NBA Free Agency 2010

The NBA free agency frenzy has officially begun, promising to alter the course of the NBA for the next decade. After much analysis, here are some predictions about where this year’s top players will end up.

2010-07-07

The NBA free agency frenzy has officially begun, promising to alter the course of the NBA for the next decade. After much analysis, here are some predictions about where this year’s top players will end up.

LeBron James- Whatever James decides, it will ultimately cause a huge ripple effect. He has saved his last two free agent visits for what are likely his top two candidates: Cleveland and Chicago. It’ll be a very tough decision but in the end, I see another heartbreak for Cleveland’s sports fans as James signs with the Bulls. They simply give him a better opportunity to win championships. It also doesn’t hurt that he’d be able to play in the same place as his idol, Michael Jordan.

Chris Bosh- Bosh won’t be going back to Toronto so it will be intriguing to see if he tries to leverage a sign-and-trade in order to maximize his earning potential. Bosh’s Toronto teams never did very well so he’s going to want to go to a team that has excellent pieces in place to support him and ultimately challenge for a championship. Look for Bosh to follow James to Chicago and reap the benefits of an extremely talented nucleus already in place.

Dwyane Wade- Don’t be fooled by these meetings with other teams; Wade will be returning to Miami. After trying to pull off a coup and bring James and Bosh to Miami (which will ultimately be unsuccessful) Wade will continue to actively recruit other free agents to help Miami return to their championship ways of 2006.

Dirk Nowitzki- This is another player who, barring unforeseen circumstances, will return to his former team. Nowitzki has an outstanding relationship with owner Mark Cuban and the city of Dallas and merely opted out of his contract so he could maximize his earning potential. Nevertheless, Nowitzki is likely pleading with Cuban to make a splash in free agency and push Dallas over the top after past postseason shortcomings. They won’t be able to pull off a sign-and-trade for James, a player Cuban covets, but in a class as deep as this one there are many other possibilities.

Amare Stoudemire- Stoudemire’s choice will ultimately come down to Phoenix and Miami. Although he has enjoyed great success in Phoenix’s system, rumor has it that negotiations have stalled. It can’t help that Steve Nash in aging and this team’s championship window appears to be closing. Although not Miami’s first choice for an interior player, negotiations will heat up after James and Bosh sign in Chicago. It may take a while but Stoudemire will ultimately sign with Miami after seeing the benefits to forming an inside-outide duo with Wade in South Beach.

Joe Johnson- Johnson is another one of those players whose free agency is complicated by other elite free agents. Although an outstanding player and likely maximum contract recipient, he lags behind James at his position and is looked at as a plan B for many teams. He has already been offered a maximum contract by Atlanta and their interest in him is unequivocal. However, after years of playing on mediocre teams, the guess is he’ll ultimately opt for a change of scenery. The Knicks have already spoken with him and appear to have their sights firmly set on him if (and when) James gets away. The lure of a new venue and playing in the glitzy New York market will be too much for any other team to overcome in the Joe Johnson sweepstakes.

David Lee- Lee is one of the most underrated players in the NBA and has been a pillar of consistency for the Knicks during turbulent times. He will get many looks from other teams, likely including the New Jersey Nets, but the Knicks will ultimately view him as too valuable to let go. He’d get much more help with the addition of Johnson.

Carlos Boozer- Boozer has been a very consistent, rugged player for the Jazz but it appears that they aren’t willing to pay the contract he’ll command and are content with letting Paul Milsap take his spot at power forward. Boozer could truly end up anywhere, potentially in a sign-and-trade. Rumors are starting to grow that this will indeed be what happens, with Boozer going to Orlando and the Jazz receiving compensation. The Eastern Conference is going to be rapidly improved next year and the Magic need to keep up in the arms race. Boozer would help them achieve this and would give Dwight Howard excellent help on the interior. Are you getting ready for the upcoming NBA season? With so many players moving around NBA betting will be more exciting than ever. Head over to www.sportsbook.com the home of NBA betting.

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