The 1st Ever NBA Fan Free Agent! oh… and LeBron James
May 3, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Atlanta Hawks bench at the end of the fourth quarter against the Indiana Pacers in game seven of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana won 92-80. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports
You Bore Me– These are the teams that are in the NBA but you usually forget they’re there. They’re forgettable teams that don’t seem to offer sexiness, excitement or high potential.
As a Fan–Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and the Toronto Raptors.
The Hawks, Nuggets and Bucks are on their way up but still just too bland for me. There’s nothing really here to entice me. No players stand out and no emotional ties. Though because of one of my best friends, adopted sister and cousin, Atlanta has become my 3rd home (behind Cleveland and Columbus) and there’s still just not enough to get me rooting. The Pistons are hard because of the close rivalry of the 2000s and again just nothing here to get me excited. I feel a movement growing in Toronto but that’s a whole country away. Brooklyn is kinda interesting because of my love for Kevin Garnett’s game plus the whole New York style of fandom but again nothing makes them charismatic to me. I can’t see myself rooting for this team.
For LeBron-Atlanta Hawks, Brooklyn Nets, Detroit Pistons, and the Toronto Raptors.
The Hawks might be a solid spot of LeBron with two big guys in Paul Millsap and rim protector Al Horford with Jeff Teague bringing it up and Kyle Korver as a deadly 3 point shooter but LeBron doesn’t seem to have any interest in Atlanta. Maybe because it’s been so boring or maybe because old-I’m not your friend, buddy Danny Ferry is in charge of things down there, and we know how well that worked out the first time. The Nets are old and besides Deron Williams and Brook Lopez I don’t see LeBron seeing any long term talent here. The Pistons and Raptors don’t have enough talent and aren’t sexy enough for LeBron.
Not a Good Fit-There’s some interest but there’s something in the way. Maybe at a different time.
As a Fan-Minnesota Timberwolves and Phoenix Suns
There’s something about the Timberwolves that has always intrigued me. Now they have Ricky Rubio, one of the most interesting players in the league aka the God of Spaniard with Locks of Ecstasy. I absolutely love his passing, his passion in the Olympics and his ability to still turn around his NBA career. But the Wolves are a mess. Their best player Kevin Love desperately wants out and it doesn’t look good. Things could turn around quickly. If LeBron does sign in Cleveland, the whole reason I’m a free agent, there will be an interesting trade option. In Cleveland you’ll then have Kyrie Irving, Andrew Wiggins, LeBron, Tristan Thompson and Anderson Varejao with plenty of young trade assets in Dion Waiters, Anthony Bennett and many more. The Cavs could then strike a deal to trade for Kevin Love, who said he’s leaving Minnesota at the end of the year with those two as the start of their package. That would have to be considered one of the strongest offers on the market considering a lot of the teams with young assets don’t have the firepower to keep Kevin Love happy. If Dion Waiters and Bennett end up on Minnesota, they instantly jump towards the top of my free agent wish list. Rubio, Waiters and Bennett. Sign me up. As far as the Phoenix Suns go they’re interesting to me. They’re a hot young team and a great team to jump on early but there’s nothing really there for me to relate to and I feel no connection to the team. I’m not going to just jump on the bandwagon to get on something good early, not with my NBA Fan on the line. I loved my time in the city of Phoenix but there’s not enough to have me buy in.
For LeBron– New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns
New York City and Madison Square Garden have always had a special place in Lebron’s heart. He flirted with the idea of going there in 2010 and loves to play at MSG. Only problem is, the Knicks’ best player and LeBron friend, Carmelo Anthony is also a free agent. Phil Jackson is now in charge in New York which is another draw for LeBron but at this time the cupboard seems a little too bare for LeBron. This could be a real darkhorse though. Sources are saying Melo’s decision comes down to the Knicks and Lakers. If Melo resigns and the Knicks can find a way to make the cap room work, never underestimate anything because of cap room-especially because the Knick’s caproom isn’t something mandatory like a solid player they need to keep, LeBron might be intrigued by the chance to shine under the brightest lights with his good friend Melo. Honestly though if Jackson had taken control of the team after 2010 with Melo already back on board I think this is a close call but at this point there’s not enough to entice LeBron. Phoenix could be an interesting landing spot but I feel they’re one year away from being a serious contender for LeBron. If they grow this year like they did last year, with all that cap space and let’s say LeBron stayed one more year in Miami, they would be able to add Love and LeBron to an already solid cast. It would be a great situation. But not this year, too much gamble.