It's astonishing that the Nets currently have $23 million of salary cap room on tap the same summer of 2010 when LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh have the right to declare free agency. More significantly, they will flaunt a coveted core of rising and diminishing superstars (Devin Harris, Vince Carter, Lopez, Yi Jianlian), regal role players (Boone, Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts) and veteran stunt doubles (Eduardo Najera, Keyon Dooling) in hopes one of those quasars (or another luminous lunar genius) might find irresistible to join if the ultimate sketch is to compete for a championship. should we be afraid of them?
we gotta prepare son! i remember a couple of months ago Daryl talked about the summer of 2010 and how much of a big deal it is too him.
i heard a rumor that wade,lebron,bosh and melo all signed big deals so they can bolt and play for jayz
Lopez and Yi, rising superstars? In what alternate universe? Remove the "super" and you're still stretching it. Harris looks like he might be a star, and VC definitely qualifies as a diminishing superstar. But giving the superstar label to all four of those guys is REALLY pushing it. Even two years from now, it's hard to imagine LeBron getting very excited at the prospect of playing alongside Lopez and Yi -- he can pretty find guys like that on just about any team in the league.<BR>
Lots of teams are gunning for 2010. If the Nets somehow sign two of the big UFAs that summer, oh well. I doubt it. It's too far off and what happens is too unpredictable. I think it's 99% LeBron leaves the Cavs and 90% that Wade leaves the Heat. Probably 7-8 teams will have $15+ million in cap space by then. I wouldn't give the Nets an advantage over the Knicks, Rockets, Mavs, Pistons and whoever else will be way under the cap.
The only problem with the whole Nets-Jay-Z-LeBron-Brooklyn scenario is that it won't happen because Ratner is hemorrhaging cash and won't be able to build his Atlantic Yards project barring a miracle (despite what he claims in public). http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/51834/
LeBron is quite ambitious and (IMO) every vibe he gives off says he's leaving. I can't think of him ever implying he was going to stay in Cleveland. Very often, star players will pay lip service and say they have every intention of finishing their career with their current team. He hasn't done that and is very tight-lipped. LeBron obviously can't say aloud he's leaving. I get the feeling he yearns for a bigger stage and wants to leave Ohio for a major market. I believe some of his endorsements triple in value if he plays in Chicago, New York or LA. As discussed in the other thread, Miami is just NOT an NBA city. But in the unlikely event the Heat win a championship or are a top-level championship contender at the end of the 09/10 season, I could imagine him staying. But IMO, once Riles leaves the Heat they will sink back into oblivion.
Let's not forget that they have Dallas' unprotected pick in 2010 as well. I dunno about you guys, but Dallas' descent may get even worse next year ::crosses fingers::. It'd be great if New Jersey could steal a high lotto pick from them, but it would cut into their cap space if they did.
This article says there might be 18 teams in position to offer max contracts in 2010. LeBron also has strong words to encourage Cleveland fans. http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1226914259315280.xml&coll=2
yeah, that could really meant a back court of, Harris and Wade. With Lebron is playing at SF. And whover they sign with the remainders at the PF and C. If Yi and Lopez did not cut it.
If James stayed in Cleveland I think he would be looked at in a whole new light by a lot of people. I think it would be amazing if he "Stayed at home" and played out his career there.
The rox are going to have space also. Tracy,rafer,scola, and hayes is like 30m I think Knicks with the syle and the name will be players. They can trade curry for marion who expires this yr. James comes off that yr and marbury this yr. That style,that city and the money, the knicks have a better chance.
