Free Agency Update: June 29

This is the last installment in my five part series of weekly free agency updates. The other four can be read by clicking on the links below:

Free Agency Update: June 1

Free Agency Update: June 8

Free Agency Update: June 15

Free Agency Update: June 22


With only two days left until July 1, rumors have been circulating at an even wilder pace than previously throughout the month. Here is the latest news pertaining to the key free agents.

Even though LeBron James and Chris Bosh heading to Chicago were almost a "sure thing" according to Sports Illustrated, the latest news from Steven A. Smith is that LeBron will play for Miami next year along with Bosh. Would this duo combined with Dwyane Wade be the success story that everyone expects it to be? Originally, I thought that this would be the best option for each player involved. However, now I'm not so sure. Wade, James, and Bosh are all used to being the leaders on the team. That could certainly create some drama on the Heat, which would obviously still be Dwyane Wade's team. Miami will never embrace James or Bosh in the way that they have embraced Wade simply because he was there first. Even though a "big three" formula worked for Boston (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett), I do not seeing it working in Miami - at all. Although I do think it would be interesting to watch the drama unfold in Miami once a losing streak of three games happened. My guess is that Chris Bosh would not have a problem giving up his leadership role, but LeBron is so self-oriented that it would eat at him not to be "the man" on the team. No more chalk throwing LBJ...it's Wade's team.

Speaking of LeBron, all of the teams are clamoring to get him. Congratulations. You've signed LeBron, now what? Instant championship right? Nope, sorry Clippers fans. You still wouldn't win. You see, LeBron needs people around him. He can't have just anyone though. He needs a second superstar on the team. He needs a Bosh, Stoudemire, or Boozer on the team. He can't win by himself. Just ask the Cleveland rafters with all of the banners that he's hung with his time on the Cavaliers. LeBron had a great team around him this past year and couldn't shoulder the load in crunch time. Another superstar would attract some attention on the offensive end of the floor, and it would make James more effective.

I would also like to applaud the intelligence and team-awareness of Toronto Raptors' general manager Bryan Colangelo. He stated that Bosh is "likely to leave". Your wit and prediction is unmatched by any other human being following the NBA my friend. Of course Chris Bosh is leaving. Everyone knows this and has known this for quite some time now. I suppose you will also announce that the Raptors will not win a championship next year? Now you're getting a little bold, don't you think?

The New York Knicks will have serious discussions with Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire on Thursday and Friday. These two players would be perfect together! (I originally predicted them to be on the same team in my June 1 Free Agency Update.) Keep an eye out for the two of them to make noise in New York next year.

That leaves Carlos Boozer. Where will he sign in the midst of all this mess? Chicago will be his team next year if the rest of the players go to the teams mentioned above. I wouldn't be surprised if Tracy McGrady or Ray Allen would join him either if they are offered enough money to be lured to the Windy City.

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Three Winners and Losers of NBA Draft

The NBA Draft is over. So from now until July 1, there will be a calming lull around the NBA. So, let's look back at the draft and pick out the three winners and three losers of Thursday night.

Winners

The Washington Wizards had a great night for obvious reasons. They drafted John Wall, and now he is officially on the team. They also traded with the Chicago Bulls to obtain Kirk Hinrich. So now, Gilbert Arenas will most likely be shopped to see if any team around the league is interested in him. Although Washington could also opt to add Hinrich off the bench, just so that there is always some offense on the floor in the backcourt. The Wizards also added Trevor Booker and Kevin Seraphin, two big men who should mature nicely and provide some much needed toughness down low.

The Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat are the last two winners of draft night, and they're here for the same reason. They successfully cleared cap space to thwart New York's plan. Before the draft, New York was the only team in the NBA who could attempt to lure LeBron James by offering him and a running mate of his choosing a maximum contract. Now, both Miami and Chicago can do the same. Plus, Miami can re-sign Dwyane Wade, and then offer two contracts.

Losers

The New York Knicks are the biggest loser for the reason highlighted above concerning Miami and Chicago.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are a close second though. Why? They didn't have a pick in the draft, and instead watched teams clear cap room and become even more of an attraction for LeBron to leave.

The New Jersey Nets are my third loser of the draft. Derrick Favors may be a great player in the future, but he doesn't attract any free agents to New Jersey. Evan Turner would have been perfect if he could have fallen to third for the Nets.

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Trade Talk

The Milwaukee Bucks were involved in another trade on Wednesday, this time with the New Jersey Nets. The Bucks received Chris Douglas-Roberts, and they only had to give up a 2012 second round pick. What are the Nets thinking? Well, they're trying their hardest to be broke so that they can spend, spend, spend when July 1 comes around. For the Bucks, this is a great deal! Douglas-Roberts is young and talented, a good scorer, and has a ton of room to grow. The Nets are expecting to be able to land at least one key free agent (although they will likely pay way too much money for him), and even Douglas-Roberts' $850,000 contract was too much to keep on the books. Overall, the Bucks got the better of this trade currently. Douglas-Roberts is easily better than any second round pick in the future. However, if the Nets land LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, or Chris Bosh, I would change my stance on this move. So basically, I'm not ever changing my stance. Hopefully the Nets will enjoy their mediocrity with an overpaid Joe Johnson or Ray Allen if they can even obtain one of them.

In a deal that really makes sense for one team in particular, the Miami Heat traded the 18th pick in tonight's draft and Daequan Cook to the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 32nd pick in tonight's draft. The Thunder wanted a shooter that could create space on the floor, and the Heat wanted to clear contracts in order to be able to spend more in free agency. Also, the Heat will not have any guaranteed money owed to the 18th pick because of this trade. This was purely a financial move for Miami and a good one at that.

The Portland Trailblazers are reportedly shopping Rudy Fernandez. After falling out of favor in Portland, Fernandez has been requesting a trade for some time now. The Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, and Chicago Bulls have expressed the most interest. The Raptors offered the 13th pick in tonight's draft as a part of a package deal, and Chicago offered the 17th pick as part of their package. No deal has been accepted so far.

The Los Angeles Lakers have entered the mix of suitors for the New Orleans Hornets' Chris Paul. Andrew Bynum, Sasha Vujacic, and Lamar Odom would move to New Orleans, and Chris Paul and Emeka Okafor would join the Lakers. That would be a formidable starting lineup in Paul, Bryant, Artest, Gasol, and Okafor. Clear way for another banner. While we're on the topic of the Lakers, Gilbert Arenas has also been rumored to being traded to the champions this offseason. This deal would most likely involve Jordan Farmar or Luke Walton.

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Free Agency Update: June 22

I have been posting a weekly Tuesday article dealing with all of the latest news about NBA Free Agency. It will run until July 1. Check back frequently for all of the latest stories and scenarios!

Only ten more days until the greatest free agency class ever officially is able to talk to any team. Let's take a look at an updated list of the three main tiers of free agents and address any rumors that have been surfacing about the players.

Tier One

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Dirk Nowitzki

LeBron is being wooed by just about every team that can afford a max free agent. The New York Knicks have been the front runners in this category, and they have even encouraged many celebrities who live in or around the New York City area to attempt to entice LeBron to call Madison Square Garden home next year. With all of the excitement surrounding James, there certainly are high expectations for whatever team lands him. The only problem is that LeBron will not win a team a championship just by himself. He won't even get to the Conference Finals by himself. No one can in this league. Listen up New York: be prepared for a big disappointment if you cannot land another first or second tier free agent. Chicago, Miami, and New Jersey are the three teams that have the pieces in place for LBJ to take them deep into the playoffs next season.

Dwyane Wade has made it clear that he does not want to leave Miami. Instead, he will be recruiting players to come and join him on his campaign for his second ring. The best option is easily Chris Bosh who could run an effective offense when combined with Wade. Bosh is a formidable player in the post, and he can also shoot a midrange jumper at a decent percentage. Wade can shoot as well, but he is best known as a slasher to the hoop. This combination could be lethal. However, Bosh recently stated that he would like to be the main man on a team and not a sidekick. If this is the case, Miami is not the place for him. A better fit would be the Chicago Bulls because both Derek Rose and Joakim Noah would look up to Bosh as a leader.

Tier Two

Joe Johnson, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, David Lee, Paul Pierce, Rudy Gay

Joe Johnson, much like Bosh, would also look to be the star on a team. I don't see this happening, though. Johnson is not vocal enough on the court to lead a team down the stretch. His play leads by example, but Johnson couldn't rile up a team if he had to. He will also have to be paired with either a first or second tier free agent to be effective.

Amare Stoudemire is out in Phoenix. There's no easy way to say it. The run-and-gun type of offense is dying, and Phoenix was the last drop in the IV tube to keep it alive. With Steve Kerr out as well for the Suns, Stoudemire will most likely not return because of the fact that he will not be offered max money by Phoenix. If he is, it would come as a surprise.

It's been five days now since the Celtics' collapse in Game Seven. Paul Pierce has still not hinted as to what his plans are for this offseason since he has an early termination option in his contract. Expect him to retire as a Celtic. He has seen two extremes from this organization and will ride them out until his retirement.

Tier Three

Ray Allen, Tracy McGrady, Luis Scola, Brendan Haywood

Ray Allen, much like Pierce, wants to stay in Boston. The only question is does Boston want him to stay? The consensus currently is no. Allen will undoubtedly be heavily pursued by teams this offseason, especially those who do not sign a tier one or two free agent. If Pierce stays though, look for the Celtics to bring back Allen and attempt another run at a championship. The Celtics will choose to rebuild the bench instead of the starters.

Tracy McGrady's name popped up in free agent discussions for the first time this week. He is now being linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. McGrady would come off the bench and be a role player much like Lamar Odom. Ron Artest has reached out to McGrady and has stated that McGrady would be welcome on LA next year. This would be a great fit for the Lakers. Other than Kobe Bryant, the Lakers do not have a slashing offensive player who will take it to the hoop and drive the lane. Insert McGrady and teams will not only have to worry about Bryant, but McGrady will also be a threat to attack the rim when Bryant gets a breather. If the Lakers do end up signing TMac (a member of the Lakers front office told the public to expect the deal to be done by the end of July), they will repeat as champions.

Once the dust settles and players begin to sign with teams, a domino effect will take place. Almost everyone is looking as to where LeBron will sign. Then, some of the second tier players will join him, and some will join Wade. One or two might join Bosh if he is still set on "leading a team". The biggest thing to keep an eye out for is the overspending of teams who do not land a first tier free agent. No one in the second or third tiers is worth max money, but some team (ahem, New Jersey) will panic and begin throwing money at players who don't deserve it. Just sit back and observe. The only thing for certain is that the fireworks on July 4 will be nothing compared to the fireworks that will be going off around the NBA this offseason.

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Free Agency Update: June 8

I will be posting a weekly Tuesday article dealing with all the latest news about NBA Free Agency from now until July 1. Check back frequently for all of the latest stories and scenarios!

Chris Bosh stole headlines this past week from both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. He attended another Los Angeles Lakers game, and his name was also brought up in reports linked to Pat Riley. Bosh had reportedly given the Toronto Raptors a "wish list" of teams that he would like to play for next year, likely as a product of a sign and trade on the part of the Raptors. A surprise to some was the Los Angeles Lakers, a team that seemingly has all the right pieces with three straight NBA Finals appearances. Most of the rumors involve a scenario in which Bosh goes to the Lakers for Andrew Bynum and either Jordan Farmar or Sasha Vujacic. The only problem that I have with this trade is the fact that neither Bosh or Pau Gasol are centers, and both would be overpowered by bigger post players in the league. Chris Bosh was also praised by former Miami Heat head coach Pat Riley, and he was quoted as saying that Riley would prefer Bosh over either Stoudemire or Boozer to play with Wade next year if Riley returns to the head coaching position. Riley also vowed to talk to Wade, Bosh, and LeBron James about taking pay cuts in order to play together for the next couple of years and for the possibility of winning multiple championships.

Another player that will be in the center of free agency talks all summer is obviously LeBron. Even though he said that the Cavaliers have an edge in signing him, does that make a difference? In fact, most experts don't believe that James spoke the truth. From a financial standpoint the Cavaliers could offer him an estimated $30 million more than any other team, but the recent hiring of Tom Thibodeau as the head coach of the Chicago Bulls next season could have just given Chicago an "edge". Thibodeau and James share the same agent in Leon Rose, and James has always admired defense in which Thibodeau is considered an expert. I think that Chicago has the edge after this signing, and that if they could possibly add another free agent (my gut is still Carlos Boozer) in a sign and trade deal the Bulls could experience much success for the next three or five seasons. Today a source close to James said that the Thibodeau signing did not affect LeBron's decision in any way. But would James' camp admit that it gave an "edge" to a team other than Cleveland? LeBron is looking forward to this nationwide tour starting around July 1, and he isn't going to keep anyone out of the running or declare a favorite just yet.

Another interesting story involving free agent Amare Stoudemire surfaced this week. He would be open to reunite with coach Mike D'Antoni in New York (possibly with Joe Johnson). I think that New York would be an excellent fit for Stoudemire because of the fact that he excelled in the run and gun fast break offense that D'Antoni executed to perfection in Phoenix. I still expect Stoudemire to play in a Knicks uniform next year.

Rudy Gay is a wanted man, and because of the lack of success he's experienced in Memphis he will probably be open to a change of scenery. Minnesota might be a perfect fit for Gay. However, he is restricted which would cost Minnesota some money, but he would be worth it. Look for Minnesota to trade either Kevin Love or Al Jefferson this summer as well because coaches and management believe that they can not successfully play together especially on the defensive end of the floor. Gay would also improve a Timberwolves team that only won 15 games last year, and help make Ricky Rubio's decision easier to debut his skills in the NBA two seasons from now.

Last but not least are two players that have been gaining momentum in the past week as "key players" who could be added along with a max free agent. Good news for Heat and Knicks fans! Raymond Felton and J.J. Redick have been linked to reports involving both Miami and New York. Both teams are in need of a shooter (Redick) and a true point guard (Felton). Felton would be especially good in Miami because he would allow Mario Chalmers to keep his role as a combination point/shooting guard off of the bench.

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A New Coach in Chicago, GM in Cleveland, and Point Guard in Minnesota?

Below is a list of six short stories from around the NBA:

1. Del Negro Out, Thibodeau In

A much anticipated move by the Chicago Bulls was reported today in the fact that there will be a new head coach next year. Tom Thibodeau, the assistant coach to the Boston Celtics, has reportedly accepted the job although an official announcement will have to wait until after the NBA Finals. Thibodeau was also interviewed by the New Orleans Hornets, but opted for Chicago instead. He is largely recognized for the defensive intensity that the Celtics bring to the court. What else does this move mean for Chicago? No John Calipari and LeBron James package deal will occur in the Windy City.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers Done With General Manager Ferry

Another move that happened Friday that didn't surprise anyone around the league was the Danny Ferry will no longer be the general manager for the Cleveland Cavaliers next year. His replacement will have no say in basketball operations. It's all about LeBron at this point, and owner Dan Gilbert will give him everything he asks for if he intends to stay. (More on LeBron later in this article.)

3. Marquis Daniels Should Play In Game Two

Marquis Daniels, reserve shooting guard for the Boston Celtics, will likely play in tomorrow night's game against the Los Angles Lakers. Daniels hasn't played since suffering a concussion in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Finals. The impact that he will have on the Celtics' game plan is simple. Not much to contribute to the offensive game plan, but Daniels will allow Boston to have one more reserve defender to take on Kobe Bryant for Game Two should Ray Allen get in foul trouble again.

4. Garnett Has "Lost A Step"

This is a classic case of the media blowing another quote out of proportion after taking it out of context. Pau Gasol praised Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett, but also noted that he has "lost a step" since the 2008 NBA Finals. Of course he has. All players lose quickness and agility with age and Garnett is no different. Gasol wasn't maliciously attacking Garnett. He simply said that Garnett is now more of a jump shooter rather than the post up player he once was. Garnett is obviously still a force to be reckoned with on both ends of the court. No harm meant by Gasol.

5. Shaquille O'Neal Takes on Spelling Bee Champion

Last night at the national spelling bee, Shaq challenged last year's champion to a spell off in the near future. He will be allowed two misspelled words, and will likely need both life lines. I'm just curious if this will come before or after his UFC Match?

6. Ricky Rubio Could Play in 2011-2012

Ricky Rubio, the Spanish point guard, was recently quoted as saying that he could arrive in the NBA for the 2011-2012 season. However, he did not limit his options to just playing in Minnesota. Rubio said that he would come over to the United States, but the Timberwolves (who drafted him number four overall last year) would have to improve from their 15 win season this past year or he would consider going with another team. If I worked for the front office of the T Wolves, I would try to sign a free agent or two this offseason so that the guy can showcase his stuff on my homecourt. Rubio will be an excellent passer and point guard in the NBA, but he also must improve his outside shooter to be a legitimate offensive threat.

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Free Agency Upate: June 1

I will be posting a weekly Tuesday article dealing with all the latest news about NBA Free Agency from now until July 1. Check back frequently for all of the latest stories and scenarios!

We are now one month away from witnessing the best free agent class ever begin to be courted with all sorts of promotional tactics. This process will not be restricted to financial talks between owners and players, but it will rather include anything possible that a city can do to land one or two top tier free agents. For instance, Dwyane Wade has already witnessed a website, We Want Wade, created in order to convince him to stay on the Miami Heat for years to come. LeBron James, the biggest fish in the free agent pond, had a parade held in his honor in order to show him how enthusiastic the Los Angeles Clippers are to welcome him to LA. Brace yourself folks. This is only the beginning of a hectic summer. The top names in this class are LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, and Carlos Boozer. So let's look at what we know about the players so far:

1. Wade has already admitted to planning a meeting with the top free agents (likely everyone included in the list above, but possibly not Dirk) in order to see "what everyone is thinking".

2. Without Dirk (almost everyone expects him to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks), there are six names on the list above. Remember this number. SIX.

3. With this free agent meeting of the minds, these six players will be looking at two factors when deciding to sign. The first is championship potential, and the second is maximizing the amount of money they could earn on their new teams.

Now that we know what the players are thinking, let's look at free agency from the teams' perspective at this point:

1. Four teams can sign one or two max free agents come July 1. They are the Miami Heat, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, and Chicago Bulls.

2. The most desirable markets are obviously Miami, New York, and Chicago. New Jersey is still a good 5 years from seriously competing for an NBA Championship, especially after falling to third in the NBA Draft. The "Brooklyn Nets" are at least two years down the road.

3. Miami isn't going to sign any free agents until they re-sign Wade first.

Now that we know where the teams are standing on the topic of free agency, I'm going to bring up a number I urged you all to remember. Six players. Also, looking at my second point above, you can see that there are three markets that are desirable. What does this mean? That two players (probably a guard/post in each case) will play in each of the markets listed. It's funny how these work out isn't it? That means that there will be one player from each column teamed up with one player from the left column.

LeBron James Amare Stoudemire

Dwyane Wade Carlos Boozer

Joe Johnson Chris Bosh

But what combination would be best for everyone involved?

LeBron James and Carlos Boozer: Boozer will stretch the floor for LeBron while not clogging up the lane like Shaq did. He can hit a consistent 15-18 foot jump shot which will help LeBron. Boozer is also an excellent rebounder, and could compliment another good post player for a formidable front court. Destination: Chicago.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh: Wade is a slasher and needs another post who will not clog up the lane. Bosh, much like Boozer, can hit jump shots which should open up the key for Wade to go to work. Destination: Miami.

Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire: Joe Johnson is an excellent passer. Stoudemire is used to superb passing a la Steve Nash. This would be a great combination, especially if one more post player or guard is added to the mix. Destination: New York.

My last thought for today on this topic goes out to James, Wade, and Bosh. FORGET ABOUT CONTRACT MONEY. All of them should take less money and sign with Miami. There were rumors that they had talked about this, and they should go for it. They would make so much money from endorsements, commercials, etc. that they would quickly forget the pay cut that they had to take in order to play together. The quickest way to fill up their fingers with rings would be this option. This would leave Johnson, Boozer, and Stoudemire to do the same thing and probably pick New York as their home court for the next couple years.

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Phil Jackson in the Midst of Coaching Rumors

Although Phil Jackson insists that he will retire at the end of the season, his girlfriend has told reporters otherwise. Two teams who have apparently indirectly reached out to Jackson to fill coaching vacancies are the Chicago Bulls and New Jersey Nets. Jackson began his coaching career in New Jersey where he served as a player/assistant for the last two years of his career. Chicago could be a tempting option for Jackson considering he won six championships with the Bulls in the nineties. However, Jackson has been quoted as saying that if he coaches anywhere next year, he is ninety percent sure that it will be with the Los Angeles Lakers, his current team. A fourth team that Jackson's name has been associated with is the Cleveland Cavaliers due to the recent firing of Mike Brown. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert has shown that he will be willing to spend any amount of money to keep LeBron James in Cleveland. If I had to assign percentages to the various coaching possibilities they would look like this:

Chicago Bulls: 10% The ONLY reason that I could see Jackson coaching again in Chicago is if LeBron James decides to play for the Bulls next season. Jackson has done a marvelous job with superstars (6 championships with Michael Jordan and 4 championships with Kobe Bryant), and LeBron could be his next big player.

Cleveland Cavaliers: 5% This possibility is based on LeBron staying in Cleveland. Why is it lower than Chicago if it is based on the same player? Jackson has never coached in Cleveland, and he had a large amount of success in Chicago.

Los Angeles Lakers: 85% Jackson is loved in Los Angeles. Although he would have to take a pay cut of nearly seven million dollars next year, he has a great relationship with Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, and the other players for the Lakers. Also, the Lakers will be championship contenders for the next five years, and Jackson wouldn't leave that situation.

New Jersey Nets: 0% Jackson is a proven winner. New Jersey is not. This combination would not work because at this point in his career Jackson would not accept a coaching job that would not give him an immediate chance to win.

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