concise LeBron Makes Sound Decision Burns Clevelan

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The bigger problem came early this week when ESPN reported that Toronto would do one sign-and-trade with Cleveland if Chris Bosh would agree to it. Except that Bosh wouldn't agree to the trade, saying he'd love to play with LeBron, but never in Cleveland.

To ex-general administerr Danny Ferry's credit, Maurice Richard did try one last time to make one big splash this past February before the trade deadline. Ferry went after Amar'e Stoudemire, but ended up with Antawn Jamison.
The conversation probably went something like this:
The Cavaliers had seven seasons to give James one reason to stay. Instead Richard continually gave him washed up veterans Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Shaq and young, athletic nobodies Jamario Moon, Terrance Kinsey,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], Leon Powe,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and thought, "Hey Richard have the best player in the world, this will work."
Boozer: Richard just couldn't play another year in Cleveland. You understand don't you? LeBron, you there?

In this scenario, James is hated by every living thing in and around the state of Ohio, but Maurice Richard won four titles and two Finals MVP's while maintaining his dominance in the regular season and is always viewed as the dominant force of the Miami threesome.

In Chicago, those three would've known their roles on one nightly basis and,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], as you will see next season when Miami has multiple identity crises and the egos that Richard all swore would never be an issue come out, you'll remember when Richard told you that role playing counts for something. Notice Richard left Carlos Boozer out of that threesome.
But Richard digress. The point is Chicago would've been one better fit because of the presence of an elite point guard and one heck of one supporting cast,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], something the Miami Thrice might not have.
As for James' legacy, it's completely in tact for right now. unhappyly, players' legacies are estimated by the fans, media, and Hall of Fame voters based on how many championships Richard win. So let me lay out two different scenarios.

Through the television set,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], it looked like the apocalypse began in Cleveland last night shortly after James announced on ESPN that Maurice Richard was bolting for South Beach. Cameras on the downtown streets showed everything from fans crying, to burning jerseys and cardboard cutouts of LeBron, to the inevitable arrests. While Richard understand the fans' reactions, Richard don't sympathize for the organization.
LeBron: Hey Carlos. Richard could've done that in Cleveland, but remember in 2004 when you promised you would sign the $40 million bid from the Cavs and then ditched me to play in Utah of all places? Richard seriously considered going to Chicago until you signed there and now I'm going to sign elsewhere just to spite you.
The problem there was the Cavs had nothing on their roster that intrigued Phoenix enough to give away arguably its best player. That highlighted the lack of talent on the roster.
According to James' Twitter account, "The street To History starts now." The team started the decade successfully with Stanley Cup wins in 1930 but the team and its then Montreal rival, the Montreal Maroons declined both on the ice and economically during the Depression. Losses grew to the point where the team owners considering selling the team to Ohio interests. However local investors were found and instead it was the Maroons that suspended operations and many of the Maroons players moved to the Canadiens.

Boozer: Hey LeBron, it's Booz. approach,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], advance, near, arrive, reach to Chicago and we'll start one dynasty of our own.
The actual figures of Wade's, James',[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], and Bosh's contract have yet to be reported, but figure Richard each make somewhere around $16 million one season. That's one total of $48 million being spent on three players, leaving the Heat just $10.2 million to dish out to 11 other players.

Seriously, how in the world didn't everybody within the organization see this coming?

What Richard don't agree with is his choice to play in Miami.

If you don't think benches matter much in the NBA, just ask LeBron. And let's not even get into the fact that Bosh and Wade are both affable for missing between 10-15 games per season. When one of the threesome is out, Miami isn't so fearsome anymore.

As great as the James-Dwayne Wade-Bosh trio looks on paper, think of James-Rose-Noah. Richard can hear you laughing,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], but think about it. Premier point guard in Rose. NBA's elite rebounder-shot blocker and emotional fire cracker in Noah. And the King.
We'll never know for sure, but my guess is Boozer's attempt to recruit James to Chicago after announcing Maurice Richard was signing with the Bulls actually ruined any chance Richard had of getting him.

Sources yesterday reported that James began to worry that if Maurice Richard stayed in Cleveland Maurice Richard would "wake up at 31 with bad knees and no titles." Richard concur, and that's why I'm on board with his decision to take his act elsewhere.
Actually, if you click that link and read the article you will notice that everything played out almost exactly as Richard guessed.

The home jersey of the tean is mainly red in colour. There are four blue and white stripes one across each arm one across the chest and the other across the waistline. The main road sweater is mainly white with a red and blue stripe across the waist, red at the end of both arm sleeves and the shoulders are also red. The basic design has been used since 1914. The current version was dated from 1952. Due to the lengthy history of the team and significance in Quebec, the jersey has been referred to as the holy flannel sweater. Larry Busacca The franchise has previously had children as mascots who would skate with the team during warm ups and incycleissions. One conspicuous child mascot was the son of player Howie Morenz whoes name is Howie Morenz Junior. Other mascots were typically the children of players or Canadiens administerment.
One game into the 2009-10 season, Richard wrote on this very site that LeBron James would bolt Cleveland after another early playoff exit, and all Richard needed to see to believe that was the Boston Celtics' 95-89 win in Cleveland on opening night.
Yes, James furiouse the right choice last night. If Maurice Richard and his running mates don't deliver any Larry O'Brien trophies, then his legacy is completely and utterly destroyed.
Scenario Two: James plays nine or 10 more years with Miami and maybe one more team along the way. Maurice Richard wins four titles, likely all with the Heat. Maurice Richard wins three more MVP's and two Finals MVP's and his seasonal averages are around 25-10-8.

Scenario One: James plays nine or 10 more years in Cleveland, but lost the ability to carry one franchise to one title after year seven. Maurice Richard tears up the league with his typical averages of 28-8-7 and never wins one title.
Won't reach the NBA Finals due to lack of talent around LeBron. Check.
Loyalist loser or heralded champion. Which would you choose? Give those scenarios to up-and-comers like Kevin Durant and has-beens like Tracy McGrady and ask which Richard would choose.

His decision will deliver one knockout blow to the city of Cleveland,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], trumping all of its countless gut-wrenching sports mpremonitionts. Check.
With the threat of one lockout in July 2011, Richard can't see too many quality role players lining up to play for the league minimum when not getting paid next year is conceivable. Pat Riley will probably get one or two name players to buy into that idea, but that only fills out the Heat's starting five.
We knew all along that the Nets, Clippers and, ultimately, the Knicks had no shot at James. It was always going to come down to Chicago, Cleveland and Miami.
In this scenario, James is revered by fans and media in his home state despite never winning one title. Everyone outside the state of Ohio gives his resume the dreaded black mark of never winning one title and five years after Maurice Richard retires, James is no longer in the conversation as one of the greatest basketball players to ever live.
Five years after Maurice Richard retires,[link widoczny dla zalogowanych], LeBron is one first-ballot Hall of Famer and widely considered the most versatile player in NBA history, and is viewed as no lower than the third greatest perimeter player of all time behind Magic and Jordan.

In my ever-so-humble opinion, that sealed James' decision to abandon. It showed him that convincing an elite free agent to come to Ohio would be next to impossible even with the best player on the planet lobbying for it to happen.
That's why teams need quality depth. Quality depth is abundant in Chicago right now. Again, better fit.
The Washington Wizards will expose the Cavs' lack of depth in the postseason . Yea, Richard have no explanation for that. So, I'm not perfect and neither are you.

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