A little more than a week ago, even as Chris Sheridan assured me LeBron James was going back to Cleveland, I dismissed his assurances and wrote a column saying the exact opposite. How could James leave a situation with a guaranteed berth in the Eastern Conference Finals – at worst? How could he play for an owner who called him a coward and a traitor? How could he play for a coach who had never coached in the NBA and who he had
Yes, there are still free agents out there and teams still have slots to fill. But most of the big names are gone, and most of the contenders are done reloading, retooling or rebuilding for the 2014-15 season. With that in mind, here is another edition of the Three-Man Weave, looking specifically at the balance of power in the Eastern Conference and how it has shifted. 1. Which team is the favorite in the Eastern Conference? [Read more…]
As NBA free agency dominated the weekend with several big headlines — see LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh — and a avalanche of new signings, teams are now getting down to the nitty gritty of available players and are even looking at which players they can clear off the roster. That brings us to the curious case of Carlos Boozer and the Chicago Bulls. [Read more…]
LeBron James decision to move back home, rejoining the Cleveland Cavaliers, is less than a week old. And, yet, it is old news. At the time of James’ decision, there was ample speculation that Ray Allen would surely put off retirement to play in King James’ court, and he may yet decide to play, though there has been no decision as of yet. However, former Heat teammate Mike Miller, who—against James’ wishes—was annexed prior to last season via the amnesty provision as
Carlos Boozer was amnestied today by the Chicago Bulls, allowing them to clear the cap space to bring in their newest additions, Nikola Mirotic and Pau Gasol. They were in the mix for Carmelo Anthony, but the New York Knicks were able to pay him $50 million more than the Bulls could offer, which is a lot of scratch. No matter, the Bulls have emerged as a favorite to be the best team in the Eastern Conference, especially if the Pacers do
LAS VEGAS- Shabazz Napier has a set of skills you all know about; the slick handle, the pick-your-pocket defense and the winning pedigree with UConn’s national championship in April as Napier’s collegiate capstone. The other skills he needs to pick up as his rookie season approaches will help determine how well the Miami Heat can fare in South Florida’s post-LeBron James era. With James gone, Napier is now a much more important part of the team than Miami management imagined. [Read
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
One of my good friends in the business is Jay Mariotti, who I first met when I was covering Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls as they were beginning their second three-peat. He and I have both been first-hand witnesses to some of the most magical moments in basketball history, and as we come to the end of this work week and pause a moment to reflect on what we have just witnessed, a day that a lot of us will