NBA Thread

[Coach]

Miami fans have every right to be pissed for the next few months, but then they need to move on.

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land," while also dealing a blow to Pat Riley, an old rival from the 80s, who, of course, who never passed up a chance to shit all over Boston.

I do feel badly for any true Heat fans, such as 4/5, who stuck with the team during the good times and bad. Losing a top tier free agent like that sucks, but that's how the league is structured...for now.

Right on all accounts here. So, do the Heat try to salvage or do they go into rebuild mode?

I don't know enough about the Heat right now to answer that, but they must have a ton of money and cap space to work with.

[Monkey_Driven]

Miami fans have every right to be pissed for the next few months, but then they need to move on.

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land," while also dealing a blow to Pat Riley, an old rival from the 80s, who, of course, who never passed up a chance to shit all over Boston.

I do feel badly for any true Heat fans, such as 4/5, who stuck with the team during the good times and bad. Losing a top tier free agent like that sucks, but that's how the league is structured...for now.

Right on all accounts here. So, do the Heat try to salvage or do they go into rebuild mode?

I don't know enough about the Heat right now to answer that, but they must have a ton of money and cap space to work with.

All eyes are now on Bosh I suppose. If he bolts to Houston the Heat will go hard after guys like Deng, Ariza, Bledsoe, and Gasol one would think.

[Lament]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

[Monkey_Driven]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Taking part in the three way trade with the Nets and Cavs to clear cap space for Cleveland.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Of course Bosh will sign with Houston. Man, if the cavs can get Love without trading away Wiggins, I'd say they are only a couple years away from a championship.

[Lament]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Taking part in the three way trade with the Nets and Cavs to clear cap space for Cleveland.

Ah, ok.

[4/5]

I hope I get tickets to the first Cavs/Heat game so I can stand and cheer loudly to thank that man for the last 4 years.

[Monkey_Driven]

I hope I get tickets to the first Cavs/Heat game so I can stand and cheer loudly to thank that man for the last 4 years.

[bada]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Taking part in the three way trade with the Nets and Cavs to clear cap space for Cleveland.

Ah, ok.

They kind of set up Kevin Love to Cleveland too. I don't think that was a good thing for Boston unless they knew for sure they didn't have a chance to land him.

[Peeps]

I hope I get tickets to the first Cavs/Heat game so I can stand and cheer loudly to thank that man for the last 4 years.

you spelled slit your wrists and bleed over lebron wrong

[Monkey_Driven]

Does this mean Kyrie will play defense next year?

[4/5]

I hope I get tickets to the first Cavs/Heat game so I can stand and cheer loudly to thank that man for the last 4 years.

you spelled slit your wrists and bleed over lebron wrong

Lol, no that's my friend Steven. RIP

[Coach]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Taking part in the three way trade with the Nets and Cavs to clear cap space for Cleveland.

Ah, ok.

They kind of set up Kevin Love to Cleveland too. I don't think that was a good thing for Boston unless they knew for sure they didn't have a chance to land him.

I think Boston saw the writing on the wall and is setting itself up for 2015 and beyond.

They now have as many as eight first-round picks over the next four years – and they could have as many as nine if Philly reaches the playoffs. Tons of assets to deal and work with.

[Coach]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Lament, here's some background on the hatred between Ainge and Riley....it's worth the entire read, but I cut and pasted the important parts:

http://www.boston.com/sports/touching_a ... t_Reads_hp

I probably should have rattled off the Riley/Ainge history here a little sooner, but it's probably not even necessary. If you're a Celtic fans, you require no lengthy rehash. It's pretty simple: Riley's '80s Lakers won five titles. Ainge was a starting guard on the 1984 and '86 Celtics champions. Riley's Heat ended the run of the second Big Three. Riley stole Ray Allen. Riley told Ainge to -- let's make sure we have this right -- "shut the [expletive] up and manage his own team" after the latter expressed incredulity at LeBron complaining about the officials in March 2013.

Ainge, whose competitiveness is legendary, has been trumped by Riley and his teams enough that he knows the scoreboard isn't in his favor. His trade with the Cavaliers was done to make the Celtics better. But that it ultimately played a major role in wrecking Riley's best-orchestrated plans and reducing the Heat to basketball irrelevance.

Yeah, right, I'm sure Ainge empathizes. Hell, no one outside of Miami empathizes. The Heat are in tatters like a shredded Armani, and Ainge helped make it happen.

It's so enjoyable that it almost feels like ... well, a vintage Celtics victory over the Lakers, doesn't it? Ainge, you magnificent you-know-what, this round belongs to you.

[Monkey_Driven]

As a C's fan, I can't help but be excited that Boston played a part in sending James back to "nowhere land,"

What part did Boston play in this?

Taking part in the three way trade with the Nets and Cavs to clear cap space for Cleveland.

Ah, ok.

They kind of set up Kevin Love to Cleveland too. I don't think that was a good thing for Boston unless they knew for sure they didn't have a chance to land him.

I think Boston saw the writing on the wall and is setting itself up for 2015 and beyond.

They now have as many as eight first-round picks over the next four years – and they could have as many as nine if Philly reaches the playoffs. Tons of assets to deal and work with.

The Celtics are doing it right, that is for sure. All the other dominoes are starting to fall with the rest of free agency. Let the actual madness begin!

[E.H. Ruddock]

Looks like Bosh might stay in Miami.

[numbers]

If all the celtics end up with is a million late first round picks, is it that genius of a plan?

[bada]

Looks like Bosh might stay in Miami.

He should if they offer him the max with that 5th year.

[4/5]

Well, Bosh has said all along he wanted to stay. Guess that's good.

Going 4-78 would have really sucked.

[Coach]

If all the celtics end up with is a million late first round picks, is it that genius of a plan?

Of course not. But the recent trade and other moves mean the C's could have as little as $21 million committed to the 2015-16 season. So, it's more about the combination of freeing up money to splurge on two free agents, drafting smartly, trading some picks for other assets, etc. There have been some gems in the mid-late first round.