NBA Free Agency: Winners and Losers

"The Decision" has finally come. Teams, as well as fans, have been waiting for the summer of 2010 for a long time.

Some of the best players in the NBA tested the free agent waters, some stayed with their old teams, and some bolted for greener pastures.

Now that we know where are the big fish have landed, namely LeBron James, it's time to look at the positives and negatives of his decision, as well as others.

Winners: Miami Heat

Obviously, the biggest winner of this year's free agency is the Miami Heat. At one point the idea of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and James all playing together seemed far-fetched.

A couple days ago the Heat thought they might lose out on all three, but now the Heat may have the best team ever assembled in the NBA. If Pat Riley can get solid veteran players to sign for the minimum to play for a championship, this could be the best team of all-time by far.

Bosh, Wade, and LeBron are three of the game's biggest stars. If they can figure out how to play together, it could mean devastation for other NBA stars looking for a ring.

Michael Jordan prevented many of the NBA's biggest stars from getting rings in the 90s, and I see no reason why the Heat can't do it this decade. Wade is the oldest of the three at 28, so I see no problems with saying they could dominate the NBA for the next five to eight years.

The bottom line is, no other team can say they have a player of Chris Bosh's caliber as their third option. If your third-best player can get you 24 and 11 every night in and night out, I'd say that's pretty good.

Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade

Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade could be two of the luckiest men alive right now. Last year, they both played on mediocre teams with absolutely no shot at the title. They had to do it all themselves and the situation seemed bleak.

Now, Chris Bosh will move from Toronto to Miami and play on what may be the best team of all time. He will have a chance to compete for a ring every year, and will no longer have to carry his team.

In fact, Bosh will not even be the second option. All the pressure is off as the floor should be wide open for him, and he likely won't attract double teams any more.

Also, Canada or South Beach, Canada or South Beach? Hmmm.

Dwayne Wade has already won a championship in Miami, but has struggled to bring them back to the NBA Finals, or even the Eastern Conference Finals, in the past couple years.

Wade had not been getting the help he needed during that time, but will now be able to compete for a championship every single season for at least the next four or five years.

He will be seen as the king of the city and the leader of the team, even though he will be the second best player. Pretty sweet deal right?

Amir Johnson

Last year, Amir Johnson averaged six points and five rebounds per game for the Toronto Raptors while averaging 18 minutes per game.

Another key stat for Johnson is that he averaged just over six fouls per 34 minutes last season. If Johnson were to start and play significant minutes, it seems that he will likely have problems staying on the court.

However, he still signed a five-year, $34 million deal with the Raptors leaving people asking, why would you ever do that?

With Bosh leaving, the Raptors are going to be needing as much front-court help as they can get, but really, $34 million for six and five? This is just desperation. The Raptors are crazy to give him this kind of money, but I'm sure Johnson is fine with it.

He is without a doubt one of the huge winners of this year's free agency period.

Joe Johnson

Johnson is obviously an All-Star. He is a great player and can really fill it up, but he isn't a superstar.

Joe Johnson is getting paid $120 million over the next six years to be a Hawk.

Assuming neither LeBron nor Bosh is involved in a sign and trade (Miami doesn't have anything to trade), and Wade takes the same money as Bosh and James, it is possible that when Joe Johnson is 35 in 2016, he will be the highest paid player in the NBA. Haha.

The only player ever to win an MVP, or even a scoring title, at the age of 35 is none other than Michael Jordan. Johnson isn't even top-10 at the age of 29. Wow.

This could get ugly folks. Johnson is a lucky man. A lucky, rich man.

David Stern

Everyone's attention is currently turned to the NBA, and David Stern has got to be loving it.

The NBA has long been challenging the MLB for the second-most popular professional sports league and with all this buzz, it actually could happen.

Everyone is intrigued by the Miami Heat right now. They are the hot topic in the sporting world.

I live in Minnesota and I haven't been to a Timberwolves game in three years, but you know I'm going to do whatever I can to get my hands on some tickets when the Heat come to town, even if it means buying a ticket package, much like what fans had to do when Boston had their Big Three.

The NBA could quickly become the second-most popular league. With so much shifting around, it is a very real concept.

If Carmelo Anthony signs in New York next year as a free agent, as he has expressed interest in doing, there would be very good teams in some of the biggest markets—Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, and New York.

Stern is no doubt loving this.

Brendan Haywood

Over Brendan Haywood's career, he has averaged 7.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 25 mpg. He is 30 years old, but apparently, he commands a six-year, $55 million deal. He has never averaged double-digit rebounds, and has only averaged double-digits in points in one season.

This is a terrible signing for the Mavericks and just drives them even deeper into the luxury tax. I have no idea why the Mavericks would sign Haywood to this deal right after they signed Dirk Nowitzki to a four-year, $80 million deal.

This deal should take Haywood right up to retirement. He will be 36 when the deal expires.

Darko Milicic

The former second overall pick in the draft, Darko Milicic was over-hyped as a player and was taken ahead of players like Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh.

Milicic is a decent player who is developing defensively, but his work ethic has consistently been in question, and there really wasn't anyone else competing for Milicic's services.

The Wolves decided to sign Milicic to a four-year, $20 million deal, even though they probably could have gotten him back for a lot less.

Milicic likes it in Minnesota and got the long term deal he was looking for.

Carlos Boozer

Carlos Boozer was in a good situation in Utah. He had a great point guard, and the Jazz consistently made the playoffs. The problem is, he was in Utah.

Carlos Boozer gets a long term contract with job security with the Bulls, and he is playing on a talented team with lots of cap room. He also gets a change of scenery.

Think about Salt Lake City. Now think about Chicago. Yeah.

The Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have taken advantage of this offseason to improve their team.

I know there have been reports saying that David Kahn is purposely destroying the team, and he is a terrible GM, but there is no doubt that the team is better off now than it was before the offseason. This free-agency season the Wolves made two big signings and two nice trades.

The Wolves haven't really been trying to hard to get big name free agents (although they did meet with David Lee), but they are taking advantage of the seller's market and getting some good deals.

They may have overpaid for Darko Milicic, but he is still a decent player with some upside, and he is a center. He can play defense which is something the Wolves need. They also signed 2008 second-round pick Nikola Pekovic, the European center who has a tremendous skill set and can log meaningful minutes right away.

The Wolves also traded for Michael Beasley, who was the number two pick just a couple years ago. (It's ironic that they now have two number two overall picks that are considered busts to this point.)

Beasley hasn't really been effective in the NBA so far, but he is still young and is a talented guy that they didn't really give up much for. The second round pick doesn't really matter, but they do have to swap picks with Miami in the future, which I can't imagine being better than 28th, but still, it's a pretty low price for a guy who was the second overall pick a few years ago and is still only 21 years old.

Overall I think the moves the Wolves made are leading up to the trade of Al Jefferson. Think about it. Now the Wolves have Love and Beasley at power forward and Milicic and Pekovic at center. There is no room for Jefferson.

When the Wolves traded for Beasley, it sealed Jefferson's fate. He will no doubt be traded before the season starts, it's just a matter of when.

I really like the moves the Wolves made and I think they are a much deeper, and more talented team than last year, and they have a surplus of good young players with big upside.

The picture of Wally is a nice touch, isn't it?

The Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks did their work quietly during the free-agency period, but they did make some necessary moves.

They re-signed John Salmons who averaged 20 points a game last year and was a huge part of their offense. Salmons was thought to be leaving the Bucks, but the Bucks made him a good, but still reasonable offer to keep him in Milwaukee.

The Bucks also acquired Corey Maggette and Chris Douglas-Roberts this offseason. Both should make an offensive impact right away. Between Brandon Jennings, Salmons, Maggette, CDR, and returning scorer, Michael Redd look out for the Bucks great offensive backcourt in 2010-2011.

The signing of Drew Gooden may not look great at first glance, but he is very productive. He and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute should give them two solid options next to Andrew Bogut.

The Bucks did what they had to do and became a much deeper team in free agency.

Check out this good article about the Bucks signings and outlook for the roster next season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/417354-nba-free-agency-drew-gooden-and-john-salmons-sign-with-the-bucks

Anthony Randolph, Ronny Turiaf, Kelenna Azubuike

"Wait, so let me get this right, I get to leave this rebuilding effort in Golden State where I will never succeed and go to New York City, The Big Apple, to play with Amar'e Stoudemire this year and potentially Carmelo two years from now?"

"Yeah."

"I'll be ready to go in 10 minutes."

Losers: Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavs are now arguably the worst team in the NBA.

Think about it, the Cavaliers best player is 35-year-old power forward Antwan Jamison, who averaged 16 ppg last year for the Cavs. The only other legitimate starter on the team is Mo Williams, who is really a 6'1" shooting guard. He is supposedly a point guard, but he averaged just three assists a game.

Filling out the starting lineup is Anthony Parker, a solid seventh man, Delonte West, and either Illgauskas or Varejao starting at center.

This is possibly the worst starting lineup of the last decade. The Cavs don't have any depth either.

It's a scary thought.

Cavaliers Owner Dan Gilbert

Dan Gilbert has come out and said some pretty bad things about LeBron after he signed with the Heat.

He accused LeBron of "not trying" in the playoffs and quitting on the team. Give me a break. We're talking about LeBron James here. If there is anyone that wants to win in the playoffs, it's this guy. He went to D-Wade's team down in Miami and will share the court with two other superstars just so he can win in the playoffs.

Here's an idea, instead of going out and being a total jerk because you lost LeBron, why don't you just admit that you were the one that forced him out in the first place by surrounding him with crappy players.

Give me a break. Antwan Jamison?

It was Cleveland's fault. LeBron wanted to stay there, but they refused to give him any decent players. He gave them six years. SIX YEARS and they couldn't do anything. You can't get anyone better than Antwan Jamison in six years?

Stop whining because you ruined it. If LeBron can't win in Cleveland, you can't be angry if he goes to play for an owner that can actually get him a ring.

Now everyone will see Gilbert for who he really is. He also went out and claimed the Cavs will win a championship before the Heat. Not if your best player is Antwan Jamison you aren't.

Gilbert has handled this situation in the worst way possible. I mean I really don't think he could have possibly done any worse.

Because of the way he has handled this, everyone knows what a jerk he is, and he has essentially promised Cleveland fans a championship in the next three years. It also puts a microscope on what a truly terrible team he has put together there.

The Cavaliers suck, and Gilbert sucks. Good luck getting guys to come play for you.

Atlanta Hawks

This offseason, the Atlanta Hawks sentenced themselves to six years of mediocrity. They will probably make the playoffs most years getting a seed somewhere between five and eight, but they will not win a championship, and in reality they probably won't get out of the first round more than once, if that.

The Hawks now have no flexibility. They can't sign any big name free agents, they can't make any big trades, nothing. By signing Joe Johnson to a six-year, $120 million deal they have given up their title hopes for the next six years.

They can't build around him because his salary is too high and they can't get a high lottery pick because they will be in the bottom half of the playoffs.

There is nothing they can do, but hey, making the playoffs is better than not making the playoffs right? Well yeah, but in this case, not really.

The Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies had a rough free agency.

First they overpaid for Rudy Gay. Gay is a good player, but he is very one dimensional and hasn't really shown a strong desire to develop his game over the past few seasons. Gay is solid but five years for $82 million? That's a lot to commit to one guy for a team like the Grizzlies. They definitely could have gotten him for less than they did.

The other problem with the Grizzlies was the player they traded a first round pick for, Ronnie Brewer, was pretty much just let go.

You give up a first round pick and let him leave after just half a season? Come on.

Los Angeles Lakers fans

The Lakers have an uphill battle ahead of them if they want to complete the three-peat. They did sign Steve Blake which was a good addition because he is the perfect point guard to run their offense, but with this superteam being created in Miami, there could be trouble in LA.

The Celtics were able to take the Lakers to a seventh game this year in the NBA Finals. If the Celtics can do it, the Heat can do it.

LeBron is better than Pierce, Garnett, and Allen. Wade is better than Rondo and Perkins. And then there's Bosh. This year's Heat are substantially better than the Celtics.

This will be Kobe's biggest challenge yet. The Lakers will likely be lacking in the talent department compared to the Heat, but with Kobe's leadership and Phil Jackson's ability to coach a basketball team, it will be interesting.

In the end I think the Lakers will make a strong push for the three-peat but unless there is a injury problem, I see the Heat taking it in six over the Lakers. Sorry LA, but Miami's new team is almost too good to be true.

The Nets and Mikhail Prokhorov

So they thought they could get LeBron, or Boozer, or both, and that life would be good. Instead that got Travis Outlaw. Welcome to the NBA, have fun winning less than 25 games next season.

LeBron James?

This could go both ways, I guess. On one hand, LeBron is going to win a ton of championships and he gets to live in Miami. On the other hand, he is seen as a guy who sold out to win championships.

He didn't take the risk, and now many fans will not like him for it. In his mind though, he'll still have those rings.

Toronto, Cleveland, Utah, and Phoenix

All four of these teams lost All-Stars without compensation. Brutal.

Mo Williams

Mo Williams is going to get a rude awakening next year when the Cavs ask him to actually play point guard. He was more of a designated three-point shooter this year, and relied almost completely on the offense created by LeBron James to thrive.

More than half of his points came from threes. We will see how Williams plays next season without James there to get him the ball.