Miami*Heat president Pat Riley addressed his team's NBA draft approach on Monday.
"No more smiling faces with hidden agendas, so we'll be going in clean," Riley said. He added, "That could be anyone across the board."
One interpretation of Riley's first comment is that he is alluding to LeBron James.*James played four seasons with the Heat before exercising the early termination option of his contract last June and becoming a free agent.
In last summer's draft, the Heat used their first-round pick on former UConn point guard Shabazz Napier.*James had made clear his opinion on Napier during the Huskies' championship run, tweeting in April that there is "No way u take another PG in the lottery before Napier."
After Miami acquired Napier in a draft-night trade, James tweeted the following.*"My favorite player in the draft! #Napier."
In July, the four-time MVP later opted to leave Miami and join the Cleveland Cavaliers, with whom he spent the first seven seasons of his career.
On Monday, Riley was asked about James' departure.*"Yes, I'm at peace with it," Riley said.
Last I checked, that got stabbed SVG in the back the minute Shaq showed up so he could hop in the driver's seat of a championship team... he's one to talk about "agendas."
Talk about coming out to defend someone or some team ...
Personally seems like they are reaching. I do think it was snarky comment but really does it warrant much media coverage? And riles is a gangster offing SVG was as natural as walking for Pat. Besides, shaq wanted SVG gone ...blame him.
Of course he's still mad..everybody in the organization assumed Lebron was returned, because he made it seem like he was..
The only difference between this and what happened in 2010 is that there wasn't an ESPN special..it's thefeel good story
I'm pretty sure Pat Riley did not draft LeBron James. I don't think he was referring to him then when he spoke about smiling faces with hidden agendas. If anyone he was talking about Michael Beasley.
Agree. But at the same time, what did Riley really expect? That LeBron wouldnt leave him like he left Gilbert?
Lebeta returning to massa Gilbert:
Wade broke down like everyone thought he would. And Riley is a ty GM who traded for Dragic who is going to opt out anyway.Lebeta returning to massa Gilbert:
^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
He left Cleveland to be loved again, and it's working..everybody loves him, his popularity increased dramatically, especially with White people..also, he's the best player in the NBA and a top 5 peak player of all-time, any team he goes to will automatically contend(and the team he leaves will go downhill, as we have seen several times)..
The Cavs are a terribly constructed team, yet they're the favorites to win the East and Vegas has them as le favorites..a team with the 20th ranked defense in the league, which is almost unheard of..
And you were on his nuts thinking Lebeta was on some militant , like he was some kind of black leader^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
Ol' coon ass house negro showed his true colors.
So if Wade was healthy, and Bosh (no one saw his condition coming), you think LeBron still would have left?^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
He left Cleveland to be loved again, and it's working..everybody loves him, his popularity increased dramatically, especially with White people..also, he's the best player in the NBA and a top 5 peak player of all-time, any team he goes to will automatically contend(and the team he leaves will go downhill, as we have seen several times)..
The Cavs are a terribly constructed team, yet they're the favorites to win the East and Vegas has them as le favorites..a team with the 20th ranked defense in the league, which is almost unheard of..
Mmh, I don't know about that. I think Lebron saw that he got everything he could out of that group and it was time to look for greener pastures. Cleveland had Irving, a core of young talented players, the first pick on a stacked draft and cap space to go for max players add the "feel good story" to all that and it was a no brainer for Lebron.^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
He left Cleveland to be loved again, and it's working..everybody loves him, his popularity increased dramatically, especially with White people..also, he's the best player in the NBA and a top 5 peak player of all-time, any team he goes to will automatically contend(and the team he leaves will go downhill, as we have seen several times)..
The Cavs are a terribly constructed team, yet they're the favorites to win the East and Vegas has them as le favorites..a team with the 20th ranked defense in the league, which is almost unheard of..
But make no mistake, if Cleveland hasn't had the tools to build a good team he wouldn't have returned.
It probably helped his decision, but it's very low in the priority list IMO..
Winning another ring in Miami would pale in comparison to winning a ring for his hometown and a notorious sports failure like the city of Cleveland..fans and media love the "hometown" narrative, just look at Derrick Rose, despite his constant failures
Irving was viewed as a cancer prior to Lebron joining.. , even earlier in the year, he was still viewed as a cancer and getting ripped by everybody for the Cavs' struggles..it's not like he was highly regarded..
They also had a new coach and a new system with no role players, unlike Miami with their continuity and chemistry..
Also, it's not like Wade sucks now..he still had a pretty good season, and his durability wasn't any different than in previous years with Lebron..
I agree it was a number of factors. But if the Cavs had Minny's roster even with ROTY wiggins who he absolutely did not want to wait on (obviously) ...no way he goes back home. It was about power, popularity, family and winning in some order.
Last edited by Killakobe81; 04-20-2015 at 02:09 PM.
That's what I'm saying. Lebron's decision was 95% about winning. He saw that with the assets Cleveland had a very good team could be built.
He saw Miami was done, imho. It was not only about Wade's decline or the talent on the roster. It was also about the 4 straight seasons getting to the finals. Lebron knew that getting that far again with that squad was going to be very very difficult.It probably helped his decision, but it's very low in the priority list IMO..
Winning another ring in Miami would pale in comparison to winning a ring for his hometown and a notorious sports failure like the city of Cleveland..fans and media love the "hometown" narrative, just look at Derrick Rose, despite his constant failures
Irving was viewed as a cancer prior to Lebron joining.. , even earlier in the year, he was still viewed as a cancer and getting ripped by everybody for the Cavs' struggles..it's not like he was highly regarded..
They also had a new coach and a new system with no role players, unlike Miami with their continuity and chemistry..
Also, it's not like Wade sucks now..he still had a pretty good season, and his durability wasn't any different than in previous years with Lebron..
Lebron went to Cleveland because of the younger talent - Kyrie and Love
Still, going to that hole Cleveland, I would rather stay in Miami even if that means finishing last in the standings
And I have less issue with him joining a young talented team rather than the Heatles. He didnt choose a complete reclamation project Cavs have talent and support especially after Lebron the GM's moves ...
But to act as though winning wasnt a factor is crazy. Plus, look what is happening when they win he gets all the credit when they lose everyone says Love and Kyrie are losers who have never won anything ...
Lebron is smart as ...
It's ironic that GMs get mad when a player leaves, because the way they usually acquire a guy in the first place is by convincing him to leave another place first. Everyone gets so emo and self-interested in these situations. I don't see what the big deal is... A grown man comes to a point in his life where his contract is up, and he takes a look around to see what his next best move is. LeBron's move especially seems pretty unremarkable: a guy returning to his home state to finish his career, and hopefully to bring a le to the team he grew up watching. It doesn't strike me as all that outlandish.
^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
Says the guy that was 100% sure LeBron wouldn't leave Miami and had an "inside source" that guaranteed he was staying.
You don't know LeBron's mind. I know you want to think you do but you don't, and no amount of smug, all-knowing sentences ending with "tbh
Shots fired ...Says the guy that was 100% sure LeBron wouldn't leave Miami and had an "inside source" that guaranteed he was staying.
You don't know LeBron's mind. I know you want to think you do but you don't, and no amount of smug, all-knowing sentences ending with "tbh
Says the guy that was 100% sure LeBron wouldn't leave Miami and had an "inside source" that guaranteed he was staying.
You don't know LeBron's mind. I know you want to think you do but you don't, and no amount of smug, all-knowing sentences ending with "tbh
LeBa (the media member with direct connections to Arison and Riley) has confirmed several times that LeBron made it seem like he was staying and led everybody on..Says the guy that was 100% sure LeBron wouldn't leave Miami and had an "inside source" that guaranteed he was staying.
You don't know LeBron's mind. I know you want to think you do but you don't, and no amount of smug, all-knowing sentences ending with "tbh
do you have a link to demonstrate that more white people like lebron now than a year ago?^^Lebron leaving had very little to do with Miami's talent level, tbh
He left Cleveland to be loved again, and it's working..everybody loves him, his popularity increased dramatically, especially with White people..also, he's the best player in the NBA and a top 5 peak player of all-time, any team he goes to will automatically contend(and the team he leaves will go downhill, as we have seen several times)..
The Cavs are a terribly constructed team, yet they're the favorites to win the East and Vegas has them as le favorites..a team with the 20th ranked defense in the league, which is almost unheard of..
because i'm assuming your source is the same as stephen a smith's... aka the streets
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