h/t to olivarezq1 for linking to this earlier...
Chris Bosh has given his list of preferences to the Toronto Raptors.
In news that apparently shocks everyone but Daryl Morey and myself - the Houston Rockets are not on this list of preferred destinations. Chris Bosh does not intend to sign with the Houston Rockets.
I'd say that's the end of this and can we please start talking about why the Rockets should draft Hassan Whiteside and be done with it... but I know it's not that easy. Then again, I still think the interest level in a supposed "max" value player who hasn't ever won anything is wayyyy overblown. I dare say he's overrated as a free agent prospect.
Actually, this presents me with an interesting opportunity to share some trivia.
Since the advent of free agency in the salary cap era, name all of the free agents who signed a "max" (or equivalent) contract deal with a new team and later delivered a Championship to the team that signed him.
/jeopardy theme/
Give up? The answer is: Shaquille O'Neal (1996). That's it. That's the list.
The conclusion? Signing big-name free agents is more likely to destroy your team's future prospects than it is likely to help it win rings. Granted, this news certainly isn't going to stop every team in the NBA from at least making a pitch to one LeBron James ... but it should at least slow down teams looking to throw max money at guys like Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire, Joe Johnson, Rudy Gay, Dwyane Wade and Carlos Boozer. The facts indicate that you are better off targeting free agents that may provide more "value" to you.
Remember, for all the talk Daryl Morey has done about acquiring an "impact" player... this doesn't necessarily mean what you think it means (kinda like the definition of "inconceivable!"). All the way back in 1993, a young and vibrant new owner of a contending basketball team came in with a lot of hoopla and said emphatically that his team would acquire an "impact player" that would deliver the team a championship. That owner was Les Alexander... but the player in question was one Mario Elie. Yes...... Mario Elie. Les was right all along... but is this what we all expect when the owner/GM says he's going to acquire an "impact player"? As always -- in Daryl Morey I trust.