NBA

Chris Bosh Key To NBA Free Agency

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The X Factor in NBA Free Agency

Everyone assumes that Lebron James is the one holding up the NBA free agency period. It’s an easy association. He is the best player in the world, and when he makes his free agency decision then the rest of the free agency dominos will fall. There is no question that whatever James decides will create a ripple affect across the NBA, however he may not be the one who has the biggest impact on free agency.

What if I told you that Chris Bosh is the key X factor for NBA free agency? Truth is that his decision would have a greater impact because it impact’s Lebron James’ decision. After opting opt of his contract, the consensus was that the Heat wanted to pay Bosh around 11 million dollars per year, a huge pay cut from last year. Now the Houston Rockets are reportedly offering Bosh a max contract worth reportedly 88 million dollars over four years. If Bosh decides to go to Houston to not only get paid but to also be a member of a title contending team, it would impact the entire league.

Let’s say Bosh goes to Houston. There are even reports that Pat Reiley has been pushing Bosh towards Houston encouraging him to take the money. That would open cap space in Miami for the Heat to get Carmelo Anthony. Lebron has been saying that the dream is to play with Melo and if Bosh leaves that would open up the cap space for Melo to play in South Beach.

That might not be the only scenario. If Lebron feels that Miami has lost too much with the loss of Bosh he may go back to Celeveland or sign a one year dear to see what the market is next year. Don’t forget that Melo may stay in New York for a max deal or that he may want to go to LA. An intriguing possibility is if James takes a one year deal in Miami to see how New York plays out.

While we await the decision of Lebron James, it maybe Chris Bosh’s decision that basketball fans should be paying attention to. This time around it’s Bosh’s decision which could change the NBA.

 

Weighing his OPTions: Lebron James Opts Out of Heat Deal

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Lebron could change the NBA landscape once again

Lebron could change the NBA landscape once again

The madness starts now! Lebron James will once again be the main attraction in the circus of NBA Free Agency as he has opted out of his contract with the Miami Heat. Now Lebron James can once again change the entire complexion of the NBA like he did four years ago when he made the infamous decision to leave Cleveland for South Beach.

Does this mean that Lebron James is leaving the Heat? No, but he is sending a clear message. James is putting himself in the best position for himself and the team. By opting out he can take less money and open up more cap space in Miami. However, James has put the pressure on Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade to now take pay cuts. If they both so, James will be back and Miami will have the resources to add more pieces to their talented roster. However, if Bosh and Wade decided not to restructure and keep their high salaries, than James has put himself in position to test the waters of free agency.

Where would he go? New York and Chicago look to be out of the question. New York with their terrible cap space and lack of stars while in Chicago James would always be in the shadow of Jordan. Houston and Cleveland would have the pieces but a lot also depends of Carmelo Anthony.

If Carmelo Anothony decides to take less to play with James, then the two of them could team up somewhere. If Carmelo wants a max contract, then the Anthony James teacup will just be a fantasy. The most interesting place is Cleveland which still remains an interesting option. With a young and talented roster and being James’ hometown team, we could see a reunion in Cleveland. Not to mention there have been strong rumors that the Cavaliers working on a deal with Minnesota by trading the number 1 pick for Kevin Love. If Kevin Love joins the Cavaliers, it would be hard for James to turn down a team with that much young talent.

Even if Cleveland cannot bring in Love, they still have the first pick and could bring in either Andrew Wiggins or Joel Embiid to entice the King. But no matter what any team does to try to lure Lebron James, it’s up to Lebron where he plays. We know one thing, James will look to go to a team that he feels will be able to win him multiple championships. It’s going to be a crazy summer, but we will be here to bring you the latest on the Lebron James saga. The ball’s in you court Lebron, what are you going to do next?

The Return of the King?

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The King returning to his former kingdom

The King returning to his former kingdom

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hit the jackpot. For the third time in four years the dismal franchise will have the number one pick in the NBA Draft. With the most talented draft class in probably the last decade, the Cavaliers could be poised to be a playoff team in the near future. However, the true jackpot may not be in this draft, but possibly in the homecoming of their former savior.

With a strong young nucleus, this years number one pick could be the final key to luring back Lebron James from South Beach. Many Clevelanders might not want their former king to return to Cleveland as the wounds from his departure are still fresh and deep. Still, if Lebron James was to come back the Cavaliers would be favorites to win the title.

It may only be speculation at this point, but Cleveland has put themselves in a great position to entice James. Miami may win a third title this year, but their future is in question. Despite great ownership and a talented roster, the Heat are getting older and may only have one or two true title runs left. Despite this, James may choose to stay in Miami because of the lifestyle it has to offer and the larger market available there rather than Cleveland. Los Angeles and New York are long shots to get James in the future, but at least they provide the market for the Lebron James brand. Even though the end goal will be to attract James back to Cleveland, it will still depend on what Lebron James wants to do. Either way, the Cavaliers have made themselves as attractive a destination as possible. If they can add a legitimate coach, it will be hard to imagine that James could turn down a young talented nucleus with a great head coach. He’s in the business of winning, and that’s a winning formula.

King James may not return to his former empire, but even without James the Cavaliers now have the young pieces to become a competitive basketball team. With a young and upcoming roster they could soon become a perennial contender and maybe even a championship contender. However, in a perfect world the King will return to his people and bring them the championship they so rightfully deserve.

Clipped: Why LA is done

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An organization divided

An organization divided

They stood there in defiance. A team against an owner. The basketball team with no name, but with a loud message. “We do not support our owner”!

There is no question that the LA Clippers are in the center of a storm of controversy. In the past 24 hours, Clippers’ owner Donald Sterling has been accused of making racist remarks towards African-Americans. He even went so far as saying that he didn’t want them to attend Clippers games! This isn’t even the first time this has happen. In 2006, the U.S. department of justice sued Sterling for 2.75 million dollars for not allowing blacks to rent his apartments.

The fact that this man could make these comments is revolting. Nobody, and I mean nobody should judge others based on race. Excuse me Mr. Sterling. Aren’t you a business owner? You shouldn’t care if a person is black, white, blue, purple, or clear if they pay premium money to support your team!

After this bombshell it is clear that the title hopes for the Clippers have pretty much gone out the window. Now I know that many of you will say they are still one of the most talented teams in the league with a great head coach, and I would agree. However, it’s hard enough to win with any distractions especially one of this magnitude. Besides who wants to play for this man? Would you really risk your body for a man who clearly does not feel that way about other people? Even with the team still intact and beyond the fact that the team is protesting the owner, the big question is what next?

When the playoffs are over and if Sterling is still the owner  of the franchise, I have a strong feeling that there is going to be problems within the organization. I cannot see Doc Rivers wanting to work for this organization if Sterling is still in charge. Don’t forget the players. Would Deandre Jordan and Chris Paul want to play for a racist? I can’t see it.

While the Clippers still are in the playoff race and could potentially compete for the title, the next few months will without question be trying. With a team that was smacked in game four 118-97, and who protested the game by refusing top wear the Clippers logo in warm ups, it is clear this team does not want to play for Sterling. With a distraction like this, I see no way that the Clippers will make the finals, let alone make a run in the postseason. While the fallout from this incident still remain to be seen, there is no question that there is no fun in the sun for the Los Angeles Clippers organization right now.

 

What Could Have Been? Michael Jordan’s Baseball Career

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What would have happened to the sports world if MJ had succeeded?

What would have happened to the sports world if MJ had succeeded?

It’s been twenty years since Michael Jordan shocked the sports world by announcing his retirement from basketball in order to pursue a career in baseball. People were shocked and outraged, but most of all confused. Why would the greatest player in the NBA hang up his sneakers after winning his third championship in a row? We all know what happened next. Jordan rode the bus in the minors with the Chicago White Sox Double A affiliate Barons for one season before returning to the hard wood. After his return to the game, Jordan won three more titles and cemented his legacy as the greatest basketball player of all time. However, one can only wonder what would have happened if Jordan continued playing baseball? What impact would that have had on the sports world?

Many people look at Jordan’s baseball career as a failure but was it really? Despite lackluster stats in his first season, his manager Terry Francona has said that Jordan showed steady improvement throughout the season and raised his batting average by fifty points in the Arizona Fall League. Had there not been a baseball strike at the end of the season

Despite early struggles, had Jordan continued playing he could have maybe made it

Despite early struggles, had Jordan continued playing he could have maybe made it

there was a good chance Jordan would have continued his baseball career. While it is unlikely he would have been the star player he was in the NBA in baseball, with his world-class athleticism and work ethic Jordan could have developed into a solid major league starter. Had he made it to the show, Jordan would have been one of only a few athletes who successfully played two professional sports. His popularity could have helped baseball’s popularity because people wanted to see Jordan. While he might not have been the missing piece to a world series, Jordan’s impact on the game could have been huge in regards to the exposure and attention he would bring to a franchise. If Jordan had continued his baseball career what would have happened to his basketball legacy?

What would the NBA be today if Michael Jordan was successful at baseball? The murder of his father in 1993 played a major role in Jordan’s decision because his father always wanted Michael to be a professional baseball player. Would Jordan’s legacy be remembered as fondly as it is today?

Think about it. Without Jordan the Bulls probably don’t win three more championships, Phil Jackson doesn’t become one of the greatest coaches in league history, and Jordan doesn’t add more stats or moments to his resume. No more game winners, no flu game, not another three peat. Lebron James is viewed as a traitor would walked out of Cleveland. Can you imagine if Jordan never came back? All of those NBA fans would have viewed him as a traitor to the game. Chicago fans surely wouldn’t remember him as fondly, that’s fore sure. The Bulls and Jordan built the NBA’s future in the 90s by making the sport more popular and making basketball one of the most popular sports in the world. Would the NBA be what it is today if Michael Jordan never came back?

Thankfully Jordan would return to NBA and cement the sport’s popularity. But it is hard to fathom a world without Jordan holding a basketball. We will never truly know the ramifications if Jordan had continued to play baseball. The repercussions across the sports world have dramatically changed the landscape of professional sports in America had Jordan been successful in his baseball career. Who knows? For all we know Jordan could have built up baseball or maybe decided to play both at the same time. Either way, its hard to imagine a world where Michael Jordan played baseball. All we can do now is ask ourselves what could have been if Air Jordan became Jordan in the outfield instead.