LeBron James has put serious pressure on the Timberwolves.

LeBron

Monday we will discuss the return of LeBron James and all the ramifications of that move with David Kay of walterfootball.com 6PM EDT on News, Notes & Rumors on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

First let me say I am delighted that LeBron James, the best basketball player on earth, is coming back to the Cavs in the prime of his career. Now there is pressure on Pat Riley and the Heat. But LeBron also put serious pressure on the Timberwolves.

Decision 2 has eliminated nearly all the possible trade options for the Timberkitties’ only asset—Kevin Love. It has also prevented any chance of a sign and trade with anyone other than the Cavs. Love wants to win a title and he has 0 chance to get that in Minnesota. He will only go to Cleveland. He will not sign an extension with any other team even if he is traded.

Without a chance of an extension, Love’s value in a trade is badly reduced. No team will give up something like Andrew Wiggins for a rental player. So expect the Cavs to try to make a deal now and if it does not succeed at the trade deadline as well. … Read more at FryingPanSports

How can the Cavs get LeBron to come back?

LeBron

Yesterday we asked “Can the Cavs get LeBron James to come home?” Prior to answering, I had to answer a few questions. Check out the article below.

The question today is what are the alternatives to trading for Kevin Love in blind faith that he will stay and LeBron James will come?

Sign Chris Bosh (Mia).

LeBron is currently discussing a reunion with Bosh and Dwayne Wade in Miami. Wade is a has been. He disappeared in the finals against the Spurs. The Cavs have Kyrie Irving who is younger, more athletic and effective than Wade. Irving also distributes the ball which is something that did not happen in Miami. Bosh would start allowing PF Tristan Thompson to provide scoring and rebounding off the bench. The combination of Bosh and Irving is much better than Bosh and Wade. It might be enough to get LeBron’s interest.

Sign C Marcin Gortat (Wash)

There are not many better centers than Gortat. He fills a hole and allows Thompson to stay at PF. The addition would help LeBron with rebounding and scoring. Gortat is a 13 point 10 rebound a game guy. That would allow the Cavs to trade or bring Anderson Varejao … Read more at FryingPanSports

The Heat have the LeBron and the Timid 2

LeBron

Paul Banks of the Sportsbank joins me at 6PM EDT on NNR. Join us on or https://fryingpansports.com/radio-show/.

In game 3 of the NBA Finals it was LeBron James vs. the Spurs. It is beginning to look like LeBron is giving up on the Heat and the Timid 2. He had the lead in game 1 when he was struck by cramps. He left and so did Heat. The Spurs took game 1. In games 3 and 4 LeBron was the one and only factor for the Heat. As a result the Heat lost both of the home games. The title will belong to the Spurs and LeBron will be looking for help in the off season.

Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were taking up space for no particular purpose. On the defensive end both looked like dress shop manikins watching the Spurs pass the ball around. On the offensive end they were trying out for the title role in Invisible Man II. The “white out” became “walk out” a couple of minutes into the 4th quarter.

Some apologists will want to blame the little 9 rather than the big 3. But this series has pointed out the … Read more at FryingPanSports

There will be more chairs than players for NBA max contracts in 2010 free agency

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Trying to grade the NFL draft right after it is an effort in futility. The NBA draft is even worse because we have so much less information about the players. I won’t try to do that. Instead let’s look at 2010 free agency because that is where the rubber of the NBA ball meets the court.

There are 3 premiere UFAs in the 2010 free agent class. Those are 1. LeBron James SF (26 years old), 2. Dwyane Wade, SG (28) and 3. 3. Chris Bosh, FC (26). That is it.

There are 3 blue chip UFAs including 4. Joe Johnson, SG (29 a late bloomer that has really come on in Atlanta) 5. Amare Stoudemire, FC (28 but injury prone and not much of a defender) 6. Dirk Nowitzki, PF (a very old 32).

Then there is the rest who are at best a “Pippen” that requires a Jordan to get you a championship.

There is no question that the first 3 deserve the max contract of about 16.6 mil over what ever length of time you can sign the guy for. In the second group Johnson deserves the max but I would not give the other 2 max … Read more at FryingPanSports