It’s been a very quiet 2014 NBA offseason, as none of the major superstars have signed with teams yet. Usually, the top stars have verbally agreed to sign with teams before the July 10 deadline, which is the date by which free agents may officially sign with their new respective teams.
A report from the New York Daily News has surfaced that free agent Carmelo Anthony has agreed to a five-year, $129 million contract to stay with the New York Knicks. Nothing has been announced yet so the deal is not official, but if the rumor is true, this would be the first major domino to fall in the free agent market.
You might be wondering where LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Pau Gasol, Lance Stephenson, etc. will end up. Other guys like Eric Bledsoe, Paul Pierce, Luol Deng, Gordon Hayward and Greg Monroe will also be coveted in the big free agency class. One of these players has to sign soon— we just don’t know who it’s going to be yet. Let’s break down all the scenarios of where these guys could go.
LeBron James – The two-time NBA Champion has a reason to feel frustrated after the Miami Heat got embarrassed by the San Antonio in five games in the 2014 NBA Finals. James seemed like the only one showing any heart for the Heat. His options simply come down to returning to Miami, or going back home to Cleveland.
Most superstars in NBA history play for only one or two teams. Tim Duncan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, etc. all played for one team, while Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, etc. played for two teams. If James wants to go down as one of the all-time greats, then he doesn’t need to keep trading teams.
If he stays in Miami, he alongside Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade, could make another run at an NBA Championship in the weak Eastern Conference. James could return to Cleveland and join the young nucleus of Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins to compete for a championship. Either one is a good choice, but he may not win a title right away in Cleveland.
Chris Bosh – The Heat star currently has a four-year, $88 million contract on the table to sign with the Houston Rockets, where he would fit nicely next to Dwight Howard. Bosh has made it clear, however, that he wants to stay in Miami to continue playing with LeBron James. If James leaves, then there’s a slim chance Bosh would stay in Miami. He has two great options, and he could win either place. It all comes down to what James does in order for Bosh to make a decision.
Dwyane Wade – The Miami Heat have been loyal to Dwyane Wade his entire career. He won them their first championship in 2006, and he was the second best player on their titles in 2012 and 2013. Sadly in 2014, Wade only played 54 games in the regular season, and did not look like himself in the 2014 NBA Finals.
In order for the Heat to re-sign Bosh and James, Wade will have to take a big pay-cut. Wade is nowhere near the player he once was, and he will have to sacrifice to keep his buddies in South Beach. If Bosh and James leave the Heat, the only other place Wade could reasonably go would be the Chicago Bulls, the hometown of Wade.
Pau Gasol – The Spaniard has been through a rough last two years with the Los Angeles Lakers, as he did not fit well into Mike D’antoni’s system. Pau Gasol has many options, as he could follow James wherever he goes, join Carmelo in New York, or he could join contenders like the Chicago Bulls and the Oklahoma City Thunder who are missing a key piece, like Gasol, to bring them over the top.
Lance Stephenson – The controversial young shooting guard made headlines after his antics in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. After blowing in LeBron James’ ear and slapping him in the face, many analysts believe Stephenson may have lost some money in free agency. Stephenson turned down a five-year, $44 million contract to stay with Indiana. That’s an offer he should take in a heartbeat.
If teams like the Lakers miss out on big free agents, then they might be a team that throws money at Stephenson, as they have a lot of cap room. His best choice would be to stay with the Pacers, who are just a few tweaks away from staying in contention in the East.
