James in Phoenix?

[Covert Rain]

He didn't stay in Miami, he is on vacation with his kids.

That's not what I am saying. I didn't mean physically staying in Miami. I meant his intentions are to stay with the Heat.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I don't know. No personal visits to teams still shouts....I am staying in Miami but I will listen to what others are saying......through my agent.

It shouts "I don't want my name dragged through the mud again so I'm letting my agent handle it" to me. I think its always been a long shot that he'd leave Miami but I don't think he's jerking anyone around. He's serious enough that Riley and company realize they have to add weapons or they'll lose him. Unfortunately, that's probably all they'll have to do to keep him. But I don't care.

We are probably three years away from becoming a real contender although adding the best player in the game to our roster speeds up that timeline considerably. But just letting the basketball world know that we're once again an active player makes this offseason a win IMO.

Without Lebron I really don't see an available player that could drastically alter our future, at least not in a good way. I'm fine with little steps and if they think Hawes is a little step forward, I'm fine with that too. Our goal should be to contend for a playoff spot while developing the young players. Maybe Love will still be available at the trade deadline and perhaps a half season of solid basketball will be enough to pique his interest. In which case, we'll have another chance to jump the timeline.

Steve

 

[Dr. Jones]

Haven't we all seen this before? Kobe, Peyton Manning, etc.

I still think it would be a miracle if LBJ came to the Western Conference.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Haven't we all seen this before? Kobe, Peyton Manning, etc.

I still think it would be a miracle if LBJ came to the Western Conference.

Maybe Peyton but not Kobe. And I think most of us pretty much think it would be a miracle (or perhaps a curse) if LBJ came to the Western Conference.

Steve

 

[Dr. Jones]

Kobe played us for a bigger deal. The Dantoni/Jelly Bean connection had us all up in arms over the thought of the rapist coming here.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Kobe played us for a bigger deal. The Dantoni/Jelly Bean connection had us all up in arms over the thought of the rapist coming here.

Kobe was going to get the deal he got regardless of us. he didn't need anyone out there for leverage to get the money he got. he already had Shaq shipped out. the Lakers were going to bend over and give him anything he wanted even if he never tested FA.

 

[KloD]

Kobe was going to get the deal he got regardless of us. he didn't need anyone out there for leverage to get the money he got. he already had Shaq shipped out. the Lakers were going to bend over and give him anything he wanted even if he never tested FA.

Correct. I'm not sure why a player looking at a team and not signing with them seems to have some conclude said team was "played", especially when said player doesn't need to do anything to get what they want. It's very possible Kobe had real interest in looking at other options and decided in the end what was best for him was to resign and stay where he is. Not sure why that is hard for some to accept?

 

[Covert Rain]

It shouts "I don't want my name dragged through the mud again so I'm letting my agent handle it" to me. I think its always been a long shot that he'd leave Miami but I don't think he's jerking anyone around. He's serious enough that Riley and company realize they have to add weapons or they'll lose him. Unfortunately, that's probably all they'll have to do to keep him. But I don't care.

We are probably three years away from becoming a real contender although adding the best player in the game to our roster speeds up that timeline considerably. But just letting the basketball world know that we're once again an active player makes this offseason a win IMO.

Without Lebron I really don't see an available player that could drastically alter our future, at least not in a good way. I'm fine with little steps and if they think Hawes is a little step forward, I'm fine with that too. Our goal should be to contend for a playoff spot while developing the young players. Maybe Love will still be available at the trade deadline and perhaps a half season of solid basketball will be enough to pique his interest. In which case, we'll have another chance to jump the timeline.

Steve

The fact his agent handles it won't change his name being dragged through the mud one bit. The act of changing teams will be that catalyst. No major free agent on the planet who has changed teams has ever let his agent handle everything without a personal meeting I don't think.

Can you think of one? This sounds more like....."yeah I am probably staying in Miami but put some feelers out there for me in case I change my mind".

 

[DevonCardsFan]

Kobe was going to get the deal he got regardless of us. he didn't need anyone out there for leverage to get the money he got. he already had Shaq shipped out. the Lakers were going to bend over and give him anything he wanted even if he never tested FA.

I actually read not that long ago, that Kobe to PHX was alot more possible, then I thought Kobe in a interview said he was really strongly considering going to the Suns and playing for DAntoni

 

[HooverDam]

Can you think of one? This sounds more like....."yeah I am probably staying in Miami but put some feelers out there for me in case I change my mind".

Which as a Suns fan, we should be thrilled with! Imagine if I told you before the Finals the Suns had this much of a chance to land LeBron, you'd be thrilled!

I think its a 90% chance or maybe better that LeBron returns to Miami for tons of reasons. Its the East, his friends are there ,its a great place to live, he doesn't want to look like a turncoat again, etc.

But if the reports we're hearing are true, the Suns maybe have the 2nd best chance of landing him other than the Heat. If Sarver has really met w/ his agent about LeBron twice and everyone else has only met once, thats a great sign.

If guys like Lowry, Kaman, Gortat, etc. keep signing elsewhere, thats a great sign.

I'm sure LeBron is going back to Miami, but its exciting that the Suns have a small chance to land him.

 

[thephoenixson28]

Maybe Peyton but not Kobe. And I think most of us pretty much think it would be a miracle (or perhaps a curse) if LBJ came to the Western Conference.

Steve

Kobe wanted to play for Phoenix, Chicago, or New York. When he demanded a trade. He wanted phoenix the most though.

 

[chickenhead]

Kobe was going to get the deal he got regardless of us. he didn't need anyone out there for leverage to get the money he got. he already had Shaq shipped out. the Lakers were going to bend over and give him anything he wanted even if he never tested FA.

I agree. I mean, if they were willing to extend him last November and shoot themselves in the foot, he probably didn't need any help getting that deal when they were still contenders.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Kobe wanted to play for Phoenix, Chicago, or New York. When he demanded a trade. He wanted phoenix the most though.

You're talking about the year he demanded a trade, not his free agent year. We were on his list just before the Gasol trade but everything I've read said that we contacted his agent when allowed to do so and he told us that Kobe wasn't really interested. So we signed Nash right away and built around him.

Steve

 

[Covert Rain]

You're talking about the year he demanded a trade, not his free agent year. We were on his list just before the Gasol trade but everything I've read said that we contacted his agent when allowed to do so and he told us that Kobe wasn't really interested. So we signed Nash right away and built around him.

Steve

Yep...don't think there was any real interest either.

 

[95pro]

When Kobe was being drafted didn't he say that he didn't want to be drafted by Phoenix?

 

[Ronin]

I give it a 10% chance of happening. LBJ to the Los Angeles Lakers is more likely to happen.

 

[AzStevenCal]

When Kobe was being drafted didn't he say that he didn't want to be drafted by Phoenix?

Not that I'm aware of. I do remember him supposedly telling Charlotte no but not us. The way I thought it went down was that we were going to pick Kobe and West found out about it and moved up ahead of us, sending Vlade to Charlotte. Or something like that.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

I give it a 10% chance of happening. LBJ to the Los Angeles Lakers is more likely to happen.

Why? I didn't really think they were even in the running. At least not seriously. Of course, there's probably reason to apply that same statement to us. Anyway, other than Hollywood and NBA history I can't think of a reason for him to go the the Lakers. He's better off creating his own legend and Phoenix or Cleveland gives him a great chance to do just that.

Steve

 

[Ronin]

Why? I didn't really think they were even in the running. At least not seriously. Of course, there's probably reason to apply that same statement to us. Anyway, other than Hollywood and NBA history I can't think of a reason for him to go the the Lakers. He's better off creating his own legend and Phoenix or Cleveland gives him a great chance to do just that.

Steve

I'm just preparing myself for the worst to happen and hoping for the best. I don't want him to go there, but the chance to play with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash has to be at least intriguing to him.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm just preparing myself for the worst to happen and hoping for the best. I don't want him to go there, but the chance to play with Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash has to be at least intriguing to him.

I'd think the threat of having to play with Kobe would be enough to keep him away. Nash might intrigue him but I figure we'll be signing him to a minimum contract anyway, once the Lakers use the stretch on him.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I'd think the threat of having to play with Kobe would be enough to keep him away. Nash might intrigue him but I figure we'll be signing him to a minimum contract anyway, once the Lakers use the stretch on him.

Steve

Same here and Nash will likely be retiring soon if he can stay healthy. Insert laughter here.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Same here and Nash will likely be retiring soon if he can stay healthy. Insert laughter here.

I'm not really in the bring back Nash crowd. But if we get Lebron and Steve is reasonably healthy and sitting around unsigned in the middle of the season... I'd love to add him as a spot up shooter for a championship run.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not really in the bring back Nash crowd. But if we get Lebron and Steve is reasonably healthy and sitting around unsigned in the middle of the season... I'd love to add him as a spot up shooter for a championship run.

Steve

Isn't Nash under contract? I'd love to see him back at near minimum for his final season.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Isn't Nash under contract? I'd love to see him back at near minimum for his final season.

There's been suggestions that LA will use their stretch provision and waive him.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

There's been suggestions that LA will use their stretch provision and waive him.

Steve

Then, by all means, bring him back. I want to see Nash retire a Sun.