Tag: Free agent

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Carmelo Anthony new york knicks Sports

Carmelo Anthony – “I Want To Be A Free Agent”

New York Knicks fans, brace yourself. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. Then make sure you’re sitting down before reading any further.

In a long-form piece for The New York Observer, Rafi Kohan relayed the following quote, spoken by none other than Carmelo Anthony:

I want to be a free agent. I think everybody in the NBA dreams to be a free agent at least one time in their career. It’s like you have an evaluation period, you know. It’s like if I’m in the gym and I have all the coaches, all the owners, all the GMs come into the gym and just evaluate everything I do. So yes, I want that experience.

‘Melo’s impending foray into free agency has been the subject of much discussion throughout the offseason.

Will he decide to stay in New York for the foreseeable future? Will he opt out and hit the open market? Could he—gasp—join the Los Angeles Lakers, putting on a purple-and-gold jersey that would incite plenty of boos?

It’s sure to be a hot-button issue throughout the 2013-14 campaign, even as the Knicks keep pace in the Eastern Conference and remain a legitimate part of the title chase. Especially now that the world knows where Anthony stands on the issue.

But what does this actually mean? Should we start spewing out doom and gloom for the Knicks?

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basketball Carmelo Anthony NBA Sports

Lakers Aim To Make A Big Signing…

…next year that is. Yes, the 2013-2014 NBA season for the Los Angeles Lakers seems more like a throw away season. The Lakers have lost their “next in line” player in Dwight Howard, have an aging Gasol, Kobe, and Nash, and have no cap space to sign any big name player this free agency. Heck, looking at the Lakers roster right now any person would laugh at it. This of course is all part of the Lakers plan for the 2014 free agency period.

Probably the Lakers biggest free agent signing, Center Chris Kaman

After this coming season, the Lakers will have around $40 million in cap space and only two players under contract, Steve Nash ($9.7 million) and Robert Sacre ($915,243). The Lakers can even waive Nash since he’ll be in his final season and stretch his money owed and only take a $3.2 million dollar salary cap hit in 2014-2015. Kobe Bryant will be the only big question mark considering he seems to want to play another three to four seasons, so let’s just pencil him in for around $10-15 million.

Lebron can become a free agent after 2014 and the Lakers are gearing up for a run at him

Let me read off some big names who will be free agents in 2014: Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony, Danny Granger, Loul Deng, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwayne Wade. The list continues if you want to add in the Restricted Free Agents which focus around up and coming stars like Kyrie Irving, John Wall, Eric Beldsoe, and Paul George; all of them though aren’t leaving their respected teams no matter what. The 2014 free agent class is massive in terms of star power to say the least and a team like the Lakers plan to take full advantage of it.

Teammates? It’s not as far fetched as you’d think

Let’s get this out of the way, Lebron James will not be taking his talents to L.A, that’s a total pipe dream. The same can be said for any of the young restricted free agents, especially Kyrie and Paul George. The only possible star the Lakers can land would be Carmelo Anthony. In his current tenure in New York, Melo hasn’t had incredible playoff success and coming to a town like L.A where he will be the man and be paired up with another super star is an intriguing offer to say the least. Plus, the Lakers can offer Melo a huge contract of four years and around $100 million dollars. It shall be a very interesting off season to say the least and the 2015 free agent class promises to be the same with players like Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, and LeMarcus Aldridge becoming free agents. God I love the NBA.

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basketball NBA Sports

Rolling The Dice With Andrew Bynum

Bynum was pursued by the Mavericks and Cavaliers this free agency

The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially signed Center Andrew Bynum to a two-year deal worth a total of $24.5 million. While this sounds like a risky deal for Cleveland, it’s actually a brilliant pick up.

A new team requires a new hair style

The details of the contract only guarantee Bynum $6 million dollars and one single year; Cleveland has given him an incentive heavy contract and holds the option for a second year. This ensures that Cleveland will have plenty of cap space come the 2014 free agency period to lure a big name free agent, Lebron James, and bring him back home. On top of ensuring plenty of cap space Cleveland now has, when healthy and engaged, easily one of the top five big men in the league.

Cleveland is clearly hoping for the Bynum who played in L.A to show up

Bynum, who didn’t play all of last season with the 76ers, was an up and coming All Star back in Los Angeles. In his final year in L.A he averaged 18.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and made his first NBA All Star appearance. On top of all that he was also part of two NBA Championship teams during his tenure as a Laker. Andrew Bynum is a very good, if not nearly complete basketball package; he has a good post game on offense and is a big body to deal with on defense.

The Eastern Conference is becoming much more interesting…

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basketball Boston Entertainment NBA Sports

The Clippers Have Arrived

..well actually the Clippers were quite a force for the past two seasons really but now they’ve just landed an amazing coach, Doc Rivers, from the Boston Celtics. Yes, after eight days and what seemed like constant “on then off again” trade talks, the deal has been reached between both teams to let Doc Rivers out of his current Boston contract and be able to sign with the L.A Clippers; In return the Celtics will be given a future unprotected 2015 first round draft pick.

Welcome to the Western Conference Doc

It’s clearly obvious that the Clippers got the best end of this deal;  with the experience and resume of such a coach this will surely secure free agent to be Chris Paul into signing a long term contract with the Clippers, word on the internet is that he really pushed to get Doc Rivers on board. Back on the East Coast the Celtics seem like a boat without a rudder now. The team now lacks a head coach with a roster not fit to compete but in a total rebuilding mode; Veteran Paul Pierce may be bought out by the Celtics or traded at the deadline, Kevin Garnett may also be traded away. They also need to find a head coach, I do hope they give Brian Shaw a call and a much deserved chance.

Doc Rivers loved coaching Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce

I can’t help but feel sad for Boston fans. While they knew a total rebuild had to happen sooner rather than later, to be on the verge of losing a lot memorable faces must be hard, especially in such a fashion. I wish the best for Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce this up coming NBA season. Things will sure be different…

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England New York Sports

Welcome Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow has only been in the league for three years and has already played for two different teams, the Denver Broncos which he was originally drafted and most recently the horrible experience in New York with the Jets. Now though after being rejected by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the entire Canadian Football League, and even the Arena Football League, he has been signed by the powerhouse New England Patriots for and undisclosed length and money.

If Bill Belichick can’t find a use for Tebow I’ll be shocked

While I am not a Tim Tebow fan I am very happy for him to have been signed to a team. Tebow has the heart and desire to compete that most stars lack on top of that he has the work ethic to match that of any superstar. I’m glad he’s finally on a team that can utilize his skills that he will bring, especially since he is now working again with ex Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels once again in New England. Most importantly the media circus that has followed Tebow around his rather short career will be silenced in New England as all media circus’s have been before. I wish Tim Tebow the best of luck and most of all I am happy he may finally have a chance to play the game he so desperately wants to.

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fan Mike Brown NBA Sports

Keep Dreaming Cleveland..

There is no secret behind the end of the 2014 NBA season and that years top free agent, Lebron James. There is also no secret behind top marquee teams, I’m looking at you L.A Lakers, freeing up cap space that year to land the current best player in the NBA. There is also no surprise behind the rumors of  “The King” returning to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers for one last stint. To that I say: Keep dreaming Cleveland.

Lebron James left Cleveland in 2010

It’s sad to see how quickly the Cleveland Cavaliers fell after the departure of Lebron James back in 2010. They fired coach Mike Brown, who they just recently rehired, months before James left. Since then there’s very very little they’ve gotten right outside of their lottery pick up of up and coming All Star Kyrie Irving. Since 2010 they’ve gone 19-63, 21-45, and 24-58 under coach Byron Scott, who is now unemployed.

Cleveland fans would love a Mike Brown and Lebron James reunion

Entering the 2014 season the Cleveland Cavaliers will have an estimated $29 million in free cap space to sign a number of players or just give Lebron a max contract and a blank check. I can’t say I have much faith in the Cavaliers front office to work out a smart business decision, but players such as Luol Deng, Rudy Gay, Andre Iguodala, and Paul George are all free agents that year as well. Match any of them with Kyrie Irving and you will easily have an amazing duo to play and dominate in the immediate future.

Current Cavaliers Point Guard Kyrie Irving

Speaking of Kyrie, he is the only person the Cav’s front office should be concerned of keeping very happy. He is the only player on the roster who a team should be built around. Hey Cleveland! Kyrie Irving is going to be an All Star very soon, he’s going to be a top Point Guard in this league even sooner; Cleveland, this is your next star!

Here I can do it for you Cavaliers front office and best of all is that I won’t charge you a penny. Throw out your pipe dreams of landing Lebron in 2014 and start shopping the free agent market, use your incredibly valuable top draft picks wisely, and also keep Mike Brown around for his contract length, he is a good coach.

Lastly…if I was a Cavaliers fan I’d never want a star player who went out like this, back in my hometown’s uniform.

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