By Josh Dhani
We got some good NBA news and rumors today, so stick around as I give you the goods.
Today is the big day. We have already seen a bunch of NBA free agents cashed in with new teams. Today is where LeBron James gives out his big announcement of which team he will be playing for as the 2010-11 NBA season approaches. He will announce his decision at 9 P.M. tonight. I literally can’t wait. Well, we already have a good taste of where he might be going. I have a good friend named Daniel Barber, who is a Miami Heat writer for BleacherReport.com, and he is dying for a superteam to happen in Miami. Now it may be possible. According to several reports, the Heat have signed both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Could they both have $16.6M deals like Pat Riley has said. Probably. According to ESPN, the small forward says he is leaning towards Miami to join Bosh and Wade. But a lot of people are telling him not to go to Miami, such as New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul. Paul wants James, actually urges James, to stay in Cleveland and let new head coach Byron Scott coach him with the Cavaliers. It’s going to be interesting.
“I wasn’t sure if LeBron was coming back [to Cleveland] and I just wanted to leave that decision up to him,” Bosh said. “I wanted to choose the best situation for me and my family, and Miami was the best decision for me.”
There’s also a new salary cap rule that will take effect soon as the Heat have a bigger advantage now. James should lean towards Miami.
“We’ll see what the best thing is for us to win,” Wade told The Associated Press. “I’m going to make a lot of money, no matter what happens. I’ve been blessed. I’m not counting every dollar and every cent. Let’s sit down, let’s see what the best thing is for us, for the long haul.”
“We want to build a dynasty,” Miami Heat president Pat Riley had told fans entering free agency.
Other teams that are in James’ books are the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and of course: the Cleveland Cavaliers. I am really looking forward to his decision. If he picks a new team, you bet I’m getting a new jersey.
In other reports, Carlos Boozer signed with the Chicago Bulls as it was a five-year $80M deal. A more detailed post will be coming soon regarding this situation. Along with that, Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant signed a five-year $86M extension with the team. Boston Celtics’ shooting guard Ray Allen re-signed to a $20M deal for a span of two years. Vinny Del Negro, who got fired by the Chicago Bulls as head coach, is the new head coach for the Los Angeles Clippers. Miami Heat center Jermaine O’Neal is leaning towards the Boston Celtics as his new team. Other teams that he may go for are the Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, and the Denver Nuggets.
According to the New York Daily News, Donnie Walsh says that if the New York Knicks do not land LeBron James, they will do a sign-and-trade that sends David Lee to the Golden State Warriors for Anthony Randolph and Ronny Turiaf. According to several reports, Ronnie Brewer could return to the Utah Jazz and leave the Memphis Grizzlies. According to Fanhouse, Shaquille O’Neal likes the San Antonio Spurs. Could it be his new team?
