Iannazzone: Dismiss Anything Free Agents Say...Until July

Al is exactly right. When a player says they won’t play for a team they mean they won’t play for that team if another team offers them equal money.

On the flip side, when a player says money won’t determine where they sign, they mean that money won’t be an issue as long as another team doesn’t offer them more money.

If the Nets offer Boozer or Johnson 14 million per year and the best they can get someplace else is 12 million per year they will all of sudden love to play for the Nets. Then at their press conference they will claim money wasn’t the reason they signed.

wont work for “max” FA who can make more staying with their respective teams.

When the ball drops in our favor on lottery night every comment made by a top free agent will mean nothing. All of a sudden every one of them would love to come play with a core of:

Harris, Lee, CDR, Yi, Humphries, Lopez….oh yes and Wall!!!

What is missing in all this talk about free agents is the free agent himself. If a player wants to bring his “life” and game to the NY area then we have a big edge.

I want a FA who actually wants to play in the big time. Like Reggie Jackson. Players who want to win championships in relaxed, safe and secure environments need not apply.

@mike

I really believe that is an outdated concept. In the age of the internet and 300+ channels on the dish, players don’t need to come to New York to play in the “big time”. Lebron and Wade will be on national TV, and highlighted on Sports Center every night no matter where they play.

During the Knicks’ run in 90’s, David Robinson and Hakeem were bigger stars that Ewing was even though he played in New York.

Nice comments appended to Al’s story.

@Jerry
Re: your comment on Al’s story, I’m not sure the Nets can ‘steal’ away David Lee. I don’t think any team can steal an unrestricted free agent. Usually the way it works is, the top dominoes need to fall before lesser guys begin to sign anywhere. If the Knicks fail in their pursuit of the top guns, they may engage the Nets and other teams in a bidding war for Lee, thus driving up the price. Lee and his agent will probably let Bosh, Wade, James sign, and then they will try to maximize Lee’s contract by negotiating with all the teams that failed to sign the top guys. Stealing a free agent may occur with restricted free agents, someone like Rudy Gay.

Wade is overrated.

The Knicks will be the fools that drive up the price, mark my words.

How mch monet would Lebron be looking for 25 Mill a year
or more?

Isn’t the term “Restricted Free Agent” an oxymoron? The world we live in….

STAT has been putting up 24 and 10 in his last 10 games.

@Chris2
By stealing DLee l, I mean as soon as Knicks renounce his rights, (and assuming that LeBron has already exercised his option), make the first offer for David Lee as the Nets top domino. Let the Knicks still go after Bosh and DWade, while the Nets sign Lee.
I would call that stealing Lee, since the Knicks probably won’t get either Bosh or DWade anyway.

In the end, Knicks would say – “what happened”. They would be forced to bid for Amare / Boozer.

I’d love to believe we could get Wade. He’s my first choice since I can’t stand how James acts. I just doubt any of them will come to the Nets. Maybe Stoudemire, who’s a kind of an 8 to James/Wade as 10s.