The Next To Join the Heat?

After the big three was formed in Miami, a new era in the NBA was born. The era of superstars teaming up to try and win a championship. The big three, the two down in Houston, even rumblings of Kevin Love and Russel Westbrook teaming up in LA to make a run with the Lakers. Add in rumors of Durant going to Houston and the impending Carmelo free agency and you have a lot of questions regarding who will be the next to follow the super friends model in the NBA. While it's fun to talk about Melo to the Bulls or Kyrie in LA many seem to be overlooking where the next shake up in the league could occur and if they keep ignoring it they will be surprised even though they should see it coming now. History repeats itself.

Who will be the next to join the Miami Heat?

Kyrie Irving

All the speculation going into Lebron's free agency was surrounded by the possible return to Cleveland but it's more likely that the Cavs give me a max contract than Lebron going back to work for Dan Gilbert again. Much of the talk is based on Lebron wanting to play with a young star in Kyrie Irving. However, Lebron could still end up playing side by side with Kyrie but it could be in a Heat uniform. Recent rumors have come out of Cleveland over the last few weeks that Kyrie and his camp have said he wants out of Cleveland (who wouldn't?) and who better to flee Cleveland with than the prodigal son himself, Lebron James. Assuming Wade and Bosh opt in and Lebron stays in Miami (he will) Kyrie could take about 14 million a year to run the team in South Beach. Watch your back Rio. 

Carmelo Anthony 

Melo inst signing up for more years in New York. More years of JR Smith (sorry JR) and Raymond Felton along with James Dolan pooping himself in the front office aren't exactly intriguing to Melo as he is still in his prime. While some say he won't walk away from more money from New York to go play elsewhere, we saw Dwight Howard do just that in order to play on a contender with James Harden in Houston. The same scenario as I offered for Kyrie can be given to Melo. The big three return and Melo takes 14 million per year to play with them. I as a Heat fan salivate at this thought. Kyrie is a nice player but Melo is a bonifide superstar despite what some may tell you. A foursome of Lebron, Wade, Bosh and Melo would be simply unstoppable. Look at the way Melo played in the Olympics with stars on his team. His game was perfect. He took the jumpers he had open and drove to the rim with an open lane, and he didn't try to do too much. If Melo can play that way at the small forward spot in Miami, the rest of the league might as well hand them the title on a platter. 

Kevin Love

This one may sound a little crazy but trust me it isnt. There were rumors this year of a Bosh for Love trade and if Chris Bosh opts for free agency this year there is a chance the Heat could figure out how to get him to South Beach or he could head there in free agency in 2015. Love would be a terrific fit with Bron and Wade should they both stay, and would provide a younger compliment than Bosh in the post. Love is a rebounding machine and can hit the three ball as well which would fit right in in the Heat's small ball philosophy. Not to mention how fun it would be to watch Love throw outlet passes to Lebron. I think Love is the least likely option of the three to come to Miami and I stil belive he will head to LA and team up with Russell Westbrook on the Lakers in 2015, but if something happens between now and then it wouldnt shock me to see him in a Heat jersey. 

Reds Report: New Season New Questions

Before the 2014 Redlegs even took the field for the first time on Wednesday, even before pitchers and catchers reported earlier this month, all us Reds fans had to brace for a change of culture with a new manager, as well as mourn for the season lost last October in Pittsburgh while we yearn for opening day in the Queen City and a new incarnation of our squad formed over the offseason. We were forced to say goodbye to our center fielder and now we put all our eggs in the insanely fast basket of Billy Hamilton to fill the shoes of Choo. We said goodbye to the toothpick chewin, armband wearin Dusty Baker and now we get to know the watch wearin Bryan Price as he takes over as manager. We saw the prodigy Homer Bailey gets his pay day and every one's favorite goon Mat Latos is back throwing off the mound just days after knee surgery. Is he this team's ace? Or can Johnny Cueto repeat his 2012 Cy Young worthy performance and take the spot at the top of the rotation? Will Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey get it done in left field as a platoon or will one finally win out and take the starting job deservedly? New questions mean the arrival of a new season. New players mean uncertainty going into Spring. But most importantly, it all means that baseball is back.


Can Bryan Price Change The Culture?



Unless you spent last season hiding under a rock, you know that fans weren't too happy with the way the season ended last year and even more unhappy with the old school, anti-statistical and sometimes anti-logical managing philosophy of Dusty Baker which ultimately proved to be enough for him to be fired and Bryan Price was promoted to take over as the ship's captain. Price is a favorite of the players and very respected by the pitching staff and more importantly he is a new school, analytically driven manager. Gone are the days of sac bunts ahead of Votto and double switches for no reason. And hopefully we never see Cozart batting second ever again. Along with these changes it seems we will see Jay Bruce given the opportunity to hit cleanup, something Dusty refused to try for fear of batting leftys back to back in the order. It seems the culture and philosophy around the team is changing dramatically with Price and the biggest challenge for him will be getting his players to buy in. After years and years of Dusty's influence we will see how long it takes for Price to implement his new strategies into the game play and approach of his hitters. How long will that take? And will it be a smooth ride? I have full confidence in Price and he isn't a new face in the clubhouse. As respected and liked as he is by the returning players he should have no problem getting the to buy in to a new mindset and approach. He has a month to get it planted in their heads and come opening day I think we will see a whole new hitting approach and improved at bats for the Reds most important hitters.


Can Billy Hamilton Live Up To The Hype?



As much as Reds fans fell in love with Shin Soo Choo, it would take one heck of a rookie to make us forget about him so soon. Billy Hamilton did just that and did it rather quickly. (As he does most things) Hamilton will be the starting center fielder all through spring training and will do the same on opening day in GABP and he may be the X-factor on this Reds team when it comes to them having the level of success that they and fans both expect. Billy will be asked to take over the leadoff spot in the order and while he has shown his speed and base running ability to all of us we will need to see him hit at the top of the order before we can rest easy. Billy is the fastest player I have ever seen in the majors and if he can get on base at a high clip and cause havoc in the bases in front of Phillips, Votto and Bruce then the Reds could have an offense to be feared to go along with their elite pitching staff. Run Billy Run. Hit Billy Hit.


Who Is the Ace?



A year ago today this would have been an almost laughable question for the Reds. Johnny Cueto was the unquestioned ace of this staff and the number one in the rotation. After the 2013 season in which Cueto dealt with injuries all year and then imploded in the playoffs, and Mat Latos carried the staff all year, it is a fair question to ask. We saw Homer Bailey get paid this offseason and while the Reds have Latos under control for the next few years, he could be the next one due for a massive pay day and if he proves this year to be the ace for this team once again, he could be cashing in sooner than later. The 2014 Reds have amazing depth in their starting pitching, and that only grows more with an ace like Cueto on the hill. Add in Latos and Bailey along with Leake and Cingrani and you could be looking at one of the best or even THE best rotation in baseball. Time will tell.

Go Reds. Baseball is back.