Wow, this sounds like it could get good.
Good for LeBron!

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/lebron-james-just-wants-the-world-to-know-screw-charles-barkley-155100185.html

[INDENT] "I'm not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that," James said of Barkley. "I'm not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, 'I'm not a role model.' I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying. "All I've done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that."[/INDENT]

We had a thread recently about LeBron - some like him, some don't. I think this is compelling reason to appreciate LeBron.
7 straight finals winning 3? How many times did Barkley get there - we all know he never won? And Barkley, while entertaining to listen to as an outspoken (ex)insider, is no great character.

concordtom;842801997 said:

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Wow, this sounds like it could get good.
Good for LeBron!

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/lebron-james-just-wants-the-world-to-know-screw-charles-barkley-155100185.html

[INDENT] “I’m not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that,” James said of Barkley. “I’m not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, ‘I’m not a role model.’ I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying. “All I’ve done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that.”[/INDENT]

We had a thread recently about LeBron - some like him, some don't. I think this is compelling reason to appreciate LeBron.
7 straight finals winning 3? How many times did Barkley get there - we all know he never won? And Barkley, while entertaining to listen to as an outspoken (ex)insider, is no great character.

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Without agreeing with Barkley, CT, I think that your using the fact that LeBron is superior to him as a player is irrelevant.

The issue is not about who is or was a better basketball player.

My opinion is that LeBron would do best to shut and play. If he wants to make comments about politics, fine. Getting into spats with Charles or anyone in the media does nothing good for him. Also, what Shaq said about this latest brouhaha makes sense: If he was unhappy with the owner/management it would have been best if he expressed this quietly to him/them. Going public hurts both him and them.

south bender;842802034 said:

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Without agreeing with Barkley, CT, I think that your using the fact that LeBron is superior to him as a player is irrelevant.

The issue is not about who is or was a better basketball player.....

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Agreed.

south bender;842802034 said:

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.... what Shaq said about this latest brouhaha makes sense: If he was unhappy with the owner/management it would have been best if he expressed this quietly to him/them. Going public hurts both him and them.

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Yup. It's going to be tough for Cleveland to get fair market value in trade if other teams feel they're desperate to make a deal to appease LeBron. LBJ shouldn't have gone public, that was dumb.

Also, Charles and Kenny both said that Cleveland has the highest payroll in the NBA...

Comparing Cavs management to the Dubs, I conclude it is better to be smart than rich. Well...not that the Dubs' ownership are poor.

concordtom;842801997 said:

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Wow, this sounds like it could get good.
Good for LeBron!

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/news/lebron-james-just-wants-the-world-to-know-screw-charles-barkley-155100185.html

[INDENT] "I'm not going to let him disrespect my legacy like that," James said of Barkley. "I'm not the one who threw somebody through a window. I never spit on a kid. I never had unpaid debt in Las Vegas. I never said, 'I'm not a role model.' I never showed up to All-Star Weekend on Sunday because I was in Vegas all weekend partying. "All I've done for my entire career is represent the NBA the right way. Fourteen years, never got in trouble. Respected the game. Print that."[/INDENT]

We had a thread recently about LeBron - some like him, some don't. I think this is compelling reason to appreciate LeBron.
7 straight finals winning 3? How many times did Barkley get there - we all know he never won? And Barkley, while entertaining to listen to as an outspoken (ex)insider, is no great character.

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Barkley is an idiot at times, but LeBron pretty much deserved the abuse he got from Charles this time.

This spat isn't compelling reason to appreciate LeBron, it is compelling reason to think that LeBron is a big fat tool. Note that LeBron can't defend his own actions. He can't say, "Charles is wrong, I wasn't inappropriate and whiny" because LeBron WAS inappropriate and whiny. No, the only defense LeBron can put up of his own idiocy is to insult Charles for things long ago that Charles did wrong? "Hey, I may have been inappropriate and whiny, but look at Charles, he did worse, and I'm not going to let him disrepect my legacy by calling me inappropriate and whiny and unwilling to compete when I'm being inappropriate, whiny, and unwilling to compete because he did bad things long ago." Huh? That's your defense? Uh, buddy, that doesn't make your actions any less bad.

You want the GM to upgrade the roster, you NEVER take it public. You do it VERY quietly with the GM. Aside from the fact that it gives other teams more leverage in any negotiations for a deal, it pisses off teammates. LeBron to his Cavs teammates -- "You guys suck too badly for us to win, I need the GM to get me better talent. Maybe some of you guys are OK, but the combination of me and you isn't good enough, it is ridiculous for me to have to try to win with this group, so the GM darn well needs to trade some of you for better talent." You may FEEL that way, but don't say it in public. Talk to players about what ALL of you can do to get better, don't b!tch publicly about the GM and how much you don't like your roster. It is a WEAK, WEAK move, it is being a HORRIBLE teammate, Charles properly called him out for it, and LeBron's response, FAR from being a compelling reason to appreciate him, is compelling reason to think he is a REALLY BIG TOOL.

LaBabay James....... King of the Floppers...

It's theater and it's not important. Just play.

i'd still take Chuck in a fist fight if both were at their peak athletically.

I think I'd have more fun hanging out with Charles for an afternoon than LeBron. However, I don't know either of them. Personally, I think LeBron is a great player who demonstrates his competitive zeal. My problem is more with how he is treated differently by officials, the league and most media sources. IMHO, if Lebron was wearing a Barkley mask last year, W's win in 5.

Cal8285;842802134 said:

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Barkley is an idiot at times, but LeBron pretty much deserved the abuse he got from Charles this time.

This spat isn't compelling reason to appreciate LeBron, it is compelling reason to think that LeBron is a big fat tool. Note that LeBron can't defend his own actions. He can't say, "Charles is wrong, I wasn't inappropriate and whiny" because LeBron WAS inappropriate and whiny. No, the only defense LeBron can put up of his own idiocy is to insult Charles for things long ago that Charles did wrong? "Hey, I may have been inappropriate and whiny, but look at Charles, he did worse, and I'm not going to let him disrepect my legacy by calling me inappropriate and whiny and unwilling to compete when I'm being inappropriate, whiny, and unwilling to compete because he did bad things long ago." Huh? That's your defense? Uh, buddy, that doesn't make your actions any less bad.

You want the GM to upgrade the roster, you NEVER take it public. You do it VERY quietly with the GM. Aside from the fact that it gives other teams more leverage in any negotiations for a deal, it pisses off teammates. LeBron to his Cavs teammates -- "You guys suck too badly for us to win, I need the GM to get me better talent. Maybe some of you guys are OK, but the combination of me and you isn't good enough, it is ridiculous for me to have to try to win with this group, so the GM darn well needs to trade some of you for better talent." You may FEEL that way, but don't say it in public. Talk to players about what ALL of you can do to get better, don't b!tch publicly about the GM and how much you don't like your roster. It is a WEAK, WEAK move, it is being a HORRIBLE teammate, Charles properly called him out for it, and LeBron's response, FAR from being a compelling reason to appreciate him, is compelling reason to think he is a REALLY BIG TOOL.

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I agree on this completely. LeBron threw his team mates under the bus. Not cool.

Since Lebron hand-picked a fair portion of the roster that they spent the money on, I can't feel sorry for him in that respect. Or any other, really. A guy who rags on his teammates in the press is a crappy teammate imo.

south bender;842802116 said:

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Also, Charles and Kenny both said that Cleveland has the highest payroll in the NBA...

Comparing Cavs management to the Dubs, I conclude it is better to be smart than rich. Well...not that the Dubs' ownership are poor.

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MinotStateBeav;842802214 said:

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i'd still take Chuck in a fist fight if both were at their peak athletically.

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I don't know about that but I'd take CB in an ass-fight.

south bender;842802116 said:

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Also, Charles and Kenny both said that Cleveland has the highest payroll in the NBA...

Comparing Cavs management to the Dubs, I conclude it is better to be smart than rich. Well...not that the Dubs' ownership are poor.

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The main reason the Cavs payroll is so much higher than the Warriors is because of Steph Curry. He is making only $12 million this year in the last year of his contract. Next year he will be making $30 million.

The Warriors deserve credit for signing Thompson, Green, & Curry to early extensions over the past few years. This upcoming offseason will be interesting for the Warriors because 8 players on the current roster who will be free agents next year. So, you can expect their payroll to jump quite a bit next season.

The payroll that is baffling to me is Portland...only $9 million behind the Cavs at $120 mil...

btsktr;842804129 said:

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The main reason the Cavs payroll is so much higher than the Warriors is because of Steph Curry. He is making only $12 million this year in the last year of his contract. Next year he will be making $30 million.

The Warriors deserve credit for signing Thompson, Green, & Curry to early extensions over the past few years. This upcoming offseason will be interesting for the Warriors because 8 players on the current roster who will be free agents next year. So, you can expect their payroll to jump quite a bit next season.

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Yes, but the pool that they can pay out of jumps again next year significantly. many of the guys will be turned over again next year and they'll find some vets who'll sign for the min just to get to be on a championship caliber team and play in that system that is so player friendly. Meanwhile, Lebron will still be whining.

petalumabear;842804141 said:

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Yes, but the pool that they can pay out of jumps again next year significantly. many of the guys will be turned over again next year and they'll find some vets who'll sign for the min just to get to be on a championship caliber team and play in that system that is so player friendly. Meanwhile, Lebron will still be whining.

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Or maybe Lebron will be a Warrior!

petalumabear;842804141 said:

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Yes, but the pool that they can pay out of jumps again next year significantly. many of the guys will be turned over again next year and they'll find some vets who'll sign for the min just to get to be on a championship caliber team and play in that system that is so player friendly. Meanwhile, Lebron will still be whining.

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but I doubt they'll be able to keep Iguodala and Livingston if they want to give Curry and Durant as much as they can (which they should). They will be hard to replace.

south bender;842804142 said:

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Or maybe Lebron will be a Warrior!

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In fact, the Dubs just released Varejao..... bringing in a guard on a 10 day contract... anyone below about 10 on that roster in terms of playing time is just there for a year..... after that they clean the slate and do it again.. LeBron would probably enjoy the Warriors but they might not enjoy his criticism...

philbert;842804145 said:

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but I doubt they'll be able to keep Iguodala and Livingston if they want to give Curry and Durant as much as they can (which they should). They will be hard to replace.

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we'll see....

Here is where they stand and they just let Varejao go.... lots of cap space for next year...

http://en.hispanosnba.com/salaries/teams/golden-state-warriors

petalumabear;842804156 said:

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we'll see....

Here is where they stand and they just let Varejao go.... lots of cap space for next year...

http://en.hispanosnba.com/salaries/teams/golden-state-warriors

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Curry and Durant stand to make $36 million next year.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18286141/under-new-cba-golden-state-warriors-guard-stephen-curry-get-deal-worth-more-200-million

The projected salary cap next year is $102 million.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-lowers-2017-18-cap-projection-to-102-million/

If you just add up the Warriors core 4 next year they will be over the cap:

Curry-$36 million
Durant-$36 million
Thompson- $17.8 million
Green- $16.4 million

If they were to resign Andre and Shaun at their 2016 salaries, the Warriors would be paying luxury tax.

I think there is also the issue of cap holds for your own free agents. In order to create max space for Durant, I think they will have to renounce the rights to some of their own pricey free agents (like Andre and Livingston). If they had Durant's Bird rights, it would be easier to keep them, but they don't.

Of course, if the new CBA has different rules than before, then who knows?

For those interested, this article lays out the roster implications for the Dubs next year. Iggy and Livingston will be hard to keep unless they want to sign at a discounted rate (assuming Durant opts out and wants the max).

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-the-warriors-can-re-sign-kevin-durant-and-retain-steph-curry-162217895.html

philbert;842804674 said:

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For those interested, this article lays out the roster implications for the Dubs next year. Iggy and Livingston will be hard to keep unless they want to sign at a discounted rate (assuming Durant opts out and wants the max).

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/how-the-warriors-can-re-sign-kevin-durant-and-retain-steph-curry-162217895.html

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Both of those guys are at the point in their careers, where they can appreciate what being on the W's means for them beyond the dollar$ - including that both of them have earned pretty well in their careers to date and will extend their careers on the W's. Although losing one ( or both) would not be a complete surprise, I think both return to the W's before moving to another team.

Yup. That's how I see it. If they want big deals they'll have to go to an up and coming team and hope for the best. It's a matter of their enjoying what they do for about $10m less for Iggy and $5m less for Sean.

petalumabear;842805059 said:

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Yup. That's how I see it. If they want big deals they'll have to go to an up and coming team and hope for the best. It's a matter of their enjoying what they do for about $10m less for Iggy and $5m less for Sean.

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I hope you're right, but teams were throwing around huge salaries last year. Iggy got a nice FA contract last time around. Livingston got a decent one, but has probably had his earnings limited over his career by all of the injuries. I wouldn't blame either of them if they wanted the guaranteed big contract from another team.

A more compelling argument would be Durant wanting to keep one or both around and either not opting out or re-signing for less money. I don't think that's going to happen either, though.

They carefully avoided getting over the apron this year so they can go into the luxury tax next year without getting hammered by the repeater penalties. Livingston will be worth more than his current pay on the open market though. It'll be an interesting off-season.

btsktr;842804172 said:

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Curry and Durant stand to make $36 million next year.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18286141/under-new-cba-golden-state-warriors-guard-stephen-curry-get-deal-worth-more-200-million

The projected salary cap next year is $102 million.

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-lowers-2017-18-cap-projection-to-102-million/

If you just add up the Warriors core 4 next year they will be over the cap:

Curry-$36 million
Durant-$36 million
Thompson- $17.8 million
Green- $16.4 million

If they were to resign Andre and Shaun at their 2016 salaries, the Warriors would be paying luxury tax.

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Looks like there is a way to keep both Iggy and Livingston, if Durant is willing to sign for one year at $31M. If he is, he doesn't give up any long-term salary either.

https://theathletic.com/37420/2017/02/07/kevin-durants-decision-and-the-new-cba/