Vancouver Metro Basketball League

By Andrew ‘Soda’ Wadden

In respect to LeBron James this will be the only blog I will write in regards to the summer of 2010 NBA free agent sweepstakes. James was quoted last week saying that he was through answering questions about his future in Cleveland so I shall give my two cents and never speak of it again, at least till the end of this season that is. The summer of 2010 is filled with many superstars looking to either re-sign or explore their options. Of the many names that are available they’re three names that have everyone talking and that’s James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Most insiders and experts are expecting all three of these maximum contract all-stars to relocate to new cities. James to the Knicks? Wade teaming up with the King? Bosh to head west? Who knows what will happen. Here are my thoughts on what the big three should do this summer.

Wade

D-Wade leaving Miami would break the hearts of the few fans the Heat have left. Wade is Miami. Without Wade there isn’t much talent playing for the Heat. Michael Beasley is possibly the next best player on the team- though they do have a very nice point guard in Mario Chalmers, but other then that the cupboards are bare. If any team needs their star to stay it has to be the Heat. Unfortunately for Miami I see D-Wade heading home this summer, signing in his hometown of Chicago. Think about it. It’s the perfect place for Wade to get another shot at a title. This young Bulls team has some flat-out talent. Derrick Rose is in the top five of point guards in the NBA, and Joakim Noah is one of the more budding forwards in the L. Add Wade to this roster and watch the Bulls rise to the top of the Eastern Conference. Does Michael Jordan signing Wade to his Jordan Brand give us some insight that Wade could be heading home? Probably not, seeing as Jordan is kind of associated with the Charlotte Bobcats-though that is debatable, but it does make the story that much more intriguing.

Bosh

If Miami needs Wade then the same must be said for Toronto needing Chris Bosh. The situation in Toronto wouldn’t be as dire as Miami’s as Toronto does have some quality players in Hedo Turkoglu, Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon plus some depth on their bench, but without Bosh the Raps are a non-playoff team let alone a contender in the East. Bosh is the heart and soul of this organization, the poster boy for a team that is branded throughout Canada not just Toronto. To think he doesn’t know this would be stupid. And that is why I think Bosh will stay put in Toronto. Chris loves the spotlight and would have a hard time garnering that spotlight if he was to return to the States. In Canada, Chris Bosh is a hero even more so if he helps bring the Raptors back to the playoffs this spring. When the Raptors are winning all of Canada is watching, raising Bosh’s profile that much more. If the Raps get back to the post-season I feel it’s a 100% lock that we’ll see Bosh back in the black, red and white next season.

James

The most prized piece of the sweepstakes is the mighty King James. LeBron’s situation is much more complex then anyone elses. A Cleveland boy who has to make a tough decision to scorn his hometown and go elsewhere or stay home and help bring Cleveland their first title-that is if they don’t win it this year. The big rumor of James signing with the Knicks I would say is a long shot. The bright lights of New York are far brighter then Cleveland’s but the lowly Knicks roster is a far cry from the Cavs. I really can’t see James going to a team that is rebuilding. Maybe, just maybe if the Knicks had grabbed Brandon Jennings in this summers draft- seeing how good of a rookie season he’s having, James may have considered NYC. Unfortunately the Knicks took big man Jordan Hill whose first season so far hasn’t been much of success. The other hot rumor is LBJ heading  to New Jersey or Brooklyn, but I mean come on, the Nets are brutal. It’s not gonna happen. If the Knicks are rebuilding then what are the Nets doing?  If the Cavs win the title this year, I say he stays in Cleveland. If not, it’s too tough to say. Would LeBron actually take less money to play with Dwyane Wade? James wants a title and isn’t about to go to New York or New Jersey  to win one five years from now. He wants it now but would he leave money on the table to get one? Wade and  James on the same team would not only equal a title, it would equal multiple titles. Could the two superstars split there fees and become legends in the realm of Kareem and Magic, Bird and McHale (and Parrish) and Jordan and Pippen? This summer we’ll all find out.