2010 Free Agency Primer: Meet the buyers

It’s been years in the making but 2010 free agency is here. It’s been the most hyped non-sporting sports event in American history. Ever since LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh forwent five-year maximum length contract extensions in 2007 for three-year deals instead to test the market this year,  teams have been priming themselves for a chance to nab any of the headlining names, of which there are several: the aforementioned 2003 draft class threesome of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh then others including Paul Pierce (just opted out of his contract and is unrestricted), Amar’e Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Dirk Nowitzki, Joe Johnson, David Lee and Rudy Gay, all All-Stars looking to field offers for potential new digs.

The potential for an immediate change in the NBA landscape has had a tremendous impact on the NBA. For one thing, several teams have underwent dramatic changes in managerial strategy and its led us to change the way we evaluate basketball operations; the Bulls were heavily applauded last week for trading a veteran point guard and a potentially great young piece in the #17 draft pick for an essentially worthless conditional future second-round pick solely because it gave them $10 million worth of free space with which to sign someone. So great is the mystique of this free agency that the mere mention of it has cost six figure losses for owners and general managers who aren’t even contending for the services of the free agents.

And of course, it’s all about the main attraction: LeBron James. The prospect of a change in estate for a player who, when it’s all said and done, may be deemed the greatest of all time, has had teams drooling for years. It’s sparked conspiracy theories and drained the integrity of an entire metropolis’ media. For some franchises like the Nets and Knicks, it’s come at the cost of years’ worth of mediocrity. It’s shed the New York mayor of his pride, it’s captured the attention of the White House and it may just make or break the fates of several NBA franchises.

I present to you an evaluation of the prospective bidders for free agents, namely LeBron James’, services.