In returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron James took a maximum salary. But he did not take a maximum contract length. James declined the maximum four-year, $88 million deal available to him as a 10-year veteran and instead signed a two-year, $42.1 million contract with the Cavaliers. The deal has an opt-out clause after next season, which means we could have Decision III as early as a year from now. Does that mean James is hedging his bets on returning home and
It is crystal ball time as NBA free agency is opening, and anybody who tries to predict the future does so at considerable risk given the way things change by the hour in the NBA these days. Just ask Larry Drew. Free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, and the biggest fish that could be caught is Carmelo Anthony. Apologies to LeBron James, but pretty much everyone is convinced he is staying in Miami. One team that has been under the radar
The Cleveland Cavaliers have chosen David Blatt of Maccabi Tel Aviv as their new head coach. They will not be disappointed. I have known Blatt since 2007, when he led the Russian national team to a victory over Spain in Madrid in the gold medal game. I dined with him in Shanghai in 2008 in the prelude to the Beijing Olympics, and our paths crossed again in Istanbul in 2010 when I was covering the world championship. That was when Blatt
The Decision II is upon us. Yes, we have to call it that, because LeBron James has to decide his future — specifically whether or not he will opt out of the final year of his contract, and whether he will stay with the Miami Heat, old contract or new contract. [Read more…]
These are the final 5 Fast Facts of the 2013-14 NBA season. Unfortunately, that also means that Sunday, une 15 was the final day of the 2013-14 NBA season. A brief moment of silence. And we’re back. The San Antonio Spurs capped off what has been one of the most eventful seasons in NBA history by winning an improbable championship. Despite possessing a roster that’s been referred to as too old and the harmful memory of a disappointing 2013 Finals result, the Spurs were the
The legendary and ultra-competitive first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs is a very distant memory. Very distant. The 2014 NBA Finals continued on Thursday, June 12 with the San Antonio Spurs holding a 2-1 series lead over the Miami Heat. With its backs against the wall, Miami looked to take a game at home to even things up before Game 5 heads back to San Antonio. Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action. [Read more…]
You may not have noticed it, but Chris Bosh was perfect from the field in Miami’s Game 3 loss, going 4-for-4. Of course, that is a broad interpretation of the word “perfect” because Bosh only taking four shots is far from ideal. As the Miami Heat reviewed film Wednesday in preparation for Game 4, the need to get Bosh more touches was one of the paramount points. Also, Miami needs to get more efficient production from Mario Chalmers, whose nine assists
The 2014 NBA Finals continued on Tuesday, June 10 with the most lopsided game of the series. Despite entering Game 3 with things tied up at 1-1, one team came out red-hot and the other simply couldn’t compete with their historic offensive attack. Here’s how Game 3 of the 2014 NBA Finals transpired. 1. Kawhi Leonard had his coming-out-party as the San Antonio Spurs went on the road to blow out the Miami Heat 111-92. Leonard finished with a career-high 29 points on 10-of-13