In less than 17 hours, the nba free agent frenzy will go into overdrive with every team being very active to some degree. I know all the emphasis is being put on teams with cap room, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see even more trades than free agent signings this summer. For now though, the focus has to be on the Knicks, Nets, Bulls, Heat, Clippers, Suns, and of course the Cavs.
KNICKS
Of all the teams involved and looking to make a splash in this year’s free agency, it would be fair to say that the New York Knicks have made the most sacrifice to prepare for this moment. The Knicks have $34 million dollars to spend with two options in mind.
Option One
The Knicks will try to convince Lebron James, Bosh or Amare and Joe Johnson to accept a contract starting at $11 million with stock options in the Madison Square Garden. I would be shock if they can pull this off, which is why I believe they might have to result to their second option.
Option Two
If the Knicks fail in their attempt to sign all three free agents, I look for them to offer Joe Johnson and Amare Stoudemire max contracts. Both players played for the Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni in Phoenix but, that was before Joe Johnson blossomed into the player that he is now. They would also have the option of signing and trading David Lee as well as, trading the expiring contract of Eddy Curry.
NBA WIZARD OPTION
The Knicks could offer Lebron James and Chris Bosh maximum contracts with the intent of signing and trading David Lee to either the Spurs for Tony Parker, the Hornets for Chris Paul or, the Wizards for Gilbert Arenas. Gilbert could be had for sure, followed by Tony perhaps with Chris Paul being the most difficult to get. The problem with this is that the Knicks would have to sign Lebron and Bosh before making the trade. This might be a tough sell because there is no guarantee that the Knicks can get any of those point guards. Also, there’s several other team out there that already have better rosters in place. If the Knicks pulls this off, they would have a roster of Lebron, Bosh and either Arenas or Parker. The Knicks also have Eddy Curry’s $11 million expiring contract to dangle in a trade if needed.
NETS
The New Jersey Nets basically traded forward Yi Jianlian $4 million contract to the Wizard for Quinton Ross in an obvious attempt to free up enough cash in order to make a run at two max free agents. Even though most observers in the league believe that the Heat and the Bulls have a better chance of getting the top two free agents(Lebron and Bosh), I think this recent trade demonstrated that the Nets have a huge goal in mind and might emerge come Thursday as the team everyone should be afraid of.
Option One
The Nets can pretty much sign two max free agents as the result of trading Yi. The question is why would they go out of their way to create the extra $3 million cap space if they were actually thinking about signing David Lee or, Carlos Boozer or, Joe Johnson? I expect the Nets owner and his entourage to make a max offer to both Lebron and Bosh. The Nets would argue that they have Brook Lopez, already one of the top five centers in the league. The Bulls, Knicks and Heat do not have any center or power forward on their rosters that is half as good as Brook Lopez. Not to mention, the Nets have Derrick Favors, the third overall pick from this year’s draft along with first time all-star point guard Devin Harris.
Option Two
If the Nets fail to get Lebron and Bosh, I believe their next option would be to go after Joe Johnson and Dirk Nowitzki. With Dirk, they would get a power forward that can stretch the floor and allow Brook Lopez all the room he needs to operate down low. I believe Prokhorov is just the kind of owner that could lure Dirk away from Dallas. He reminds me of the Mavericks owner Mark Cuban but, he’s worth $13 billion compared to Cuban’s $1.3 billion. Prokhorov is worth ten times more than Cuban and his personality is even more mystical and might be intriguing to Dirk.
NBA WIZARD OPTION
Either option one or two could work but, as we all know, getting the first option would be winning the sweepstake of the draft. In addition, I would be looking to package the third pick along with Devin Harris for a play making type of point guard. Obviously Chris Paul would be ideal if they can get him.
BULLS
The Chicago Bulls made a bold move by trading Kirk Hinrich and the 17th pick on draft day for basically nothing, a new trend permeating the league, in an attempt to be more formidable in the Lebron James sweepstakes. Rather than wait and hope to trade Lou Deng for Bosh in some form of a sign and trade, the Bulls took a proactive approach by trading Hinrich.
Option One
The Bulls could offer Lebron and Bosh deals starting at around $1.5 million shy of the maximum contract. They could also offer Deng to the Toronto Raptors in a sign and trade for Bosh. If the Bulls hadn’t traded Hinrich, I think the Raptors would have stubbornly asked the Bulls to include Noah. Now the Bulls have all the leverage. A sign and trade deal will allow Bosh to get a 6 years/$125 million contract as oppose to the 5 year/$90 million he would get if he signs with the Bulls directly, with a starting salary of around $15 million. The Raptors could get Deng in return for Bosh or nothing, which is why I expect to see the Raptors and Bulls engage in a sign and trade if Bosh decides to play for Chicago.
NBA WIZARD OPTION
If the Bulls do not get Lebron and Bosh, I think Joe Johnson and hopefully Dirk would be the next best thing. If they can’t get Dirk, then I look for them to go after Joe and Carlos Boozer. In Boozer, they would finally have their much needed low post player. With Joe Johnson and Derrick Rose, they would have one of the top three back courts in the nba immediately. There is only one Lebron James, so it would probably be in the team’s best interest to move on to this option if it seems like Lebron is not interested. The longer they wait, the less likely they would be able to pull off this option. I guess that’s a risk they must calculate.
HEAT
According to Stephen A. Smith, there was a recent free agent summit between Lebron, Bosh and Wade in which the three of them discussed the possibility of playing together in Miami. It sounds good, but like every rumor this summer, I’ll take it with a grain of salt. I will go on record and say right now, that I will be completely shocked if Lebron James opts to play with Wade in Miami. Stephen A. Smith and everybody who joined the Heat bandwagon over the last few days needs to slow down because there is no way Lebron is leaving Cleveland to go and play with Dwyane Wade. Anyway, let’s evaluate this option along with the rest of the Heat options.
Option One
The Heat are $4 million away from being able to offer Lebron, Bosh and Wade maximum contracts. This figure can be attained by trading Michael Beasley. The only reason Beasley hasn’t been traded yet, is because the Heat have yet to receive a commitment from Lebron and Bosh. Obviously this would be their dream option.
Option Two
I believe the Heat will go after Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson if they are unable to get Lebron. This move should still make them a contender, but something tells me wherever Lebron goes, Bosh will follow
NBA WIZARD OPTION
Like everybody else I like the Heat’s first and second option but, I think if the Heat are unable to get Lebron and Bosh then going after Carlos Boozer and Joe Johnson should serve them well. This move allows them to keep Beasley and move him if they choose to.
CLIPPERS
Don’t feel sorry for the poor L.A. Clippers. What is it, two successful seasons in 26 years? Unfortunately it all falls back on their penny pinching owner who has vowed not to sell the team. Fortunately for them, I think the Clips are finally about to experience some sunshine in sunny California. If Blake Griffin returns and is 100% healthy, he could easily average 18 or more points with 10 or more rebounds. You add in Baron David and Chris Kaman and all of sudden, the Clippers are a playoff team. In addition to that, the Clippers have $16 million to spend, so the question is, how are they going to spend it?
Option One
The Clippers are going to make a major push for Joe Johnson. I think rather than wasting their time on Lebron, they might just offer Joe Johnson the maximum contract from day one. The way I see it, the Clippers will have the rookie of the year next season in Blake Griffin. So adding Joe Johnson would make them a completely different team. I believe if Griffin is healthy, the addition of Joe makes the Clippers not only a playoff team, but also a playoff contender in the West. My only concern right now is who will fill the Clippers vacant head coaching position.
NBA WIZARD OPTION
Let’s assume once again that the Clippers strike out and are unable to land Joe Johnson. I believe they could probably end up with the Celtics Paul Pierce. Obviously they can’t offer him his current salary of $20 million but, they could offer him a four year deal starting at $16 million. I think the Celtics are reluctant to offer Pierce a long term deal, which could open the door and allow the Clippers to get him. I think Paul will welcome the opportunity to return to his hometown back in L.A.
OTHERS WORTH MENTIONING
I expect the Phoenix Suns to re-sign Amare Stoudemire. I don’t see the Bulls or the Nets offering him the maximum contract. As far as the Heat goes, I think they would much rather have Bosh or even Boozer at a cheaper price than Amare. The Clippers already have Blake Griffin, so they don’t need Amare. The only other team that I see competing with the Suns is the New York Knicks but, in the end I think he will end up re-signing with his current team, the Phoenix Suns.
I expect Dirk Notwitzki to re-sign with his current team the Dallas Mavericks. I strongly feel his loyalty to the only city he’s ever played for and to Mark Cuban, who has always believed in him, will be the deciding factors that will lead him to re-signing with the Mavs. If the Nets are unable to get Lebron, I think they could and should make a run at Dirk. I believe the Nets are the one team that could challenge the Mavericks for Dirk’s services.
Unlike the other free agents that are really opting out to see what’s out there, I think Paul Pierce is opting out for one reason only and that is to demand a longer contract. I expect him to play the Clippers against the Celtics. The Clippers poses the greatest challenge to the Celtics and will probably realize that within a few days.
The Cleveland Cavaliers a stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hiring Byron Scott will be a mistake. I am going on record to say he is overrated. I hope Brian Shaw gets the opportunity, but then again regardless of who the Cavaliers next head coach is, the fact remains that they have done nothing to retain Lebron James. The Cavaliers are hoping and praying that Lebron decides to stay in Cleveland. I know Dan Gilbert is a great owner and will spend whatever it takes to make the Cavs a contender. Unfortunately the Cavs have three things against them. One, they are over the cap. Secondly, they only have $7 million combined in expiring contracts between Delonte West and Anthony Parker. Third, they are stuck with Antawn Jamison 2 year/$28 million contract.
The only hope for the Cavs would be to find a team that really wants to dump a contract in exchange for Jamison, but who? The Raptors knowing that Bosh is on his way out could send him to Cleveland along with Hedo for Jamison, Delonte West and Mo Williams. The problem is, Bosh will only approve the trade if Lebron returns to Cleveland and even then, he still might not want to play in Cleveland.
I think Dan Gilbert has done his best to put his team in the position to win, but unfortunately his lasting legacy may be the owner that let Lebron James walk away from Cleveland.
If you think the last week has been crazy, then you have no idea what is about to unfold in the next 24 hours and beyond. I expect to see a frenzy like never before in the history of nba free agency. Rumors and speculations are about to rule the nba world like nothing we’ve ever seen. When the dust clears and everything settles, the 2010-11 NBA season will go down as one of the most exciting seasons in NBA history and it all begins in 16 hours.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
2010 NBA LOTTERY PICKS (TOP 14 PICKS)
1 John Wall
Ht/Wt: 6-4/182 lbs
Position: PG Team: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
The Wizards without question will pick John Wall. He is a nice young player to build around while at the same time gives the Wizards an alternative to Gilbert Arenas in case Gilbert gets traded. If not, his presence will allow Gilbert to move over to the two guard spot.
2 Evan Turner
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 205 lbs
Position: SG
Team: Ohio State
Class: Junior
I believe Turner is ready to make an immediate impact and it wouldn’t surprise me if he wins the ROY award, though I think that title will be claimed by the Clippers Blake Griffin if he’s truly 100%. Evan Turner is the best all around player in the draft, period.
3 Derrick Favors
Ht/Wt: 6-10 /230 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Georgia Tech
Class: Freshman
Derrick Favors is clearly the third best player in the draft and the Nets will probably pick him for one of two reasons. First, he has the highest trade value outside of Wall and Turner. Secondly, the Nets could use a power forward on their roster assuming they decide to keep the pick. I expect for the Nets to draw a lot of interest in Favors from teams looking to trade for him. Could New Orleans be one of those teams? Well, we will just have to wait and see what the Nets president Rod Thorn has up his sleeves considering he's in the position to make a major splash.
4 Wesley Johnson
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 195 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Syracuse
Class: Freshman
This is actually a very tricky pick because I think Minnesota could surprise everyone by selecting Demarcus Cousins and then trading Al Jefferson for a shooting guard or small forward. However, Wesley Johnson fits their immediate need, which is why I believe they might play it safe and draft Wesley Johnson.
5 DeMarcus Cousins
Ht/Wt: 6-11 / 260 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
The Kings will gladly select Demarcus Cousins if he’s available. Consider this a gamble but, I think Cousins is a very good gamble. He could either be another Michael Beasley or a 20/10 guy in two seasons. I think the advantage he has over Beasley is his size which is why I believe he will turn out to be an excellent pick for the Kings.
6 Greg Monroe
Ht/Wt: 6-11 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Georgetown
Class: Sophomore
The Warriors are in need of a center / power forward type player so Greg Monroe should fit nicely. I personally like Ekpe Udoh better at this pick but, with the Warriors style of play Greg Monroe will definitely be a better fit under Nellie’s high power up tempo run and gun offense. He has a good post up game and is an excellent passer for a big man. He also has a decent outside shot which should fit in well with the Warriors.
7 Ekpe Udoh
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Baylor
Class: Junior
The Pistons have made it known that this is their guy. This shot blocker phenom should fit in well with the blue collar defensive minded Pistons. I really like this guy. I believe he has the potential to be a perennial all league defender for years to come.
8 AlFarouq Aminu
Ht/Wt: 6-9 / 210 lbs
Position SF
Team: Wake Forest
Class: Sophomore
The Clippers have their back court positions covered. They have first time all-star center Chris Kaman and my pick for ROY, power forward Blake Griffin. Obviously they need a small forward, which is why Al Farouq Aminu should be their pick. This guy is long. He has a 7”4 wingspan. He has to improve his three point shooting and when he does, he will be household name in the league. Great pick for the Clippers.
9 Luke Babbitt
Ht/Wt: 6-8 / 220 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Nevada
Class: Sophomore
Luke Babbitt is a scrapper. He is the prototype Jerry Sloan kind of player. He’s a great shooter and he plays hard. He may not be very athletic but, neither was Matt Harpring who was an outstanding hard nose defender. Babbitt is leap years ahead of Harpring offensively and I think over time he could develop into a very good team defender under jerry Sloan.
10 Ed Davis
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 215 lbs
Position: PF
Team: North Carolina
Class: Sophomore
Ed Davis is very athletic and a good defender with a major upside. He should fit perfectly along with Danny Granger. He was held back and used basically as a post up player under coach Roy Williams but, things are about to change for him. In the nba, I see him being more of a pick and roll/pick and pop type forward, which will make more effective on the offensive end.
11 Paul George
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 190 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Fresno State
Class: Sophomore
Paul George is the best player available at 11. He could play at the three and four spot if the Hornets choose to go small. He is one of my two lottery sleepers. It wouldn’t surprise me if he makes the all rookie team this year.
12 Gordon Hayward
Ht/Wt: 6-8 / 200 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Butler
Class: Sophomore
He’s an excellent pick for the Grizzlies. He can play the two or back up Rudy Gay at the three spot. He is also an insurance policy in case the Grizzlies trade Gay.
13 Cole Aldrich
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 250 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Kansas
Class: Junior
Cole is the best big available at 13 and could be pick as an insurance in case Bosh leaves. Drafting Cole will allow the Raptors to go after the best players available if Bosh agrees to a sign and trade. Rather than requiring a big in return for Bosh, the Raptors might trade for a guard or forward. It wouldn't surprise me if the Raptors use this pick for a guard but, I wouldn't pass up Cole if he's available at 13.
14 Devin Seraphin
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 260 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: France
Class: International
The Rockets will gladly pick Cole Aldrich if he slides down to 14 but, if the Raptors choose to go big rather than pick a point guard, than Devin Seraphin should be the Rockets pick. He is still very raw but, he has a major upside. This guy is my ultimate sleeper in the draft. In two to three seasons, people will be saying he should have been a top five pick.
Ht/Wt: 6-4/182 lbs
Position: PG Team: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
The Wizards without question will pick John Wall. He is a nice young player to build around while at the same time gives the Wizards an alternative to Gilbert Arenas in case Gilbert gets traded. If not, his presence will allow Gilbert to move over to the two guard spot.
2 Evan Turner
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 205 lbs
Position: SG
Team: Ohio State
Class: Junior
I believe Turner is ready to make an immediate impact and it wouldn’t surprise me if he wins the ROY award, though I think that title will be claimed by the Clippers Blake Griffin if he’s truly 100%. Evan Turner is the best all around player in the draft, period.
3 Derrick Favors
Ht/Wt: 6-10 /230 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Georgia Tech
Class: Freshman
Derrick Favors is clearly the third best player in the draft and the Nets will probably pick him for one of two reasons. First, he has the highest trade value outside of Wall and Turner. Secondly, the Nets could use a power forward on their roster assuming they decide to keep the pick. I expect for the Nets to draw a lot of interest in Favors from teams looking to trade for him. Could New Orleans be one of those teams? Well, we will just have to wait and see what the Nets president Rod Thorn has up his sleeves considering he's in the position to make a major splash.
4 Wesley Johnson
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 195 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Syracuse
Class: Freshman
This is actually a very tricky pick because I think Minnesota could surprise everyone by selecting Demarcus Cousins and then trading Al Jefferson for a shooting guard or small forward. However, Wesley Johnson fits their immediate need, which is why I believe they might play it safe and draft Wesley Johnson.
5 DeMarcus Cousins
Ht/Wt: 6-11 / 260 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Kentucky
Class: Freshman
The Kings will gladly select Demarcus Cousins if he’s available. Consider this a gamble but, I think Cousins is a very good gamble. He could either be another Michael Beasley or a 20/10 guy in two seasons. I think the advantage he has over Beasley is his size which is why I believe he will turn out to be an excellent pick for the Kings.
6 Greg Monroe
Ht/Wt: 6-11 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Georgetown
Class: Sophomore
The Warriors are in need of a center / power forward type player so Greg Monroe should fit nicely. I personally like Ekpe Udoh better at this pick but, with the Warriors style of play Greg Monroe will definitely be a better fit under Nellie’s high power up tempo run and gun offense. He has a good post up game and is an excellent passer for a big man. He also has a decent outside shot which should fit in well with the Warriors.
7 Ekpe Udoh
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 240 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Baylor
Class: Junior
The Pistons have made it known that this is their guy. This shot blocker phenom should fit in well with the blue collar defensive minded Pistons. I really like this guy. I believe he has the potential to be a perennial all league defender for years to come.
8 AlFarouq Aminu
Ht/Wt: 6-9 / 210 lbs
Position SF
Team: Wake Forest
Class: Sophomore
The Clippers have their back court positions covered. They have first time all-star center Chris Kaman and my pick for ROY, power forward Blake Griffin. Obviously they need a small forward, which is why Al Farouq Aminu should be their pick. This guy is long. He has a 7”4 wingspan. He has to improve his three point shooting and when he does, he will be household name in the league. Great pick for the Clippers.
9 Luke Babbitt
Ht/Wt: 6-8 / 220 lbs
Position: SF
Team: Nevada
Class: Sophomore
Luke Babbitt is a scrapper. He is the prototype Jerry Sloan kind of player. He’s a great shooter and he plays hard. He may not be very athletic but, neither was Matt Harpring who was an outstanding hard nose defender. Babbitt is leap years ahead of Harpring offensively and I think over time he could develop into a very good team defender under jerry Sloan.
10 Ed Davis
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 215 lbs
Position: PF
Team: North Carolina
Class: Sophomore
Ed Davis is very athletic and a good defender with a major upside. He should fit perfectly along with Danny Granger. He was held back and used basically as a post up player under coach Roy Williams but, things are about to change for him. In the nba, I see him being more of a pick and roll/pick and pop type forward, which will make more effective on the offensive end.
11 Paul George
Ht/Wt: 6-7 / 190 lbs
Position: PF
Team: Fresno State
Class: Sophomore
Paul George is the best player available at 11. He could play at the three and four spot if the Hornets choose to go small. He is one of my two lottery sleepers. It wouldn’t surprise me if he makes the all rookie team this year.
12 Gordon Hayward
Ht/Wt: 6-8 / 200 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Team: Butler
Class: Sophomore
He’s an excellent pick for the Grizzlies. He can play the two or back up Rudy Gay at the three spot. He is also an insurance policy in case the Grizzlies trade Gay.
13 Cole Aldrich
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 250 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: Kansas
Class: Junior
Cole is the best big available at 13 and could be pick as an insurance in case Bosh leaves. Drafting Cole will allow the Raptors to go after the best players available if Bosh agrees to a sign and trade. Rather than requiring a big in return for Bosh, the Raptors might trade for a guard or forward. It wouldn't surprise me if the Raptors use this pick for a guard but, I wouldn't pass up Cole if he's available at 13.
14 Devin Seraphin
Ht/Wt: 6-10 / 260 lbs
Position: PF/C
Team: France
Class: International
The Rockets will gladly pick Cole Aldrich if he slides down to 14 but, if the Raptors choose to go big rather than pick a point guard, than Devin Seraphin should be the Rockets pick. He is still very raw but, he has a major upside. This guy is my ultimate sleeper in the draft. In two to three seasons, people will be saying he should have been a top five pick.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
THE NEW JERSEY NETS "From Worse Team to Dynasty"
The New Jersey Nets could go from being the worse team last season with a 12-70 record to being the best team next season and probably for the next five years and this is how they can make that dramatic turn around.
As it stands, the Nets have a payroll of $22.2 million for next season assuming Kris Humphries picks up his $3.2 million player option, which I expect him to do. This puts them in the running to offer a max contract to one free agent while leaving them only a few million shy of offering a max contract to a second free agent. In terms of players, they have first time all-star point guard Devin Harris, soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez and the 3rd overall pick of this year’s draft. The Nets also recently hired Avery Johnson as their new coach and has the backing of their new multi billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who vowed that the team will win a championship in 1-5 years. All these factors puts the Nets in a very intriguing position and if the dots are connected the right way, the Nets could be playing like a well orchestrated opera symphony and making Prokhorov prediction come true as early as next season and this is how they can accomplish that feat.
Sometimes to build a dynasty a team must make some bold moves. However, in many instances their hands are tied because they are usually over the salary cap, don't have the lottery picks to rebuild or, simply find themselves stuck with players that have very low trade values. Fortunately for the Nets, none of these scenarios applies to them. They have the 3rd overall draft pick in this year's draft. They are approximately $31 million under the projected $53 million salary cap for 2010-11. They also have some very attractive young players to deal, which is why I believe the Nets are in the perfect position to build a dynasty immediately! The Nets could begin by acquiring Chris Paul in a trade. In order to pull this off, the Nets would offer the New Orleans Hornets Devin Harris, Kris Humphries, Yi Jialian and the 3rd overall draft pick for Chris Paul. In essence the Nets will be trading away $16.2 million in salaries for Chris Paul’s $14.9 million, which should take their $22.2 million payroll down to $20.9 million. The question is, why would New Orleans trade Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league when he’s healthy?
The first reason has everything to do with the emergence of first year point guard Darren Collison. On January 29th, CP3 went down with a knee injury against the Chicago Bulls and was out for two months. When he returned from injury, he averaged only 9.4 ppg and 8 apg during a 7 game stretch from March 22 to April 3rd before being shut down by the Hornets for the remaining 4 games of the season. From Feb 1st to the end of the season, CP3 replacement rookie point guard Darren Collison was nothing short of breathtaking. He averaged 19 ppg and 8.55 assists per game on a very impressive 50.7 field goal percentage, while shooting 44.7% from 3s and making 84.1 percent of his free throw attempts. What made this even more impressive was that these numbers were over the last 35 games of the season. I am not saying Darren Collison is as good as CP3 but, he is definitely a solid replacement at the point guard position.
The second reason the trade makes sense for the New Orleans Hornets are the pieces they will be getting in return. In Devin Harris,they get an all-star point guard who may not as good as CP3 but, gives them a good enough point guard that will not over shadow Collison’s development as CP3 would have. The Hornets also get Yi, who is considered a ‘hybrid stretch 4’ a versatile power forward who can shoot 3s, not to mention the fact that he is a 7 footer and he's only 22 years old with a major upside. The icing on the cake is obviously the 3rd overall pick in this year’s draft, which figures to be a very deep one.
The fact is, the Hornets will either trade Collison or CP3 and even though the Hornets are leaning towards trading Collison, this trade gives them too many pieces to pass up. It can even be argued that at first glance this trade benefits the Hornets more, especially when you consider CP3’s 9.4 ppg and 8 apg that he averaged during the last 7 games that he played for the Hornets. What if he doesn’t return to his old form is what a skeptic might ask? I am not one of those skeptics and I believe CP3 will return to being the best point guard in the entire nba next season.
With the trade completed the Nets will have CP3, their point guard of the future and center Brook Lopez, who I predict will be an all-star by next season. In addition to filling the two hardest positions in basketball, that being the point guard and center positions, the Nets would have enough cap room to sign two free agents to maximum contracts.
Obviously Lebron James will be the first option at the small forward position along with Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire at the power forward spot. Imagine the Nets president Rod Thorn, new head coach Avery Johnson along with new owner Mikhail Prokhorov on one of Prokhorov Gulf Stream jets with Lebron and Bosh discussing the possibility of a Chris Paul, Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Brook Lopez line up with two maximum level contracts offers on hand. There is absolutely no way, Lebron and Bosh will say no to that.
With a lineup with CP3, Lebron, Bosh and Lopez, any decent shooting guard will fit in nicely. Although the Nets already have Courtney Lee on their roster, they could most certainly upgrade by offering Ray Allen a 3 year deal starting at the mid level exception. It will be hard press for Ray to pass up the opportunity of finishing his career with this team considering how he ended game 7 against the Lakers scoring only 13 points while making only 3 out of the 14 shots he attempted. The Celtics could probably offer Ray a two year deal with an average of around $10 million however, at the end of the day, the extra $3 million per year which is more like $1.7 million after taxes, will not be enough to keep Ray with the Celtics. Considering how miserable Ray played in game 7 against the Lakers and because on several occasions he's mentioned a conversation in which Michael Jordan told him winning one championship was lucky, I believe Ray will gladly take two more rings as opposed to an additional $3.4 million over the next two years from Boston.
In conclusion the Nets could have a starting lineup of Chris Paul, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Brook Lopez and either Ray starting as a fifth option or, providing instant offense off the bench for the Nets. Rod Thorn could go down as the greatest president/ general manager of the decade. Prokhorov prediction that the Nets will win one championship during the next 1-5 years will actually turn out to be low because, this Nets team barring injuries will almost certainly win at least 3 championships over the next 5 seasons. The Miami Heat can sign three max players, the Knicks can sign two but, the New Jersey Nets are the only team that could end up with three max players. In addition they have soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez and could end up signing the sharp shooting Ray Allen. The Nets must act quickly because if they don't, Collison might get traded on draft day and pretty much ruin their chances of acquiring Chris Paul via a trade. I trust Rod Thorn, the Nets president is already working on this angle.
As it stands, the Nets have a payroll of $22.2 million for next season assuming Kris Humphries picks up his $3.2 million player option, which I expect him to do. This puts them in the running to offer a max contract to one free agent while leaving them only a few million shy of offering a max contract to a second free agent. In terms of players, they have first time all-star point guard Devin Harris, soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez and the 3rd overall pick of this year’s draft. The Nets also recently hired Avery Johnson as their new coach and has the backing of their new multi billionaire owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who vowed that the team will win a championship in 1-5 years. All these factors puts the Nets in a very intriguing position and if the dots are connected the right way, the Nets could be playing like a well orchestrated opera symphony and making Prokhorov prediction come true as early as next season and this is how they can accomplish that feat.
Sometimes to build a dynasty a team must make some bold moves. However, in many instances their hands are tied because they are usually over the salary cap, don't have the lottery picks to rebuild or, simply find themselves stuck with players that have very low trade values. Fortunately for the Nets, none of these scenarios applies to them. They have the 3rd overall draft pick in this year's draft. They are approximately $31 million under the projected $53 million salary cap for 2010-11. They also have some very attractive young players to deal, which is why I believe the Nets are in the perfect position to build a dynasty immediately! The Nets could begin by acquiring Chris Paul in a trade. In order to pull this off, the Nets would offer the New Orleans Hornets Devin Harris, Kris Humphries, Yi Jialian and the 3rd overall draft pick for Chris Paul. In essence the Nets will be trading away $16.2 million in salaries for Chris Paul’s $14.9 million, which should take their $22.2 million payroll down to $20.9 million. The question is, why would New Orleans trade Chris Paul, arguably the best point guard in the league when he’s healthy?
The first reason has everything to do with the emergence of first year point guard Darren Collison. On January 29th, CP3 went down with a knee injury against the Chicago Bulls and was out for two months. When he returned from injury, he averaged only 9.4 ppg and 8 apg during a 7 game stretch from March 22 to April 3rd before being shut down by the Hornets for the remaining 4 games of the season. From Feb 1st to the end of the season, CP3 replacement rookie point guard Darren Collison was nothing short of breathtaking. He averaged 19 ppg and 8.55 assists per game on a very impressive 50.7 field goal percentage, while shooting 44.7% from 3s and making 84.1 percent of his free throw attempts. What made this even more impressive was that these numbers were over the last 35 games of the season. I am not saying Darren Collison is as good as CP3 but, he is definitely a solid replacement at the point guard position.
The second reason the trade makes sense for the New Orleans Hornets are the pieces they will be getting in return. In Devin Harris,they get an all-star point guard who may not as good as CP3 but, gives them a good enough point guard that will not over shadow Collison’s development as CP3 would have. The Hornets also get Yi, who is considered a ‘hybrid stretch 4’ a versatile power forward who can shoot 3s, not to mention the fact that he is a 7 footer and he's only 22 years old with a major upside. The icing on the cake is obviously the 3rd overall pick in this year’s draft, which figures to be a very deep one.
The fact is, the Hornets will either trade Collison or CP3 and even though the Hornets are leaning towards trading Collison, this trade gives them too many pieces to pass up. It can even be argued that at first glance this trade benefits the Hornets more, especially when you consider CP3’s 9.4 ppg and 8 apg that he averaged during the last 7 games that he played for the Hornets. What if he doesn’t return to his old form is what a skeptic might ask? I am not one of those skeptics and I believe CP3 will return to being the best point guard in the entire nba next season.
With the trade completed the Nets will have CP3, their point guard of the future and center Brook Lopez, who I predict will be an all-star by next season. In addition to filling the two hardest positions in basketball, that being the point guard and center positions, the Nets would have enough cap room to sign two free agents to maximum contracts.
Obviously Lebron James will be the first option at the small forward position along with Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire at the power forward spot. Imagine the Nets president Rod Thorn, new head coach Avery Johnson along with new owner Mikhail Prokhorov on one of Prokhorov Gulf Stream jets with Lebron and Bosh discussing the possibility of a Chris Paul, Lebron James, Chris Bosh and Brook Lopez line up with two maximum level contracts offers on hand. There is absolutely no way, Lebron and Bosh will say no to that.
With a lineup with CP3, Lebron, Bosh and Lopez, any decent shooting guard will fit in nicely. Although the Nets already have Courtney Lee on their roster, they could most certainly upgrade by offering Ray Allen a 3 year deal starting at the mid level exception. It will be hard press for Ray to pass up the opportunity of finishing his career with this team considering how he ended game 7 against the Lakers scoring only 13 points while making only 3 out of the 14 shots he attempted. The Celtics could probably offer Ray a two year deal with an average of around $10 million however, at the end of the day, the extra $3 million per year which is more like $1.7 million after taxes, will not be enough to keep Ray with the Celtics. Considering how miserable Ray played in game 7 against the Lakers and because on several occasions he's mentioned a conversation in which Michael Jordan told him winning one championship was lucky, I believe Ray will gladly take two more rings as opposed to an additional $3.4 million over the next two years from Boston.
In conclusion the Nets could have a starting lineup of Chris Paul, Lebron James, Chris Bosh, Brook Lopez and either Ray starting as a fifth option or, providing instant offense off the bench for the Nets. Rod Thorn could go down as the greatest president/ general manager of the decade. Prokhorov prediction that the Nets will win one championship during the next 1-5 years will actually turn out to be low because, this Nets team barring injuries will almost certainly win at least 3 championships over the next 5 seasons. The Miami Heat can sign three max players, the Knicks can sign two but, the New Jersey Nets are the only team that could end up with three max players. In addition they have soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez and could end up signing the sharp shooting Ray Allen. The Nets must act quickly because if they don't, Collison might get traded on draft day and pretty much ruin their chances of acquiring Chris Paul via a trade. I trust Rod Thorn, the Nets president is already working on this angle.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
THE BLUEPRINT TO SIGNING LEBRON JAMES
The Lebron James Free agency will come down to two basic questions with the second having several angles. Will Lebron James stay in Cleveland or, will he leave after seven years of being the Cavs savior and breathing life into a dying franchise? If Lebron James does leave, what will the Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Clippers and Heat need to do in order to retain his services?
CAVALIERS
I have no doubt that the Cavs are in the driver seat. The reason they are has nothing to do with what Lebron said as far as the Cleveland fans or even the fact that Ohio is his home state. They are in the driver seat because all they have to do is hire and impressive coach and make an outstanding trade.
The Lakers Phil Jackson would obviously be the first option. The Celtics Doc Rivers, the Bobcats Larry Brown, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski or even Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau will all be highly endorsed by Lebron. I am sure there are other great coaches out there but, if the Cavs are seriously trying to lure Lebron, then their next coach must be one of those five.
An outstanding trade must be made by the Cavs if they expect to re-sign Lebron James. The Antawn Jamison experiment was a disaster for two reasons. Even though Jamison is a good player and is considered a 'hybrid stretch four' (A versatile power forward who can shoot 3s), he is not a good defender. To be honest, he is not a really good 3 point shooter either. He took major minutes away from J.J. Hickson and Varejao on the defensive end. Kevin Garnett pretty much abused him like a rag dog. I can honestly say, the Cavs would have been better off had they not made that trade, especially on the defensive end.
Rather than talk about it, the Cavs should have done everything in their power to trade for the Sun's Amare Stoudemire and not an aging 34 year old Jamison with two years $28.5 milion left on his contract. Had they gotten Amare instead of Jamison, chances are much higher that they would have won the championship and proven to Lebron that they were seriously committed to winning. Well, it didn't happen and we are here.
I believe Chris Bosh would be the trade that saves the Cavaliers. Eventhough Cleveland is not one of his choice cities he does want to play with Lebron. In order for the Cavs to get him, they would have to include Hedo Turkoglu in the trade to really entice the Raptors. The Cavs would send Antawn Jamison; thank God for them if they can include him, Delonte West, obviously J.J. Hickson and Daniel Gibson for Bosh and Hedo. This would mean dismantling their entire team but, this trade with the addition of one of those five coaches, most likely Tom Thibodeau, will force Lebron's hand into re-signing with the Cavs. If this doesn't happen, Lebron is out!
I believe the Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Clippers and Heat have the best odds of prying Lebron away from Cleveland and in that exact order.
BULLS
Some people like super agent David Falk believe that if Lebron goes to Chicago, he will forever be playing under Michael Jordan's shadow and I agree. However, this is a challenge I believe that Lebron James will glad embrace especially if it means playing with Rose, Bosh and Noah for the next 5 years. The Bulls have the best chance after Cleveland to sign Lebron but, they too must go after Bosh in order to land Lebron. More than likely, they would trade Deng and Hinrich. It would be a miracle if they could get away with only trading Deng but, I believe the Raptors are looking to use this opportunity get rid of Hedo's contract as well which means both Deng and Hinrich will have to be included. With Derrick Rose, Noah and Bosh in place along with new head coach Tom Thibodeau, Lebron will gladly accept the Bulls maximum contract offer. The only way he turns it down is if the Cavs have Amare Stoudemire and Doc Rivers or Phil Jackson on board.
NETS
I am not really a fan of the Nets but, I really felt their pain on lottery night. Had they won the first pick, I would have picked them as the favorite, even over the Cavs to get Lebron. The Nets would have had John Wall, the concensus number one pick, Devin Harris and soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez on their roster. The cap room to offer both Lebron and Bosh maximum deals, actually they are a few millions away. Also, they have Jay Z, a part owner of the team who is a mentor that Lebron looks up to along with a new billionaire owner worth $10 billion and willing to spend. There is no way Lebron would have said no to all that.
Even though I rank the Nets behind the Cavs and the Bulls, there are still some positives in place. The Nets could package the 3rd overall pick and power forward Yi in a trade for Bosh. I believe it's one of the few trades the Raptors will accept without having to include Hedo. Other than John Wall not being on the roster, all the other factors would still be in place. This pushes the Nets ahead of the Bulls because now they would have Bosh and probably force the Cavs to the brink of losing Lebron.
KNICKS
The allure of playing in Madision Square Garden 41 times a year is very intoxicating even though Lebron's small time Akron circle may not be in favor of this. The Mayor of New York has already started a full court press in an effort to bring Lebron to New York. The Knicks is one of two teams, Miami being the other that can sign both Lebron and Bosh to maximum contracts. Many believe that if Lebron wants to win, the Knicks will have to do more than that, a sentiment I share as well. What most people don't realize is that the Knicks have two aces in their pocket that could change the entire dynamics of things. They have Eddy Curry's $11.3 million expiring contract and the option of signing and trading first time all-star center David Lee. What if the Knicks are able to package Lee and Curry in a trade for the Hornets Chris Paul and then offer Ray Allen a mid-level deal for four years just to make sure they get him? Now you would have a roster of Paul, Allen, Lebron and Bosh. Should I be a G.M.? Well, this may be all wishful thinking but, a few things are for sure. The Knicks could offer Lebron and Bosh to maximum deals. The Knicks could also offer Ray Allen a four year deal, knowing he is only good for two or three years, but a four year $30 million deal will be hard for Ray to pass up at his age. The Knicks do have Eddy Curry's $11.3 million expiring contract with the option of trading David Lee. The Knicks could emerge as the front runner in the Lebron James sweepstakes if they are able to combine these factors.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers played all last season without Blake Griffin the number one overall pick, whom many believe is ready to contribute 20 points and 10 rebounds immediately. You throw in Baron Davis, Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman in the mix and all of a sudden, you have a team that can contend for a championship if they were to add James and Bosh. I see this as a long shot but, I wouldn't rule out the Clippers. The Clippers could also surprise everyone by trading Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon for Bosh and then making a maximum offer to Lebron. This would make things even more interesting. A roster with Lebron, Bosh, Kaman and a healthy Baron Davis would immediately contend for a championship.
HEAT
I consider the Heat the last option simply because both Lebron and Wade are alpha males. I know they can play together but the question is will Lebron want to leave Cleveland to go to Wade's team? I doubt that very seriously. However, I still think the Heat must be considered because if they trade Beasley, the Heat will be in the position to go after three max free agents, Wade included. So if they were to sign Wade and Bosh, Lebron would have to give them a serious look if indeed his real motivation is winning. A Lebron-Bosh-Wade trio would be almost impossible to bet against for the next 5-6 seasons.
If I were the G.M. of the Cavs, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Clippers or Heat, this would be my blueprint for getting Lebron James. Rather than waiting to sign Lebron, I think all six teams should be looking to make a blockbuster trade. They should all take a page out of Boston’s book in 2007. It took a trade for Ray Allen to convince Kevin Garnett to join the Celtics. It will take a trade for Bosh or Amare in addition to hiring a powerful coach to convince Lebron.
CAVALIERS
I have no doubt that the Cavs are in the driver seat. The reason they are has nothing to do with what Lebron said as far as the Cleveland fans or even the fact that Ohio is his home state. They are in the driver seat because all they have to do is hire and impressive coach and make an outstanding trade.
The Lakers Phil Jackson would obviously be the first option. The Celtics Doc Rivers, the Bobcats Larry Brown, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski or even Boston assistant Tom Thibodeau will all be highly endorsed by Lebron. I am sure there are other great coaches out there but, if the Cavs are seriously trying to lure Lebron, then their next coach must be one of those five.
An outstanding trade must be made by the Cavs if they expect to re-sign Lebron James. The Antawn Jamison experiment was a disaster for two reasons. Even though Jamison is a good player and is considered a 'hybrid stretch four' (A versatile power forward who can shoot 3s), he is not a good defender. To be honest, he is not a really good 3 point shooter either. He took major minutes away from J.J. Hickson and Varejao on the defensive end. Kevin Garnett pretty much abused him like a rag dog. I can honestly say, the Cavs would have been better off had they not made that trade, especially on the defensive end.
Rather than talk about it, the Cavs should have done everything in their power to trade for the Sun's Amare Stoudemire and not an aging 34 year old Jamison with two years $28.5 milion left on his contract. Had they gotten Amare instead of Jamison, chances are much higher that they would have won the championship and proven to Lebron that they were seriously committed to winning. Well, it didn't happen and we are here.
I believe Chris Bosh would be the trade that saves the Cavaliers. Eventhough Cleveland is not one of his choice cities he does want to play with Lebron. In order for the Cavs to get him, they would have to include Hedo Turkoglu in the trade to really entice the Raptors. The Cavs would send Antawn Jamison; thank God for them if they can include him, Delonte West, obviously J.J. Hickson and Daniel Gibson for Bosh and Hedo. This would mean dismantling their entire team but, this trade with the addition of one of those five coaches, most likely Tom Thibodeau, will force Lebron's hand into re-signing with the Cavs. If this doesn't happen, Lebron is out!
I believe the Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Clippers and Heat have the best odds of prying Lebron away from Cleveland and in that exact order.
BULLS
Some people like super agent David Falk believe that if Lebron goes to Chicago, he will forever be playing under Michael Jordan's shadow and I agree. However, this is a challenge I believe that Lebron James will glad embrace especially if it means playing with Rose, Bosh and Noah for the next 5 years. The Bulls have the best chance after Cleveland to sign Lebron but, they too must go after Bosh in order to land Lebron. More than likely, they would trade Deng and Hinrich. It would be a miracle if they could get away with only trading Deng but, I believe the Raptors are looking to use this opportunity get rid of Hedo's contract as well which means both Deng and Hinrich will have to be included. With Derrick Rose, Noah and Bosh in place along with new head coach Tom Thibodeau, Lebron will gladly accept the Bulls maximum contract offer. The only way he turns it down is if the Cavs have Amare Stoudemire and Doc Rivers or Phil Jackson on board.
NETS
I am not really a fan of the Nets but, I really felt their pain on lottery night. Had they won the first pick, I would have picked them as the favorite, even over the Cavs to get Lebron. The Nets would have had John Wall, the concensus number one pick, Devin Harris and soon to be perennial all-star center Brook Lopez on their roster. The cap room to offer both Lebron and Bosh maximum deals, actually they are a few millions away. Also, they have Jay Z, a part owner of the team who is a mentor that Lebron looks up to along with a new billionaire owner worth $10 billion and willing to spend. There is no way Lebron would have said no to all that.
Even though I rank the Nets behind the Cavs and the Bulls, there are still some positives in place. The Nets could package the 3rd overall pick and power forward Yi in a trade for Bosh. I believe it's one of the few trades the Raptors will accept without having to include Hedo. Other than John Wall not being on the roster, all the other factors would still be in place. This pushes the Nets ahead of the Bulls because now they would have Bosh and probably force the Cavs to the brink of losing Lebron.
KNICKS
The allure of playing in Madision Square Garden 41 times a year is very intoxicating even though Lebron's small time Akron circle may not be in favor of this. The Mayor of New York has already started a full court press in an effort to bring Lebron to New York. The Knicks is one of two teams, Miami being the other that can sign both Lebron and Bosh to maximum contracts. Many believe that if Lebron wants to win, the Knicks will have to do more than that, a sentiment I share as well. What most people don't realize is that the Knicks have two aces in their pocket that could change the entire dynamics of things. They have Eddy Curry's $11.3 million expiring contract and the option of signing and trading first time all-star center David Lee. What if the Knicks are able to package Lee and Curry in a trade for the Hornets Chris Paul and then offer Ray Allen a mid-level deal for four years just to make sure they get him? Now you would have a roster of Paul, Allen, Lebron and Bosh. Should I be a G.M.? Well, this may be all wishful thinking but, a few things are for sure. The Knicks could offer Lebron and Bosh to maximum deals. The Knicks could also offer Ray Allen a four year deal, knowing he is only good for two or three years, but a four year $30 million deal will be hard for Ray to pass up at his age. The Knicks do have Eddy Curry's $11.3 million expiring contract with the option of trading David Lee. The Knicks could emerge as the front runner in the Lebron James sweepstakes if they are able to combine these factors.
CLIPPERS
The Clippers played all last season without Blake Griffin the number one overall pick, whom many believe is ready to contribute 20 points and 10 rebounds immediately. You throw in Baron Davis, Eric Gordon and Chris Kaman in the mix and all of a sudden, you have a team that can contend for a championship if they were to add James and Bosh. I see this as a long shot but, I wouldn't rule out the Clippers. The Clippers could also surprise everyone by trading Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon for Bosh and then making a maximum offer to Lebron. This would make things even more interesting. A roster with Lebron, Bosh, Kaman and a healthy Baron Davis would immediately contend for a championship.
HEAT
I consider the Heat the last option simply because both Lebron and Wade are alpha males. I know they can play together but the question is will Lebron want to leave Cleveland to go to Wade's team? I doubt that very seriously. However, I still think the Heat must be considered because if they trade Beasley, the Heat will be in the position to go after three max free agents, Wade included. So if they were to sign Wade and Bosh, Lebron would have to give them a serious look if indeed his real motivation is winning. A Lebron-Bosh-Wade trio would be almost impossible to bet against for the next 5-6 seasons.
If I were the G.M. of the Cavs, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, Clippers or Heat, this would be my blueprint for getting Lebron James. Rather than waiting to sign Lebron, I think all six teams should be looking to make a blockbuster trade. They should all take a page out of Boston’s book in 2007. It took a trade for Ray Allen to convince Kevin Garnett to join the Celtics. It will take a trade for Bosh or Amare in addition to hiring a powerful coach to convince Lebron.
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