NBA Free Agency Predictions:
as july 1st fast approaches, the question on everyone's mind is where will lebron sign. after that, all the other free agent ballers will fall into place. my predictions for what expect are as follows:
1. lebron will stay in cleveland. they will make a trade prior to the signing in order to convince him they're in it to win it.
2. wade will stay in miami. i think he's basically said as much.
3. bosh will sign with miami as well. sign and trade of some sort for michael beasley. miami will be up there with orlando, cleveland, and boston atop the east.
4. joe johnson will sign with chicago. teaming up with rose, they will join that upper echelon atop the east within the next couple years.
5. amare will sign with the nets.
where will carlos boozer sign? who gives a shit.
btw, i am a little intrigued by this chris paul trade talk. they said he's not on the block...but not convincingly. the team is losing money, and they're afraid he's going to become discontent soon with their penny pinching ways. they might well entertain that devin harris plus the no. 3 pick offer, which would allow them unload some other bad contracts in the deal (btw, a new jersey team with paul could well change the free agency happenings). also some talk of a deal to orlando for jameer nelson and vince carter. this again would allow a big salary dump. look, paul is a top ten star in the league, no question. but it doesn't seem likely the hornets will build a winner around him, what with their salary cutting ways. so why keep him around til he gets pissed and demands a trade? don't get me wrong, i would keep him for sure. but i'm not an nba owner losing money and trying to sell my team.
1. lebron will stay in cleveland. they will make a trade prior to the signing in order to convince him they're in it to win it.
2. wade will stay in miami. i think he's basically said as much.
3. bosh will sign with miami as well. sign and trade of some sort for michael beasley. miami will be up there with orlando, cleveland, and boston atop the east.
4. joe johnson will sign with chicago. teaming up with rose, they will join that upper echelon atop the east within the next couple years.
5. amare will sign with the nets.
where will carlos boozer sign? who gives a shit.
btw, i am a little intrigued by this chris paul trade talk. they said he's not on the block...but not convincingly. the team is losing money, and they're afraid he's going to become discontent soon with their penny pinching ways. they might well entertain that devin harris plus the no. 3 pick offer, which would allow them unload some other bad contracts in the deal (btw, a new jersey team with paul could well change the free agency happenings). also some talk of a deal to orlando for jameer nelson and vince carter. this again would allow a big salary dump. look, paul is a top ten star in the league, no question. but it doesn't seem likely the hornets will build a winner around him, what with their salary cutting ways. so why keep him around til he gets pissed and demands a trade? don't get me wrong, i would keep him for sure. but i'm not an nba owner losing money and trying to sell my team.
posted by Huevos McGringo at
12:35 PM
4 Comments:
These predictions seem pretty solid, but you don't have any of the free agents joining LeBron in Cleveland. Can they improve that much just by making a regular trade? Could be tricky.
i don't think they necessarily need to sign bosh, wade, or johnson to keep him. there are enough teams with decent players looking to dump salary.
i know i debated this with a few within our readership, but i don't think the cavs supported cast is that bad. if jamison gets better integrated in the offense, they could totally contend. shit, they weren't that far off this year. honestly lebron didn't really bring it. even he had, they might be have been back in the finals.
i am getting a little worried about he chicago thing, though. i couldn't understand playing there in jordan's shadow. but if with rose there, if they can sign bosh AND lebron, that would be tough to pass up.
fuck. i just hope he stays.
among the articles that have got me worried:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/story/13573244/so-many-factors-to-consider-when-weighing-lebrons-options
discouraging re: a return to cleveland. but encouraging re: bron maybe not wanting to create a true super team.
if he leaves, i think the nets or bulls make the most sense.
shit, i may have just convinced myself with this email to zig:
"i'll say this, i think the nets are right in the mix. he wants to be an international superstar, well how bout a team owned by a partying russian billionaire and the biggest rapper in the world. if he wants to be wowed by a vision at these meetings, it's hard to imagine somebody bringing a bigger one than those two will lay out. oh, and that team is soon to move to one of the hippest places in a america, which is part of biggest city in america? can you imagine how well brooklyn nets lebron jerseys would sell? also i actually don't think the talent is half bad, despite their wretched record. i didn't watch any nets games (they're never one), but brook lopez is a legitimately good center, and devin harris and courtney lee are solid young guards. they sign bron and bosh/amare, and they will be a top 4 team in the east instantly. shit, maybe the best team in the east.
the chicago thing has some appeal, but i'm not certain that he and rose are good compliments. both dominate the ball, and neither are great shooters when the other one drives / kicks out.
i do wonder if cleveland can orchestrate anything, in terms of a trade. they need to do something with some impact. i think it's gonna be hard for them to wow him at their meeting, if only because he'll be like 'i already know what it's like to play for you'"
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