With recent news that both sides have reached a tentative deal to end the NBA Lockout, basketball could be returning to the court starting Christmas Day. Before then, December 9th is proposed to mark the date that NBA teams can start training camp and open up their piggy banks to buy some new gifts for Christmas. Many teams will be rushed into competing for free agents and to put their teams together. The Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, and Chicago Bulls look to be heavy contenders in what could be a rapidly approaching free agency period. Tyson Chandler, Nene, Samuel Dalembert, Caron Butler, Jason Richardson, Shane Battier, Jamal Crawford, Tayshaun Prince, and David West, just to name a few, will all be heavily sought after.
The reigning champs will be faced with the challenge to either retain or replace JJ Barea, Caron Butler, Deshawn Stevenson, Tyson Chandler, Peja Stojakovic, and Brian Cardinal. Barea, Stevenson, and Chandler were all critical components of the Mavericks rotation that drove the Miami Heat nuts in the Finals. Without the presence of Chandler in the middle and Barea in the back court, the Mavericks are questionable to have beaten the Heat. Chandler has openly spoken about his willingness to leave Dallas if the situation presents itself. Behind Chandler, the Mavericks are thin down low with only Brendan Haywood and Ian Mahinmi at the center position. The Mavericks most likely will have to retain either Butler or Stevenson for sure with only veteran swingman Shawn Marion left as a viable option at the small forward spot.
On the other hand, the team that fell in six games to the Mavericks in the Finals, the Miami Heat, will be looking for an upgrade at the center position and depth out on the wing. James Jones, Mike Bibby Juwan Howard, and Erick Dampier are all unrestricted free agents. Mario Chalmers is a restricted free agent and most likely will be returning as the starter at the point guard spot for Miami. The Heat most likely will be aiming their spending money at big man Tyson Chandler or Samuel Dalembert. Nene could also be a possible target for Miami. The other spot that needs to be filled for the Heat is the small forward position. Behind James and Wade, Miami looked to Mike Miller and James Jones for scoring power off the bench. Miller struggled mightily with injuries and shooting in his first year in Miami and Jones likely will not be returning to the team. Caron Butler, Shane Battier, and Tayshaun Prince could all be potential targets to sign with the Heatles. Battier and Prince could provide Miami with a shut-down perimeter defender. Both Butler and fellow Maverick Tyson Chandler have expressed interest in going to Miami as well. A Christmas day matchup between Dallas and Miami could potentially see Chandler and Butler receiving their championship rings in a Heat uniform.
The New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics will also be in the hunt for free agents this holiday season. New Jersey desperately needs to add players if the club wants to make Deron Williams happy and prove to him that New Jersey is where he should be. Brad Lopez is a poor rebounder and hasn’t provided much of a presence down low for Williams. Nene and Dalembert could both be an upgrade, especially in the defensive and rebounding categories.
The Bulls are in desperate need of a number two scorer behind Mr. Rose. Chicago currently has Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer, and Kyle Korver accompanying D-Rose at the two spot. Carlos Boozer often times disappeared offensively and Joakim Noah has become viewed as “injury-prone.” Orlando Magic free agent, Jason Richardson, and Atlanta Hawks free agent, Jamal Crawford, could be viable options for the Bulls. Both Richardson and Crawford would provide Chicago with an explosive, sharp shooting back court from behind the arch and in the paint.
Over in Boston the Celtics are faced with the challenge of rebounding from a 4 games to 1 loss in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to the Miami Heat. Boston had no presence at the center position and Kevin Garnett looked old at times. The trade that sent Kendrick Perkins packing to OKC came back to haunt Boston in the playoffs. Glen Davis and Delonte West are both unrestricted free agents. If Davis decides to leave town, Boston is left with Jermaine O’Neal and Garnett down low, forcing the team to make a move for a player like Dalembert who can provide Boston with defense and rebounding down low.
Other teams that could be heavily involved in free agency consist of the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trailblazers, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and the Lake Show. The Nuggets are currently dealing with the loss of JR Smith, Kenyon Martin, and Wilson Chandler to the Chinese Basketball Association. Carmelo and Chauncey Billups are now in New York and Nene is an unrestricted free agent who has expressed virtually no interest in returning to Denver. It looks as if Denver might have to overpay for some players just in order to attract somewhat of a contending roster.
No matter what moves are made in what could be a very hectic and fast paced free agency period, dollars will be spent and toys will be bought. There will be no “Black Friday Deals” but teams will be lining up like there are. Once the tentative deal is ratified and signed by both sides, the details of the new CBA will determine what type of spending teams can truly endure. However, some teams will be forced to let go of certain players with the new luxury tax system that will be implemented.
This holiday season is promised to be an exciting one with the pending return of the NBA. A new CBA will arise many questions that will need to be answered for every team. However one thing is for sure, free agents will be going off the shelves like Tickle Me Elmo’s at a Wal-Mart.
Let’s just hope that Micky Arison, Mark Cuban, or any other owner doesn’t decide to pull out their pepper spray. Tis the season to be jolly for hoops.
Cheers!
Alex Rosencutter is an NCAA basketball player and kinesiology major at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa. Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, this hoops addict and die hard Miami Heat fan, who is obsessed with old school hoops, has a fever for basketball and the only prescription is more basketball.
