NBA Free Agency: LeBron Watch Officially Begins

• Author: Min-Q Kim
• Posted on: Wednesday July 7, 2010 at 9:00 AM
• Filed under: sports, free agency, nba, basketball, lebron james, dwyane wade, chris bosh, jay-z, mikhail prokhorov, new jersey nets, new york knicks, miami heat, exclusive

It's the Summer that NBA teams have been waiting for. The Knicks and Nets have suffered through some abysmal seasons, trading away whatever big-money [read: good] players they could, in the interest of clearing enough salary cap space in preparation for this free agent class. Now they are both in good position, at least financially, to sign two max contracts out of this year's batch. And if you think that's good, as of right now, the Miami Heat have three players on their roster total. Needless to say, they have some room under the salary cap...

Thankfully, as of midnight, July 1st, the 2010 Free Agent class is now officially... Free. Free to stay, free to go, free to do whatever their little hearts desire. But expect the next few months to be a most expensive game of musical chairs, involving some once proud, now desperate, basketball organizations and some of the NBA's marquee players.

Here, for example, is Mayor Bloomberg basically on his hands and knees, begging LeBron James to come to New York. Interestingly, there's nothing in his pitch about the Knicks... But what's that you say? The Statue of Liberty is here? Gotta be honest, and this is with all due respect... Not New York's finest moment.

The prize of the litter is obviously LeBron James, who is fielding various teams' best offers from his home in Ohio over the next couple of days. He has reportedly said that he'd like to make a decision by July 5th. Interested teams include the aforementioned Knicks and Nets, the Cleveland Cavaliers [his current team], the Bulls, Heat, Mavericks, Clippers... oh, pretty much everyone. Hell, he could probably make the US Soccer Team.

"We Are All Witness": LeBron evokes the image of that other savior-type person. (Image via nba.com)

Dwyane Wade, he of Miami Heat fame, is the Yale to LeBron James' Harvard in this group. Most are convinced that he will return to South Beach next season, so most of the intrigue has swirled around LeBron. But he is every bit the impact player that James is, with a championship ring and a Finals MVP trophy to prove it. LeBron ain't got that.

Dwyane Wade has a championship in Miami. Most believe he'll stay right where he is and play the role of recruiter / welcome wagon. (Photo: Getty)

Chris Bosh is sort of an X-factor in all this -- a capable big man, we've learned, is necessary to win in this league. Just ask Kobe Bryant what life was like without Shaquille O'Neal, and what it's now like with Pau Gasol. Bosh has said that he will wait to see what LeBron does before making any decisions on his future... Which sounds like he's ready to follow LeBron, follow him wherever he may go.

Chris Bosh is very tall. You can't teach tall. (photo: Getty)

Here's the real [scary] question: Could they all three end up together in Miami? The idea has not been ruled out -- in fact, it's gaining momentum among NBA pundits.

L-R: Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, LeBron James at the Beijing Olympics in '08. Could they put together the next great NBA dynasty in Miami? (Getty Images)

Those are the headliners. The rest of the Free Agent Class of 2010 are not exactly chopped liver. Paul Pierce, Dirk Nowitzki, Amare Stoudamire, Joe Johnson, Ray Allen, Carlos Boozer, among others, will all field offers from teams who miss out on the big three.

Here's a little drama nugget you might like, out of New York City: We've already got New Jersey Nets ownership, billionaire Russian Mikhail Prokhorov and Jay-Z, on a 225 x 95-foot billboard with a Nets logo, that reads, "The Blueprint for Greatness." It's scheduled to be complete by -- you guessed it -- Thursday, July 1st, the first day of free agency. What's more, it strategically overlooks Madison Square Garden, which is where the Knicks play their home games. Did we mention that Jay-Z and LeBron James are best friends? Get ready, NBA fans. This is about to get good.

Jay-Z is part owner of the Nets and LeBron James is possibly looking for a new team. Just saying... (Getty)

Our predictions? We're thinking LeBron stays in Cleveland. Wade stays in Miami, and Bosh joins Wade... meaning the Lakers are still better than everyone, and win another title next year.

Kobe must find all this free agent business very adorable. (Getty)

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