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James, Wade and other big stars hit open market
Source: Agencies |
July 2, 2010, Friday
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THE landscape of the National Basketball Association could shift dramatically when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and scores of other top players hit the open market at the beginning of the highly anticipated free-agent signing period.
Teams have had July 1, 2010, circled on their calendars for years over the prospect of a seismic shift in talent.
"I have no idea what's going to go on," Hall of Famer Dave Cowens said. "I think there may be some surprises, some dark horses.
"It's not just the big guys. There are a whole bunch of other guys like David Lee (New York Knicks) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) that are going to have an impact on whatever team they go to as well.
"I can't imagine there has ever been a deeper free-agent market than this one," added Cowens.
Most of the attention has focused on James, the twice MVP forward with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Speculation has had the 2003 No. 1 overall draft pick headed to Chicago, or joining Wade in Miami, or staying with his hometown team.
According to reports, James, 25, Wade and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors had a free-agent summit at the weekend to discuss where each of the three would go ?? or if they'd perhaps play on the same team.
Cowens, 61, does not believe putting three of the league's top players on one team would necessarily produce a slew of championships.
"There are only so many trips up and down the floor," said Cowens, a seven-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics, on Wednesday. "You don't necessarily multiply James getting 30, Wade getting 30 and Bosh getting 25 ?? that doesn't automatically add up to 85 points.
"Somebody will have to go down because there are so many touches in a game, only so many shots. To have those guys on the same team is probably a far-fetched idea."
When a contract runs out in the NBA a player becomes a free agent. In a move to discourage players jumping around, teams can exceed the league's salary cap ?? last season it was US$57.7 million ?? to re-sign their own free agents.
There is a luxury tax for teams that exceed the salary cap so it is conceivable James, Wade and Bosh could go to the same club.
Among others joining the free-agent market will be Lee, Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz and Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal.
There is unlikely to be a flurry of activity on the first day but the flow of free-agent signings should begin next week.
Teams have had July 1, 2010, circled on their calendars for years over the prospect of a seismic shift in talent.
"I have no idea what's going to go on," Hall of Famer Dave Cowens said. "I think there may be some surprises, some dark horses.
"It's not just the big guys. There are a whole bunch of other guys like David Lee (New York Knicks) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) that are going to have an impact on whatever team they go to as well.
"I can't imagine there has ever been a deeper free-agent market than this one," added Cowens.
Most of the attention has focused on James, the twice MVP forward with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Speculation has had the 2003 No. 1 overall draft pick headed to Chicago, or joining Wade in Miami, or staying with his hometown team.
According to reports, James, 25, Wade and Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors had a free-agent summit at the weekend to discuss where each of the three would go ?? or if they'd perhaps play on the same team.
Cowens, 61, does not believe putting three of the league's top players on one team would necessarily produce a slew of championships.
"There are only so many trips up and down the floor," said Cowens, a seven-time All-Star with the Boston Celtics, on Wednesday. "You don't necessarily multiply James getting 30, Wade getting 30 and Bosh getting 25 ?? that doesn't automatically add up to 85 points.
"Somebody will have to go down because there are so many touches in a game, only so many shots. To have those guys on the same team is probably a far-fetched idea."
When a contract runs out in the NBA a player becomes a free agent. In a move to discourage players jumping around, teams can exceed the league's salary cap ?? last season it was US$57.7 million ?? to re-sign their own free agents.
There is a luxury tax for teams that exceed the salary cap so it is conceivable James, Wade and Bosh could go to the same club.
Among others joining the free-agent market will be Lee, Nowitzki, Carlos Boozer of the Utah Jazz and Cleveland's Shaquille O'Neal.
There is unlikely to be a flurry of activity on the first day but the flow of free-agent signings should begin next week.
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