The NBA is freaking because of all the big name free agents and the owners are messing their shorts over who is going where and what the contract numbers are going to look like...

Here is a thought... And a preface... I may write one or two NBA posts per year. This thought struck me as odd and felt the burning urge (not when I pee) to put this together and see what falls out because the parts don't fit together.

What if...

What if the free agents in this years pool formed their own team? No contracts. No coach. Use a local college gym for a home court while Nike builds Swoosh Court. Where? Everywhere. Nike could build one in NY, Miami, Dallas, LA... Hell make Vegas their home city.

First off, let's take a look at the possible roster for the Las Vegas Lightning. (That is my pick for a team name). The 'Top 25 Free Agents are:

LeBron James SF
Dwyane Wade  SG
Dirk Nowitzki PF
Chris Bosh PF
Joe Johnson SG
Amar'e Stoudemire PF
Carlos Boozer PF
Yao Ming C
Rudy Gay SF
David Lee PF
Paul Pierce SF
Josh Childress SF
Luis Scola PF
Tyrus Thomas PF
Ray Allen SG
Shaquille O'Neal C
Josh Salmons SG
Brandan Haywood C
Udonis Haslem PF
J.J. Redick SG
Ronnie Brewer SG
Raymond Felton PG
Josh Howard SF
Matt Barnes SF
Richard Jefferson SF

Now it would be impossible for all of them to be on one team. But to build a roster and a starting 5 is VERY possible and might look something like this.

G: Dwyane Wade
G: Joe Johnson
F: LeBron James
F: Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Brandon Haywood

I put Haywood in Center because Shaq is on his way out via retirement in my opinion. Yao Ming has yet to play a full season, effectively. One could pick and choose others for the starting 5 but this is my post dammit and I say give them all a ball and get them to stop fighting over it. I know... There are other free-agents that might be better than some of these guys, but I took this published list and built from there. If you don't like it... tough. Write your own blog then.

A full roster might look something like this.
Starters:
G: Dwyane Wade
G: Joe Johnson
F: LeBron James
F: Amar'e Stoudemire
C: Brandon Haywood
Bench:
Chris Bosh PF
Rudy Gay SF
Paul Pierce SF
Ray Allen SG
J.J. Redick SG
Shaquille O'Neal C

Being a non-fan of the NBA and only getting the bits and bites from ESPiN on SC and the ENews, I see these guys continuously fighting with their coaches and wanting to do what they want. One would think that this group could get together in the off season, write up some plays, practice... We're talking about practice... get a bench rotation together. But my guess is that everyone would want to be a starter. Sorry guys, only 5 on the floor at once. Obviously a training staff and medical crew for the team would be necessary. However... I would think that with this group, there would be enough money to pull the Zen-Master from LA and make him the man behind the clipboard. Phil Jackson might be the ONLY person who would be able to mix these ego's and make it work.

How would they get paid. Shoe deals and Gatorade. Nike and Remmington Arms logo's everywhere. Welcome to the Remmington Pregame Shoot-Around, we are here in Vegas at Swoosh Court getting ready to tip off the inaugural season for the Las Vegas Lightning. These guys get paid enough from their other contracts and sponsors that they wouldn't affect the NBA's salary cap because their salaries wouldn't come from the league. The unfortunate part would be that the ticket prices would be through the roof because Nike Stadium would in turn have to pay them their salary. What was that about a salary cap issue?

Where would the team be positioned in the league. Why the West, of course. Either dissolve the Clippers or just change the locks on the doors so when they show up for practice they can't get in. Put a sign on the door. "Sorry, you've been evicted from the league because you suck."

Now I am sure I may have missed a few "important" issues concerning free-agency and what "rules" the league may have in place. But I don't give a shit... This is what I think might get a casual fan such as myself to either get more involved or shut me out altogether. I might lean toward being shut out. Why would I want to watch two teams with no talent on it because the top 10 or 11 players are all on one team? Half of their games would be like the Globetrotters vs. Generals. Who would want to watch that garbage... Not me, that's for sure.

Oh, well...

S.