Who is the center of the 2010 free agency? LeBro--Alberto Contador. Where ever he decides to sign will have a huge effect on the rest of the peloton. Team Astana (Cleveland Cavilers) want to retain Contador (LeBron James) but his options are wide open. A new Danish team (Miami Heat) led by Bjarne Riis (Pat Riley) may be trying to recruit Contador to the new team. Even Specialized (Chris Bosh) is trying to sponsor the new team led Riis in an attempt to land the superstar. If it sounds a little LeBronesque, its because it is. The free agency market is no different in the NBA as it is in any other sport. The superstar will sign wherever he feels he can win a pro tour (NBA Championship).
Contador is not the only big name in the peloton looking to make a new home. The Schleck brothers are being courted by Riis to form a new Luxembourg team (the same team Riis is trying to recruit Contador for). If the Schleck brothers do leave Team Saxo Bank others will undoubtably follow. Count on Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady, Chris and Niki Sorensen, and Jakob Fuglsang to follow the brothers. Riis is claiming he has a huge sponsor willing to give good money (plenty of cap space).
What I'm more excited about is Team Radioshack (Los Angeles Lakers). With Lance Armstrong (Kobe Bryant) nearing the end of his career, Johan Bruyneel (Mitch Kupchak) is trying to fill the massive void when Armstrong retires. I'm hoping everything works out and Team Radioshack recruits young up and coming Taylor Phinney (Kevin Durant). If you don't know who Phinney is, you're sleeping on a rising star. Wiki is your friend. It's a good possibility Phinney will come aboard on Team Radioshack seeing as he's on U23 Trek-Livestrong team.
The 2011 Pro Tour (2011 NBA season) season should be interesting with the possibility of big names changing teams. All i know is they better deliver. How embarrassing would it be to recruit one of the biggest stars and not win any pro tour (Miami Heat ftl)? We will all be witnesses.
(see what I did thar?)
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