Dear Readers,

Ain’t gonna lie, we have been a part of the problem.  Speculation, speculation followed by more speculation.  Are we really this bored?  Is this upcoming free-agency frenzy really going to be that frenzied?  Is it going to be a giant, over-hyped dud?  Was that speculation right there?

Face it, there is nothing to talk about right now as far as news in the NBA.  Phil Jackson is thinking, Byron Scott is waiting and Jeff Van Gundy is still bald.  Steve Kerr went back to TNT and that is not going to keep me up at night pondering.  Yi Jianlian is going to the Wiz which ultimately makes them a super powerhouse.  Yes, players will start announcing whether or not they are entering free agency in the next few days.  And yes, a lot of players will be doing so.  However, we are not a part of the decisions that these players will be making here in the next week and neither is Steven A. Smith (although I think he’d like to think he is). 

These are very personal decisions that will affect careers and even entire cities.  Cleveland alone is standing at a crossroads that could affect billions of dollars worth of city revenue all based on one player.  LBJ needs to decide how he will brand himself in a new city and I don’t think any of us are constantly on the phone with him discussing how he will do this. 

With that said, we all know that speculation and guessing is pointless at this point.  We talk about the Wade “summit” yet all we know is they met.  We know where LeBron will be visiting but that to doesn’t mean anything.  Some have cap space and some don’t.   Some of these teams can bring in multiple stars and some can’t.  We know the facts and we know the circumstances but we won’t know what these players are going to do until they actually do it.  As one article on the Onion states, “Speculation About Where LeBron Will Play Could End When He Signs Contract.”  In fact, this statement applies to just about every player.  We just don’t know what they are going to do.  Read ESPN and follow NBA.com if you want.  You’ll have plenty to talk about with your friends at the bar.  However, all of what you say could be completely wrong here in the next week. 

Here at the Beef, we like to keep it real and correct despite our poor predictions for the playoffs.  This is a game but it is also business.  Let’s let these guys decide and then we can discuss.  Playing the guessing game and ESPN’s daily prediction polls are fodder for your mind.  Stay tuned and we will delve into what develops in this ever-changing league.

Thanks,

The Beef