After a recount, the Lakers have been declared winners of the 2024 NBA title.Or so you would have thought based on the reaction of general manager Rob Pelinka and his flunkies after the No. 55 pick of last month’s draft.A week later, LeBron James agreed to re-sign with the Lakers. It was then that we fully understood.The Lakers will be relevant, if you measure by TV ratings, for at least one more year. Hip hip hooray. That’s more than we can say at this point about Paul George, who is really the only legitimate challenger for the honor of being the Most Impactful Free Agent Signing of 2024. If you thought George retired, we forgive you.In this Olympic summer, here are my medal winners in the Free Agent Freestyle…THE BRONZE: DeMar DeRozan re-signs with the Bulls, traded to the Kings Apr 19, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan (11) dribbles the basketball as Miami Heat forward Haywood Highsmith (24) defends in the first quarter during a play-in game of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports Free-agent signings come in three forms:You have the Klay Thompson variety, where technically he didn’t go to the Mavericks as a free agent. He needed to be signed by his old team—in his case, the Warriors—in order to get out of town. But he was a free agent, and he signed, and he made a significant move, so he must be considered.Then there’s a simple re-signing. Like what it took for the Knicks to retain OG Anunoby, the 76ers to keep Tyrese Maxey, and the Pacers to hold onto Pascal Siakam. Boring, but each is a critical move for an Eastern playoff contender.And lastly, there’s the old-fashioned way. The I’m-gone-and-you-get-nothing trick, the type that Kentavious Caldwell-Pope pulled on the Nuggets in order to join the Magic, and Isaiah Hartenstein employed to move from the Big Apple to Softball City.All six were newsworthy. Some produced deep sighs of relief. Others had fans blasting ownership for being cheap. And one… well, we’ll finally know if Klay melts in Texas heat.DeRozan took the Thompson route to Sacramento. It was an addition the Kings desperately needed after watching fun seasons end prematurely as Domantas Sabonis disappeared late in key games.With the Nuggets having fallen back to the pack, the West is wide-open. Led by the Western rendition of the Three Musketeers, Sacramento is now a serious player.THE SILVER: 76ers sign Paul George Paul George as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers. credits: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports Much is made of the Celtics’ competition—or lack thereof—en route to the championship. That’s missing the point.Their red-carpet path to the title had nothing to do with Jimmy Butler, Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Haliburton getting hurt. Those teams were outclassed regardless.No, the Celtics had a cakewalk because they never ran into Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic.The Knicks have closed the gap, but entering the off-season, the biggest obstacle in a potential repeat was the 76ers. Assuming they re-signed Maxey, of course, which they did.And now that they’ve added George, a guy Jaylen Brown will have to guard while Jrue Holiday hounds Maxey. The door to Embiid dominance has opened.Good luck to the stick figure that is Kristaps Porzingis, the old man that is Al Horford, and the defensive myth that is Jayson Tatum. The addition of George has made Embiid the most powerful force in the East and made the 76ers the title favorite.THE GOLD: Lakers re-sign LeBron James LeBron James is back again with the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo source: Getty Images Some would say LeBron remaining with the Lakers will have less of a ripple effect in Southern California than a 2.0 earthquake. I agree.But in terms of the basketball world as a whole, it’s The Big One.Why? LeBron was the one free agent this offseason who single-handedly could have shifted the entire NBA landscape. Think of it this way: Pick a team. Any team. If it had drafted Bronny, and LeBron chose to come with him at a reasonable financial freight, would that team be a title contender next season?Yes: Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Cavaliers, Pacers, 76ers, Heat, Thunder, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Suns, Pelicans, Kings, Warriors.That’s half the league, and that’s what made LeBron the most powerful free agent this summer.No, he’s not going to win a championship. But without him, at least 10 on that yes list have no shot, either.All because LeBron signed with the wrong team.
Related Posts
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu says it is impossible to see any of the club s stellar MSN forward line leaving the club during the close-season.
Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar scored a staggering 131 goals between them in 2015-16 as Barca claimed a second successive domestic double.
But speculation concerning the future of Neymar in particular continues despite the Brazil captain s insistence this week that he is happy at Camp Nou with some reports suggesting that Barca cannot afford to keep all three of their star men.
However, when asked by French radio station RMC whether he could envisage Messi, Suarez or Neymar seeking pastures new in the coming months, Barca chief Bartomeu replied: No, I think it s impossible.
All our players are …
Raheem Sterling concedes he did not score or create enough goals in his first season at Manchester City.
The England international made 47 appearances for the club following his £49 million move from Liverpool last July, scoring 11 times.
But Sterling acknowledges his end product needs to be better under Pep Guardiola next season, even if he feels he has made important mental strides forward following his move.
I have learned quite a bit going into City for my first year and I think I m improving, he said after England s win over Australia.
I probably haven t scored as many goals or assisted as many goals as I wanted to, but I m definitely improving mentally.
That s the most important thing for me, the mentality to not listen to outsiders…
Newcastle United are readying a £9m January move for Germany international Max Kruse, .
With Siem De Jong still out injured and fellow new arrival Emmanuel Riviere failing to make an impact since arriving at St James Park, manager Alan Pardew is keen to strengthen his squad as he looks to continue their recent run of form.
Kruse has scored five goals in ten league appearances for Borussia Monchengladbach so far this season, earning a recall to Joachim Low’s Germany side.
He has been capped ten times for his country, but hasn’t scored since his second appearance – a 4-3 friendly defeat to the United States in June 2013.
Newcastle currently find themselves in fifth place in the Premier League after a run which has seen them their last six games …
Competition: La Liga
Market: Barcelona to beat Real Sociedad
Odds:
La Liga returns for yet another massive round of games as the competition continues to heat up. Every side will want to take maximum points from their match this weekend with a victory also vital to the morale of both the players and the fans. With all of this in mind, Barcelona travel to face Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Real Sociedad have struggled this season and they need to start winning their games or they will get dragged into a relegation battle. After 18 matches they have won six, drawn five and lost seven, while they have scored 31 goals and conceded 30 times. In their last five games they have won just once, while they have lost three times and drawn once, seeing the side…
Spanish newspaper that Real Madrid are keeping close tabs on Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.
With Adan not deemed good enough to provide competition for Iker Casillas, Real Madrid officials plan to add a new keeper to the ranks for the 2013/2014 season.
Rather than splashing the cash on a world-class shot-stopper, they are prepared to take a gamble with Osasuna goalie Andres Fernandez.
Fernandez, 26, has been in fine form since winning a starting berth at Osasuna and is predicted a great future.
He has a contract until June 2015 at Osasuna and a release clause of €9 million, which is well within Real’s price range.
Fernandez is also followed by Atletico Madrid, but back in November 2011, he admitted to being a big fan of Real Madrid.
Defender Phil Jagielka believes the lack of expectation on England could help them to flourish at Euro 2012.
Unlike in previous years, the national team head to Poland and Ukraine as outsiders to win the tournament, and Jagielka is hoping they can now surprise people.
I m sure if we win a game we ll be favourites and if we lose a game we ll be a waste of space, he told reporters.
It s a hard one to call. It would be better for the squad if there s a little bit less expectation on us. Hopefully we can go under the radar until the latter stages of the tournament and hopefully get further than we have.
If we re being realistic we haven t won anything for a number of years and maybe that s because we don t deserve to so hopefully this time round we can pe…
Tottenham Hotspur reclaimed top spot in the Premier League with a 2-0 win against Arsenal in the North London derby on Sunday evening.
Heung Min-Son gave Jose Mourinho s men the lead early on with an absolutely blitzing right-footed drive from outside of the area. Harry Kane then predictably added to his highly impressive derby record with a clinical finish off of the crossbar just before the half-time whistle.
For all of their effort, Arsenal were not able to find a route back into the game, falling to another defeat.
Here are five things we learned from the game:
Kane makes history against the Gunners
Coming into the most recent instalment of the North London derby, Kane already had a stunning record against Arsenal. The 27-year-old had netted ten goa…
Ronald Koeman could plunge Samuel Umtiti back into Barcelona action against Juventus and Cristiano Ronaldo as the defender gets set for his first appearance of the season.
The French World Cup winner has been blighted by knee problems, with Barcelona announcing his latest injury issue in early July, and he has not played since.
However, Barca declared on Tuesday morning that Umtiti has been given the medical all-clear over his left knee, naming him in their squad for the clash with Juventus at Camp Nou that evening.
That comes as a major boost to head coach Koeman, whose defensive options have been clipped by an injury suffered by Gerard Pique.
Barcelona and Juventus are both assured of qualification for the last-16 stage ahead of their …
Manchester United are closing in on a shock deal for Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen, .
The 28 year old, who is currently with Belgium preparing for their World Cup opener against Algeria, made just thirteen starts in all competitions for the Gunners last season due to the form of preferred central defensive partnership Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.
He has just one year remaining on his current deal with the North London club, but could still command a fee of around £10m.
New United manager Louis van Gaal is an admirer of the former Ajax man, and will be keen to add a player of his experience as he looks for a replacement for Nemanja Vidic, who will complete his move to Inter Milan next month.
The 2012/13 Premier League champions finishe…
Juanfran has dismissed suggestions Spain lack hunger following their dismal FIFA World Cup trophy defence in Brazil.
Spain s hopes of claiming back-to-back titles were swiftly dashed following resounding defeats to the Netherlands and Chile in Group B.
Vicente del Bosque s men came in for heavy criticism, with many pinpointing the world and European champions aging squad as the reason behind their failure in South America.
But playmaker Xabi Alonso attributed their under-par showing to a lack of hunger and ambition after last week s last to Chile assertions that reportedly angered his team-mates.
And speaking ahead of Spain s final World Cup match against Australia on Monday, full-back Juanfran feels there is no difference in the level of enthusiasm that …