The NBA Thread

[InOffMeLeftShin]

The Bulls signed Carlos Boozer, good signing for them.
Chris Bosh has joined Dwayne Wade and signed for Miami Heat, they are going to be awesome next season especially if they can persuade Lebron to join them. We find out at 2am in the morning where he decides to sign.

They only have 4 players under contract right now though and they are looking to get rid of one of those. It is looking increasingly likely that they will get LeBron and the 3 of them with Mario Chalmers will be good enough to make top 3 in the East. But they would still have to fill a roster with 6 minimum contracts and unless they can find good players (maybe older) who are willing to play for practically nothing they will have to cope with a pretty weak supporting cast. They don't have a C either which means that Bosh might have to slot in there is a quasi-C half the time, which he doesn't like.

I am not sure it is the best move for LeBron, he would be joining Wade's team where he is already the fan favourite. The team would be very unbalanced and thin despite those 3 and that would be locked in for years with them unlikely to be getting too many decent draft picks. Of course they would instantly be one of the best, but THE best, I am not so sure. Some of those other teams just have so much depth and quality throughout. Talk of Orlando adding Chris Paul would make them even better too.

I still think for LeBron, New York is the best fit. The biggest player in the biggest market and he could fall into a pretty sweet unit on court in a style of basketball which he would be electric in. LeBron, Amare, Parker and Gallinari would be a great core group and they have a few bits and pieces players around that with a few million left in the bank to add some decent bench players.

Actually the Knicks could wind up being a good side anyway even if they don't get LeBron. They can still do the Curry/Douglas for Parker trade with San Antonio and they can then sign Lee to a sign and trade meaning Lee can get a move to just about any side and New York can fill some roles. They would still have space to add more.

 

[RoyalFlush]

How the hell have the Heat got enough cap space to afford Wade, Bosh AND Lebron?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

How the hell have the Heat got enough cap space to afford Wade, Bosh AND Lebron?

They only have Wade, Chalmers and Beasley under contract for the next year. They are trying to shift Beasley. Cap is at $58m, max contract is something like $18m, so they have the space to get 3 of them. The rest of the team will be crap unless they can persuade people to play for minimum just to play with those 3 guys. Bosh isn't that good anyway and Wade could easily get hurt again powering in against guys much bigger than him. I just don't think they will win even with those 3.

Actually I like the look of Chicago for LeBron more.

 

[cwy21]

Lebron joins the Heat.

Poor Cleveland.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Hmmm, I don't like it. I mean to say that he has the best chance of winning in Miami because he is playing with Wade and Bosh is one thing if they had support. But they don't, so they must be pretty confident in their own abilities to think they are automatic contenders. I mean Bosh isn't actually that good, Miami doesn't have a big man and he may have to play there and he is going to get mauled by Howard.

Unless, and this is a big question, they decided to take less money and give Miami more room to bring some other players in. If it was all about winning that is what they would do, but what is the betting that they are all taking max contracts? It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. They will destroy some teams, but I don't think if they take max. and get crap support they can win it.

 

[DFF]

I see a Heat ST in my future. Awesome!

 

[cwy21]

Lakers are winning titles not just because they have Kobe and Gasol, but they have a bench. 3 players can't win a title. They can win 55 to 60 games in the regular season, but they can't win a title.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Lakers are winning titles not just because they have Kobe and Gasol, but they have a bench. 3 players can't win a title. They can win 55 to 60 games in the regular season, but they can't win a title.

This. They will win 60 games and look good doing it, but when they have 3 players and they all have to play 40-44 minutes every game because there isn't a single reasonable bench player then they will suffer come the playoffs. People are comparing it to the big 3 in Boston and whilst the 3 in Miami are better (although Bosh is not KG) you have to remember all the support players that Boston have had with those 3 including a 4th player Rondo, who is miles better than anything Miami are going to add.

I see them losing to Boston or Orlando in the East. They won't make the NBA finals (as it stands, but they have already traded away Beasley to clear some more space and give them a little flexibility to sign a player or two, they need outside shooters and a big man that can just defend)

 

[MrWoolley]

Interesting. Any other major draft news? I do like reading the opinions on here

 

[RoyalFlush]

Unless, and this is a big question, they decided to take less money and give Miami more room to bring some other players in. If it was all about winning that is what they would do, but what is the betting that they are all taking max contracts? It'll be interesting to see how it turns out. They will destroy some teams, but I don't think if they take max. and get crap support they can win it.

Lebron left $30million on the table to join the Heat, so he's not on a max contract there, and it gives the Heat a chance to sign vets for the minimum allowed. But yeah, I don't like this move either. Chalmers is not Rondo, and as much as I liked Bosh at Toronto, I think his role in the Heat's system is uncertain. If they don't acquire a big man, (Shaq maybe?) he will definately get 'boshed' around by Howard in the playoffs.

IMO he was better off going to Chicago. They just signed Boozer and already have a good supporting cast which was able to make a serious run if Lebron signed. Not to mention that everyone in Cleveland is calling for his head now, including the Cavs owner: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ak_LXnLwzjhK7vBO1Hm5Iom8vLYF?slug=ys-gilbertletter070810

 

[MrWoolley]

:lol: What a letter!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Lebron left $30million on the table to join the Heat, so he's not on a max contract there, and it gives the Heat a chance to sign vets for the minimum allowed. But yeah, I don't like this move either. Chalmers is not Rondo, and as much as I liked Bosh at Toronto, I think his role in the Heat's system is uncertain. If they don't acquire a big man, (Shaq maybe?) he will definately get 'boshed' around by Howard in the playoffs.

IMO he was better off going to Chicago. They just signed Boozer and already have a good supporting cast which was able to make a serious run if Lebron signed. Not to mention that everyone in Cleveland is calling for his head now, including the Cavs owner: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ak_LXnLwzjhK7vBO1Hm5Iom8vLYF?slug=ys-gilbertletter070810

Has he actually taken $30m less at Miami compared to what they could have offered him? I haven't found anything related to that. Moving to Miami the max. he can take is $30m less than he could have taken in Cleveland because he can only get a 5 year contract compared to 6, but that doesn't help Miami. If he, Wade and Bosh all took $2m less a year (let's be honest they are going to get crazy amounts in endorsements together) then that would leave another $6m a year. That is enough to sign a mid-level exception player like Mike Miller who would be a huge addition as an outside shooter. He'd get so much freedom playing with those 3 and is almost shooting .500 3 point.

They could always sign players to minimum contracts anyway, regardless of the space they have. It is just a case of finding players to play for minimum. Maybe Shaq would do it (just so he can win in Miami and have as many rings as Kobe) and that would at least give them the size to defend against bigs and allow Bosh to play PF. They would be much better balanced adding those two and having a 6 man core (James, Wade, Bosh, O'Neal, Miller, Chalmers).

Edit: As I write this I check ESPN and see that Miller has agreed to join Miami for $30m over 5 years (the money saved from the contract of Beasley). They work faster than my brain, but that is a huge addition for them. I wasn't sure they would be able to do that, but that is pretty damn significant. He is not a min. contract space filler like people imagined would be filling the rest of the roster.

 

[RoyalFlush]

Has he actually taken $30m less at Miami compared to what they could have offered him? I haven't found anything related to that. Moving to Miami the max. he can take is $30m less than he could have taken in Cleveland because he can only get a 5 year contract compared to 6, but that doesn't help Miami. If he, Wade and Bosh all took $2m less a year (let's be honest they are going to get crazy amounts in endorsements together) then that would leave another $6m a year. That is enough to sign a mid-level exception player like Mike Miller who would be a huge addition as an outside shooter. He'd get so much freedom playing with those 3 and is almost shooting .500 3 point.

They could always sign players to minimum contracts anyway, regardless of the space they have. It is just a case of finding players to play for minimum. Maybe Shaq would do it (just so he can win in Miami and have as many rings as Kobe) and that would at least give them the size to defend against bigs and allow Bosh to play PF. They would be much better balanced adding those two and having a 6 man core (James, Wade, Bosh, O'Neal, Miller, Chalmers).

Edit: As I write this I check ESPN and see that Miller has agreed to join Miami for $30m over 5 years (the money saved from the contract of Beasley). They work faster than my brain, but that is a huge addition for them. I wasn't sure they would be able to do that, but that is pretty damn significant. He is not a min. contract space filler like people imagined would be filling the rest of the roster.

Yeah by $30 million left on table I was implying he signed a shorter contract, my bad. That 6 man core looks pretty solid in fairness and good luck to them if they can pull it off. Being a Magic fan I'm slightly worried that they will take over the East, but IMO they'll need another off-season at least to put all the pieces together before they win a championship.

Also where did you read up on Miller? I've checked ESPN and Yahoo and I can't find anything underneath the headlines about a done deal for Miller. I've heard they are interested but nothing concrete has come up?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Yeah by $30 million left on table I was implying he signed a shorter contract, my bad. That 6 man core looks pretty solid in fairness and good luck to them if they can pull it off. Being a Magic fan I'm slightly worried that they will take over the East, but IMO they'll need another off-season at least to put all the pieces together before they win a championship.

Also where did you read up on Miller? I've checked ESPN and Yahoo and I can't find anything underneath the headlines about a done deal for Miller. I've heard they are interested but nothing concrete has come up?

Yes sorry I found it through a link on ESPN, doesn't seem to have been confirmed yet though. Here is the link:

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-michael-beasley-s070810,0,6830775.story

It would be a very important addition for them. There are suggestions like Iverson and Shaq going there for the minimum.

 

[kishman]

Wow, Wade, Bosh and James in the same team, unbelievable. I was watching Larry King, and some guys were saying that James has ruined the NBA by joining Miami Heat as he thinks they'll be unstoppable and win the NBA for the next 5 years. But as mentioned before 3 men can;t win you the NBA.

 

[Coolpudge]

Lebron joins the Heat.

Poor Cleveland.

So LeBron's motto for life is if you can't beat them, join them.

I don't think the Heat will win the east, overall Celtics and Magic will have a stronger bench and overall better team. If they do I don't see them beating the Lakers either, especially with Phil coming back.

Did anybody see the reaction of people in the bars in Miami and Cleveland ?

 

[kishman]

So LeBron's motto for life is if you can't beat them, join them.

I don't think the Heat will win the east, overall Celtics and Magic will have a stronger bench and overall better team. If they do I don't see them beating the Lakers either, especially with Phil coming back.

Did anybody see the reaction of people in the bars in Miami and Cleveland ?

Incredible wasn't it. I would've love to have been a Miami Heat fan at the time. Not so much Cavs fan.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

So LeBron's motto for life is if you can't beat them, join them.

I don't think the Heat will win the east, overall Celtics and Magic will have a stronger bench and overall better team. If they do I don't see them beating the Lakers either, especially with Phil coming back.

Did anybody see the reaction of people in the bars in Miami and Cleveland ?

I wouldn't bet on the Heat not having a decent bench. All the talk was that they would only be able to min. contract nobody's in to join the big 3, but that won't happen now. The salary cap is $2m higher than was expected at $58.04m and whilst LeBron, Wade and Bosh could have signed max. contracts at $16.8m they didn't. Bosh and LeBron signed for $14.5m and Wade signed for $14m. They got rid of Beasley's $4.9m contract trading him to the Wolves. The only other player currently on the roster is Mario Chalmers who will make $850K.

So some quick maths shows that they have $14.3m space to get some players in (rather than the $0.5m that was expected with Beasley there, the 3 on max contracts and a $56m cap limit).

Mike Miller has almost signed, which gives them one of the best perimeter shooters in the NBA, who will get so much space while the big 3 are occupied that he might shoot over 50% 3-pointers next year.

They have almost tied up Udonis Haslem (who everyone thought would be sacrificed because of the cap space) who gived them a close to 10 points and 8 rebounds per game and has won a championship. A very useful part of the roster.

They are talking with Derek Fisher today who wants more than the $2m, 1 year contract offer from the Lakers. $6m over 2 years might do it to add a very strong leader figure and decent split time PG (He wouldn't have to play whole games because LeBron will likely slot in as a quasi-PG for periods while Miller is on the floor). Fisher has lots of Championship experience.

So they could by the end of this weekend have a roster with James, Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, Miller, Haslem, Fisher and still 2 or 3 million left. That is without signing the 2 rookies they picked up or even dipping into the min. contract veterans. Who knows they could get someone like Shaq to come and play for min. contract just to give some size. Again he wouldn't have to play big minutes because in most situations Bosh can play the role.

They are going to be good. Riley is not stupid and nor are Wade, James or Bosh. They all have friends within the game who they are reaching out to that can fill out that roster. Adding 8 min. contract guys might have been tough and would have left them with a weak roster. Adding 3 as component pieces rather than major role players will be much easier.

With those guys signing those contracts, they could easily be the East favourites by the end of the weekend. Something which I hadn't imagined before.

 

[Coolpudge]

Mike Miller will be a good signing, hopefully he can stay healthy. I don't think they need the baggage that Shaq will bring, plus I heard he was going to San Antonio. Fisher is a good PG and like IOMLS said, he won't be needed all the time, in fact if he signs I wouldn't be surprised if he starts on the bench.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Mike Miller will be a good signing, hopefully he can stay healthy. I don't think they need the baggage that Shaq will bring, plus I heard he was going to San Antonio. Fisher is a good PG and like IOMLS said, he won't be needed all the time, in fact if he signs I wouldn't be surprised if he starts on the bench.

I know what you mean about Shaq, but I think the baggage he brings is going to make absolutely no difference in this case. There is already going to be so much hype and focus on the Heat that Shaq won't affect it too much. He has already played and won with Wade in Miami, he played with LeBron as an out and out support player last year. In fact Miami being the new villains of the nba probably will suit Shaq, I think he actually loves being the bad guy. On top of that he will have the determination to do his bit as he is fully aware that Kobe now has one more ring than him.

He is probably the best big man they can get and they desperately need one.