"Miami, Why?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kTdnF2chzg&feature=related





COME ON............ ARE THEY SERIOUS???????????  WIN A RING FIRST... THEN ACT LIKE THE BLUE MAN CREW AND HAVE YOUR VERSION OF "THE VIEW".  I GUESS BOSH FITS ON THE SHOW WITH HIS FREAKISH LOOKING WAYS........

"Chris Duhon signs with Orlando Magic"

No.  This is not "breaking" news to everyone out there.  He's a solid point-guard in the NBA that has proven he can be a viable veteran backup PG on a winning team for sure.  Orlando decided to cash in on his improved 3pt shot and ability to run an offense.  He would help Dwight get the ball as well as Jameer.  Jameer is still the better scorer, but as a backup it's a great pickup.  Thought I would post this real quick.

SOURCE:  NBA TV ANNOUNCERS + NBA NEWS HEADLINES TICKER

Contract:  $15 million over 4 years reportedly

"The 2010 Free Agency BoNaNzA - July 6th"

The big 3 right...  

So we are experiencing this 2010 Free Agency people have talked about for literally not just 1 year, but teams that have almost planned for this time beginning 2 years ago.  Lebron is still doing his thang', I mean he is Lebron and would never just sign right away without letting the public waste their time trying to figure out exactly where he ends up... Cleveland maybe, but this big3 not signing yet is interesting....

Joe Johnson is no longer a candidate when talking about those elite wing players, as he has signed the MAX deal with his beloved "good but not great" Atlanta Hawks for a reportedly $119 million over 6 years.  His commitment to Atlanta seems to be a good thing, as it has stirred up some rumblings of Shaq possibly intrigued of going to Atlanta... this could result in Horford sliding to PF where he belongs, and Josh Smith out of place unless he can become a 6th man which is unlikely (personally I'd trade him) though they will likely start him at PF if they don't trade him.  

Amare Stoudemire has just signed a huge deal with the Knicks, assumed to be $100 million over 5 years, coming out to that beautiful, yet disgustingly overpaid sound of $20 million per year.  It's almost ironic: he's so one dimensional in scoring and rebounding, it was exposed in the playoffs, but teams don't care and D'Antoni and Amare are back together, hopefully luring Lebron or Wade or hell, even Bosh over....

When it comes to great wing players, the Kobes, the Lebrons, the Dwayne Wades, they are a rare commodity.  Even that next tier of guard or forward that is not quite their level but still a near or a all-star caliber player that is worth that $10 million a year (still a buttload) but that's not quite max-level money....

John Salmons is a great example.  Traded to Milwaukee last season he scored 20ppg for them and helped lead them to the playoffs and a solid 7 game series against the Atlanta Hawks.  He used his Player Option (PO) to Opt Out of his $5.8 million final year of his old deal and re-signed with the Bucks for an extremely respectable 5 years $39 million.  The Bucks weren't done, and likely are not done, as they signed Drew Gooden a 5 year, $32 million deal. That's roughly $8 million a year and what I call that "2nd tier wing-man".  There are not a ton of them either, and that is why they can make this much money.  

Rudy Gay signed an extension with the Memphis Grizzlies (who traded for him on draft night 4 years ago) and is going to make a weak $81.6 million over 5 years contract.  Not bad for a 24 year old signing his first big contract... (or way too extreme, but I think everyone in the NBA is on a scale making way to much.... greedy, but I'll get over myself).  Rudy is happy with his setting with young OJ Mayo balling along with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley Jr.  They were a borderline playoff team till the last 10 games or so.

Those were the solid young player signings that have been huge so far, with far more to come.  Many other veteran extensions and the likes have been confirmed, but I'll give my info on them as I go.  I can't forget to bring up the EXTREMELY solid signing of Steve Blake to the Los Angeles Lakers for 4 years and 16 million.  Talk about that one PG that always plays on winning teams... Denver, to Portland, to LA.... Lakers!  The guy is the definition of professional veteran and the guy is a perfect fit for the triangle.  He shoots the 3 at an incredible rate, while also still has ingrained those PG skills and is always on the Top 10 of assists:turnover ratio (that's a good thing, hah).  It shows he's smart, he'll shoot the right shots and pass when needed.  Solid pick LA.  And remember, these are all just amounts, assuming the Lakers FUll MLE is most likely what the souce will be.  But, it is possible the Clippers sign Blake to the same contract with their space and trade him to the Lakers for Shannon Brown, and this would then FREE UP THE FULL MLE for the Lakers to use.  That would be a HUGE piece right there, and is roughly 5 years and 34 million dollars or somewhere in that ballpark.

With big-men, sometimes they get paid just for being big.  

Speaking of overpaid big-men:  Samuel Dalembert(also has a trade kicker that turns his $11 million this year into like $13 mil) was traded to the Kings for Spencer Hawes (the young UW product and face-up big, with some post-game) along with veteran (and contract) Andres Nocioni, who can only bring positive energy to the locker room.  With Drue Holiday and Evan Turner playing solid in summer league action, this Philly franchise could pull another trade off that really puts them in a good position to be a playoff contender and legit matchup with such quick young guards in Drue Holiday, Lou Williams, and Evan Turner, and then the amazing forwards in Andre Igguodala and Thaddeus Young, and of course PF/C Elton Brand is still not done people... he's still a solid player when healthy.  

Now let me remember the veterans that cashed in huuuuuuge. Cuban signed Dirk Nowitzki to a 4 year deal worth at least $80 million.  Can't say that's bad for a 31 year old? And of course the player that I like lease most on this planet, Paul Pierce signs a 4 year, $61 million deal. I'm sure he's worth that $15 million in years 3 and 4 of the contract....  as long as he isn't in a wheelchair I'm good.  


That keeps up pretty up to date on the huge signings that have happened so far.  Here are the few others and my quick response:

• -Phoenix Suns sign Hakim Warrick to a 4 year deal worth $18 million.
• -Phoenix suns sign Channing Frye to a 5 year, $30 million deal.

*(Why is it that I feel like Frye is barely worth more than Warrick?  I guess if your tall and shoot 3's you can make $6 million a year.  Smart by Frye, to sign a PO contract last year and leave to Phoenix.  Good fit too.  They overpaid him by $2 million a year in my opinion.  Hakim Warrick on the other hand I would say is a fair deal... he doesn't bring a ton, always flashes of skillful play but in reality is just a backup PF for them to come in and play 20mpg probably.  I would pay the guy $15 mil for 4 years, but that's why he's not on my team.

• -Minnesota Timberwolves sign Darko Milicic a 4 year, $20 million deal.

Almost the worse signing, except he's proven to us he can play at the NBA level.  He's not by any means going to be a great center, but he is a 7' footer that has some touch at the rim and has learned to block shots recently.  I laughed at first, but Darko at a $5 mil a year price tag isn't that bad, not when you see the next one....

• -Toronto Raptors sign Amir Johnson a 5 year, $34 million deal.

This, to me, is possibly the WORST SIGNING of the free agency so far.  Amir Johnson has not proven to be a good serviceable backup PF/C yet, and he is now making $7 million dollars a year.  To be BIG and improve hopefully.  Toronto, you wasted your MLE.  He's an average player.  What's wrong with you guys.

LEBRON? WADE? BOSH?  The big 3 are still weighing their options.  Remember that these guys are apart of each others networks and even had a meeting to discuss their futures in the NBA.  Maybe they don't want to go stack one team... it will hurt their stats, and possibly legacy as a player.  People might say "Lebron couldn't win a championship without 2 marquee superstuds" if he were to say sign in Miami after they somehow could get Bosh then him then re-sign Wade and veterans.  Dangerous.


What will come?  I could make predictions so I look stupid... of course I want to do them now! Let's see.  Here are a couple situations that I think could arise....

• -Joshfarc's thoughts:  It will be a slow process for the Big 3.  Some teams will get sketchy and sign other players to contracts out of angst possibly.  
• Lebron I think will ultimately end up as a Cav... though I do wish he would just go to the CLIPPERS (the ultimate WCF would be LA vs LA, haha).  
• Bosh I know will leave, likely sign-n-trade, and I see him landing with Chicago Bulls.
• Wade... could sign with the Bulls if they can make some trades for Bosh work and have 20mil left (very possibly for them).  Ultimately I see Wade possibly going to New York... the guy models all the time, he likes the limelight, he would be perfect their with Stat at Center.  Wade's 3 pointer will only improve from it's mediocrity, but he would love D'Antoni I bet.  Or the Heat just sign a few of those 2nd tier guys, and then re-sign Wade.
• Mike Miller is considered a legit SG/SF for a good reason,  he can put up 18ppg, 4apg, 7rpg, and shoot lights out.  He will sign a bigger than MLE contract for the Knicks possibly, though other teams may be after him if its just the MLE level.

That's it for now.  Hope you guys enjoyed the week in review.  Soon we will have to just break down team's and see what it looks like they are trying to do. I mean last I read the Hawks had Shaq very interested, and with brand new GM and Coach you have a new system, one that might think some size would help JJ and Crawford out.  Maybe Josh Smith's athleticism is overrated and they need to pound the boards at PF and C, and go more traditional post-up game with a Horford / Shaq front-court, Marvin Williams at SF, and Bibby, JJohnson, and Crawford rotating the guard spots.  

Till next time, joshfarc out!