Ariza Deal Doesn't Make Sense For The Hornets

It appears the Hornets have made the same mistake the Cavaliers once did. They've catered to their superstar player with the hopes of keeping him happy and in uniform for the rest of his career. The sad reality is that, just as in Cleveland's case, this will blow up in their faces.
Chris Paul has made no secret about his desire to leave New Orleans. He said he wanted to play in New York if Carmelo ended up there, then changed his stance, and directed his attention towards Orlando.
Paul has two years left on his contract with the Hornets and a player option for a third year. In that short time frame, the Hornets can do all they want to try and build a contender around Paul, but this simple point remains: Come 2012, Paul will likely opt out of his contract and take his talents elsewhere.
After examining all aspects of this trade, the only way to justify it is if the Hornets were trying to please Paul. They added an athletic wing man who can likely compliment Paul in the uptempo fast break game. They also get rid of the rookie point guard who stepped in after Paul's injury and proved he could play just as well as Paul did. Don't underestimate this point. I doubt Paul wanted Collison around taking minutes from him. Paul and Collison are too small to start in the same back court.
Essentially, this is what the Hornets did. They gave up their most valuable player not named Paul and a solid contributor off the bench. They added 5 million to their salary cap, despite downgrading their talent. They will also be stuck with Ariza until the 2014-15 season, when he will be making 7 million a year. In the two years after Paul is likely gone, Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza will account for 20 million dollars a year. Terrible.

Even if Ariza does fit in with the offense and makes the team better, this trade still won't make sense. Ariza is not the missing piece to a playoff push. With the possibility of David West opting out of his contract next year, this looks like a bad team two years from now.
The Hornets should have traded Paul this offseason. While it hurts the team's image and makes it look like players have all the power, this would be the best thing for the Hornet's long term. They can begin to build their team around Collison. With Paul gone, Stojakovic and Songaila's contracts expiring, coupled in with West opting out, the Hornets clear 35 million from their payroll next year.
Obviously, there's some uncertainty about the CBO for next year, but the Hornets would be better off starting fresh as soon as possible, instead of suffering for two more years, only to lose Paul in the end.
Instead, the Hornets gave up their best young player, will likely miss the playoffs the next two years, and see Paul move on.
Unless if Paul signs a long term extension, what he wants shouldn't be part of the equation.

Are The Pacers Playoff Contenders?

I've made it no secret that I long for the Indiana Pacers to be successful again. Once upon a time, they had a great rivalry with the Bulls. That rivalry could potentially be rekindled in the years to come. The acquisitions of Darren Collison and James Posey not only improve the team, but make the Pacers instant playoff contenders.
The Heat, Magic, Celtics, Bulls, Bucks, and Hawks have already distinguished themselves as virtual locks for the playoffs, and to a lesser extent, the Bobcats. This leaves one spot open that Indiana has a chance of grabbing.
Let's start with Indiana's focal point--Danny Granger. Granger may be the best player in the NBA who isn't a household name. He's a 6'8 forward who can consistently hit the three, rebounds well, and has proven he can handle the scoring load for an NBA team. His time with Team USA this summer should only increase his confidence going into this season. He'll benefit from Collison more than any other Pacer.
The addition of Collison adds another scorer to the Pacers lineup. Collison filled in admirably last year for Chris Paul. So much so, it looked like the Hornets might trade the disgruntled Paul and build the team around Collison. Instead, the Pacers got a steal.
Collison can score in bunches and has shown a knack for getting to the basket. He can also hit the three. He shot 40 percent from behind the arc last year. Collison's driving ability should create open looks for shooters Granger, George, and Posey off the bench.
In order to acquire Collison, the Pacers had to part with power forward Troy Murphy. Murphy averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds a game, as the second option on offense. While Murphy will be missed, his departure allows second year forward Tyler Hansbrough to step into the starting lineup.
It's clear Indiana was looking to get younger. Swapping Murphy for Hansbrough will definitely accomplish that. Hansbrough was injured for most of last year, so this year will be critical to see how he develops as a player. If he's able to provide a decent post game, rebounding, and the occasional mid range jumper, he should fit in just fine.
At center, Roy Hibbert will get the opportunity to start. As his minutes increased last year, Hibbert appeared to be more competent offensively than most initially thought. While he'll be more valuable for his defense down low, how he fits in offensively with Hansbrough should be interesting to see.
The wild card for the Pacers this year is their first round pick Paul George. Drafted 10th overall, many think that George could be the steal of this year's draft. He played small forward in college, the position Granger already occupies, so he'll likely move over to shooting guard. Without any other viable options, it looks like George will have the opportunity to start immediately. If he can hit threes and defend like he did in college, he could be a surprise candidate for Rookie of the Year.
In addition to a young, talented starting lineup, the Pacers can bring veterans off the bench. T.J. Ford, Dahntay Jones, Brandon Rush, and James Posey all have experience as starters. The number of bench players on the Pacers roster that have started in the past speaks to their depth.
With the combination of a talented young starting lineup and veteran bench, it's not out of the question that the Pacers will challenge for the wide open 8th seed in the playoffs. 

Can The Heat Win 73?

Analyst Jeff Van Gundy has made headlines recently by proclaiming that this year's Miami Heat team can challenge the Chicago Bulls' record setting 72 win 1995-96 regular season. Whether or not Van Gundy truly believes this isn't important. What is important is that Van Gundy brought up a point that no one up until now seems to be discussing.
I think most of us immediately assumed no team was challenging that record, especially one with so little cap space. That's where we're wrong. Quietly, as Van Gundy pointed out, the Heat have constructed a pretty deep team. They currently have 17 players under contract, which they will have to cut to 15 by the start of the season. 8 of those 17 are getting paid less than one million dollars this season.
Since the official roster still isn't set, and it's difficult to predict how the Heat and the 29 other teams will come together, it would be best to go about answering this question by examining some of the traits that made the 1995-96 Bulls so successful.

Chip on their shoulder. I tend to shy away from explanations like this that can't really be measured, but the "chip on their shoulder" argument clearly applied to the Bulls. You may remember Nick Anderson coming from behind and stripping the ball from Jordan (who returned midway through that season) in Game 1 of the EC Semi-Finals. The Magic would go on to win the series in six games.
Anderson and many others questioned Jordan's ability to return to his old form. Jordan and Co. returned the next year determined to prove they were still the best team in the NBA. They didn't take a game off. Hell, they rarely took a play off. The Bulls stream rolled through the regular season winning 72 games and continued their dominance into the playoffs, going 16-3 en route to NBA championship. That playoff run included a sweep of the Magic.
The Heat should have the same chip on their shoulder that the Bulls did. It's hard to imagine a more criticized team in recent memory than this year's Heat, and they haven't even played a game yet. The Big Three should be eager to prove the doubters wrong and show that three superstars can coexist. I'm sure James also would like to extract a little revenge for some of the "sidekick" insults that have been directed his way.
What better way to piss NBA fans off even more than to break the all-time season wins record? The Celtics tried in 2008 and fell short. History has shown that the first year of a potential dynasty is the year to make a run at the record. If the Heat are going to attempt a 73 win season it will be this year.
Depth. Most people, with good reason, questioned how a team would be able to compete with three maximum level contracts on the books. The easy answer is recruit role players who are willing to accept less money to play for a championship contender. The Bulls had two stars in Jordan and Pippen that they surrounded with excellent role players.
Steve Kerr and Jud Bueschler provided three point shooting off the bench. Ron Harper and Toni Kukoc provided scoring and solid defense off the bench. Dennis Rodman was a rebounding and defensive specialist, while Luc Longley, John Salley, and Bill Wennington were all big bodies that clogged the middle. With the exception of Rodman and maybe Kukoc, none of these players were household names, but were essential to the championship run.
Looking over the Heat's roster, there are some similarities to the Bulls. They also have the two superstars in James and Wade, as well as a low post scorer in Bosh (something the Bulls didn't have). They have Eddie House and Mike Miller to shoot threes. Ilgauskaus, Anthony, Pittman, and Magloire to clog up the middle and save Bosh some low post fouls.
Miami will need someone to step up and become a consistent scorer off  the bench. The Bulls had Kukoc, the Sixth Man of the Year, to provide offense off the bench. The Heat have no one near that level. However, the Heat do have the luxury of resting either LeBron or Wade at different times. They can slide in a more traditional point guard, Mike Miller at the 2 or 3, and either Wade at the 2 or James at the 3. Spoelstra has a number of players that can play multiple positions, which could potentially lessen the need for bench scoring. It will be interesting to see how Spoelstra constructs his lineups.
Defense. A lot of people forget how good the 95-96 Bulls were defensively. Their defense got overshadowed because they were the number one offense in the league that year. They were also the best defensive team in the league, giving up an average of 92 points per game.
While First Team Defensive Selections are often questionable to say the least (look at last year's First Team for an example), the Bulls have three players (Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman) selected to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. All three deserved that honor. To put this into perspective, you would have to go back to the 1982-83 season to find the last time three teammates made the All-Defensive First Team, when Bobby Jones, Moses Malone, and Maurice Cheeks represented the 76ers. It's only been done five times since the league began giving out the honor for the 1968-69 season. No three teammates have been selected to the First Team since the Bulls trio.
James and Wade should be First Team defenders and if they commit themselves defensively this year, they will be. However, the Heat don't have a third player that could be considered an elite defender. In fact, they have a plethora of below average defenders. Let's say, hypothetically, this is Miami's starting lineup for next year:

LeBron James - PG
Dwyane Wade - SG
Mike Miller - SF
Udonis Haslem - PF
Chris Bosh - C
Wade and James have the ability to lock down anyone, but those other three could be serious defensive liabilities. Miller's a below average defender who's there strictly for his three point shooting. While Haslem works hard, at 6'8 he's an undersized power forward. Bosh has never been known for his defense and has routinely been bossed around in the paint by larger centers. Looking at the bench, it doesn't appear that the Heat have a many defensive options they can bring in either.
Defense will be the key to a run at 73 wins. Spoelstra is praised within NBA circles for his defensive game plans. Let's see what he can do with this team.
Of course there will be some other factors that could prevent the Heat from reaching 73 wins. The Eastern Conference is much improved this year. In 1995-96 the East only had three teams who won 50 or more games. In 2010-11 that number could double. Add that to the fact that teams are bound to lose a few games to inferior competition during the regular season. The Bulls lost to the 21 win Raptors.
Another important factor will be how many games the Big Three play this year. It may not be one of their goals to win 73, or that goal may be out of reach, so the regulars could be rested towards the end of the season. This is most often the case in today's NBA, where teams who have already clinched a particular seed will begin to rest their players in the last two weeks of the season.
So can the Heat win 73? I think they can, but I'm going to say they won't. I think a win total in the mid 60s will be more likely. Ultimately, it will come down to how they play defense, whether the players want to commit to playing a full NBA season, and if they can stay injury free. A lot of things have to go right for the Heat, but if this offseason is any indication, a lot of things already have.      

3 Reasons Why Shaq Is A Good Fit For Boston

It's official, Shaquille O'Neal has agreed to a veteran minimum contract with the Boston Celtics and is scheduled to make 1.3 million a year for the next two years. When Shaq signs, you know what that means: the Celtics are looking to make one last push at a championship.
While some have complained that Shaq has been steadily declining and will slow the tempo to unbearably slow levels, I believe Shaq will prove to be a good addition to Boston. True, this isn't the Shaq of his prime that will average 28 and 11 a game, but the Celtics don't need that. Here's three reasons why Shaq will be a good addition.
1) Shaq won't be expected to play major minutes. Some people have forgotten that the Celtics also signed Jermaine O'Neal this offseason to play center. Shaq averaged 22 minutes a game last year. He'll be expected to log about the same this year until Kendrick Perkins returns. There's no reason why he shouldn't be able to do that. Shaq put up 12 points and 6 rebounds a game during the regular season playing less minutes than he's accustomed to. While he isn't as good defensively, Shaq's offensive numbers were better than Perkins', and Perkins played an average of five more minutes a game. The O'Neal-O'Neal combination is better offensively than the Perkins-Davis combo.
2) Shaq won't have to play a full season. The biggest criticism of Shaq over the years is that he's incapable of playing a full season. He's only exceeded the 60 game mark once in the last six seasons. It's perfectly legitimate to wonder if Shaq can hold up for an entire season, but he won't have to. Perkins is out until sometime in February. It's important that Shaq is in playing shape at the beginning of the regular season and can suit up for every game until Perkins returns. Once Perkins returns, Shaq can take time off while Perkins and Jermaine O'Neal share minutes at the center position. I don't think it's too much to expect for Shaq to stay in the lineup for three months, get some rest, and be ready for the playoffs.
3) Shaq helps the Celtics half-court game. Shaq isn't going to do the Boston's fastbreak any favors, but the Celtics don't need to rely on fastbreak points to win. In fact, they're very successful when they're able to slow the pace down and let Rondo create in the half-court game. Shaq will bring an inside presence that defenders have to respect. The same can't be said of Kendrick Perkins. Now with Shaq and KG in the paint, the Celtics have two legitimate scoring threats down low. Not to mention, they're both excellent passers, so they'll be able to either set each other up or kick it out to Pierce or Allen if they're double teamed.
Taking on Shaq at his age is always a risk. Phoenix took that risk in 2008 and it paid off. Things didn't work out so well for Shaq in Cleveland. Only time will tell how Shaq is able to blend in with the Celtics. Boston fans can take solace in the fact that Shaq will not be expected to play as big of a role for their team as he was expected to in his previous destinations.   

LeBron James Should Leave Ohio Alone

Just when we thought it was over...The news that James has joined the Heat has now sunk in, Dan Gilbert's letter has been criticized almost as much as LeBron's hour long decision special, and every person who even casually follows the NBA has offered an opinion on James and Gilbert. Yet, the saga continues.
James took out a full page ad in the Akron Beacon Journal to thank the people of Akron for their support, and post photos of himself participating in various charitable events in the city. It seems like the ad was to not only remind the people of Akron of all the good times the two shared, but to notify them that he will be participating in a bike-a-thon event taking place Saturday.
I haven't seen the ad, but some may have a problem with a player taking out a full page ad to post pictures of themselves doing charity work. The motive seems unclear there. Anyway, if the ad is indeed to notify Akron that he will be participating in an event Saturday, then we can hardly criticize James for that.
There is a bit of problem though. While James thanked the city of Akron, he made no mention of Cleveland. Is he obligated to thank the city of Cleveland? No, although it would be nice after the nationally televised slap in the face. The ad also appeared in an Akron newspaper, so it only seems natural James would address Akron and not Cleveland.
The problem lies in the fact that many have interpreted this ad to be another shot at Cleveland. Rather than thank the city in which he played, he thanks his hometown, and leaves Cleveland out to dry--again. However, it should be noted James didn't mention Cleveland at all, so any perceived jab at the city is the result of the reader's interpretation.
I'm not going to speculate about James' motives, but I will say that this was bad timing, and once again, over the top. Does this guy not know how to make announcements in a normal way?
My first instinct was to think James was trying to taunt Cleveland with this ad. He didn't appreciate the way Cleveland has reacted to his decision, so he decided to disrespect them in a round-about way. But then I remembered the type of people who have been advising him.
It's conceivable to think that this was a simple thank you to the city of Akron, and had nothing to do with Cleveland. However, anyone in the right mind would realize that thanking Akron and refusing to acknowledge Cleveland, especially considering the circumstances, wouldn't come off well.
But we all thought "The Decision" wouldn't make James look good, right? James' advisers let him go through with that, so why should it be a surprise that they left him go through with this letter?
Amazingly, James was starting to catch a break because of the way Cavs owner Dan Gilbert reacted to his departure. People criticized Gilbert's letter for being immature and unprofessional. He also surely hurt the Cavs chances of landing a prized free agent in the near future, if this is how he plans to react if and when they leave.
I think people were starting to realize that James being a free agent meant just that. He was free to make whichever decision he wanted. Although the anger that came with his decision to leave Cleveland was warranted, the fact that he did was his decision, and his alone.
My recommendation to LeBron would be to leave all things Ohio alone for a while. Whether it be his opinion on the Buckeyes or a charity event he's participating in, let those things be known in the quietest way possible. James has already dug himself into a hole he can't climb out of. Anything he does or says Ohio-related will be perceived as a shot towards the Cavs and the city of Cleveland.
He'll have the opportunity to visit Cleveland on December 2nd. On that date, he can let his play do the talking.

Lakers Sign Matt Barnes

The World Champion Los Angeles Lakers strike again, as they signed forward Matt Barnes to a 2 year deal worth 3.6 million Tuesday. Barnes had originally agreed to a significantly more lucrative deal with the Toronto Raptors but the Raptors did not have the funds they originally agreed to. Barnes's deal with the Raptors was reported to be a 2 years worth roughly 9 million. Toronto had already spent the bulk of their available money to sign forward Linas Kleiza.
The addition of Barnes further strengthens a Lakers team that was already a favorite to make their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.
Barnes will be particularly useful in challenging the combination of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade defensively. The Lakers already had two capable defenders in Bryant and Artest, but Barnes could potentially give Bryant a rest on the defensive end.
With the match up nightmares the Heat are sure to create, it wouldn't be surprising to see Bryant moved to point guard, while Artest and Barnes lock down on James and Wade. Freeing Bryant from the burden of guarding one of the premier players in the league for 40 minutes a night in a long series would only help his offensive game.

The signing of Barnes will most likely end Shannon Brown's time in LA. Brown opted out of the last year of his 2 year 4.1 million dollar deal. He was scheduled to make just over 2 million this year but chose to become a free agent to secure a more lucrative deal. Brown expressed interest in staying with LA, but will now have to look elsewhere.
It remains to be seen where Brown will end up, but he likely won't command more than the 2 million he would have made this year. While I don't endorse the idea, Brown to Chicago would be an interesting fit.
He actually played six games for the Bulls in the 2007-08 season after being acquired in a trade with Cleveland. He didn't make a significant contribution then, he spent time in the D-League in fact, but Brown is a different player now. Last year with the Lakers was his first full year in an NBA uniform and the increased playing time elevated his game tremendously.
Brown's suspect defense would most likely not score him any points with new coach Tom Thibodeau, but the energy he could provide off the bench certainly makes the idea worth entertaining. Brown's outside shot would still not be considered good, but it has improved.
He works best when running the floor and driving to the basket. The combination of Watson and Brown off the bench would be fun to watch at the very least. The Bulls could offer him a 2 year contract worth around 6 million, but will probably be looking for either a more defensive minded guard/forward or another three point shooter.

Chris Paul To The Knicks? Sounds Good To Me

I've made no secret about my affinity for the NBA Eastern Conference rivalries developed in the mid 90s. If at all possible I would love to rekindle those memories in today's NBA. This of course, starts with the Bulls, Knicks, Pacers, Heat, and Magic fielding competitive teams. Bulls, Heat, and Magic currently pass the test. Pacers are not and will not be in a position to compete for a while. The only team left is the Knicks. They should be competitive. The NBA hasn't been the same since they were dominant.
They signed prized PF Amar'e Stoudemire this offseason and were hoping to land LeBron James, but we all know how that turned out. At best the current roster could compete for the 8th seed in the East playoffs. And that's a big if. New York's defense looks to be one of the worst in the league, most definitely the worst in the East.
Here comes Chris Paul to save the day. He arrives with his Superman cape that he stole from Dwight Howard. Here to rescue the Knicks from obscurity, lure Carmelo Anthony to New York to form their own Big Three with Stoudemire, and challenge the already despised Heat. Somewhat of a romantic notion, don't you think?
First of all, spare the talk about how the NBA has changed. How back in the day superstars didn't want to team up, blah, blah, blah. I was against it in the beginning too. I'm over it. This is the future of the NBA and team's are best to adapt or get left behind. If someone is firing at you with machine guns, you're not going to run at them with a knife.
Paul spread the rumor about a month ago, at Carmelo Anthony's New York wedding nonetheless, that he has dreamt of playing with Anthony and Stoudemire in New York. On paper this certainly looks like a formidable combination that would have no problem gelling on the floor. The question is with salary cap restrictions, could this even happen? If things fall into place, the answer is yes.
Paul has demanded a trade from New Orleans and has listed the Knicks as his top team of choice. If the Hornets decide to give in to Paul's demands, they'd most definitely want some talent in return. The Knicks don't have much, but New Orleans would most likely target Wilson Chandler and Danilo Galinari. Galinari will make just over 3 million this year with a player option for next year. Chandler will make just over 2 million next year. Add Eddy Curry and his 11 million dollar expiring contract, and you have roughly equal value to the 15 million Paul is scheduled to make next season.
Why would the Hornets agree to such a lopsided deal? To clear salary cap space. Curry, Chandler, and Galinari's contracts all expire after this season, so they could clear them from the books. They also have Peja Stojakovic's 15 million off the books after this season, as well as Darius Songaila's 4 million, and David West is expected to opt out of his contract, clearing another 8 million. This would allow the Hornets to clear almost 45 million leading up to the free agent class of 2011.
They could then start their rebuilding process around their second year point guard they are so high on, Darren Collison. Collison excelled in New Orleans last year filling in for an injured Chris Paul. He averaged 12.4 points and 5.7 assists a game on the season.
By getting a little creative, the Knicks could clear enough space to pursue Anthony during next year's free agency period. Anthony is not guaranteed to be on the market however, he was offered a 3 year 65 million dollar contract extension from Denver that many expect him to sign. The Knicks also have the little problem of Raymond Felton. They signed him this offseason to a 2 year 15.8 million dollar contract to be their point guard.
Someones feelings are going to get hurt. For the sake of competition and mid 90s nostalgia, I hope they're Felton's.

The Winners And Losers of the NBA Free Agency Period

You win some, you lose some, goes the popular saying. This couldn't have held more true than it has in the 2010 NBA free agency period. With all of the major moves completed, and only a few more low profile additions to complete each team's rosters, here are the top 3 winners and losers of free agency so far.

WINNERS

Miami Heat: Anytime a six seed in the playoffs gets eliminated in the first round after five games, and then becomes the Eastern Conference favorite the next year, you know they had a good offseason. "Good" would be an understatement. The Heat pulled off probably the greatest (and most interesting) offseason ever after they signed the top 3 players. In addition, they were able to lock up some nice complementary pieces such as Mike Miller and Udonis Haslem.
It remains to be seen how this team will gel, but they are already winners for a few reasons:
1) They have everybody talking about the NBA during a time where most people aren't talking about the NBA. Excitement for the upcoming season is at an all time high, and the Heat are a big part, if not the main reason for that excitement.
2) They are now the undisputed team to hate, the Yankees of the NBA, if you will. They will sell out even the cities that never sell out. It will be a huge deal when they lose. It will be a huge deal when they win. Anything less than a championship will be a disappointment. That alone will heighten the excitement of next year's playoffs.
Chicago Bulls: They went from one of the biggest losers to one of the biggest winners in a short amount of time. After failing to sign one of the premier free agents, the Bulls used their enormous amount of cap space to sign Carlos Boozer, Kyle Korver, Ronnie Brewer, and CJ Watson, and there's still room for more additions.
While those names aren't as sexy as Miami's, all of their game's complement each other, which is a possible issue in Miami. Chicago was also in a different situation than Miami this offseason. They already had great young players to build around, while Miami was in the middle of an almost complete overhaul. While the Bulls won't be the favorite in the East like the would have if they added one of Miami's pieces, they are still in a great position to compete in the East. They also have a budding superstar in Derrick Rose, that some people still seem unaware of.

Joe Johnson: With all of the big names in the 2010 free agent pool, who would have thought the man to come out with the biggest contract would be Joe Johnson? Johnson signed a 6 year 120 million dollar deal to stay in Atlanta. One can only speculate what was going through their minds when offering Johnson the deal, but it's never a good thing, when nobody, not even Atlanta fans, were happy with the contract.
The only person happy is Johnson. Imagine being a 29 year old shooting guard, heading past the prime of your career and landing a deal like that, despite relatively little playoff success. His contract will surely set back the franchise for future moves, and the present doesn't look too bright either. Most people think the Hawks have already reached their ceiling and with an improved Eastern Conference, are destined for an early playoff exit.
But Joe Johnson got paid, more than anyone, and for that, he came out a huge winner. Even though he won't be winning anything this year.
Honorable mentions go to Richard Jefferson, who got a larger extension that people expected, after he decided to opt out the final year of his deal worth 15 million. And Brad Miller who will be making 5 million a year for the next 3 years.

LOSERS

Small Market Teams: Cleveland, Toronto, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix all lost players to Miami, Chicago, and New York City, all bigger markets. The MLB doesn't operate under a salary cap, so the biggest markets can lure in the biggest players all they want. While it is harder for the NBA to do this because of salary cap restrictions, if this offseason is any indication, all it takes is a little creativity.
Miami simply had to clear enough cap space, and the city pretty much sold itself. Players want to come and play in the big markets because of marketing opportunities, and for a desirable place to live. That part isn't tough to sell, it's just a matter of having the cap space to sign these players. The small market clubs are once again left in the dust by the players they drafted and allowed to make a name for themselves in their city.
New Jersey Nets: The Nets, with their tag team duo of Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov and rap mogul Jay-Z, were supposed to make a big splash in free agency this year. They had enough cap room to offer two max contracts. They also had the two promising young players in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez, as well as the number 3 overall pick that they could have packaged if they wanted to make a deal for a star player.
Like the Bulls, the Nets didn't come up with any of the major free agents, and settled on Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, and drafted Derrick Favors instead. While the Bulls added complementary pieces that could start for them, the Nets added a bunch of players destined to be back ups. They got a steal in Morrow, but overpaid for Outlaw and Farmar.
They did it to themselves though. You can't blame players for not eagerly flocking to a 12 win team.

Xavier Henry: After the sharpshooter out of Kansas was drafted 12th overall by the Grizzlies it already appeared to be a rough road for him. As a shooting guard/small forward hybrid he'd be competing with O.J. Mayo and Rudy Gay for minutes. Gay just signed a huge extension, and Mayo is likely to follow when the time comes. If he wanted any chance of contributing his rookie season, he's have to learn to play the point, a somewhat unfamiliar position to him.
To make matters worse, the Grizzlies have refused to pay him the 120 percent of the rookie salary scale. Almost every lottery pick receives the full 120 percent, which factors out to 2 million dollars in Henry's case. Even if a player doesn't pan out, the team loses little. On the flip side, the player is extremely cost effective should he develop into a great player.
The Grizzlies have offered somewhere between 1.3 and 1.6 million for Henry, with the remaining money coming coming from performance based incentives. While it seems good on paper, Henry obviously isn't happy that he's not getting the guaranteed money that the other rookies are. You can't blame him for that. Unfortunately for Henry, the Grizzlies hold all the cards here. They own his rights up until next year's draft. Henry wouldn't benefit at all from sitting out a year, so he will essentially be forced to agree to their terms.

Changing Landscape of the NBA

The NBA is changing and I don't think for the better. It's becoming a lot like the MLB, and I don't mean that in a good way. There's no salary cap in baseball, meaning teams can sign players for as much money as they want without it counting against them. This is why teams like the Yankees and Red Sox have the best players every year, they can offer more money than anyone else. Neither team is dependent on their farm system because they can afford to sign which ever type of player they feel they need.
The NBA does have a salary cap, which is meant to uphold some sort of competitive balance. Well, all of that went out the window with the signings of Wade, Bosh, and James to Miami. The salary cap was established to award contracts based on performance. In this way, teams would be able to build around one or two stars and surround them with marginal role players.
But when superstar players take less money to play with each other, the point of the salary cap is lost. Competitive balance no longer applies when superstars team up, and good role players take less money to play with them.
Assuming this sparks a new trend, here's the real loser in this shift in paradigm: small market teams.
There's more that goes into free agency than wins and losses, dollars and cents. Players choose teams based off the appeal of the city and the availability of marketing revenue. Both factors are obviously lacking in smaller markets.
Let's take a look back at the 90s for example. In the 1990s, star players were much more likely to stick with the team that drafted them, at least through their prime years. Many star players even spent their entire careers in one city.

Names like Malone, Stockton, Miller, and Robinson all spent their entire careers with one team, in not-so-popular destinations. Take Salt Lake City, Indianapolis, and San Antonio. All small markets, not particularly popular areas to visit, with a lack of marketing opportunities. So how do these places lure free agents?
They don't. The Jazz were lucky enough to draft Malone and Stockton and then build around them. When both guys stayed, other players gravitated there to play with them. If they left, the team was screwed. Fast forward to Salt Lake City modern day. Carlos Boozer is gone, role players like Kyle Korver and most likely Ronnie Brewer are gone. Deron Williams is left by himself and will probably be packing his bags in 2012.
The same formula was true with the Spurs. They had an aging superstar in Robinson, were lucky enough to get the number one pick to draft Duncan, and absolutely stole Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the late first round and second round, respectively. Role players gravitated towards that team.
The point is that neither of these cities, and throw Indianapolis in there too has been able to recruit a high profile free agent to sign with them. Their success has been due draft picks that panned out. If those draft picks decide to leave, they're back to rebuilding.
Herein lies the problem with the "new way of doing things." If draft picks (James, Bosh) sign their rookie deals and then four year extensions, and plan on leaving if the team hasn't won yet, they are creating a very small window of opportunity. Remember, it took Jordan seven years to win a title. Small markets just can get back in the mix with big name free agent signings, losing a player of James or Bosh caliber can set a small marketfranchise back seven to ten years. We're currently seeing this in Minneapolis now that KG is gone.
Just to get it straight the highest profile players this free agency left Cleveland, Toronto, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix to go to Miami, Chicago, and New York. I'm not a travel expert, but something tells me the latter are more desirable places to visit and live. And the whole "taking less money" thing is a joke, the Miami trio will easily make up what they didn't get in contract money with endorsement opportunities.
Is there any hope for the small markets? Just maybe, and his name is Kevin Durant. While all of this was going on, Durant signed a five year extension to stay in, of all places, Oklahoma City. Don't get excited just yet though, once upon a time, LeBron James signed an extension to stay in Cleveland too.

LeBronathon Finally Over

I'm ashamed to say that not too long ago I was obsessed with a girl that, to put it nicely, was not so in to me. However, I neglected all of the signs that pointed towards this and kept my hopes up. She flirted with me every once in a while, invited me to just enough parties, smiled, and so on, just enough that it made me think I had a chance.
Finally, I became fed up with reading into all the signs and decided that I was going to ask her out. I did get one date, which I guess is the equivalent of a meeting with LeBron. Thinking about it, it served the same purpose, gave the illusion that you had a chance.
LeBron made his choice tonight, and as it had been reported since earlier today, he chose the Heat. I had warmed up to the idea by the time of the announcement so it didn't shock me, or anyone really. However, will all the bullshitting and posturing that has went on this offseason, there was part of me that believed the "LeBron to the Heat" rumors were constructed to make him look like the good guy when he chose Cleveland.
That didn't happen so I have to write about the next best thing: How this press conference could have been made better. Let me preface this by stating I understand public relations, so I'm fully aware that none of this could have happened. LeBron had damaged his image enough leading up to the press conference.

Instead of Jim Gray asking the easy questions that LeBron was clearly prepared for, we should have added some better drama to the mix. Gray asking, "Are you a nail biter?" and "You mean you didn't make up your mind until this morning?" don't do it for me.
It should have been designed like the NBA lottery. Have LeBron stand at a podium holding five cards with the Heat, Cavs, Bulls, Knicks, and Nets logos on them. Have Stu Scott or who ever he wanted lead up to the pick, "And LeBron has eliminated...," and he pulls out the Nets card first. Then after that he could the Bulls and Knicks in either order, leaving only the Cavs and Heat.
Then, instead of picking the team he is going to play for he picks the team that he isn't going to play for, thereby softening the blow by not having to announce the Heat. It would be exactly like that great moment at the end of the NBA Draft lottery when it's down to the last two teams. The last team celebrates not by finding out they won, but that the other team lost.
It would be fitting. It seems like this sweepstakes is full of losers.
Here's to being an NBA fan and anticipating how this team will work out. The Bulls fan in me is happier he signed with the Heat rather than the Knicks or even Cavs, but I'll discuss that in a future post. For the time being, let's all be content with a Yankees-like team that we can all hate. Oh, and that the circus is over and we can get back to the real reason we were interested in the first place: we love basketball.

The Decision/ New Big Three

Congratulations, LeBron James. You have officially surpassed Mark Madsen for corniest moment in basketball history. If it sounds like I'm bitter, I'm really not. Of course, I wanted the LeBron-Bosh combo to the Bulls, who wouldn't want the two best players? But let's be honest, this press conference to announce his decision is just too much. The decision will take place tonight at 8 CT on ESPN. Why am I plugging ESPN? I don't know.
While James has been mulling over his future, Kevin Durant signed a 5 year 86 million dollar extension with Oklahoma City, and has now returned to shooting jump shots. It's unfair to compare the two, but to me, they will be the two best players in the NBA for the next 10 years, so a comparison has some merit. One (Durant) cares about the basketball, the other (James) cares about "building his brand," as so many people have put it. That's how much sports have changed, it isn't about winning anymore, and hasn't been for a while.
All indications are that James will sign with the Heat, and join Bosh and Wade in Miami. I'm not sure how to feel about this. First, let's address if it's good for the NBA. That is what I'm concerned about, the NBA. Not a player's "brand."
The answer is yes. This is great for the NBA. Finally the NBA has a villainous team again. The Lakers are not that. Sure people hate Kobe Bryant, but outside of Boston there is no real hatred for the Lakers. They are just a great team, a well oiled machine if you will, it's hard to hate on that. I think people resent the Lakers getting Gasol for essentially nothing more than they hate the team as a whole.
The Heat are now a team that everyone can hate. The three best players in free agency conspired, tweeted, sent smoke signals, lied, etc. through the entire free agency period, all the while knowing it would come to this. This is a blatant attempt by all three players to create a Dream Team. They would all have to take less money in order to play together.  Fans, especially those of the teams that were expected to have a chance at landing any of the three do not appreciate the way this has dragged on. And they shouldn't.

The Heat will now be the most hated team in the NBA, and James the most hated player. Can he deal with being the most hated player in the league? He may already be, but nothing close to the level of hate come next season. As a Bulls fan there is nothing I would love more than to beat this team. The nerve of three great players thinking they can beat five good ones. You don't think Kobe is licking his lips at the possibility of taking this team down?
But most importantly, how will this affect the Heat? They'll have max money tied up in James, Wade, and Bosh, and will have to settle on a bunch of rookies, D-Leaguers, and veteran league minimums to fill out their roster. What if one of the big three gets injured? Can they deal with getting each team's best every night, even after they haven't won anything? Can the big three play 40-45 minutes every night the entire season and playoffs? These are all questions that need to be answered. Depending on how this works out, the Heat may not even be the best team in the East. Key word: TEAM.
The last issue I want to address is the idea of James holding a press conference to announce his decision. Many, including myself, when hearing of the news, assumed that James would be resigning with Cleveland. How could he possibly go on national television and rub it in the face of the city of Cleveland that he is not coming back? Well, it appears that's exactly what he's going to do.
James doesn't owe it to the city to stay. He can do what he wants, just as any player can. What bothers me is the way in which he is going to leave. Spare me the this-is-for-charity-bullshit, this is a completely classless move, one that his image with never recover from.
Miami is one of the most fickle, fair-weathered cities in all of sports. If James does abandon his hometown fans, who have supported him through all of his failures, by the way, he better hope this Miami experiment works out. Otherwise, its him against the world, and I don't think he's built for that.
Two final thoughts: shame on me for assuming LeBron's number change from number 23 meant he was going to Chicago. Miami, bowing to the real king, if you will, retired Jordan's 23 to acknowledge his greatness in beating them for a decade.
Second thought: LeBron's signing with the Heat officially takes him out of the best player of all time contention. The best player wouldn't have fled to a team where he wasn't expected to solely shoulder the burden of the team's success. Jordan wouldn't have done that, Kobe didn't do that post-Shaq. Congratulations are in order once again, LeBron James, you are basketball's version of Alex Rodriguez.

Bad, Bad Contracts

Quickly, name the top five qualities you look for in a person. If you're even half human, you listed "loyalty" as one of those qualities. It appears that the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics have taken their displays of loyalty a little too far. Of course, I'm speaking of the contracts both teams have offered to Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce. Both good players, both not worth the money they are going to be paid.
Johnson has reportedly agreed to a six year 119 million dollar contract to stay with the Hawks. Johnson was one of those guys that I kept hearing was going to get a max contract, but I just couldn't allow myself to believe it. Johnson is 29, and the best player on a middle of the pack team in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks have already proven that they can't advance beyond the second round with Johnson as their best player. In fact, the book on Johnson is that he has historically disappeared in the playoffs. Save from a few baskets, his Hawks career regular season numbers (21.8/4.3/5.6) are pretty similar to his playoff numbers (17.8/4.6/4.2). What concerns fans is his penchant for disappearing during critical stretches of playoff games. Hardly a quality associated with a max level player.
Let's consider the ramifications of Johnson's contract. The Hawks will have roughly 23 million a year tied up in Johnson and Marvin Williams for at least the next three years. Jordan and Pippen? I think not. An intriguing situation will arise when Jamal Crawford's contract is up next year. Do the Hawks let an overpaid back up point guard walk, or do they resign him, unload Bibby's 6 million from the salary cap, and make Crawford the starting point guard? Crawford is 30, but the Hawks have already shown they aren't scared away by age.
The Hawks would have been better off in letting Johnson walk and suffer through a miserable year next season. They'd have plenty of money to offer contract extensions to their two young players, Josh Smith, Al Horford, or both, in addition to a top free agent next year.

If paying 15 million a year to a 29 year old shooting guard isn't smart in my eyes, guess how I feel about paying the same to a 32 year old shooting guard? Paul Pierce has reportedly agreed to a 4 year 61 million dollar deal to resign with the Celtics. To be fair, Johnson and Pierce's situations are different. For one, Pierce will never be criticized for playing poorly in the playoffs. The Celtics are also coming off of a surprising run to the NBA Finals.
The Celtics already have Garnett signed through the next two years, and Rondo for the next four. The contracts of Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis will expire this upcoming year. Both will be due for salary increases, and the Celtics will likely accommodate them. The combination of Garnett, Pierce, Rondo, Perkins, and Davis will likely account for anywhere between 55 and 57 million in 2011after the extensions of Perkins and Davis. This number will eliminate them from being major players in the free agent market.
The question is, would you rather have a declining Paul Pierce in his mid 30s, or a chance at signing Carmelo Anthony during next year's free agent period? Imagine the combination of Rondo, Anthony, and a desperate-for-one-more-ring KG. Instead the Celtics opted for Pierce. Pierce's signing also makes it likely that they will not resign Ray Allen, seeing as they could only offer him about 6 million for next year. He'll get 10 million somewhere else.
Moral of the story: loyalty has its bounds. In a friendship or relationship, loyalty is one of the most important qualities to possess. In the ultra-competitive, cut-throat business of the NBA where teams are expected to contend every year, not so much.