[thehef]

Originally Posted by dkgo

I think you are greatly underestimating how much power a star player has in determining where he goes in a trade. Garnett demanded to leave Minnesota and had to agree to sign an extension with the new team before a trade could happen.

Yes, that's true. No question. But you're looking at this from the player perspective. I'm looking at it moreso from the front office perspective. Pierce, Allen, and KG didn't get together and decide to play together, and then simply leave it to Danny Ainge (and Seattle & Minnesota front offices) to make it happen. Rather, this was primarily Danny wheeling and dealing - and giving up significant assets to put a three-all-star team together.

Originally Posted by dkgo

Managing the salary cap to fit a team together is just as "shrewd" as throwing together some draft picks and players you don't really need for a perennial all-pro who wants to go to your team.

Tell that to all the small-market, non-glamour-destination GM's who have yet to assemble their own gang of all-stars

Originally Posted by ezpkns34

Marc Gasol was a late 2nd round pick who was Far from being considered a top prospect at the time (had yet to play a single minute in the NBA) and was thrown in as a flyer in a trade that was Widely panned when it happened cause Memphis had no leverage from Pau making it known where he wanted to play. The difference between Pau wanting to play with Kobe and Lebron wanting to play with Wade/Bosh is so thin as to question whether there's a line at all
... Marc was literally a throw in who happened to develop into making the trade not be abysmal for the Grizzlies. Just in the same way that the draft picks that went to CLE & TOR from Miami for the LeBron/Bosh sign & trades had the potential to work out if the right players were drafted...

In my opinion, either the Lakers/Gasol & Lebron/Heat get togethers are both "legit" or both "cheap", but I can't envision a scenario where they can be treated as worlds apart in how they were done. The players chose the destination in both scenarios

I'll concede the point. I had recalled the Lakers' acquisition of Pau Gasol of more of a reaction to Andrew Bynum's being lost for the season to injury, and not so much as Pau forcing his way to LA. So, sure, I'll count those Lakers as a mini-gang-up (mini in the sense that it was merely Gasol insisting on his destination - I don't think Kobe was all that involved, other than wanting a big; as opposed to Wade, Bosh & James all actively working together & ganging up).

Originally Posted by pilight

What you're saying makes no sense. LeBron goes out and makes a championship team happen and that's somehow less impressive than if he passively sits back and lets some executive do it?

Think back on your playground days. Which is more impressive when selecting your team and becoming kings of the court? Insisting on having the first three picks and taking the best three players, or taking turns picking players and shrewdly out-picking the other guy?

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

And its not like he grabbed all the talent in the league, won half a dozen titles and made things completely non-competitive.

LeBron spent a big chunk of his early career waiting for the GM to put together a team, and still managed to haul the crap that Cleveland was able to assemble around him to the finals.

No argument. Again, I don't fault the players. I'm just pointing out what's more impressive to me, and what I'm more-likely to root for, and why.