LeBron Decides

LeBron James has made his decision. After months of speculation and rumours, LeBron told the world that he was going home.

This story was first broken by Sports Illustrated where LeBron discussed his reasons for the move with Lee Jenkins. And the thinking behind writing a magazine column to discuss his choice, rather than a press conference? Apparently, LeBron thinks that “After this, it’s time to get to work”. He also wished to explain himself about Miami without interruption. He said he didn’t want anyone to think “He and Erik Spoelstra didn’t get along. … He and Riley didn’t get along. … The Heat couldn’t put the right team together.” He started off by saying that he now realises that “his relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball”. This is something he didn’t realise 4 years ago, but he can see that importance now. 

LeBron James revealed his decision in a piece in Sports Illustrated

It seems as though forgive and forget was the order of the day as LeBron said that he didn’t have any hard feelings against Cleveland fans. Neither did he have any bitterness towards Cavaliers owner, Dan Gilbert. You may remember Gilbert from 2010 when he penned a furious open letter about James leaving Cleveland. In the letter, which was released on the Cleveland Cavaliers website, Gilbert described James as a former hero and a coward and described the build up to “The Decision” as narcissistic and self-promotional. LeBron couldn’t exactly ignore this career-defining moment in his essay, but when the time came to talk about it, he was fairly reserved. He said “I’ve met with Dan, face-to-face, man-to-man. We’ve talked it out. Everybody makes mistakes. I’ve made mistakes as well. Who am I to hold a grudge?” It looks as though the past has been forgotten, with the future being the only focus.

Speaking of the future, it is currently unclear as to who James will play alongside. Kyrie Irving is a definite team mate, after he recently put pen to paper on a 5 year, $90 million contract. As is former team mate, Anderson Varejao, who he said he can’t wait to reunite with. He described the Brazilian center as one of his favourite team mates. The big debate is whether LeBron will play alongside number 1 draft pick, Andrew Wiggins, or not. Trading the number 1 pick away without giving him a chance to prove himself may seem like a mad decision, but it is rumoured that it might be the only way to get Kevin Love. The power forward from the Minnesota Timberwolves is said to be intrigued by the idea of playing for the Cavaliers, and will be even more interested now that he will get the opportunity to play with the best player in the league. It could be Love’s best shot at a ring. Also, the Cavaliers are yet to sign Wiggins to a contract, which means he is still eligible to be traded this season. In his interview, LeBron name checked four of his new team mates, who were Irving, Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao. Wiggins was not included in this list, despite being the main name on Cavs’ fans lips. This may be reading too much into things, but with the scrutiny this statement must have gone through, surely one of James’ entourage mentioned it to him?

LeBron obviously has many reasons for moving back to Cleveland, not least of which the fact that it is his home town club. The former Cavaliers star “always believed that he’d return to Cleveland and finish his career there”. He also said that we wanted to bring a title to Northeast Ohio, a place that “hasn’t had that feeling in a long, long, long time.” But his commitments to Cleveland stretch beyond just basketball. He said a big factor in his decision was the idea of being able to raise his kids (2 boys, with a girl on the way) in his hometown. Also, he feels that he has a “responsibility to lead” and pointed to the example of helping 3rd graders through his foundations. Although many will see this as pandering to the media attention, it is nice to see an NBA superstar think about more than the money and market of teams.

So, what of Miami? Well, there are plenty of rumours flying around about their other free agents. Ray Allen had hinted at the idea of retirement in this off-season, and said he was going to consider it in his free time. But when Cleveland reportedly came knocking at his door, he is willing to play again. Chris Andersen has already left, Shane Battier has become a commentator and the Miami Heat still only have 4 players under contract. To make matters worse, the one man they thought they could rely on to re-sign a contract with them, Dwyane Wade, is now be linked to his hometown club, the Chicago Bulls. They have tried to convince players to stay by signing free agents Danny Granger and Josh McRoberts, but they’re not the marquee players that will draw big stars to the club. The one saving grace is that their draft selection, point guard Shabazz Napier, is looking promising in his summer league appearances. You can’t exactly replace LeBron James, but there are plenty of small forwards on the market, such as Luol Deng and Trevor Ariza, who could be heading to South Beach. Chris Bosh has been the main target, with the media saying that he is likely to join the Houston Rockets in the next couple of days. However, it was recently reported (in fact, during the writing of this report) by Adrian Wojnarowski that Bosh has signed a $118 million deal that keeps him at the club for the five years. It will be interesting to see how this deal affects the decision of other free agents.

Overall, it’s easy to see why LeBron James returned to Cleveland. Although it won't go down well with those in Miami, Cleveland fans have seen the return of their king. Let’s hope he can bring them some long awaited success.

Lin to Lakers

It has been reported in the past couple of hours that Jeremy Lin is to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The 25 year old point guard has been looking for a way out of Houston for some time now, and it seems like a return to his hometown is the best move for him.

Although details haven't been released yet, it is expected that the Rockets will send Lin, a first-round pick and other draft considerations to the West Coast. In return, they will recieve rights to an undetermined overseas player and cash.

The main reason for Houston agreeing to this deal is to free up cap space. Lin was set to earn $15 million in the next year, as was Omer Asik, who was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans recently. With these salaries taken off the payroll, it gives the Rockets more financial power to try and sign Chris Bosh. They will also try to match Dallas Mavericks' offer sheet for Chandler Parsons. These two moves have been the main priorities nfor Kevin McHale and the Rockets front office this year.

This move could be the first of many for a rebuilding Lakers side. In Lin, they have gained a young point guard with potential, as well as plenty of draft picks. Also, Lin's contract tuns out next year, so he can be easily off loaded if he doesn't produce. Also, Lin could learn a lot from Steve Nash, the other guard on the Lakers roster.

This seems to be a good move that will benefit both sides. Hopefully it'll be the first deal of many now that LeBron James has made his decision.

LaVine Needs to Grow Up

It’s been recently announced that the Minnesota Timberwolves have decided to sign the one of the rookies they selected in the 2014 NBA Draft, Zach LaVine.

 

Congratulations to the young man.

But part of me feels a certain sadness. I'm not a T-Wolves supporter, I admire a few of their players, but I couldn't be called a fan. I do feel sympathy, however, for fans of the franchise. In LaVine, they have signed a player with plenty of potential. He has an incredible vertical leap and has a nice jump shot that can make up for other guards (such as Ricky Rubio) that have less consistent shots. He could be a real prospect for the team.

Despite all of this, people are already calling him a bust from a draft class that was stacked with talent. Why? Because when we found out he was going to Minnesota, his initial reaction was to slam his head on the table. When he raised his head to face the music, he could clearly be seen to say “F**k me”. I mean, seriously? You’ve just been selected to play in the top league in the world and you’re not happy with it? And it’s not like the Timberwolves are a bad franchise to play for either. Yes, they are more than likely going to lose Kevin Love, but they still have good young talent in the form of Rubio and Chase Budinger. They may have missed out on the playoffs this year, but they still had a record of 40-42, which would’ve been enough to get them into the post-season if they were in the Eastern Conference. This is a team that could go places, and instead of thinking of the potential that’s there, LaVine instead chooses to act disrespectfully towards his new club.

Compare this attitude to that of Isaiah Austin. You may remember him as the center from Baylor University, who was told a few days before the draft that he couldn't play professional basketball. This was due to him being diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a severe condition that affects a person’s cells and body tissue. When he was ceremonially drafted on behalf of the NBA, tears were flowing from everyone, including Austin himself. He was humbled to even be allowed on the stage of the Barclays Centre to shake Commissioner Adam Silver’s hand, never mind to play in the NBA.

Just to clarify, this isn't a smear campaign against LaVine. I wish him all the best in his career, and I think he could make a big impact on a struggling T-Wolves team (if he can keep his temper under control).

I just wish that people would realise what they have

NBA News Summary

Not much has happened in the NBA in the past couple of days, but I thought I’d do a quick summary on the few deals that have been agreed.

In one of the earlier moves of the free agency period, point guard Darren Collison opted out of the final year of his contract with the Los Angeles Clippers. Instead, he decided to join the Sacramento Kings on a $16 million contract which will acquire Collison’s services for 3 years. He will be a loss for the Clippers, especially as he’s just come off his best season yet, averaging 11.4 points per game in just under 26 minutes per game. However, he is easily replaceable and the cap space he has freed up could be key in trying to get Paul Pierce. How successful this deal was for the Kings, all depends on the decision of free agent Isaiah Thomas. If he decides to stay, then Collison will provide great back up from the bench, but if he leaves then Collison may struggle as a starting point guard.

The Clippers then instantly splashed the cash on Spencer Hawes, a center who recently left the Cleveland Cavaliers. He signed a 4 year deal worth $23 million and is joining a franchise that could be serious contenders next year with the additions they’ve made in the free agency. This is a great move by the Clippers and is being widely lauded by fans and the media. It provides them with better back up at the center position than they had last year (no disrespect to Ryan Hollins) and allows them to add another three-point shooter to their side, alongside J.J. Redick.

Another team who were after Hawes were the Portland Trail Blazers. When it became obvious they weren’t going to get him, Portland turned their attention to Chris Kaman, a center who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers. The rumours of a signing were confirmed on Kaman’s twitter account. Details of the contract haven’t been released yet, although he is expected to sign a 2 year deal for $10 million. Kaman is expected to back up Robin Lopez at the center, with young prospect Meyers Leonard hoping to learn from the seasoned veteran.

In one of only a few deals to be completed in the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks added Swiss shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha. The Hawks are currently in the market for a small forward and Sefolosha could easily fill that role due to his versatility. But with the Hawks still actively going after other small forwards, such as Carmelo Anthony and Luol Deng, Sefolosha may be forced to drop to the bench, maybe as a 6th man. At $12 million for 3 years, Atlanta haven’t over-spent on him, leaving cap space for another big signing, if they’re able to make one.

There was no surprise in Dallas as Dirk Nowitzki added another 3 years to his contract, signing a $10 million a year extension. He took a pay cut, losing nearly 50% of his salary in the process. This is reportedly to allow the Mavericks to put some pieces around him to create a stronger side. A very selfless move that epitomises his illustrious career.

Another predictable move came out of Brooklyn in the eighth coaching change made this off season, as Lionel Hollins became head coach just four days after Jason Kidd left the team. Hollins’ last job was in Memphis where he took a Grizzlies side to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. He gained respect from the NBA world and only ended his tenure due to “philosophical differences” with the new management at the club.

The San Antonio Spurs have been on a high recently, after winning the 2014 NBA championship and securing two solid draft picks in Kyle Anderson and Nemanja Dangubic. However, they were brought back down to Earth with a bang recently as it was revealed that backup point guard Patty Mills was required to have surgery on his right shoulder. An official return date hasn’t been released, but he is expected to miss 7-9 months. And the bad news kept on coming when Manu Ginobili was told that he had a stress fracture in his leg. This could keep him out for two months. Both stars are likely to miss the FIBA World Cup which starts in late August.

Jason Kidd Leaves Brooklyn for Milwaukee

It was bound to happen sometime. Put a load of big egos into one club, add a disappointing season and watch the situation turn tense. That is what has happened in Brooklyn, with Head Coach Jason Kidd recently leaving the club.


It all started on Saturday when Kidd demanded from the Nets' front office that he should be placed above General Manager Billy King in the hierarchy of the club. This would see him take charge of the basketball operations side of the club, as well as being the head coach. In the NBA currently, there are four head coaches who have those powers, Gregg Popovich (Spurs), Doc Rivers (Clippers), Stan van Gundy (Pistons) and Flip Saunders (Timberwolves). Between them, these four coaches have 58 years of NBA coaching experience, as well as a lot of years racked up at NCAA and Armed Forces teams. Kidd has one season under his belt at the Nets, which resulted in limited success considering how much money has been put into the side. It's easy to see why he wasn't granted such powers.

Jason Kidd has made some poor decisions in his career, will joining Milwaukee be one of them?

Another reason why Kidd was reportedly unhappy was the contract he was signed to. Despite Brooklyn not being afraid to splash the cash, they didn't indulge too much off the court. Kidd was to be paid $10 million over 4 years, a fair sum for a rookie coach. However, fellow rookie head coach Derek Fisher, has just been paid $25 million for 5 years at the New York Knicks, a contract that is worth double per year. Still, Kidd was earning more than Frank Vogel (Pacers) and Mark Jackson (ex Warriors coach) who arguably had better seasons than the Nets (ignoring the fact that Jackson got fired of course). Evidently this wasn't enough for Kidd, who is now reportedly going to sign a contract worth $4-5 million per year, which is more on par with fellow rookie head coaches, like Steve Kerr (current Warriors coach) and the aforementioned Fisher.

This move has caused repercussions throughout the franchise, particularly with the free agency period beginning yesterday. Shaun Livingston has already left the Nets to sign with the Warriors. Although he stated the main reason he left was due to the Nets not offering a satisfactory contract, he said the Jason Kidd's situation "didn't help matters". Livingston may only be a role player, but the loss could affect the Nets next season. Another player on the free agency market this year is Paul Pierce, and there are rumours that he may be looking for a way out of Brooklyn, having being linked to a reunion with Doc Rivers, out in L.A. It is currently not known whether other free agents, such as Alan Anderson and Andray Blatche will follow suit in searching elsewhere for a contract. The worst situation for Brooklyn is that a superstar, such as Deron Williams or Joe Johnson, leaves the club due to the current instability. However, such moves could be fought against by appointing a new head coach as soon as possible.

Enter Lionel Hollins. The former Memphis Grizzlies head coach has reportedly talked to Nets GM Billy King about taking over the reigns of King's team. Hollins had a fairly successful career at the Grizzlies, leaving with a winning record after his 5 seasons there, guiding them to the conference finals in the 2012-13 season. Many fans were aggrieved to see him leave, believing he'd done a good job at the franchise, and deserved a big contract to thank him. The irony of the situation is that in December, after the Nets had a poor start to the season, there were talks of replacing Kidd, with Hollins one of the favourites to take the job. However, the Nets hung on to Kidd and now, nearly 7 months on, they've gone full circle and are trying to sign Hollins again, with the deal likely to be complete a deal in the next couple of days. If they're unable to acquire Hollins, other options are open to them, most notably Mark Jackson and former Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl, both men who can control a squad, and gain the players' respect.

Lionel Hollins could be the man to replace Kidd with his impressive mangerial record.

It will be interesting to see how Jason Kidd does at Milwaukee. He will be going from the side that spent the most on player contracts in 2013/14 to a team who spent nearly half of the $102.3 million put in by Brooklyn. On the plus side, he gets to work with young, promising players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and 2014's number 2 pick Jabari Parker. Also, he's already friends with the new co-owner of the Bucks, Marc Lasry, meaning he may get some leniency from the front office. But the job isn't going to be plain sailing. He is now in charge of the team who had the worst record in the 2013/14 league, and one of the worst records in NBA history. The Bucks were near the bottom in points scored (28th in the league) and points conceded (25th),  and seemed incapable of rebounding (24th). Jason Kidd has one hell of a task on his hands.