LeBron James heats up 2010 NBA Free Agent showdown
The nature of the NBA salary cap means that teams frequently have to project years in advance in order to build their rosters. “Creating cap space” is a top priority for general managers as they look to have the flexibility to bring in top talent demanding top salaries. And the 2010 off-season has been a target of many teams - some NBA GMs have spent several seasons making moves specifically designed to give them maximum room to sign free agents after the 2010 season.
What makes the 2010 off-season so unique? In many ways, it’s the perfect storm, as some of the game’s top players will be on the free agent market in the off-season. Perhaps no off-season in recent memory has featured so many superstar caliber players available on the open market. Teams such as the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls have cleared away enough cap space to attempt to lure more than one top-level player to their team. But while there are several big names available, the player every team covets is LeBron James.
James did little to refute the notion that he’s the best player in the league this season, backing up his first MVP title with a season that was perhaps even more impressive considering that speculation about his future followed him wherever he goes. The Knicks have long been seen as front-runners in the LeBron James sweepstakes - they have plenty of cap room, and offer him a platform to perform in the biggest city and stage (Madison Square Garden) in the league. If James has aspirations to “be like” Michael Jordan, then playing in New York (or Jordan’s former place in Chicago) would be a logical step.
Of course, James’ current team would love to keep him. The Cleveland Cavaliers made several moves during the season to prove that they are committed to winning, and the team did finish the regular season with the best record in the NBA. If the Cavaliers are able to win an NBA title, it might be tough for him to leave his home state. Of course, thanks to NBA rules the Cavaliers can offer more money to James than any other team, making a sign-and-trade deal with another club a strong possibility.
In another year, Dwayne Wade would be the crown jewel of the free agent class, but in 2010 he’s taken a backseat to James. However, Wade is a superstar in the prime of his career, who almost singlehandedly took a mediocre Miami Heat team to the playoffs. It’s almost certain that Wade won’t be back with Miami, making him high on the list of almost all NBA teams. In fact, James and Wade have talked in public about playing together and creating an unstoppable force that could dominate the NBA. However, most experts think that’s more fantasy than reality. A team like the Los Angeles Clippers might interest Wade - despite their record of futility, they have a solid group of core players and offer a huge media market that would bolster his marketability.
If Wade has been overlooked in Miami then Chris Bosh has been left out in the cold in Toronto. The center has become one of the best players in the league that many fans don’t know about while playing north of the border. It became clear during the season that Bosh was ready to leave the Raptors and play for a championship contender. Canada’s tax laws also pose a problem for the team as they look to bring in or retain big-name players.
Bosh is one of several big men who will be available for teams this off-season. The Phoenix Suns debated sending Amar'e Stoudemire packing before the trading deadline, but decided to keep the explosive power forward in order to make a run at the title and attempt to re-sign him. Carlos Boozer is another candidate for teams looking to add size and power in the blocks - it appears he’ll be leaving Utah once the season is over.
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