LeBron James is partying at the thought of all the NBA players available in 2009

Even with all the big name free agents in 2010, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh in the group, the year 2009 could still be the year of the free agent.

Try this out for 2009.

Some of the Restricted Free Agents: Andrew Bynum, Marvin Williams, Jason Maxiell

Some of the players that can opt out of contracts: Kobe Bryant, Carlos Boozer, Rip Hamilton, Hedo Turkoglu

True Free Agents: Shawn Marion, Andre Miller, Rasheed Wallace

So what about money?
Some teams are loaded depending on what happens.

Thunder 25 – 30 million
Trail Blazers 15 – 32 million
Grizzlies 18 – 24 million
Pacers 11 million
Heat 10 million
Bobcats 10 million

Plain and Simple, there will be lots of player movement in 2009 in the NBA.

story source espn

Photo source newscom

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Shaq vies for another ring

The story will be written from here on out. The Shaq trade has implications for both conferences. The fallout can be seen everywhere. Can it be coincidence that the yesterday’s trade news for Pau Gasol to Kobe’s Lakers lost to the Hawks? You may have to read that twice. Shaq brings his presence and salary cap to Phoenix and new GM Steve Kerr. If Shaq is a bust then Kerr will again be a brilliant TV announcer. Kerr had a valid concern. The center-less Suns would never get out of the West.

The Suns have the best record in the West (34-14) but have not played up to their own expectations. Their interior defense is among the NBA’s worst. Kerr apparently felt that without a large presence inside, Phoenix could not combat the big men, such as Andrew Bynum and Tim Duncan, in the playoffs. source

If Shaq wants another ring, then Steve Nash can finish his career with a smile on his face.

Miami Heat

Meanwhile in Miami, the Heat can instantly rebuild. The Matrix is a free agent, but he definitely wanted out of Phoenix.

Marion, weary of being third fiddle to Nash and Stoudemire, asked to be traded before the season began. He didn’t get his wish and, although he refused to talk publicly about it, remained unhappy with his role. source

Miami will have bundles of money and Riley will feature Shawn Marion with Dwyane Wade.

“This whole thing right now, from a standpoint of how I look at it, we have Dwyane and Shawn and it reminds me a little of the beginning of Jordan and Pippen. The numbers are the same for Marion – he doesn’t need the ball, he does so many things from that standpoint that he’ll mesh very well with Dwyane. source

Miami will also have a couple of other contracts expiring, the cap relief from losing Shaq’s contract, and possibly the number one pick in the draft. Can you say instant rebuild? This trade looks like a winner all around, but then the end of the story has not yet been told! NBA Basketball Fan Question What do you make of the Shaq trade? As always, any NBA Basketball related comments are welcome. More blogs about basketball.

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Shaq to change uniforms again

Has Shaq done it again.

Is Shaquille O’Neal up for “Rent a NBA Title”?

You get the Shaq, you win a title, and then you wait for someone to take him off your hands.

Quick quiz: What is missing from the Phoenix Doughnuts…er…Suns.

Answer: a center!

Quick quiz number 2: What is Shaq?

Answer: a center!

Are we starting to see the logic here?

No longer confident they can win a championship with their current roster, the Phoenix Suns are close to completing a blockbuster trade that will bring them Shaquille O’Neal, a source with knowledge of the negotiations said Tuesday.

O’Neal is scheduled to travel to Phoenix aboard a private plane Wednesday, the source said, to undergo an MRI on his ailing left hip. If he passes the physical, the Suns will complete the trade by sending Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks to the Miami Heat. source

This would allow Amare Stoudemire to move over to power forward. Although some tweaking of the Sun’s small ball run all the time offense may have to happen.

The trade represents a dramatic change for the Suns, whose run-and-gun, small-ball style had revolutionized the league in recent seasons. That same style, however, had failed to bring the Suns a championship, and team officials had become increasingly skeptical about their chances of contending without giving Amare Stoudemire some help on the front line.

The Lakers picking up Pau Gasol and moving to the head of the Western Conference list of favorites could be yesterday’s news.

Kobe Bryant thought Pau Gasol was taking him over the top. Now Phoenix general manager Steve Kerr has told the Western Conference, ”I see your Gasol and raise you one Shaq.” Shaq’s style doesn’t work in Phoenix? Taking passes from Nash kind of works for anyone. And dunking and shooting 60 percent fits just about anywhere.

The Suns need a center. The Suns get a center.

Look out Lakers!

NBA Basketball Fan Question Will Shaq be effective in Phoenix?

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Teammates?

Can you see it?

Rasheed Wallace joking with Shaq before the game?

A front line of Tayshaun Prince, Wallace, and Shaq?

Yeah, you are right; it probably has a zero chance of happening. But how cool would it be, if it did?

Just think of the next time the Celtics rolled into the Palace to play the Detroit Pistons and Kevin Garnett had to look up to Shaq and then see Rasheed needling him, standing right next to Shaq.

Shaq could help. The Pistons have a serious flaw on their team and it is in the paint. Rasheed and McDyess do not like to post as much as they like to shoot.

On the few occasions when the Pistons have lost this season, opponents have destroyed them in the paint.

Excluding the Nov. 18 game in Sacramento, in which both teams scored 36 points in the paint, the Pistons have been outscored in the paint by an average of 15.4 points in their seven other losses. source

Hey, Big Baby on the Celtics had the game of a lifetime against the Pistons the other day. If Big Baby can suddenly look like he is an All Star, then anyone can.

Shaquille O’Neal lowdown

Shaq will turn 35 in March and that is getting up there for a guy that carries so many pounds around. So his trade value is not too high. He can be had.

Ok, dreaming again. But even a 35 year old Shaq put on a solid roster is still dangerous. Besides, we all know Shaq only plays in the playoffs these days.

Shaquille O’Neal is off to Los Angeles to have further testing done on a dodgy hip that he hurt a few days before Christmas while diving for a loose ball. Nobody knows the extent of the injury other than to say that it could be worse than previously diagnosed (bursitis of the left hip). If it turns up that O’Neal has anything, anything wrong with his left side beyond just a little inflammation, then the Heat need send the Big Fella to bed, and not think twice about it. source

You scoff, but who would have thought Danny Ainge would land Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen and not lose Paul Pierce?

Could you see the look on Duncan’s face in the NBA finals?

Yeah, the Pistons should trade for Shaq. They could be handing a championship banner.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Would you make the trade for Shaq?

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This is how you win the game!

Uh, before we write off the Miami Heat maybe we should talk to Dwayne Wade.

You see, Wade had no problem putting up 31 on the Suns in what was the 6th game into a road trip when the legs should be dead.

One of the big baskets was a Wade steal of Steve Nash followed by a game ending dunk.

Consequently the Heat took care of the mighty Suns, arguably one of the best teams in the West.

It is about time for the Heat to make a charge. They have to be better than their record with a healthy Shaq and a healthy Wade.

Dwyane Wade scored 10 of his 31 points in the final four minutes and the Miami Heat ended their longest road trip of the season with a 117-113 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Monday night.

Miami, in its sixth game away from home in nine days, had double-digit leads in all four quarters to beat the Suns for the first time in three seasons.

Udonis Haslem added 21 points, Shaquille O’Neal had 18 and Dorell Wright 16 as the Heat put six players in double figures and shot 59 percent to win consecutive games for the first time this season. source

Make all the excuses you want, but the Heat are in dead last in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference with a 6-15 record. Phoenix is first in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference with a 16-6 record.

Could this be the victory that sparks the Heat into winning mode?

We are also hearing a lot of rumblings that Shaq wants the ball. That is a good sign. Usually he feigns an injury to sit games out at this point.

It is way too early to count out the Heat.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Have you written off the Heat?

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The Miami Heat are in a world of hurt.

Pat Riley admits they are not very good right now.

They need to get Dwyane Wade back as soon as possible.

Shaq is no longer able to handle the load on his own.

That is why a recent practice was so important.

Dwyane Wade’s surgically repaired knee survived its first real test with no setbacks. During Wade’s first full-contact practice this season with the Miami Heat, rookie center Joel Anthony threw his 6-foot-9, 260-pound body toward the 2006 NBA finals MVP as the guard headed toward the basket. …

The good news for the Heat was that Wade reported no problems related to his left knee or left shoulder — both of which were operated on May 15 — after practice Monday.

The bad news for the franchise is that Wade still doesn’t know when he’ll be ready to return to the Miami lineup, which could clearly use a boost after a 0-3 start. source

In the wide open and in many cases weak Eastern Conference, the duo of Shaq and Wade would still like to comment on this season.

NBA Dwyane Wade factoid – One of Wade’s more memorable collegiate moments came in the 2003 Midwest Regional Final in the NCAA Tournament in Minneapolis. Against heavily favored, top-ranked and top-seeded Kentucky Wildcats, Wade recorded a triple-double with 29 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists.^[11] His triple double was just the third ever in NCAA Tournament history.^[11] Wade’s accomplishment helped lead Marquette over the Wildcats 83–69 and into the Final Four. source

It has been a tough road back for one of the NBA’s brightest stars.

Wade dislocated his left shoulder in February and missed most of the final two months of the regular season, plus was hobbled by the condition called “jumper’s knee” when he came back for Miami’s short stint in the playoffs.

So he had both conditions repaired at the same time in mid-May, being told the rehabilitation process would take about six months — meaning he’s actually a bit ahead of schedule.

If Wade comes back at full strength then Miami will be a factor in the East, but they can not afford to keep piling up losses in the meantime.

The Heat need Wade and they need him now.

NBA Basketball Fan Question With Wade can the Heat win it all?

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Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA Championship, according to SI.com writer Ian Thomsen. The runner up will be the Detroit Pistons.
The stars will be Dirk Nowitzki and Josh Howard for the Rockets.

Editor Note: Mark Cuban finally dances with the stars to the title!

Let’s look at the other writer’s choices:

Marty Burns: NBA Champion – San Antonio Spurs
Runner Up – Detroit Pistons

Editor Note: David Stern will not be happy with the low TV ratings. Maybe Rasheed can create some controversy.

Chris Mannix: NBA Champion – San Antonio Spurs
Runner Up – Boston Celtics
Chris has Tony Parker playing to the level of Jason Kidd and Steve Nash.

Editor Note: Parker? Come on, maybe playing with female fans heads everywhere. Tony is a great complement to The Big Fundamental, but he is no Kidd or Nash.

Jack McCallum: NBA Champion – Dallas Mavericks
Runner Up – Boston Celtics
Jack has the Mav’s highly motivated after last year’s disappointment in the first round.

Editor Note: Again we have Cuban dancing. They must have started playing defense or something. It would be great to see Garnett in the finals.

Steve Aschburner: NBA Champion – Phoenix Suns
Runner Up – Cleveland Cavaliers
Steve has the Mavs and Spurs beat each other up before facing Phoenix.

Editor Note: Ok, the Suns, but the Cavs coming back with the poor off season they had? If so, give LeBron another 80 million in endorsements. Hmm, LeBron and Nash, David Stern is licking his chops.

Paul Forrester: NBA Champion – Dallas Mavericks
Runner Up – Chicago Bulls.
Paul has the Bulls possibly picking up Kobe.

Editor Note: The Bulls are not ready.

NBA Obsessed pick: NBA Champion – Phoenix Suns
Runner Up – Detroit Pistons
Your Hit and Run author is tired of the Spurs and my poor Pistons will be the bridesmaid.

Big question: Where are Shaq and the Heat?

See some of SI.com’s other picks here.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Who are you picking and why?

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Today we will examine the top five players out of a list of the top 50 players currently playing in the NBA.

Tim is number 1

Tim Duncan is rated number 1by Tony Mejia of CBSSports.com.

Last year Tim was rated number 6. He may seem boring, but you do not want to face him in the playoffs.

Kobe Bryant is number 2. Didn’t he have 80 some points in a game last year? And he is only number 2?

Bryant is still without an MVP and hasn’t gotten out of the first round of the playoffs since 2004. He’s feuding with the Lakers, gritting his teeth through all the drama — some of it self-inflicted — and is likely going to waste another season of his prime toiling for mediocre results. source

Number 3 from the  state of Ohio is LeBron James. Did you happen to catch LeBron torching my Pistons in the playoffs last year with power drive and slam after power drive and slam?

If you didn’t catch LeBron, don’t feel bad, because neither did the Pistons, leading to the Cavs in the NBA Finals.

Will the Cavs return to the NBA Finals? Well, if the work LeBron did in the off season is any indication, start buying your tickets now!

If the improved jumper he showed off over the summer is any indication of things to come, there won’t be any stopping James this season. He rarely has problems getting to the rim but would become indefensible if teams can’t play off his jumper. When you throw his passing ability into the mix, LBJ might be able to get the Cavs any shot they want, anytime he wants.

Number 4 is Dwayne Wade. He will have to do it all for the Heat, because about all else they have is an aging Shaq. Dwayne had two surgeries this summer and is ready to turn it up!

Number 5 is Steve Nash, the best white North American player (Canadian). You must watch this guy before his career is over, because he can penetrate like no player you have ever seen. Steve has total control of the ball in Phoenix’s high speed high octane offense.

If you want to read about the next 45 then go to Tony’s column right now.

NBA Basketball Fan Question Who is in your top 5?

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Kevin Garnett thinking this could be my year

Well, at least one prognosticator thinks the Boston Celtics have a great shot at the NBA Title. Kenny Smith of Yahoo Sports is picking the Celtics as the best team in the Eastern Conference.

Here is part of his list of the best of the Eastern Conference.

1. Boston Celtics with the 3 headed monster of KG, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

With three unselfish stars in Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett, the learning curve is shorter than most. They will dominate a conference with only three contenders (the others being Detroit and Miami).

Boston is lacking in supporting players. Unselfish or not, there is only 1 basketball for the 3 of them. That could spell problems.

2. Detroit Pistons with 4 great players and no center.

They are one of the few teams that can only beat themselves. That’s why they always believe it’s a fluke when they lose. Experience wins, and Detroit’s veterans can still get the job done.

No defensive presence in the paint proved to be their undoing in the playoffs. The mirror problem is no post presence either. Rasheed Wallace prefers the perimeter.

3. Miami Heat with the young super star and the aging Hall of Famer to be.

Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade tasted the sweet smell of success two years ago and have the tools to get back to the NBA finals. With Alonzo Mourning leaving after this season, an aging Shaq gets one last real chance at another title before he’s done.

Can Shaq do it again? What injury will he have to embellish to skip most of the regular season?

4. Cleveland Cavaliers with the King who would inherit the NBA.

LeBron James and the young Cavs shocked the world last season, but the surprise factor is over. They will have a big task learning to live up to expectations.

LeBron can be a one man team for so long. Where will he get the support he needs? And don’t even think about what happens if he gets hurt.

There you have it. Maybe the weakest the Eastern Conference has been in some time.

Don’t count out the Bull, Raptors, or Nets either.

Right now, though, it is the 3 headed monster led by Kevin Garnett!

NBA Basketball Fan Question Are you picking Boston or does that just seem too easy?

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