How Much Is Too Much? Now We Know...
The hand-wringing over LeBron James has been at a fever pitch for weeks now, escalated by his new Hummer and his continued sell-out tour on TV and in over-sized arenas. And people have been asking, "How Much Is Too Much?" I personally didn't know the answer to that question, until I saw this headline: "Lucas Firing Doesn't Go Over Well With Lebron." You can read the story here.
This, friends, is Too Much. When an NBA team even has to take into consideration the feelings of a high school player that they may NEVER get the rights to prior to making a coaching change, that is Too Much. Of course, it appears the Cavs may NOT have taken LeBron's feelings into consideration prior to making the move. Maybe it never even dawned on them that LeBron would have an opinion, or that they should consider that opinion. I can understand why that would not be a consideration for them. Hell, teams don't even really consider the wants of an incoming college stud, much less a high school player. And again, they don't have the rights to LeBron, and may never have them.
Which is why I'm surprised I'm saying this: I bet the Cavs are figuratively crapping their pants over these stories, and I wonder if they regret the move. Their whole season (and arguably Denver's, and New York's, and perhaps even the Clippers') has been engineered for one thing: be in a position to draft LeBron. The Cavs have gone even farther out on the organizational planning limb than the other teams by having LeBron in for workouts, and enduring sanctions for the right to do so. And what did that get them? A chance for LeBron to bond with John Lucas, who now is deposed as coach. So, bringing him might actually backfire, because he really liked the coach who has now been fired by the people who want to draft him.
It's not the first time a precocious talent has forced the hand of an organization. Kobe forced Charlotte to deal him to the Lakers for Vlade. Stevie Franchise did it. John Elway did it. Pete Incaviglia did it. (I once saw Inky hit an inside-the-park homerun, but that's a story for another day...) So let's not get too carried away with the whole "LeBron has too much leverage" theme, because he won't exactly be the first to use that leverage. But when teams begin to cater to the whims of young talents that they may never have a chance to sign, something is wrong. Of course, we don't know what the Cavs really think about LeBron's displeasure. Maybe they did consider it, and decided to do something anyway. But I have a feeling they are a little taken aback right now, and maybe a little worried about an unintended consequence of the Lucas firing.
I Didn't Read This...
Concern is very quietly building in the Twin Cities regarding Kevin Garnett's future with the Wolves. Play-by-play voice of the Wolves Chad Hartman has noted on his radio show that the Garnett situation bears watching, and when an insider like that talks, you listen. Apparently, to hear Hartman tell it, the Wolves and KG were VERY close to signing an extension earlier this season, but then something made the deal fall through. What was it? Nobody is saying, right now. But listen to these comments from KG in today's Star Tribune, regarding Gary Payton's situation:
Said Garnett: "I don't have too much juice around here, but I would vouch for Gary Payton coming here. I've told them a couple times. Hell, my situation ain't even really stable here. I dunno. It'd be a great thing to play with him."
Yes, I'm slipping into Read Between The Lines mode here, but you don't have to be an RBTL expert to see some concerning statements there:
"I don't have too much juice around here."
Say what? You wonder if Garnett made a plea to add (or subtract) a certain player, and the team didn't cater to his desires. Anybody remember KG's tepid response when asked if Wally's new contract made him a conrnerstone of the team's future?
"He is now." You can take that a lot of ways, can't you?
Then, the sentence that sent shivers down my spine:
"Hell, my situation ain't even really stable here. I dunno."
I didn't read that. Plain and simple. It never happened.
12:12:58 PM 
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