Option 1:Wade + Bosh Option 2: Shaq

[Mr. Incredible]

Someone is a little jealous

[ripthekik]

Bosh wanted to live in Miami. Amare was going to any team that paid him the max. And only NYC was willing to do it considering the contract couldn't be insured.

Lebron could have went to the Knicks with Amare and carved his own legend. He did not. Lebron also could have went to the Bulls.

[Bigsmoke]

Lebron could have went to the Knicks with Amare and carved his own legend. He did not. Lebron also could have went to the Bulls.

LeBron isn't doing that right now?

only morons like yourself would think LBJ isn't climbing the All Time Greats list yearly.

[ripthekik]

LeBron isn't doing that right now?

only morons like yourself would think LBJ isn't climbing the All Time Greats list yearly.

Nope. 40 years later, someone would bring up one of the Alll-time greats: Lebron James. The other kid says: prime Wade and Bosh. End of conversation.

[NumberSix]

You don't surround your superstar with Shaq. Shaq is the superstar you surround.

[Bigsmoke]

I think it has to been made clear. It is:

1) Shaq + below average players and bench
Going through strong West playoffs with Blazers, Kings, etc and the possibility of hack-a-shaq

2) Wade+ Bosh + Ray + Battier and all their shooters
Going through a weak east as currently: no superstars

Which would be easier to win a ring?

Horry, Fisher, and Fox >>> current Battier

[ripthekik]

Horry, Fisher, and Fox >>> current Battier

Horry, Fisher, and Fox > Battier, Haslem, Ray Allen, Chris Anderson, Chalmers, Mike Miller??? really?

[lilgodfather1]

Ok so since this is for some reason still going on i'll put it down this way to end the debate.

LeBron - 17,545,000
Shaq 2000 - 19,285,715
Ray Allen - 3,090,000
Kevin Love - 13,668,750
Mario Chalmers - 4,000,000

Starting line up total - 57,589,465

Current Heat

LeBron - 17,545,000
Wade - 17,024,000
Bosh - 17,545,000
Rio - 4,000,000
Haslem - 4,060,000

Staring line up total - 60,174,000

Tony Allen - 3,300,000
Ian Mahinimi - 4,000,000
Billups - 3,000,000
CJ Miles - 2,225,000
Brandon Bass - 6,500,000
Lewis - 1,352,181
Cole - 1,113,600
Birdman - 699,952
Harrelson - 358,680
Terrel Harris - 304,878
Jarvis Varnado - 275,804

Bench total - 23,130,095

Current Heat Bench

Miller - 5,800,000
Anthony - 3,750,000
Jones - 3,350,000
Battier - 3,135,000
Allen - 3,090,000
Lewis - 1,352,181
Cole - 1,113,600
Birdman - 699,952
Harrelson - 358,680
Terrel Harris - 304,878
Jarvis Varnado - 275,804

Total - 23,230,095

Made up team total - 80,719,560

Current Heat total - 83,404,095

Difference - 2,684,535

That's right on a team that has two of the top 5 players of all time peak wise, and the best PF (or second) in the NBA on it I spent less money, while giving them a better bench, and a complimentary starting line up.

I didn't use any players on rookie contracts to my knowledge.

Easily 70 wins.

[Bigsmoke]

If I'm building an NBA team, I'm taking Shaq if I have the first overall pick. Yeah, over Jordan.

you're going a little too far with that

Jordan is the G.O.A.T. and isn't lazy like Shaq was.

I would draft Kareem, Hakeem, and Duncan over shaq too.

Shaq was overall better than Duncan and Hakeem but i know what i would get out of Duncan and Hakeem. Neither Duncan and Hakeem would cause our orginazation problems like Shaq did with all of his teams he was on besides when he was in Cleveland and Boston. Can be because he was immature for he most part. Not to mention Shaq's P&R defense was ass and his FT% was horrible.

[Bigsmoke]

Horry, Fisher, and Fox > Battier, Haslem, Ray Allen, Chris Anderson, Chalmers, Mike Miller??? really?

Mike Miller doesnt even play

but how are u going to mention Battier like he's some star but be like "Horry, Fox, and Fisher were below average"

[ripthekik]

Mike Miller doesnt even play

but how are u going to mention Battier like he's some star but be like "Horry, Fox, and Fisher were below average"

Mike Miller dropped 7 threes in the finals for the Heat last season, foo'.
Battier has always been a great player, he has been defending the opposite team's best player for YEARS, and doesn't need the ball in his hands, can knock down the 3 shot and make clutch defensive plays.

[MisterAmazing]

Wade and Bosh have a combined 3 rings (2 in one year) with one Finals MVP.

Shaq has 4 rings with three FMVPs. Should have been 5ive rings but we know what happened with one of them.

This is a pretty easy decision really.

Unless you are talking right now, than Wade and Bosh over a 41 year old Shaq. Hell, I'd take current Chris Kaman over a 41 year old Shaq.

this. not much of a question really...

[LikeABosh]

What you don't mention is Shaq was the Alpha on that team, winning all three finals MVP while Kobe rode him, also don't forget about the GOAT coach Phil Jackson

[NumberSix]

Horry, Fisher, and Fox > Battier, Haslem, Ray Allen, Chris Anderson, Chalmers, Mike Miller??? really?

Lol. You say that like that's some epic roster or something.

[Ne 1]

What you don't mention is Shaq was the Alpha on that team, winning all three finals MVP while Kobe rode him

Alright, then let's call a spade a spade. I don't see why we should diminish Kobe for winning with Shaq. Nobody diminishes Magic for winning with Kareem. But if you want to say Kobe piggy backed Shaq for 3 rings, let's also bring up that LeBron visibly pouted and quit on his team in an odd turn of events after game 3 vs Boston in 2010. He then BEGGED for help to get a ring and moved to another top 3 superstar's franchise and city who had also already acquired another top 15-20 perennial All-Star/Top 5 PF in the league because the route to a ring and multiple rings was tremendously easier than it would have been anywhere else. Hence why he said they would win 8 rings and "once the game starts, it's gonna be easy" and why Wade said "I feel sorry for whoever has to guard us."

btw for all this talk about "alphas" and #1 options" usually, when a guy is the undisputed alpha, he's the player taking the last shots, closing out games, being a go to guy when the game is on the line among many other things. For the Lakers, that was often Kobe Bryant. That isn't often examined... Kobe was generally "plan B" throughout the game as far as scoring goes. However in the 4th quarter, he often became "plan A" and sometimes, "plan AA" if Phil sat Shaq because of hack-a-Shaq. In the history of the game, how often were guys who were riding the coattails of other players asked to take over so consistently? Plus, it's not like Kobe was a role player or a Tony Parker level 2nd option.
He was part of a one-two punch duo, and he averaged 21/5/4, 29/7/6, 27/6/5 in the playoffs in the playoffs while taking the last shots.