NBA TAKE 5: Yao Ready or Not?

OPEN ENDED - With the Matt Barnes deal teetering the Toronto Raptors have had a string of premature leakage of information from their involved parties. While many media had gotten wind of the Barnes to Toronto deal early yesterday – even before Barnes tweeted that he was indeed coming to Toronto – the deal has hit a salary cap snag that the two sides are committed to working out. In order for Barnes to secure a reported 2-year $9-$10M deal for the Raptors he would first have to sign with the Magic who would then trade him to Toronto for a portion of Toronto’s traded player exemption and perhaps player fodder. Problem there is that the Magic are a luxury tax paying team and simply don’t have the spare change to do a deal for Barnes. Also, such a deal would need to be at least three-years in length and while only the first year needs to be guaranteed, it still leaves a lot of numbers crunching and cap flexing to make something work. If you recall it was early July when Charlotte Bobcats center Tyson Chandler told media that he had been traded to the Raptors, only for his general manager Michael Jordan to back out of the deal a day later, sending him to the Dallas Mavericks in a separate deal shortly after. Barnes was also courted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. With the Heat having little left to spend the Cavs and Lakers are the two teams on the front burner should the Raptors deal die. Neither offer will be as sweet financially and only one – Los Angeles – puts him in a title-run situation. That Barnes was willing to forgo another shot at a title to take the payday in Toronto speaks to where his mind is. The Raptors had the biggest offer for Barnes by a wide margin and at 30 years of age with a history of playing for cheap the 7-year (and seven-team) veteran is look to make up for lost wages.

BUCKSHOTS – SWAY Sports handed out its “Balls of the Year” award early this season, like right after the Bucks signed/acquired Corey Maggette, Chris-Douglas Roberts and Drew Gooden to add to their surprisingly successful core group of 2010. With center Andrew Bogut on the mend in Australia and Brandon Jennings expected to build on a great rookie season the team added some quality role players to surround their on-the-cusp-of-stardom duo. Grizzled head coach Scott Skiles has his fingerprints all over the new additions but there are some in-house blessings as well. Swingman Carlos Delfino had a deceptively successful season in Milwaukee and resigning guard John Salmons to a long-term contract gives them a shot at creating an All-Star caliber backcourt. Of course that may or may not include Michael Redd who will be trying to comeback from yet another knee injury that cost him most of last season. At the very least he is an ending contract that can be parlayed into a quality piece mid-season should the Bucks do the expected and vault themselves into eastern conference contention. Draft pick Larry Sanders out of Virginia Commonwealth had a good summer league showing and along with Luc Mbah a Moute represents young hustle in the frontcourt. There are risks with this bunch however, and most of it is mental. Can Maggette shake the horror of being a focal part of so many losing teams after eight seasons Los Angeles with the Clippers and another two with the Golden State Warriors? A single playoff appearance in 11 years? Some in the New Jersey Nets organization considered Douglas-Roberts a locker room cancer while others have praised his competitiveness. Douglas took the losing and criticism hard last season in Jersey and will need to wipe his own slate clean. Gooden has long been a mystifying force during his 11-team, 8-year NBA career. Over that span he has recorded 11.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 47% field goal shooting over 580 regular season games but the impact of those numbers is sometimes lost behind his tendency to disappear for key stretches. If the newbies can exercise some of their demons with Skiles’ help, don’t count on the Bucks doing too much of that next season.

‘MELO AND MANHATTEN– Time for our semi-regular rant about the future of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Net. So now, apparently new Knicks hope Amar’e Stoudemire has been in the ear of New Orleans Hornets guard Chris Paul and Denver Nuggets franchise guy Carmelo Anthony about joining him in the Zoo sometime, ANYTIME, soon. If you’ve been listening to this right here you would know that the idea has not been scoffed at in these parts, especially the ditty about Anthony, though I’m not as sold as him going to the Knicks over the Nets. I do hear (repeatedly) that Anthony is eventually New York bound, under contract with the Nuggets or not, and that an eventual push for a move/trade by his camp is inevitable. The thinking here is that it will lean more towards Brooklyn and their new beginning, which should coincide with Anthony’s own Denver ending when he realizes how old his team suddenly got and bolts. With both the Knicks and Nets coming out of the biggest free agent period of all-time without one of the household names they were aiming for, Anthony is – and always has been – a risky plan B. He is a seriously talented and marketable star that played his lone college season out of Syracuse University in New York, not unlike their second-round draft pick this past June Andy Rautins. Nothing is a given in this big bad NBA world with player/team/organization situations changing almost daily, but if you were asking for a call to be made from the cheap seats, this would be it.

DIESEL RUNNING LOW – Once upon a time Shaquille O’Neal was the biggest commodity in the NBA. A few years ago there weren’t many GM’s who would have passed on a chance to employ the hall of fame big man. Today O’Neal has become a gun for hire, and will be suiting up for his fourth team in four years whenever he decides on a destination, still said to be the interested Atlanta Hawks. In a perfect world O’Neal is hoping his final year in the NBA will be with his hometown Nets. Seeing has how he wants to play for three more seasons and the Nets should be in their new Brooklyn digs by then, playing in Jersey might not be the actual priority. Having Shaq help usher in the Brooklyn Nets in 2012 might be. After squeezing out one final All-Star appearance two seasons ago with the Phoenix Suns O’Neal’s superstar days truly seem behind him now, his contributions reduced to that of back up centre, mentor and media punch-liner. His ever-changing address is a reality check that doesn’t seem lost on the Big Journeyman either. Instead, O’Neal seems intent on playing the part with never before seen gusto and the opinion at this newsstand is that despite the declining skill and influence. the big fella represents everything good about basketball, and has the tricks, trades and experience to improve any team’s chances in the win/loss column. Of course in most people’s eyes that isn’t worth the $5.8M mid-level O’Neal is seeking which would have to include a sign-and-trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Without it O’Neal shouldn’t expect much more than a $2M per year offer from a limited pool of teams. Just over a year ago O’Neal was coming of a contract that paid him $21M in the last year of the deal.

HOLY COW, YAO! – Reports suggest that Yao Ming’s injured foot may not be ready for October training camp. The Houston Rockets were rebuffed by their list of preferable free agents and the uncertainty surrounding Yao’s return seems to have played a part. Kevin Martin, Louis Scola, Shane Battier and Trevor Ariza represent a good core but without Yao Ming they might as well be the supporting cast of the Cosby show; not much of anything without its star. Funny thing about this story is that before the free agency process began Rockets GM Daryl Morey and his crew used Yao’s ‘confirmed’ return as a selling point to would-be free agents they were chasing this summer, including top target Chris Bosh. Morey has since denied a story first published in the Racine Journal-Times suggesting Yao could miss as much as two months to start the 2010-11 season. Because of their limited salary cap space the Rockets could not offer a maximum contract outright to any of the big names but Yao’s presence was being depended on to make up some of the difference. Because of Yao many of his teammates have entered into lucrative endorsement deals in China due to the popularity of the Rockets in that country. With his immediate future in jeopardy so too are those spoils for potential free agents, which may explain why the Rockets have spent much of this summer resigning their own guys, with special attention to the frontcourt, rather than making a big splash on the free agent front. The bruising Scola is newly minted with a 5-year, $47M pact and the club just announced the signing of veteran center Brad Miller to a 3-year, $15M agreement. Guard Kyle Lowry had signed an offer sheet with the Cavaliers for $23M but the Rockets matched it shortly after. Yes, the added beef is insurance for Yao’s reconstructed left foot and the injury is part of the reason he decided not to opt out of the final year of his 5-year contract that pays him over $17M for the 2010-11 season. Clearly the Rockets free agency advances seem to have been hurt by the doubt surrounding the rehabilitation of Yao’s foot.

THE BASKETBALL SAMURAI: The Hated LeBron James

“You’re nobody ‘till somebody kills you” – Biggie Smalls

Last week during the unprecedented mega-media presentation of his free agent decision LeBron James said he didn’t want to make an emotional decision. If he had he might still be a Cleveland Cavalier today. Instead, James rocked the state of Ohio with his preference to join Dwyane Wade and newly acquired power forward Chris Bosh in Miami to play for the Miami Heat, completing what could possibly be the most talented summer-seasoned trio of in-their-prime stars the league has ever seen. However, in the process he scorned an entire city in the only state he has ever called home.

Ohio has been the site of every major James announcement and public push since he entered the league seven long years ago. It is where he has been crowned king a hundred times over from his accomplishments and feats as a high school phenomenon in Akron to becoming one of the most adored athletes in the world. It is where he has been loved to death by Cleveland fans whose longing for a professional sports championship has been built up over 46 years. That’s how long ago Jim Brown led that city’s NFL Browns to a championship and James was expected to end the famous curse that began the day after that triumph.

James once said he would not leave Cleveland without winning a championship first and fans, even the organization, believed it whole-heartedly and now it seems, to a damning fault.

“I’m going to take my talents to South Beach,” James finally said Thursday night from Greenwich, Connecticut no less.

Those words ripped out those once whole now broken hearts in an incomparable nationally televised dumping of a city wary, but nonetheless blindsided by the decision of their favorite son. Shortly after the initial carnage Cleveland fans reacted with venom. James was shown live footage of his number 23 Cavaliers jersey being burned in the streets of a city where the very thought of doing such a thing before then would have been blasphemy.

From Cleveland - blue collared C.L.E. - LeBron, with all his talent and media savvy and “destined-to-be” write ups, was still the underdog. Even with his superstar status LeBron remained a man of the people and despite his greatness was still identified with the hard working people of that place. He carried the franchise on his back accordingly, through some unlikely playoff runs and some devastating exits as well. LeBron was Cleveland. Cleveland was LeBron. Maybe it still is in some covert ways but it will never be the same.

James, perhaps the most unselfish player in the NBA, for the first time in his career made a decision that was all about him. He made that point several times during his television special, that this one wasn’t going to be for Ohio or his hometown of Akron. It was about happiness. It was about winning. It was about legacy. Based on his decision James didn’t see enough of either in Cleveland.

And with that very public shunning of the place he calls home James has become something he has never been - hated. In reality it is perhaps the truest mark of being a superstar in the vein that James himself is a student of. The hate motivates, polarizes and in some cases creates rivalries. Rivalries have much to do with building the kind of legacy James has always talked about. The hate is almost required for a player of James’ ilk. Natural and quite possibly exactly what he has been missing.

As loved as Michael Jordan became, it wasn’t always the case. Jordan steadily gained intergalactic love but on the court and within NBA player circles and in opposing cities there was hate. The source of it came mostly from his feats on the court against teams like the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Utah Jazz and perhaps most ironically versus James’ old Cavaliers. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson carried on a rivalry throughout their careers and the divide amongst fans, between Boston and Los Angeles, was more than geographical. It was in the soul. Under the skin. There was “sport hate” for each of those icons.

Up until Thursday night James was universally loved, cheered in opposing arenas like only Jordan was. And now James is hated for very different reasons than Jordan, Magic and Bird ever were. None of those guys ever left the city that drafted them while in their prime and when Jordan did it - the only one of them to ever leave his original team – it was when he came out of retirement and well past his best days. Chicago didn’t even want to see him as that tainted version of “his Airness”.

Kobe Bryant earned his “sport hate” in a variety of ways, first as a cocky youngster waving off Karl Malone picks in All-Star games and then as a sulking star playing in Shaquille O’Neal’s shadow during the early millennium Lakers dynasty era. Of course his sexual indiscretions in Eagle, Colorado and following rape charge (eventually dropped) gave him a whole new legion of haters both in and out of the game. A brilliant public relations effort rebuilt his image - including the changing of his jersey number from 8 to 24 – but it is doubtful it would have stuck as well if he wasn’t already champion and if he hadn’t since put more rings in the bank. Bryant gets booed the loudest in Philadelphia, his hometown. After capturing the Most Valuable Player award in the 2002 All Star game played in Philly there was Bryant shaking his head as he made his way off the court and staring wide-eyed at then SLAM scribe Scoop Jackson, bewildered at the abhorrent reception. Bryant may be James’ closest comparison, the only one he can relate to on this level. After all, it was LBJ who announced he would be switching his uniform number from 23 to 6 for the 2010-11 season. Another sign of the impending “decision”? His own Bryant inspired pre-emptive strike against the backlash? If James can follow in Bryant’s improbable footsteps, one that led him back to the top of the basketball world, then it would be as great a feat as creating that elusive and career-defining dynasty and legacy. Alas, there are few who doubt that Bryant is a Laker for life.

Like Bryant, for James this all goes beyond “sport hate”. Rivalry hate. Fake hate. This is as real as it gets for a player who promised to stick it out and did not. Yet, everything about the young man told you it was always going to be about business and the business of winning. In the end LeBron James was just too damn big for Cleveland and maybe even too damn humble to know that was precisely the cause of the itch he was feeling, pulling him to Miami.

It was not supposed to be emotional. It was a cold hard business delivery and no doubt Cavs fans will be sure to return the same whenever the Heat will make their way up to the house that ‘Bron was building. By then they might be a shell of the team James left behind, left alone in the darkness once again, this time by one of their own in a public execution no less.

The seething hate is real and there are many fans, media (and players) who feel like James and others disrespected the process of free agency, tugging strings – both heart and purse alike – into the wee hours towards a date with destiny.

We should have known. We should have trusted him. Then maybe he wouldn’t seem so “Benedict” to so many today. Then maybe Cleveland isn’t reeling in real pain over his departure. You think that city wasn’t just kicked in the stomach? Another blue collar dunking?

James is only the second reigning MVP in NBA history to leave his team after winning the award and in his case it was after winning two straight. If Boston got picked to instantly win the eastern conference when they put their big three of paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett together with similar questions about supporting cast, it is reasonable to expect the same of the Heat. One would even be justified in going a step further and predicting a championship. You do not put a team like this together unless you plan on competing for a title for the next 10 years. Unless you are banking on a dynasty. Anything less and leaving Cleveland will have been a mistake.

It is hard to fault James’ decision with the recent turnover in ownership, coaching and roster in Cleveland. The view from here is that the Cavs were never going to have quite enough to allow any Cavaliers team to consistently be on par with the Celtics, Bulls, Knicks, Lakers and Magic (Thunder?) in the foreseeable future. The South Beach union was a cry for help.

Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cavaliers and the man directly responsible for allowing James to own his castle, ripped into his former star in a letter to Cavaliers fans just hours after the big exodus, essentially calling out James as a coward, quitter and someone deserving of fan venom reserved for enemies of the state. Here are some key points he made in the release:

“As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier. This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

“The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you. You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.”

“… I want to make one statement to you tonight: I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”

And that spewing of viciousness will set the tone in Cleveland for years to come. Gilbert didn’t count to ten before responding publicly to a phone call he received just moments before the decision. A phone call James didn’t even bother to make himself. He let fly with his barrage and went so far as to call James’ departure “the antidote to the so-called ‘curse’ on Cleveland” and punctuated it with a promise to capture a title before the Heat. If he sticks to his words and gives it the gusto, it is a great thing for Cleveland and the NBA (and poor Antawn Jamison). That Gilbert hate is a mere qualifier for the big picture. There is potential for the most intense rivalry since Lakers/Celtics, no doubt, but only if Gilbert continues to spend on a team currently without a superstar. How likely is that in Cleveland?

Now James isn’t so unlike Wade who is wanted in Dallas on multiple charges of stealing the 2007 championship. The anger in Toronto towards Bosh, who like James has spent his entire career in one city, is fully charged too - a twitter instigated disdain for Bosh’s showmanship tactics during a courting period that saw him practically sever all ties with the franchise that drafted him. And now LeBron has crossed Cleveland.

The hate can be a right of passage, and only a player as universally loved as LeBron would have to crush his own city to earn the privilege. He’s a little more human now, a little less of a king without his kingdom. But despite the weighty, prophetic moniker James was always more ironworker than privileged royalty. That’s a compliment. He’s Rocky Balboa, the people’s favorite, the basketball Obama… but not in Cleveland. Not anymore.

“The road to history starts now!” James tweeted under his new account in the wee hours of the AM following the decision.

That road will be rocky and more distempered than many believe. Talk of the pressure being less for James in Miami with so much star power in assistance is foolish. With this decision James has hurled himself into the space of the casual fan and the diehards alike, that rare space where the two cultures breath the same air and follow the same amazing stories.

Despite all the concessions of cash, stats and marquee space he has and will need to make for this plan to work, he’s also on the way to becoming even bigger than anybody ever thought, including the good people of Cleveland, Ohio.

“The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south,” wrote Gilbert, who has since been fined by the NBA for his address to Cavaliers fans. “And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

“Just watch.”

And so the world shall, lovers, haters and the undecided alike.

The most interesting question of all is one that likely will not be answered for many years. How many of the disenfranchised will James be able to get back? If history has anything to do with it, it will all depend on how many titles he is able to capture before his legacy is sealed for good. After all, everybody loves a winner.

CHEAP SEAT: Bosh Breaks Toronto Silence

Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh was criticized steadily during the free agent process sweeping across the NBA these days, and not for his decision to bolt the Toronto Raptors after seven seasons. In media circles Bosh was being poked for doing a stateside tour of playoff games sites and their local media while never once addressing the fan base in T.O. that first brought him fame.

On Tuesday Bosh broke that silence with a guest appearance on FAN 590 radio a week after joining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to form an electrifying trio for the Miami Heat. Before that however, his whirlwind tour of interested parties included a blackout of Canadian media and a barrage of twitter messages that drew the ire of fans and even some media.

“At no time did I want to offend anybody or make anybody upset,” said Bosh. “I just wanted to reach out to the fans everywhere. If people felt betrayed I’m sorry for that.”

Still, despite seven years of service ending with an abrupt and controversial slam Bosh has no regrets about the rollercoaster car he let fans in on. No doubt there will be a lot of eye-rolling that his Toronto media appearance comes at the end of the ride, when most of the important questions have already been answered.

“I’m happy with the way I handled things,” said Bosh. “I don’t think I got out of line at any time.

“I stick by my decisions. If I could do it over I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Bosh is unlike any other basketball star the city has seen. Its first franchise player Damon Stoudamire whined his way into a trade out of town to his hometown Portland Trailblazers after a soured relationship with team management. Ditto for Tracy McGrady who forced his way back to his home state of Florida. Vince Carter did likewise many years later and then – from his new home with the New Jersey Nets - admitted to dogging it on the court while playing with the Raptors. Bosh committed none of the above infractions and while he may not have been as dynamic a player as the above-mentioned trio, from beginning to end he was the team’s best ambassador and rarely, if ever, stopped pushing his game.

“I miss Toronto,” said Bosh. “I will always miss it. I have nothing but good to say about organization and the city.”

It is a city that is sure to react strongly when Bosh returns as part of the most hyped combination of players this generation has ever seen. As part of the Wade/James gang he will already being feeling a more intense spotlight but for him the wattage will increase each time he steps across the border and returns to the Air Canada Centre twice a year. Stoudamire, McGrady and Carter all received a violent delivery of boos and jeers for years after their defections. Bosh may have been more loved but that won’t change the salt-in-the-wounds feeling most northern hoops fans are still smarting from a week after the Bosh era ended for them.

“As far as the boos are concerned,” said Bosh. “I hope they don’t.”

Alas, Bosh has always been much smarter than that.

Jordan Backing Out of Deal?

Yesterday afternoon all the pieces seemed in place for the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Bobcats to complete a three-way trade that involved the Phoenix Suns. Now it seems Bobcats owner and general manager Michael Jordan is having second thoughts. Reports out of Charlotte claim that Jordan is leaning towards abandoning the deal altogether.

As explained on Monday, the two teams had agreed in principle to exchange four players. The Raptors were prepared to send point guard Jose Calderon and forward Reggie Evans to the Bobcats in exchange for forward Boris Diaw and center Tyson Chandler. The work-up was so far along that the players involved had all been made aware that they were on the move but by late afternoon it was clear that something was amiss. Raptors officials were apparently awaiting league approval when word came down of a possible delay, prompting the team to cancel an announcement of the deal. However, by early morning it became clear that the Jordan and the Bobcats were getting cold feet.

When details of the trade were given to this outlet on Monday the ensuing report was followed by cautious discussion. The deal was based in large part on the Bobcats’ need for a starting caliber point guard after free agent Ray Felton signed with the New York Knicks earlier this week. In Calderon the Bobcats would have acquired a tested veteran albeit one with concerning defensive issues. The addition of Evans in the trade would also have given the Bobcats some size and defense to make for what they would lose in Diaw and Chandler.

After some late-to-the-game pondering it appears Jordan didn’t think the exchange was fair and it isn’t difficult to spot his concerns. Not only do the Bobcats give up more defense in the deal but they also take on another year of salary – Calderon’s final season in 2012-13 worth $10.5M. Calderon also seems like an unlikely fit in Bobcats head coach Larry Brown’s system and Brown was hesitant enough to say so. Brown traditionally likes defensive minded point guards playing off a more dynamic shooting guard, in this case ‘Cats scorer Stephen Jackson. All the players involved in the deal were coming off of sub-par campaigns but when healthy Chandler has proven to be one of the best low post defenders in the league. Diaw’s offense has slowed in recent years but he remains a unique body that can guard up to four positions and make plays from anywhere on the court. Evans is a one-dimensional off-the-bench banger who is effective in limited minutes.

Sources told SWAY Sports last night that the deal would be revisited this morning and could still be completed in another form. Since then multiple reports surfaced calling the deal “dead”. This setback does not impact the other end of the trade that will see Hedo Turkoglu shipped out of Toronto in exchange for Phoenix Suns guard Leandro Barbosa and forward Dwayne Jones. That deal is still awaiting approval from the NBA but should be made official by the end of the week.

Turkoglu Out As Raps Remodel

It may not qualify as a complete blow-up but in the aftermath of Chris Bosh’s departure the Toronto Raptors have been one of the most active teams in the NBA. After finally accomplishing a sign and trade scenario for Bosh this past weekend – ensuring that they received solid return for their former star – general manager Bryan Colangelo jumped out of that complicated deal and into another.

Reports have surfaced detailing an intricate three-team deal the Raptors have on the go. The first peg is the long awaited removal of forward Hedo Turkoglu who is on his way to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for point guard Leandro Barbosa and young forward Dwyane Jones. The deal comes to light one night after the Raptors summer league entry smoked the Suns 103-69 in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The second part of that trade is said to include the Charlotte Bobcats and would send point guard Jose Calderon and forward Reggie Evans (who said goodbye to Toronto via twitter) to the Bobcats in exchange for swingman Boris Diaw and center Tyson Chandler. Initially, reports had part of the Raptors’ $14.5M traded player exception acquired (TPE) in the Bosh-to-Miami transaction headed to the Bobcats as well but as of early Monday afternoon that could not be confirmed. A three-team transaction as opposed to a two-teamer would make the inclusion of a TPE less likely.

Trading Turkoglu became a must after he spouted off in his native Turkey last month. In a television interview he stated that he preferred not return to the Raptors after injuries, personal issues and fatigue marred his 2009-10 season. He showed up to training camp out of shape in October and his game never really lifted off after the team gave him permission sit out the first few sessions. Turkoglu averaged a disappointing 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists over the course of 74 games but really drew the ire of fans and management during a mid-season fiasco. After checking himself at the halftime mark a game versus the Utah Jazz due to a stomach virus then missing the following game – a home loss to the Denver Nuggets – Turkoglu was spotted on the town at a local club and restaurant. Subsequently he was fined and benched by the team and never seemed comfortable with the organization after that.

Despite his knack for taking care of the ball and hitting record free throws, nothing else about Calderon’s game seemed to fit with the team’s desire for creativity and dynamic punch from the backcourt. Since winning the starting job three seasons ago from the gone-and-forgotten T.J. Ford, Calderon’s game has plateaued. With concerns about his defense mounting and with the league’s point guards getting stronger and faster Calderon’s role wasn’t always clearly defined. He has had some debilitating injuries over the past two seasons, including a nagging hamstring issue, but far too often the team had to rely on his back ups to perform. Two years ago it was the disastrous Roko Ukic and last season Jarrett Jack ate up huge minutes as quarterback, even carrying the starting role for a large stretch of the season.

Combined Turkoglu and Calderon were owed $61 142 978 over the next three seasons with Turkoglu owning a player option for just over $12M in 2013, the final year of his pact.

If the deal follows as expected Colangelo will have put in some quality work here by getting back Barbosa’s $14M owed over the next two seasons (including a player option in 2011). Diaw is owed $18M over the last two years of his current deal while Chandler is entering the final year of his contract at $12.75M wage in 2010-11. Even if the additions don’t represent a huge upgrade in talent it leaves the team with some continued flexibility while moving through the post-Bosh era without pause and rids the company of two wholly unwanted contracts in return.

Barbosa has fallen out of favor in Phoenix for different reasons. Over the past four seasons his production and impact has been on the decline as he battled with injuries and the addition of competing talent, namely Goran Dragic. Dragic’s performance this season and his contributions in the playoffs this past June left him as the clear back up for starting point guard Steve Nash. Former Suns utility man Diaw is another Colangelo favorite who has experienced some slippage in his game after concerns about his conditioning arose prior to last season. Still, Diaw remains a versatile defender with a nice touch when scoring and distributing. Along with Chandler he represents a noticeable upgrade in defense (on paper) and both are a viable option for offense around the basket. Chandler has had an injury-plagued career and has never played an entire season in the NBA. Over the past two campaigns spent with the Bobcats and New Orleans Hornets he has played in a total of 96 games. In 2007-08 the straight-outta-high-school big man averaged 11.8 points and 11.7 rebounds a contest for the Hornets in 79 games played and started.

With an offer-sheet signed by Denver Nuggets restricted free agent Linus Kleiza unmatched as yet, the five-year $32M deal awarded to Amir Johnson and Monday’s collection of role players beginning to fill out the early signs point to the Raptors improving despite the loss of Bosh and the absence of true star power. Of course, Colangelo has spent much of the last two summers performing the same act with little to show in terms of wins. Now the next decision comes with how to spend their $14.5 TPE, which is valid for one year. There are no big names left on the free agent market but plenty available through trade should the team look to land a star. Minnesota Center Al Jefferson could be had while Cleveland forward Antawn Jamison and Philadelphia guard Andre Iguodala are also believed to be on the market. With Colangelo facing another tough year and a re-sell of yet another new roster to fans, expect the ever-moving GM to make a splash with the cash.

NBA TAKE 5: Agents of Destiny

1. LEBRON JAMES
The Akron Don

So it was believed for some time that nothing would truly get underway in this free agency period until LeBron James made up his mind. Wrong. Teams have moved ahead with the suitors for LBJ’s services narrowed to the usual suspects - Cleveland, Chicago, New Jersey and Miami. The running is probably in that order today, though Miami presents a real nightmare for Cleveland who would benefit little from a sign-and-trade with the Heat. Chicago does have pieces to move and has provided a little extra oomph in their pitch, even adding a soft talk from President Barack Obama. Chicagoan Obama is a basketball fan and can only help James in his bid to take over the world, which is exactly what he’s done in the NBA… optically anyway.

Meanwhile LeBron has stayed close to his headquarters in Akron, Ohio. The Cavs still have the inside edge and when people talk about where LeBron is going it should be held in the context of “if” he leaves Cleveland. After all, this time and through all the rumors and speculation and web of mixed messages the real question still remains as unclear as it’s been for two years. Will he? James, in keeping with his summer circus act, has planned a one-hour ESPN special on Thursday to announce his decision. Would he dump his beloved city on live TV?

It is an even bet these days and he has stated it won’t take him too long to confirm his intentions after July 8 when free agents officially sign their pacts. Cap-spending NBA teams are looking to pick up two big names and now that Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are signed players like Richard Jefferson, Josh Howard, and Mike Miller – guys taking pay cuts from their last deals - will be circling. The Heat has the jump on any LeBron destination with their new duo in tact, though word is they will still wait to see if James joins them in Florida. Doubtful. The New York Knicks with their addition of Amar’e Stoudemire and money to burn are intriguing again, and if James isn’t in a Miami/New York state of mind the New Jersey Nets and his good friend Jay-Z are also a viable option.

Waiting on James has its price though, with many of the names already finding homes (Steve Blake was a great Lakers pick up – would have helped any team). Still, there will be enough guys that can be persuaded to do the Marquis Daniels and take less to sign on with a favorite but Cleveland, for all its past efforts, haven’t been able to get enough of those guys before. What will change if James stays? With a new GM and a new head coach and a newly constructed roster? Unlikely, meaning James is likely New York, New Jersey or Miami bound.

It is important to remember however, that most of the big deals that have been signed so far this summer - John Salmons, Rudy Gay, Dirk Nowitzki, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Kevin Durant to name a few- have all been from players resigning or extending with their old teams. There hasn’t been the mass exodus many expected, particularly with a looming league lockout, and guys looking for quick security going forward. Who would have thought that at this point, it would be LeBron James, the biggest name in free agency, still stuck between a lone-star rebuild in Cleveland and a new beginning of his choosing… anywhere.

2. MIAMI HEAT
Team Wade

So the NBA’s version of the mad hatter, Heat GM Pat Riley is set to made his decadent run at a championship. Lakers in the 80’s, New York in the 90’s, Miami in the 00’s and now Miami again in the 10’s. Kinda makes you wish he were doing this in Texas so he could have all the time zones covered, but we digress. Wouldn’t want to do that with Riley playing with a ton of cap space and likely to fly down from his GM’s office and coach the party. That selling point means current head coach Eric Spoelstra is out, a must if Riley wanted a shot at landing LeBron James, Chris Bosh or both.

For now Bosh has been secured with Riley even convincing the 6-10 power forward to take a five-year deal and sign with the Heat outright as opposed to working in a sixth year through a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors. The point is that with both Dwyane Wade and Bosh on board as max players, the Heat will need all the money they can to put together a quality supporting staff. Leaving the Toronto Raptors with nothing in return won’t make Bosh any new friends in the T-dot but what’s the trade off?

Clearly Bosh was unimpressed by Raptors management who are a far cry from the team upstairs in Miami. After Phil Jackson Riley might be the next best thing going along with Gregg Popovich in San Antonio. That is huge for a player that has worked for three different regimes and three head coaches during his seven seasons in T.O. Stability.

Riley’s grand plan most certainly have to include another team or two, quite possibly the Cleveland Cavaliers should James bolt but the Raptors weren’t overly receptive to any Miami deal. In the end it didn’t matter and if the Heat do in fact hold on to Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers a solid base exists to work from.

In the end, the key to this whole process has been Wade, who has been in the air of Bosh and to a lesser extent James since his Heat took a slide during his injury plagued season of two years ago. Wade has what the others have never; a tried and tested GM/coach in the wings in Riley and a championship ring to prove that the game plan works. His recruitment of Bosh has been steady and his influence over other NBA players should not be ignored. If you are looking for the most powerful player in this special free agent season, he’s the one that had his homework done a long time ago, and it showed.

3. NEW JERSEY NETS
The Legend and the Billionaire

The Nets aren’t just out to play the “only way is up” card after registering just 12 wins last season. Instead they’ve been busy throwing, er… trading out the supporting cast they had around building blocks Devin Harris and Brook Lopez. Gone are Yi Jianlian and the bad wrap bear Chris Douglas-Roberts. Expect others to follow as the Nets position themselves to go after everybody from A-list on down, and after LeBron James and the Miami Heat wield their power (separately I suspect), and the Chicago Bulls get at least a sniff of star power, the Nets will be the most attractive destination on the market.

Armed with a new billionaire owner in Mikhail Prokhorov and an increased company profile for rap mogul Jay-Z, the Nets also have their impending move to Brooklyn and its new mega development that figures to reinvigorate the Borough as selling points. Playing for New York without the Knicks baggage and a state of the art future not far away?

Who would say no to that?

If it’s not James it will be Carmelo Anthony next summer (yes, I’m convinced he’s New York bound). Prokhorov has been open about how he plans to spend – lavishly. With that kind of push from all sides of the business die a franchise player would be well served as a Brooklyn Net, and now the organization has an owner, partner and a team of planners and engineers that know it, believe it and spit it.

By all accounts the Nets have been super-impressive in their “come-to-Jesus” recruiting but it did not prevent Prokhorov from stating publicly that he believes that Wade and Bosh will play together in Miami this upcoming season. Dead on. With the big names resigning with old squads and the Wade/Bosh deal all but official it seems like the Nets are losing ground though. Chicago recently agreed to terms with Carlos Boozer as a five-year, $75M consolation prize. Boozer’s top choice was the Heat but New Jersey was thought to be a close second. Ouch! With all the good coming the Nets way in two years it still leaves two seasons of playing in Jersey. It may not be the Meadowlands but it will still be sparse crowds and low lights. As good as the future sounds, most players seem intent on seeing to believe.

4. CHRIS BOSH
Where the Wind Blows

It’s all but inked – Chris Bosh will join Dwyane Wade in Miami this coming season, most likely on a five-year $90M deal that essentially leaves his former team out to dry. It isn’t that losing Bosh outright is the worst thing in the world for the Raptors but it does leave them without a trace of All-Star talent, devastating for a club that has been ripping apart their roster for the last two seasons trying to return to the playoffs. Ironically, that was the biggest reason Bosh bolted. A bunch of players under bad contracts that seemed more suffocating that freeing to Bosh’s All-Star game was a killer.

In Miami the opposite is true, with no bad contracts in place. Actually, outside of Bosh and Wade’s new maximum deals only Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley’s rookie scale deals exist, meaning the ground-up building is just beginning. Alas, with the proven Pat Riley at the helm and a fascinating owner in place the process should give Bosh a lot more fun than he was having in Toronto. In the end Bosh essentially refused to deal with Raptors brass and GM Bryan Colangelo who can count losing Bosh for nothing as one of the greatest failures of his career if he is indeed left empty-handed.

The move was a good one for Bosh especially since, up until now, he has compared himself with the biggest names of his 2003 draft class. Problem there was that he had nothing on them. Wade, James and Anthony are all playoff tested, playoff winners and have played for cap-busting teams while Bosh did little with little. Now he has a chance to truly join the elite, where winning is the only ticket in.

5. RIPPLE EFFECT
American Muscle

No matter how the much-discussed free agent “summit” went down – through dinner, text, tweets or conference calls – it wasn’t likely to shed any new light for anybody. As complicated as the players and owners have tried to make this crazy free agent era the beef is really a simple cook.

Be the hunter or the hunted. The question that inspired this “summit” talk is more interesting. What if Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen had gotten together when they were 25 years old? What if they had had the foresight to put away their egos and joined forces for ten years instead of five? What kind of legacy would they have left then, and how much more money could they have generated in the long term because of it?

Look at the combination of Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and Ron Artest in Los Angeles. A team built to be champions for the next five years. Will a Cleveland Cavaliers team featuring LeBron James and a band of role players come close to that? Will Boston’s aging big three have a chance at dominance in the same way?

This is why the league’s superstars initially colluded, to avoid the strings of disappointment that haven’t even happened yet. When Garnett spoke loosely about the LeBron James free agency issue, speaking from experience when he stated that loyalty could be detrimental, he was talking to all the leagues stars and they noticed.

Hey, nobody made this much of a cry when Garnett, Pierce and Allen decided to team up because they had all “served” their sentences with a decade worth of flirtatious teams that could never get over the hump. Dues? Does living out your franchise player dreams for too long qualify as dues?

Call it evolution of the soul. The morphing of the modern athlete where just when ego and pride had seemed to hit an all-time high there was a scale back. A reality check that explained exactly why the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls and San Antonio Spurs have been so successful over the past 20 years. Abundant star-power. It’s the only way. and please, don’t cite me the Detroit Pistons of 2004 and the Houston Rockets of 1995. Sunshine and dog’s asses people…