Fake NBA Headline of the Week: Boycotting His Airness

Throughout his illustrious career, Micheal Jordan was as synonymous with selling sneakers as he was winning championships and dunking from the foul line.

That distinction seems poised to take a hit. Fourteen current NBA players signed to represent Jordan's clothing company have announced that they're done with being a part of the Jordan brand after the legendary Chicago Bull-turned-Charlotte Bobcats owner "turned his back" on the players at labor negotiations during the NBA lockout.

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade, Celtics guard Ray Allen, Hawks swingman Joe Johnson and new Clippers point man Chris Paul were some of the more notable names to pull their names off Jordan's roster. Others include Rockets shooter Kevin Martin, Blazers forward Gerald Wallace and a man who currently finds himself the awkward position of working under Jordan in two capacities: Bobcats point guard D.J. Augustin.

Said Augustin of the possibility of backlash from MJ over removing himself from Jordan's clothing company: "Maybe he'll trade me for peanuts like he did everybody else on this team."

The players' argument is that Jordan, who endured the same labor strife prior to his second retirement in 1998, flipped on the player's union he was once the most popular member of by publicly championing the owners to remain vigilant in their stance against the players, even if it meant the loss of the 2011 NBA season. Because of that, they are done with the Jordan brand and asking fans for a nationwide boycott of His Airness' gear as a sign of solidarity against the man who they feel, not only wronged the players, but hurt the fans as well by keeping the lockout alive.

"He wants us to go out there and represent his clothing line and make him some money and then, at the same time, he's whispering in David Stern's ear to try to keep US from getting paid? It's crazy, man." said Carmelo Anthony. Added D-Wade: "Would MJ the player still wear Nikes if Phil Knight was telling Commissioner Stern to keep the lockout going and take food out of his family's mouth? I bet not. His ass would probably retire again."

The most visibly upset of the departing stars was Paul, who not only blames Jordan for his role in maintaining the lockout but also in shutting down last week's potential three-team trade that would have sent CP3 to the Los Angeles Lakers. "It's hard for me, man." said Paul. "First he tried to kill the season. Now.....I mean, I might have been a Laker if not for him. Nothing against the Clippers. I'm happy to be here and L.A. is L.A., regardless, but what he did to us was not right." continued the former Hornet.

Paul, one of the classiest and most mild-mannered men in the league, couldn't control his anger from goating him into taking one last swipe at his former boss and mentor: "I guess a man who never made a good trade in his life wouldn't know one if it was staring him right in the face."

The story first came about during the photo shoot for SLAM Magazine's 2011 NBA preview. On the controversial cover, Paul is flanked by Anthony and Wade and seen ripping a Jordan poster in half. The interview with the three stars featured quotes taking shots similar to the previous quote from Paul, with the trio weighing in on everything from Jordan's alleged betrayal to MJ's lack of success running not one, but two NBA franchises into the ground while calling the shots in the front office. "He crushed the Wizards. He's crushing the Bobcats and now he's crushing his own brand by turning his back on the guys who helped build his label. Maybe he should have just stuck with playing basketball." Wade says in the interview.

When asked for his opinion on the matter following the boycott and the SLAM interview, Ray Allen offered some insight....and then took a jab of his own: "For us, it's like we were stabbed in the back by one of our own. Mike's been through all this before. If anyone should understand what we were going through being locked out, it should be him. I understand he has to look out for the owners because he is one, but rather than be the voice of reason for us, he was trying to shut us down." said the all-time three point leader "If he was betting on us still working with him after that, then maybe he's as bad a gambler as they say he is."

The stars didn't offer up what they plan to endorse now that they've left Jordan, but Wade said that he'd had talks with teammate LeBron James to start his own clothing line through his deal with Nike and build it with the guys leaving Jordan when their contracts are up and then joked: "But according to ya'll, 'Bron ain't enough of a leader to do all that."

Jordan couldn't be reached for comment when asked for his reaction to the boycott. A Jordan spokesperson also declined comment beyond a reminder that the players were under contract with Jordan and that they would handle the matter internally. Commissioner David Stern called it a "business matter" and "not something the NBA's concerned with". He also added "It took us five months to get the players on the court. What they wear once they get there is the least of our worries."

Cut His Mic Off

"There's going to be times when we might lose one, two games in a row, maybe two games, three games in a row, you never know. It's going to seem like the world is crashed down. You all are going to make it seem like the World Trade has just went down again. But it's not going to be nothing but a couple basketball games lost and we'll have to get back on track."

--Miami Heat guard Dwayne Wade

At least once in our lifetimes, we've been hit with some cliche, over-exaggerated statement that's sole purpose was to make the situation at hand seem more dramatic. "It's hotter than hell out here." "I'm so hungry, I can eat a horse." Obviously, none of these phrases are meant to be taken LITERALLY. The same can probably be said for Dwayne Wade's temporary act of stupidity when he compared a Heat losing streak to the worst attack on American soil, an attack that killed nearly 4,000 Americans.

There are certain sacred cows that people with even the slightest bit of common sense know not to make comparisons to. 9/11 is one of them. Even nearly nine years removed from one of the most surreal acts of terrorism witnessed in recent memory, people aren't ready to put the image of planes flying into the World Trade Center behind them. Lives were lost. Families were ruined. You can still smell the death in the air around Ground Zero. A statement like the one made above is one I expected from a Grade A moron like Ron Artest or Gilbert Arenas. D-Wade? Well, I thought he was smarter than that. It turns out that I was wrong.

Here's how the Heat losing three in a row would be like 9/11, Dwayne: If the Heat make it to the Finals, and then right after Game 1, someone hijacks their plane and flies it into a building....AND KILLS 3,000 FUCKING PEOPLE! Now, I was fortunate enough to not lose anybody in 9/11, so maybe the outrage over Wade's poorly chosen comparison would be better made by somebody closer to the situation(although, I was living 40 minutes from NYC when it happened). We live in the hyperbole age. Every great Super Bowl is the "the greatest Super Bowl ever". We compare young upstarts to their legendary counterparts before they even reach the midpoint of their careers. Reggie Bush was the next Gale Sayers. LeBron was the next Jordan. It goes on and on. So, while Wade's statement was a bit surprising(mainly, given who said it), it isn't too much different from the normal overdramatic jargon we hear from the Stu Scotts and Mike Tiricos of the world(although, even THEY know not to mention sports and September 11th in the same sentence).

My question for Dwayne is "Why?" Why are we talking about losing streaks for a team whose roster isn't even filled out yet that MAY happen during a season in which the schedule hasn't even been finalized and is nearly four months away from even tipping off? I understand the anticipation behind this upcoming season and I understand that the Heat will have a tremendous amount of pressure starting on Opening Day, but, right now, this team is dealing with a large amount of bad pub. LeBron James went from being Cleveland's golden child to the most hated man in basketball over the span of one week. There are people who see this Wade/James/Bosh trio as bad for basketball. There is still such a bad taste in the mouths of some. Why are we adding to that by making ridiculous comparisons? And how is Miami losing three games anywhere close to 9/11? It's not even on the same wave length as the Oklahoma bombing. Hell, a Bloods vs. Crips drive-by shooting carries more concern than a Heat losing streak. I know, in this age, reporters and analysts and talking heads will lose their shit if Miami falters a little....but I don't see Stephen A. Smith crying on David Letterman like Dan Rather did following 9/11.

I know Wade apologized, but I take after-the-fact apologies with a large grain of salt. Clearly, the comment wasn't taken out of context and it wasn't like a reporter baited Wade into making the 9/11 comparison. If a journalist walked up to Wade and said "Dwayne, would you say the Heat losing two or three games in a row would cause a widespread panic much like 9/11?" and Wade said "Yes", then I'd be more inclined to rip the person asking the question than hold Wade's feet to the flames. That didn't happen. Instead, a man with somewhat of a college education(not sure how well they teach English at Marquette if one of its most noteworthy alums uses sentences like "it's not gonna be nothing") opened his mouth and made an ass out of himself. Don't think for a second that New Yorkers, already pissed that Wade isn't a Knick right now, won't continue to hold a grudge against Wade from here to eternity the way Cavs fans will continue to throw knives at LeBron. We all say things we don't mean and we all make gregarious statements that are overdramatic and ridiculous. However, there's always a line you don't cross.

Dwayne Wade crossed that line...and for that, his mic has been cut off.

The Chris Paul Theory

Since the start of NBA free agency less than a week ago and, really, for the better part of the last six months, conspiracy theories, unnamed sources, rumors and speculation have run rampant. At the forefront of the rumor mill has been LeBron James. Where's he going? Is he leaning here? Who does he want with him? This guy says this, that guy says that. There really only seems to be one fundamental truth in King James Mania: Wherever LeBron lands, he wants help.

There was the prediction of the new "Big Three" proposed by former ESPN blowhard Stephen A. Smith that LeBron would be teaming with Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade to form the NBA's newest super-team. Once the obvious bleakness of that scenario set into the thick skull of Smith, he backpedaled like Darrelle Revis covering an out route. Since then, names have been tossed around, seemingly off an All-Star ballot, of guys who could, should or would team with LeBron when King James signs with Team X. On top of the "Big Three" theory, there was LeBron joining Amare Stoudemire in New York and then being joined by buddy and former high school rival Carmelo Anthony(who may or may not be on the trading block, depending on who you talk to). There was also talk of Anthony being subbed out of that equation in exchange for Warriors guard Monta Ellis(via a sign-and-trade for David Lee). There was what I like to call "The Amare Plan", in which Stoudemire(interviewed outside a NY theater) waxed poetically about the idea of a LeBron-Amare-Tony Parker trio.

However, one superstar who has been mentioned in trade talks on and off the last couple of months has managed to stir clear of being offered up as a suggestion to join LeBron and the Superfriends: New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul.

Paul has been mentioned in trade talks over the last couple of weeks as the the notoriously cheap Hornets have been playing the PR game in an effort to send out feelers. One minute, there's talk that Paul can be had and that offers have been made(such as the Nets offer of Devin Harris and the 3rd pick for CP3, that was inevitably turned down. As was Portland's offer of Andre Miller, Joel Pryzbilla, Nicolas Batum, Jerryd Bayless and the 22nd overall pick for Paul and Emeka Okafor) and each proposal seems to get shot down by current owner George Shinn.

My theory on the trade block, in any sport, is that, if there wasn't even the slighest possibility a team was willing to deal their superstar, these reports would never see the light of day. Remember how Andy Reid tried to tell people he wasn't trading Donovan McNabb weeks before McNabb went to Washington? The same goes for the Hornets and Chris Paul. The Hornets, under Shinn, have a long history of dealing superstars(Kobe Bryant, J.R. Smith, Alonzo Mourning, Eddie Jones, Glen Rice, Anthony Mason, Baron Davis, Larry Johnson....to name a few) and I have no reason to believe a penny pincher like Shinn won't do the same with his franchise guard. Shinn may have rejected offers thus far, but I believe that has something to do with his attempt at selling the team. After all, who wants a team in a small market that just traded away its only box office draw. So once the Hornets are sold, I fully expect the CP3 trade talk to heat up again. That date, however, is unknown and right now, CP3's trade value has gotten a few bites. The Blazers and Nets are obviously interested. So are the Knicks. Obviously, those teams can't give fair value back for the man whom I regard as the best point guard in the game and who would seem to be a consensus Top 3 at his position. But what about the Cavs? They certainly don't have the assets or cap to sign LeBron AND bring in a legit #2 like Bosh or Wade. They would need someone who would give them an elite player simply for the reason of alleviating some cap room. The Cavs are also DESPERATE to keep LeBron as James' departure would crush basketball in Cleveland. Enter the Hornets, who always want to save money and who may lose Paul if the team doesn't start competing NOW. With that in mind, I made a conspiracy theory of my own.

The Deal: The Hornets trade PG Chris Paul and C Emeka Okafor to Cleveland for G Mo Williams, F J.J. Hickson, F Antawn Jamison, and G Sebastian Telfair and a conditional first round pick

Why It Works For New Orleans: Obviously, it allows them to get out of the Okafor deal they should have never gotten into last year anyway. It also allows them to get something(albeit nowhere near value) for CP3 if they truly feel he will bolt after 2012. Okafor is due $10.7 million this upcoming season and still has 3 years after next year remaining on the 6-year, $72 million deal he signed with Charlotte two years ago. Paul, meanwhile, is due $13.5 million and still has another year on his deal after the 2011 season. By jettisoning Okafor's remaining deal and by getting out of paying a triple-digit contract to their star point guard in the near future, the Hornets save over $100 million. Granted, attendance will be crap and fan revolt will be high, but that's never stopped the Hornets before.

Meanwhile, in the pieces they get back from the Cavs, they get a scoring guard in Mo Williams, who does his best work in the regular season before choking in the playoffs(which, without Paul, the Hornets won't have to worry about). They can finally pull the trigger on dealing All-Star forward David West, who can opt out next year and who has been on the trading block for years. They can replace West with Jamison in the short term and then J.J. Hickson, whom the Cavs were so fond of they turned down an Amare deal when asked to include Hickson in the trade, long-term. The loss of Okafor leaves a hole at center, but Okafor was barely averaging a double-double(10 points and 9 rebounds a game....pedestrian numbers for a guy getting paid nearly $11 million) and his production can be replaced by either Hickson or a mid-level free agent. Telfair and Williams' deals expire after next season, which means that is money that comes off the books quick( and Jamison expires after 2012. The team will rebuild with lottery picks and hope to go hard in 2012 when guys like Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and O.J. Mayo are free agents(Note: Kevin Durant is a FA in 2011, but I doubt he leaves Oklahoma City).

Why It Works For Cleveland: It gives the Cavs a piece to wave in front of LeBron to get him to re-sign. Chris Paul is the total package point guard. He's a rare breed in that he looks to set up teammates first(something Mo Williams and Delonte West fail at). He can create his own shot. He's an improving three-point shooter and he's excellent defensively. In Okafor, while overpaid and a bit of a bust, they get a solid post defender who, ideally, can be rebounding machine and hold his own inside. Teaming Okafor with Varajao gives the Cavs a solid 1-2 inside and the combination of Okafor, Paul and LeBron makes the Cavs a top of the line defensive team. There's also the presence of new Cavs coach Byron Scott, who was Paul's coach in New Orleans the last few years. Now, speculation surfaced that Scott's firing was the result of players tuning him out but there has been nothing publicly fingering Paul as one of those guys. Scott knows what Paul can do and how to best utilize him. Plus, Paul can spend the next five or six years defending James' arch nemesis Rajon Rondo, something Williams and West and others couldn't do in this past season's playoffs. Financially, they don't add too much since Williams could have opted out next season, Telfair's deal was up next year and Hickson and Jamison were free agents after 2012. For the price of losing them, they get to re-up Paul and pair him with James for the next 10 years have two 25-year old bookends to contend for a title with.

Now, the deal is farfetched and, obviously, I can't see the deal being done before Wade and others come to a decision on their fates this week. However, let's say Paul is a Cavalier by Wednesday and the presence of CP3 convinces LeBron to re-sign with Cleveland. What domino effect does that have on the other big players in this year's summer blockbuster. Glad you asked.

New York Knicks: With their biggest fish deciding to swim in the Ohio ocean, the Knicks will have to resort to a bevy of other options. For one, Amare is going to be Knick by nightfall. Reports are already surfacing he's close to a 5-year, $100 million deal with New York. Assuming that's true(and everything I've read and seen from Amare would suggest it is), the Knicks can move to their next big fish: Carmelo Anthony. 'Melo's a free agent after next year and, while he's the biggest superstar the Nuggets have seen since Alex English, he's had his moments of being a knucklehead. Anthony was also a huge star at Syracuse and a trip back to New York may be a bigger coup for New Yorkers than signing LeBron(OK, maybe not, but it would be close).

A deal for 'Melo will definitely include restricted free agent power forward David Lee and either Danilo Gallinari or Wilson Chandler(Chandler being the most likely, but you have to think Denver would want Gallo). The Knicks will then attempt to make another move for Tony Parker who, like Paul and 'Melo, is one of those guys who is being mentioned in trade talks while their employers are denying that they are available. It seems outlandish that the Knicks can swing a deal for both Anthony and Parker but crazier things have happened. The Knicks have Lee, Chandler, Gallo and Eddy Curry's expiring contract as trade chips and, in a bad NBA economy, they might be able to get a discount in the value department(especially if all the wooing to New York makes 'Melo more disenfranchised about playing in Denver and the Nuggets start to really think about dealing him before next year).

If they strike out on 'Melo and T.P.(Note: I'm already assuming Wade and Bosh aren't coming to town....and I'll get to why shortly), they move on to two guys that give Knicks fans chills: the aforementioned Monta Ellis and the mercurial Gilbert Arenas. Both men are Grade A headcases signed to bad deals who their teams would trade for a bag of peanuts. The question is, are the Knicks willing to bring in yet another knucklehead with a big price tag after years of dealing with the Stephon Marburys of the world? The answer is probably no, but Knicks fans have been waiting two years for their team to make moves this summer and all these reports about who is coming to New York is whetting their appetite. If the Knicks come up empty-handed, they'll have to put tanks on the Brooklyn Bridge. Arenas and Ellis are both talented scorers and their presence is certainly an upgrade over Larry Hughes. They'll also come for cheap as I can't see Golden State or Washington getting too greedy if it means finally getting rid of the huge thorns that have been in their side. Again, it's a desperation move. For now, they have Amare in the fold and he's going to be their biggest flag waver. You have to think Stoudemire wouldn't have signed this deal if he didn't think he could get another big fish to join him in New York's fish bowl.

Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade: With LeBron out of the fold, you have to think one isn't going anywhere without the other. That could mean Chicago. That could mean Miami. That could even mean New Jersey. My money is on Chicago. They have a better team to put around Wade and Bosh with Joakim Noah, Loul Deng and Derrick Rose, whereas Miami has Michael Beasley, Mario Chalmers and a slew of vets making league minimum. New Jersey would be interesting but Wade's current custody battle back home pretty much makes this a choice of two different types of loyalty: loyalty to his kids and family or loyalty to Pat Riley and the city of Miami. Ultimately, I think Chi-Town wins out(Truth be told, I'm hoping for Wade and Bosh to choose Chicago just so Smith's prediction goes up and flames and we can finally put the nail in that loudmouth idiot's coffin. Goodbye ESPN, Hello BET, Mr. Smith). Bosh seems like he has a moderate interest in returning to his home in Texas as he has wined and dined with the Rockets and Mavs, but the Raptors have been less receptive about giving Bosh a sign and trade. That means Bosh will just have to sign with someone outright. With Amare in New York and James in Cleveland, Bosh pretty much has to choose between continuing to be his own man in a place like Jersey or Miami, or saddling up with Wade and making a run together.

Chicago, Miami, New Jersey: One of these teams will get the Wade-Bosh consolation prize, and the other two will be left twirling in the wind. Right now, Chicago and Miami are the top two contenders for Flash and Avatar, and Chicago's got the edge by having the ability to tug at Wade's heartstrings. The two teams that miss out will then fight over Carlos Boozer. Miami is going to be the most desperate since they seemed like a lock to keep Wade and now look like they can go 0-for-6 in the biggest free agent class in recent memory. New Jersey, meanwhile, still has a young core and plenty of cap room. Plus, they have a state-of-the-art arena being built in Brooklyn to lure big time free agents in two years. Also, while they have the most interesting of front office structures, nobody really gave the Nets more than a puncher's chance of being the big winners this summer. As someone who grew up in Newark, I know it isn't the kind of place that lures big time stars to spend the their careers, even if it's only temporary. Miami, however, has the lure of South Beach. For them to strike out like this would not only be a huge shock but a huge disappointment. With a potential lockout coming, you wonder if it might even end basketball in Miami altogether(I know, it's a stretch, but it wasn't like Miami was selling out games WITH Dwayne Wade).

Carlos Boozer: He's the last and quietest of "The Mercenary Six". Boozer's dealings haven't registered on the radar because his fate is going to be determined by where Bosh and Amare go first. If Bosh goes to Chicago and with Amare in New York, Boozer gets to choose between the beaches of Miami or the eventual glitz of playing in New York by signing with Nets. Chicago is in play if somehow Miami or New Jersey get the Flash-Avatar doggy bag, but let's assume that Chicago ends up with that dynamic duo. In Miami, Boozer will be a one-man army. Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley aren't guys you contend for a title with. If they were, Dwayne Wade wouldn't have opted out and wouldn't be considering a new home. You have to remember, Boozer is coming off a perennial contender in Utah. He made playoff runs in Cleveland. He went to Duke. The guy has been bred a winner since Day 1. He isn't going to take a boatload of money to play in front of half-filled arenas on a 25-win team. As star-studded as this class of free agents is, it drops after "The Mercenary Six". Mike Miller? Derek Fisher? Kwame Brown? Not exactly guys who stars are dying to play with. In New Jersey, Boozer will have Brook Lopez, Derrick Favors, and Devin Harris. He'll have cap room and the luxury of playing in a brand new arena in New York, the biggest sports market in America. The Nets could throw a max at Boozer and still make a run at a Carmelo Anthony or a O.J. Mayo either through free agency or by dangling one of their young pieces. Miami can't do that. If star free agents don't want to come to the beach now, they aren't coming anytime soon.

How I See It All Shaking Out: I don't see the Paul-to-Cavs trade ever getting done but it's certainly something Cleveland should consider. Really, the Cavs are trying to sell LeBron on the idea of "This is your home" as a reason for him to stay. Yes, the Cavs are a 60-win team with him in the fold, but they aren't a championship team. Inevitably, as great as being home is for LeBron, his legacy will be judged by the number of rings on his finger. You can't replace that with videos about fart jokes and a bunch of steel workers with billboards. The Knicks have a piece in Stoudemire that is significantly better than what Cleveland has on paper. The Nets and Heat can offer him a chance to team with Wade or Bosh or maybe even both. The Bulls can offer a similar package, plus Rose and Noah.

I've been saying LeBron's leaving for quite some time and I still believe it. Some odd feeling tells me that LeBron and Wade team up in Chicago and the Bulls work a sign and trade to get Bosh in the fold. I see Boozer ending up in New Jersey, where he will eventually be joined by Chis Paul(as a Hornets fan for 15 years, I know how this team operates. They aren't aggressive enough to put a winner around Paul anytime soon and GM Jeff Bower seems enamored with last year's rookie sensation, point guard Darren Collison. This team will either deal Paul early or watch him leave as a free agent. Either way, Paul's days in NOLA are numbered. If you're a Hornets fan, the fact that the team is LISTENING to CP3 offers has to be unsettling). The Knicks, who now have Amare, swing a deal for 'Melo and Gilbert Arenas and the NBA becomes MLB, where there are 6 or 7 elite teams and everybody else constantly tries to rebuild to keep up with the pact. I see Miami and New Orleans suffering the most and I see the NBA, with attendance down and the stars now aligned in the NBA's biggest cities, start to seriously consider contraction when they go to the table for the new collective bargaining agreement.

However, if my Dirk prediction going south is any indication, you should probably believe my predictions as much as the brainfarts of Stephen A. Smith.

NBA Free Agency Primer

You may have heard this at least once between now and the last two years but this summer's crop of NBA free agents....well, it's pretty stacked. In an effort to apply some blanket coverage on the subject so we aren't boring everybody with a weekly "Where's LeBron going?" piece like so many of the major news sites are going to(I'm looking at you, ESPN!), I've decided to weigh in on where I think the big name SHOULD go(keyword: SHOULD...I don't want people saying "Well, I thought you said LeBron's going to New York!"). So here's my take on this summer's spending spree and I (just me, personally, I can't speak for Gabe) can assure you that, with both of us covering NBA teams for ProSportsBlogging this summer(Gabe on the Spurs, myself on the Wizards, that this will be the last time you hear about this before free agency kicks off July 1st.

1. LeBron James(Current team: Cleveland Cavaliers, as if you didn't know)

Breakdown: I shouldn't have to give you King James' resume, so I won't. The last few weeks, LeBron's been picked apart more than Heidi Montag on the surgeon's table. He went from winning his second MVP and being a sure-shot to taking home his first ring to, all of a sudden, a Karl Malone clone who will never win the big one because he lacks "killer instinct" after getting eliminated by the Celtics. Then came the report that James' mother may or may not have had "the relations" with LeBron's teammate Delonte West. With the early exit, everyone has now had extra time to give their take on LeBron's offseason plans.

Where he SHOULD go: A friend of mine asked me "If your mother slept with your co-worker, would you leave for another company or stay and have him fired?". I chose to leave. If LeBron stays and gets Delonte exiled, everyone will know it was because of this alleged incident with LeBron's mother and, not only will it add more fuel to the fire, it will give legitimacy to the story.

That's why LeBron should reunite with his good friend Jay-Z and go to the New Jersey Nets. The Nets give LeBron the opportunity to play in New York(albeit a couple years from now). Yes, I know, so do the Knicks, but here's what the Knicks don't have: a top three pick in a decent draft, a good supporting cast, aggressive ownership and the chance for LeBron to pick his own coach. If LeBron goes to the Knicks, he'll have 30 times the pressure to win a title than he did in Cleveland. Knicks fans care about championships. They are also, and I know this is going to get me in trouble, the most fickle fans in the NBA. The longer it takes LeBron to deliver a ring, the more likely fans will turn on him. It happened with Patrick Ewing. It happened with the Yankees and A-Rod. New Yorkers are impatient(Yes, I know, so are New Jerseyians...but that's only during midday traffic).

In New Jersey, he gets a new owner dying to prove himself. He gets Devin Harris and Brook Lopez PLUS whomever the Nets take at #3(be it Wesley Johnson of Syracuse or Derrick Favors of Georgia Tech). The Knicks gave away their lottery pick to Utah and, right now, they only have David Lee as a known commodity. Plus, the Nets have the money to bring in a second big name. Does Lopez-Favors-James-Joe Johnson(or Ray Allen)-Harris sound better to you than Eddy Curry-Lee-James-Joe Johnson(or Ray Allen)-Chris Duhon to you? I thought so. As for the other destinations? Look, if LeBron goes to Miami and wins a ring with D-Wade, the knock will be that he needed Wade to carry him. In New Jersey(or New York), LeBron gets to be his own man. Cleveland had a chance to give that to LeBron and they blew it for seven years. The Clippers? They have a young nucleus, but nothing proven beyond always-fat, always-hurt point guard Baron Davis. Plus, he'd be sharing his home court with Kobe and will be playing for a notoriously cheap owner. So LeBron, start looking for houses in the Garden State and take my advice and stay the hell out of South Orange.

2. Chris Bosh(Current team: Toronto Raptors)

Breakdown: When Bosh was taken 4th overall back in 2003 after just one year at Georgia Tech, "experts" loved his potential but thought he would need a year or two to grow. Turns out they were wrong. Bosh has been an instant double-double machine, has been remarkably healthy and has shown off a KG-like mid-range stroke with his quick left hand. Recently, Bosh gave his list of five teams he'd like to join this summer(Lakers, Raptors, Heat, Knicks and Bulls. Although, the Nets were added later on). As soon as Bosh named L.A., Lakers fans started getting into a tizzy about "Avatar"(meaning Bosh, not the movie) coming to L.A.

Where he SHOULD go: The only way Bosh is going to L.A. is through a sign-and-trade and we've already read this story before. There was talk early in the season of a Andrew Bynum-for-Bosh trade but that eventually simmered and it was believed that it was a rumor floated by Lakers coach Phil Jackson to motivate Bynum. While the Lakers gives Bosh the best chance at a title, it also gives him the worst chance at playing time and touches. In L.A., Bosh would be a third or fourth option behind Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Ron Artest. Plus, there's the presence of Lamar Odom. Bringing in Bosh would not only be a disservice to Odom and Gasol(as it would be a more expensive, bigger name that requires a decent amount of shots) but it would minimize Bosh's star power. Bosh isn't the type of big man who can carry a team by himself(as seen with his stint in Toronto). He's similar to where Gasol was prior to the Lakers trade out of Memphis: A star-quality big man, who is better served as a number two on a contender.

That's why Bosh should head to Miami and link up with Dwayne Wade. The Heat haven't had a legit big man since Shaq and 'Zo left. If the Raptors can talk the Heat into a sign-and-trade, perhaps a deal for troubled scorer Michael Beasley and guard Mario Chalmers would suffice(and if not, you still have Bosh/Wade/Beasley/Chalmers plus one more)? That would free some space for Miami to re-sign Wade, bring in Bosh and then sign a lower level role player like Mike Miller or Raymond Felton. The Heat are a top five team in the East with just Wade and his bumbling gang of four behind him. Bosh gives them another weapon. I know Bosh wants to wait on LeBron and sign wherever he goes, but what if LeBron somehow goes back to Cleveland? Unlike LeBron, Wade has a ring and has proven he can get to the Promised Land by putting a team on his back. However, like LeBron, Wade can't do it all by himself forever. He needs a sidekick and that's a role Bosh is built for.

3. Dwayne Wade(Current team: Miami Heat)

Breakdown: All "Flash" has done since entering the league in 2003 is win a championship, single-handedly keep Miami basketball alive, and become perhaps the best basketball player in the Eastern Conference. What Wade has managed to do with the Heat is nothing short of breathtaking. He made them a playoff team in his rookie season, then made them a title winner with Shaq a year later. Except, you don't hear much about Wade because all the talk has been about LeBron since the two entered the league. Whether Wade is better than LeBron is another debate for another day, the fact is, he's one of the game's 3 or 4 best players in the league and he's on the market.

Where he SHOULD go: Unless there is someway to orchestrate the Wade-LeBron-Bosh triumvate in New York like some had whispered about, Wade should stay in Miami. Yes, the Heat haven't been as aggressive in building a team around Wade as the Cavs were with LeBron or the Lakers were with Kobe, but at least Wade has the memory of winning a title in Miami to fall back on. Wade knows he's good enough to make the team a dangerous playoff team on his own, but the Celtics series proved that Wade needs some help. Could he find it elsewhere if he can get Bosh or LeBron or Boozer to tag along? Sure, but Wade has too much pride to ride someone else's coattails. He needs to be the alpha dog. In a class this deep, he can find one, whether it be Boozer or Bosh or Amare Stoudemire. He gets to work under one of the game's great minds in team president Pat Riley. Riley knows what is needed to win. You don't have that luxury in some of these other places.

Wade needs to stay and be the face of the franchise but only under the condition that his re-signing is paired with the signing of another big name. If he's willing to take less money to make the Bosh-Wade-LeBron trio work in Miami(far-fetched, but still), then fine. If he's willing to accept a big man like Boozer or Avatar to patrol the paint? Great, but Wade should only come back AFTER he puts pressure on the organization to make some whole sale changes. If he signs early, and the Heat make no other moves, then Flash is stuck without the luxury of having an opt-out clause like he did this season. Wade's managed to be a billboard star without the flashy lights of the Big Apple. He doesn't need the Knicks to make him a phenomenon. He just needs to win and he can do that by finishing what he started in South Beach.

4. Amare Stoudemire: (Current team: Phoenix Suns)

Breakdown: Like Bosh, many thought Amare needed some seasoning going from high school to the pros before he developed into a genuine beast. Like Bosh, they were wrong. Stoudemire has been a monster inside since Day 1. He's also been very unlucky. The Suns couldn't win the big one despite years of having supporting casts that would make LeBron salivate. Shawn Marion, Steve Nash, Joe Johnson, Raja Bell, Boris Diaw....the Suns have had the components to win titles. They just couldn't get over the hump. Over the last couple years, Amare's wore out his welcome and that has resulted in his name being involved in trade talks the last two seasons. The final straw may be his recent no-shows in the Western Conference Finals, where the Suns have been dominated inside by the Lakers. Those lackluster performances have led to reports that Amare's not coming back to the desert this summer....

Where he SHOULD go:......nor should he. While micro-fracture surgery has robbed Amare of being the athletic freak he once was, he's still capable of being a terror on both ends of the court. In Phoenix, he plays in a high-octane offense that is more geared toward scoring than defense(even with Alvin Gentry being more defense-oriented than predecessor Mike D'Antoni). Also, Phoenix has done favors to Amare's ego by letting trade rumors circulate for two seasons without anything being done on that end. The Suns were expected to be rebuilding at the beginning of the season, but shocked the world by being title contenders. That run can't go for much longer. Steve Nash is reaching the twilight of his career and his aching back can only handle so much punishment. Beyond that, even the role players are getting old. Grant Hill is pushing 60. Leandro Barbosa's getting up there. Amare needs to go to a young team where he can be the veteran and be able to show his skills on both offense AND defense.

My pick? The Washington Wizards. Look, teams aren't going to seriously consider Amare until after Carlos Boozer and Chris Bosh are signed. Amare's a Lexus. Boozer's a Mercedes and Bosh is a Ferrari. You're not going to consider buying the Lexus if the Benz and the Ferrari are still on the lot and will only cost a few bucks more than the Lex. When the Wizards won the lottery and the chance at John Wall, they made themselves a bit more attractive to free agents. D.C. is a solid market. Wall is the type of point guard that can make Amare look good. Flip Saunders is a proven coach(three straight Eastern Conference Finals with Detroit prior to coming to Washington). I know Amare's a Florida boy and going back home to the Heat would be a nice homecoming, but is he higher on Miami's priorities than Bosh or Boozer? I don't think so. A Wall-Stoudemire combo could make the Wizards at least a playoff team and make Amare a bigger star and, as the team grows, they become players in the East(After all, if Cleveland loses LeBron, that's one less team at the top of the conference).

5. Carlos Boozer: (Current team: Utah Jazz)

Breakdown: Like Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer has been the subject of trade talk for the last couple of years. The breakout and subsequent big re-signing of fellow forward Paul Millsap made Boozer expendable, but nobody was going to trade for a guy who may jet at the end of the season if things go awry. Now, Boozer's a free agent and he can bring his services as an inside rebounding bully to a contender and the Jazz can launch the Millsap Era in Utah. For all of Boozer's dominance inside, the knock on him is his lack of durability. That might hurt him in the market(especially with Chris Bosh also a free agent), but teams would be crazy to completely write off Boozer because he's a little frail.

Where he SHOULD go: For Cavs fans, Carlos Boozer is "the one that got away". Since Boozer left Cleveland after his rookie contract was up, the Cavs have been relentless in finding a suitable replacement....and they've failed miserably. Antawn Jamison is nice, but he's nowhere near the inside presence that Boozer is. You have to wonder if LeBron is thinking that same thing. Carlos Boozer could have been the sidekick LeBron needed to be a title contender and the front office let him walk.

So why not a reunion? If LeBron signs with New Jersey, as I suggested he should, he should talk the suits into bringing his old buddy Boozer with him. That would allow the Nets to shift their focus to Wesley Johnson in the draft(or trading the pick, if need be) and gives the Nets a ridiculous inside combo with Boozer and Brook Lopez. Like the Knicks, the Nets spent much of the last few years cutting payroll so they can make moves this summer. Right now, they may be lined up for two big signings. Yi Jianlin is a nice outside shooting threat at power forward, but he's not starter-calibur. You bring in Boozer, who's the type of physical banger the Nets haven't had since Derrick Coleman and it frees up Lopez and it gives guys like Devin Harris(or LeBron, if he signs) alot of options. Again, with the Cavs potentially losing LeBron, that's one less team at the top. Could a Lopez-Boozer-LeBron-Wesley Johnson-Harris combo at least be a 6 or 7 seed in the East? Sure, especially with the right coach. Boozer will flirt with Miami and maybe even the Knicks(though I don't think he's a good fit in that offense) but with returning to Utah no longer an option, it should be Boozer(not Bosh) who waits to join LeBron wherever he goes.

6. Joe Johnson(Current team: Atlanta Hawks)

Breakdown: He was left for dead after the Celtics gave up on him being a star and sent to Phoenix. After breaking out with the Suns, he found greener pastures in Atlanta and made the Hawks a contender before too long. After a Eastern semis sweep by Orlando, Joe Johnson may have played his last game for the Hawks. Johnson is a big guard who can run the point, or even play the 3(and maybe some 4 in the right situation). He's like a veteran version of top prospect Evan Turner(though without Turner's upside).

Where he SHOULD go: The Hawks are already paying Mike Bibby and Jamal Crawford and will eventually have to pay Josh Smith and Al Horford. With attendance in the ATL always suspect, you don't know if they can afford to give JJ the money he wants(or keep him for long, if they do pay him). Plus, with Mike Woodson out and new owners coming, there's a new regime coming to town. Johnson doesn't need to be a part of that.

Signing with the Knicks reunites Johnson with his own Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni. Mike D. knows what Johnson can do and Johnson knows he can excel in that offense. I know Joe Johnson isn't the name Knicks fans were hoping for with the recent salary purge, but you have to be realisitic and realize this Knicks team doesn't have the players to entice a guy like a LeBron James. Bringing in Joe Johnson is a nice start and if you can also bring back a former popular Knicks center by the name of Marcus Camby, then I'd be happy.(The other option, Knicks fans, might be trading for Gilbert Arenas.......) Johnson could be a point forward type or be the scorer. He could also try to team with LeBron somewhere but my bet is LeBron's going to take his time before deciding to leave home or not. Johnson can be a star in New York, and unlike in Atlanta, he won't have to worry about playing in half-filled buildings(although if free agency doesn't go as planned, you wonder if Knick fans will boycott going to the Garden).

So those are this year's Big Six. There are a couple of other notables available this summer. Here's some quick hit thoughts on them:

* I think this summer we wave goodbye to Shaq, AI, and T-Mac. Shaq mentioned returning to L.A. and that very well could happen, but I think Shaq proved this year that his heart's not really in it. If Shaq couldn't get in shape to try and win a ring for LeBron, what makes anyone think he'll be fit to team back up with the man that he couldn't co-exist with in his prime: Kobe Bryant? Iverson could play a couple more years in Philly but, with Evan Turner coming, minutes are going to be hard to come by and you wonder if the Sixers will even want to bring back "The Answer" because of that. As for McGrady, it's time he listens to his body and hangs 'em up. He could probably con the Clippers into overpaying him so he can play 30-40 games a season for them. McGrady isn't washed up. He still can be an elite scorer. It's just his knees have went to mush and, with his style of play, they aren't going to get any better.

*I suggested Marcus Camby go back to the Knicks and I think either New York or a return to Denver makes the most sense. The run in Portland was nice but, with Oden and Przybilla coming back, there's no room for "The Camby Man". Like T-Mac, Camby is always an injury risk and you wonder how much is left in the tank, but guys like Camby will always have a spot in this league because every team can use a shot-blocker/rebounder who isn't a team cancer(just look at Theo Ratliff). Camby isn't going to be a sexy signing for anyone but he may be the move that wins a playoff game or two for a contender and the Nuggets can sure use some more defense after getting humiliated by Utah in the playoffs. Another sleeper choice for Camby? The Oklahoma City Thunder, who need a big man and should have made the trade for Camby this winter anyway.

*The other "big" name is Celtics guard Ray Allen. Allen was almost foolishly shipped to Boston with Celtics savior Rajon Rondo last year and Allen was on the block for most of the first few months. In typical Allen fashion, Ray has heated up during the playoffs as the smell of new money has flared through his nostrils. The man once known as "Jesus Shuttlesworth" has gotten up in years and the C's may be better suited to look elsewhere for a big-time shooter(as they saw with the 'Sheed signing, some people just lose interest when they get old and overpaid). With the team getting older, they can't afford to hog up more cap space with aging talent. If they decide to move on with their starting shooting guard, Allen could look to a team like New Jersey(who desperately need a shooter), Washington(if they can get rid of Arenas), or Phoenix(who can use someone to take the load off Nash).