Do you think Lebron James disrespected the Cleaveland Cavaliers?

@stinge (810)
United States
December 1, 2008 12:16pm CST
All last week leading up to the knicks and cavs game, the media did a great job of hyping up the story that the knicks are making moves to clear salary cap space to sign Lebron in 2 yrs. The pronblem I have is that lebron went as far to answer questions about what he's going top to do in 2 yrs. It's like he's telling his team that he is going to explore his options and if he see's a better oportunity he's leaving. I think it's disrespectful to his teamates and the cavs organization. He shouldn't even answered the questions about his free agency in 2010. He's enjoying all of the attention he's getting from this. Charles barkley said he should have kept his mouth shut and lebron called him stupid. Barkley is totaly right. No player should be talking about exploring their options with other teams while they are currently under contract.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@Holv03 (534)
• United States
5 Dec 08
I really think Lebron James disrespected the Cleveland Cavaliers. I am so tired of letting this guy get away with anything he says. He has a huge ego and to me he think he is better than everyone else. I am glad that Charles Barkley told him to shut up which is what he should really do. The year 2010 is the year when he should be allow to talk about other teams and about signing but right now he is under contract with the Cavs which is what he should focus on the most not about 2 years down the road when he is going to be a free agent and all that. I really think they should put a stop to this because its really getting out of hand. If it was another player talking about something like that he would probly get fined or something in that order but since its Lebron James they just let him get away with it and it shouldn't be that way.
@stinge (810)
• United States
5 Dec 08
One point someone made that I sort of agree with is that sports teams disprespect the athletes by having put their names through trade talks all the time. Sometimes the player has to find out he's been traded on th radio, watching tv or the get a call from their agent in the middle of the night. So it kind of goes both ways. But then again teams are trading players to get another plyer in returnm In lebrons case he's talking of the possiblity of leaving in in the next 2 yrs. Maybe the teams have more of a right to have the players names involved in trade talks. They are the ones paying the salaries. But I do feel they should be up front and honest with them when they are exploring a trade possibility, that way that individual won't be caught off guard or feel disrespected when they hear their names come up in trade talks.In lebrons case he's talking of playing for a contender. He wants to play for the team has the right pieces around him that give the best chances of winning. Well isn't that what the cavs have been doing since he got drafted? That spoiled little punk has been in the plyoffs every year as well as an appearance in the nba finals at a very young age very early in his career. It's tuff to build championships every season. Look what the yankees are going through the last several seasons. And that's a team with the highest payroll in baseball.
@stinge (810)
• United States
5 Dec 08
One point someone made that I sort of agree with is that sports teams disprespect the athletes by having put their names through trade talks all the time. Sometimes the player has to find out he's been traded on th radio, watching tv or the get a call from their agent in the middle of the night. So it kind of goes both ways. But then again teams are trading players to get another plyer in returnm In lebrons case he's talking of the possiblity of leaving in in the next 2 yrs. Maybe the teams have more of a right to have the players names involved in trade talks. They are the ones paying the salaries. But I do feel they should be up front and honest with them when they are exploring a trade possibility, that way that individual won't be caught off guard or feel disrespected when they hear their names come up in trade talks.In lebrons case he's talking of playing for a contender. He wants to play for the team has the right pieces around him that give the best chances of winning. Well isn't that what the cavs have been doing since he got drafted? That spoiled little punk has been in the plyoffs every year as well as an appearance in the nba finals at a very young age very early in his career. It's tuff to build championships every season. Look what the yankees are going through the last several seasons. And that's a team with the highest payroll in baseball.
• Philippines
8 Dec 08
At an ethical point of view, I can say that Lebron James disrespected the Cavs because he knows that Cavs has no other choice but to give him what he wants because the Cavs cannot live and win without James... But why do it to a franchise that made him to what he is right now? sure it was his effort to become the best in the league right now but if no NBA team picked him, will he be as good as he is right now? He is like a spoiled manchild keeps on saying mom(CAVS)! I want this and that... And he knows he get it because hes the fav child... How disrespectful. But at a practical point of view, I think he is right... It is human nature to want more and Lebron just shows that no matter how great he is, he is still human... Of course a player with such talent would want more...
@stinge (810)
• United States
9 Dec 08
I think every athlete has become spoiled. You can't really blame them for taking the money. But for the most part theses guys have better jobs than the rest of us fans. All of these guys are making millioins. even the guys making the league minimum are living good. As far as wanting to play for a winner, and making these so called threats to make sure that the team puts players around them to help win a championship. Players like kobe is lucky that the lakers got the players they have. You can't force other teams to make trades with you because you want to make your teams better. Every team is going after every free agent and trying to make trades to better themselves. Lebron has been in the playoffs and has appeared in an nba final. And he's only in his early 20ies. He speaks of the cavs as if they aren't a good team right now when he speaks of exploring his options and signing with a winner.
• Philippines
3 Dec 08
Owners, general managers and agents have been doing it for the longest time. They keep on talking about moving players to go below luxury tax, have open cap space and what-not. Do people talk about how the players are being disrespected by being in the rumor/trade block everytime? No. Why should we worry about it? Let LeBron talk. It's not affecting his play anyway. His teammates don't seem to mind. They are winning. Did you see how Kobe talked and talked? Many people, including me, thought he's just running his mouth too much. It was a distraction. But what happened? Mitch Kupchak realized that he should get Kobe the pieces he'd need to win, and he did. What LeBron is doing, is turning the tables on them. He's wise enough to know that he's just a commodity that so many teams are coveting, which is why as early as now, he's showing that he's as interested about 2010 as the media is. He's riling the Cavs up. Look how he personally got the Cavs to move and sign Mo Williams and the trade last year that got them overhauled. The guy didn't say that he's willing to listen for offers. He only said he wants to go to the team that gives him the best chance of winning. It's working, too.
@stinge (810)
• United States
3 Dec 08
That's a good point about teams sort of disrespecting players by having their names come up in trade talks during the season. As a red sox fan and nomar garciaparra being my favorite player, it pissed me of to hear them talking about trading him for a-rod several years back during the off season. Nomar was to boston what derek jeter is to the yankees. He was the mascot of the red sox. And to make things worse he had to hear this over the radio. I think teams should be up front and honest with the players when all of these trade talks are going on. They should say to a guy "look, we are talking with teams for a possible trade with you at the moment". They should let the guy know what the reasons are for exploring these options are. Wether it's to clear salary cap space for the future, or if it's a move that they feel will benefit the team and make them better. Or even if it's because the player has an issue with the coach that can't be resolved. But for the most part the cavs have been a contending team since lebron has arrived. He is fortunate to have experienced the success he has at a very young age this early in his career. You have guys that have never even been to the finals or let alone even been to or won a playoff series. Marbury is one of those players. Guys like Barkley and Patrick Ewing have never one a championship. The cavs are smart enough to know that this guy is the face of the franchise. I think players are getting very spoiled with winning. Look at Kobe. As far as Kobe he had one several championships with shaq. Afer Shaq left he still complains saying he's going to leave. I don't think that the cavs have given lebron any reason so far to even think about looking else where in the future. He's making alot of money off endorsements alone plus his current contract with the cavs, and he's going to make a whole lot more in 2yrs when his contract is up. the cavs are a good team right now, and if anything maybe lebron is making sure that they keep it that way in the furture.
2 Dec 08
To me a player is an independent contractor. He is in it for himself. He has the right to negotiate for a better deal or to request for a trade if he is not happy with the team or his role in the team. I think Lebron is doing this to increase his market value. With teams clearing cap space for him, he can command a bigger payday. This is however a lack of class because Lebron is showing absolutely no loyalty and respect for the home team. He should know better because he is a native of Ohio.
@stinge (810)
• United States
2 Dec 08
It's bad enough that he showed up to the cleavland indians playoff game last year against the yankees wearing a yankee hat. Every player has the right to negotiate a better deal for themselves when their current contract is coming to an end. Not while they have yrs left on their current deal. He wants to play for a contender. He wants to make sure that the cavs put the right pieces around him. Siince he's been there they have been in the playofs every year. I don't see any reason for him not to be happy with the success they've had so far. He is going to get paid a ton of money. He doesn't have to play around with the media to drive up his asking price. The cavs weren't even in the playoff picture until lebron got there. So they know it will be stupid to let him walk. I don't have a problem with any player exploring his options when as a free agent. But not when you are under contract. These athletes can't get spoiled with winning every year. The cavs aren't the only team that's trying to improve. It gets harder for every team. Right now the celtics are the power house in the east. It's gonna be very hard trying to take them down. The cavs are not going to be able to go after every free agent after each season just to keep lebron happy. There are a number of teams that will be fighting for the same players as well. It's going to get to a point were money is going to be an issue when signing free agents. I'm sure lebron would love it if the cavs signed Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in 2010. But how much money will that cost them? Every team is out ther competing for free agents, and it's not easy trying to put together a championship team. Lebron has gone to the nbs finals at a very young age early in his career. He needs to shut his mouth and be thankful that his team has been in the playoffs every year.
• Canada
1 Dec 08
I don't think he disrespected his team at all. If anything he is giving them an opportunity to give him a deal that he can't refuse. He is the best player in the game and has many years ahead of him. If the Cavs want to keep him around they need to give him a reason to stay. They need to build a championship team.
@stinge (810)
• United States
1 Dec 08
He probably is the best playet in the game today. But it doesn't give him the right to talk about the possibility of signing with another team while he's still under contract. It takes a while to build championship teams. He's been in the league a few yrs now and so far his team has been to the playoffs and even to the nba finals. I think they have shown that they are trying their best to get him a ring. Jordan didn't have this much success this quickly when he came into the league. Guys like lebron and kobe have been very lucky to be on contending teams this early in their careers. Lebron should not be talkin about exporing his options until the 2010 season when his contract is up. Up to this point the cavs have done nothing to give lebron any reason to think they are not trying to put the players around him for a successful future. I don't like the idea of athletes giving indications that they might leave just to get the organization to offer them more money. Charley Weis did it when he 1st got to Notre Dame by saying he might look at other schools to coach when his contract is up and they locked him into a lon term deal worth a lot of money, and after that one good season, notre dame has sucked ever since. Now there's a chance he'll be fired. But it's okay for him cause he got his money.What will happen if or when they sign lebron to a huge contract and in a few years he is unhappy and wants to leave because his team isn't competing to his liking. Every team has to start rebuilding some time.