NO BIG NAME FREE AGENTS!!!!!?!??!?!?!?! When they put up that billboard last week, I thought for certain that the Nets would get at least one top tier free agent. These thoughts were confirmed once again when they took project Derrick Favors with the third overall pick. Now cut to a little over a week later, and the Nets haven't added anyone else to their roster. Now with Carlos Boozer gone to Chicago and Lebron all but gone to SOBE, it looks as if the Nets are going to be the team that will be left scrambling for the free agent remains of David Lee, Luis Scola, Josh Childress, Tyrus Thomas, Raymond Felton, Ron Brewer, Brendan Haywood, Al Harrington, Mike Miller, Travis Outlaw, Kyle Korver, Shaq, and Richard Jefferson. I would imagine a lot of these players eyes are lighting up at the idea of New Jersey, Minnesota, or the Clippers paying them more than what they are worth. I also expect Dallas and Houston to make some moves via sign and trade still.
Most diehards already know about the salary cap being two million higher than originally anticipated. Most of you also know that this will only make it easier for the Heat to add Lebron to the mix. A few years ago, I would have created a team like this in NBA Live and it simply would not have been fair. It still will not be. I still don't know if they are better than the Lakers though. They still have about seven spots to fill if Lebron decides to go down to Miami. At this point Lebron's best option would be the Bulls. That would be a well balanced team, without having to worry about the egos (like in Miami). You would already have a good point guard in Derrick Rose, an improving big man in Joakim Noah, as well as the addition of rebounding machine Carlos Boozer. This team really wouldn't be all that fair, either. I would love to see Lebron go to a team where he still has to do some work to get to the finals. Going to the Nets or Knicks or staying with the Cavs would all provide these scenarios. It would appear as though he is now going to the Heat though. It is very funny to look back at what I've predicted, as well as what everyone else has predicted in the last week. I've gone from thinking he was staying with the Cavs, to the Nets, to the Bulls, to the Mavs, to the Heat, back to the Bulls, to the Knicks, and now I'm finally sold on him going to the Heat, but the Knicks and Cavs are still in the hunt. The salary cap reduction was the final piece of the puzzle for me. I know it's not a lot when we're already talking about signing players for upwards of 20mil a piece anyway, but an extra two mil will help the Heat sign another veteran player. Also, anyone notice how lower level players like Jared Dudley, Charlie Villanueva, and Dejuan Blair have been tweeting that Lebron is going to the Knicks? And what does Ochocinco know?
Lebron is obviously dominating the wires today, but David Lee's name has come up in rumors again. David Lee has always been a good, one dimensional player in my book. He will fit in perfectly in Golden State, where they might actually be one of the few teams to play LESS D than the Knicks. I'm still not totally sold on Anthony Randolph as a player, although getting him out of Don Nelson's camp is a good start. I absolutely love the idea of Ronny Turiaf in a Knicks jersey. I can imagine him quickly becoming a garden fan favorite. He would provide adequate backup minutes to Amare and they could even play alongside at times to make a killer offense/defense combo. They still will need a point guard and I am sure they will be bummed about not getting Lebron. At some point you have to move on and take what you can get though. Knicks fans will have to wait a little longer I guess.
Jermaine O'neal to the Celtics? That team is going to be crippled this year. Luke Harangody might actually get a chance to continue what he is doing in summer league play.
More updates, photos, and reviews will be posted later today. It is going to be insanely hot on the east coast again today. I will probably spend the whole day indoors again. I am sure all of these free agent soap operas will keep me busy.
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