- The Wade/Lebron/Bosh deals are in.. All 3 have signed 6-year deals (Bosh and Lebron's are sign-n-trades, we'll address that shortly).... James and Bosh get $110 million, Wade $107 million... starting salaries are 14.5 mill for the first 2, and 14.2 million for Wade... what does it all mean? They've taken $15 million-ish less over the life of the deal to make room for Mike Miller (or someone else to help them if Miller doesn't come)...
- The sign-n-trade deals are done as well.... for Toronto? They receive their own 2011 first-rounder back from Miami (previously traded in the Shawn Marion heist), and Miami's own 2011 first-rounder... Cleveland? They get Miami's 2013 and 2015 1st-rounders and the right to swap 2012 first-round picks (which they'll be sure to exercise)... both teams get $14.5 million trade exceptions.... You may ask yourself why these teams (especially Cleveland) would want to "help" their former stars by giving them the extra year and trading them... well, there's absolutely no reason not to do it if you are basically given 2 options... 1) Let them go for nothing... or 2) Get free draft picks and trade exceptions... you absolutely have to do the latter...
- While we're here... if you know me, you know I hated their "intro" event at American Airlines Arena.... keys to the city? really? what are you going to do for them if they actually win something?
The other top stories...
- Cliff Lee to Texas... it looked early yesterday as if he was definitely headed to New York... but talks stalled, and Texas swooped in with big-time 1st base prospect Justin Smoak, and 3 more prospects... Good deal for both sides... for Seattle? They are being universally praised for getting a better deal back for Lee than the package they surrendered to get him in the offseason, so they basically got a free rental and a steal of a trade... for Texas? They are immediately legitimized further as a World Series contender... with that very, very potent offense, they now have Lee to anchor their staff with Colby Lewis, CJ Wilson, etc... gives them a chance
- Kyle Korver to the Bulls... and JJ Redick to the Bulls?! The Korver deal is done... 3 years/15 mill to provide that shooting punch off the bench... he's not a natural 2-guard by any means, but he can definitely shoot... but then Chicago threw a curve-ball in the form of a 3 year/19-20 million dollar offer sheet to JJ Redick... at first glance, it gets a "huh?!" because both guys are considered 1-dimensional shooters... but I have a different opinion... First, I believe Redick is a much more complete player than given credit for, he's added a competent dribble game, has shown himself to be an average-or-better defender, and I think he could be a starting 2-guard in a situation like this where he'd be the 5th option... one caveat? Orlando is considered likely to match the Redick deal, which they can do because he's restricted...
- Ray Felton and the Knicks are rumored to be a partnership... the details are sketchy still, but it's being reported as a $7 million per year-ish amount... that's not a drastic overpayment and he gives them some legitimacy at the point guard spot... I think I would've signed Luke Ridnour who is cheaper and, in my mind, a better fit in that system... but they definitely needed a point guard, and are suddenly semi-intriguing with Felton/Chandler/Azubuike/Randolph/Gallinari/Amare...
- Tyrus Thomas is headed back to Charlotte... 5 years/40 million is an overpayment by any measure of his production... but, just as when he was drafted in the top 5, teams are suckered in by his potential... I'm not sure where that team is going... All of their best players are 6'8-6'9 (Jackson/Wallace/Diaw/Thomas), and they've just lost Felton...
- Johan Petro signs with the Nets... 3 years/10 million... I like him as a player, and this is a fairly cheap rate for a functional big... nice backup to Lopez/Favors
Baseball...
- Pitching Line of the Day - Adam Wainwright (STL) - 8 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 K's... continues to be an elite pitcher...
- Batting Line of the Day - Adam Dunn (WSH) - 3 for 4, 2 HR, 3 RBI's... he's got 5 homers in 3 games... he's got some power
- The Braves got a big win on the strength of back-to-back homers from the unlikely source of Melky Cabrera and Omar Infante... RA Dickey had been semi-cruising but hung 2 knucklers in a row and that was the end of that... The lead is 4 on New York and 5.5 on Philly... Speaking of Philly...
- The Phillies managed to steal a win after being down 7-1 in the 9th to Cincinnati last night... bad news for Braves fans who still feel that Philly is the major threat (cough, me), but it's still a 5.5 game advantage
What to watch for...
- World Cup 3rd Place game - Uruguay/Germany - 2:30 ABC - I'm whole-heartedly against 3rd place games... but people seem to be all about watching soccer, so here's an option...
- Braves/Mets - 4:00 FOX - Hudson/Pelfrey - 2 big-time pitchers so far this season... and probably the crucial game of the series when you think about the Santana/Lowe matchup on Sunday (yikes)
- Royals/White Sox - 7:00 WGN - Bannister/Floyd
Just a programming note... no "regular" blog tomorrow... but my version of the MLB all-star rosters will be up... check that out
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