Well today begins the most talented and anticipated free agency ever. For some players these decisions could determine their salary, shot at a title, and even their hall of fame status, talk about pressure. Luckily for them I am offering them my insight free of charge.
Paul Pierce, STAY- Paul, we all know you aren't leaving Boston. This is strictly a contractual decision right Paul? You did leave $21 Million on the table, but that's just because you could make $90 Million+ . Don't go play with LeBron or Wade, this organization and fan base loves you more than Miami, New York, Chicago or anybody else could. You have always been the best player and leader of your team. Rondo is taking over but this is still your team, and will be till you retire. On top of that you are in the top 10 in most statistical categories for the Celtics. You'll retire the all-time scoring and steals leader for certain and top 5 for many other categories. You already have a championship and you're gonna do down as one of the best Celtics ever. Don't ruin it.
David Lee GO- Coming off your first all-star season you're going to have plenty of teams willing to pay top dollar for your services. NY is going to focus on signing LeBron and Bosh or Amar'e. I suggest Oklahoma City, they will love you there. Russel Westbrook is already an elite PG and scoring champion Kevin Durant can only get better. You'll be the missing piece in the puzzle that could potentially bring the franchise back to elite status for the first time since the Payton/Kemp years in Seattle.
Yao Ming, STAY- Houston isn't going to give you a max contract until they see how well you do after your injuries, few teams will. Houston will be a good team, Brooks and Ariza will be all-stars soon enough, and Rick Adelman is an excellent coach.
Carlos Boozer STAY- Utah's got something good going, You have a top 2 PG, another all-star big man to compliment you and one of the most consistent coaches of all time. L.A. had your number, but they wont be around for much longer. Waiting sucks, but any of the prospective contenders are going to try for Amar'e and Bosh before you. If you can go to Miami go. OKC wouldn't be a bad gig either, if they don't get Lee.
Joe Johnson GO- You had a good run in ATL, and Josh Smith is a great sidekick but this team just isn't built to win a championship. Consecutive second round sweeps make that painfully obvious. On top of that, they just canned their coach. If you're okay with high 40-low 50 win seasons with minimal post-season success by all means, stay in ATL. Otherwise, try Chicago, you and Rose will be far and beyond the best back-court in the NBA, and LBJ or at least another marquee F.A. is likely to end up in the windy city too. It's your best shot at a ring, you're 29 and not getting any younger.
Amar'e Stoudemire, GO- To hell with Phoenix, they've used you as trade bait the last three seasons. Steve Kerr bounced, and although you have one of the best if not the best bench in the NBA, Nash isn't getting any younger. Even if you have one more good season, it likely will not be good enough to beat The Lakers. New Jersey, wouldn't be so bad, Derrick Favors could be a great font-court companion for you. Or you could go to New York to reunite with D'Antoni depending on who they sign. Your best bet is to try and follow James or Wade. If Miami doesn't get Bosh, or if they want both of you, jump all over it.
Chris Bosh GO!!- LEAVE NOW! No great Raptor has ever stayed there longer than 6 years. Actually there has never been a great Raptor in their short-lived franchise history. Vince Carter was good, but not great. If you ever want to be a Hall of Famer, you'll leave. You're the third best power forward in the league, and barring injury will eventually be #1 when Gasol and Dirk age. Don't waste your best years in Canada, nobody likes Canada, it sucks. Now I know you said you wanted to be the centerpiece of a championship team, but that doesn't mean you have to stay in Toronto. If you want to be the centerpiece, go to New Jersey, Prokorov is going to take that team to the top, and you already have an all-star guard in Devin Harris and Brook Lopez who is a solid front-court partner. My suggestion, go to Miami play with Dwayne Wade and Pat Riley, two proven champions. They have the most cap room so they can sign the most players, so there's a chance you could play with LeBron James too. If not, would you settle for Wade, Joe Johnson and maybe a second tier F.A. like Rudy Gay or Raymond Felton? Did I mention you'll live in MIAMI!?
Dirk Nowitzki is leaving Dallas, STAY- Ok Dirk, I know that you have had some very disappointing play-off runs, but if you want to point fingers, point them at yourself. You fucked up. I know averages make you look like some prime time play-off performer, but the truth is during the decisive games, you blow it. There was no reason you should not have won in 2007. It wasn't the organizations fault you shot 38% from the field in the first round that season. Let's not even talk about 2006. Mark Cuban has always done a great job making sure you have an excellent supporting cast behind you, and now it is better than ever. Unless you have an opportunity to play with LBJ, Wade, or both and don't mind being the #2 you belong in big D.
Dwayne Wade, STAY!!!!!- Other than the fact that you live in South Florida, Miami is going to become one of the leagues elite. They have the most cap space than any other team. You could get Bosh or James OR BOTH! Not only that, Pat Riley will coach. You could win a championship in as short a time as one season and could triple or quadruple your current total. You don't need to follow LeBron, you've already proven that you can be the definitive leader on a championship team. Unless Dirk, Amar'e, Boozer, Lee, or Bosh don't want to play with you in Miami (HA!) you would be foolish not to stay.
LeBron James, GO!- It all depends though. Bryon Scott agreed to a take the coaching job in Cleveland. If you can get Amar'e or Bosh by your side, by all means stay. Winning a ring for your home would do so much for your legacy. But if they can't produce, go to Chicago or Miami. You and Wade could either be incredible, or way too much of a good thing. I think Chicago is your best bet right now. They made some moves to get you and new head coach Tom Thidbodeau is a great defensive mind. You did so well with Mo Williams, well Derek Rose is just like Williams, only much, much better. But you can do whatever you want, why not try for L.A. and team up with Kobe? You're the most coveted free agent ever, and you have the league by the balls.
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