Free Agency Aftermath: Beasts of the East

Championships. Every athlete trains and prepares in hopes of achieving as many as possible. Players invest a substantial amount of time; and a tidal wave of sweat and blood throughout their careers to ultimately have the title of a champion. To be the best, every resource and option must be exercised in order to win. The athlete has to be numb to the inevitable criticism that will flock their way. No remorse can be shown, and critiques will fall on deaf ears if the end result is a Larry O’Brien trophy. No one embodies this philosophy better than LeBron James. The four time MVP returned to the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers to help his home state taste the glory of a championship. James ventured to the Miami Heat to win titles and cement his legacy as a winner. During his tenure in South Beach, “The King” made it known, by his play, that he was the best player on the planet. Doubters soon turned to believers when James won two NBA Finals MVPs, as well as two regular season MVPs. LeBron’s presence in Miami made it impossible for another team to conquer the Eastern Conference. LeBron’s decision to return to the Cavs altered the balance of power throughout the entire league. The East is now a tossup. The teams below are the franchises I believe will make the playoffs because of James’ decision to come home.

1. Chicago Bulls

• Chi-town became incredibly stronger this offseason. Despite failing to sign Carmelo Anthony, the Bulls added Pau Gasol, a champion and proven winner. With the 11th pick in this year’s draft, Chicago drafted Creighton stand out Doug McDermott, the potential “Rookie of the Year” and future All-Star. Last year, Joakim Noah emerged as an MVP candidate. If the Bulls have a healthy Derrick Rose, I have doubts that anyone can challenge Chicago for the one seed.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

• The Cavs failed to make the playoffs in the four years of LeBron’s absence.Now that “The King” has returned to his castle, failure is not an option.Cleveland’s wide variety of talent supports James well. They have four number one overall draft picks on their roster. Kyrie Irving and Andrew Wiggins are the future of the NBA. James said he is committed to Cleveland and wants to bring them a championship. Once he sets his mind to something, it is nearly impossible to deter LeBron. Time and time again, he has proven his haters wrong. Cleveland will certainly be a contender to hang the first championship banner in their rafters this year.

3. Charlotte Hornets

• You can call me crazy, but I believe the Hornets can be lethal this year. Charlotte turned some heads last season and become a playoff team. They desolated their status of mediocrity with the signing of Lance Stephenson, a feisty guard who led the NBA with five triple doubles. Michael Jordan also drafted PJ Harrison, a player who can light up the scoreboard despite his off court troubles. These two players are intense and rowdy. They will certainly change the Hornets’ culture for many years to come. Kemba Walker and Al Jefferson are great cornerstones to build the franchise around. The future is bright in Charlotte.

4. Washington Wizards

• John Wall and Bradley Beal are a devastating combination in the backcourt. Both of these players are under 24. This is a scary thought because they will only improve their skills.Paul Pierce, a future Hall of Famer, was added to the roster to increase the frontcourt, as well as for veteran leadership. The Wizards will no longer be regarded as the trash of the NBA. They will be in contention in the East for many years to come.

5. Miami Heat

• The loss James will force Miami to recede in the rankings. However, the Heat can still make the playoffs and do some damage. Pat Riley countered the loss of his best player by adding Luol Deng and Danny Granger. He also resigned Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. Even without James, the Heat still demand the league’s respect. There is a strong chance that the Heat could play Lebron and the Cavs in a playoff series, which would be an intresting sequence to watch.

6. Indiana Pacers

• The Indiana Pacers organization can be described in one word: inconsistency.Many people believed that the Pacers would dethrone the Miami Heat and win the Eastern Conference. They bragged all year that if they won the top seed and played Game 7 on their home court, they would have beaten the defending champs. That never became a reality because the Heat beat the Pacers in six games. Their unreliability ultimately led to their demise. I fear the same problems that haunted the Pacers last year will do so again this year. The organization suffered a horrible defeat when it lost Lance Stephenson to free agency. He was an excellent scorer and ball handler, something that is scarce on the Pacers’ roster. If Roy Hilbert can raise his level of play and Paul George can emanate as a leader, the story may be different. However, I have little faith in the Pacers this season.

7. New York Knicks

• The New York Knickerbockers hired Phil Jackson, arguably n the greatest basketball coach of all-time, as President of Basketball Operations.His insight and knowledge will tremendously help his organization. Last year disappointed Knicks fans; the squad failed to qualify for the playoffs. This year should be completely different. The “Big Apple” won a major victory in re-signing Carmelo Anthony. The Knicks still have work to do, but they have a solid foundation to build upon.

8. Toronto Raptors

• Toronto became a playoff team and gained more prestiege last season. Their youth is their “X Factor.” This can be their advantage or their downfall. DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are excellent players and have a good supporting cast around them, but their inexperience in playoff situations will probably cause them to slip out of the first round. Toronto has a while before they can contend for a title.

LeBron’s decision shook the NBA to its core. It undeniably knocked the Heat of their lofty perch and opened the door for many other teams. Without James in Miami, there is an enormous opportunity for other franchises to pounce on. When the season starts on October28, 2014, there will be no clear favorite for the title of “Beasts of the East.”

Emmanuel Morgan