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Shaq may be among those making offseason move
That allegedly proposed marriage checks in as literally — given the enormity of Shaq's carcass and the 20 million scoots that represent the final year on his current contract — the biggest potential league personnel maneuver we'll be following for the next few weeks.
It has been reported that such large inside help for LeBron probably won't happen without cooperation from the Phoenix Suns, who will take quite a luxury-tax wallop if they continue to employ the still-viable, 37-year-old O'Neal.
But the sticking point is believed to be the Suns' interest in acquiring players who can actually help them win and save some loot for owner Robert Sarver. So far, the rumored return is swingman Sasha Pavlovic packaged with undersized, under-skilled and overpaid center Ben Wallace. Let's consider that two-man bonanza a quick ticket to the 2010 lottery, which only seems nice until the Suns consider the initial attendance catastrophe it would provoke in Arizona.
Phoenix's contribution to the national wrecked-economy-summer-watch-list includes what to do with Amare Stoudemire and Steve Nash. Stoudemire is a post player with superstar talent, superstar money, anarchist leadership skills and eye issues. Nash is an into-the-sunset-riding point guard with one year left on his robust contract (team option) and a good year or two left on legs that can't get any worse than they already are defensively.
Back in Cleveland, the playoff-busted Cavaliers must reconcile a baseline that's less mobile than a rotary phone with LeBron's fast-approaching free-agency date.
They seem reluctant to part with any of James' starting perimeter playmates and might have to face Shaq's interest in a contract extension without a commitment from LeBron. But the Cavs, who are preparing to clear cap room for 2010, don't figure to have any long-term interest in the Big Tweet Hereafter.
One of O'Neal's old teams — the Los Angeles Lakers — has a parade of unrestricted free agents to pay for. The co-grand marshals are Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom, whose combined contributions were key in the finals conquest of the Orlando Magic.
Before the champagne could dry in his hair, Lakers coach Phil Jackson suggested that re-hiring both players may not be out of the question. And the question is just how stinking high over the already-luxury-taxed threshold owner Jerry Buss is willing to rise.
If Buss, who usually antes up (but within reason), takes that big hit, then the Lakers will be just ducky next season. If not, they may need Odom to come through on what seems like a home-town discount hint; please note that Lamar may have been under the influence of bubbly (or a bucket of Starburst) and not responsible for making good on any imagined monetary promises.
Odom has been handsomely remunerated for several years; Ariza has yet to receive that stunning NBA payday.
In my opinion, Odom is more valuable to the Lakers than Ariza ... or at least what he does is more difficult to replicate. Ariza is a quick, bouncy 6-foot-7 kid with the willingness to defend like a fiend, accept a supporting role on offense and make a reasonable amount of wide-open threes.
Finding another athletic three who can specialize while Kobe and Pau Gasol assume responsibility for killing a defense is easier than identifying a replacement for Odom.
Lamar is 6-10 and as versatile as a can of tuna, making him able to defend the post and the perimeter on one end, score on the post, drive to the cup and run the offense for the Bench Mob on the other. He also makes a deep shot now and then (finish higher on your release, L.O.!), but — at 29 — is five years older than Ariza.
Anyway, 6-10 Swiss Army Knives are rare in the NBA.
But another charter member of this slim category is Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu, whose agent just made a declaration of contractual independence. So, instead of working for the Magic at $7 million and change next season, Hedo is expecting to be hired for considerably more than that.
The Magic hierarchy, which may find itself on the cusp of the doomsday expectation for the luxury-tax limit without Turkoglu's final year added in, may need to bite the bullet or think of some creative financial maneuvers. One cost-cutting move would be embracing Anthony Johnson as the backup point guard for re-embraced starter Jameer Nelson and moving Rafer Alston, the marvelous temp who has $5.2 million due next season.
Alston did a tremendous job after arriving from Houston, where the Rockets reportedly are shopping Tracy McGrady and the $23 million-plus remaining on the getaway year of his deal.
Interested suitors must balance the Rockets' anticipated personnel return with T-Mac's ability to synchronize the expiration dates of his skills and contract.
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| Hedo Turkoglu will be one of the top free agents available. (Chris Graythen / Getty Images) |
The McGrady issue is complicated by the looming free agency of Ron Artest, who may have earned another multi-year offer somewhere by not attacking a single fan while working in Houston.
Any discussion of baggage must include the Los Angeles Clippers, who have several ugly contracts blocking the low-post area now reserved for No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin. The crowd in the key includes Zach Randolph, whose two-year, $33 million price tag and sterling reputation could make him as difficult to trade as a liver sandwich in an elementary school lunch room.
Throw in center Chris Kaman (at three years and $33 million), mix in point guard Baron Davis (four years, $54 million) and you'd swear Barney Frank has been working as the team's general manager.
Our next stop is Detroit, where Awful Investment has replaced Allen Iverson as what is represented by A.I.
Maybe he'll join a want-ad-reading, reality-show cast that includes Barry Bonds and Plaxico Burress. But now that Iverson is out and cap room is in, the Pistons reportedly are ready to abet Carlos Boozer's escape from Utah. The big question is how much can a bad economy handle the prospect of overpaying a really good — but far from great — power forward.
In Denver, the threshold-huggin' Nuggets must decide if Chris "Birdman" Andersen would seem quite as lovable making considerably more than the tick-under $1 million he cost them this past season.
While we gnash our teeth over the economic challenges NBA teams face in the summer of '09, let's not forget the gigantic shadow cast by the Huge Free Agent Summer of 2010.
OK, trading James or Wade to avoid losing them to free agency next year is out of the question. But the same question has reached Toronto, where power forward Chris Bosh — who hasn't exactly dragged the Raptors toward glory — is considered a legit threat to scram.
The franchise has insisted that trading Bosh is a cruel move it wouldn't spring on its fans.
But at least they have socialized health care to deal with aftermath.
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