Let The Show Begin

The time has finally come. After months of excitement over the possibilities that lie ahead, the 2010 NBA free agency period is beginning. Or should we call it the "Summer of LeBron"? Unless you have been living in a cave for the past year, you know by now that LeBron James will be an unrestricted free agent starting July 1. With this being the case, numerous franchises have been working fast and furious to free up salary cap space by trading players and draft picks to try and help court the King. On top of that, some teams have even pursued and hired new coaches and general managers to help satisfy the game's hottest comodity. It's almost as if LeBron truly is King and the rest of the league is obligated to do what is necessary to make him happy, even if in the end, some of these franchises are left in disarray. We have seen the Cavaliers fire head coach Mike Brown, say goodbye to GM Danny Ferry, and even put players such as Mo Williams and Delonte West on the trading block in an effort to keep their most valuable asset in tact. But they aren't the only team going the extra mile to lure in this year's biggest catch. The Knicks, Nets, Heat, and Bulls are also heavy contenders in the rat race for LeBron. After weeks of speculation, it appears as though the Cavaliers, Heat, and Bulls are the frontrunners. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh could play a pivitol role in his final decision. Earlier this week it was reported that LeBron met with Wade and Bosh to discuss their futures and even left open the possibility of the 3 teaming up in Miami. This trio would undoubtedly be like poison to other teams in the league, and could be kryptonite to the continuance of the Los Angeles Lakers dominance. Some believe this could be horrible for the league, while others see it as intriguing and exciting. But regardless of what has been said and what we think we know, only LeBron himself can make the final decision. One thing is for sure...the quicker he decides, the better it will benefit the franchises that lose this bidding battle, so that they can, in turn, pursue other players in an attempt to win the war, which is winning an NBA Championship. With many quality free agents on the market other than LeBron, many teams could still bolster their rosters without the King involved, rather than leave themselves in player poverty.

One of the other teams with a slim hope of bringing in LBJ is the Dallas Mavericks. Mark Cuban has not ruled out the possibility of a sign-and-trade for LeBron, but the Mavs can be considered nothing more than a dark horse at the moment. With that being the case, Cuban must start his own pursuit for other prospects. First and foremost, resigning Dirk Nowitzki is the top priority. Earlier in the week, Dirk informed the Mavs that he would indeed be opting out of the final year of his contract to become an unrestricted free agent. Most people within the organization and the fans alike seem to be unfazed by this decision because they believe that this is all in an attempt to get a new contract with the team. Dirk is flying in from his native Germany to meet with the Mavs to start the negotiating process this week and hopes to get a deal done that will lock him into a new 4 year deal worth up to $96 million. Though the Mavs would like to bring the asking price down, they will do what is necessary to keep him in Dallas for the rest of his career. After the news that Dirk was flying in to start negotiating, Donnie Nelson sounded optomistic, saying that "this is a good sign." I think the fans would agree.

The next priority would be to bring in other talent to help in the process of bringing Dallas it's first ever NBA Championship. There are rumors that Mark Cuban will be flying out to meet with Joe Johnson and discuss a potential sign-and-trade with the Atlanta Hawks. Having Johnson alongside Dirk and Jason Kidd would definitely boost their chances of bringing home a title, but the real problems in Dallas may lie deeper than adding another shooter. For years, it has seemed that the main problem that has plagued the Mavs has been their lack of a truly exceptional post player. Erick Dampier is a big body, but his lack of hustle and skill has proved him to be nothing more than a space filler at times. To help with this problem, Dallas brought in Brendan Haywood from the Washington Wizards this past season, along with Caron Butler, in hopes to solve that problem. Haywood was the Wizards leading rebounder and shot blocker, areas the Mavs needed help in desperately. He did boost production in the post, but still didn't get Dallas over the hump. Haywood would love to return to Dallas, and the Mavs have expressed interest in bringing him back, but many believe that it may be wise to look elsewhere. It was reported on Wednesday that the Mavs have talked with the Minnesota Timberwolves about trading for star center Al Jefferson. This would definitely have an instant impact on the franchise. Jefferson has averaged close to 20 points and 10 rebounds a game over the past 4 seasons in Minnesota and is a very attractive prospect. The only downside to Jefferson is his inability to stay healthy on a consistent basis. And at this point, this idea is just that...an idea. If they are successful in bringing in Joe Johnson, it would be hard to believe that they could then acquire Jefferson as well. This would leave them with the option of resigning Haywood and maybe even bringing back Dampier, for much less money, of course.

What happens over the next few weeks could affect the entire structure of the league for years to come. A power shift is possible and some see it as inevitable. But to Mavericks fans, the main priorities are securing Dirk Nowitzki and rewarding him not only with a new contract, but with a player or 2 that can help him get closer to his dream of his first NBA Championship, a dream that he shares with the Mavericks organization and it's faithful fans. It's not out of the realm of possibility that this era of the NBA could be closing, and with it, so might the championship aspirations of certain franchises for years, especially if the stars of this free agent class choose championships over money. If this is to be true, it could mean that 2 or 3 teams could sweep up the prime talent and doom the chances of franchises left out of the circus of this summer. It's not hard to imagine that on opening day, teams like Miami, Chicago, New York, and defending champion, Los Angeles, could be stacked with the prime talent and handicap the remaining organizations around the league. It may be a negative on the league structure, but in a way, would be refreshing to see so many players choosing to sacrifice money in order to win a ring, rather than to play only for the money. For the Mavericks and their fans, we just have to hope that Mark Cuban can make the much needed improvements to stay competitive and be one of the winners of this summer, so that it may translate into being winners in June of next year, and for years to come. Only time will tell the rest of this intriguing story, but the right decisions must be made here and now to make this a storybook ending. Dallas has the opportunity to write the conclusion of this story themselves. While the rest of the league and its performers are looking to get a piece of the championship pie, it's now time for Dallas to step up and take a piece for themselves, before the clock strikes midnight and this story comes to a close.

Dylan White
dylanation37@hotmail.com

Feeling The Summer Heat

With the '09-'10 season drawing to its conclusion, the madness of this year's free agent period approaches. For over 2 years, the summer of 2010 has been the most talked about free agent period in the history of the NBA. What sets this year apart from those of the past is the truly exceptional talent that could litter this year's class. It is, without a doubt, the most talented class in the league's history, if not sport's history. Below is a list of the most sought-after, potential free agents, both restricted and unrestricted. Some will be on the market at the beginning of July, while others can choose to opt out and terminate their remaining contracts to become free agents. And there is a select few that have a team option, that if not picked up, will allow them to join this class, as well.

(P = Player Option)
(T = Team Option)

Potential Free Agents:

Paul Pierce (P)
Ray Allen (Unrestricted)
Nate Robinson (Unrestricted)
Michael Finley (Unrestricted)
Tracy McGrady (Unrestricted)
David Lee (Unrestricted)
Chris Duhon (Unrestricted)
Eddy Curry (P)
Chris Bosh (P)
Brad Miller (Unrestricted)
LeBron James (P)
Shaquille O'Neal (Unrestricted)
Rodney Stuckey (T)
Ben Wallace (Unrestricted)
T.J. Ford (P)
Michael Redd (P)
Jerry Stackhouse (Unrestricted)
Luke Ridnour (Unrestricted)
Joe Johnson (Unrestricted)
Marvin Williams (Unrestricted)
Tyrus Thomas (Restricted)
Tyson Chandler (P)
Raymond Felton (Unrestricted)
Dwayne Wade (P)
Udonis Haslem
Jermaine O'Neal
Mario Chalmers (T)
Quentin Richardson
J.J. Redick (Restricted)
Jason Williams (Unrestricted)
Mike Miller (Unrestricted)
Randy Foye (Restricted)
Kenyon Martin (P)
Darko Milicic (Unrestricted)
Marcus Camby (Unrestricted)
Carlos Boozer (Unrestricted)
Kyle Korver (Unrestricted)
Raja Bell (Unrestricted)
Steve Blake (Unrestricted)
Drew Gooden (Unrestricted)
Travis Outlaw (Unrestricted)
Jordan Farmar (Restricted)
Derek Fisher (Unrestricted)
Shannon Brown (P)
Amare Stoudamire (P)
Channing Frye (P)
Grant Hill (P)
Larry Hughes (Unrestricted)
Carl Landry (T)
J.J. Barea (T)
Dirk Nowitzki (P)
Brendan Haywood (Unrestricted)
Yao Ming (P)
Kyle Lowry (Restricted)
Luis Scola (Unrestricted)
Ronnie Brewer (Restricted)
Rudy Gay (Restricted)
Manu Ginobli (Unrestricted)
Roger Mason (Unrestricted)

This is the short list of talent that could be available within the next few weeks. The full list of players seems to be endless, which means that we could see a power shift within the league at the start of '10-'11 season.

The most talked about free agent of this class is definitely LeBron James. He could very well be the most sought-after free agent of all time. For Cleveland, it would be a knockout puch to the franchise, and a big blow to the economy of the city if James decides to take his business elsewhere. To give you an idea of what he has meant to this franchise, here's an amazing stat. When LeBron was drafted in 2003, the Cavs were worth $258 million. In 2009, the teams's value is now at $476 million, which is 5th in the NBA. The bad news for the fans of Cleveland is that the Cavs bowed out shockingly early in the playoffs, after a second round loss to the Boston Celtics. This is the second straight season that the Cavs have held the best record in the league going into the playoffs and witnessed their season end abruptly without even a taste of the NBA Finals. In fact, since being drafted in 2003, Cleveland has been to only 1 Finals, where they were swept by the San Antonio Spurs. Not to say that his time there has been all for nothing. He has captured 2 MVP awards, revived a franchise and a city, and has been to the playoffs in all but 2 seasons since being drafted. The only feat that he has yet to accomplish is to hoist the championship trophy at the end of the season. That's where the real question comes into play. Does he stay loyal to the Cavaliers and to a city and state where he has grown up and become a hero? Or does he take his chances with a new franchise, with perhaps a better core, that will give him a better chance of winning a title?

Most of this year's offseason will be focused around the decision that LeBron will make. Wherever he goes, it's possible that another big name could follow, whether it be another player or even a coach. We have already heard Chicago, New Jersey, New York, and even Miami come up in the discussion. The Bulls and Nets seem to be the unlikely frontrunners at the moment, unless he chooses to stay in Cleveland. For months, it seemed as though the Knicks would be the runaway favorite to lure him in, knowing his history in Madison Square Garden, the support of the NYC fans, and it being the center of the media world...at least in the United States anyway. But the Nets have surfaced as another leading candidate due to new ownership, as well as his good friend, Jay-Z, being part owner of the franchise. The Bulls have surfaced because he may have the best chance to win a title with them, playing alongside Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng. It should also be noted that while growing up, he was an avid Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan fan. Plus he could carry on the legacy of Michael Jordan. But is following in the footsteps of the greatest of all time a smart challenge to undertake? To Chicago fans, they could think of nothing better.

The only other option aside from resigning with Cleveland or finding a new home on the open market would be to arrange a sign and trade. This move would allow him to find a new home, still make the money he desires, but also leave Cleveland with some extra pieces to help fill the void he would be leaving. In other words, if he truly wants to play elsewhere, this would be a move that would benefit both parties, instead of simply leaving the state of Ohio and Cleveland getting nothing in return. Some teams that have surfaced as interested parties in a sign and trade have been both the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers, the Houston Rockets, and the Dallas Mavericks.

Mark Cuban officially came out and made it public that he would be interested in this idea, if LeBron and the Cavs could work out a deal. After these remarks, the league came to the conclusion that this was a form of tampering, and in return, Cuban was fined $100,000. But even with the fine, Cuban made it clear that he would love to see LeBron playing in the American Airlines Center next year, but this time, as a member of the Mavs. It's well-known that LeBron is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and the Dallas area in general. He even attended a Cowboys game this past season and talked to owner Jerry Jones. Then when the NBA All-Star game came to Arlington earlier this year, Jones again spoke with LeBron. One can only imagine how far the Mavs could go with LeBron, Dirk Nowitzki, and Jason Kidd running the show. And since Dirk is opting out of his contract, it will allow him to get a new contract with the Mavs that will help open up cap room to bring in some new pieces to the puzzle and maybe bring Dallas it's first title in frachise history. It seems to be a far-fetched idea to have "The King" playing in Big D next season, but in a summer where there seems to be limitless possibilities, you can never say never.

Many believe that LeBron will end up playing with another superstar next season. The most popular names that could join him are Dwayne Wade, Amare Stoudamire, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson. But nothing will be decided until the conclusion of this season. Without a doubt, this offseason could be as interesting and entertaining as the season itself. We have all heard the word that this year's free agent class will hold a "summit" of sorts to discuss where everyone would like to play and what would help benefit the league. To be a fly on the wall of that meeting would be a journalist's dream. But regardless of what happens at this "summit", we will all know the answers in the coming weeks and months. All we know is that by the commencement of next season, we could indeed see a power shift in the league and a new era of the NBA could emanate. One thing is for certain...the only thing more blistering than this summer's heat will be the developments that lie ahead in a truly historic summer in sport's history.

Dylan White
dylantion37@hotmail.com

Mavs Set Tone in Game 1 Victory

The Dallas Mavericks defeated the rival San Antonio Spurs in a convincing game 1 win that wasn't nearly as close as the final score of 100-94 might have lead you to believe. Despite several runs from the Spurs to keep the game somewhat close, this game had the feel of a rather one-sided affair. There are several things for an enthusiastic fan to take from the Mav's opening game of the playoffs to reinforce dreams of the Mavericks bringing home a NBA championship come June.

The first has to be the play of the Mav's superstar, Dirk Nowitzki. Much is expected for Dirk if the Mavericks are going to make a run at the title. Mostly he is just expected to be himself. To bring the same scoring, rebounding and leadership each night that he has provided throughout the regular season and indeed much of his illustrious career. However, in the past there have been times in the playoffs where Dirk has struggled. Earlier in his career, the way the game slows to a halfcourt affair and the extra time for foes to scheme against him defensively have frustrated Dirk. The Spurs coach Greg Popovich is widely respected as one of the greatest defensive minds in the game today. There was a lot of anticipation regarding what he would do to try and negate Dirk's contributi0n. Well, whatever it was suffices to say it didn't work. Dirk was able to do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. Although he scored 36, it seemed as if he could have gone for 5o if so inclined. At one point in the fourth quarter on consecutive possessions, the Spurs actually triple teamed him as an apparent last ditch effort to contain him. If he can continue to play at that level, it will go along way in the Mavs achieving their ultimate goal.

Another huge positive was the play of Caron Butler. It wasn't so much the numbers, although 22 and 6 ain't bad, but the toughness and leadership which he brought that were significant. He looks like a man on a mission out there, like he will not be denied. That kind of swagger is exactly what this team needs. It's what has been lacking from the Dallas Maverick teams of the past. That eye of the tiger that Butler brings to the court is the kind of thing that galvanizes the rest of his team. His teammates see the look and passion that he plays with and will do anything they can to avoid letting a guy like that down. It's that extra effort that this inspires that was also on display in game 1. Hopefully we will see this continue throughout the series and throughout the postseason. The entire team seemed to have a little extra bounce in their step. Some of that is expected, I mean these are the playoffs. But the way the bench was into the game and the emotions the players exhibited throughout the night is a little more than just that. The crowd noticed too, as they too appeared to step their game up and created a formidable home court advantage. That's hopefully a sign of things to come as the Mavericks progress through this postseason as well.

Another guy that seems he won't be denied was point guard Jason Kidd. He was unstoppable at times offensively in the second half and finished just two rebounds shy of a triple double. At this point in his career, Kidd has worked himself into becoming quite the shooter. This ability to stretch the San Antonio defense was huge in game 1. As long as he continues to distribute the ball the way he does and lead this team offensively, any scoring is from him is icing on the cake. His presence on the defensive end alone makes him a valuable contributor, but you just worry about the number of minutes wearing on his 37 year old body. The Mavericks would love to be able to get away with not playing him 40 minutes or more like they did in the opening game as much as possible. That would go a long way in making sure he stays healthy and fresh for a deep playoff run.

Probably the best thing the Mavericks did in game 1 to cruise to a victory was play tough, hard-nosed defensive. They played terrific, inspired team defensive against the Spurs all night long. With the exception of Ginobili, the Mavs frustrated the Spurs players most of the night. They forced them into difficult shots and rebounded the ball with authority, often limiting San Antonio to just the one, contested shot. However, it would be nice if someone could slow down the Spurs star forward at least a little bit. The Spurs at this point are led offensively by Ginobili and point guard Tony Parker. The Mavericks did a pretty solid job overall on Parker as they made him work for everything he got. Unfortunately there's just now a whole lot you can do about that floating teardrop in the lane that Parker has become so proficient at. You just have to live with some things when you're dealing with players at the NBA level. The 18 points Parker scored is not the kind of performance that is going to really hurt the Mavs moving forward. Luckily for Dallas, Tim Duncan is simply not the kind of player at this stage of his career that can carry a team offensively. Ginobili showed in game 1 that he still very much is. I must admit, I wouldn't mind seeing Carlisle give the rookie Rudy B a shot on Ginobili. He might be athletic enough to bother him just enough, not to mention some rest it could provide for Kidd. They need to make sure they contain Manu as much as they can. He's the kind of player who if you're not careful, can go off on any given night and lead his team to a win. The Mavericks would be well served to not mess around in this series. They showed us in game 1 what we were all thinking and hoping, that they are the superior team. Now it's time to take care of business and finish the Spurs off in 4 games. A series sweep will provide the kind of rest that this veteran team might need to make an extended run in the playoffs. Plus, the tone they set in game 1 makes you think any future loss to the Spurs would simply be a result of the Mavericks not playing up to the level we now know they are capable of.

Shawn Marion and the defense hold key to Mav's playoff chances

There are few teams in the NBA that are as exciting and explosive as the Dallas Mavericks when they are clicking on all cylinders offensively. Led of course by Dirk Nowitzki, who is quietly having another stellar year offensively, the Mavs have a formidable offensive attack. Overshadowed this year by the likes of LeBron and Durant, Dirk continues to add to his already future hall of fame resume. He is in the top 10 in the league in scoring, top 25 in rebounding, and earlier this week won the NBA’s player of the week award for an almost unprecedented fourth time this year. With a better supporting cast since the deadline trade with Washington, the Mavs seem more prepared than in recent memory to make a championship run. Caron Butler is a more than capable scorer from the wing and plays the kind of tough defense that is invaluable come playoff time. Butler’s biggest contribution however, might come in the form of toughness that he’s brought to the team since he first stepped on the court in a Dallas uniform. Brendon Heywood has been an integral addition as well as he has given the team more than they possibly could have expected. The rebounding and inside presence he’s added to go along with Dampier, is exactly what the team had been missing in previous playoff disappointments. Even the rookie sensation, Roddy B has brought an energy and excitement not typical of a raw 20 year old in his first NBA season. The youthful spark he provides to such a veteran team should not go unnoticed. Who better for the young point guard of the future to learn from than another future hall of famer, Jason Kidd. During the Mavericks 13 game win streak earlier this year, it was Jason Kidd’s play that inspired the team as they continued to stockpile the wins. Anyone who witnessed Kidd’s alley-oop, off the backboard pass to a flying Shawn Marion the other night, saw he might be getting back to that form at just the right time. Needless to say, Shawn Marion looked pretty healthy in his first game back from injury on that same play as well. That is what Mavs fans should be most excited about. Despite all the other significant pieces, none is more important than the health of the Mavericks starting forward. When healthy, the Maverick swingman is a lock down defender who changes games with his defensive tenacity. Although Shawn has raised some eyebrows lately with his offensive production, Carlisle considers anything offensively a huge bonus from his defensive stopper. Marion makes his most meaningful contributions on the defensive end of the floor.Marion also makes Carlisle’s job much easier since he never has to draw up any plays for him and he still finds ways to contribute, even offensively. It’s a role that many players might not enjoy, being charged with stopping the best player on the other team every night out. It’s a role however, that Shawn has embraced and one he now takes great pride in. He realizes he doesn’t have too many years left in the league, and winning a championship is the only thing that matters at this stage of his career. That’s great news for the Mavericks, as he could be the key to a long, successful playoff run. The NBA playoffs are so great in part because anything can happen, but you have to like your chances against Kobe or Carmelo a whole lot better with Shawn Marion on your side.