Tis’ is the season where many players get cashed out more than what they deserve. NBA executives fall in love with marginal players hoping to turn them into superstars, and this is the season where superstars lack motivation after a lucrative pay day.
The NBA Free Agency period is very risky business. In the NBA contracts are guaranteed so whether if the player is injured or on the hardwood they will be paid. Under the new collective bargaining agreement players contracts can be amnestied, but there is a limit on how many players can be amnestied and they are still paid out rest of their contract despite being amnestied.
Despite a lot of negativity, not everything is bad when it comes to free agency. The Miami Heat revamped their team in 2010 by signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh to team up with D-Wade. We all know that the Miami Heat has won two NBA Championships in three season. Not all teams can accomplish what the Heat did during the free agency period, but teams can go from ashy to classy in a matter of a few days.
In the past players like Shaquille O’Neal(Lakers), Tracy McGrady(Magic), Chauncey Billups (Pistons), and Steve Nash(Suns) has shown the positive side of what a team with a lot of cash can do during the free agency period.
As a player entering the free agency period they are normally coming off of one of their best seasons in their career. I don’t find it odd that some players are motivated by the dollar bill. In 2007 the Orlando Magic signed Rashard Lewis to a contract over $100 million dollars to give them some added punch to keep the lanes clear for Dwight Howard. In the first few years of that deal Lewis played pretty well but on the back end on the contract he was not even close to the player that they paid a few years prior to his demise. I can go on and on about several NBA GM’s mistakes when it comes to free agent blunders.
I really don’t know what it is like to be in a general manager’s shoes so I won’t criticize them too much. I will say it is best to take the buyer beware approach before opening the checkbook.
I would hate to see a NBA Executive or GM to lose their job for falling into the trap of breaking the bank for a mediocre player or someone that has loads of potential.
I know it will happen, but hey what can I say. I know the contract ghosts of Jerome James, Austin Croshere, and Larry Hughes are lurking so please take notice before you add more names to list of free agent busts!
