The who, what, where and why for all your NBA free agency questions
1. LeBron James – Prediction: Eastern Conference
If the NBA gets what it wants, LeBron James will be playing for one of 15 teams. The Eastern Conference can not afford to lose LeBron James. The Nets are another year older. The Pacers, though the one seed last year, are mired in dysfunction. The Bulls are always wondering whether or not Derrick Rose will play. The Raptors and Wizards have taken positive steps, but are both inexperienced.
And of course there is also the Miami Heat. While I think a squad lead by Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh could certainly be a playoff team, they wont challenge the monsters of the Western Conference.
LeBron James needs to play for any of the 15 teams in the East. The NBA needs at least one team from the conference to look like a threat. And on the other hand, James needs the best path to the finals possible, and that is achieved by staying in the East. Though I think there is a good chance he stays in South Beach, I am willing guarantee he will be a member of the Eastern Conference All Star team next season.
2. Carmelo Anthony– Prediction: Chicago Bulls
It is hard to judge the New York tenure of Carmelo Anthony. He went to multiple All-Star Games, won a scoring title and led the Knicks to a 54 win season. With that said, the New York native was never able to will his team to much postseason success, only winning one round in his four years with the Knicks.
The reason we bring up the past is because it plays an important part in looking into the future of Carmelo Anthony. The New York years were less than enjoyable for Melo. The team around him was mediocre and the past season was a train-wreck. Salary Cap issues remain a major issue for the Knicks, and as such there will be little help joining Carmelo Anthony in New York if he were to return.
Anthony is already on his way to meeting with three team: The Bulls, Mavericks and Rockets. The Mavs have his now former Knicks teammate Tyson Chandler, along with future Hall of Fame member Dirk Nowitzki. The Rockets are no stranger to stars as they feature James Harden and Dwight Howard. Then there are the Bulls. The Bulls have been successful with only Joakim Noah. If Derrick Rose can stay healthy, then he and Melo could run a killer offense, with Noah, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, chipping in as well. The real advantage to the Bulls is that they play in that wide open Eastern Conference, which will give Anthony a much clearer path to the NBA Finals.
Kyle Lowry– Prediction: Indianapolis Pacers
There are players available with credentials much more impressive than the ones Kyle Lowry has. What makes Lowry so important however is that he is a point guard, and the best one on the free agency market. He might not be a future member of the Hall of Fame, but he can be a crucial piece in a team looking to compete.
Most teams could use a stud point guard like Lowry, but Lowry is only looking for a certain kind of team. Lowry enjoyed a nice season with the Toronto Raptors last year, winning the Atlantic Division before falling in 7 games to the Brooklyn Nets. But that is not what Lowry wants, he wants to fight for a championship, and there are very few teams that can do that.
All of the talk with Lowry so far has been about him joining the Miami Heat. While this would give Lowry the best chance at a ring, the Heat did just draft Shabazz Napier who was LeBron’s Favorite player in the draft. One may think that Napier would make the Heat less interested in Lowry, but that is not true. Miami wants to show the James that that they are willing to do whatever it takes to win, and adding both Napier and Lowry might be the best way to do it.
4. Chris Bosh – Houston Rockets
Things get interesting once you start talking about the Miami Heat. We already have Lowry and LeBron in South Beach next year and they will more than likely be joined by Dwayne Wade. But where does that leave Chris Bosh, who has often been considered the weakest link of the Big Three?
Bosh has his rings so unlike Lowry he doesn’t need to go championship hunting. Even with the option of the East, I see Bosh heading over to the much tougher Western Conference. His path to the Finals will not be as easy, but he will have a chance to form his own legacy, one that isn’t attached to James and Wade.
Carmelo Anthony already intends to meet with the Houston Rockets, but I don’t think they will be able lure him over. Bosh on the other hand was born and raised in Texas, and may not mind going back home to play with a pretty good team. Bosh could go back to playing power forward full time as the Rockets are set at center with Dwight Howard. He would also join James Harden, who is one of the best young weapons in the NBA. Bosh more than any other member of the Big Three could use a jolt to his career and leaving the East all together might be the best way to change things up.
5. Pau Gasol – New York Knicks
There is no denying that the recent moves by the New York Knicks have been made in a desperate attempt to retain Carmelo Anthony. One of the moves left the Knicks in a big hole at the middle, as they traded their former Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler. A hole that could be filled by a former Phil Jackson player.
Pau Gasol knows how to run the Triangle Offense. He won championships under Phil Jackson and new Knick coach Derek Fisher is one of Gasol’s former teammates. This new Knicks team is as close to Pau’s old Lakers as things are gonna get.
As bad as things look for the Knicks, things in Los Angeles look much worse. Gasol isn’t getting any younger, and joining up with all the other former Lakers in New York might be the most comfortable option out there for Pau. While this may not give him the best chance to win, it will certainly put him in a system he knows how to be apart of.