need some help along the line. My concern with these top loaded teams is a lack of support such as a Horace Grant, Derek Harper, Fisher, or Horry types.

Maybe Lebron would have been better off with the Bulls, with Rose, Boozer, Noah and a deep roster already established.