I've been looking forward to NBA free agency for a while now - it's been building up ever since one of my roommates in college who spent exorbitant amounts of time on ESPN found an article in the 38th page of NBA news that quickly noted that the most talented and widespread group of free agents were becoming available on July 1, 2010.
That date has come and gone, and teams are now doing their best to convince the best to come to their town. Whether it's the fans, the prospect of winning, the city life, or the money, all free agents this year have a lot to consider, because frankly, the 2010-2011 season hangs in the balance.
First up, we have the Atlanta Hawks who decided that a guy who isn't in the same league or breath as the headliners (we'll get to them in a minute) and who's miserable play forced an early playoff exit via sweep by the Orlando Magic was worth the maximum amount of money that they could offer him. Joe Johnson handed the Hawks 12.3 pts/gm during that series as the "leader" on the team, and the Hawks handed him $119 million dollars. Huh?
Of course, the big news today is Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade uniting in Miami. Speculation continues that they will bring on Lebron James on as well, but I don't see it happening (more on this later). This will be a force to be reckoned with, especially if some of the other halfway decent players on this team can pull their weight: see Exhibit A, 2010 NBA Playoffs. With a legitimate post presence in Bosh and a ruthless, determined Dwayne Wade leading the charge, look out Eastern Conference, basketball is back in Miami.
Amare Stoudemire ran out of Phoenix faster than Lindsay Lohan went back into prison (too soon?). This was disappointing for me - a lot was said about the team chemistry and poise that the Phoenix Suns showed in last year's playoffs, gritting it out against a hated rival (Spurs), and taking the Lakers to their limit. And true to everything we've ever thought about Amare, he bolted. Now he's back with Mike D'Antoni and praying for LeBron James to come to New York. But he's not going to... not yet.
LeBron James has always been an on the fence kind of guy for me. I respect his talent, unquestionably. Anyone who is 6'8" and 275lbs. and still the fastest guy from the arc to the basket is clearly gifted. He drives the lane better than anyone in the NBA. But he's clearly lacking in maturity in areas and that clutch gene hasn't made enough appearances. One shot against the Magic (in a series the Cavs lost) does not make him a clutch shooter. And then there's the off-the-court stuff.
He is a larger than life person; his marketing/branding/PR people are very good at what they do. The question is what trumps in the mind of LBJ: the basketball player or the icon? We are all witnesses, the commercial tells us so. But of what? An incredible player leading a mediocre team to varying levels of the NBA Playoffs and winning no championships? He's very fun to watch, but it's tough to reconcile the notion that he doesn't have what made Jordan and Bill Russell special: a certain "I don't care what it takes, I'm not letting you beat me" attitude, day in and day out. As the free agency season drags on, we are getting closer to understanding the truth.
He wants to be an icon.
LeBron has scheduled an event on ESPN for this Thursday (7/8/2010) at 9PM to tell everyone what his decision is. It will be a 1 hour special to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. LBJ will probably wait until 9:59PM before saying quickly into the screen, "I've chosen... the New Jersey Nets. Thanks for coming tonight, everyone." Jay-Z will stand up from his front row seat and give him a Nets #6 jersey, Mikhail Pokhorov will give him his first year salary in seperate suticases held by beautiful women, a la "Deal or No Deal." All will be right in the world of LBJ... and then in two years, the Nets move to Brooklyn.
If he wants to win championships, he will prove me wrong and go to the Chicago Bulls and live with the fact that he will never be Michael Jordan but will constantly be compared to him for the rest of his life, more so then than ever. Regardless, free agency continues on, and tomorrow night, I can't wait to be a witness.
I will forgo any logical rebuttal to this post by refusing to mention that Miami doesn't have the money to give Bron-Bron max, leaving out the fact that NJ still has nothing tangible to offer LBJ other than a signed copy of "Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life" and promises of the LeBrotterfly Effect bringing players to NJ, and refraining from reminding that Cleavland has almost zero shot at bringing him help.
ReplyDeleteLeBron will be a New York Knick by this Thursday.