NBA power shift July 1: Where will LeBron go?

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 07/02/2010

I cannot remember a summer quite like this one where the NBA playoffs, the NBA Finals, and the NBA Draft were overshadowed by the business off the court. Two-time NBA MVP LeBron James leads a powerful, talented class of unrestricted free agents on the NBA open market where the future of franchises and the shifting of power potentially will be reshaped.

Few franchises win all the time year in and year out, like the Los Angeles Lakers: 31 times since the NBA began in 1947 (remember: The Lakers started here in Minneapolis), they have reached the Finals. And the Lakers have won 16 NBA titles, and 15 other times they have lost or failed in the Finals. However, if 11-time NBA Championship Coach Phil Jackson's health pushes him into retirement, the Lakers' run could be over.

Sometimes, people forget what this is all about - the sports business that is: It's about winning. Thirty teams in 30 different cities all in pursuit of one prize: the Larry O'Brien Trophy. Cleveland won 66 and 61 games the last two years and were in the NBA Finals in 2007. They fired a good coach in Mike Brown, but they may have missed their championship window. If James leaves Cleveland, they could become the Timberwolves of the East.

But really, how many of these teams truly are dedicated to trying to win? Orlando was in the Finals two years ago and won 59 games last year. Last week's draft clearly indicated that several franchises were clearly up salary cap space to make the best possible offers to this class of talented free agents.

Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Cleveland, Dallas and Miami are just a few of the teams expected to be the strongest teams bidding for the services of these All-Stars. It's a shame that Minnesota is in such a bad position that not one of the All-Star class of free agents in his right mind would even consider playing for the Timberwolves.

When you lose 67 games and you play in the rugged Western Conference where eight teams won 50 or more games including the NBA Champion, you literally need a miracle to climb the ladder in the NBA; and the lottery for 2010 has come and gone another year. Has anybody seen Chicago since Michael Jordan left? That's an extreme example, but when you get in position you better finish.

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Amare Stoudemire, Chris Bosh, and Joe Johnson are the big names, and teams like Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Utah, Chicago, Boston and Oklahoma City are positioned to make title runs.

Let's say James and Bosh sign with Chicago?

Or Stoudemire and Johnson sign with New York? Now that's a power shift. Thursday, July 1 - that's this week - the action starts fast and furious, and we will start getting some answers to who's going where. Let the recruiting game begin, and let's start praying for the Timberwolves.

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:20 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com , or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com .