sebstar wrote:

Cosmic wrote:

sebstar wrote:

s3231 wrote:Lol, well what is he going to say? "Screw you Toronto! Me and Bron Bron are building a dynasty in NY!!!"

Yeah, that column was a bunch of ambiguous, double-talk from cats that want to downplay the idea that they could bolt to another team. If the potential free agents were so resolute in staying with their respective teams, they would have done it already and avoided the hassle.

They are testing the market for a reason.

Of course people that have the opinion that Walsh is making is a horrible mistake will latch on to columns like this, when they're no different than the "Lebron is definitely coming to NY, because his third cousin on his moms side said so" bullshyt.

Now that there is the truth. We don't know what these players will ultimately decide to do. But we do know they all had max extensions lined up to be signed and they all refused them.

All they had to do was sign the extensions. But they didn't. Why?

Well, we'll find out this summer.

And again even if the top guys don't come we absolutely had to tear this roster down and start over. If 2010 was the worst FA crop in history we still had to tear down this mess and start over.

We're doing the right thing.

What the final outcome happens to be is anyone's guess but we had to tear it apart.

Yep. I mean I can understand being a lil' uncomfortable with the amount of assets we gave up just to dump Jared Jeffries, but whats good with this incessant pessimism? More than likely we're gunna walk away with some good talent after this offseason. This is no less risky than hoping the lottery balls fall our way every year and the players we draft develop.

This is the way we're going now. We have a shot. Why cant we just hope for the best?

I think people are expecting a little more than good. Decent teams may or not make the playoffs but they have a draft pick to look forward too. We have little to look forward too for the next 2 years.

While Rudy Gay, David Lee, and filler would be nice I doubt anyone will be doing cart wheels.

I think we have really dropped the ball as far as not using the draft to get a possible star player or two before the 2010 FA market. Had we accepted losing a few more games, we could be sitting here with a Tyreke Evans or Stephen Curry to go along with a lot of cap space.

Walsh's strategy is certainly risky but it is something he had to do given the circumstances. Hill could end up being a bust and Donnie couldn't let him stand in the way of clearing up the necessary cap to get that 2nd max (or near max) contract.

We would destroy Walsh for years if the Nets ended up signing Bosh and/or LeBron because they cleared the cap to do it while we didn't. It is something Donnie had to do because this franchise has never allowed itself to be in this position.

Sorry Briggs, as much as you might hate New York, I believe every single free agent that comes to visit will highly consider signing here.

AnubisADL wrote:

iSergio wrote:The way Chris Bosh and the rest of these free agents feel right now isn't going to be the same in July after their visit to New York.

Sorry Briggs, as much as you might hate New York, I believe every single free agent that comes to visit will highly consider signing here.

LOL.

Seriously man Bosh isn't coming here to carry a team by himself. Bosh will likely join an already solid playoff team or join another superstar.

Wade knows as much as Bosh that one guy cant do it all.

Wade is 28
Lebron is 26
Bosh is 26
Johnson is 29
Gay is 24
Lee is 27
Amare is 28

As you can see most of these guys arent spring chickens.

When you look at a guys like Wade, Johnson, and Amare you have to wonder whether they are going to have an EPIC fall off in a few years. For alot of those guys I listed this is their last big pay day. A 6 year deal will carry most of those guys until they are over 30. Do we really want to pay the max to a 33 yr old Wade or Johnson?

Star players play at a top level until about 33/34 years of age. That is when star players start to fall off. Not before.

So you're giving us 5-8 good years of everyone on your list. 5-8 years of a player in his prime isn't good?

sebstar wrote:

s3231 wrote:Lol, well what is he going to say? "Screw you Toronto! Me and Bron Bron are building a dynasty in NY!!!"

Yeah, that column was a bunch of ambiguous, double-talk from cats that want to downplay the idea that they could bolt to another team. If the potential free agents were so resolute in staying with their respective teams, they would have done it already and avoided the hassle.

They are testing the market for a reason.

Of course people that have the opinion that Walsh is making is a horrible mistake will latch on to columns like this, when they're no different than the "Lebron is definitely coming to NY, because his third cousin on his moms side said so" bullshyt.

I'm over in the motherland with my grandparents and I'm using the company crackberry to kill some time a read up on stuff. And you know I had to chime in here even tho its 630 am wednesday morning where I'm at.

1. The top FA's signed 3 year extensions because it brought them to the 7th year of their career...the first year they can get a TRUE max. They all also have a 4th year option because it gives them the opportunity to survey the financial landscape if they think the new CBA would give them even more money (economy is booming but its not so the option year won't get picked up). I think that more the reason than "testing the market". Agents aren't dumb.

2. They can not get more money by signing an extension now because it would be based on their previous year's amount at an additional 10.5 percent. But after the season, they can get 30 percent of the max.

Teams dumped space because of the quality of FA's and will putting on the power moves to sign them.

But regardless of that, its fiscal reasons why they all became free agents now as well as timing as they were all in the same draft class. That's why melo should fire his agent because he signed a 4th year non option year.

If Bosh says it it must be true!

NY wants to WIN now. MOst fans. Not Briggy fans or Nalod Fans, but the majority.

So in the end it is what it is and will be what will be.

The odds are most stay so take that and run with it.

IN my opinion by trading Hill, swap, and the 2012 we MAYBE kept our promise to keep Dlee or accomodate both him and Bosh with a sign and trade.

Lebron is different cuz he is at the top of his game at the time of his free agency. And most of these guys took deals to put themselves in this situation.

This Home town crap gets old. Maybe Lebron is getting tired of Akron and ready to expand his horizons. I don't know, the press don't know and for all we know he don't know.

Briggy, I am sure the odds are with you on your belief that Lebron won't change teams.

Anyone think he might go to Miami? Chicago?

BRIGGS wrote:http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/scott_howard_cooper/02/23/free.agents/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

For all of those who like all of that cap space and giving away Hill and the picks--what is your take on what Bosh is saying--and I think he knows first hand.

"Overhyped situations," Bosh said, "never play out the way you think it would."

and let's not be naïve here -- it's because talking about wanting to put down permanent roots is the proper negotiating tactic and a smart way to keep hometown fans on their side

BRIGGS wrote:Were in the position were in. If Lebron James really wanted to come to NY--he doesnt need another guy to come with him--he'll come --he's his own man. I think all of these guys have very big egos--they probably want their own teams.

The way it's set up I don't want to max FA anyway. Id rather one and then spread the money around on the other side. is One Chris Bosh[who I dont think is coming here in anyway] better than David Lee Sergio Rodriquez Krylo Fasenko and CJ Watson---no way in hll. Lebron James knows that--it's teams that win--you need a full team. we MAY be VERY lucky that D Lee would take ONLY 10mm which starts at 8.5 because that gives us a lot of leeway. OF we are able to get a max FA--thats an IF right now.

Who the hell are Krylo Fasenko and CJ Watson??? I've never even heard of them. They sound like your new flavors of the month man.