I remember Lebron came out in the media and said they needed to add another player and at the time the thought was LeBron wanted Carmelo Anthony but the owner said no. Because of Golden States stellar drafting they were so much under the cap that they could easily bring in a max player and so they did. LeBron, Love, Irving, Anthony was what he was going for but was beaten to the punch. The league had the opportunity to sign Cousins but nobody was willing to play a guy to sit on the bench for most of the season rehabbing. GS took the chance nobody would like the Bulls signing Rodman.
If the Raptors win it will be the first non-superteam to win it in the 8 years. SA was a really well run front office who like GS drafted their superteams and earned it the right way.
Windhorst did report that when LeBron decided to come home, he told Gilbert he had to trade for either Love or Aldridge. I know originally LeBron/Wade were supposed to team up w/ Melo in 2010 (they planned it a couple years in advance) but while they signed 3 year deals in 2007, for some odd reason Melo went for the 5 year and thus Bosh filled in his spot. I'm sure he wanted Melo on the Cavs but at the time he was locked into that massive contract he signed with the Knicks and there was nor elastic way to add him without giving up Kyrie or Love. By the time Kyrie left Melo was on the downturn and really not worth the investment (ask Sam Presti)
LeBron did it because got literally no help during his entire first run as a Cav. A lot of beef with LeBron was because he decided to announce it on national TV like a massive *****e.
Durant left a championship contender to join a team that just won 73 games in a season and came within one of winning a title. He's a *****
Massive difference despite what you think
He still started the trend, but it also has to do with fans in general caring more and more about 'chips. KD knew no matter what he accomplished if he had never won, it would always be brought up. GS was really the only realistic option to win.
"Still had time"
Tell that to Ewing, Barkley, Stockton, and Malone.
BTW, Voight is a LeBron hater.
I'm not, I respect the hell out of him for reaching and then surpassing the gigantic expectations that were put on him. He was The Next One in basketball and while he isn't better than MJ, he's pretty damn close and a top 4 player of all time. Not like in hockey where every "Next One" hasn't really come close to Gretzkys greatness.
I also give him a lot of ratings and respect for his business moves & for putting his close friends in positions where they could and did succeed, instead of having them as hanger ons & getting a bunch of guys in suits to look after his money/career/business he made his best friends work for it.