2009-2010 Our Season?
Posted: Tue Jul 8, 2008 8:02 pm
Trust me, I know it is early...but if the media can bring it up every day, so can I.
It seems like every day there is a new article talking about how a team is a player for the 2010 Free Agent Class. There is plenty of talent to go around in that class and who knows how the NBA will look afterwards. But my question is...
Leading up to that fateful summer, with so many teams gearing to land the big name free agent...aren't the Magic the favorite to win the east in the 2009-2010 season? Along with strong contenders for winning it all?
Look at all the teams that will be in contention and likely looking more towards Free Agency than the 2009-2010 season...
Atlanta: In position to make a pretty strong play. Al Horford will be there along will who ever they pick up in FA this off season & next...but they will have cap room to go after a big one.
Chicago: It would take moves prior to the summer, but you have to think that Chicago will want some one to pair with Rose.
Dallas: Depending on what Dirk decides to do, Dallas could be doing anything at this point.
Detroit: Only 24 mil on the books that summer. At that point, their core will be past their prime as a unit. Definitely a player.
Golden State: While they are making a play for Brand or another FA right now, they are currently on the books for a whole $0.00 that summer. So whoever they bring in will be potential drawing point for the 2010 FA's.
Houston: Yao & Battier will be the only people on the books for Houston. LeBron & Yao could be a marketing frenzy.
Indiana: Not really sure how good they would do in the bidding wars, but they will have the cash along with the rest of them.
LA Clippers: It will all depend on how this summers FA plays out. They have all ready picks up BD and if they bring back Brand it will commit them long term. If not, I could see a big name guy wanted to go out to LA.
Memphis: Surprisingly good position. They will have the ability to sign-and trade Conley Jr. & Gay for which ever FA they are able to land, if they wanted to go that route.
Miami: They will have cash to be a player whether D-Wade opts out or not. They could bring in another big name via sign and trade if they are conservative and luck out a little.
Minny: Will have the cash, but who will want to go?
New Jersey: Plenty of Sign-and-trade options to look at.
New York: Still have moves to make, but we all know they will be a player.
Philly: Looking to land a big name this offseason, and if they play conservative they will have cash to pair that player up with another FA in 2010.
Phoenix: Prime position to trade Amare+others prior to the summer of 2010 for picks and expirings to get ready to land a big name. Shaq, Nash, and Bell are also expiring leading in to the summer of 2010.
Sacramento: Getting lazy...they will have cash.
That all being said...look at the current truly possible contenders & the up and coming contenders (next 2 seasons).
East:
Detroit- Likely past the point of contention in 2009-2010, and also a player in FA.
Cleveland- Will be going for broke in order to keep LeBron. But with so many teams gunning for his services, how many teams are going to be willing to make deals with Cleveland to make them better?
Boston- The Big 3's motivation was to win their first title. Will it be the same going for another? Will age or injury factor in? They could very will be a player, but I don't see them being better than they were this season.
Orlando- On the rise more so than any other team in the East. It is going to take some actual trades to make us improve as a team due to being financial strapped. 2010 Expirings will be very valuable for us to have going in to the 2009-2010 season. Tons of teams will be looking for expiring contracts. If we can be a team to deal some away, we can potentially land some great help.
Toronto- All depends on how the Bosh-O'Neal-Calderon trio works out. Could be up and coming, could be down and out.
Miami- Anything could happen with Miami. They could go any direction now with Wade, Marion, and Beasley under contract for this season and Wade with a Player Option for the summer of 2010. I just don't see them in true title contention by 2009-2010, however.
West:
San Antonio- Always a contender until the day Duncan retires, in my mind. But they are on the decline.
LA Lakers- Will be a force in 2009-2010.
New Orleans- Again, a force in 2009-2010.
Utah- Depending on how they surround Boozer and Williams, they could be a force as well.
Houston- Yao will be a great attraction for FA's in 2010 and we all know how well T-Mac plays when he is unmotivated. How motivated will he be if rumors start flying that they are giving up on him?
Phoenix- Amare will definitely be shipped off to a contender for expirings+picks in my mind. They won't have much left in the books and an additional 38 million in expirings to deal (Shaq, Nash, Bell).
So who will be left to compete against us in the east? You can argue for a few teams. Cleveland will be pushing in order to keep LeBron and Boston will be making their final stand. Are either of them really conceivably better than us? Not in my mind.
As for the West, the recent powers are falling and the new ones have risen. LA, New Orleans, and Utah will likely be the powerhouses for the next few years until Seattle and Portland mature in to contention. I see us having a hard time with the Hornets but being able to fair quite well against Utah and LA. All 3 would be a toss up to me.
Trust me, I know this is all ridiculous early speculation. But in a summer filled with nothing, we gatta have something.
It seems like every day there is a new article talking about how a team is a player for the 2010 Free Agent Class. There is plenty of talent to go around in that class and who knows how the NBA will look afterwards. But my question is...
Leading up to that fateful summer, with so many teams gearing to land the big name free agent...aren't the Magic the favorite to win the east in the 2009-2010 season? Along with strong contenders for winning it all?
Look at all the teams that will be in contention and likely looking more towards Free Agency than the 2009-2010 season...
Atlanta: In position to make a pretty strong play. Al Horford will be there along will who ever they pick up in FA this off season & next...but they will have cap room to go after a big one.
Chicago: It would take moves prior to the summer, but you have to think that Chicago will want some one to pair with Rose.
Dallas: Depending on what Dirk decides to do, Dallas could be doing anything at this point.
Detroit: Only 24 mil on the books that summer. At that point, their core will be past their prime as a unit. Definitely a player.
Golden State: While they are making a play for Brand or another FA right now, they are currently on the books for a whole $0.00 that summer. So whoever they bring in will be potential drawing point for the 2010 FA's.
Houston: Yao & Battier will be the only people on the books for Houston. LeBron & Yao could be a marketing frenzy.
Indiana: Not really sure how good they would do in the bidding wars, but they will have the cash along with the rest of them.
LA Clippers: It will all depend on how this summers FA plays out. They have all ready picks up BD and if they bring back Brand it will commit them long term. If not, I could see a big name guy wanted to go out to LA.
Memphis: Surprisingly good position. They will have the ability to sign-and trade Conley Jr. & Gay for which ever FA they are able to land, if they wanted to go that route.
Miami: They will have cash to be a player whether D-Wade opts out or not. They could bring in another big name via sign and trade if they are conservative and luck out a little.
Minny: Will have the cash, but who will want to go?
New Jersey: Plenty of Sign-and-trade options to look at.
New York: Still have moves to make, but we all know they will be a player.
Philly: Looking to land a big name this offseason, and if they play conservative they will have cash to pair that player up with another FA in 2010.
Phoenix: Prime position to trade Amare+others prior to the summer of 2010 for picks and expirings to get ready to land a big name. Shaq, Nash, and Bell are also expiring leading in to the summer of 2010.
Sacramento: Getting lazy...they will have cash.
That all being said...look at the current truly possible contenders & the up and coming contenders (next 2 seasons).
East:
Detroit- Likely past the point of contention in 2009-2010, and also a player in FA.
Cleveland- Will be going for broke in order to keep LeBron. But with so many teams gunning for his services, how many teams are going to be willing to make deals with Cleveland to make them better?
Boston- The Big 3's motivation was to win their first title. Will it be the same going for another? Will age or injury factor in? They could very will be a player, but I don't see them being better than they were this season.
Orlando- On the rise more so than any other team in the East. It is going to take some actual trades to make us improve as a team due to being financial strapped. 2010 Expirings will be very valuable for us to have going in to the 2009-2010 season. Tons of teams will be looking for expiring contracts. If we can be a team to deal some away, we can potentially land some great help.
Toronto- All depends on how the Bosh-O'Neal-Calderon trio works out. Could be up and coming, could be down and out.
Miami- Anything could happen with Miami. They could go any direction now with Wade, Marion, and Beasley under contract for this season and Wade with a Player Option for the summer of 2010. I just don't see them in true title contention by 2009-2010, however.
West:
San Antonio- Always a contender until the day Duncan retires, in my mind. But they are on the decline.
LA Lakers- Will be a force in 2009-2010.
New Orleans- Again, a force in 2009-2010.
Utah- Depending on how they surround Boozer and Williams, they could be a force as well.
Houston- Yao will be a great attraction for FA's in 2010 and we all know how well T-Mac plays when he is unmotivated. How motivated will he be if rumors start flying that they are giving up on him?
Phoenix- Amare will definitely be shipped off to a contender for expirings+picks in my mind. They won't have much left in the books and an additional 38 million in expirings to deal (Shaq, Nash, Bell).
So who will be left to compete against us in the east? You can argue for a few teams. Cleveland will be pushing in order to keep LeBron and Boston will be making their final stand. Are either of them really conceivably better than us? Not in my mind.
As for the West, the recent powers are falling and the new ones have risen. LA, New Orleans, and Utah will likely be the powerhouses for the next few years until Seattle and Portland mature in to contention. I see us having a hard time with the Hornets but being able to fair quite well against Utah and LA. All 3 would be a toss up to me.
Trust me, I know this is all ridiculous early speculation. But in a summer filled with nothing, we gatta have something.