There’s been a lot of speculation that last year when the Celtics tossed LeBron James against a wall, stole his lunch money and left him beaten and humiliated, Kevin Garnett spoke to James and reminded him of certain things about the reality of how things are when you’re trying to carry a team on your own. Garnett said post-game when asked about James’ then impending free agency that “loyalty can hurt.” Garnett understood how James felt trying in vain to win with an inferior cast and never getting over the hump, and wanted to share with James his feeling that he should have ditched Minnesota sooner. (Note: Don’t tell Minnesota fans this, they still worship him like the ex-boyfriend who doesn’t mind when the ex-girlfriend comes over, steals his food, makes him do her laundry, and then goes and messes around with one of his richer friends.)
Now LeBron James is passing the message down the line to the next in the franchise martyr line. From the Chicago Tribune, via IAmAGM.com:Before getting caught up in celebrating his teams series-clinching victory over the Bulls on Thursday night, Heat star LeBron James embraced Reggie Rose, Derricks older brother, and whispered a few words in Reggies ear.
“He said, Tell young fella hes a hell of a player and that hes one player away from a title, Reggie Rose said, relaying James message.
via Derrick Rose: Derrick Rose cant overcome fourth-quarter woes - chicagotribune.com.
We’ve already discussed how James understands what Rose went through in this series, and this just illustrates the connection players who have felt that frustration and disappointment, more than the average player who loses a playoff series. This just shows that James is explicit in his support of Rose, despite the media-driven concept that they have some sort of “humble guy vs. egomaniac” feud.
James is correct in his assessment of the situation. But what everyone’s glossing over is Carlos Boozer’s money. Not Carlos Boozer, he’s being torched in every Chicago blog, message board, radio station program and print publication there is, but Boozer’s money. Boozer still has over $60 million owed him in the five-year contract he signed. This was the big move the Bulls made. Carlos Boozer. I questioned it at the time pretty roughly, so much so in fact that I overlooked how great of a get the rest of the roster and Tom Thibodeau was. I was wrong for it then and I’m wrong for it now, but I was right about Boozer. He is not the go-to guy. He is not the sidekick. He is not the supporting structure. He’s Antawn Jamison, a bit younger and not as good of a teammate or locker room guy. The Bulls don’t just need a weapon, they need production.
The big call right now is for a legit 2-guard. O.J. Mayo is most often mentioned, as is Anthony Morrow. The problem is that both those players are best used as spot-up shooters. Mayo is considered to have the playmaking ability to create his own shot, but in reality his isolation production simply isn’t good enough to warrant being considered a number two option. He’s not going to draw attention away from Rose.
The idea is that a stellar wing player with size and length, next to a better legitimate big man to go with Rose as the MVP-caliber guard will make the Bulls a contender. Sure it will. It will make them the Heat. LeBron is supportive of Rose and everything he’s going through. And just like Garnett, it’s the example James has set that Rose needs to follow, only without the theatrics and franchise abandonment. That’s the big gap here between the three. Chicago’s the place you can get free agents. Rose can do it, it’ll just take time.
And a way to get rid of Carlos Boozer’s money.