Most teams have cleared their salary cap in regular season until the trade deadline, hoping that they can get their chance of getting 1 or 2 free agents in summer 2010. Big names in the market like Lebron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson and others haven’t said anything yet at the moment until July 1st about the free agency period. Only one team is going to end up with King Domino (Lebron James). Same as for Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson and on down the potential savior line. Teams also want somebody who can fit with their needs based on their statistics in 2010. New York Knicks with cap space $34.1 million has to pick players who can occupy the needed spots to improve their defense and rebounding. Although James is the primary target, if they cant get him, ideal fits like Amare Stoudemire and Joe Johnson may be another option. Both of them have played under Mike D’Antoni who can run the offense and defense for Knicks. New Jersey Nets with cap space $26.8 million has to pick players who can occupy the needed spots to improve their shooting, defense and rebounding. They’ve got a former All-Star at point guard (Devin Harris) and a future All-Star at center (Brook Lopez). Still, they need some shooting like Matt Bonner, Eddie House, Kyle Korver who are available in this summer. But in order to really improve in a particular area, they need more than a specialist. They need someone who can play major minutes without making a sacrifice elsewhere on the floor. Ideal fit like Dirk Nowitzki could be one. But Dirk is far-fetched, because the former MVP is not likely to leave Dallas. But Dirk would certainly complement Brook Lopez. Maybe David Lee and J-J Redick could be in the list if Dirk will choose to stay in Dallas. Miami Heat with cap space $23.9 million has to pick players who can occupy the needed spots to improve their shooting and rebounding. Assuming that Dwayne Wade will stay in Miami, and Michael Beasley will likely be staying too, only other players they have under contract are reserves. After signing Wade, their priority is to land one of the available big men in the free agency. Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh or Amare Stoudemire. Ideal fit could be Chris Bosh, plus a point guard like Raymond Felton, the best point guard in the market. Chicago Bulls with cap space $26.8 million has to pick players who can occupy the needed spots to improve their shooting and interior scoring. The Bulls were a top-10 defensive team this 2010 season and with Tom Thibodeau of the Boston Celtics taking over next season, that won’t change, even though Luol Deng, a strong defender, would be out of the picture if the Bulls land James. Even if the Bulls do bring in a top-flight free agent, they will still need to complement him with better shooting than they currently have. Also, ideal fit will be Carlos Boozer (if James will not be available), who would give the Bulls the low-post presence they need and someone to run the screen-and-roll with Derrick Rose a few dozen times a game. But this is what so many owners, general managers and coaches have been waiting for. This is the reason New York and New Jersey dumped salaries and sacrificed winning the last several seasons. These teams had an eye on 2010. It’s all about “going for broke” now. And broke is a very real possibility. “To give up on several years so you can have one of these players, it gives some idea of the scarcity of this talent,” Berri said. “What if it turns out that they don’t get it, that there’s too many of them bidding for these guys, and then what do you do? Do you make a maximum offer for someone like Rudy Gay? “You have two competing forces here: You have an excess supply of star talent, which we would think would depress salaries, and then we have an excess demand for talent and that would of course increase salaries. It’s going to come down to how desperate teams get if they miss.” More Info.. Teams’ most awaited moment this summer, will their prospects land on their hands? is a post from: Daily World Buzz Continue reading →
