If you had pets, do you remember your parents detailing the virtues of taking your aging, and often failing, pets to the farm? This mysterious farm that had acres and acres of open fields filled with mice that your cats could play with or tennis balls your dogs could catch. You thought, “I don’t want to give up my beloved friend, but if (s)he is going to be happier, then who am I to stop this?” You let them go, comforted by the fact that your pet would be better off.

However, your pet died. They put your pet to death. You didn’t know it then, you may have not discovered it for a few years, but eventually, you found out your parents lied to you in order to not have you feel absolutely terrible about the finality of life. That, in a nutshell, is sort of how I feel about Delonte West’s trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Champ kept asking if I was happy that Brother Red and Michael Beasley were finally to be teamed together, forming a black hole in the northern part of the United States. I guess, in this case, Michael Beasley is the farm. Sure, that is nice, but I have no illusions that Delonte will simply just be cut from Minnesota. That is why teams would be interested in him, because he is a nice and neat salary dump.

That doesn’t take away from the present, I wouldn’t say sadness, but uncomfortable feeling that something is missing. Delonte has been so great to experience. Not just watch, but truly experience. His in-game tactics were fun, if not rare. However, it was his off-the-court antics that were enthralling. He was the class-clown of the locker room. He was the guy that provided the laughter. He was also the guy who may have destroyed the Cavaliers’ season (not just his gun charge, but his alleged affair with LeBron’s mom).

Seriously, how many guys can ride a motorcycle with a guitar case loaded with assault weapons strapped across his back, and it still is the second most shocking gun charge in the league? This guy will play with a sock, if need be.

I know I will miss Delonte, even if he does play with another team this year. It wont be the same. You can’t replace a beloved pet. And you certainly can’t replace a Delonte West.

Chris Paul wants out of New Orleans. I don’t know whether to be happy that there is an NBA story not circling around the Miami franchise or to be sad that CP3 wants away from New Orleans.

Chris Paul has been the New Orleans franchise since they moved back after their brief stint in OKC during his rookie season. He has played great, worthy of that best point guard in the game honor he earned before Deron Williams showed people he can also ball a little bit. He was nearly MVP a couple of seasons ago (do that Deron) and led the Hornets, coached by Byron Scott, to a playoff level they had no right to be at.

Now, he feels he can’t do it. Approached by his own realization of mortality given the weakened state of his knee, he knows he needs to win as soon as possible. This Miami deal, although not directly involved, is directly involved. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh (along with Sir Riley) have started an arms race. Now, contenders are going to stockpile as many “superstars” (really? Amar’e and Bosh are on that level?) in order to compete.

Paul now knows that he can’t expect a championship level team in New Orleans, and certainly not in the next couple of seasons. Why waste his prime years bumbling around in the Big Easy when there will ultimately be no payoff. This isn’t LeBron wanting out of Cleveland, who were legitimate title contenders. This is a superstar, legitimately one, trying to get the most wins he can while he can. With that knee, Paul may not have as many seasons left as we all presumed just last season.

(Seriously, how is this not an arms race? Does that make Pat Riley the USA, or USSR?)

Anyway, I can’t blame CP3 for this action. He, no doubt, would prefer to win in NO. However, it’s not likely when David West is the only other viable player (other than Collison) who you can count on when it counts.

Ok, so now what? He wants to go to either Orlando, New York, or LA (which is now being doubted, instead he is thinking Dallas or Portland according to Chris Broussard).

Orlando would be straight fun, since Dwight Howard is like Tyson Chandler if Chandler was a god. I don’t know what that trade would include, but I don’t know how Jameer Nelson fits in. I would assume he has to leave, since he can’t play the 2 at his size and he can’t play the backup at this point. He is too talented to sit the bench, but that doesn’t solve the Hornets’ problem of having two point guards.

LA has an obvious attraction, and by attraction I mean Kobe, Pau, and an almost guaranteed championship if Paul comes. LA would probably have to give up Bynum, who has worse knee issues than Paul does, along with some other quality pieces. I don’t know, especially when the truth behind this request is somewhat in doubt.

New York has Amar’e and D’Antoni, and apostrophes aside, that isn’t all that much. The missing piece is clearly Carmelo, who still has a lot in Denver right now (though that window may be closing). If Carmelo comes than this sparks an obvious and epic rivalry with Miami. This would be the ultimate in terms of the arms race, two teams with great players slugging it out.

The Dallas and Portland scenarios are interesting. Dallas could have really used solid point guard play against San Antonio last playoffs and Paul would love to pass to Dirk whenever he feels like it. Portland has Brandon Roy, which is good and bad. Roy didn’t like Andre Miller coming to Portland, and Miller prefers passing to shooting. Sure, Paul also distributes like a man possessed, but he has the ball infinitely more than Miller does.

See, this may well be the true legacy of the Miami trio. It goes well beyond Toronto, Cleveland, and Miami. Beyond who they suit up against on any particular night. This affects every team in the league. Now teams like New Orleans, who might have had a shot otherwise, given the right amount of luck and intelligent roster moves, are completely out of contention. Players like Chris Paul, who by all rights is a top 8 player, doesn’t feel like he has a realistic chance to compete on the highest level possible without another couple of stars around him.

All that being said, nothing is for sure. This is just a report from Paul’s inner circle. He may have a change of heart in the next couple of weeks. Or not. Maybe he does go through with this demand and makes one of these teams much better.

Is LeBron James the man? It seems a silly question that has no actual consequences. No, he is not the man in the same way Michael Jordan was. He is not Michael Jordan. He was never Michael Jordan. He will never be Michael Jordan. So what? How many people are (besides Kobe)?

Michael Jordan was unique. He was old-school, although at the time he was just one of many in mindset. He was a man in the same way Don Draper was a man; unquestionably flawed, but obviously talented.

LeBron James isn’t that. He is from another era, one which favors cooperation instead of solo endeavors. Why is this surprising in the rebirth of “it takes a village” mentality? He was always the man who was willing to defer, perhaps preferring to defer, even on his AAU and high school squads.

He is a new man. He is the same type of man who wears a pink shirt proudly displaying the message that “real men wear pink”. He is a man concerned with both marketability and happiness, not that those two cannot coincide given proper mixture. LeBron clearly isn’t afraid of criticism, although how much he expected cannot be close to the real amount. He isn’t afraid to play second fiddle. He isn’t afraid to change scenery (even if it is into a $50 million home).

Sometimes, men can be defined as much by their eagerness to go it alone as they can by realizing the bigger man doesn’t always need to take charge. Isn’t it the case that many claim that the bigger man should walk away instead of inviting confrontation? This sounds too much like an excuse, which it isn’t. But the notion of the man as we used to know it, the definition we long for now, may well be dying. Kobe seems like the last of his kind at this point, unless Kevin Durant is more determined to be selfish than all signs point to.

Even J0rdan suggested that in these new times, maybe the mindset of men should evolve. Not that he would agree with it, or Magic or Larry. Or Charles, who went it alone and came out okay, but not as well as he could have. Even he went to Houston to try to capture championship glory alongside Hakeem late in his career.

Maybe it was the timing of it all. I suppose we prefer the greats to waste their youth and greatness chasing wasn’t isn’t guaranteed by themselves. Had LeBron waited another four or five years, the reaction would not have been as explosive, I would presume. What is easy to forget is that not all great players win championships solely because of their greatness. Usually they have another great beside them.

I can’t reasonably argue that LeBron should have stayed if that isn’t what he wanted to do, and now that Miami is filling out the roster with players that certainly aren’t “scrubs”, it seems a fairly good choice. Maybe he didn’t want the responsibility of leading a team that depended solely on his good fortune for victories and championship opportunities. Maybe he was afraid of the consequences if he failed on a loaded Chicago team or failed to bring New York back to meaningful life. Maybe, or maybe he felt like experiencing the most pressure he could have, now that he joined up with his good friends and great basketball players in South Beach, and trying to give all the haters something to boo at.

I don’t sympathize with the mentality that just because you are great, you have to try to win by yourself. If you can pull it off, which is what Michael and Kobe did (I understand that they were far from by themselves, but it wasn’t a stacked team like Magic or Bird had, although Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman are routinely underrated), the sky is the limit. But if you don’t, you will never be what you could have otherwise. From Dan Marino to Charles Barkley, those players are never respected for the talents that they were just because they don’t have rings to go along with the other hardware they earned.

Sure, LeBron could have stayed, like MJ and Draper did, but temptation was too great to resist. LeBron may be defining the man for the next couple of decades the same way MJ, Magic, and Larry did and Russell before them. This new man is concerned less with statistics and more with victories. MVP’s and scoring titles play second fiddle to postseason glory.

I don’t even know what to say. I don’t feel like blasting LeBron for being a quitter or being afraid of the challenge. I don’t feel like I need to convince myself that the Heat will in fact not work out. I just don’t know.

When people talk about the Heat, there are essentially three different schools of thought. The first is that people think the Miami Thrice will not be able to coexist on the floor at once. Hey, those are big egos (maybe not Bosh, he seems alright with being the third or fourth best guy on the court) and they are used to getting shots whenever the mood strikes them. Plus, will Coach Spo be able to juggle these talents effectively?

The second is the questions surrounding the rest of the roster. Who else will bring their talent to South Beach? Especially for minimums or significantly less than they would otherwise be able to make. I don’t worry too much, since whatever players decide to go there know exactly what they are getting into. Plus, contenders typically only go 7 or 8 deep in the playoffs.

The third is that there are no worries. With the talent level of those three, its hard to craft an argument that they will flop hard. Maybe an appearance in the Finals isn’t in the immediate forecast, but its hard to argue against these three. Unless you question how much longer Wade can be Wade given his age and injury concerns (28 going on 29 and his explosive-ness will likely take a Kobe-like hit in the next couple of years). Or if you question who exactly will play center and let Bosh play the forward position he feels more comfortable in.

I don’t feel the need to try to diagnose what will happen, not until the rest of the roster is filled out. There are still too many moving parts to be a forecaster this early. On a happier note, John Wall played well. Too bad it was only the Summer League.

Everything has changed.

Long-time Cleveland fans know that the only real way to deal with the series of miserable sucker punches that comprises our area’s sports history is to be pessimistic. Last night, a new generation of Cleveland fans learned the same thing. The jerseys of our Chosen One were set afire; watching the wine, gold, and white burn on SportsCenter seemed to be a fitting metaphor for… something. For everything we thought we understood, even within the reference frame of a city sport scene that hasn’t seen a professional title in decades.

We had to know he was leaving. But we thought he would stay. How could he leave? He was King of Cleveland. A city, a region that always seemed to be on Death Row in more areas than just professional sports had finally gotten its call from the governor. Cleveland was back. Even after watching Game Six, we still thought he would stay. Even as we watched our once-dynamic, court-controlling demigod sullenly ignore Mike Brown’s frenzied efforts to get his team to foul Kevin Garnett and Company, like a real NBA team would do in that situation. As the last ninety seconds of that game ticked away, we had to know that everything was dying. Our Chosen One’s teammates certainly did, taking his lead and looking like they knew what we had to know by that point: he’s gone.

And last night, King James quit. And Cleveland fans learned the truth: King James isn’t really a king at all. He’s just a… player. Just a basketball player who happens to have been born somewhere close to his first professional gig. “You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.” Cavs owner Dan Gilbert’s anger at the loss of the only thing that made his team worthwhile is understandable, but misplaced. If anything, finance mogul Gilbert should understand. The King’s decision was… just business. Putting the finishing touches on the King James brand. Cleveland gave their golden boy their hearts, their hopes, and the key to the city. He gave them a few mumbled words of thanks, an abject humiliation on national television, and an inability to drink Vitamin Water without getting sick to their stomachs.

So… sorry, Cleveland. He’s not a legend. Not like Kobe, Michael, Larry, or Magic. He’s not willing to stick around and allow a team to build up around him. And it turns out that he sure as hell isn’t good enough to bring a group of somewhat above average players to a championship level, like the true greats of the NBA. He honestly believed he couldn’t win a championship in Cleveland. Even with his skill set, somehow things would never fall into place around him. That’s an absolutely incomprehensible lack of faith for the most physically talented basketball player in decades to have in himself. And that’s the worst part: As it turns out, he’s not really the best thing Cleveland sports ever had. He never brought a little pride back to this area. He never turned a bottom feeder into a contender. Sounds ridiculous, right? Even our perpetually pessimistic city knew those things were true. Everyone did.

Everyone, except for LeBron James.

Living in Northeast Ohio, it was like a volcano erupted last night. I don’t mean it just rushed through and wiped out everyone in the area, it was like a volcano erupted many miles away, but still in sight. We all felt something rush through us, like earthquakes and tremors triggered by the explosion.

I know personally, my chest tightened, my legs tingled, and I had this overwhelming sense that something was going to be missing for the next few years.

Has the dust settled? Not even close. It’s still raining down, perhaps not as violently as just after the eruption, but still coming down.

I think of myself as a responsible basketball fan, not just Cavaliers fan or LeBron fan, so I didn’t take the news as hard as some of my Ohio brethren. The burning of jerseys is irresponsible and ignorant and Dan Gilbert sounds like a complete fool. But the anger is understood.

He not only left, he left for the sexier, younger woman who happens to be a yoga instructor. But I can’t blame him, no matter what others may think, he is not only going to a team that has realistic championship expectations for the next near decade, but he is joining a team that is composed of his friends. And if you could do that in a place that has sunshine year round, who wouldn’t take that opportunity?

It’s a sense of betrayal that the fans are feeling. They devoted their time, effort, money, and hearts (for lack of a better word, maybe spirit. I’m not talking about the frontrunners) for the past seven years as well. They drove to Cleveland in freezing sleet, snow, rain, whatever, to watch one of the greatest players in his generation to lace up his shoes and play.

Could LeBron have handled this in a different way? Absolutely, but it wouldn’t have changed the outcome or the fact that Cleveland would not have gotten another player in free agency. Dan Gilbert could have handled his reaction differently, as could have the idiot fans who had access to lighter fluid and an open flame. I would be a hypocrite to criticize LeBron for doing something that would make him the happiest, since that is what I think everyone should do (to an extent).

I don’t want bad things to happen to him, or Bosh, or Wade, as many Cavaliers fans have expressed interest in. I want them to win, because I like basketball, not just a single team. The Heat are now the greatest theater in the NBA, taking the reigns from the Lakers. Every night should be a spectacle. It would be foolish to expect anything but dynamic, exciting, great play from these three.

Saying all that, I don’t really blame a lot of Cavs fans for their feelings. This is not the first heartbreak for Cleveland fans, and it won’t be the last. This is another in a long list of tragedies in the realm of sports. Like always, Cleveland fans will continue on, championship or not.

LeBron glares knowingly into your soul

LEBRON TV SPECIAL BINGO!

Instructions: Print out the LeBron James “The Decision” Bingo Card (PDF). Select any nine of the following events that you believe might happen, and arrange them in any way you want on the card. Play against friends watching with you, or against others on our Facebook Fan Page. Cross out the appropriate box in the grid whenever any of the actions on the card take place. When you get three in a row (vertically, horizontally, or diagonally), shout “BINGO” and let us know that you’ve won on our Facebook Fan Page or tweet us @paintsdudes.

• You can tell which eye is Stuart Scott’s glass one
• The words “Chicago” and “superteam” in the same sentence
• The words “Miami” and “superteam” in the same sentence
• LeBron mentions “opportunity”
• LeBron talks about the “fans of _____”
• An analyst mentions the “larger market” of a city
• A SportsNation poll is cited
• Social networking site culled for fan opinion
• Mention of LeBron’s new Twitter account
• An analyst picks LeBron to stay in Cleveland because it is “his home”
• Someone says “Jay-Z”
• The words “LeBron” “Knicks” and “Amar’e” are used in the same sentence
• A disparaging remark about the Clippers
• The Boys and Girls Clubs of America is mentioned three times
• The same commercial plays more than once during the program
• LeBron signs a contract live on the air
• LeBron wears a suit
• LeBron wears a tie
• None of the analysts selected LeBron’s chosen team
• “Jordan” and “LeBron” are mentioned in the same sentence
• The word “Shaq” is said
• The phrase “free agent summit” is mentioned
• LeBron hasn’t announced his decision by 9:45 PM ET
• LeBron announced his decision by 9:15 PM ET
• The Nike swoosh symbol is on stage
• The McDonald’s arch symbol is on stage
• Coca-Cola products are on stage
• The majority of the analysts don’t think LeBron made the right decision
• A live shot of fans in an arena or bar
• A cliffhanger over a commercial break
• An interview with an owner
• A reporter live at the LeBron studio
• A reporter live in one of the targeted cities
• An owner or GM is “at” the event via the Internet
• LeBron sits behind a desk with the hats of the teams
• There is a live studio audience
• Dramatic pause before announcing team
• A discussion on the impact a coach will have on LeBron’s decision
• The impact of this year’s draft on LeBron’s choice
• A discussion of a team’s salary cap space that lasts longer than fifteen seconds
• Chris Paul is mentioned

This guy (and his smug mug) will get his own TV special about his future team, tonight (July at 9 PM Eastern Time.

Who would have thought that LeBron might end up looking like a good guy after he announces his new team? Announced earlier today, LeBron will have a one-hour primetime ESPN special dedicated to… him. So, who are the winners and losers of this decision?Starting at 9 PM Eastern Time on Thursday, The Publishers Clearing House LeBron James $102 Million (or $133 Million) Free Agency Signing-Sweepstakes Live Prime Time Special presented by Coca-Cola, Nike, and McDonald’s (working title, but ESPN is more than welcome to take that one) will finally reveal where he will play for the near future. LeBron and his people get to sell the advertising during the special.

Winners

ESPN: They get to boost their 3Q ratings numbers by broadcasting this special. They probably will get the first interview with LeBron after he “decides.”

Boys and Girls Clubs of America: They are the designated charity that will receive the revenues from the advertising sales.

LeBron James: He has been the center of attention during this 2010 free agency period, and has now orchestrated a show revolving around him. Donate ad money to charity so that people won’t think you’re a d**k? He’s only helping his image, which might need help should he choose to leave Cleveland.

Advertisers (especially those that sponsor LeBron): Got a new product to promote? Why not start at the LeBron special? Heck, maybe LeBron will hold it up during the show. It’s his rodeo, after all. (Note: After I wrote this, Bing and the University of Phoenix were announced as sponsors) Wouldn’t it be great if the University of Phoenix had some hilarious advertising campaign that offers LeBron a free education after he retires?

Losers

The IRS: Sure, it’s great that LeBron is donating the advertising sales to charity, but that doesn’t make our deficit shrink any faster.

Any Free Agent Not Named LeBron: You sign a new contract and you get to hold up a jersey in front of some journalists and reporters in the bowels of some sports arena. LeBron signs a contract, and he gets a one-hour prime time special devoted to it. (Note: After I wrote this, Bosh and Wade made their announcement)

Owners and General Managers of the teams that don’t get LeBron: In most failed contract negotiations, the most negative publicity is seeing that desired free agent stand in front of a backdrop of a competing team’s logo and main sponsor (see above). If you fail here, you get to see the most prized free agent in years rub it in your face in prime time on ESPN.

The Viewers: Was the NBA Lottery show too exciting for you? Would you like less drama and action on ESPN? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you’re an idiot. Here’s how the run down of the show will look like:

6-9 PM ET: THREE HOURS OF SPORTSCENTER. Most likely a countdown clock as well. Hourly or half-hourly updates in the studio where the decision will be made.

9 PM ET: The Decision begins. Stuart Scott, Michael Wilbon, and Jon Barry gather in an ESPN studio somewhere and welcome everyone to the show. They explain that this night is huge and explain to people who have had their head buried in the sand what is going on, and why this is so important. During this portion of the show, there might be some graphics indicating the various teams in play, 2009-10 record, team draft picks, notable offseason news, and other crap that will help fill space on the screen.

9:14 PM: Commercial break. Expect ads by the two sponsors Bing and the University of Phoenix, as well as McDonald’s and vitaminwater.

9:17 PM: Back to the studio. More emphasis on how important it is for you to keep watching. They’ll probably cover other free agent signings, and how that might affect LeBron’s decision. The analysts will then give their predictions on where LeBron will go. They’ll then tease viewers with a look at the other studio where LeBron is.

9:24 PM: More commercials.

9:27 PM: They go live to LeBron’s studio. I’m imagining a setup very similar to the NBA Draft Lottery: Podiums for each team involved, with GMs or owners (or both) seated behind them. LeBron won’t be on-stage yet, but the analysts will interview the GMs and owners. “What did you say to LeBron? What do you think your chances are?” they will ask. Answers to aforementioned questions: “We made a very strong presentation” and “We think our chances are good.”

9:35 PM: Even more commercials. An ad will probably be repeated for the third time.

9:38 PM: The phrase “We’re getting very close to hearing LeBron’s decision, now” will be uttered for the fourteenth time. A recap of why LeBron should go to each team. Another emphasis on why it’s so important for people to continue watching. LeBron will come on stage and deliver a short monologue explaining his process, explain his role in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and make some remark as to how he is making this choice based on what is best for the future. During this monologue, there will be close-ups of the various owners and GMs present, and maybe some shots of various places in the candidate cities that have a lot of fans gathered to help gauge fan reaction.

9:45 PM: Two ways LeBron can announce the team he has selected:

Option A: NBA Lottery-style, big goofy envelopes and all. LeBron eliminates teams one-by-one, maybe giving a brief reason why he didn’t make that decision. Maybe even a cliff-hanger over the next commercial break when it comes down to two teams.

Option B: LeBron flat-out announces who he’s going to sign with, replete with a large wooden desk and fancy pens to sign with. The owner(s) and GM presents LeBron’s new jersey with the team (and his new number), amidst many flashbulbs flashing. Fade to commercial break with a graphic teasing an exclusive interview with LeBron.

9:48 PM: Commercial break. If LeBron has selected a team by now, expect an ad from the NBA.com Shop where you can purchase LeBron’s jersey RIGHT NOW (similar to what Sports Illustrated does after a team wins the Super Bowl).

9:51 PM: The analysts ask LeBron dumb questions about why he selected the team that he did. If he doesn’t stay in Cleveland, the first question will probably be, “Why didn’t you stay in Cleveland?” or the slightly-more advanced, “Was it difficult leaving your hometown?” Answers to questions: “I have a great opportunity to play for a team and hopefully we’ll win a championship. I can’t wait to play with (insert notable player from new team here).” “Yes, it was a very difficult decision, but I’m hoping that my fans will still support me as I move on to the next stage of my career.”

9:56 PM: LeBron’s interview concludes, and then the analysts give their opinions of if LeBron made the right move. They’ll point to potential teammates still in the free agent pool, salary cap space, or the projected lineup for next season.

10:00 PM: They throw it to SportsCenter or some NBA talk show to discuss instant reactions of the LeBron decision, maybe even go to Twitter for fan opinions.

Even though Miami was the most rumored destination spot for Chris Bosh this offseason, with or without Mr. James, the news that he was definitely going to Miami is still a bit stunning.

Stunning probably isn’t the right word, its just a feeling that I never really thought this whole thing would work out this way, or at least this soon. Maybe its all the rumors that have been floating around now for what seems like two months. Every day some player is going somewhere that runs contrary to what was reported the previous day.

First, the big three were all meeting and likely heading to Miami to create a hole in the fabric of space. Then LeBron had second thoughts and questions arose about the actual cap space Miami holds. Then Chicago seemed a likely destination, for both LeBron and Bosh and then neither and then Wade. Then Amar’e signed with New York and started this chain reaction that is unraveling rapidly.

Even though this is huge news, Bosh and Wade signing with Miami, the focus still somehow shifts to LeBron. Where does he go now? He has that press conference in prime-time tomorrow night, will he bring his two friends with him? Does he choose the Knicks now that Amar’e is definitely there and Carmelo may follow next year (by the way, who plays center or power forward if Amar’e is slotted at the 5? Is it LeBron or Carmelo, or does LeBron shift to point guard?)? The Nets made a convincing argument when they met with LeBron an entire week ago, do they still have a shot? Maybe he joins Carlos Boozer in Chicago, or maybe Boozer returns to Cleveland.

Way too many questions concerning one guy when the two other big names have announced that they will challenge the rest of the teams in the East for the next 3-5 years. Plus, it will be hard for Carmelo to leave all that money Denver is offering on the table with the CBA up and the owners looking to cut costs in the near future.

This is way too much to consider, especially given the fact that we will all know the answer starting at 9 PM EST on ESPN. Or maybe LeBron is LOST and he wont really answer any questions, only pose more and answer those, making us feel like we understand more but not the main plot. Obviously, that isn’t likely. But, despite weeks of reports, speculation, rumors, whispers, whatever, we are nowhere closer to discovering his first choice than we were after the Cavaliers were eliminated by the Celtics.

(Also, if the big three were to join forces, my vote is for them to be referred to, at least in passing, as Earth, Wind, and Fire. Obviously, Wade is fire. Bosh is wind, because he can be strong for stretches but usually not enough to carry things. LeBron is Earth, because, well, he is a force.)

To sum up, this offseason is like a Rubik’s Cube. I hate Rubik’s Cubes.

I don’t understand this Amar’e deal. I just don’t get it.

Is he a great player? Sometimes, and certainly in the second half of last season. And he certainly is an exciting player. But right now, he is just an upgrade over David Lee, and not rebound-wise.

They overpaid a lot for Amar’e, who finally made it through a season without injury (I know he has done it before, but it seems like an accomplishment now).

Unless, of course, Amar’e is the harbinger of basketball gods and can lure the others to the Big Apple. Then again, he may have crossed the gods by leaving Steve Nash in the desert to deal with Hakim Warrick and Channing Frye.

Because, really, this move has nothing to do with Amar’e. This was the setup to the punchline. If this can land a LeBron, or Wade, or Anthony next year (or some weird and unpredictable trade this year), then this is the cheapest $100 million ever spent.

The benefits of Amar’e, besides trying to capture another beast of the hardwood, are obvious. He is powerful (when he wants to be), has developed his jumpshot, and is willing to buy into a system. However, he doesn’t really grasp the necessity of defense and rebounds are a luxury he doesn’t feel the need to have.

We are so quick to connect the dots, especially concerning this offseason. However, this does leave Wade with only Bosh to try to reel in for Miami before he is left with Boozer. And, this probably isn’t enough to lure LeBron from his other suitors who have just as much to offer, or try to offer through the majesty that is the sign-and-trade.

And Chris Bosh looks more and more self-centered with every report, something most of us thought (at least I did) that he didn’t have in common with Amar’e, who left a better situation for better money and attention. Bosh doesn’t want to go somewhere, at least it is reported, without his extra year and $30 million. And one team that is willing to offer such a deal and Toronto is willing to deal with is Cleveland, and that isn’t quite the market size that Bosh wants to deal with.

I don’t understand this thought process. I grant you that New York, Chicago, Miami, and even LA (the Clippers of course) have more immediate media connections, but I always thought you wanted headlines in May and June, not July and August.

If he goes to the best team situation, whether that be with Wade in Miami or LeBron anywhere, or even to Houston to join the Rockets, he will get the proper attention. Although, when he didn’t get the votes to put him in the All-Star game over a weakened Kevin Garnett despite averaging far superior stats, I guess I would be concerned with market size as well.

If there isn’t a Superteam created at this point, wont we all think this offseason was a disappointment?

A team with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and LeBron James? Who doesn’t want to see that (except, of course, Cleveland fans and the rest of the league)?

Naturally, the rest of the team wont make any sense, but does it need to? The fate of Michael Beasley seems ill now. He is either packaged in a deal for some free agent (Bosh maybe?), or he remains on the team as a backup forward if this illogical team is constructed, or he may be traded to round out the team for a much-needed center or point.

He is really screwed, or maybe not. Maybe this would be the best thing for him. Naturally, Beasley seems like the type of player that will never be truly satisfied no matter what situation he is in (for instance, now, with Dwyane Wade who is a top three player in the league if not top), so it wouldn’t matter if he was playing on any team in any era.

Still, maybe he needs a change of scenery. Obviously, he is loaded with pure basketball talent, especially offensively. But, in the Celtics series, he played solid defense on KG (albeit a slightly worn KG), all but stifling him.

And its harder to find a role on an offense with a superstar scorer like Wade than he is given credit for. For a majority of the game, Wade controls the ball and offense alike and is more than capable of taking over a game (you remember that playoff game against the Celtics, right?). Unless you are a spot up shooter, its hard to get your points in the flow of that offense, especially Miami’s.

Beasley has the offensive skills that would come from a first option, but he isn’t that good that would dictate an offense be run through him. Its hard for him to find his spots during games, and when he does get it going he has to defer to Wade in critical spots.

Maybe a change of venue is needed. If he is traded to Toronto, why couldn’t he be the main offensive weapon for long stretches in a game? Mental issues aside, this guy can ball. Inconsistency may be his greatest villain at this point. Sure, he is a little undersized for a power forward and a little too sloth for a three, but he knows how to put the ball in the basket.

And we may joke that he is an inflated Delonte West, but the comparison seems more apt as we learn more about them. Yes, the physical features may be striking, but their mental status is almost always unknown and their play, like their moods, are not always consistent (although, I speak from a place of ignorance, how are we to know how they feel game to game?).

You either root for troubled players or simply don’t care enough to work up any stress. I root for them. I want to see those Beasley explosions to the rim with hops that nobody can really diagnose, huge afro blowing in the wind tunnel his jump created. I want those turnaround 20-footers from the southpaw in the face of a man who probably thought Beasley didn’t care enough to try the move.

That is another weapon he has, his appearance. Beasley rarely looks like he is engaged in the game. He is like the opposite of Kendrick Perkins, who has a permanent look like someone just through sand down his shorts. If we only judged him on how he looked, he could care less about whatever he is doing. So we do, and he is marked as uncaring or lazy, which is stupid. However, it doesn’t help that he has a tendency to flat not show up for games (I mean his game, not his physical attendance).

Coming out of college, which he now says he wishes he never left, Beasley was the talented big man who was an offensive force with questionable desire. That still rings true, unfortunately. He has fallen so far that no team even bit at his bait during the draft, not for anything but cap space.

I wish I could believe that Beasley will still prove all these doubters wrong, that he was worth the second pick in the 2008 draft, just behind Derrick Rose. It’s hard to keep pushing through the past two seasons of average play from a player with stud potential. Maybe he will have a Billups rebirth, emerge from his murky play and fill out some of his potential. That seems a bit too much to hope for at this point.

Anyway, that seemed a bit away from this mega team of death that I was going to write about. Something about how LeBron James is really, sort of, kinda responsible for the current roster in Cleveland, Chris Bosh still gets no respect and he seems okay with it, and how it will always be Wade’s team no matter what stats say. Maybe later.

Since we have spent the last year or so wading through the murky waters of free agency, don’t you think it’s about time we started drawing some conclusions?

But before we come to any real conclusions, a little role play. Imagine yourself as Cavaliers general manager Chris Grant. In just your second week on the job you are faced with the prospect of having to trade away the best player in franchise history in a do or die sign and trade, or watch the two time and defending league MVP simply leave town as an unrestricted free agent. Of course, there is also the possibility of resigning him, but I think the chances of that are very small.

Glad I’m not that guy.

Conclusion #1: The only one that really matters.

For reasons that should become clearer and clearer, LeBron James is about to become a member of the Chicago Bulls. Chicago is the one team that truly has all of the pieces in place to contend for a championship, except a superstar player to lead them. Chicago also has the opportunity to sign another free agent to a maximum contract alongside LeBron. This means that the Bulls could add Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, A’mare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Joe Johnson, David Lee, or any other high profile free agent in addition to King James. Although Wade seems likely to resign with Miami, and Joe Johnson does not deserve a max contract, a team that includes LeBron James, Derrick Rose, and Chris Bosh becomes an instant championship contender.

Even if Chicago failed to sign another superstar player and had to settle for a second tier free agent, they still have an extremely talented roster. Derrick Rose is arguably the top point guard in the Eastern Conference, and he’s not even 22 years old. Rose and LeBron could be playing together for the next decade, both in the prime of their careers. Credit the Cavaliers for puling out all the stops to surround James with talent, but they never found him a point guard of Rose’s caliber.

This team will need a knock down shooter if it expects to contend for a championship though, and it seems likely that Kirk Heinrich is on his way to Washington. This is where the Bulls will need to land a quality free agent. Ray Allen is a free agent, talk about a superb starting backcourt, Derrick Rose and Ray Allen would make a terrific combination. The Allen scenario may seem a little pie in the sky, but it illustrates the point that the Bulls will need to surround LeBron with at least one talented shooter if they expect to contend for a title.

The Bulls also have a young, talented front court. Joakim Noah, though he would be hated even more by Cleveland fans if he and LeBron won a title in Chicago, is blossoming into quite the talent. Averaging 11.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in the 2009-10 season, Noah seems like an obvious upgrade over Anderson Varejao, although their styles are very similar. Noah really set himself apart from Varejao during the Bulls first round loss to the Cavaliers when he averaged 15.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, and a healthy 3.0 blocks per game. Love him or hate him, Noah showed exactly what kind of player he can be during that playoff series. Despite his foolish banter with Cleveland fans, Noah’s play really speaks for itself.

Taj Gibson and Luol Deng are both talented young forwards. It does seem likely though that if LeBron were to arrive, Deng would either be traded or forced to come of the bench. If Deng stays, he makes for an excellent backup, easily becoming one of the top bench players in the league. However, Deng averages 18.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and it seems unlikely that he would willingly accept a role as a reserve after spending his entire career as a starter. Taj Gibson, entering his second season after spending much of his first as the Bulls starting power forward, is perhaps the weakest link in this chain. Gibson averaged 9.0 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game a season ago, and as he matures, those figures seem likely to increase. Where his production peaks in uncertain, as he will probably never be a great scorer in the NBA. The point here though is that Noah and Gibson, like Rose, are entering the prime of their playing careers. They may seem raw and unfinished now, but they are only going to become better basketball players.

Continuing to forge new links in the Bulls’ chain, first year head coach Tom Thibodeau takes over for the unloved Vinny Del Negro, who was fired in May. Thibodeau was the architect of the vaunted Celtics defenses of the past three years that put the clamps on teams led by Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Dwight Howard, and LeBron James. Sure, Wade torched the Celtics this year, but for what it’s worth, Boston dismantled the Heat. Also, Thibodeau designed the defenses that slowed LeBron James during the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals and 2010 Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Thibodeau is the kind of coach that LeBron James could thrive under. First, Thibodeau is as passionate about the game as any coach in the league and while he may have seemed overwhelmed during his introductory press conference, his passion was evident. Coaches whom Thibodeau served under praise his ability as a teacher and a communicator; something that Vinny Del Negro may have lacked. He is the kind of coach that can take Derrick Rose to the next level with his skills as a teacher.

Given the defensive prowess of James, the utter tenacity of Noah, and the scheming of one of the league’s best defensive minds, the Bulls have a chance to possess on of the league’s top scoring defenses. Obviously the team remains an unknown quantity offensively as Thibodeau will always be known as a defensive guru. However, Thibodeau’s former boss Doc Rivers said that his offensive ability is underrated and praised his knowledge of the X’s and O’s. Sure, he probably lacks the offensive mind to master the painted area like Hubie Brown, nor is it likely that he can somehow scheme this team into the Phoenix Suns. But for LeBron James, this is sure to be an upgrade over the unoriginal scheme employed by Mike Brown.

Take this for what it is, mere conjecture. For the next seven days, all we can do as fans is speculate. It does seem difficult to argue though with the appeal that the Chicago Bulls could have to LeBron James. James teams up with Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and the top available coach this offseason. Not to mention the fact that the Bulls have the opportunity to offer another max contract to a one of this year’s best free agents, in addition to the max contract they can offer James. If that doesn’t appeal to the King, nothing will.

One final caveat: too much is being made about LeBron playing in the shadow of Michael Jordan. LeBron is not Michael Jordan; he is a different player with a different style. In my opinion, Jordan will always be the best player to ever play the game. LeBron plays in a new era and is destined to leave his own, unique legacy, regardless of weather he retires in Cleveland, Chicago, or elsewhere. I for one do not think that playing in the so called house that Michael built phases a player like LeBron. One could argue that Kobe Bryant has played his entire career in the house that Magic built, or the house that Jerry West built, or Wilt Chamberlin, or Elgin Baylor, or even Kareem. None of this seems to phase Kobe as he is simply another Godfather in the elite Laker lineage. This could be LeBron in Chicago; first it was Jordan, now James.

Conclusion #2:

If LeBron James ends up playing for the Knicks next year then I will end up looking like a complete idiot.

Joakim Noah celebrates his arrival into the NBA with Commissioner Stern.

Since I have taken such a lengthly hiatus from Paints in the Point, let it be known that I intend to return to the web better than ever. Mediocrity may have been my calling card in the past, but tonight is the beginning of a new era. The 2010 NBA Draft marks the return of the Paints in the Point Podcast (my personal favorite) and my return to our webpage. It also marks the arrival of John Wall to the NBA and begins the weeklong countdown to July 1st and Free Agency. Big day, wouldn’t you say? Regarding John Wall; I don’t think Gilbert Arenas and Wall can play together, that is asking for too much. Gilbert, although a remarkably gifted scorer, is a point guard through and through and deserves to start in this league. Wall and Arenas cannot coexist, especially on a rebuilding team. John Wall is the can’t miss player of this draft and the Wizards should select him with the first overall pick. It would be a mistake not to. After the selection of Wall, Washington will have to find a way to move Arenas in order for Wall to develop at his own rate and be the team’s starting point guard from day one. I understand that Arenas is owed something like $20 million this year, but Washington has got to find a way to get rid of him. Wall is the future.

Philadelphia needs stability. John Collins is a step in the right direction but what the team really needs is the stability afforded by quality starters. Trading away Samuel Dalembert makes sense, but the money this team gave to an aging Elton Brand still baffles me. I also have trouble pairing Andre Igoudala and Evan Turner together, but it would seem to be the right move for this team. Turner gives them points, rebounds, and assists, and in the future, he and point guard Jrue Holiday could make for an excellent backcourt tandem. Some have compared Turner to Brandon Roy, but I just don’t see Turner ever becoming the explosive scorer that Roy has proven to be. Also, Wesley Johnson is not the complete player that Turner is. Johnson is a superior athlete and is a much better shooter, but Turner fills up the stat sheet like no other player in this draft.

The Nets have a great chance to build a dominant front line in this draft. However, the Nets would be wise to steer clear of Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins with this pick. New Jersey already has the best young center in the league not named Howard or Perkins in Brooke Lopez. With Lopez anchoring the paint, New Jersey should instead select Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors. The young Favors was the best power forward in college basketball last year, and was nearly the top high school player in the country, as many considered him to be neck and neck with John Wall. Make no mistake though, Favors is raw and unfinished and his offensive game needs work. However, his upside is as high as anyone in this draft and if the Nets are looking for their forward of the future, Favors is their man.

With the fourth pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timberwolves select… anyone but Ricky Rubio or another point guard. As long as the Wolves select a player who does not, has not, nor will ever play either of the guard positions, they can say they had a successful draft. If this pick is not traded, Minnesota should select Syracuse forward Wes Johnson. Johnson, unlike the players selected before him, enters the league at age 22, polished and ready to contribute immediately. Scouts have called rated his jump shot as one of the best in this draft, and raved about quality of his footwork. Johnson moves fluidly and shows none of the mechanicalness exhibited by Derrick Favors. Minnesota has plenty of depth inside, but could really use an impact player on the wing. Johnson is a better shooter and a better athlete than Evan Turner, and is most certainly a better basketball player than Corey Brewer. A team in desperate need of an impact scorer, Johnson could be the man. In addition, Johnson, Jonny Flynn, Wayne Ellington, and Kevin Love make for a terrific young nucleus.

The Sacramento Kings pick 5th. If he isn’t already gone, DeMarcus Cousins comes off the board here. Other than John Wall, Cousins is the most NBA ready player in this draft. His game, in particular his rebounding skills, should translate to the NBA immediately. Questions about his maturity level abound, and the Kings should expect to experience their fair share of growing pains with Cousins, but when he is on the floor, he is a bruising, in your face, instant impact kind of player. You might say he is the anti-Derrick Favors. Cousins, if selected, gives the Kings a much needed center and makes for an extremly talented nucleus the includes reigning Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, Carl Landry, and Omri Casspi.

Switchin’ Gears:

Give it up for Sam Presti. Not only has he assembled a wildly talented team in Oklahoma City, but the guy has two more first round draft picks to work with this year. Plus, he recently pilfered the 18th pick and Daequan Cook from the Miami Heat. For a team already on the fast track to playoff contention, adding talent through the draft only sweetens the pot. It isn’t as though the Thunder have the 30th pick either, we are talking about the 18th overall pick. It should also be mentioned that this newly acquired pick and Cook could serve as excellent bargaining chips should Presti be looking to move up and into the lottery. Can you imagine a Thunder team with Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Jeff Green, and another lottery pick? They already have James Harden and Thabo Sefolosha, and Nic Collison isn’t bad. This is a team poised for a meteoric rise, and they are doing it the right way. There are quite a few teams out there that would love to be in Presti’s position, and even more who could learn a thing or two from this guy. Cleveland Cavaliers, are you listening?

Couldn’t do this whole thing without mentioning LeBron, could I?

One thing is for certain, I could not do this whole thing without mentioning William Wesley, a man who utterly fascinates me. According to Jalen Rose, himself a close friend and confidant of Wesley’s, LeBron James will not be returning to Cleveland next year. Rose said through Twitter that LeBron and Wesley have mulled it over and have settled on somewhere other that Cleveland. We’ll see about that one.

I hate to look like a fool with all of this talk about teams having a talented young nucleus. The reality is, even with the praise I have for some of these potential player pairings, most of these teams will be back in the lottery next year. The revolving door that is the NBA Draft Lottery is never ending, once you’re in it, it takes a very special talent to escape. Outside of John Wall, I don’t see any of the players in this draft having the kind of impact on their team to transform them from a lottery team to a playoff team. Unfortunately, Wall is that singular talent, but he is seems destined to be mired inside the beltway on a team with no apparent direction at all. What a shame.

Stay tuned for more on the mysterious William Wesley, draft analysis, and free agency news.

Derek Fisher keeps his wife in check: "get under that rope!" (Image courtesy: Wally Skalij / L.A. Times)

I told you so. You don’t remember? From my season preview of the Los Angeles Lakers that Paints in the Point did before the beginning of the season:

This past season, the Lakers won its fifteenth NBA title, defeating the Orlando Magic in five games. Will the Lakers successfully defend their championship this season? Many experts seem to think so, and I’m inclined to agree. The Lakers have only gotten better, and will advance to the Finals, unless something terrible happens, like a meteor colliding with the Staples Center or something like that.

A meteor didn’t collide with the Staples Center this year (though it might have caused less damage than the riots that ensued in Los Angeles after the Lakers won — read on), and subsequently, the Lakers won another title, their sixteenth.

I reiterated my thoughts that the Lakers would win the NBA Finals in Paints in the Point’s “Season Preview” of the Final Standings, not only picking the Lakers to win, but the only Paints Dude to also to have their opponent correct, the Boston Celtics. (Sidebar: A future post will summarize the predictions we made at the beginning of the season, as well as declare one Paints Dude the best for this season.)

This is not to say that I enjoy the Lakers winning the title. I don’t. I hate the Lakers (as does any person who is remotely sane). They’re the Yankees of basketball, and speaking from the perspective of someone who has to deal with their fans (as you may or may not recall, I live in Los Angeles nine months of the year), their fans are almost as hated as their team, as they demonstrated last night. And it wasn’t just this year that fans have rioted. They’ve done it twice in recent memory: last year and in 2000.

People who only support a team because they win a lot are usually the kind of people I like to avoid. Coincidentally, these type of fans can be found in all areas of the world because the most successful teams are usually in the largest markets.

As this season draws to a close and the next one is about to begin, there’s a lot to look forward to: Paints in the Point (of course!), the outcomes of the 2010 free agency cha-cha slide, and a newfound hope that the Lakers don’t win a third straight title, if only because of the reaction of their fans (as well as the fact that I might be spending the summer in Los Angeles next year, and I don’t want to have to deal with Laker fans).

You don’t get this anywhere else.