NBA Free Agency Part I

July 1, 2010 came and went. And to the disappointment of many people, myself included, not much happened. While most people believed that little would happen, we anticipated a bit more excitement than what actually happened. From the Big 7 or 8 free agents, they all had their meetings with different teams. Before either of them make a 5-year commitment to a team, they want to weigh all their options and hear every possible release from the team.

The big players who would enter free agency were predicted to be the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets, Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers. All 5 teams have enough cap to offer at least one maximum free agent. The Knicks and Heat each have enough to offer maximum contracts. The Bulls and Nets each have $ 30 million free to offer free agents. It is not enough to offer two maximum contracts. While all teams are still exploring possible options, including signings and exchanges, it is anticipated that there will be less movement than previously projected. Of those Big 7 or 8 free agents, the ones expected to switch teams from now on are Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and David Lee.

Bosh started his career in Toronto and has been with them ever since. He came to the league in the same draft as LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. He was fourth overall at Georgia Tech. In high school, his senior year, his team went undefeated and participated in the Texas state basketball tournament. Since being drafted, he has made 2 early playoff starts. That is all. This year, after possibly making the playoffs as the eighth seed, Bosh was injured and the Raptors were unable to beat the Bulls. Bosh has been linked to joining LeBron James if he leaves Cleveland. He has also been linked to going to Miami with Wade. Now there is even more speculation that he will go to Houston or possibly even Cleveland if LeBron stays through sign-and-trade. Many experts have said that Bosh wants the additional $ 30 million and an additional year on his contract. Therefore, he will have to play for Toronto or force a sign-and-trade deal. He no longer seems willing to play in Toronto. Toronto then, if he’s up to it, will ask Bosh what the order of the teams he wants to go to is. The Raptors will try to reach an agreement with those teams. The Bulls and Heat have very little to offer in return. Therefore, he will most likely have to go to another team or he will have to accept the 5-year contract and lose the additional $ 30 million.

Amar’e Stoudemire entered the league after high school. He was selected by the Suns. He is now 27 years old. It was an intricate part of the Suns ‘running and shooting system that Mike D’ Antoni used before launching into New York. Amar’e is known for her high offensive production but very low defensive production. He doesn’t play solid defense or rebound much. He just likes to put the ball in the hoop. It was a great combo with Steve Nash on the pick and roll, so going to a team that will use this will help to use it better. Possible spots for Stoudemire could be the New York Knicks, his old coaching staff, the Miami Heat with Wade, or the New Jersey Nets with a budding star in the middle in Brook Lopez. I don’t see the Bulls chasing Amar’e. They have had numerous opportunities at the trade deadline to acquire it and they have passed. He feels he deserves a maximum contract, but the Suns are not willing to give it to him. Basically it is said that it is gone. I see him going to New York, where you don’t have to play defense as long as you score more than the other team. Miami is also likely if they can’t sign Bosh. You will most likely get the maximum of 5 years from one of these kits. The reason other teams are having it is because he’s a little prone to injury. He had microfracture surgery on his knee not long ago and that’s too young for anyone to have it. There is a fear that your knees will explode in a couple of years.

I would put Carlos Boozer and David Lee in the same category. They are both scammers. They will do some of the hard work. However, Boozer has been called lazy. Lee, on the other hand, may not be that talented, but he’s a tireless worker. Boozer went to Duke and has been on a couple of teams and lastly the Utah Jazz. He worked very well on the pick and roll with Deron Williams. He should be a consistent 20-point-10-rebound-a-night guy if he played to his potential. David Lee went to Florida and played with the current Bull Noah. There’s a good chance that if the Bulls strike out Bosh, they could go after Lee to match up the two ex-gators. There are games that complement each other very well. While no play deserves the maximum, your position is in high demand. Teams have been cleaning the boundary like crazy so they may feel like they need a player to show their fans that they want to win and that they will give one of these guys the maximum. In my opinion, that could be disastrous in the future.

While I see these players leaving their teams, it is possible that one or two of them will stay. I would very much doubt it from now on. These players will continue to meet more teams over the weekend. They will receive offers and weigh their options. I anticipate that feeling that all 4 players are power forwards that once these guys accept a contract, the rest will start signing very soon. I anticipate that by July 8, all four players will have signed contracts to play with new teams.