No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 1
Fantasy MVP = Lebron James (duh)
After being dismantled by the Spurs, it’s clear that Miami needs a reboot. What that entails is unclear, with The Big 1 featuring Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh having the option to test free agency this summer. Ultimately, everything hinges on what Lebron James decides to do. It’s unclear how much communication James has had with Wade or Bosh on this issue, as we predict there’s a 50-50 chance they do the same thing in unison. If Lebron acts on his own and decides to test the waters, we expect both Wade and Bosh to resign in Miami, as the only way they are getting another long-term deal is if it’s at a reduced pay rate. Our money is on that scenario occurring, with the Heat looking to horde cap space for the 2015 (when both Wade and Bosh come off the books) free agent class.
In a vacuum, it would make the most sense for all three to opt out, with Lebron resigning for the max, Wade re-upping at reduced rate (think something along the lines of the $10.5 million Tim Duncan earned this year), and Bosh landing somewhere in between. It’s unlikely Carmelo Anthony joins forces with them (would make way more sense for him to go to Houston with Dwight Howard as his rim protector), but reducing Wade and Bosh’s salary would give the Heat to the opportunity to replenish their depleted bench. Ray Allen is an unrestricted free agent mulling retirement (can we get him on a plane to O.K.C?), Shane Battier is officially retired, and the Birdman/Haslem combo is probably on it’s last leg. We’re predicting that this summer will almost be as crazy as “The Decision”.
1. San Antonio Spurs
No Credentials Pre-Season Rank = 3Fantasy MVP = Tim Duncan (seriously efficient in only 29 minutes per game)
More than any other team in recent memory, San Antonio played the game of basketball as well as any club ever has in a NBA Finals. Normally rotations or shrunk, and star players are needed to carry a team to the promised land, but the Spurs were unselfish to the perfect extent, ending most possessions with open threes or quality looks in the paint.
We’re operating under the assumption Tim Duncan and Greg Popovich will both return, which means the majority of the Spurs championship roster will remain in intact. Boris Diaw and Patty Mills are the only key contributors entering unrestricted free agency (sorry Matt Bonner), but with the salary cap expected to rise above $70 million, we’re expecting Diaw to return. Mills should’ve earned himself a starting gig somewhere with his performance in the playoffs (Indiana could sure use a point guard), but that wouldn’t be a devastating loss for the Spurs. The Western Conference will still be ridiculous next season, but with Kawhi Leonard’s Conference Finals MVP performance ushering the next generation of Spurs greats, we expect the Spurs to be in the thick of the title hunt again.
