When news broke that a few of the biggest names in the NBA’s 2010 free agency sweepstakes (namely LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amar’e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson) would collectively meet to discuss their plans on who to sign with, my head almost spontaneously combusted. Is this what the basketball world has come to? I’m not even sure what’s more shocking — the fact that these men felt the need to announce they would get together and converse over their respective futures, or the very small amount of backlash surrounding this unholy alliance of availability.

The result of this off-season free agent pool could shake the NBA for years to come

Am I the only one who finds this meeting of the minds despicable?

I mean, what business do these guys have in determining where each other should go? Don’t get me wrong — I understand they are all friends. If they want to go out and have a group function at the nearest Spearmint Rhino strip club, making it rain and washing away their sorrows in some bubbly champagne, that’s more than acceptable. Hell, that’s actually encouraged in the sports world, to my knowledge. But for 5 of the top players in any league to get together and discuss their future stomping grounds with each other is nothing short of collusion! As a matter of fact, it’s downright blasphemous to the sport!

No, I’m not naïve enough to believe these guys wouldn’t be talking about this stuff even if this news hadn’t made its way to the media circles. That’s like saying Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda wouldn’t be talking about men when they hang out (yes, I just named off the entire cast of characters from Sex in the City without flinching, so what? I will still cut you in a heartbeat.)

say something!

However, the fact that they DID have the nerve to announce this future meeting, as if it were “business as usual” shows two things: First and foremost, the inmates are officially running the asylum now in the NBA. The power used to be in the hands of the owners and GMs who decided which free agents they would take a chance on through interviews, scouting, and the typical evaluation process of talent. Somehow, the shift of power has gone from the team’s personnel to the players themselves. Next thing you know, we’re going to have NFL QB’s calling their own plays from the line of scrimmage after the coach calls a play in the huddle. Wait, they already do that? Son of a bitch…

It's cute how you're holding that clipboard like you're calling the plays or something

Secondly, the days of heated battles and bitter rivalries between superstars in the NBA are dead and gone.

Look at it like this: could you ever have imagined Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Isiah Thomas all getting together in the late 80’s during an offseason to decide where they each would play? HELL NO. And I shouldn’t even have to explain why this was the case … those guys HATED each other during their playing days. That’s the way basketball is SUPPOSED to be. Save for an occasional McDonalds or Nike commercial, you wouldn’t see these guys anywhere near each other outside of the basketball court.

All this Kumbayah and “let’s figure it out amongst each other and make the best decision for ourselves as a group” nonsense is a slap-in-the-face to the Golden Era of basketball. These players ought to be ashamed of their damn selves.

Do you want to know why Kobe Bryant is the best comparison to the Michael Jordan mold of the current era? He’s the only one with the same villainous winning mentality. Kobe would probably foul his own mama if she was wearing the opposing team’s jersey and it meant an opportunity for winning another ring. Kobe is the only player who, after winning 3 rings with a particular team’s nucleus, would even fathom holding that team with such a rich championship history hostage by demanding that either he or the lazy, fat, never comes back from the offseason in shape, wannabe rapper of a center gets traded. That right there is a dedication to one’s own desire to be the best. Do you think he was trying to make dinner plans with Allen Iverson that summer?

On the other hand, Dwyane Wade was quoted as saying he’s a loyal person, and as such wants to remain with a loyal basketball club for the duration of his career. OK, Mr. Wade … NEWS FLASH: A club is only going to be as loyal to you as you are beneficial to them. The second a player is no longer pertinent to a team’s success or future plans, why should they keep you around? It’s like any other job in this world – you’re only needed until you aren’t anymore. In terms of business, it’s a “what have you done for me lately?” world, and basketball players sure as hell are not exempt from this theory.

Except for Juwan Howard... apparently

So, what exactly do these players expect to accomplish with this meeting?

While taking a closer look at each of their respective playing styles, there’s a glaring issue among three of these five players: James, Wade and Johnson all have similar skill sets. If you look even closer, James and Wade are almost the exact same player … the only difference is size, which isn’t even that big of a discrepancy. So how would these two co-exist on the same team? Who would be the star? Who would defer to being the 2nd in command?

An argument could be made that both players would be willing to put their egos aside to work towards a championship, but who are they kidding? These guys love the notoriety just as much, if not more than they do winning at this stage of their careers. Joe Johnson, a one-time stellar part of the original Phoenix Suns “run-and-gun” offense several years ago, chose to leave the team so he could become the focal point of his own offense. He maximized his statistics in Atlanta and landed on a few All-Star teams as a result, but don’t you think he’d be closer to a title if he stayed with Phoenix, who made a deep playoff run this year?

The reason Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce came together in Boston and made it work was because, while they’re all still relatively in their prime, they all saw the window of opportunity closing and realized it wasn’t about being “the man” anymore. It was about a team effort to win, and each teammate admitted they wouldn’t have been able to co-exist if they came together when they were younger due to the “superstar complex.”

Ultimately, LeBron James is the one player of this entire group that clearly controls his own destiny. He can pretty much go wherever he wants, so long as a certain bipolar, gun-touting, LeBron’s momma loving red-head is not on the roster. I’m not saying any names though. But you have to believe that LeBron is going to try and sway either Bosh or Stoudemire to join him if he does stay in Cleveland, or wherever else he decides to go.

As much as I don’t like this “elitist” union within a union, the truth is no one knows exactly what these five players are going to be talking about until free agency begins on July 1st. From there, though, we should be able to deduce what went down by where these particular athletes go. And if this is any indication of the future, this won’t be the first time we’ll see tails wagging the dog during the offseason.

NBA Finals thoughts

In anticipation of the 12th meeting between the Lakers and Celtics in the NBA Finals, I’m going to throw out some random thoughts on the series, including a prediction which is completely unbiased. A little bit. Kinda, sorta… oh who am I kidding?

Kobe is undoubtedly the most important player of this series for the Lakers, but would you believe me if I said Rajon Rondo is Boston’s key to success? You better, because it’s the truth. Time to find a new nickname, Mr. Pierce.
People scoffed for most of the season at Ron Artest’s contributions to L.A. and claimed the team would have been better off keeping Trevor Ariza. However, after his game-winning put back in Game 5 of the WC Finals, I believe he finally feels he’s part of the team. What would any family be without that weird cousin that everyone backs up in public, but behind closed doors wonders “did this guy sniff one too many permanent markers as a kid?”
Ray Allen seems to play his best whenever he’s going against Kobe. Remember that whole “rivalries are dead” comment I made earlier? Well, that’ll only be official once these two retire.
Boston’s bench is going to run circles around the Lakers 2nd unit.
I’d personally rather see Adam Morrison in an arm-wrestling contest with Nate Robinson than Sasha Vujacic shoot another 3 in a Lakers uniform.
Over/under on Kendrick Perkins getting his next technical foul is Game 3. I’m taking the under.
Pau Gasol will solidify himself as the best and most versatile big man in the NBA after these Finals.
“Big Baby” Glen Davis will be involved in no less than 2 scuffles during the course of this series… he will most likely cry following all of them.
Andrew Bynum’s future as a Laker lies solely on his health during these Finals. If he doesn’t finish the series on the court, he can kiss the purple and gold goodbye (he’s probably gone either way, but those chances decrease with his contributions to a potential title).
Kevin Garnett will continue his decline in performance by being thoroughly outplayed by Mr. Khloe Kardashian.
Derek Fisher will not make a clutch shot throughout the entire series.
I was so lying about that last one. That’s like saying Paul Pierce won’t fake an injury when he’s having a bad game.
Lakers win in 7 games.
Bring it on home, boys.