People questioning his moves are just jealous that they can't make as much as him at the end of their careers or at any point of time for that matter. Me first society blah blah is all bull****.

All those people seeing it in any negative light need to be in his shoes first and then tell the rest of us if they'd really be giving up millions of dollars knowing their career is ending in 2-3 years.

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/complex_sports/status/751075065442230272

fishmike wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:making the best living he can = greed?
Are you really equating making 20MM a year to making a living? Do you even understand the concept of making a living? When you fixate on wanting more stuff than you need to make a living it actually is called greed. You may wanna look those up. Capitalism fosters greed. Right or wrong is a judgment call, but to act like this isn't greed is very novel.

Full Definition of greed:
a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

yea.. so I work for a living, am 43, have 3 kids from 4-15, own a house in the burbs, have a wife that also works and am currently saving for college funds etc... so please don't talk to me about making a living.

Where do you draw the line? And quite frankly who are you to judge? If I make a $100k a year but want to make $120k does that make me greedy? Do my kids *need* a quality college education when they can go to county college? Do I *need* a ribeye when I could just buy some ground chuck? Do you *need* to drive when you could take the bus?

Reading comprehension would help a little - Your comment was about Dwayne Wade "making a living" - I asked if you understood what making a living means in that context. This had nothing to do with your personal situation or your family life. I hope you can meet your aspirations and I don't hold that or anything else you do against you. We live in a country where the average salary is about 45K a year, to say that someone making 20MM a year is making a living is disrespectful to people who work two full time jobs and can't make enough money to put food on the table or pay rent. Just my opinion we may disagree on this.

I don't have an issue with Wade making 20MM or 25MM, I think he deserves it and I said so. But you have put your imaginary words in my mouth and proceeded on a witch hunt.

Greed is an easy word to throw out there when someone lacks the same skills to earn. I suppose by your standards EVERY pro athlete is greedy right? I mean they could make a great living on $200k, or $500k... I mean taking anything more is pure greed right? When you walk past a homeless man are you greedy for not giving him the $5 bill in your wallet you really wont miss?

Words are neither easy nor hard, they are words. It's people who take them out of context to make them what they need them to be. I have no issues with either capitalism or greed. And by a lot of definitions I would be considered greedy as would you. I actually don't have a problem with it and I don't need to rationalize it away and I don't feel defensive about it.

Here's a word for you look up:
sanctimonious

If you want to tell me capitalism is evil and to blame than yea... Im American so these ears are deaf.

DWade owns a skill that very people have. I always laugh when people think athletes are overpaid and I always tell them the same thing. Go learn to throw a baseball 95mph with pinpoint accuracy and you can join that club. Its not a members only... anyone can join.

I know what it means and I am sure you feel that I am being sanctimonious, but I am not trying to.I think you are taking what I said out of context
I honestly don't know why people respond by attacking people when having a forum discussion - without any provocation you accused me of hating capitalism, not having skills, being judgmental and god knows what else. I hope it made you feel better. BTW I am American too and loving it.

POGS

meloshouldgo wrote:

fishmike wrote:

meloshouldgo wrote:making the best living he can = greed?
Are you really equating making 20MM a year to making a living? Do you even understand the concept of making a living? When you fixate on wanting more stuff than you need to make a living it actually is called greed. You may wanna look those up. Capitalism fosters greed. Right or wrong is a judgment call, but to act like this isn't greed is very novel.

Full Definition of greed:
a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (as money) than is needed

yea.. so I work for a living, am 43, have 3 kids from 4-15, own a house in the burbs, have a wife that also works and am currently saving for college funds etc... so please don't talk to me about making a living.

Where do you draw the line? And quite frankly who are you to judge? If I make a $100k a year but want to make $120k does that make me greedy? Do my kids *need* a quality college education when they can go to county college? Do I *need* a ribeye when I could just buy some ground chuck? Do you *need* to drive when you could take the bus?

Reading comprehension would help a little - Your comment was about Dwayne Wade "making a living" - I asked if you understood what making a living means in that context. This had nothing to do with your personal situation or your family life. I hope you can meet your aspirations and I don't hold that or anything else you do against you. We live in a country where the average salary is about 45K a year, to say that someone making 20MM a year is making a living is disrespectful to people who work two full time jobs and can't make enough money to put food on the table or pay rent. Just my opinion we may disagree on this.

I don't have an issue with Wade making 20MM or 25MM, I think he deserves it and I said so. But you have put your imaginary words in my mouth and proceeded on a witch hunt.

Greed is an easy word to throw out there when someone lacks the same skills to earn. I suppose by your standards EVERY pro athlete is greedy right? I mean they could make a great living on $200k, or $500k... I mean taking anything more is pure greed right? When you walk past a homeless man are you greedy for not giving him the $5 bill in your wallet you really wont miss?

Words are neither easy nor hard, they are words. It's people who take them out of context to make them what they need them to be. I have no issues with either capitalism or greed. And by a lot of definitions I would be considered greedy as would you. I actually don't have a problem with it and I don't need to rationalize it away and I don't feel defensive about it.

Here's a word for you look up:
sanctimonious

If you want to tell me capitalism is evil and to blame than yea... Im American so these ears are deaf.

DWade owns a skill that very people have. I always laugh when people think athletes are overpaid and I always tell them the same thing. Go learn to throw a baseball 95mph with pinpoint accuracy and you can join that club. Its not a members only... anyone can join.

I know what it means and I am sure you feel that I am being sanctimonious, but I am not trying to.I think you are taking what I said out of context
I honestly don't know why people respond by attacking people when having a forum discussion - without any provocation you accused me of hating capitalism, not having skills, being judgmental and god knows what else. I hope it made you feel better. BTW I am American too and loving it.

POGS

making the best living he can = greed?
Are you really equating making 20MM a year to making a living? Do you even understand the concept of making a living? When you fixate on wanting more stuff than you need to make a living it actually is called greed. You may wanna look those up. Capitalism fosters greed. Right or wrong is a judgment call, but to act like this isn't greed is very novel.

Sorry "meloshouldgo" no witch hunts here. "You hope it made me feel better." Good stuff buddy. I look forward to reading your future musings and insight with great anticipation. You are a message forum winner and I am owned once again. Damn. MOM! MEATLOAF!!!!!!!!

If Florida and Texas both STATE tax no longer existed, would this still have happened?
It gives a clear cut advantage to lure ALL STAR's, TOP Tier, 2nd Tier, role players, UFA's, even vet mins to take less, and Undrafted FA's (often giving these Texas and Florida teams the ability to acquire assets if they sign that could be moved in the future or moving other pieces therefore having other ways of acquiring more assets

ON TOP OF ALL OF THIS, it has a domino/multiple affects/effects to attract talent/assets
The BIG 3 took less along with other players through those years at the time, whether it was Haslem, Shane Battier *his versatility to DEFEND top tier talents at SG/SF/stretch 4's and hit the wide open 3pter was crucial that lead to the 1st ring with Lebron, Wade, Bosh together as they loss to Dallas their first year*, Chris Anderson, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, Mike Miller, James Jones, etc..

Either by trades, let go for nothing, used to acquire assets, clear cap space for luxury tax or future cap space etc,
When players were traded for luxury tax reasons when they are legit title contenders, it rubs NBA ALL STARS the wrong way if they took less
Miami did it with Mike Miller and many other players

OKC did it with Harden, Reggie Jackson...

Wade
Lebron
Bosh

Battier
Ray Allen
Haslem
Chris Anderson
Mario Chalmers
Mike Miller
James Jones
Norrise Cole

Shabazz Napier

Joel Anthony

Yes, some of these players could easily be let go, but many took less to join a contender as well
Mike Miller had an awesome season when he was amnestied but after earned a multi year deal and then father time caught up
So did Riley do the correct thing?

Eventually though this "loyalty" lead to players/contracts being dealt, either for financial reasons/acquire assets, clearing cap space for other talents, etc....
Whether it was Riley idea or the owners decisions, the boss's that Riley answer to...

I believe when Mike Miller was traded after his pivotal playoff's final appearances for the luxury tax
But the whole point of Lebron James, Wade, Bosh, taking less was to be able to attract talent for players that would also take less to improve their chances in winning

Now Cleveland had put up the money to chase talent and keep talent in order to get their ring
I believe this was something that Lebron James talked about with Dan Gilbert before his decision to go back home
And how they would use their many draft picks at the time to continue to get better...

Now I think Lebron totally understand that Cleveland can not match the offers for Delly/MosGoV for their respective roles
But not letting Mike Miller go as he makes much less at the Heat, during that time
So the point is, do you want to be part of franchise that would eventually do the same to you, when your time MAY be coming up?
IMO, Lebron make the correct decision my leaving The Heat and the way they traded D Wade proves it....

He joined the team that had the highest chance of winning, continue to acquire talent as they owned multiple draft picks as they stockpiled up when Lebron left to Miami...
So why do some posters here feel Durant decision is "weakness"
He made the correct decision on and off the court

Who would not want to be part of a team that plays the style of basketball the way they do?
A team that has many young talents, a team that was still the favorites to win the West without Durant?
A team that he could also improve with his skill on both ends and would improve his game with their talents/style of play?

On top of that OKC's Hero ball style, management giving up talent *Harden, rather than keeping him for another year and letting him be a RFA after they just made the finals* and even Reggie Jackson, Ibaka *who took less at the time...

Harden
Reggie Jackson
Ibaka

So if a team is capable of developing/drafting much talent, but because they become too good, then the team lets them go?
Where does that sit from a players/leaders of the team point of view?
When Durant/Westbrook's mid 30s hits and Payne, Sabonis, or whoever in the future, would they do the same to Durant/Westbrook?
Very possibly, so why would they want to stay with such a franchise that have proven they would do it to such players...