It is going to be the most exciting free agent year of all time next year and you can add the super powered guard from Miami to the list. Dwyane Wade will be joining LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Amare Stoudemire, among others, as 2010 free agents. This just keeps getting better. (Note, appears my Pistons won’t have any free agent money or at least the kind to land these guys.)

Now don’t get me wrong, the rules are rigged to keep a player in his home team town. In this case Dwyane can make 30 million more over 6 years if he stays with the Heat.

But will he stay with the Heat? They have done nothing to improve their roster and Jerry West is 64 years old. Dwyane Wade stated Jerry staying as GM was a factor. Really?

Dwyane Wade to the Bulls?

Now the hot rumors have Wade taking his extreme hoop skills over to the windy city to play for the Bulls.

Wade grew up a huge Bulls fan, idolized Michael Jordan and left Converse this summer to sign with Nike’s Jordan brand. Wade’s charity foundation, his family and his agent are all based in Chicago. Wade even acknowledged Wednesday he probably fueled speculation of a potential homecoming when he recently closed on a $1.4 million townhouse in the Windy City.

“Me buying a place in Chicago, that’s supposed to mean more than what it is,” Wade said. “I just sort of laugh at it, all the speculation.”
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Wow, this would be an awesome backcourt of Derrick Rose and Dwyane Wade. Maybe one of the fastest backcourts in the National Basketball Association. Oh man, this would not be good for my Pistons.

Photo source Newscom

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Lamar Odom was a key part to the Los Angeles Lakers winning it all. The versatile forward that came to the Lakers in the Shaquille O’Neal trade with the Miami Heat had an outstanding season.

So why isn’t he getting a big fat raise like all the other free agents?

Lamar Odom is getting knocked around in the free agent market

Simple, Lamar Odom will soon be 30 years old and this is the new NBA where money actually matters.

But unless you’ve lost all contact with the outside world in the past 12 months, it’s pretty obvious things around the country have changed rather dramatically since then.

Which is how Odom, who was off helping the Lakers win the franchise’s 15th NBA title by selflessly agreeing to come off the bench most of the season, finds himself unemployed July 12 and coming to grips with the fact he probably will have to accept a contract of around $8 million a season.

“This is just a time where austerity is somewhat warranted,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said last week in a radio interview with KLAC-AM (570). “I don’t think there’s a whole lot we can do about it. We just have to suffer the consequences of the time right now and go through this. Everybody is tightening their belt a little bit.”
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So even after sacrificing for the Lakers to win the NBA title and having a great year, Lamar Odom will most likely take a pay cut. The times have changed my friend and even the NBA finds the going rough.

Image: Zuma Press

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Dwyane Wade collapses to the floor after beating the Bulls. Could Wade become a Bull?

The rumors have started and this one would truly be fun. How about if Dwyane Wade went to the Bulls to join up with Derrick Rose. Could it be the return of Pippen and Jordan and a return of the glory years of victories, victories, and more Bulls victories punctuated by NBA titles and MVP awards?

Wade’s performance in Monday night’s 130-127 double-overtime victory over the Bulls was one for the ages. His desperation heave to end the first half miraculously fell. He buried a dramatic 3-pointer to tie the game in regulation. He stole the ball from John Salmons with three seconds left and made a running 3 to win the game and send the Miami crowd into a frenzy. He finished with 48 points and 12 assists in the latest of a string of individual performances that proves he is at least the equal of two other members of the highly anticipated 2010 free-agent class, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

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The Bull’s fans can dream of a local hero dream backcourt of Rose and Wade, but the odds are it won’t happen. Big time free agents rarely leave their teams, because the money is set up to be higher if they stay. The league wants team loyalty by the fans.

But Wade is struggling outside of basketball, so who knows?

Wade is having what may be the most productive season of his career despite off-the-court turmoil that threatens to harm his once-unblemished reputation. He is in the midst of a high-profile divorce that includes accusations that he abandoned his children. His restaurant chain failed. A disgruntled former business partner made unsubstantiated claims about Wade using recreational drugs.

So Bulls fans should keep on dreaming and keep your fingers crossed!
Photo source Newscom

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Darius Miles and the 18 million dollar basketball

Darius Miles wanted to play and Portland will pay, but he won’t play for Portland. Darius will play for Memphis.

Confused?

Portland released Darius saying he was medically ineligible, but if he plays 10 games for anyone then Portland is on the hook for 18 million bucks. Portland’s owner even sent out a mass e-mail to all the NBA owners not to sign Darius. That did not sit too well with a lot of owners.

Miles was signed by the Grizzlies as a free agent on Dec. 13 after missing two seasons (2006-08) following micro fracture surgery on his right knee. The 27-year-old signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Celtics on Aug. 22, 2008 and appeared in six preseason games.

It was believed that Miles had to play in 10 regular-season or postseason games in a season for the $18 million to count against the Blazers. But his six preseason appearances with the Celtics counted toward the 10. Miles then signed with Memphis, served a 10-game suspension for violating the league’s drug policy and played in two regular-season games for the Grizzlies.

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Darius has tried to stay out of it saying he just wants to play.

Photo source Newscom

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Jason Maxiell taking it to the rack

Coach Michael Curry and the Detroit Pistons have their first victory on the books and Curry played a lot of the young guys. This is the new look Pistons.

Joe Dumars, the masterful GM, is mixing up a new brew for Halloween and many of the future Piston pieces are involved.

You will see Rodney Stuckey, Amir Johnson, and Arron Afflalo playing lots of minutes. It is a massive youth movement after failing to move any of the veteran players in the off season.

The Pistons will be the same, only different.

But Jason Maxiell remained a crucial piece of the pie and they were not sure he would be around.

Jason Maxiell will be a restricted free agent

Maxiell has a game that belongs down on the paint, but he is a couple of inches short, much like Ben Wallace was as a Piston. So how do you resign a guy that other teams want, but will probably never be a starter except under almost perfect team conditions?

In other words, Jason has the long arms, aggressiveness, and perfect shot blocking ability that you want, but the lack of pure size makes him more of a situational player. He can star, but not consistently star.

You don’t want to lose him, but you can’t over pay him. That is the key.

Well, unlike Ben Wallace, they did not lose Jason Maxiell.

Pistons power forward Jason Maxiell accepted a contract offer today and will not become a restricted free agent following the season. The deal is for $20 million over four years.

The deadline for him to reach an agreement was today.

Maxiell, 25, was a first-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2005 and has averaged six points and 3.7 rebounds per game in his career.

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Jason Maxiell will remain a Piston for 4 more years.
Photo source Newscom

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Today we bring you guest blogger Marquis Chapman.

What’s up NBA Obsessed fans. My name is Marquis Chapman and it’s an honor to lend some of my opinions about the latest NBA news and headlines for NBA Obsessed. Writing about the NBA and its players is a hobby I picked up while in college. I hope to one day contribute articles for SLAM and DIME magazine or any other publication that represents the young NBA sports fan.

Livingston hopes to bounce back from this devastating knee injury and start fresh with the Heat

Free agent and former Los Angeles Clipper Shaun Livingston signed a two year deal with the Miami Heat on Friday. Coming off a devastating, and what most expected to be a career ending knee injury two seasons ago, Livingston is ready to compete for the Heat.

“I’m anxious to prove and show what I can do,” Livingston told Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I feel like I have a lot to prove, not just from being healthy, but also performance-based. I feel like I can be a lead guard, with no disrespect to any of the guards down here.”
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Before suffering the infamous left knee injury that tore three ligaments and dislocated his knee cap, Livingston was emerging as a reliable young player with unlimited potential for the Los Angeles Clippers. The 6-7 point guard showed flashes of brilliance and a basketball I.Q. well beyond his years for someone who was drafted out of high school in 2004 as the No. 4 overall pick.

A healthy Shaun Livingston with a lot to prove to his naysayers could be a great addition for the Miami Heat. Livingston provides the Heat with something they’ve lacked for a while, a legitimate true point guard. His length and presence on the court is going to alleviate the constant pressure for Dwayne Wade to create for himself and others around him, and he could prove to be a big help to Shawn Marion by penetrating and dishing, giving the small forward some easy buckets.

While Livingston has been cleared to practice since Spring, and has participated in 5 on 5 scrimmages; playing an actual game will truly determine if he has fully recovered from the knee injury.

However, Livingston’s potential backcourt mate Dwayne Wade remains optimistic about the newly acquired point guard stating, ”I talked to everybody,” Wade said. “For the future of Miami, that’s a good start when you talk about point guard. It’s a great move. I’m really happy; excited to see our team continue to build for the future.”
source

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Stephon Marbury may never find his potential

For better or worse and most of the time worse, Stephon Marbury has been the face of the New York Knicks. He was like a plague to both Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas. Now the Knicks are prepared to face life without him.

The rumor is that the Miami Heat will go after Stephon. That may be a bad idea even though the Heat need a point guard.

Yes, yes, if Stephon Marbury would mind his ways the backcourt of Marbury and Dwyane Wade would be awesome, but therein lays the problem. Would he mind his ways. Stephon once admitted that he only played for the money.

Miami seems to be the wrong team for that to happen. Where is the leadership? Matrix is unhappy. Beasley if off to a ‘fined for smoking’ start. Wade is off and on injured. Riley is getting old. Just where is the strong leadership?

The Knicks are preparing to put Marbury on waivers by the end of the week, several sources with knowledge of the situation told Newsday. The team must await the go-ahead from Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, however, because it would involve eating another large chunk of money in a buyout, Newsday reported.

Marbury is entering the final year of his contract, worth $21.9 million.
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Two stories…

Years ago my Detroit Pistons picked up NBA troublemaker Mark Aguirre. It will never work the experts said, but the experts failed to take into account the strong leadership of Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer. Aguirre was everything the Pistons wanted and the reward was an NBA title.

Story number two…

One night while playing against my Pistons, Stephon Marbury buried shots from all over the court in the fourth quarter. You know that shot chart they show with the circles that are red for made shots? Stephon had about 10 of them all from different places on the court. It was amazing. Don’t even remember who won.

So that has always had me wondering if Stephon went to a team with strong leadership and could display those kinds of talents, just how good could he be? Just how good could the team he played for be?

We may never know.

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Shaun Livingston takes a bite out of crime

Shaun Livingston played for the Clippers and destroyed his knee. The Clippers eventually renounced their rights to Shaun. Now Shaun is trying to latch onto another team as a free agent.

Livingston worked out in Portland on Friday, and two league sources believed the Blazers are the favorites to sign the ex-Los Angeles Clippers guard. Still, it is unclear whether Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard has been convinced enough to add yet another guaranteed contract to his roster.

Minnesota executives Jim Stack, Fred Hoiberg and coach Randy Wittman traveled to Chicago on Thursday to watch Livingston at Tim Grover’s Attack Athletics facility. The Wolves, sources said, were sold on the workout and want to sign him.

The Miami Heat are also still in strong contention for Livingston, a 6-foot-7 point guard. Livingston is planning to work out for Heat president Pat Riley early this week in Miami.

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Shaun Livingston is young and has a lot of potential. He was drafted straight out of high school and is only 23 years old.

If Livingston gets back to full strength, then some team is getting a steal. The Heat appear to be the favorites at this time.

photo source newscom

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Andre Iguodala is surrounded by Rasheed Wallace and Jason Maxiell

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Andre Iquodala has talent just oozing out of him. If you watched the first round playoff matchup of the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons, it was easy to see who was carrying the 76ers.

Andre was the man.

Unfortunately the Pistons are one of the best defensive teams in the league. They blanketed Andre with Tayshaun Prince as the lead defender and help coming from any direction Andre went. Bad grammar, but true story.

Andre still needs to develop his outside game to be a force, but with his strength and athleticism, he is a daunting hoop player.

He is also a restricted free agent.

Andre must be singing with joy, but he isn’t. You see, to sign him you need a lot of money. What team has a lot of money left over?

With last week’s trade of Marcus Camby and his large contract from the Denver Nuggets to the Los Angeles Clippers, the thrifty Grizzlies remain the only club with significant salary-cap space. And they have said they won’t take on expensive contracts. That leaves free agents with few options and even less leverage.

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Time to talk NBA common sense. The 76ers need to sign this guy. They just picked up Elton Brand. They are young and eager. You take a first round playoff team like the 76ers and add Elton Brand to the mix, with Andre Iguodala, Andre Miller at the point, and jumping jack Samuel Dalembert, who knows what can happen?

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Today we have a special treat for the readers. Former NBA Obsessed writer, Angelo Fernandez, has written a special piece on the Varejao Problem in Cleveland.

Angelo Fernandez has taken his considerable writing talent to Wow Obsessed, where he pens all kinds of information on the World of Warcraft. If you are a gamer, then please visit Angelo’s World of Warcraft blog.

Your intrepid writer has been critical of Danny Ferry and the Cavaliers lack of progress in building on last year’s surprising NBA Finals team.

Today Angelo would like to address a growing problem with the restricted free agency designation in the NBA. It is always good to get fresh opinions and different ideas. With that said, here is Angelo and hope you enjoy what he has to say.

Solution To The “Varejao Problem”

After all the mess with his negotiations, it’s nice to see Anderson Varejao back in action. The recent Cavaliers game against the Indiana Pacers marked his first game of the season where he posted a respectable 6 points and 9 rebounds in 24 minutes of action. The Cavaliers won that game 118-105 due to the fact that Lebron James returned from injury coming off the bench. You can say Andy’s debut came out just fine.

While it’s nice to have the messy Varejao situation out of the picture and everything seems to be back to normal for the Cavaliers, this whole process left a bad taste in the NBA’s mouth. Andy just might be the poster boy for the next big cause of the Player’s Association: restricted free agency

In a way the term restricted free agent does seem to counter itself. How can you be free when you are restricted?

“It makes me question the concept when a player has a difficult time getting somebody to make an offer,” Players’ Association director Billy Hunter said. “When you hear complaints that a player should just sit around and wait for his team to make an offer, I’m obviously concerned about that.

“To me, that’s one of the things we should talk about going forth in the next round of bargaining, restricted free agency. They aren’t free agents if no one gets an offer because teams believe the offers will be matched. All of the leverage is with the team.

I think I have a reasonable solution to this predicament. The problem with restricted free agents just like the case of Varejao is that since they’re restricted the team can wait all they want until an offer is made by another team. So if no offer is given all summer long, the restricted free agent can do nothing else but wait. But what if the restricted tag could only last for a certain period of time? Imagine of Varejao lost his restricted status by the time training camp began. As a real free agent by that time, I think many other teams would have been interested. If the team and player cannot come into an agreement the player loses his restricted status with or without this suggested rule anyway.

I think dealing with restricted free agents this way is fair for both parties since the team still has first rights to re-sign the player but it also gives the player a good exit strategy if the team forces him to wait all summer long.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Do you enjoy the guest blogs?

Visit my companion blog on the NFL at Squibkick.com

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