NBA Free Agency starts tonight at 12:01 and while much of the hype is surrounding LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, there are plenty of big name and significant contributors that are on the market. While none of them can officially sign until July 8th and there probably won’t be any major signings right away, now is a good time to officially start looking at where some of the big names might end up:

The Big Three: I think Wade and Bosh will be in Miami and James will head to Chicago. Miami might clear the room for three max/close to max guys, but I don’t see James going there. Bosh makes good sense for them, and a nice compliment for Wade. James isn’t a perfect fit for Chicago since Luol Deng plays the same position and is eating up salary cap, but I’m sure they could find a way to make it work. Also in Chicago, James would have the elite point guard that has eluded him in Derrick Rose, and the Bulls already have some size in Noah and Gibson. While the Bulls can’t get another max guy, I’d expect them to go after either David Lee or Boozer with the rest of their money (and just pray none of their guards get hurt).

Heading Back Home: Dirk Nowitzki, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce:  These might not be the only free agents to return to their own team (and I fully expect Dwayne Wade to be in this group) but all of these guys are very likely to return to their former team. While Nowitzki and Pierce could get good money on the open market, they are both older and have had success where they are at.

The BIG MEN: While Bosh will get the hype there are a few other big men on the open market. David Lee and Amare Stoudemire are PF/C’s that can fit into about any team. While the Knicks should try to retain Lee, I think they will focus on the bigger fish and miss out on their own top free agent. I see Lee going to either the Nets or the Bulls, I think both teams will court him as the compliment to James/ Joe Johnson. The Heat could get into the mix because they will have money to spend even after keeping Wade and bringing in Bosh, but will likely target a true center like Brendan Haywood. Stoudemire is tougher since his max contract is more expensive than most, and while he shouldn’t get a max deal I’m guessing someone will give it to him, and my guess would be the New York Knicks. Next up, I see Boozer going to where ever Lee doesn’t land, I think the Nets might be a better fit since he is older and they just drafted Favors.

The Wings: Wade and James get all the hype, but there might be another max guy who is a wing in Joe Johnson. Johnson is still one of the best scorers in the the NBA and should be highly recruited on the open market. I will expect there to be a bidding war between the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets for his services. Both teams will be looking for a max guy and desperately want to make a splash. As shocking as it is, I really think Johnson might choose the Nets, they have a better established point guard and one of the best young centers in the league, if they do manage to sign Boozer to go along with Favors then the Nets have a good quality team, that Johnson could really push them to the playoffs. Rudy Gay is an interesting case, the Grizzlies are saying they will match any offer but that could just be lip service. The Knicks and the Clippers could be coming hard after Gay and I don’t know if Memphis will offer the maximum. I could see the Clippers end up winning that battle, they are a great talented team with a good bit of depth. Gay would be the perfect fit out in LA and would help make the Clippers relevant.

Much is being made about the ESPN.com report that top NBA free agents LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh met over the weekend to discuss their free agent futures. The reactions are mixed from happy, with the fact that the players are deciding their future, to talk of how it is unfair that the players are allowed to collude, but teams can not. While there is an argument to be made for both sides, the reality is that there is nothing wrong with players collectivity deciding their futures. And the way the NBA is set up, it actually increases the likelihood of players doing something like this.

We have to remember that the NBA not only has a hard salary cap, but they have hard salary figures, which is why there is even a possibility for three guys to get a ‘max’ contract. By doing this instead of leveling the playing field for teams, you have actually made it easier for the big market teams to lure the top free agents. In baseball non-big market teams are at a disadvantage because they don’t have the same revenue streams as a team from New York, L.A., Chicago or Boston, so it is progressively harder for them to consistently sign big market free agents.

Now a salary cap is supposed to level the playing field and prevent a handful of teams from dominating the sport (oops the NBA hasn’t gotten that memo yet) and buying all the top free agents. The problem with the NBA is it level’s the playing field too much. In the NFL the salary cap is set but contracts can be structured in a variety of ways, that can make certain deals more valuable than others. This allows smaller market teams, compete with the natural advantages the big market teams have and lure in free agents. In the NBA, their contract structure and cap system actually hinders small market teams from being competitive. Rich teams might not be able to spend more than poor teams, but since all contracts have pre-set maxes there is no way for small market teams to ‘outbid’ for free agents. The Timberwolves have an impressive collection of young talent and some money to spend, but even if they could afford to bring in two ‘max guys’, James, Wade and Bosh wouldn’t consider signing there.

Why play in Minnesota or Milwaukee, when you have your choice of Miami, New York/New Jersey, or Chicago? It is a no brainer decision for all these guys and that is why it actually makes sense for them to discuss their free agent futures together. All three of these players are incredibly talented, and they have a strong desire to win, so why not find the best situation possible for them. That is what “Free” agency is all about, the ability to make that decision. And in this case not only is their decision based on who is already on the roster, but it is based on who else they could possibly bring in.

Now I can understand how some fans will feel it is unfair, but there was only going to be a select number of cities that these top guys would entertain to begin with. And so it is up to those teams to put their best deals forward. While I do think the Heat and the Bulls are the front runners, a team like the Nets could free up enough cap space to get two max guys to pair with Brook Lopez (though I’m not sure how Derrick Favors is going to help sell these top FA’s), and the Knicks are always in play. And if James, Wade, and Bosh do form the unholy trio in Miami, then other teams will deal with it, by either saving their money for next year, or signing multiple 2nd tier free agents. Regardless this is the way the NBA is set up and no one can get upset with the players for doing this.

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

Recent reports have asserted that LeBron James is likely to sign with the Chicago Bulls and Chris Bosh will follow. This may be mere speculation, but let’s assume this will happen because as free agency become more imminent, the repercussions of a team such as Chicago signing two max contract free agents are becoming clearer.

If Lebron James and Chris Bosh are off the market, can another team elevate themselves to title contender through free agency? It looks like this is not a possibility. Let’s clarify that the following players are looking for maximum or near-max contracts (not including James and Bosh):

Dwyane Wade

Joe Johnson

Amare Stoudemire

Carlos Boozer

David Lee

Unless the Miami Heat can bring in two max free agents on top of re-signing Wade, which would likely involve a sign-and-trade, it does not look like a single team could improve as much as initially thought. It looks like Miami’s best option is to sign Wade and perhaps Stoudemire along with some combination of lower-tier free agents (maybe Rudy Gay). Again, a sign-and-trade would likely be in the works. Even if Miami goes in that direction, they would still be assembling maybe a 55-win team at best that would likely not have a serious chance at making it past the Eastern Conference Finals.

In my opinion, assuming the reports of James and Bosh to Chicago are true, the most change will come with the bottom feeders – the New Jersey Nets and the New York Knicks. They look like the most willing to sign anyone to simply be a .500 or better team.

In the end, if James and Bosh sign with Chicago, it will have the greatest effect on Dwyane Wade. The relevant free agent signings are a two-horse race between Chicago and Miami, and Chicago simply has better pieces in place at the moment (Rose, Noah and Deng). The door is open for Wade to leave Miami because it’s likely that Miami will not improve through free agency as much as initially expected. It may even be feasible to see Wade leave for New Jersey – they currently have Brook Lopez and Devin Harris under contract, which is substantially more than what Miami has. The seven or eight teams that built their future around the 2010 free agency class will have likely made a major mistake. LeBron James is going to bring another max contract player with him, which severely depletes the market for top-tier free agents. I don’t think the LA clippers envisioned signing David Lee or Carlos Boozer as their marquee free agency signing that would resurrect their franchise.

By Fanspeak Contributing Writer Geoff Nelowet

It was funny seeing Sears commercials with Brett Favre wallowing in uncertainty over which television to purchase. Those commercials pointed to the outward indecisiveness Favre exhibited over the last few off seasons, but Sears, as they poke fun at Favre,got it all wrong. Favre has yet to be uncertain about anything. In fact, I would go as far as to say that recently Favre has known his decision on retiring months in advance. Here’s why:

Professional football players don’t like to go to training camp. Favre knows that he can stay “indecisive” until the middle of the preseason – just enough time for him to get back in gear without laboring through grueling summer two-a-days. Give him credit – he plays his cards right.

As for this coming season, there shouldn’t be much doubt as to whether Favre is coming back simply because he is publicly considering it. But if that’s not enough, consider these factors:

-He has said that he’s in good shape and is capable of playing at a high level

-He has said that he would love to defeat the New Orleans Saints in week 1

-He just came off the best statistical year of his career

-He will be paid $13 million in 2010

-His teammates still somehow like him

It seems like a pretty clear decision for Favre that shouldn’t take the average human months to deliberate over. Who knows, maybe this year he’ll mix things up and show up before week 1 of the preseason. Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Favre will be playing football in 2010.

What does team USA need to do to win this game and keep their World Cup hopes alive?

Will someone other than Landon Donovan step up for Team USA?

What is Team USA’s biggest weakness that they will have to watch out for today?

Winners:

Los Angeles Clippers:  The Clippers already benefit since last year’s top pick Blake Griffin is expected to make a full recovery from a knee injury, now Los Angeles just added 3 more solid players to the mix. With the 8th pick LA grabbed Al-Farouq Aminu, a very good small forward, who fits the Clippers biggest need. He is incredibly athletic, and a solid defender/rebounder. His offensive game still isn’t up to par, but the Clippers already have Baron Davis, Eric Gordon, Blake Griffin and Chris Kamen to create offense. LA then traded a future first rounder for the rights to Eric Bledsoe, who while raw has all the skills to be a starting point guard in the league. Given Davis’s age/injury history, Bledsoe is a wonderful pick up for the Clippers. The Clippers also might have found a gem in the late second round by adding PG/SG Willie Warren. Warren a college teammate of Griffin, was one of the top rated players in the country this year, but fell due to an average season (in part because Griffin was no longer a threat inside). Warren can back up both guard positions and offers a good bit of youth and potential. On top of adding three very good young players with unlimited potential, the Clippers will still have a good chunk of change left under the salary cap. They might not be able to add a max guy, but they can still add a pretty big name.

Sacramento Kings: The Kings had what I think one of the best drafts. DeMarcus Cousins was to me no worse than the 3rd overall pick, and the Kings took him with the 5th pick. Cousins was the best big man in this draft and has the athletic ability to play either the 4 or the 5. He can dominate the paint, and really could become one of the best players in this league. While the maturity issues are a bit of a concern, he is going to a young, talented team that really could be making its way back to the top in the Western Conference. With their 2nd round pick the Kings took another 4-5 big man in Hassan Whiteside. Whiteside was talked as a potential lottery pick, but fell a little due to his age and raw talent. For a 2nd round pick, he is an absolute steal and given the Kings depth in the front court, he only has to be a solid contributor right away. The Kings are another team that has some money to burn in free agency and if they add the right piece or two, could be a new contender in the stacked Western Conference.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are higher on my winners list than on most people, but I really like what they did draft night. Milwaukee is an emerging team already this offseason, as they added Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts. Now they add four young players all with the skills to play in the NBA. No they didn’t add any superstar talents, but they already have a pretty good starting lineup. Larry Sanders helps bring size, athleticism, and shot blocking ability to their front court. Keith Gallon and Jerome Jordan are great depth players, and could develop into solid contributors. As for their non-4/5 pick wing Darington Hobson, I think the Bucks found a steal. Hobson has a good bit of upside and won’t have to be rushed on the Bucks roster. Within a few years, I would not be shocked to see him starting.

Losers:

Golden State Warriors: The Warriors took Ekpe Udoh a solid PF/C, who excels as a shot blocker and rebounder. The problem is he is way to similar to Brendan Wright, Anthony Randolph and just about everyone else on the Warriors roster. The Warriors just traded away Corey Maggette, so grabbing one of the top SF’s like Aminu, Hayward, even George might have made sense. Also, grabbing a more complete center with excellent ball skills like Greg Monroe would have been a better fit. The Warriors were without a 2nd round pick, after basically selling it away, so they couldn’t add any of the guys who slid in the draft. All-in-all this emerging young team, seems to have taken a step back this past week.

Cavs and Bobcats: Both of these teams were without draft picks, and are in serious need of reinforcements. The Cavs need to begin to prepare for life without LeBron James and not having a draft pick hurts them in this department. While I still think the Jamison deal was the right move because they kept Hickson and got Big Z back, not acquiring a pick yesterday hurt. Especially considering the Cavs could have just bought a pick like Dallas, or the Thunder did. While it might not have netted them a star, they could have found a solid role player at either 25 or 31 (two picks we know that were for sale, I bet others were as well). The Bobcats were even worse, because they don’t have really anything to show for giving up their first round pick (Alexis Ajinca ouch). The Bobcats desperately needed to add talent to this roster, but they are stuck in neutral.

Washington Wizards (not counting John Wall):  I’ll write a longer post about the Wizards draft, but I have to mention them here. Sure John Wall keeps them in the B to B- range, but they really couldn’t screw up that pick, one that they literally lucked into with the lottery system.  After that, I was throughly disappointed with the Wizards draft, this is a team pretty much starting from scratch and while I liked the trade for Hinrich and the 17th pick, I just expected them to actually use that pick on a need like say a big man. While the Wizards are pretty set at guard now, they have no depth at PF and have just JaVale McGee on the roster at center. So at 17 the Wizards take Kevin Seraphin, a player who does have some nice upside, but is probably 1-2 years away from even playing in the NBA (much less starting). Seraphin might have made sense if you already have 10+ guys on the roster and you want to stash a player, but for a team like the Wizards who are literally bare, it is a major head scratcher. Washington compounded their problem when they traded the 30th and 35th picks to the T-wolves for 23 (Trevor Booker PF) and 56 (Hamady N’diaye C) while it looks like they addressed their size issue, Booker is an undersized 4 and N’diaye is so raw he has D-League written all over him. What makes it worse is the players they could have grabbed at 30 and 35. Center Hassan Whiteside fell to 33, and the Marshall product would have looked good as the 30th overall pick. At 35 any one of Javis Varnado, Keith Gallon, Jerome Jordan, Gani Lawal, or Solomon Alabi would have filled a major need (and all should be at least quality back ups in the NBA), the Wizards could have also taken a SF which is another need like Hobson, or either of the WVU products (Butler or Ebanks). Now the Wizards have just Trevor Booker this upcoming season (and possibly forcing N’diaye in the rotation) instead of adding three additional players to help John Wall turn this team around.

Georgetown’s Greg Monroe came into school filling the large shoes of center Roy Hibbert, now two years later he is leaving and will surpass Hibbert in terms of draft status. Monroe isn’t widely considered a top 5 pick, but I think he is well worth the investment and will end up being one of the 5 best players from this draft class. A lot of teams and pundits try to knock him for one thing or another, and while some of the knocks are real, they are overblown.

Most experts argue that Monroe lacks the explosiveness and athleticism for the NBA. While he’s not as athletic and explosive as some, he also isn’t just a body out there. He does well in transition and can get to the basket and finish. The other knock on Monroe is that he isn’t strong enough and not a tough enough rebounder. And I understand that somewhat since he will be facing a much tougher breed of big man in the NBA, that adding strength is a must. But Monroe isn’t exactly a weak man in the middle out there. He increased his rebounds by over three boards a game last season, and didn’t really get pushed around too much in college.

All-in-all, I love Monroe and think his strengths outweigh his weaknesses. Monroe has excellent basketball I.Q., which is why he can get by without top notch athleticism. He also is a very unselfish player, who has great ball handling ability for a big man. He can be a dangerous passer in the paint and should set up a lot of open shots. Monroe has prototypical size and wingspan, and with his I.Q. he knows how to use them. He has good range for a big man, and a pretty advanced offensive game. And the best thing that Monroe brings to the table is his work ethic. Monroe really refined his game between his freshman and sophomore campaigns, and has been impressive on the workout trail this season. While many teams may prefer DeMarcus Cousins (who really could be an exceptional player if he puts his mind to it) or Derrick Favors (who is a bit of a risk in my opinion) , Monroe is a the safest and smartest choice. His attitude and work ethic make up for any minor athletic discrepancies.  In many ways Monroe reminds me of Tim Duncan, and while I don’t know if he will reach that pinnacle, I don’t think he will be far off.

Here’s my late first round sleepers for Thursday’s NBA Draft:

Jordon Crawford PG/SG- Crawford is starting to tick up draft boards, but I’d still be a little surprised to see him in the top 20. While I’d be surprised to see him that high, I don’t think it would be a reach at all. I love Crawford’s potential and athleticism, and think he can handle both the point and shooting guard spots. He reminds me some of Russell Westbrooke and think he will be an excellent pro. Crawford is one of the best pure shooters in this draft and can create shots off the dribble. If he is a full time point guard he will need to work on his passing, but otherwise he should be able to contribute immediately.

Devin Ebanks SF- Based on potential and athletic ability, Ebanks should be considered a lottery pick, but the reality is he will be lucky to be drafted at the end of the first round. Ebanks was a top recruit for WVU, and has led the Mountaineers to a pair of successful seasons, the problem is he has disappeared too often in big games. While there are some consistency concerns with Ebanks, the size and potential is real. I think he is a good bet going forward for some team at the end of the first round. I think he can develop into a solid starter with a little star potential.

Gani Lawal PF- Lawal is an interesting case, despite three collegiate seasons Lawal will only be 20 when the 2010-2011 season tips off. He has shown plenty of talent and potential at Georgia Tech over the years, and for me is a starting caliber power forward in the NBA. He might lack his Yellow Jackets teammate’s (Favors) upside, but I love his ability to work in the paint. He is a tenacious rebounder and can attack the rim. Lawal won’t be a top pick and could even fall out of the first round, but this guy is an NBA player, and some team will be very happy they drafted him.

Craig Brackins PF- A year a go Brackins was a surefire lottery pick, and yet now may be lucky to be drafted in the first round one year later. Brackins has excellent power forward size, and great range for a big man, yet is routinely getting overlooked. A lot of people question his numbers since they went down a little bit this past year, but he didn’t exactly have a lot of help at Iowa State. The other knock on Brackins is his age, which is a ridiculous since he is just 22. For some reason NBA teams consider this a knock, but I think it is an advantage for Brackins. He has a pretty good basketball I.Q. and should be able to contribute right away. I think he could even end up as a starter by mid season. He is a quick athletic big man, with a great offensive game, and impressive range, yet he is barely mentioned in the Top 25. I like Brackins as a very good starter in this league for the next decade.

You got to feel for the Cleveland Cavaliers and how things have gone for them these past few months. For the last couple of years this team was at the pinnacle of the Eastern Conference, but now nothing seems to be going right, and unfortunately things could still be getting worse.

Things took a turn when the Cavs lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs this season to the Boston Celtics. It was the 2nd straight year that the Cavaliers had the league’s best record, but wasn’t able to advance to the finals. This lack of ability to get over the playoff hump, was seen as a sign that superstar LeBron James would likely be leaving this summer when he becomes a free agent. The answer for the Cavs seemed to be to replace head coach Mike Brown, (who should have been replaced regardless) and bring in a big name guy to entice James to stay.

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo was supposed to be that big name guy. Izzo is thought of as one of the top college basketball coaches in the country and definitely has that big name recognition. While he had never coached in the NBA before (and the success rate of college coaches isn’t high), Izzo would have given Cleveland fans hope, that they will not only retain LeBron, but can finally win that championship.

It looked as though the Cavaliers were going to get their man in Izzo and were prepared to pay him $6 million a year over the next 5 years. That $6 million would have put him among the highest paid coaches in the league (and in all of professional sports), without ever having one NBA win to his credit. That was a major financial commitment, that seemed too good to walk away from. Except that is exactly what Izzo did. After two weeks of reports that he would likely be making the jump to the NBA, Izzo declared yesterday that he is staying at Michigan State.

What’s even more troubling for the Cavs isn’t that Izzo is staying and they missed out on their number one choice, but rather the reason why he isn’t coming to Cleveland. And that reason is the uncertainty of LeBron James returning to the team. Izzo made it very clear that his inability to talk with LeBron, and obstinately get an answer to James staying in Cleveland weighed heavily in his decision not to take the job. While I don’t blame James for not giving a clear cut answer and commend him on his decorum, by not being put in a position to lie or say no, it is troubling for the team.

It shows to me that James is either still unclear about his decision, or that he has decided to test the free agent waters, and see what offers come in. For James if he leaves Cleveland he will leave money on the table, but could dictate a situation where he has a better chance of winning a title (not to mention endorsement dollars in a big city could easily make up the difference). I think Cleveland really needs to start to prepare for life after James, but first they need to move on to their second choice of a head coach.

Multiple media reports have come out in the last few days linking former manager Bobby Valentine to the Orioles vacancy. While Valentine is a big name option, I’m not so sure this is the right move for the team.

The Orioles are in disarray and definitely could use a strong leader to right the ship. But I’m not sure if mid-June is the best time to find that leader. Instead of having a long, comprehensive manager search you are now limiting yourself to people who don’t have a job, or those who are in your organization. While Valentine would probably still be on the short list this offseason, he won’t be the only name on it. There are always top young managing prospects available every season, which might not be a bad thing considering the youth movement and developmental time the Orioles need. They need a manager who knows how to get the most out of their talent and potential. Now that is not to say that Valentine couldn’t get a lot out of them, just to say he might not be at the top of the list. You also don’t know what other managers might be fired/resign/quit during the offseason. While it might be a bit more rare, you could pass up on an A-list manager this offseason by tying your organization to Valentine now.

Even if the Orioles truly believe Valentine is their number one choice regardless of who else may be available, I don’t think it makes much sense to bring him in as the every day manager now. For one thing he has no familiarity with the players, much less the minor league system. So while he will have all the scouting reports, and assistant coaches advice, he will be somewhat flying blind when making moves. Which is unfair to both Valentine and the team, as there is a much higher chance that those moves don’t work. In addition to being behind the curve in just about every area, Valentine will have to inherit not only the Orioles players, but their coaching staff as well. It’s bad enough that these guys are all in a lame duck position right now, but now they have to execute their jobs with Valentine in place.

Instead of rushing their manager search just to bring in a name, the Baltimore Orioles should focus on getting better on the field during this season. I think the problems they are having are more involved than just a new manager or coaching staff. They aren’t developing minor leaguers as they should (probably a good reason why their minor league managers shouldn’t be considered). And they right now have a talent deficiency and one that they can actually fix during the rest of the season. First they need to ensure they sign as many of their high upside draft picks as possible. Next, they need to be aggressive in the Latin American market this summer. An area they have long ignored, but are starting to make traction. Finally, they need to have a fire sale and trade away established Major League talent for young, high upside ball players. Guys like Millwood, Guthrie, Scott, Wigginton, as well as a few others should be on the block and moved. The Orioles know that even when those guys are producing, they aren’t a good team so they need to sell them while they can.

While this season has been ugly for Baltimore, their future is still fairly bright. They have a lot of young talent, and can easily add some more with the right deals. I think they should focus on the things they can control now, and worry about a new manager this offseason when the whole field is open to them.