LeBron, CP3 and Despicable Me

I don't understand why so many people are pouncing on LeBron James. If you're gonna say someone made a dumb decision, talk about Amar'e Stoudemire who left a Western Conference finalist for a likely 35-win team. James left a good team for a better team, the opposite of Stoudemire.

I respect Amar'e. He's usually a hard worker. I think my guy, Jared Dudley, made him more of a team player. However, he is just straight up stupid as a person.

I also respect Mike D'Antoni, Stoudemire's head coach. He's an offensive genius who got cheated out of two NBA championships by Suns ownership and the NBA.

Back to LeBron. From my experience, fans have constantly complained about professional athletes and their egos. They have too big of an ego to take less money and play together and win. Wait a second! That's exactly what LeBron James and Chris Bosh did. They are the Anti-Amar'e and Anti-Joe Johnson. Johnson's stuck on a mediocre-at-best Hawks team for the next six years! LeBron is showing his commitment and willingness to win at least one, but probably multiple, championships.

LeBron put his ego behind him and proved me wrong. I don't think he really wanted to win a championship these past few seasons. Going to Miami, where Dwayne Wade is the star, proves that he wants a ring. He's hungry now.

ESPN's choice to have an hour-long special for LeBron James was wrong. Even though all proceeds from that hour went to The Boys and Girls Club, there's never a time to pay for news. ESPN lost money and, eventually, credibility because of 'The Decision.'

Bill Simmons said he once heard that James, Wade, Bosh and Chris Paul made a pact to play together when they were in Beijing in 2008. I gotta say, I would absolutely love to see that. It seems beyond unlikely. The agreement the NBA Players Association and the NBA (i.e. team owners) have now is over after this season. Chris Paul has two years left on his contract. The new agreement will have a lower salary cap and whatnot. So, unless the Heat can nab CP3 in a trade or he takes a tremendous pay cut, I don't see it happening.

Chris Paul has been saying lately he wants a trade to a contender with a superstar. Recent anonymous reports are saying the Orlando Magic is the leading candidate. The Hornets would be dumb to trade him at all unless the Heat want to send Wade and Bosh over for him. He's the guy people pay lotsa money to see.

On a different note, I saw Despicable Me in 3D. Not really into paying extra for 3D. It doesn't do a whole lot for me. Good movie, though. Good morale. Good jokes. I recommend it for sure.

Two New Suns

The Phoenix Suns traded Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones to the Toronto Raptors for Hedo Turkoglu Sunday. The Raptors are expected to send Jones and a future draft pick to Charlotte for Boris Diaw.

The Suns also used some of the trade exception they got in the Amar'e Stoudemire deal to do a sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks for Josh Childress. The Suns also sent the future draft pick they got from the Knicks to the Hawks.

Turkoglu has four years and about $43 million left on his contract. Josh Childress signed for five years and about $33 million.

Steve Nash tweeted this today, "Today's the end of an era. My close friend Leandrinho leaves the Suns making me the last player from 04-07. Great memories. Boa sorte irmao!" It must be kinda hard on him to lose all of these friends. Raja Bell was Nash's best friend on the team and I'm sure he and Barbosa were close.

I think the Suns will be fine now. They overpaid for everyone and don't have a backup for Jason Richardson. Gambo called Childress a poor man's Shawn Marion. I would call him a homeless man's Shawn Marion, but he does rock an afro, which gives him extra likability points.

Turkoglu can dribble, pass, shoot and run. He's 6-foot-10 and should get a solid six or seven rebounds per game. Hakim Warrick is a homeless man's Stoudemire. He's extremely athletic and can dunk with the best of them.

The Suns will be fine. I just hope my guy, Jared Dudley, gets his due share of money with all of these fools getting overpaid. It's weird. The three greatest free agents of the summer are underpaid, whereas the rest of the available players are extremely overpaid.

Anyway, Bill Simmons is going to make The Decision today on SportsNation. I'll be sure to let you all know how it turns out.