The Summer of 2014 has been a hot one.
Fresh off being dominated in a 5-game NBA Finals, the Heat have been relatively quiet relating to free agency--save for the Big Three and Udonis Haslem opting out of their respective contracts. If they do not make some sort of move soon, and if Bosh decides to sign with the Houston Rockets, the Big Three South Beach Experiment could be over. An inglorious end.
Melo. He seems to be the first domino right now. Once he decides, I expect the rest of the teams to get their contract offering into overdrive. Be ready for Melo's decision to come within the next couple of days.
Everyone seems to be holding there breath for Melo and James to sign then others will follow. Below is the list of unknown players who will drop fast after Melo falls:
Eric Bledsoe
Luol Deng
Lance Stephenson
Chandler Parsons
Gordon Hayward
Trevor Ariza
All of the above players can be nice pieces to a championship team.
Horton:
On Gordon Hayward-
The Jazz need to bring back Hayward. If that means matching a max contract offer, so be it. He is durable, a good shooter (last year excepting), and with a new contract has the potential to be the player-leader the Jazz have been looking for since Stockton/Malone. This type of leadership cannot be underestimated, undervalued, or under-appreciated. The Jazz have been searching for an identity and Hayward could be a critical part of that identity.
7/21 - Lance Stephenson
I have little doubt that Mr. Stephenson will flame out as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Like Raja Bell and Stephen Jackson, Stephenson is a guy with an edge who needs the right situation to thrive. In Charlotte, different expectations will be placed upon him. In Indiana, everyone expected him to be a little crazy but they knew Lance well enough to not really expect offensive output. In Charlotte, he can still be crazy but they'll tire of it quickly if the shots don't fall.
Everyone seems to be holding there breath for Melo and James to sign then others will follow. Below is the list of unknown players who will drop fast after Melo falls:
Eric Bledsoe
Luol Deng
Lance Stephenson
Chandler Parsons
Gordon Hayward
Trevor Ariza
All of the above players can be nice pieces to a championship team.
Horton:
On Gordon Hayward-
The Jazz need to bring back Hayward. If that means matching a max contract offer, so be it. He is durable, a good shooter (last year excepting), and with a new contract has the potential to be the player-leader the Jazz have been looking for since Stockton/Malone. This type of leadership cannot be underestimated, undervalued, or under-appreciated. The Jazz have been searching for an identity and Hayward could be a critical part of that identity.
7/21 - Lance Stephenson
I have little doubt that Mr. Stephenson will flame out as a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Like Raja Bell and Stephen Jackson, Stephenson is a guy with an edge who needs the right situation to thrive. In Charlotte, different expectations will be placed upon him. In Indiana, everyone expected him to be a little crazy but they knew Lance well enough to not really expect offensive output. In Charlotte, he can still be crazy but they'll tire of it quickly if the shots don't fall.
People like the attention, catering, the tour, the shows, respect, glamour. We all like to be wanted. However in the end I think all these players will stay close to home/stay where they are at. LeBron has a life in Miami as well as the others, I believe they all stay. Melo stays in New York.
ReplyDeleteThat is my take.