Feeling Greedy...

I (not pictured) am feeling greedy tonight.

I have been worried about Dwyane Wade opting out of his Miami Heat contract for MONTHS.

I looked at the Heat roster and I thought, could you blame him if he left?

This week, I've been a nervous wreck about Wade's possible departure and flirtation with Chicago.

Today, my wish came true, and then some.

Not only did Wade sign, but he's bringing 5-time All-Star Chris Bosh with him.

And yet I'm not satisfied.
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I've made the case multiple times on this blog as to WHY Miami is the most logical destination for a Wade and LeBron pairing.

Cap space.

The Bird Rule.

All of that.

But, I'm less than 24 hours from it actually happening.

It's been obsessing me.

I'm up all night twittering.

I've been glued to ESPN (how they've embarrassed journalism with this story is a blog for another person to write. Needless to say, I've been underwhelmed with their ethics and coverage).

I daydream about what Pat Riley said to LeBron during their 3-hour meeting.
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I've also been really angry at these guys.

As my last post indicated, I'm not happy with how they've conducted themselves.

Look at Kevin Durrant.

The guy signed a 5-year extension and no one knew he did it.

LOVE that guy.

Sure, LeBron, Wade, and Bosh are brash and borderline obnoxious.

Sure it's a bad economy and they're debating 100 million dollar deals.

But, I've always been blessed (or cursed) with the ability to differentiate between OFF-THE-COURT and ON-THE-COURT.

These guys may be arrogant.

They may be immature.

But they can ball. (just so no one calls me out on what I said about Bosh in the previous blog. I think he's a good player. I don't think he's "elite." He's certainly not in the Wade-LeBron class. Still, glad he's on Miami's roster. As a third piece, he'd be unreal).
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Thursday's announcement is about what LeBron values.

I personally believe Wade, Bosh, and Riley filling out the jigsaw puzzle gives him the best chance to win.

Cleveland is home.

New York is the biggest market in the World.

New Jersey has his friend Jay-Z and the chance to rule Brooklyn.

Chicago added Boozer. They have a nice roster which could be sick. (Although Rose isn't Wade, not yet).

LeBron's success has earned him the right to make this decision.
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Tonight, is the last night I'll fall asleep dreaming about free agency.

Tomorrow, I'll be returned to reality.

The reason I want LeBron in Miami is because he would make my hometown MATTER so much more.

We'd max out national tv games, every game (home and away) would be an event, we'd be nationally loved and loathed.

It would just be fascinating.

And I'd have a front-row seat.

Either way, I appreciate the opportunity to see Dwyane play for the next 5 or 6 years.
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What's crazy is everything that's been said, everything that's been written, everything that's been tweeted, everything that's been reported...

It all becomes irrelevant tomorrow.

LeBron will make his choice and so will go the NBA for the next few years.

The fates of fans, towns, economies, and an entire sport are in LeBron's hands.

That's an awesome responsibility.

I just can't believe I'm letting the King hold my emotions ransom.

I want to be free.

But I also want to cover a dynasty.

To be continued...

Little Three...

I've been obsessed with NBA free agents (not pictured).

I literally spend HOURS and HOURS scanning twitter looking to find out the latest hint of what the big three: Chris Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade are going to do.

Frankly, before the chips fall, I wanted to say something about all three.

They've been total ***holes the last week.
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Let me start with Dwyane Wade.

I'm closest to his situation and may I say he's handled it so badly I don't know where to begin.

This town has LITERALLY been named after Dwyane.

I currently reside in Miami-Wade County.

And yet, up until this morning, Wade didn't have the decency to show up here.

If they named a hogie after me in Norway, I'd be on the next flight.

The town is throwing themselves at him, and he can't be bothered.
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Then, Monday morning (on a holiday), the Heat tweets that Wade will be arriving in town.

They give the area to wait.

50 fans take time out of their day to show Wade love.

Turns out, it's the wrong terminal.

Flash just drives away.

In the worst economy since the depression, people get up at 7 am on a holiday to BEG a guy to take 125 MILLION dollars; and he can't be troubled to stop.

His PR people spun it however they wanted.

Bottom line is this: If he cared, he would've stopped.
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And then, there's the latest.

Wade was supposed to appear at a press conference to promote Zo's Summer Groove, a big charity event in town.

He cancelled.

Way to go Wade, sell out fans, and now charity... want to kick some puppies next?
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Chris Bosh is having fun with free agency.

He's tweeting.

He's talking.

He's washing himself in the adoration.

Everyone needs to keep something in mind.

He averages 20 points, and 10 rebounds, yes.

But he's also a big man in the east.

Not exactly stiff competition.

Also, he's the only player on the Raptors.

And most disconcertingly, he's a jump-shooter.

He's basically a younger Jermaine O'Neal.

He's a good player, just not as good as he thinks he is.

Whatever team has him, will be regretting his contract years 4 or 5 (or god forbid 6).
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And there's LeBron.

I won't leave Akron.

Come to me.

2 teams a day.

2 hours.

I'll show up in my pajamas.

LeBron has an awfully big ego for a guy who hasn't won a title.

I would like to be a witness to his maturation process.

Instead, I'm seeing all three of these guys bathe in ego and holding the NBA hostage in the process.
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There's so much that annoys me about the conduct of these free agents.

They all act like they're making SUCH a tough decision.

Really?

I promise you I wouldn't lose a night's sleep over who wanted to pay me 100M.

Don't make it look so agonizing guys.

It's really distasteful.

Where these guys end up will be impactful on wins and losses next year.

But to be honest, all of these free agents have lost some respect.

Pat's Pitch...

Friday is one of the most important days in the long, storied, Hall-of-Fame career of Pat Riley (not pictured).

He will be in Ohio pitching to LeBron James.

For all the praise that's been heaped Riley's way as master-motivator and great public speaker, this will be the most important sell-job of his life.

While he'll be joined by Micky Arison, Zo, and a host of Heat brass.

Make no mistake.

This is Pat and LeBron, one-on-one.
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The cards are stacked in Riley's favor for many reasons.

The biggest is money.

The Heat have more cap-room than ANY TEAM around.

Now, because of the Larry Bird Rule (which basically encourages players to stay with their own teams), Cleveland can pay LeBron more.

BUT...

Miami can afford Wade, LeBron, and either Bosh, Booozer, A'Mare.

Whichever of the three bigs Miami comes up with, that team is winning the Eastern Conference.

Oh heck, I won't limit my expectations... That team is winning multiple titles.

That team is challenging the Bulls' wins record and might even go after the '72 Dolphins (no pressure)

Riley can sell winning on a level that Cleveland, New York, New Jersey, and the Clippers cannot.
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There's a loyalty factor.

LeBron is from Ohio.

He's hosting his meetings in Akron.

He's trying to show he's all business.

He and Warren Buffet even claim to be tight (I don't foresee the two partying together much, but what do I know?).

So Riley needs to break through that.
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The easiest way to do it is the following:

Keep it in basketball terms.

Show LeBron that his BEST chance of winning big is here in Miami.

Because honestly, I think it is.

LeBron, Wade, and one of those bigs is a better nucleus than Rose, LeBron, and Joakim Noah.

It's certainly better than anything New York or New Jersey can bring to the table.
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What makes this week so fascinating is it's a chance for LeBron James to define himself as a human being.

I'm not overstating that.

What does he value?

Money?

Loyalty?

The spotlight?

Winning?

Everyone is talking about this Batman and Robin analogy.

And that's fine.

Is LeBron defined by his ego?

The true greats, like to be surrounded by greatness.

They aren't threatened by it.
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Truth is, I don't know what's in LeBron James' heart.

I just know that Riley better put in the extra hair product on Friday and be his showtime self.

The future of the Heat franchise depends on it.

One final tip, don't tell LeBron you'll surround with great talent such as Delonte West, it's still too soon.

Chalk Outline...

Excuse Pat Riley if he's starting to get excited.

That's because LeBron James (kind of pictured) is now ONE loss from being a free agent.

A very unhappy free agent.
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The NBA has the Larry Bird rule in place to do the following: keep star players put.

The basis of the rule is that the CURRENT team can offer more money than any other bidding team to a free agent.

That's the reason I foresee Dwyane Wade staying in South Florida for a long time (well that and the restraining order he's going to take out on his bat***T crazy ex-wife, Glenn Close anyone?)

So yes, Cleveland can give LeBron more money than anyone else can.
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But, there's something that Miami has that Cleveland does not.

Cap space.

Right now, Cleveland is tapped out.

GM Danny Ferry has constructed his best shot at a title.

He brought in Moe Williams (even though Riley wanted him at the time) and he brought in Shaq (who the Heat were done with--- remember 'win a ring for the king').

And what's it gotten them?

If Boston knocks out Cleveland in the 2nd round of the playoffs, LeBron is going to have to do some serious thinking.

Cleveland has done EVERYTHING possible to build a winner, and can't get out of the conference finals. In the EAST.

Sure, you're a God here. Everyone is a witness, to your mediocrity.

You can throw up ALL the chalk you want, but you're left with no rings.
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And then there's Miami calling.

Go down and play with your buddy Dwade.

You both get max contracts.

The Heat will have some flexibity to throw in a few extra parts.

LeBron has two MVPs and is clearly the best overall player in basketball, but he has zero rings.

Riley has plenty.

He can shine them in LeBron's face and say: Magic, Kareem, Wade, Shaq... I got them all their precious. Do you want to be a part of that?
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Yes, New York can come calling.

They'll sell him on the big apple and Madison Square Garden.

But be honest, with Wade, Miami's closer.

I always say this, the Knicks are NOT the Yankees.

They have SOME tradition, but not the type that would lure LeBron.

Sure, there are marketing possiblities in New York.

But LeBron is already a one-man global brand.

No state income tax is a nice little cherry on top.
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One of my favorite Pat Riley expressions is: Hard work won't guarantee you anything, but without it, you don't stand a chance.

Well, if the Celtics get one more win over Cleveland, Miami has a chance at LeBron.

You could roll out Wade, LeBron, and put Justin Bieber at the point, and you'd reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Can Leaveland say the same thing?