I can't wait until the clock strikes midnight as the most talked about free agency in years will officially begin. I'm ready to see where LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and others are going to play next season. I've made a list of where I think the top free agents will be playing next season. Check out my list and let the debates begin.
LeBron James, SF, 25 years old
- If LeBron stays with the Cavs he'll be offered a 6-year/$125.5 million contract. If he goes to another team he could get a 5-year deal worth $96.1 million. The two-time MVP has given the Cavs the best record in the league in the last two seasons, but has failed to lead his team to the NBA Finals. I'll say it once and I'll say it again he needs another all-star to help him win a championship. I don't see anybody coming to Cleveland to help LeBron win a title in his city. I see him going to Chicago to play with Derrick Rose and others on the squad to help him win a championship.
Prediction: LeBron will play for the Chicago Bulls
Dwyane Wade, SG, 28 years old
- D Wade won a championship with Shaquille O'Neal in 2006 but hasn't made it past the first round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons (they missed the playoffs in the 2007-08 season). I know he wants help very badly and wants to stay with the Heat. I can't imagine him leaving South Beach to return home to Chicago. My wild card in all this is moving to New York if things don't go well for Pat Riley and the Heat front office. I think he'll stay in Miami and someone will join him this upcoming season. He's not going to turn down a 6-year/$125 million contract.
Prediction: D Wade stays with the Miami Heat
Chris Bosh, PF, 26 years old
- Chris Bosh is the will card of this entire free agency. You already know he's not going to stay with the Toronto Raptors. The question is will he join LeBron or D Wade or maybe be his own man and go somewhere else. Whatever the case, Bosh could make $96 million for the next five years if he signs with another team. He has never won a playoff series and he will finally sign with a team where he can begin to become more of a household name. Miami sounds real good but I think it'll take more time for him to win championships. If he joins LeBron he has a better chance to win a championship in a year or two either he goes to New York or Chicago. If he wants to be his own man, he could go to the Nets and play alongside Brook Lopez in the frontcourt. I think he'll head to Chicago to play with LeBron James.
Prediction: Bosh will play with the Chicago Bulls
Dirk Nowitzki, PF, 32 years old
- Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks lost to the Miami Heat in six games of the NBA Finals in the 2005-06 season. Since then he and the Mavs have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs in three of the last four seasons. I wonder if Dirk believes the Mavs are finished and wants to move on, or does he want to stay and try to contend for a title. The only other team I can see him going to is the New Jersey Nets to play with his former coach Avery Johnson, who led the Mavs to the finals in the 2005-06 season. I think he stays put and will finish the rest of his career with the team
Prediction: Dirk stays with the Dallas Mavericks
Amar'e Stoudimire, PF, 27 years old
- Amar'e and the Phoenix Suns has reached the Western Conference finals in their last five playoff appearances, but always fail to reach the NBA finals. Steve Nash isn't getting any younger and I believe he needs to leave to have a better chance of winning a title. Miami sounds like a great choice to team up with D Wade and become the next big man to help him win a title. He could go to New York and join another player to take over the Garden. This is a tough decision but he'll go to the Knicks and rejoin Mike D'Antoni to run New York City.
Prediction: Amar'e goes to the New York Knicks
Carlos Boozer, PF, 29 years old
- You already know Carlos Boozer will not join the Utah Jazz next season. Boozer is ready to play with another team that needs a power forward. He hasn't made it to the Western Conference finals since the 2006-07 season. I see him leaving the West and head back to the east and move to Miami, where he stays during the offseason. I think he'll be the power forward D Wade to make the Heat a favorite again.
Prediction: Carlos Boozer heads to the Miami Heat
Joe Johnson, SG, 29 years old
- I'm very angry with Joe Johnson saying he didn't care about of his fans showing up during his series when the Atlanta Hawks were swept by the Orlando Magic in the semifinals. He only averaged 12.8 points and shot over 29% from the field. He better be lucky that he'll get a max deal this offseason. If it were up to me he wouldn't get a max deal but New York looks like the favorite for a deal. A couple of other contenders could be the Bulls, Nets, and the Mavericks. I think the Knicks will sign him and he'll join Stoudimire at the Garden.
Predicition: Joe Johnson heads to the New York Knicks
Paul Pierce, SF, 32 years old
- Paul Pierce decides to opt out of his contract with the Celtics, but I think he'll stay with the team. Doc Rivers has decided to stay and I think Pierce will be loyal and stay. They made the NBA Finals in two out of the last three seasons. After winning a championship in 2008, you know he wants another crack at the title.
Predicition: Paul Pierce stays with the Boston Celtics
Rudy Gay, SF, 23 years old
- Rudy Gay is most underrated free agent in this class. He's a restricted free agent but I don't see the Grizzlies matching any offers other teams are willing to give him. I can see him going to the Nets to help out the frontcourt with Brook Lopez and Derrick Favors. It would be a good fit for him as the Nets are looking to rebound from a 12-win season.
Prediction: Rudy Gay goes to the New Jersey Nets
Other Free Agents:
Ray Allen, SG, 34 years old
Prediction: Ray Allen will play for the Chicago Bulls
David Lee, PF, 27 years old
Prediction: David Lee will play for the Phoenix Suns
Luis Scola, PF, 30 years old
Prediction: Luis Scola stays put with the Rockets
John Salmons, SG, 30 years old
Prediction: John Salmons goes to the Dallas Mavericks
J.J. Redick, SG, 26 years old
Predicition: J.J. Redick goes to the Houston Rockets
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