There is no time to waste after the NBA Finals. Despite the brilliance of the San Antonio Spurs, just minutes after the NBA Finals concluded Sunday night began the talk of the Decision II. To credit the NBA, the league has always done a marvelous job of trimming the fat. The NBA draft is just eight days away, with free agency beginning just a week after that. There’s no time to waste, and thus never a shortage of headlines. Well, until
LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade entered the league as four of the top five selections in the 2003 NBA Draft. Now, 11 years later, they all could join forces in South Beach. With rumors swirling about a possible alliance in Miami, Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher will reportedly meet with Anthony this weekend to discuss the player option on his contract and how he can be a fit in the triangle offense with the Knicks going forward. Can Jackson
Dwyane Wade is going to the Hall of Fame. Long before LeBron James took his talents to South Beach, Wade had won a title with the Miami Heat, virtually by himself. He is a multiple NBA champion, perennial All-Star and Olympic gold medalist. He even won a scoring title. Wade is an icon in Miami. And that is a problem for the Heat. Because over the last couple of years, it has become evident that Wade is no longer a superstar. And he
Lance Stephenson is a free agent enigma and a polarizing topic amongst league executives. Stephenson, a tantalizing talent who led the league in triple-doubles (5), showed signs of immaturity during the playoffs with his antics toward LeBron James, leaving several executives split on his free agency value. The general consensus is Stephenson could command a yearly salary ranging from the $5.3 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception to as high as $10 million. The mid-level exception indicates concern over Stephenson’s maturity level, while the $10
Fans in Cleveland are willing to forgive and forget. OK, maybe not forget. But they will forgive. And that is why this year’s NBA Finals will be watched extra closely in northeast Ohio, with Cavs fans hoping that a failure to win a third straight title will give the Cavaliers a chance at re-signing LeBron James when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. If the Heat win, nobody expects any of their Big Three to leave — especially when they
Like most people, I was a skeptic during the season when folks talked about LeBron James returning to the Cavs next season after he opts out of his contract with Miami and becomes an unrestricted free agent. It just seemed too absurd of a notion. But I am starting to believe that the possibility exists, however remote. Just for kicks, let’s throw out a few “What ifs …” What if the Miami Heat lose to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals? Or
Isaiah Thomas entered the league as “Mr. Irrelevant” after being selected 60th overall in the 2011 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings. In his third season, he’s now become a candidate for the league’s Most Improved Player award (although colleague Kels Dayton seems to disagree). Thomas’ breakout season couldn’t have come at a better time with restricted free agency looming this summer. With that in mind, Thomas and I discussed his development, Sacramento’s new culture and his free agency plans in an
The NBA holiday shopping season is upon us a little early this year. It usually starts December 15, the first day players who were signed in the offseason become eligible to be traded. But after seeing Rudy Gay’s immovable contract somehow sent from Toronto to Sacramento, it is clear that shopping season is under way. Come next Sunday, NBA general managers will have increased flexibility when looking to improve their rosters, which was Kings GM Pete D’Alessandro’s approach in acquiring Gay, or their payroll,