For those of us who so far have had their favorite team's Playoffs end in unhappy fashion (Bulls, Heat, Bobcats, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers), or maybe your team fell short of the Playoffs all together, I figure we may as well look ahead. Next year, our teams that fell short of the ultimate goal this year have another chance. So there is free agency, the draft, and offseason trades for the this year's Playoff exits to become next year's Champions, and this year's lottery to find away into the 2011 post season bracket.
As we all know, this year the free agency class could be used to put together a very stron All Star team. So I wanted to take a look at the teams with cap-space, and see what they've got going for them. All of these teams can offer a maximum contract to an All-Star free agent, these are the PROS and CONS for each team.
Bulls: PROS: 3rd biggest market in the league, Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, 5 trips to Playoffs in last 6 years, historic franchise, 25 year sell-out streak. CONS: New coach most likely coming in, front office sucks, swapping 1st round picks this year with Milwaukee, Chicago is cold during basketball season, MJ's shadow
Nets: PROS: Jay-Z, New York, (most likely) John Wall or Evan Turner, Devin Harris, Brook Lopez, new rich owner CONS: Absolutley no fan base to speak of, moving cities/stadiums twice over next 5 years, one of the worst teams in NBA history last season, no coach.
Heat: PROS: Miami, pop-culture bandwagon fans (people who still like the Heat because Shaq played there), South Beach, Warm, Girls in Bikinis and extrodinairily small shorts, no tax on player salaries, usually in the Playoffs. CONS: Bad in-stadium fan base (stadium isn't filled until midway through the 2nd quarter and the fans start leaving midway through 3rd), even if Wade returns absolutley horrible supporting cast, Michael Beasley
Clippers: PROS: LA, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, lottery pick, weather. CONS: The fact that they are the Clippers, worst front office in sports, terrible fanbase that struggles to fill the stadium, the fact that Kobe is also in LA
Knicks: PROS: New York, major market, terrific (albiet unforgiving) fanbase, they sell out the season virtually every year. CONS: Questionable management, their own All-Star (David Lee) wants out, havn't been to the Playoffs (or even close) since who knows when.
Taking all of that into account, here are my predictions and reasonings as to where the big name stars will land this offseason.
LeBron James: He's staying in Cleveland. Even if Stern wasn't sucking his dick, the Cavaliers would contend for the title this season. I think they have a very good shot to beat whoever comes out of the west should they get to the finals (which they should, especially with the NBA do everything it can to keep Orlando from getting back). If they don't win this year, Cleveland is still LeBron's best chance to win multiple titles.
Dirk Nowitzki: He's staying in Dalls. No way in hell Cuban let's him go for anything short of some remarkable 4 way trade that nets the Mavericks Durant, Bryant, and Howard. I'd be absoltuley shocked if he doesn't retire a Maverick.
Kobe Bryant: He's already re-upped with the Lakers, he's not going anywhere.
Chris Bosh: Chris Bosh, I predict will be signing with the Chicago Bulls. They've made it no secret that he's their number one target, and of all the cap space teams, the Bulls are where he fits best. With Bosh along side Noah, Deng, and Rose, the Bulls will battle Cleveland and Orlando for the East's final spot next year. He has mentioned wanting a sign and trade, in order to get that extra year on his contract, and because of the Bulls' capspace, they could give the Raptors virtually nothing (James Johnson and a draft pick?) for Bosh, and it would actually lessen the blow of signing him outright.
Ray Allen: I see only two possibilities here: he either joins Bosh in Chicago or re-ups with Boston (which is by far the most likely situation). Allen wants to retire a Celtic, and the Celtics know he'll come at a discount. The price tag will make or break him signing with Chicago, as they wont go into a bidding war with Boston. The Celtics already have a good team, and losing Allen would leave a glaring hole at SG. He's more than likely returning to Boston.
Amare Stoudemire: I really see him going to Miami. Look at him...he's got Soth Beach written all over him. And Miami is going to go full-on to bring in a star big man, in order to get Wade to re-sign. Stoudemire will go to the Heat, and...
Dwayne Wade: ...Wade will stay there. Wade (along with Carlos Boozer) is one of the toughest to predict. He's likely to be one of the last free agents to make his decision. He'll wait most of the offseason to see what other moves the Heat make, and if he approves, he'll be back. I really think Stoudemire will go to Miami, and that will keep Wade there as well.
David Lee: Cleveland. They can't offer an absolute maximum contract, but Shaq is coming off the books so they'll be able to offer close to it, or try a sign-and-trade. Lee has no intention of going back to the Knicks (he publicly mentioned the possibility of playing for Chicago over the All-Star break), and the Cavaliers will likely not be bringing O'Neal back. Look for them to add Lee, as well as bringing back Illgauskas.
Shaquille O'Neal: Nets. Ok, hold on, let me explain. The Ego will not be brought back to the Cavaliers, but he is by no means ready to admit he isn't the star he once was. The Nets could potentinally be a 4,5, or 6 seed next year. They'll in all likelyhood be adding John Wall. A starting lineup featuring Wall, Harris, Jianlian, Lopez, and O'Neal isn't half bad. I predict Shaq will be a Net next season.
Carlos Boozer: Knicks. The New York Knicks spent the past three seasons getting ready for this offseason, with the intent of bringing in at least one big name star to lead them, finally, back to the Playoffs and beyond. But I can't see any of the rumors (LeBron, Bosh, Wade) coming true, as these guys don't want to be fighting for an 8th seed over the next decade. New York has the money for a max contract and maybe a sign and trade, but after they sign it they'll have to fill out virtually the entire roster with low-cost players, rookies, and a d-leaguer or two. They will absolutley not allow themselves to come away empty handed, and I see them thowing a max offer at Boozer, who won't be getting it from the Jazz.
Manu Ginobli: He's going to be staying in San Antonio. I can't see him going anywhere else, and the Spurs will give him more than anybody else would.
Joe Johnson: Clippers. The Clippers didn't do more work than the front office wanted to just to come up empty handed, and Johnson fits with them. Johnson want's to win, and with Blake Griffin, Baron Davis, and Eric Gordon, the Clippers are a star away from getting back to the playoffs. Johnson will likely sign a max deal and be the leader for 2 seasons. After those 2 years, Johnson will turn into the #2 behind Griffin. I predict Joe Johnson to the Clippers.
Brad Miller: The former All-Star re-ups with the Bulls to back up Joakim Noah. He'll likely sign a 2-year deal at close to the veteran minimum. The Bulls want him back, and Miller wan't to be back. If my other prediction is correct, Chicago would have one of the best (if not the best) frontcourts in the league with Noah and Bosh starting and Gibson and Miller coming off the bench.
His red hair annoys me.
.
