As the NBA gets closer to the hour that we have been waiting for, for over 2 years, the 2010 free agent signing period is here and I want to throw out some ideas on what will happen in this free agency extravaganza.
Let’s start with back-to-back NBA Champs the Los Angeles Lakers. Everyone will be trying to stock up in order to dethrone them. No matter what other teams do a healthy Andrew Bynum along with Kobe, Pau, D-Fish and Ron Ron still are still the team to beat. The Lakers will have to deal with the possibility of losing back up PG’s Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown along with end of the bench big men in Powell and Mbenga. Look for the Lakers to add a scorer like SF John Salmons to fill in for Artest and a PG like JJ Redick or Nate Robinson. Don’t be surprised if there are overtures for Ray Allen or Brad Miller.
The Celtics are happy to hear that Coach Doc Rivers is staying, but are worried that Paul Pierce is testing free agency. If Pierce he leaves then expect Ray Allen to bolt as well. Rasheed is gone and KG is aging before our eyes so look for Boston to look at Brandon Haywood, Luis Scola and Dirk Nowitzki. Each of these players would fit the system especially a stud like Nowitzki.
The Cavs absolutely have to keep LeBron and without that they might have to pick up Craig Ehlo, Mark Price and Larry Nance to garner any attention. If King James does stay in Cleveland then look for Joe Johnson to join him and the other cast of characters plus either Byron Scott or Brian Shaw will become the head coach.
Dallas will be the darlings of the free agency period. Aside from one fine that was merely pocket change to Cuban he has been keeping his mouth shut on the possible signing of LeBron James. Cuban knows Dampier, Matt Carroll and Shawn Marion are not the guys to bring a championship to Dallas. If the Mavs are to win it all this very well could be the year. Dallas is looking for a big free agency season which will need to start with trying to re-sign Dirk. Jason Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson and Caron Butler are not a bad nucleus so if they can land Amare or Rudy Gay along with a scorer like Ray Allen they could really do something next year.
The long shots of the free agency period are the LA Clippers. Baron Davis, Chris Kaman, Blake Griffin, Eric Gordon and incoming rookies Al-Farouq Aminu and Eric Bledsoe provide an incredible opportunity for the right free agent to come in and take advantage of all this talent. But who will be the coach? Looks like Vinnie Del Negro is topping the list at this time. He is a players coach and might not have to deal with the upper level management issues he encountered in Chi-town. Why not bring on So Cal natives like Shaq to spell Kaman, Paul Pierce (Inglewood native) for the guard scoring punch or Matt Barnes for his lock down defense.
The losers will be the NY Knicks. The Knicks won’t sign anyone of real value because they put all their focus on signing LeBron who won’t be signing and David Lee is leaving town. Tracy McGrady, Jonathon Bender, Al Harrington, Danillo Gallinari, and Eddie House could be your starting five. Ouch! Also on the losing end will be the NJ Nets. Jay-Z and the new Russian billionaire owner will not sign the big names that have been rumored.
These are my predictions and they are based on nothing except my gut which of course has been wrong for several years. I once said while watching LeBron play live in high school that he would be a bust like Kwame Brown. There ya go!