NBA Betting Odds: LeBron James Frenzy
This time of year generally finds the NBA well off the sports betting radar. Not this year with rumors and speculation surrounding LeBron James' free agent status reaching a fever pitch.
Usually at this time of year, die-hard NBA fans are looking at the Summer League and this year’s crop of rookies. But there’s nothing usual about this year – or about LeBron James.
The most coveted free agent in league history is about to announce to the world his choice about which team to join in 2010-11. Speculation has run so rampant that the LeBron camp has swung a deal with ESPN to turn “The Decision” into a one-hour television special, starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. James will reportedly reveal the lucky team within the first 10 minutes of the broadcast.
There’s not much point in me adding to the speculation, not when the betting odds have been off the board for days – not just the odds on where LeBron will land, but on the NBA championship futures market as well. I’ll only point out in the interest of disclosure that I had both James and Chris Bosh going to the Chicago Bulls. And that’s already been disproved; Bosh has committed to the Miami Heat, where he will play alongside Dwyane Wade.
James could still join the Bulls – or the Heat, Knicks, Nets, or the Harlem Globetrotters for that matter. Just about every team that cleared salary cap space for King James also cleared enough to sign one or even two additional free agents to maximum-level contracts. All LeBron hopefuls got some extra good news on Wednesday when the league announced its salary cap for 2010-11 would be $58 million. That’s about $2 million more than expected.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the three teams that have already added big-name stars to their rosters.
Miami Heat
It hasn’t been announced whether Bosh will settle for a five-year deal or talk the Heat into a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, which would allow Bosh to sign for six years at more money. That probably depends on LeBron.
If all three players are willing to take slightly less money, the Heat can surround them with marginal talent and become an instant championship contender. It’s the “stars and scrubs” blueprint that worked so well for the Boston Celtics three years ago. Otherwise, Miami only has a Big Two and not much else on the roster for 2010-11.
Chicago Bulls
If they don’t get James, maybe it’s just as well – if it means having James and Derrick Rose on the same team. Two players can’t handle the ball at the same time, after all.
What we do know is that Carlos Boozer will play for the Bulls next year, and he’s exactly the kind of power forward Chicago fans have coveted for eons. He’s a tremendous fit next to Joakim Noah, and there’s plenty of money left in the kitty to add a competent shooter or two. This team can make some serious noise with Tom Thibodeau replacing Vinny Del Negro as coach.
New York Knicks
You no longer have to wear a paper bag over your head, Knicks fans. Amare Stoudemire is a quality power forward who played all 82 games last year for the Phoenix Suns, so health concerns can be set aside – at least early on in this five-year deal.
Stoudemire is being reunited with coach Mike D’Antoni, and we can expect a decent point guard to join them. Even if that takes another year, when Tony Parker will be available.
Other teams have opened the vault to re-sign their own free agents, including the Dallas Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki), the Atlanta Hawks (Joe Johnson), the Memphis Grizzlies (Rudy Gay) and the aforementioned Celtics (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen). Some of these moves make more sense than others.
But there’s one nifty non-LeBron deal that’s flying under the radar: Steve Blake going to the Los Angeles Lakers. Good defense, 7.0 assists per 40 minutes for the Clippers and Blazers last year, 39.3 percent lifetime from long range … and five years younger than Derek Fisher. The Lakers will be your preseason favorites,
This time of year generally finds the NBA well off the sports betting radar. Not this year with rumors and speculation surrounding LeBron James' free agent status reaching a fever pitch.
Usually at this time of year, die-hard NBA fans are looking at the Summer League and this year’s crop of rookies. But there’s nothing usual about this year – or about LeBron James.
The most coveted free agent in league history is about to announce to the world his choice about which team to join in 2010-11. Speculation has run so rampant that the LeBron camp has swung a deal with ESPN to turn “The Decision” into a one-hour television special, starting at 9:00 p.m. Eastern. James will reportedly reveal the lucky team within the first 10 minutes of the broadcast.
There’s not much point in me adding to the speculation, not when the betting odds have been off the board for days – not just the odds on where LeBron will land, but on the NBA championship futures market as well. I’ll only point out in the interest of disclosure that I had both James and Chris Bosh going to the Chicago Bulls. And that’s already been disproved; Bosh has committed to the Miami Heat, where he will play alongside Dwyane Wade.
James could still join the Bulls – or the Heat, Knicks, Nets, or the Harlem Globetrotters for that matter. Just about every team that cleared salary cap space for King James also cleared enough to sign one or even two additional free agents to maximum-level contracts. All LeBron hopefuls got some extra good news on Wednesday when the league announced its salary cap for 2010-11 would be $58 million. That’s about $2 million more than expected.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the three teams that have already added big-name stars to their rosters.
Miami Heat
It hasn’t been announced whether Bosh will settle for a five-year deal or talk the Heat into a sign-and-trade with the Toronto Raptors, which would allow Bosh to sign for six years at more money. That probably depends on LeBron.
If all three players are willing to take slightly less money, the Heat can surround them with marginal talent and become an instant championship contender. It’s the “stars and scrubs” blueprint that worked so well for the Boston Celtics three years ago. Otherwise, Miami only has a Big Two and not much else on the roster for 2010-11.
Chicago Bulls
If they don’t get James, maybe it’s just as well – if it means having James and Derrick Rose on the same team. Two players can’t handle the ball at the same time, after all.
What we do know is that Carlos Boozer will play for the Bulls next year, and he’s exactly the kind of power forward Chicago fans have coveted for eons. He’s a tremendous fit next to Joakim Noah, and there’s plenty of money left in the kitty to add a competent shooter or two. This team can make some serious noise with Tom Thibodeau replacing Vinny Del Negro as coach.
New York Knicks
You no longer have to wear a paper bag over your head, Knicks fans. Amare Stoudemire is a quality power forward who played all 82 games last year for the Phoenix Suns, so health concerns can be set aside – at least early on in this five-year deal.
Stoudemire is being reunited with coach Mike D’Antoni, and we can expect a decent point guard to join them. Even if that takes another year, when Tony Parker will be available.
Other teams have opened the vault to re-sign their own free agents, including the Dallas Mavericks (Dirk Nowitzki), the Atlanta Hawks (Joe Johnson), the Memphis Grizzlies (Rudy Gay) and the aforementioned Celtics (Paul Pierce, Ray Allen). Some of these moves make more sense than others.
But there’s one nifty non-LeBron deal that’s flying under the radar: Steve Blake going to the Los Angeles Lakers. Good defense, 7.0 assists per 40 minutes for the Clippers and Blazers last year, 39.3 percent lifetime from long range … and five years younger than Derek Fisher. The Lakers will be your preseason favorites,