OT: He is coming...

[Nacho]

Would have been pretty stupid to play in New York where almost 13% of his salary would have been flushed down the toilet in state and city income taxes.

I wish he would have picked Chicago but I can see why he picked Miami - Florida doesn't rob him of his money with income taxes.

I don't think the income tax argument holds as much weight as people think... you pay taxes in the state that the game is played. So only half of the game (home games) you pay taxes in that state. While 42 games is still alot (especially at 13%), its still not as bad as it sounds.

Can you imagine how crazy it would be to be one of these guys accountants (especially in MLB with 81 home games and 81 away) paying taxes to all these different states. Bet they're making a pretty penny $$$$$

[BradleyBrave]

Wow, talk about hurt feelings. The guy took less money to go play with better players, I don't EVER want to be accused of wearing rose-colored glasses by the Bulls fans on here hating on LBJ. I don't even like LBJ, I'm a Kobe guy, but the guy's good, and left for a better situation. Has no one in here taken a better job for a different company?

For me personally, it's the way he did it rather than the actual decision. If he wants to be knows as the modern day Scottie Pippen instead of taking aim at Michael Jordan, that's his problem. But I think the backlash is more of the way he went about making the decision, then actually deciding to play in Miami. Oh well. Over and done.

[shaunguth]

Wow, talk about hurt feelings. The guy took less money to go play with better players, I don't EVER want to be accused of wearing rose-colored glasses by the Bulls fans on here hating on LBJ. I don't even like LBJ, I'm a Kobe guy, but the guy's good, and left for a better situation. Has no one in here taken a better job for a different company?

Once again......we find something to agree on!

[BostonBird]

Yea you are right about Bosh over Boozer but Bosh has yet to be tested in a playoff situation. I'm not sold on him. The 3 star system worked with Boston but who would have known that Rondo would be so good. Boston also had a pretty good bench to compliment the 3.

06-07 Bosh averaged 17.5ppg and 9rpg in 6 playoff games
07-08 Bosh averaged 24ppg and 9rpg in 5 playoff games

career playoff averages: 20.5 ppg 9rpg

Boozer career playoff averages: 20.3 ppg, 9.3 rpg

The kicker is in the last 6 seasons Boozer has missed 138 games for an average of 23 a year.
Bosh has missed 58 games for an average of 9.6 a year.

[Majik45]

I don't think the income tax argument holds as much weight as people think... you pay taxes in the state that the game is played. So only half of the game (home games) you pay taxes in that state. While 42 games is still alot (especially at 13%), its still not as bad as it sounds.

Can you imagine how crazy it would be to be one of these guys accountants (especially in MLB with 81 home games and 81 away) paying taxes to all these different states. Bet they're making a pretty penny $$$$$

It's funny how the drive by media doesn't realize that Lebron really isn't saving as much as they are reporting because he ends up paying taxes to every state he plays in based on how many games are played in that state.

[tornado]

It's funny how the drive by media doesn't realize that Lebron really isn't saving as much as they are reporting because he ends up paying taxes to every state he plays in based on how many games are played in that state.

I am not sure that is correct...if my job takes me to another state I don't owe that state a cent...as I am paid in Illinois and pay taxes to only one state..
If that were the case, then does Jim Les and all the BU assistants, and even the announcers and others all pay taxes in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, etc...depending on where they play??

[shaunguth]

For me personally, it's the way he did it rather than the actual decision. If he wants to be knows as the modern day Scottie Pippen instead of taking aim at Michael Jordan, that's his problem. But I think the backlash is more of the way he went about making the decision, then actually deciding to play in Miami. Oh well. Over and done.

I have a hard time believing the Bulls fans that seem to be jumping all over him would be unhappy with "the way he went about making the decision" if he had said he was taking his talents to the windy city this fall. It is his decision and he made it. I'm not sure how we can fault a guy for making a life-decision however he wants to do it. I'm also left wondering why the Cavs fans aren't using their matches and lighter fluid to burn down ANYTHING representing their team, since they are the ones that apparently didn't do enough to get the quality supporting cast to go a step further in winning a championship. Why not burn Bosh jerseys while they're at it. If he had decided to accept a sign-and-trade to Cleveland, LeBron would still be there.

[shaunguth]

I am not sure that is correct...if my job takes me to another state I don't owe that state a cent...as I am paid in Illinois and pay taxes to only one state..
If that were the case, then does Jim Les and all the BU assistants, and even the announcers and others all pay taxes in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, etc...depending on where they play??

Yeah....I agree with this. I don't see how other states can jump in for a piece of the pie when your business address is in another state.

[shaunguth]

I stand corrected.....unless something has changed in the last couple years.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2008/Apr/15/pro-athletes-income-taxes-no-easy-layup/

Professional athletes are required to pay income taxes in every state and city that levies them where they earned a salary during away games. That means NBA and Major League Baseball players must file tax returns in dozens of states and several cities. In some jurisdictions, that includes practices, as well.
Today, taxes generated in California from visiting athletes bring in an estimated $100 million each year, according to the state tax board.

[shaunguth]

It doesn't make much sense to me, but if I have to travel across state lines for training, meetings, etc......I have to pay a state tax on that percentage of my income.

[BradleyBrave]

I have a hard time believing the Bulls fans that seem to be jumping all over him would be unhappy with "the way he went about making the decision" if he had said he was taking his talents to the windy city this fall. It is his decision and he made it. I'm not sure how we can fault a guy for making a life-decision however he wants to do it. I'm also left wondering why the Cavs fans aren't using their matches and lighter fluid to burn down ANYTHING representing their team, since they are the ones that apparently didn't do enough to get the quality supporting cast to go a step further in winning a championship. Why not burn Bosh jerseys while they're at it. If he had decided to accept a sign-and-trade to Cleveland, LeBron would still be there.

I would understand the ire of Cleveland fans and folks on the national level regardless of where he decided to play based on the way things played out.

And Cleveland had the best record in the NBA the last two years, and went out and added and added and added guys requested by LBJ. So I am not quite sure pointing the finger at the Cavs for not doing enough makes much sense. They did more than enough for that guy.

And it's not Chicago people who are jumping all over him. In fact, I have seen much more backlash nationally than in Chicago.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/08/sports/la-sp-plaschke-lebron-james-20100709

[shaunguth]

I would understand the ire of Cleveland fans and folks on the national level regardless of where he decided to play based on the way things played out.

And Cleveland had the best record in the NBA the last two years, and went out and added and added and added guys requested by LBJ. So I am not quite sure pointing the finger at the Cavs for not doing enough makes much sense. They did more than enough.

And it's not Chicago people who are jumping all over him. In fact, I have seen much more backlash nationally than in Chicago.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-lebrondecision070910

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul...james-20100709

I guess I was referring to what I thought were Bulls' fans on this site that were jumping all over him.

I don't believe it makes much sense for anyone to question why he wants to play in Miami either. It was HIS decision! I'm not sure I would want to play for any owner that calls a players' decision some kind of "cowardly betrayal". Maybe if I was at the end of my career and had no intentions of ever signing with another team. Just curious.....how many players has this owner traded? I guess that was ok in the eyes of Cleveland fans and everyone nationally?

I look forward to seeing who wins a championship first.....LeBron or the Cavaliers. I just wonder if the current and future Cleveland players got that guarantee in writing?

[BradleyBrave]

I guess I was referring to what I thought were Bulls' fans on this site that were jumping all over him.

I don't believe it makes much sense for anyone to question why he wants to play in Miami either. It was HIS decision! I'm not sure I would want to play for any owner that calls a players' decision some kind of "cowardly betrayal". Maybe if I was at the end of my career and had no intentions of ever signing with another team. Just curious.....how many players has this owner traded? I guess that was ok in the eyes of Cleveland fans and everyone nationally?

I look forward to seeing who wins a championship first.....LeBron or the Cavaliers. I wonder if the current and future Cleveland players got that guarantee in writing?

The letter from Gilbert was passionate, and certainly something that made reactionary fans feel better, but I think the yahoo writer hit the nail on the head regarding the Cavs owner just as much as he did with LBJ.

Seriously...are you really putting other players the Cavs traded on the same level as Lebron James? Come on. That's silly and you know it.

[shaunguth]

The letter from Gilbert was passionate, and certainly something that made reactionary fans feel better, but I think the yahoo writer hit the nail on the head regarding the Cavs owner just as much as he did with LBJ.

Seriously...are you really putting other players the Cavs traded on the same level as Lebron James? Come on. That's silly and you know it.

If he's allowed to call one man's decision AT THE END OF HIS CONTRACT a "cowardly betrayal", then what would you call what owners do to players in the middle of contracts? No, I'm not putting the two situations on the same level......I happen to have more respect for one than the other!

If he had signed with Cleveland or NY, I'm guessing everyone across the nation would have called him selfish and his decision was based on income. Again......I have more respect for the decision he made when so many athletes these days hold out for the biggest payday possible.

[BradleyBrave]

If he's allowed to call one man's decision AT THE END OF HIS CONTRACT a "cowardly betrayal", then what would you call what owners do to players in the middle of contracts? No, I'm not putting the two situations on the same level......I happen to have more respect for one than the other!

If he had signed with Cleveland or NY, I'm guessing everyone across the nation would have called him selfish and his decision was based on income. Again......I have more respect for the decision he made when so many athletes these days hold out for the biggest payday possible.

The decision isn't what has people p-ssed off. It's the dog-and-pony show that led to it. Not sure where the disconnect is on that point.