~*~*~*~ 2014 NBA Playoffs: Road to the Championship ~*~*~*~

[ASAP]

I would have bet money on Lebron to the Nets... u can figure out why.

[carlos@velosdesignwerks]

LeBron is opting out to clear the Heat cap. Don't be surprised if he resigns for a longer contract with the Heat.

[ny325]

NYC sports radio reports Miami, Cleveland, Houston, Brooklyn, and the Knicks as possible choices for Lebron. Brooklyn, and Knicks are long shots though. However, you never know.

[Litos]

tried to tell ya'll Daryl Morey was a fucking genius - just like that he bamboozled the Pelicans to take on a $15M Center HAHA !!!!

Lin is next within the next couple weeks - he'll get over on some sorry ass team to take Lin....

after that, we're landing Melo or Bron, but if I know Morey, he's trying to land Bron in Houston....

stay tuned, bitches.....

[NemesisX]

Lebron signs with the Spurs for the minimum, wins a ring this year, and then gets a max extension next year (when the Spurs have available cap room). Surprise bitches!

[ny325]

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Lebron likes taking the easy route. I would love to see Lebron play in the Western conference. I think at the end of the day, Lebron stays in Miami.

[TrevorM3]

Originally Posted by NemesisX

Lebron signs with the Spurs for the minimum, wins a ring this year, and then gets a max extension next year (when the Spurs have available cap room). Surprise bitches!

can you seriously imagine? that would be insane, to say the least.

['Cane]

Reports are saying Haslem, Wade, and Bosh all opting out today. Looks like the Heat will now have $55M of cap space. They're not going anywhere.

['Cane]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...artner=ya5nbcs


Report: Teams hoping to schedule free agent pitch meetings with LeBron James have been unable to do so


Brett Pollakoff
Jun 28, 2014, 9:00 PM EDT

LeBron James opting out of the final two years of his contract gave an initial glimmer of hope to teams around the league looking to try to lure the league’s best player into a new situation — one potentially primed to win not only now, but for years to come.

Miami has always been the favorite to retain LeBron’s services, but his choosing to become an unrestricted free agent — if only momentarily, and without providing any additional context — at least opened the door to the possibility that his leaving was a real option.

The news that Dwyane Wade joined him in opting out on Saturday put a damper on those hopes, and a seemingly minor tidbit included in one report might serve to squash them altogether.

From Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com:
In recent days, teams that have hoped to schedule pitch meetings with James once the free-agency period begins next week have been unable to do so, sources told ESPN.com.

That’s because he isn’t leaving Miami, and never intended to in the first place.

James opting out was expected from day one. Any superstar in their prime would have done the same, in order to secure a longer deal for more guaranteed dollars in total. That’s what Wade will end up with, and Chris Bosh will more than likely eventually follow suit.

Free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 1, and that’s the earliest that teams can contact free agents to begin the negotiation process. They could tentatively set up meetings with a player’s representation before then, however, but LeBron has held off until now, probably because he doesn’t want to waste anybody’s time.

['Cane]

Top 10 2014 NBA free agents

LeBron James highlights the 2014 NBA free-agent class. Well, sort of.
James is widely expected to re-sign a long-term contract with the Heat after opting out of the final two years of his deal last week. One NBA team executive told Yahoo Sports that New York Knicksforward Carmelo Anthony is actually widely viewed as the top true free agent of this class.
"LeBron James is not really a free agent," the executive told Yahoo Sports. "He is going right back to Miami. Everybody believes that. The top five free agents of this class are strong and then it gets pretty even. LeBron and Carmelo are the head of the class and Dirk [Nowitzki] has two really good years left in him. Overall, I think it's a really strong free-agent class from a versatility standpoint and what they are able to do.
"Dwyane Wade's legs are almost gone. Pau Gasol needs a change of scenery, but is still a really good player. Chandler Parsons is up-and-coming and really impressive. Lance Stephenson is obviously super talented and a dynamic player, but can you handle all the other stuff [with him]?"
The NBA's free-agent market opens at 12:01 a.m. ET Tuesday. Here's a look at the top players who will be available:
1. LeBron James, Miami Heat, SF, 29, UFA: James could go wherever he wants – and he won't lack for suitors, including the Houston Rockets and Phoenix Suns. But the four-time MVP is expected to stay in Miami after four straight trips to the NBA Finals.
2. Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks, SF, 30, UFA: Anthony has no frontrunner among the teams interested in signing him. While the Knicks are still in the mix, he is expected to visit Dallas, Houston, Chicago and the Lakers, a source said.
3. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks, PF, 36, UFA: Nowitzki said last week he will not leave the Mavs and will meet with owner Mark Cuban to come to a new contract agreement.
4. Chris Bosh, Miami Heat, PF-C, 30, UFA: Bosh has said several times that he wants to re-sign with Miami. He seems to enjoy his role in the shadow of James and Wade.
5. Pau Gasol, Los Angeles Lakers, PF-C, 34, UFA: Gasol will likely be more interested in returning to the Lakers with coach Mike D'Antoni gone. Phil Jackson's Knicks could also make a run at him.6. Greg Monroe, Detroit Pistons, PF-C, 24, RFA: Monroe is too talented and young for the Pistons to let go. Monroe's hometown New Orleans Pelicans and the Lakers might pursue him.
7. Chandler Parsons, Houston Rockets, SF, 25, RFA: The Rockets, Lakers and Mavericks are interested, a source said. Minnesota also could have interest in a possible sign-and-trade deal that sends Kevin Love to Houston, a source said.
8. Lance Stephenson, Indiana Pacers, SG, 23, UFA: The Pacers want him back at the right price. He has been working out at the team's facility since season's end. The Charlotte Hornets also could make a bid, sources said.
9. Luol Deng, Cleveland Cavaliers, SF, 29, UFA: It's unlikely Deng returns to Cleveland. The Cavaliers also drafted small forward Andrew Wiggins with the first overall pick. The Lakers also have interest.
10. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, SG, 32, UFA: Wade walked away from the final two years and $40 million of his contract. The Heat lifer is expected to return at a lesser amount annually for a longer contract.
Other notable free agents: Heat SG Ray Allen (UFA); Wizards F Trevor Ariza (UFA); Suns PG Eric Bledsoe (RFA); Clippers PG Darren Collison (UFA); Suns PF Channing Frye (UFA); Wizards C Marcin Gortat (UFA); Jazz SF Gordon Hayward (RFA); Raptors PG Kyle Lowry (UFA); Nets SF Paul Pierce (UFA); Pistons SG Rodney Stuckey (UFA).

[Litos]

I'd rather land Kevin Love than Melo.....

just sayin.....

[Inspired]

Originally Posted by Litos

I'd rather land Kevin Love than Melo.....

just sayin.....

Houston needs a PG. Kyle Lowry or Rondo would make Houston a very dangerous team, IMO.

[TXSTYLE]

I too would rather get love. Dallas would be instant favors! But I certainly will take Melo which again puts us right at the top of the West with Chandler now back.

[NemesisX]

I don't like Melo on a modern day championship caliber team, at least not the way he wants to be played. He wants to start (obviously) and play 40+ MPG and be the focal point of the offense. He's the kind of guy who will hold the ball for 15+ seconds on any given possession and end up scoring 27 points on 11-23 shooting while doing little to get his teammates involved.

Modern day NBA defenses are too sophisticated to be thwarted by simply passing out of double teams. Melo is an elite offensive player no doubt. He's probably one of the top 3 1-on-1 players in the game right now and he'll command double teams regularly, but that style of play just isn't as conducive to winning a championship right now. It might've worked in the early 2000s (think: Duncan-led 2003 championship Spurs team where they relied on 1 on 1 play from Duncan and passing out of double teams from the post) but you really need elite dribble penetration (followed up with man and ball movement) to get defenses moving from side to side. That's why having an all star-caliber point guard is far more important IMO than an all star caliber 3. Lebron is a notable exception because he's a freak of nature who can play pretty much any position and have some sort of advantage (size on smaller 3s who try to guard him, speed on bigger 3s who try to guard him, the list goes on).

[ASAP]

Gortat verbally agrees to 5 yrs w wizards... fk yeah!

[Melo-T]

5yrs 60 mill for Gortat, I think they overpaid but I do like his game