With the NBA draft quickly approaching on Thursday June 24th, it is difficult to stop yourself from feeling a little on edge. There is much uncertainty amongst many teams in the league; including the biggest question that everyone has been asking, “Where is LeBron going?” The draft marks the first step to knowing what your team is going to look like next season.
John Wall appears to be the consensus top pick in Thursday’s draft and the likely will go number one. He is one of the most exciting and energetic players to come out from the college rankings in years. He eludes a certain confidence that we primarily see in only the best of the best. The speed he possesses on the court is enticing to watch and is what sets him apart from the rest. Not only is he extremely quick physically, but mentally as well. His ability to make decisions in an instant will be what allows him to succeed in the league for years to come. Look for the Washington Wizards to scoop him up in the number one slot.
The New Jersey Nets have been paying close attention to Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins. New Jersey has the third overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft. The Nets are expected to be drafting a power forward as they already have a strong center. It is rumoured that Derrick Favors is the more athletic of the two, while DeMarcus Cousins has a better perimeter shot; so it will be very interesting to see who they end up selecting as the #3 draft pick.
Having the NBA Draft occur before the July 1st deadline is extra important for teams like my Toronto Raptors who are waiting to see what their free agents will do. In Toronto, everyone is eagerly awaiting to find out what the franchise player Chris Bosh is going to do. It is difficult to know what position you should be drafting for when you really aren’t certain what the structure of your team is going to look like. Will Chris Bosh shock the world and stay with the Toronto Raptors? Or will he follow and play behind someone like LeBron James? Sales for Toronto Raptors Tickets could see a decline should Chris Bosh decide not to return.
The Toronto Raptors are not the only team in this situation, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat are others eagerly awaiting to find out what their superstars are going to be doing on July 1st. The future of these teams depends on Thursday’s NBA Draft and the decisions that will be made on July 1st.
What is interesting enough about all the free agents who are deciding to test the free agent market on July 1st are basically willing to give up a few million dollars just by doing so. Players are able to sign a higher priced contract should they decide to extend their current contract. By opting out they are losing about $800,000 in the first year. If they decide to split town also they will be leaving another million or so on the table. Basicially they are choosing to write a couple million dollars away to whatever team they decide to sign with. Maybe it isn’t about money and about winning for years to come. Especially after seeing Kobe get his 5th Championship ring, guys like LeBron may feel a little empty handed.
Tune in to watch the NBA Draft this Thursday to find out the first steps your team is making to prepare for the 2010-2011 NBA season.
Elite Girl Jen