On several levels, I understand the Indiana Pacers’ reluctance to wade into the deep end of this summer’s unprecedented NBA free agency pool.
Chasing the big fish — specifically Cleveland’s LeBron James, Miami’s Dwyane Wade and Toronto’s Chris Bosh — requires more than a little groveling.
In James’ case, teams were asked to come hat in hand to his business office in Cleveland and pitch him on the merits of joining their franchise. Bosh and Wade also have taken charge of their recruitment, with both players setting up shop near their shared agent’s office in Chicago.
The hoops that teams must jump through to land this caliber of free agent often are degrading. The whole process can seem extremely distasteful, and there is no guarantee of success.
Cleveland, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Miami and the L.A. Clippers are the six finalists for James’ services. The Knicks, Nets and Bulls also have met with Wade and Bosh. And the Cavaliers reportedly would like to explore a sign-and-trade deal with the Raptors for Bosh if they manage to retain James.
At least two of those teams — and possibly more — could be left standing without a seat when this game of musical chairs finally comes to an end.
So sitting out this circus certainly is understandable.
It’s also lethal.
Like it or loathe it, this is the way business is done in today’s NBA.
Free agency in baseball and football most often is a mixed bag. Occasionally, adding big-ticket stars works out for a team. More often, it doesn’t.
In the NBA, however, superstars are the coin of the realm.
Shaquille O’Neal has switched teams and won championships twice.
In 1996, he left Orlando for the L.A. Lakers as a free agent. He won the first of three consecutive NBA titles with the Lakers in 2000.
In 2004, he engineered a trade to Miami after a falling out with Kobe Bryant. The Heat won a championship in 2006.
More recently, Kevin Garnett has proved the soundness of this system.
Faced with losing him as a free agent for nothing, the Minnesota Timberwolves worked out a blockbuster deal with the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2007. Garnett won a championship with Boston in 2008 and played for another this summer.
Minnesota still is rebuilding.
As are the Pacers.
If Indiana had cleared cap space and joined the fray, it could have sold stars on the importance of the sport in this state, the charm of Conseco Fieldhouse and the chance to play beside Danny Granger.
Instead, the Pacers continue to negotiate a new lease just to remain in the city at all. It’s a shame.
As the dominoes begin falling across the league this week, it’ll be hard not to think about what might have been.
Contact George Bremer: 640-4831, george.bremer@heraldbulletin.com.
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George Bremer: Pacers will rue summer
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