The World of Expiring Contracts

(Picture from http://www.cavsnews.com/)

With the trade deadline now over, many GM's helped their team get better for a run at the playoffs this year, and some become financially stable for this summers largest free agent class ever.

First I want to apologize for the lack of posting here at The Manchise. We have another site being launched and we had to get that together. Second I want to congratulate the Cleveland Cavaliers for winning this years NBA Finals. Third I want to commend John Paxson and the Chicago Bulls on their ability for the past two seasons to rid themselves of bad contracts in hopes of becoming big money players this off season. But as always I have thoughts on the NBA Trade Deadline.

1. The Phoenix Suns botched the Amare Stoudemire trade options. They could have been released from Amare's $17 million dollar player option next year, and could have gotten something out of a guy that is inevitably going to leave. If the rumors are true that the Heat were offering Michael Beasley among other players for Stoudemire, if I'm Steve Kerr I take that. Beasley was the number two draft pick in 2008, if your the Suns you can sell that to your fans. He's still young and a change of scenery never hurts.

2. The Marcus Camby trade was actually a good "basketball trade", and maybe the only "basketball trade". So often in the NBA, all we see are trades that take money off books, but the Portland Trailblazers made a move that helps them in the long run. With Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla out for the year, Portland really needed a big man. Although Camby was traded against his will, he'll actually get to play in the playoffs this year, instead of watching them on his couch. Oh and he's an expiring contract so it doesn't hurt Portland if it's a huge bust.

3. 'Twan to the Cavs just bolstered their resume as the best team in the East, and quite possibly the entire NBA. LeBron wanted Antwan Jamison, and he got his man. Jamison is going to improve the chemistry and overall play of the Cavs. He was the clear number one guy in Washington, but now with LeBron and Mo Williams he can be either the number two or number three option on that team. James is going to open up so many scoring opportunities for Jamison who can create with the best of them; and that is going to be a major factor in the playoffs by taking pressure off LeBron and Williams.

4. Last but not least, my Chicago Bulls. They dealt two players for four, yes FOUR, expiring contracts. The Bulls dealt John Salmons to the Bucks for Hakim Warrick's and Joe Alexander's expiring deals, as well as Vinny Del Negro's arch nemesis Tyrus Thomas to the Bobcats for a protected first round draft pick, Acie Law, and Flip Saunders (who are also expiring deals). The Bobcats look to be making the playoffs, so it looks like the Bulls will have about $30 million dollars to spend this off season with two first round draft picks. Hello Chris Bosh! It is also rumored that the Washington Wizards might be interested in taking Kirk Hinrich off the books during the summer. Depending on Hakim's play, it seems viable that the Bulls might sign him after this year as another forward to come off the bench. Well played Paxson, well played.

So there we have it, the NBA trade deadline is over, some teams took themselves out of contention completely hoping for LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnsons, and Dwayne Wade to sign with them in the off season, and others pushed themselves to the top of the NBA. It's going to be fun to see how the Celtics do with Nate Robinson, what T-Mac can do with the Knicks, and how well Jamison and LeBron will play together. I'm thinking it's a match made in heaven.