July 1, 2010 marks the beginning of the biggest free agent bonanza the NBA (or any professional league) has ever seen. I’m a fan of the Sixers, so regardless of who goes where, my team will still suck. However, I can’t wait for the final destinations to be determined.
However, let’s face it, this free agent stint is about two players; Dwayne Wade and LeBron James. Yes, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki are impact players, but Bosh will follow D-Wade or LeBron (probably LeBron), Pierce and Dirk are beyond their prime, and Amare and Joe . Johnson are incredible NBA talents without defensive genes. So actually Wade and James are the big rocks thrown into the jar first and everyone else is one of the smaller rocks thrown around it.
From where we are now (36 hours through July 1), the Bulls and Heat are the pioneers in landing the most precious talent in this group of free agents. The most common rumor is that the top three players (Wade, LeBron, Bosh) will join forces in Miami. The common response is “game over,” as in “no one else sniffs an NBA title for the next five to eight years.”
If all three come together in Miami, they will undoubtedly become the most talented team in the league. Having two of the top five players in the league would also make them extremely difficult to eliminate in a seven-game series by playoff time. The only real detriment here is depth. Many have already noted that the Heat would have a difficult time filling out their roster with anything other than an NBA official or undrafted rookies. Others have argued that solid NBA players will gladly accept salary cuts to play with LeBron and Wade. I tend to agree with the latter for two reasons. First, who wouldn’t want to join that team? Neither player is a notorious jerk or lousy teammate, Miami is a nice place and there is no personal income tax (as I heard). Second, a perceived lack of depth wouldn’t matter too much. Bosh, LeBron and Wade are all in their physical best. They can hold great minutes throughout the season; although I very much doubt that it is so. As bad as the Eastern Conference is, reclaiming the home court during the playoffs won’t be too difficult.
That being said, there is a problem. Even though Bosh, James and Wade would be a great team, how long could they keep the best team? I wouldn’t argue much. Sure, they’ll probably win a title, maybe even two, but superstars don’t usually last together. Both Wade and LeBron want to be the ideal man. As ESPN’s Bill Simmons argues, there can be only one alpha dog on any basketball team. Who will claim that role for the Heat? Is it Wade because he’s been in Miami his entire career? Or is it James because he is the “Chosen One”? What if Wade thinks it’s its team and LeBron tries to start it or vice versa? Those who argue against these possibilities because the two played harmoniously together in the 2008 Summer Olympics are ignorant. Both players were there for a common goal and, more importantly, for a defined period of time. Getting off the bench for a month to help his team win a gold medal was an easy decision for Wade. Holding on to another superstar for 9 months out of the year for the next half decade is an entirely different story. Therefore, I am not convinced that they can go beyond one or two titles. After a title, egos will start to grow, the desire to be great will fade, and selfishness will begin. Selfishness leads to disruption and disruption leads to confrontation over team leadership and before you know it, you’re the 2004 Los Angeles Lakers.
So where do I want LeBron and Wade to end up? I’m glad you asked. Here are the top 3 scenarios for how I would like to see the 2010 free agent market, as far as LeBron and Wade go, play (in reverse order):
Scenario 3
LeBron James goes to New York and makes basketball in the Big Apple relevant again for the first time since Patrick Ewing’s flat cap. I’m not a fan of the Knicks. In fact, I hate them, but sports are always more exciting when there is a great market team that we all love to support. I can’t root myself against the Knicks right now. Doing so would be like expecting a second grader to get hit at recess. If LeBron goes to New York and brings one of the other elite free agents with him, the Knicks will immediately become contenders in the Eastern Conference and I can re-root myself against New York with all the disdain I once had for Ewing and John Starks. As a fan of the Sixers, what more could you ask for? (Well, plus my team is making some kind of progress after half a decade of stagnation / regression.)
The three (Bosh, LeBron, Wade) who finish in Miami could also qualify here. It wouldn’t necessarily make the Eastern Conference very competitive, but it would be fascinating to see LeBron and Wade progress or ramble together over the years.
Scenario 2
LeBron James goes to Chicago alongside elite free agent forward X and Chris Bosh and “pretty stinky” free agent X joins Dwyane Wade in Miami. As mentioned above, Bosh is likely to follow LeBron. However, Bosh is the best power forward available and the Heat need talent on the front court. For my own enjoyment, I want Bosh with Wade in Miami. I love this scenario because LeBron joins a very young team in Chicago with an already talented core, and the free agent additions in Miami would hopefully provide Wade with an equally talented group. This would make the Eastern Conference Finals one of the most exciting series in all of sports for years to come. Raise your hand if you don’t want to see LeBron James and Dwyane Wade meet in a seven-game series once a year for the right to advance to the NBA Finals. Someone? Someone? I do not believe it. (I also secretly love this scenario because I personally think Wade is the best player and I would love to see him beat LeBron in a series of seven games annually. By the way, I just added “LeBron” and “Dwyane” to my Microsoft dictionary. Word. That’s how important they are).
Scenario 1
This is by far my favorite scenario, and sadly, also the most unreal. Ok, it is virtually impossible. Imagine this: LeBron, Bosh and Wade have a gentlemen’s agreement to take less money and join forces in Miami. However, just before everything becomes official, LeBron begins to have doubts about sharing the spotlight with Wade and secretly considers going to Chicago. Wade finds out and makes a preemptive strike and signs with the Bulls. (Very, very, very unlikely because Wade publicly insulted the Bulls’ front office, but let me continue.) LeBron is obviously furious and signs with the next best option; a young and talented core in New Jersey. Because neither the Bulls nor the Nets can sign two max contract players, Bosh stays out and signs with Team X (back in the dark, Mr. Bosh). Wade returns to his hometown of Chicago. LeBron finally ends up in Brooklyn. The NBA has two of its most marketable players in two of its most important markets. Even better, LeBron finally begins to take the game more seriously simply to beat Wade, and Wade is always convinced that LeBron is targeting him. (How motivated would LeBron be? Imagine him going toe-to-toe with Delonte West, who allegedly slept with LeBron’s mother, during a seven-game series each year, only Wade doesn’t suck and he doesn’t have West’s creepy facial hair. ). (and this is my favorite part), the NBA has two super dumb stars who no longer like each other. No more friendly handshakes before big games. No more kissing quotes from each other to the media. No sir. I’m all for peace and friendship, but I think we need a bit of animosity in the NBA. Due to their feud, the Nets and Bulls evolve as the league’s most heated rivalry, with LeBron and Wade fueling the fire. Every spring they give us an Eastern Conference final between two incredible players who don’t get along. Triple double-doubles, insults through the media, and legendary performances as LeBron and Wade go title by title for the next half decade? Yes please! Will it happen? No, but tell me, wouldn’t that be the most surprising result of NBA Free Agent Bonanza 2010? You can not.