Monday, July 12, 2010

Post Reactions: Miami Heat gets LeBron James, Chris Bosh in Free Agency

In what will probably be the most talked about offseason in NBA history, the Miami Heat has acquired three superstars in their prime to play for six years with one goal - to win multiple championships.

LeBron James and Chris Bosh joined Dwyane Wade and sacrificed signing maximum contracts to play together to perhaps challenge the two-time champion Los Angeles Lakers. One can argue that the climax falls on LeBron's decision to join the Heat, but as we fast forward and think about June next year, this is their way of taking down Kobe Bryant and the Lakers.

As much as I despise James's obsession to fame and business at the age of 25, his move to the Heat is a very wise one compared to staying in his hometown Cleveland. He made a ideal decision unminding what his handlers Maverick Carter and World Wide Wes would do and what others especially his hometown asked for of him.

Sure this decision has prompted a lot of criticism and dreams shattered especially to Cavs owner Dan Gilbert and the Cavaliers fans but hey that is what free agency is for - the right to choose the team you'd like to play with.

Dan Gilbert's provocation of anger and grief towards James was his defense mechanism of how he pampered James and his colleagues and gave them power to rule the Cavs franchise for seven years. It is not entirely James's fault to begin with. Their approach towards player acquisition to strengthen the team was more of a product of hurried decisions like choosing Antawn Jamison over Amare Stoudamire and resigning Anderson Varejao over a better player like David Lee. Believing that Mo Williams is the ideal Robin for James is also a misconception as evidenced by his crumbling to pressure as the co-captain of James.

The only thing entirely wrong for James was to announce his selection on air. He should have taken a graceful exit on his hometown by a quiet declaration of departure. But who's to blame him if he chose not to re-sign? Gilbert shouldn't have tolerated this in the first place. Anyone else should've stepped up and spoken even before his drama anthology began except for Stan Van Gundy of whom many were quick to write off.

Nevertheless, it is hard to leave the team who picked you up in the draft and made you become the special player you are now just like James. With the impending lockout on the following year to come, players, owners, management and most especially the fans can't control the player's chosen path. After all, that's why it's called free agency.
Digg Stumble This Del.icio.us Mixx Furl Propeller Simpy Live Twitthis Add To Slashdot Spurl Google Yahoo Reddit Technorati Blinklist Blogmarks Smarkings Ma.gnolia SphereIt Sphinn Feedmelinks

No comments: