Knicks traded Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford today and got back Tim Thomas, Cat Mobley and Al Harrington. The move was not for this year or next, but rather for 2010 when they will clear $30 M in cap space. I don't think they'll snag LeBron, because I think he will go play with the upstart Nets and Jay-Z. But I do think they sign Wade and Bosh. Thoughts?
No doubt the plan is to get Lebron and Bosh. I don't think it happens either, although I don't think there's any chance Wade leaves Miami. My guess is that Lebron ends up staying in Cleveland. He may lose some of the endorsement bonuses, but he ends up getting an extra year at max money for staying with the same club. Cleveland will likely also be set up to make a run at a big free agent to pair with him--although no one seems to be talking about this for some reason. Finally, it's my opinion that a player's legacy gets a substantial boost when he plays all, or substantially all, of his career for one team. I think Lebron knows this and it will come into play in his decision making. Plus it's still his home town (close anyway).
Look at the list of guys in 2010 and pick 2 of them, b/c they can afford 2 easily. Yao, Kobe, McGrady, Bosh, Wade, LeBron, etc... etc... etc... etc...
In signing a high profile free agent, you almost always overpay, and sometimes by a great deal. Does the owner have the stomach to do that twice in one offseason?
overpay? in the NBA, there is a maximum salary. The guys like LeBron and Kobe, etc... all know what they are going to be making for the resto f their careers. Teams stretch that sometimes with marginal players like Rashard Lewis, etc... but with true superstars, you can argue that they're underpaid, because LeBron makes the same as Yao, because there is a max salary and LeBron makes as much as McGrady, etc...
Yao probably won't even be playing in 2010. If so, he'll squeeze in about 20 games before his foot blows up on him. Big men break down. There are a few exceptions, but I hope that the Knicks don't go after Yao. I love Yao Ming...I think he's great for the sport and he's a great guy...I just don't want him on my team.
You dont have to worry about that the Knicks wont go after Yao, they are going after 3 people, Lebron, Wade, and Bosh. Lebron wont sign with the Knicks or the Nets, imo. The Nets ownership is about to fall apart, because they cant seem to get the deal done on the arena. Right now, I think he stays with Cleveland, but Detroit and Knicks probably have the best shot at him right now, with their potential cap space. If the Nets trade Carter this season, then they will be viewed as being serious about getting Lebron. But until Vince Carter is gone, scratch the Nets. Who in the hell wants Vince Carter anyway.
