[surveParticipant]

 There is a thread going on now about how many rings will a particular player win.

This goes into my point about how difficult it is to win titles in the crazy era of Free Agency.

Its more difficult to have dominant teams with soooooo many BIG stars switching teams through free agency.

Back in the day, mega stars like MJ, Magic, Bird, the Mailman, Ewing, Olajuwon, etc…were all considered "lifers" when they became stars for their teams.

Now….you cant be sure.  Lebron looked like a lifer, but the pressure to win those rings influenced him to take advantage of his free agent status.

There was a point after Shaq where Kobe was almost not a Laker, subsequently came 2 more rings.

We have discussed before, had the Bulls not improved with the additions of Pippen and Grant, perhaps MJ couldve explored his free agent options.

Lebron has like 3 more years to win in Miami?  If he doesnt then what?

Deron Williams is likely to move to his 2nd team in as many years…that for a premier star in the league wouldve absolutely been a no go a few years ago.

I want to see more guys stay with their teams they are drafted by and build that legacy.  I understand Lebron’s decision to leave Cleveland, but I wouldve preferred things to work out better.  Had Bosh chosen Cleveland, maybe Lebron wouldnt have left.

I also am not a proponent of guys leaving smaller markets just to play in bigger markets.  I think Shaq had a good thing going in Orlando and I believe the same criticism that forced LBJ out of Cleveland did the same thing to Shaq.  I am not totally sold that he wanted to "go Hollywood", I think had they have won, he wouldve likely stayed.  I think for him, he felt underappreciated and what better place to be appreciated for a star of that magnitude than L.A.?  

What are your thoughts on Free Agency and how it affects winning, marketability, etc….

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

Great post dude. I argee with you that the pressure to win rings is a crucial factor for a player a la Shaq, Lebron and almost Kobe to leave the teams that drafted them. Me being a fan of small market teams, I get livid with this "superteam" era of superstars teaming up in a big market franchise. I understand that it is great for business in basketball, but I believe it frequently deminishes leveled-out competition in the league and sets a bad example to the young players entering the league to not stay with their repsective teams. One player I think WILL break the chain is Kevin Durant. Such a humble, competitive player with a superstar by his side already in Russell Westbrook, and he’s only 23, but years ago, I said the same thing about Lebron and I was of course wrong. Teams that are in the mend of rebuilding should study how the Thunder and Spurs draft their players yearly.

[CAROLINA BLUE NICKParticipant]

Excellent post surve. I look at Lebron and  "the decision" causing a domino effect with the young NBA stars of today. I think alot of players back then were more loyal, because other superstars in the league were. If Jordan were to leave, who is to say that the superstars of the 90’s would have stayed with one team. If the best player in the NBA won’t stay with one team, why should I? I think Lebron caused alot of stars to think like that. Most of the players that did switch teams like Drexler or Barkley fought as long as they could with their respective teams before they wanted to do whatever it took to win a ring. Wasn’t Drexler like in his 13th year until he won with the Rockets? Same thing with KG and Ray Allen. KG was in his 13th year and i think Allen was in his 12th. Lebron did what he felt was best for him and I don’t knock him for that. But i believe that because of the "hype" that so many young stars get today, even with Lebron’s amazing career, I do believe most fans(not true NBA fans like the guys on this site) would consider Lebron’s career a bust. Not in the traditional bust since like an Olawakandi or Kwame Brown, but in the sense that people pegged this guy "The Chosen One" when he was a sophmore in high school. Thats alot of pressure for a young kid to deal with. The way Lebron was hyped you would think he would have a ring by now. And I think that gets to him, whether he wants to admit it or not. I think that same thing goes for  Melo,  Dwight, CP3 and  Dwill. Yea they might not have been as hyped as Lebron but i’m pretty sure they thought that since Lebron is the best player in the NBA, the fact that he left and teamed up with others made them question their ability and want to do the same thing. I just hope that Kevin Love, Durant, and Rose bring back the aspect of loyalty to teams that took a chance on you.

[surveParticipant]

 agree.  we need more guys like Durant.  I can see Anthony Davis being that type of humble star as well.  We already have Derrick Rose, another great example….although he plays in a great market, but still….Lebron may be from Akron, but he is/was Ohio’s favorite son.  being drafted by Cleveland is almost the same as being the hometown kid.  I really think he hated to leave, but the pressure was on him to win, not necessarily to be great.  although he was great, the criticism today is, greatness and winning go hand and hand.

[surveParticipant]

 in actuality, Lebron shouldve had a ring by now, but its a team sport and it didnt happen for him….being it didnt, he was almost forced to leave, rather than re-sign for another 4 or 5 years when he saw Wade teaming up with Bosh, and the rise of the Bulls, not to mention Boston and Orlando who are subject to have good playoff runs.  

Jordan couldve left, but he didnt.  Likewise with Kobe.  And look at the results.  I think players like Lebron, CP3, Melo, should take note of that…but I cant blame them for wanting to win when all the emphasis is placed on them to do so.

[iguapops420Participant]

 As much of a critic as I am of LBJ, but I definitely don’t the think "the decision" was all his to make. Definitely a lot of pressure surrounding him to get out to a bigger market and play with more stars to win. You can simply tell with things like his comments about possibly returning one day. But I have actually talked with others about the likelyhood that he actually does leave Miami if they don’t win between now and his FA. Wade will be much older and begining to downward slope of his career and Bosh I don’t honestly think would be enough. Personally I’d expect him to find Dwight and go where he is. 

Still, Cleveland didn’t do the best job possible at keeping LBJ as a few more things could have been done to secure him. They refused to trade Hickson away for Amare when they ultimately traded him away for a poossible summer cut Omri Casspi. They honestly should have been doing that trade simply in case they lost LBJ.

[CAROLINA BLUE NICKParticipant]

 I get what you guys are saying but guys like Dirk stuck it out and he got a ring. Most of the players that leave only go to big market teams. So unless you draft a loyal guy, its going to be hard for small market teams to flourish. I love what San Antonio has done and what OKC is doing. I also agree with you iguapops in that Lebron being pressured with the other top guys staying with their respective teams or teaming up with others. But I guess it all depends on the person. Like I said Lebron did what was best for him. But I still think him leaving made other players follow because they wanted to be on superteams too. CP3 made a toast at Melos wedding stating that he had hoped to start a new big 3 with him, Melo and Amare. Plus other than CP3 and Bosh, the free agents that left didn’t leave bad teams. The Nuggets were in the Western Conference finals in 09 and the Suns made it before Amare left. The Cavs had the best record two years in a row before Lebron left. He took a weaker team to the finals in 07. So like I said, it depends on the person. I guess I’m old fashion. I know Barkley, Malone, Stockton all wish they could’ve won a ring. Still doesn’t take away they were some of the greatest to ever play.  Darko Milicic and even Adam Morrison got a ring. Both can only dream of being the player that Lebron is. 

[surveParticipant]

 Its really difficult when I team in in the basement and has a lot of lottery picks.  Like look at the Kings for instance, its doubtful that Cousins and Reke will be together for long.  Take a look at teams like the Cavs and the Wiz.   They could end up getting some great picks this year and next year but by the time these guys learn to play together, free agency will have broken the team up.  

About the only team that has been successful in building a core and keeping it together has been OKC, mainly because Durant wasnt greedy, and Westbrook is his friend.  Likely Harding and Ibaka will stick around too….as well as Maynor, should he return to form.  Everyone seemed to be happy about their roles and unselfish when it comes to winning.

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