Free Agency. Day 7

Well, the day started with the biggest news of this free agency. Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh are joining forces in Miami. The Miami Heat now have 4 players on the roster. Until I see how does Pat Riley fills that roster I'm not grading these moves. Sure, they are a heck of a star , if they get the right players they could really become the class of the East. In the other hand, 8 minimum players with two superstars and 2 roles players is not what you would call a "blueprint for success" ( Bad joke, sorry).

Something you have to give to the Heat, they are so far the winners of this free agency madness. They got two max agents and rumors point that Lebron is about to join them. Now you have to ask yourself, does a Bosh/Wade/Lebron teamed with Beasly, Chambers and 7 minimum players can win the title? It's all about those 7 players. If Riley get an enforcer, a couple of shooters, a pass-first point guard and smart players they would be the favorites.

A news came out in the middle of all this. Kevin Durant signed an 5 year extension ( $86m) with OKC. No meetings. No drama. No ESPN special. Just a little sign in the dotted line and get back to bastkeball. I tweeted about this and I'll say it again. Aren't we barking at the wrong tree? Isn't the way Durant is behaving how Lebron suppose to behave? Critics of Lebron have always say that he is more focus on becoming a global icon and make his "brand" stronger and stronger. Basketball appears just to be a way to get there.

After the Wade/Bosh announcement the Knicks/Bulls/Nets started to scramble around looking ways to entice Lebron. There were reports flying left and right about Knicks and Bulls talking to Boozer. The Nets were in talk with David Lee. Just after noon we heard that Boozer signed with the Bulls ( 5 yr/somewhere between $75m and $80m). Which makes things even more interesting. Now Lebron have a better idea of what are his choises:

1. Heat with 4 players on their roster ( Wade, Bosh. Chalmers and Beasly)

2. Bulls with a core of Rose/Noah/Boozer

3. Knicks with Amare and some help from Gallinari

4. Cavs

I don't know about him but Chicago is looking pretty hot.

At the end of the day was also reported the Ray Allen is going back to Boston (2yr/$10m).

As I'm typing this twitter has gone insane. Broussard is reporting Lebron is headed to Miami.

Free Agency. Day 6

The Magic got a former Duke star, no not Boozer, they signed Chris Duhon to a 4 yrs/$15 million contract. Good luck with that.

No more news all day until late when it was reported that Lebron is going to announce his decision in an 1 hours special over ESPN. I have no comments about that. Really. No idea what to think. I just don't see Lebron leaving Cleveland like that. Just a hitch.

Free Agency. Day 5

The news of the day wasn't exactly "new". Amare finally shook hands with the Knicks. The contract is reported to be almost $100 million thru 5 years.

For the Knicks is a great move. Number one they now have something to show to their fans after two years of shredding salaries and some very bad Knicks teams they put it with. If they happen to get Lebron or Wade this Amar'e move is going to be even better for obvious reasons...which I don't see happening but still is an plausible option.

New York now has its star ( he is by far their best player for now ) a player that knows D'Antoni system and thrives on it. Somebody that can sell jerseys and put butts on MSG's chairs. Does an Amare-led Knicks team , as currently build ,can create some noise on the East? It depends what you mean with "noise". They are not going to be 50 win team but something in the range from 40 to 45 wins is not an inconceivable idea, and that is a great leap for this franchise that has struggle for more than 10 years. Also gives them a solid selling point for next year free agents , or possible free agents, like Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker or Greg Oden. However you see its a good step forward for Walsh and company.

In the other side of the coin we have the Suns. They know have lost their second best player and only inside presence. The Nash era Suns have prove me wrong so many times but I don't know how , as currently build, they can content in the West.What's next for Nash? For Hill? For Barbosa? Are we expecting a fire sale of the Suns' roster? I just hope Nash lands in a contender. Not the Knicks.

Free Agency. Day 3 and 4

In the third day we had Dirk committing with the Mavs. The contract is for 4 years/$80 million. Now everybody can breathe and Cuban/Nelson can focus on shopping Ericka's ending contract around

Today, day fourth, Joe Johnson finally committed to the Hawks. I'll get back to this

Everything was very quiet until this Sunday afternoon. It was reported that the Knicks got a second meeting with Lebron's people ( sans Lebron) to "make sure they know about how much cap room we have" ...yeah, like that wasn't in the presentation. This is how is going. Follow me here. Amare apparently was offered a 5 year/$100 million contract by the Knicks but still we haven't heard of Amare "accepting" it. But Mr. Stoudemire is already doing some recruiting for the Knicks. Chris Broussard reported that the Knicks put that offer on the table for Amar'e with the condition that it will remain on the table as long as Lebron doesn't sign with them and he chooses another player as his sidekick. So, if Lebron goes to New York and he wants to play with Bosh or Boozer or whoever then Amar'e is shown the door, not the money. Amar'e still have meeting with the Bulls and the Nets on Tuesday, he is well aware of all this.

This was the point when JJ said to himself " Fuck it, Lebron is not going to choose me. I can't play with Wade, I'm staying here!" I think Johnson's choises outside Atlanta were only New York and Miami. I really don't see Jerry Reinsdorf maxim out JJ. As a matter of factor I only see him giving max money to Bosh if Lebron's a Bull.

So, the second meeting the Knicks had with Lebron's people was just to clear that subject. Amar'e is plan B, he can be there with Lebron if Lebron wants too, but nobody has signed anything. As simple as that.

Free Agency.Day 2

We had a quiet day in the "commitment" front but we got tons of rumors

Paul Pierce is staying green. His new contract ( 4 years/$61 millon) give the C's a little more room to play

Hakim Warrick is now a Sun at $18 million thru 4 years This is the Amare replacement? Over/Under on Nash asking very politely to get traded, half season?

John Salmons is re-signing with the Bucks (5 yrs/ $39 million ). This is the second signing for the Bucks. First Gooden and now Salmons, plus the deals for CDR and Maggette, are shaping this Bucks like a lock for a 5o win team. Great cast, good lead players ( Bogut and Jennings ), good coach. I like this team. Plus, they are playing in a division where it might host only one other decent team ( Cleveland or Chicago)

The Lakers are adding Steve Blake at 4 yrs/$16 million. I don't think this means nothing for Fisher but its a good backup plan in case he gets too greedy ( Reeeeaally don't see that happening)

Now the fun stuff.....

The biggest news is that Wade had a second meeting with the Bulls. Less than one hour into this second meeting, Bosh arrived and they both talk with the management team. They talked for more than 2 hours. They even left together. What does this means? No idea. Wade has been hinting that he's staying in Miami for awhile. Now we are seeing him flirting with Chicago...I really don't know what to make out of it.

Yesterday was reported that the Hawks offered the max to Joe Johnson and naturally we all assume that he was accepting it. Everybody did. Today it was reported that he was "intrigued" by New York and Chicago. My take on that is he seeing the NYK budget wide open after what appear is a strikeout on the three main targets ( Lebron, Wade and Bosh). He could rejoin Amar'e and D'Antoni grabbing a couple of All Star selections here and there, maybe a second round cameo playing for the Knicks. That could be serious dope and a bunch of money coming from New York City advertisement.

T'wolves are pushing Big Al hard! Chicago and Dallas being the possible destinations. They really like David Lee and their meeting for tomorrow still on, even though that they only have around $5 million left to spend. Odds are that Big Al is traded this summer.

Also in the open market, the Bulls are placing Loul Deng. Apparently the rumor is that he is heading to Portland in exchange for Joel Przybilla and Jerryd Bayless. The first is an expiring contract. Maybe the rumor of the Bulls having the best chance for grouping Wade, Bron and Bosh is not that false. Maybe they are just trying.

Free Agency. Day 1

We have 6 signings. The highlights: Somebody is getting to his 10th team, our first overpaid free agent and Kahn strikes again!

Drew Gooden is headed to his 10th NBA team. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks a 5 year $32 million contract. The Bucks are also expected to sign John Salmons

One of the top free agents targets, Joe Johnson, was offered the maximum by the Hawks ( 6 year, 119 million dollars). Odds are that he's accepting it. Ladies and Gentleman, we have our first overpaid free agent.

Kahn, T'wolves GM, signed his second European big in Darko Milicic ( 4 years, $20 million). This after signing their second round pick Nikola Pekovic to a similar contract ( 4 years, $13 million )

One of the players that was part of most team B or C plan, Rudy Gay, apparently is staying in Memphis. He's accepting a 5 year, $80 million contract. So, now Memphis is ponying up after giving away Pau Gasol to the Lakers.... yeah, nothing wrong with that trade.....

Amir Johnson is getting $34 millon through 5 years. Good luck filling Bosh' shoes

Channing Frye is sticking around in the dessert. He agreed on a 5 year, $30 million contract.