I don't think Bosh is worthy of a max deal. He's more valuable than say Joe Johnson or Rudy Gay, but he's basically the black Pau Gasol, a finesse power forward who has never led his own team to greatness. He's the ultimate second fiddle, but realistically he should get 80% of whatever LeBron and Wade get, since he's not quite the talents they are. He'll probably get the full max, and you can't blame him for taking it if somebody offers, but as a player, he's not worth it IMO.

6/30/2010 9:33:41 AM

Yeah, it's not like Pau Gasol, when paired with a superstar, could ever lead to something like back to back championships.



The whole is greater that the sum of the parts. Bosh will be a great asset to any team that has an existing superstar (a la Lebron or D-Wade).

6/30/2010 9:40:29 AM

i dont know if people dont see Bosh because he was in Toronto or what, but yeah a 24/11 guy that shoots over 50% with good range...why would he warrant a max contract?

6/30/2010 9:43:00 AM

Quote :

"when paired with a superstar, could ever lead"

When you're paired with superstar, you're not leading...you're playing Robin. Pippen, Kobe in the first Laker 3-peat, Ginobili and Parker with the Spurs...they were paired with superstars. They didn't lead their teams to titles. You can certainly make the argument that their teams wouldn't have won without them, but they weren't the top guy, and Bosh won't the top guy either.

I'm not saying he's not a great player, I just think the max should be reserved for the top 5-6 guys in the game. Howard, Paul, LeBron, Wade, Kobe, soon to be Durant and maybe Carmelo. GM's give out max deals too easily; I mean, Andrei freaking Kirilenko signed a max deal. Bosh is great, but there are a handful of similar guys in the league. The aforementioned 7. are all truly unique talents.

6/30/2010 9:56:18 AM

Bosh was flat out disgusting last year and if he ends up in chicago with lebron look out that team will be unbelievable.

If he ends up in miami they will be contenders but I don't know if that would be enough to get them over the hump.

He's WAY underrated, he's easily one of the top ten players in the nba without a doubt

6/30/2010 9:57:21 AM

Several things keep Bosh from being more of a household name

1. He's a big man, and its much harder for big men to resonate with fans because rebounds and hook shots aren't as sexy as threes and breakaway dunks.

2. He's spent his entire career on a mediocre team in Toronto.

3. He's very soft spoken, and aside from his hilarious all star campaign video(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hv7IZP7u9FE) he's never made headlines with the media.

4. His name is Chris Bosh. LeBron, Carmelo,D-Wade, CP3...they're all catchy and stand out. Chris Bosh sounds like a guy you went to high school with. He needs a cool nickname.


Like I said, great player, just not next-level great.

6/30/2010 10:04:25 AM

I am rooting for LeBron and Bosh to end up in Chicago because I've been a Bulls fan since I was a kid (yes I know everyone was because of MJ) but Ive been a chicago sports fan in general since I was a kid mainly I think due to WGN and being able to see a lot of games when I was a kid. I was always a Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks fan (never got into the Bears as I lived in Colorado during the Elway years so it was Broncos all the way) I never got into the Hornets or Bobcats here so Ive always just kept kinda following the Bulls and well there hasnt been a lot to cheer for since MJ left so I'd love to see them land LeBron and Bosh and become legit contenders again.

6/30/2010 10:05:18 AM

I dont follow that logic that if you're not MJ or Lebron you're "playing Robin." If Lebron goes to Miami, you're going to tell me that Dwayne Wade is playing Robin?

6/30/2010 10:44:44 AM

I feel like LeBron and D Wade will not happen just because there is so much potential greatness there, but also too much uncertainty as far as being in the spotlight and who's team it will be. Perhaps it would work if they both left their current team to team up elsewhere, but if LeBron goes to Miami I'm just not sure both of their ego's would work together. If both them and Bosh were together and could all get in the mindset of being unselfish and being a team rather than a bunch of superstars then they would be very very hard to stop, I just dont know that its possible is all.

I think at this point this offseason is gonna be about D Wade and LeBron fighting over the rest of the free agents available to put together the best team around them in order to succeed. The difference being Wade gets to stay put in Miami, while LeBron will likely have to go elsewhere to assemble such a team.

6/30/2010 10:56:01 AM

I just can't imagine what it would be like to have two perimeter players like that on the same team.

It's much easier to imagine an elite perimeter player and an elite big on one team...I mean, it happens all the time. Because the big man doesn't have to have the ball in his hands at all times, it makes it much easier.

But Lebron and Wade both dominate the ball for their teams, handling it even more than the point guard. I don't want them to end up on the same team, but I'd like to see them play a couple games together just to see what it would be like. I almost envision each player switching games on who gets the majority of the touches and then both guys just going off when they play better teams or in the playoffs. Honestly, I don't know how the fuck it would go.

I would say you can compare it to the USA basketball team, but EVERYONE on that team was pretty much elite and they were forced to defer. It would just be interesting to see how it goes with two great guys and a bunch of role players. One thing is for sure, the other guys on that team will probably have the worst stats of their career.

6/30/2010 10:59:09 AM

I didnt mean for my post to look like I think Dwayne Wade and LBJ would end up on the same team, nor do I think it would be a good idea. Was just arguing Slave's claim that Chris Bosh isnt in the group with the superstars and would just be second fiddle on LBJs team. The guy has career numbers on par with Tim Duncan and KG...that doesn't say "Robin" to me.

6/30/2010 11:26:06 AM

Add Paul Pierce to the mix.

6/30/2010 11:43:32 AM

^Jesus Christ man, read the fucking thread.

6/30/2010 11:48:53 AM

wonder if Denver is gonna try to move Melo before his contract expires next year

6/30/2010 12:42:41 PM

I saw something earlier saying that was a strong possibility unless he agrees to an extension with them.

He'd be leaving a lot of money on the table if he left Denver, though.

6/30/2010 12:45:27 PM

I agree with jbrick, you just can't have two top five players on the same team unless they have different games, one has to be a post player or a point guard, even though both are unselfish they will both expect the ball in their hands at the ends of games

I hope lebron gets bosh and then wade can get a joe johnson or boozer or something since I definitely want wade to succeed more than kobe, johnson should just sign a big contract with miami immediately since that way he can guarantee he'll be making big money and be on a contending team but like I posted before I could see him signing some max contract with a shitty franchise

I just wish there were some teams on the west that could put together these teams this off season, I don't want the lakers to have some cake walk to the finals next yr while lebron and wade have to battle each other

6/30/2010 3:58:14 PM

Quote :

"you just can't have two top five players on the same team unless they have different games"

6/30/2010 4:00:00 PM

Come on

Despite both being wing players, they were not very similar at all

More like Kobe and Artest, only a much better much saner version of Artest

6/30/2010 4:07:51 PM

NBAtv should have like a multi-PIP of all the big names as midnight

6/30/2010 5:21:19 PM

I have a good feeling that Lebron is gonna stay in Cleveland, he has a good nucleus around him (best record in the NBA) so he'll stay and hopefully the Cavs will add another piece from one of the second tier names available. Maybe they'll luck out and land Amare or Rudy Gay

6/30/2010 5:34:59 PM

Yeah, maybe they'll luck out into 16 million of additional cap space. They can't afford another player with James. They're stuck paying Jamison 14/year for the next two, Williams 9/year for the next three, and Varejao 8.5/year for the next 4. They will be at damn near 70 million with James. Take off your rose colored glasses...its pathetic.

6/30/2010 5:39:28 PM

fuck you slave, I'm trying not to be too much of a homer through all this and look at everything objectively. I really do think that Lebron will stay in Cleveland

well I'm thinking about if they are able to free up some money or make some trades. I dont know all the info on the Cavs' contracts, etc. and I dont really have the urge to look them up, so I dont know what all they will actually be able to do. But I do think Lebron will stay, and if he does, the Cavs front office will feel like they need to make SOME kind of move to improve the team.

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 5:52 PM. Reason : asdf]

6/30/2010 5:50:56 PM

The one time they had cap space they gave Larry Hughes 70 million

Consider yourself lucky they only have enough room for one max guy

6/30/2010 5:55:07 PM

Helpful for figuring out exactly which teams can offer max deals and how many

MC = Max Contract

Quote :

"New York Knicks Maximum cap room: 2.06 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Renounce all free agents. The Knicks also have the ability to hang on to David Lee's Bird rights, which would leave them with about 1.5 MCs -- they can't sign two maximum free agents and keep Lee. What can they do to get more? As expected, Eddy Curry invoked his contract option and his $11.3 million salary remains on the Knicks' books. There isn't much hope of getting to three MCs. New Jersey Nets Maximum cap room: 1.81 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Renounce all free agents. What can they do to get more? The Nets cleared additional cap space on Tuesday by sending Yi Jianlian to the Wizards for Quinton Ross. But their hopes of entering free agency with two max contracts were thwarted when Kris Humphries opted-in for 2010-11. Mikhail Prokhorov's team has to explore the trade market again if they want to land two maximum free agents -- and potentially upstage the neighboring Knicks. Chicago Bulls Maximum cap room: 1.76 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? The Bulls did most of the hard work in February and June. All that's left is to renounce their own free agents, such as Brad Miller. What can they do to get more? Contrary to recent reports, the Bulls do not have enough cap room to sign two maximum free agents. To get to the elusive two-MC threshold the Bulls would have to clear another $3.5 million from their books. Their best -- albeit unlikely -- bet would be to try to find a taker for Luol Deng's enormous contract, hoping to slide LeBron James into his vacated spot. Dumping James Johnson, Taj Gibson, Chris Richard and Rob Kurz would not generate the needed cap room -- the cap holds associated with the four vacated roster spots would consume much of the cap room that would be freed by their departure. Miami Heat Maximum cap room: 1.67 MCs (with Wade re-signed); 2.64 MCs (if Wade leaves) What needs to happen to get to this amount?: This may be counterintuitive, but the Heat gain more cap room if Wade becomes a free agent than if he invokes the option in his contract to stay with the team through 2010-11. Wade needs to become a free agent. The Heat already have declined the team option on Kenny Hasbrouck. They also released James Jones, whose $4.65 million salary was guaranteed for just $1.86 million -- clearing an additional $2.79 million from the team's books. What can they do to get more? There's not much left to trim from their roster. To keep Wade and go after both James and Bosh, they'd need to convince at least one of the free agents to take less. Even moving Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers for nothing wouldn't create enough cap room to sign all three star free agents at the full maximum. Los Angeles Clippers Maximum cap room: 1.02 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? The Clippers did most of their work at the February trade deadline, and have just enough cap room to sign one maximum free agent (but not a player with a higher maximum such as Amare Stoudemire). But will players come? What can they do to get more? It's no secret that the Clippers aren't enamored with Baron Davis' contributions over the last two seasons, and would welcome a reasonable deal to unload his expensive contract. But even dumping Davis for nothing wouldn't be enough to get the Clippers to two MCs. Sacramento Kings Maximum cap room: 0.93 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Renounce all free agents. What can they do to get more? The Kings lost their ability to sign a maximum free agent when they traded for Samuel Dalembert earlier this month. Another $1.21 million needs to come off the books to clear enough cap room. This could be accomplished by removing Omri Casspi's $1.25 million salary. Milwaukee Bucks Maximum cap room: 0.92 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Renounce all free agents. What can they do to get more? To get to one MC the Bucks need to trim another $1.37 million from the payroll. Waiving Carlos Delfino -- signed for $3.5 million but guaranteed for just $500,000 -- would get the job done. Boston Celtics Maximum cap room: 0.61 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Paul Pierce has to follow through on opting out of his contract, and the Celtics need to renounce all free agents. What can they do to get more? They'd have to clear another $6.5 million to get to one MC. If Rasheed Wallace follows through on retirement -- and forgoes his salary -- then the Celtics are less than $1 million away. They could get excruciatingly close -- only about $55,000 away -- by waiving the non-guaranteed contracts of Tony Gaffney and Oliver Lafayette. Washington Wizards Maximum cap room: 0.45 MCs What needs to happen to get to this amount? Decline Josh Howard's team option, renounce all free agents. What can they do to get more? By acquiring Kirk Hinrich and the rights to first-round pick Kevin Seraphin from the Bulls, the Wizards took themselves off the market for a maximum free agent. Trading Quinton Ross for Yi Jianlian further cemented their role as a team that will not be swinging for the fences this summer. "

6/30/2010 6:00:54 PM

^link?

[Edited on June 30, 2010 at 8:41 PM. Reason : nevermind, found it]

6/30/2010 8:40:15 PM

I'm sick of everyone raving about how good the bulls would be with lebron and bosh. they'd be a great team yes but they would not get it done in the playoff without signing a big time three point threat. if they got ray allen and lebron theyd be contenders.

lebron on the same team pretty much neutralizes derrick rose anyway. none of those other guys can shoot. who heinrich? this sounds like a team a kid made in some video game

Quote :

"If both them and Bosh were together and could all get in the mindset of being unselfish and being a team rather than a bunch of superstars then they would be very very hard to stop, I just dont know that its possible is all. "

You must have missed the olympics

Quote :

"I just wish there were some teams on the west that could put together these teams this off season, I don't want the lakers to have some cake walk to the finals next yr while lebron and wade have to battle each othe"

dallas is in the west in they will be HARD next year. clippers and okc might make moves too.

Quote :

", he has a good nucleus around him (best record in the NBA)"

doesnt mean shit. they were barely a top 5 team in the nba.

Quote :

"well I'm thinking about if they are able to free up some money or make some trades. I dont know all the info on the Cavs' contracts, etc. and I dont really have the urge to look them up, so I dont know what all they will actually be able to do."

In other words, you have no fucking idea what you're talking about, but you're still going to go ahead and give us your opinion.


IF I WAS KNICKS

-keep lee
-sign bron or wade
-sign allen

IF I WAS BULLS

-sign pierce
-lose deng
-sign boozer

IF I WAS HEAT

-lose wade
-sign bron
-sign bosh/amare and johnson (.82 mcs each)

IF I WAS BUCKS

-sign amare

HOLY SHIT

jennings
redd
salmons
amare
bogut

CONTENDERS CONTENDERS CONTENDERS

6/30/2010 10:13:00 PM

out of all the dumbass posts that you have shit all over sportstalk since you started your reign of stupidity, that might be your worst yet. I honestly dont even know where to start. please just go away already, you dont do anything but clutter this place up with your drivel

6/30/2010 10:18:29 PM

I've always been right though. So lets just see what happens. I've called about 8 major events in sports in the last 3 months so my moneys where my mouth is.

6/30/2010 10:20:19 PM

RALLY MALONE

6/30/2010 10:24:50 PM

...and we're off? ...

7/1/2010 12:19:03 AM

BREAKING NEWS no joking around: Just found out where LeBron and Bosh are going. So it looks like they're both getting max contracts with th

7/1/2010 12:57:21 AM

omg finish your post, please .. im dyin here ...

7/1/2010 1:27:10 AM

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit

Even if he knows where he's going, Lebron's too much of an attention whore to not stretch this out for as long as possible.

7/1/2010 1:50:10 AM

Joe Johnson will probably resign with Atlanta.

7/1/2010 8:23:12 AM

Quote :

"IF I WAS BUCKS -sign amare HOLY SHIT jennings redd salmons amare bogut"

Except the fact that Salmons opted out of his contract. oops.

7/1/2010 9:42:20 AM

yeah I heard this morning Joe Johnson was offered 6 years $119 million from the Hawks. They are going to be so fucked if this goes through and Johnson doesnt put up similar or better numbers than he has over the last few years.

Also heard that Lebron wants to announce which team he will be signing with by July 5th

7/1/2010 10:18:43 AM

THE FIRST DOMINO HAS FALLEN

Drew Gooden signs with the Bucks for 5 years/32 million

Fans in Milwaukee can hardly contain their excitement!!!

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 10:27 AM. Reason : lols abound at http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1026767]

7/1/2010 10:21:57 AM

milwaukee bwhatthefucks

7/1/2010 10:31:26 AM

Hahahaahhaha 6yrs $119 million for joe johnson???v? He's maybe worth half of that what an awful signing

7/1/2010 10:46:55 AM

is that official now

7/1/2010 10:48:10 AM

I thought you couldnt sign anything until July 8th...

Quote :

"The Atlanta Hawks were prepared to offer free-agent-to-be Joe Johnson a maximum six-year contract when the Hawks and Johnson's representatives met Thursday morning in Los Angeles, league sources told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher. Johnson's representatives were also scheduled to meet with the Knicks and Heat as well, but Johnson's first choice is to stay in Atlanta, a source told ESPN. Yahoo.com reported that the Hawks offered a six-year, $119 million contract to Johnson in their meeting and that Johnson was prepared to accept the offer. Armed with third-party intelligence that LeBron James considers Johnson a desirable potential sidekick, the Knicks booked a flight to meet the Atlanta free agent before traveling to Cleveland to meet with James on Thursday. Johnson led the Hawks with 21.3 points per game. Johnson's agent, Arn Tellem, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that Johnson has not been involved in any meetings with other free agents. Tellem says he won't discuss hypothetical situations, including a possible max offer from the Hawks. "We'll see what they're willing to do," Tellem says. Free agents could talk with any team after 12:01 a.m. ET Thursday. No deal can be signed until July 8."

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 11:07 AM. Reason : sdfg]

7/1/2010 11:06:13 AM

^correct

the report is that he is going to be offered that much by the hawks.

that's it. not that he accepted or anything like that.

7/1/2010 11:07:57 AM

I hate the concept of there being a max salary for one player

There should just a salary cap for your team, and you can disperse that money however you see fit

If you want to give Lebron and Wade 25 million a year and fill out the roster with bums making under a million each, you should be able to

With the max, it makes it so LeBron and Joe Johnson make the same amount, when there is such a clear discrepancy in their skill level

7/1/2010 11:17:57 AM

it gets even more convoluted when you can give a player thats already on your team a higher max than the other players you bring in. Like if Lebron and Bosh both go to the Heat, Lebron, Bosh and Wade would all get max contracts (or close to it) but Wade would get the $30 mil extra for re-signing.

Thats part of the reason I dont see all three of them going to Miami, Wade will always seem like the bigger dog

7/1/2010 11:29:27 AM

I agree...people think these guys are so rich anyway, what's the difference between 16 million and 18 million?

But lets say you make $80K and your buddy in the next office makes $95, and you are arguably more productive than him

It would be hard to deal with

7/1/2010 11:32:59 AM

just pay players like this:

$3000 per point
$1000 per rebound
$2000 per steal
$800 per assist
$2000 per block

maybe a $10,000 bonus per double double and $50,000 per triple double

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 12:13 PM. Reason : ]

7/1/2010 12:10:56 PM

Hmm, should I jack this contested 3 for $9000 or pass to the open man for $800?

7/1/2010 12:12:43 PM

there are penalties too, though

-$1000 every time you get blocked
-$50,000 if your overall FG% is <45%
and so on


i can see Latrell Sprewell being like "pass me the rock nigga i got kids to feed"

[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 12:16 PM. Reason : ]

7/1/2010 12:15:28 PM

"sorry Nate [Robinson], you gotta pay to play."

7/1/2010 1:17:03 PM

Salmons close to re-signing with Bucks, says david aldridge

http://www.nba.com/news/features/aldridge.2010.freeagency/?ls=iref:nbahpt1



[Edited on July 1, 2010 at 1:33 PM. Reason : .]

7/1/2010 1:29:53 PM