Single & Ready to Mingle : 2014 NBA Free Agenc
So it's July 1st & love is in the air in the Association. As of midnight this morning several key NBA veterans due to expiring contracts are now eligible to pursued by new teams and bring hope to new cities & cash in on a big payday at the same time. This years class of eligible bachelors is led by none other than LeBron James.. He's the one piece that most teams would move heaven and earth to hook up with. Now he's not the only A+ talent out on the market but before we get to the others lets go over a few basics.
The salary cap: This is maximum amount of money teams are allowed to allocate to players under the current CBA ( Collective Bargaining Agreement ) this year that number is set at $63 million somewhere abouts. Basically this is the amount of money as a guy we set aside for a date with that hot chick we're trying to impress.
The luxury Tax Now teams are allowed to exceed the cap by a certain taxable amount to resign players & bring in veterans but they will have to pay a tax to do so. Hence the name.
Amnesty Clause Ever been in a relationship that was so bad you wish you could just pay the person to go away with no strings attached & no penalty. That's what this is .. it's an amnesty that allows teams to get out of bad contracts by simply just stroking a check. It wont count against the cap and each team can use this once over the next 5 seasons.
Now that your head is spinning lets get to the available ballers !!
LeBron James
Likes : Passing the ball, beats headphones, avoiding the dunk contest
Dislikes : Being blamed for losing, teammates hooking up with his mom, the San Antonio Spurs
James is the clear cut no #1 sought after free agent. He's the best player in the world and the team that lands him becomes an instant title contender. he opted out of the last year of his deal with Miami at first because we thought he Chris Bosh & Dwayne Wade were willing to take pay cuts to free up more money to help an aging roster. The news broke yesterday that James wants a max deal which would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million dollars. That ain't going to free up much space.
potential suitors : Miami, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston
Carmelo Anthony
Likes: Shooting the ball...... that is all
Dislikes: Playing defense, most coaches, wearing his shades inside
Anthony while a dynamic scorer who can points anywhere on the floor is thought of just that and that alone a guy who can get you parts. Now one part of that is he has never been teamed with another elite player but most think he lacks the motivation to play both ends of the court on a consistent basis. Turning 30 and entering the final elite years of his career that will have to change. It has been long rumored that him and Lebron opting out in the same year was way they could team together on a team that has the cap space to do so. I have my doubts on that one.
potential suitors: New York, Chicago, L.A.
Kevin Love
Likes: The 3 point shot, double doubles, Larry Bird comparisons
Dislikes: Playing 82 games, playing with Ricky Rubio, living in Minnesota
He has one of the most unique skill sets in the league @ 6"10 he is a deadly outside shooter can post up and one of the best rebounders in the league. While technically he is not a free agent the Timberwolves know at the end of his contract next season he will walk without them getting anything in return. So they are actively looking to trade him to get something back they can build upon.
potential suitors ( via trade ) Golden State, Boston, Cleveland
Kyle Lowery
Likes: Balling out against the Wizards, the fact if he walked into your office right now you would have no clue who he is
Dislikes : Playing in Canada ( I mean who wouldn't ) the fact if he walked into your office right now you would have no clue who he is
Lowery while one of the lesser known players available this year is still one of the more productive and would be a welcome addition to any struggling backcourt. He in my opinion is the best free agent point guard on the market.
potential suitors: Toronto, Miami, New York
Dwayne Wade
Likes: Shooting mid range jumpers, knee braces
Dislikes : any shot outside of 15 feet, playing 82 games
Wade too has opted out of his deal but he will not garner the same attention from other clubs as his previously mentioned counterparts. In the finals it became very clear that Wade while capable of a big night here & there is nowhere near the elite player he once was. The question is does he know it or for that fact willing to accept it.
potential suitors : Miami
Chris Bosh
Likes: Shooting corner 3's, having a funny shaped head
Dislikes: Lil Wayne, physical contact
The final member of the famed big 3 and probably the one who sacrificed the most to come to Miami in the first place. When Bosh was in Toronto he was the man, the no# 1 scoring option & the face of the franchise. Does he want he all that again because if he does Miami is not the place if James or Wade return. Or is he willing to continue to sacrifice the spotlight and potential cash to hook on with another superstar or two for another shot at a ring ?
Well those are some of the more high profile names available this season but not all the players that will be looking to cash in with new teams :
Trevor Ariza
Marcian Gortat
Patty Mills
Gordon Heyward
Pau Gasol
Luol Deng
Are some of the others that could have new partners & new addresses this summer. Well let the courtship begin !!
The salary cap: This is maximum amount of money teams are allowed to allocate to players under the current CBA ( Collective Bargaining Agreement ) this year that number is set at $63 million somewhere abouts. Basically this is the amount of money as a guy we set aside for a date with that hot chick we're trying to impress.
The luxury Tax Now teams are allowed to exceed the cap by a certain taxable amount to resign players & bring in veterans but they will have to pay a tax to do so. Hence the name.
Amnesty Clause Ever been in a relationship that was so bad you wish you could just pay the person to go away with no strings attached & no penalty. That's what this is .. it's an amnesty that allows teams to get out of bad contracts by simply just stroking a check. It wont count against the cap and each team can use this once over the next 5 seasons.
Now that your head is spinning lets get to the available ballers !!
LeBron James
Likes : Passing the ball, beats headphones, avoiding the dunk contest
Dislikes : Being blamed for losing, teammates hooking up with his mom, the San Antonio Spurs
James is the clear cut no #1 sought after free agent. He's the best player in the world and the team that lands him becomes an instant title contender. he opted out of the last year of his deal with Miami at first because we thought he Chris Bosh & Dwayne Wade were willing to take pay cuts to free up more money to help an aging roster. The news broke yesterday that James wants a max deal which would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million dollars. That ain't going to free up much space.
potential suitors : Miami, Chicago, Phoenix, Houston
Carmelo Anthony
Likes: Shooting the ball...... that is all
Dislikes: Playing defense, most coaches, wearing his shades inside
Anthony while a dynamic scorer who can points anywhere on the floor is thought of just that and that alone a guy who can get you parts. Now one part of that is he has never been teamed with another elite player but most think he lacks the motivation to play both ends of the court on a consistent basis. Turning 30 and entering the final elite years of his career that will have to change. It has been long rumored that him and Lebron opting out in the same year was way they could team together on a team that has the cap space to do so. I have my doubts on that one.
potential suitors: New York, Chicago, L.A.
Kevin Love
Likes: The 3 point shot, double doubles, Larry Bird comparisons
Dislikes: Playing 82 games, playing with Ricky Rubio, living in Minnesota
He has one of the most unique skill sets in the league @ 6"10 he is a deadly outside shooter can post up and one of the best rebounders in the league. While technically he is not a free agent the Timberwolves know at the end of his contract next season he will walk without them getting anything in return. So they are actively looking to trade him to get something back they can build upon.
potential suitors ( via trade ) Golden State, Boston, Cleveland
Kyle Lowery
Likes: Balling out against the Wizards, the fact if he walked into your office right now you would have no clue who he is
Dislikes : Playing in Canada ( I mean who wouldn't ) the fact if he walked into your office right now you would have no clue who he is
Lowery while one of the lesser known players available this year is still one of the more productive and would be a welcome addition to any struggling backcourt. He in my opinion is the best free agent point guard on the market.
potential suitors: Toronto, Miami, New York
Dwayne Wade
Likes: Shooting mid range jumpers, knee braces
Dislikes : any shot outside of 15 feet, playing 82 games
Wade too has opted out of his deal but he will not garner the same attention from other clubs as his previously mentioned counterparts. In the finals it became very clear that Wade while capable of a big night here & there is nowhere near the elite player he once was. The question is does he know it or for that fact willing to accept it.
potential suitors : Miami
Chris Bosh
Likes: Shooting corner 3's, having a funny shaped head
Dislikes: Lil Wayne, physical contact
The final member of the famed big 3 and probably the one who sacrificed the most to come to Miami in the first place. When Bosh was in Toronto he was the man, the no# 1 scoring option & the face of the franchise. Does he want he all that again because if he does Miami is not the place if James or Wade return. Or is he willing to continue to sacrifice the spotlight and potential cash to hook on with another superstar or two for another shot at a ring ?
Well those are some of the more high profile names available this season but not all the players that will be looking to cash in with new teams :
Trevor Ariza
Marcian Gortat
Patty Mills
Gordon Heyward
Pau Gasol
Luol Deng
Are some of the others that could have new partners & new addresses this summer. Well let the courtship begin !!
11年前
