When the clock strikes 12:01 AM EST on July 1st, 2010, the NBA world will shift drastically, while its viewers will not move.
Glued to the television, picking up every newspaper, browsing the top basketball rumor websites, and listening to every sports radio station. One thing every NBA fan wants to know is where the NBA stars are going to align.
Certain stars may align together, certain stars may align in the footsteps of legends (the possibility of LeBron James to the Bulls,) but what we must all realize is that the stars of this great sport will make the decision on what is best for themselves, their families and their futures.
Dwyane Wade has made comments about the Bulls organization not being loyal enough to its players (so if a player retires, the Bulls don’t always offer them a spot in the office.)
LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer and all the other free agents have one thing in common: They want to win.
While us fans may speculate on where the players will sign, the players themselves are heavily reviewing the factors that may decide where they finish their career: Where do they have the most job security? Is the head coaching job stable? What other players will the team surround them with? Can they dethrone the Lakers and win in 2011 and the years to follow?
The more important questions that these players face are: What happens when they retire? What team offers them the best chance to stay within the organization? What city has the best environment to raise kids, or potential kids? What city will support them through the ups and downs that may face throughout the rest of their careers? (injuries, losing, coaching changes, etc.) In what city can these players reach out to the community?
The NBA airs a commercial that starts off with the line, “Basketball, it’s just a game.” What the NBA fan needs to realize is, while the league may take a major shift in power, and some teams may sign that missing piece to the title, basketball is just a game.
Professional or pick-up, it is just a game.
While we admire these players as we grow up and want to be like them and have them play for our favorite team, we as fans looks past the bigger picture.
Whether you are LeBron James or Dwyane Wade, year in and year out free agents sign with a team to win and to live.
When these players sign, they will sign because it is what is best for them as a player, and as a human.
These players want to win, but they also want the best opportunity for a life-lasting journey in a place that they can call home whether us fans like it or not.
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