NBA Free Agency Frenzy
Over the last week I’ve had to recharge my phone more than ever. Why you ask? I’ve been absolutely glued to Twitter and I blame NBA Free Agency. I refresh and scroll every five minutes waiting for updates from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, Marc Stein of ESPN, Frank Isola of the NY Daily News, and a plethora of local Chicago Bulls beat writers and bloggers. I want to know the second that Carmelo Anthony decides between the Knicks, Bulls, Lakers, Mavs, or Rockets. If LeBron James decides to take his talents back to Cleveland, I want up to the minute updates. Once the mighty Plan A guys have returned to or taken up new addresses, what about all the Plan B and C guys? What happens to Luol Deng, Pau Gasol, Chandler Parsons, and Eric Bledsoe??? I want to be in on those scoops too! When Lance Stephenson finds a team that is willing to pay his crazy self to shoot the lights out, you better believe I want to know.
2010 All Over Again?
Back before the NBA playoffs started, there were rumblings that this off-season could be big. There were a number of restricted free agents that could be the missing pieces on some teams if offered the right amount of money. It’s been well documented that Minnesota’s All Star big man Kevin Love was frustrated with the losing culture there and could find himself as part of a blockbuster trade, but it wasn’t a sure thing. The only thing we really knew there was a good chance of happening was Carmelo Anthony opting out early of his contract with the New York Knicks and maybe looking elsewhere. Then after the NBA Finals, rumors started to swirl of the Heatles, Miami’s Big 3 who dominated the 2010 NBA Free Agency, were on the verge of breaking up. The summer of 2010 saw one of the craziest NBA free agency periods highlighted by LeBron James and his “Decision,” could we have an off-season that could top that?
It’s All About The Money
Before free agency started, coaches were fired, coaches were hired, trades were made, and draft picks were made. Most of these moves were done with the possibility of luring one of the best players in the game to their team. Carmelo opted out in NYC and within the next two weeks, so did LeBron, Wade, and Bosh down in South Beach. Let the games begin. Teams were trying to clear as much cap space so that they could offer the maximum amount of money to the free agent they have their eyes on. They also need to make sure that they have enough money to pay for, you know, the other 11 guys on the roster. One of the best follows for that is a man from across the pond, Mark Deeks (@MarkDeeksNBA) of ShamSports.com. I don’t think there is anyone in the Twitterverse that understands the ins and outs numbers game of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and current salary cap but also gets the personnel side of the game too. He’s the ultimate mix of old school and new school and I’d be shocked if he isn’t in an NBA Front Office someday. Take a look at his Twitter feed over the last two weeks for some great insight on how teams are jockeying for position to get the guy/guys they want.
What Does The Future Hold?
For me, I think the most exciting outcome would be LeBron returning to a young and talented Cavs team, Carmelo going to Chicago to join an already superb cast that lacks the offense he’d bring, Bosh going to join the Rockets to form a new Big 3 with Dwight Howard and James Harden, and Pat Riley left with a banged up DWade in Miami. The Miami dig aside, I think those moves would create an exciting and unpredictable NBA season, the likes that haven’t been seen in years. Until that moment, I’ll continue to search the interwebs and update Twitter every five minutes. If you care to join me, click on any of these fine folks for up to the minute news and rumors.
Tags:Carmelo Anthony ESPN Free Agency LeBron James Mark Deeks NBA
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