LeBron heads huge free-agent crop

Basketball Betting Lines

07/01/2010 - Philadelphia, PA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The NBA's biggest crop of free agents hit the open market Thursday morning with LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Amar'e Stoudemire and Joe Johnson headlining the wish list of several teams.

While contracts for unrestricted free agents cannot be signed until July 8, negotiations and rumors will be plentiful in the next week.

James has spent his first seven seasons with the Cavaliers, but is still without a championship. At just 25, James has the bulk of his NBA career ahead of him, but possibly not in his home state of Ohio.

The Akron native and top overall pick by the team in 2003 will reportedly meet with the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets on Thursday. New Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov, coach Avery Johnson and hip-hop mogul Jay-Z will reportedly meet with James.

Because the NBA plays financial favoritism to teams re-signing their veterans, James could stand to make about $30 million more with the Cavs if he stays with them as opposed to signing with another team. The Cavaliers can likely offer James a six-year, $125 million contract, while other teams can give him a maximum of five years and $96 million. Those figures will be tweaked a bit when the NBA releases its salary cap on July 7.

Teams were already talking to free agents just after the stroke of midnight (et). The Knicks released a message on their Twitter account saying they were meeting with Johnson and Mike Miller in Los Angeles. However, the Hawks appear to be the front-runners to keep Johnson. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Hawks will also meet with Johnson in LA and plan to offer him the maximum offer of about $119 million over six years. Other teams can offer him five years at about $92 million.

Teams can give their own free agents yearly salary increases of 10.5 percent, while other clubs are restricted to eight percent raises annually.

Several teams made moves around the NBA Draft period, clearing salary cap space in order to lure a top-tier free agent. That includes the Miami Heat as they try to entice Wade to remain with the team and possibly even add Bosh and/or James.

"The time is finally here. Thank you for all the support," Bosh said via Twitter. "I'm nervous, but I'm excited and READY! LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!!!!"

Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sent a Twitter message that he already met with Bosh, an All-Star in each of his last five seasons playing for Toronto.

Odds are that Nowitzki will stay with the Mavs. The Dallas Morning News reports Nowitzki, a nine-time All-Star, will fly from Germany to Texas to meet with Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson.

Stoudemire exercised his early-termination option hours before the free agency period was set to begin.

"I opted out of my contract with PHX," he said on his Twitter account. "Can't wait to see what lies ahead. I had a blast with my teammates last season. What's Next !!"

Stoudemire, who was set to make $17.7 million next season, has spent his entire eight-year career with the Suns after they took him with the ninth overall pick in the 2002 draft.

Heat president Pat Riley seems to hold a big chip in the free agency game. The Heat figure to have the most space under the salary cap to sign players, meaning they could conceivably land Wade and or two other high-profile free agents. Wade, though, was reportedly in Chicago and was set to meet with the Bulls first on Thursday.

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Academy Award Betting Odds for Best Picture Offer Great Value

If there is any category that is not an obvious win for any one nominee in this year's Academy Awards, it would be for Best Picture.  Sure the Departed is a 5/7 favorite, but that's hardly anything when we look at Helen Mirren and her "out-of-reach" 1 to 40 odds (which means you would win a whopping $1 for every $40 bet).

For value, take a look at MySportsbook.com Oscars betting odds on my personal favorite, The Queen - a remarkable 12 to 1 long shot.  The film hasn't won any pre-awards for Best Picture (compared to The Departed and Little Miss Sunshine), but there is a tremendous following and it is a strong enough film to warrant a surprise win.

TV Guide advises Oscar watchers should be cautioned not to discount the  drama "Babel" with its strong social themes about overcoming communication gaps among people of different cultures.

"While 'Babel' lost several guild awards to 'Sunshine' and 'Departed,'  it still enjoys loyal support, and historically Oscar voters favor dramas with social messages over comedies like 'Sunshine' and violent crime movies like 'Departed'."

"It hasn't done well in the guilds, which means there isn't much industry support," said Tom O'Neil of awards site TheEnvelope.com, "But several critics are expecting it to win, and that gets my attention." Babel had 7 to 2 odds at press time.

Who is to say independently produced Little Miss Sunshine won't be this year's Crash.  Last year, Crash won for Best Motion Picture, shocking those who bet on gay cowboy flick, Brokeback Mountain, as the favorite to win. 

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