The Biggest Week in Modern Sports History?

Something Big is Happening

I pride myself in day to day life in being a non-promoter of melodramatics and the escalation of hysterics, but with that out of the way is it too bold to say that this may be the biggest week in not just Basketball, but sports history? With so many of the games biggest stars in play over the upcoming weeks it's hard too fathom another time in modern sports that could live up to the circus that has become July 1, 2010.

In baseball, Alex Rodriguez signing the mammoth contract with Texas that paid him the sum of the monetary world twice over comes to mind. In hockey, the day all of Canada shed a collective tear as Prime Minister Gretzky was traded to the LA Kings to the sound of small violins from the prairies to the coasts. From an economical or player movement standpoint nothing comes to mind with the NFL, except for maybe one of the Manning drafts.

Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, Boozer, Amare and now Paul Pierce, these are legitimate top 10-15 players in the league that could all be changing zip codes not to mention the possibility of 2 or even 3 of these men meeting in the same zip code for the next 5 plus years.

One of the more far reaching aspects of this story is how it transcends sport and indicts society in North America that has erupted over the past two decades. The confluence of social networking/social media, reality TV (see TMZ), economics/business of sport, has handcuffed the way multimillion dollar companies and in some cases multibillion dollar men have been doing business by a few athletes and their twitter accounts.

More then a handful of economic giants in the NBA have been doing anything they can to loose games and cuts costs/rosters for the last 5 years. These teams and the players they have sought after have led to a denigrate in the darwinian principals that make up sport. Loosing on purpose has become the trend for teams and for players rivalry has taken a back seat to friendship and man hugs.

Other then that minor stain on the game and society, it's fun right?

I'm excited...

The Big 3

So enough with the social commentary and onto what were all here for right? The Big 3. A lot has and will be published over and around the next 48 hours and there is no sense in rehashing 'published reports' that refute each other because lets be honest, no one knows until the ink dries on the contracts.

I will say this though, while the idea of all the big three or even just two of the big three teaming together and reeking havoc over the next decade maybe the sexy story that sells ESPN and Sports Illustrated 'Insider' subscriptions, it has very little chance of happening.

The only team at this point that could potentially sign all three of Lebron, Wade and Bosh is Miami and what most outlets will fail to mention in these reports is that it will take at least two of the three to take a substantial pay cut. Without getting too far into the nitty gritty of the salary cap and dollar figures the only player that could sign for max value would be Dwayne Wade because he is Miami's own free agent. That would mean that both Lebron and Bosh would be giving up at $30 million over the course of their contracts unless both the Raptors and the Cavaliers decide to partake in a sign and trade.

Considering the only players Miami has on its roster right now is Mario Chalmers, Michael Beasley and the rights to Joel Anthony this would mean both the Raptors and Cavaliers would have to take back 1 player each, a trade exception (of anywhere between 10-15 million dollars which is virtually unmovable, I'll get into that below) and a litany of distant future draft picks.

These are not the best assets in the world for two of the best players in the world. Take into account the Cavaliers have already said they will not be participating in a sign and trade with Lebron and no two General Managers would ever want to be labelled as the men that killed the sport for years to come, it looks unlikely to say the least.

I hesitate to mention the fact that Miami would then have virtually no money left to spend on players to fill 12 roster spots.

The bottom line is that none of The Big Three are not going to take a pay cut, and what team has enough assets to pull off two max-deal sign and trades?

The more likely scenario is that the 'Three' are on different teams in a few weeks with some of the second tier free agents surrounding them.

Think Wade and Amare in Miami, Bosh with Rose and Noah in Chicago, Lebron reunited with Boozer in New York and Joe Johnson with the young core of Lopez and Harris in New Jersey.

Chris Bosh

It would seem according to reports the only options in Bosh's mind would be Miami and Chicago. If you are a Raptors fan you hope that's not true and judging by various reports saying Bosh has not been in contact with his agent Henry Thomas all that much lately and the way he usually keeps his cards close to his vest and conducts himself professionally, I tend to think the list of two is far more media percolation then word from the horses mouth.

The one caveat being the last scenario is dependant on Bosh's previous history of professionalism. Lately he has been doing his best 'Speidi' impression (the infamous couple from 'The Hills' that has perfected media prostitution) and been throwing himself at every media outlet available, it's been unbecoming and one hopes that he reverts back to the old Chris once free agency is over.

The problem with Miami and Chicago is that of all the teams interested in Bosh, they are two that have been unloading assets in an attempt to gain cap space. This in turn has left the cupboard bare for a team like the Raptors to pick from. Let's take a look at a few teams and what they have to offer:

Miami

Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers, and or a trade exception with a first round draft pick.

Analysis

While many are low on Beasley, he is a low risk (1 year left on contract at only 5 million) and high reward player that can get you 15 points a night in his sleep. At the very least he ups his trade value after a season Toronto, at best he thrives with a young athletic group and steps up as a leader.

The trade exception is interesting because if it is in the 10-15 million dollar range as it would be with Miami it would seem to be virtually unmovable. What team is going to give up a presumable allstar for nothing but cap space after the biggest summer in the history of free agency?

Chicago

Taj Gibson, Lual Deng, James Johnson, draft picks.

Analysis

For a while I thought this might be the best trading partner but that was before Joakim Noah was untouchable, the Raptors drafted Ed Davis which makes Taj Gibson somewhat redundant and Chicago traded Kirk Hinrich (whom the Raptors did have interest).

The contract of Deng is bloated and he looks like injuries have already put him past his prime even at a young age. This leave James Johnson, an unproven young player and draft picks.

New York

David Lee, Wilson Chandler, Danillo Gallinari and draft picks.

Analysis

Gallinari is more than likely off the board unless New York gets really desperate, the problem with Lee is that he is a free agent July 1 and will be looking after his own interests so there is no guarantee he will be in play when Bosh decides what he wants to do. Chandler is a decent looking player but is he any better than what DeRozen or Weems could be this year with the right development.

The one thing about New York is that it says here, they'll still be bad next year, so their picks could be high.

Houston

Aaron Brooks, Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Patrick Patterson.

Analysis

Everything about a potential deal here is right. Houston has plenty of assets the Raptors would want, Houston has publicly stated more then once they are giving it their best shot to land Bosh and are willing to give up assets for him. There is one problem, reports that Chris Bosh doesn't necessarily want to play in Texas close to home.

The one glimmer of hope you have as a fan of Toronto is that Bosh wants to be wined and dined and pined after. Houston will do that for him and has identified him as their top priority. With that Bosh may decide Houston is the right fit for him alongside Yao.

The Rebuild

So what to expect from our boys next year? Well clearly there are many issues to resolve first that will give us a better picture of the roster, the Bosh deal, a possible Turkoglu deal and the definition of the point guard picture. These deals will all dramatically shape the look of our roster.

One thing is irrefutable though. Whether fans or anyone in the ivory towers of MLSE want to admit it, this is now a rebuilding team. You cannot trade away arguably three of your best players (depending on who goes) and still tread water or heaven forbid get better.

The interesting thing that has bloomed organically this summer is a new quasi core. Usually the core of a team is identified by the General Manager and gets built around, it seems as though this time around, a core has identified itself. On more then one occasion a combination or permutations of Demar DeRozen, Sonny Weems, Amir Johnson and most interestingly Jarrett Jack have been spotted around the city and working out together at the Air Canada Center.

Edit: I would add Joey Dorsey to the list but he is clearly just hanging out in front of the ACC waiting for one of them to come by and let him in.

This is encouraging and noteworthy, the Raptors do not have a long history of young athletic developing players with plenty of potential embracing Toronto like this group has. Add to the mix Ed Davis, Andrea Bargnani even Solomon Alabi and you have the making at least of a team that can be very exciting based on athletics and a running game. Given the right pieces around them they have the potential to be a better defensively as well.

Think about a poor mans Oklahoma City Thunder.

Back to Jack for a second, I will fully admit I am bias because I am in love his intangibles, but the fact that he is putting in the time and commitment to his teammates and the city, I think at the end of the day when the dust clears he has to be the lead guard that stays, not the one that's traded.

Colangelo & Philosophy

Much has been made and will be about Colangelo and his merits as General Manager of this team. Be honest with yourself though, who else would you want making the biggest decisions this franchise has faced in a very long time.

Babcock? Another young assistant GM without a tenth of the clout or respect Colangelo commands?

Were not getting the likes of Buford, Kupchak, Ainge or even Ferry anytime soon.

This is not to say Bryan doesn't have his warts. His core philosophy of building an powerful offensively dynamic team that looks to score without defensive personnel and a heavy European influence has never proven to get a team past the conference finals and in his current teams case out of the first round.

However he has the chance to build around some young athletic horses and if he can admit defeat and tweak his philosophy, now is the time and this is the roster to do it with. If only for the fact he has now employed almost every Euro in the league.

More to come, get ready for a fun week into month.

- J.Moore