The most eagerly anticipated NBA free-agent summer of all time took another startling turn today when superstar guard Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat announced he would sign a new contract with the Miami Heat .
With an unprecedented number of high-quality players eligible for free agency after the 2009-2010 season, this year’s signing period was widely expected to radically rearrange the balance of power in the league. Teams like the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets stripped their rosters in anticipation of adding multiple superstars to build an instant contender.
Wade has already won an NBA championship in Miami, with the help of an aging Shaquille O’Neal. Now the role of second-best player on the Heat will be played by Chris Bosh, formerly of the Toronto Raptors.
In other topsy-turvy free-agent-summer news so far:
- Former MVP Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks agreed to a contract extension with the Dallas Mavericks .
- Boston Celtics team captain Paul Pierce agreed to a contract extension with the Boston Celtics .
- Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson agreed to a contract extension with the Atlanta Hawks .
- Memphis Grizzlies star Rudy Gay agreed to a contract extension with the Memphis Grizzlies .
- Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, who has a rebuilt knee and a reattached retina, accepted a 5-year, $99.7 million offer from the Knicks . His place on the Suns will apparently be taken by Phoenix Suns forward Channing Frye, who agreed to re-sign with the team.
LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers has said he will announce his free-agent decision in a
television special tomorrow
.
