After a long, excruciatingly painful 5 months the NBA lockout is just about over. Dec 9 free agency will begin. Teams will scramble madly to sign the superstar free agents available this shortened off season and hit the ground running when the season finally kicks off on Christmas day.
This year’s free agent class is headlined by Tyson Chandler and David West. Two dominant big men!
Where will they end up? There is no shortage of rumours out there.
Rondo is on the block, Boston unhappy with his prickly attitude are looking to move him and add another piece to their ageing line up as their hall of fame line up comes to its end. Boston’s big three of Ray Allen, Kevin Garnet and Paul Peirce only have a season left together, maybe two!
Then there is Dwight Howard, the NBA’s most dominant big man since Shaq in his prime, going into the final year of his contract before he leaves Orlando. Will Orlando trade him this season and take all they can for him or will they risk losing him to free agency next season and getting nothing back if he chooses not to resign? Rumours have him heading to the LA, to either the Lakers or the clippers, where it seems all dominant big men end up. However an intriguing suitor has emerged in the Nets who would love to see him team up with Deron Williams and form their own powerhouse duo.
Chris Paul is rumoured to have asked for a trade out of New Orleans to team up with his mates Carmelo and Amare in New York, forming what would undoubtedly be the most dominant ‘super team’ in the league. Miami’s own super team of James, Wade and Bosh would be no match against the Knicks if Paul gets his wish. Wouldn’t you love to see him in New York? Chances are this won’t happen because the Knicks gutted their team to acquire Anthony last season and have no assets left to offer the hornets for Paul.
The Indiana Pacers with the most cap space of any team in the league this season. They have spent the past 3 years shedding the bad contracts off their books and now look to improve on their roster via free agency or trades. They have a good young core group of players and are looking to add an all-star power forward and point guard to their roster which will rocket them up the easts power rankings. They are rumoured to be pursuing Rondo, David West and Paul Millsap, all of which would be upgrades to the team. As a Pacers fan, the past few post brawl years have been hard to endure and finally it seems there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Let’s not forget the amnesty clause now available to teams to waive one player off their books without that contract counting against salary cap. There is an intriguing list of players on the amnesty list this season and it will be very interesting to see which team they end up on.
It has been far too long since we spoke about the NBA and not the lockout, bring on free agency and lets look forward to a huge Christmas day schedule to kick off the shortened season.
Abomb
December 7, 2011
About time, that’s all I can say… I wonder how Miami will do.. Owners I’m sure looking for return on investment!