Saturday, July 6, 2013

NBA's all-time best free-agent moves

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Magic's draft selection
Are you happy with the Magic's selection of Indiana guard Victor Oladipo with the No. 2 overall pick?

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ft+the+ABA%27s+Indiana+Pacers+in+1975.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+1975-76%2C+the+forward+averaged+23+points+and+12.6+rebounds+per+game+and+made+the+All-Star+Game+and+All-NBA+first+team+as+the+76ers+improved+from+34-48+to+46-36.+McGinnis%27+numbers+were+down+slighty+the+next+season%2C+but+he+played+in+another+All-Star+Game%2C+made+the+All-NBA+second+team%2C+and+his+76ers%2C+after+adding+Julius+Erving%2C+went+to+the+Finals+before+losing+to+Portland.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter+the+1977-78+season%2C+though%2C+it+was+determined+having+a+pair+of+high-scoring+forwards+in+McGinnis+and+Erving+wasn%27t+a+good+fit.+So+McGinnis+was+sent+to+Denver+in+a+deal+that+landed+Bobby+Jones.+The+defensive+ace+blended+well+with+Erving%2C+and+Philadelphia+would+make+Finals+appearances+in+three+of+the+next+five+seasons%2C+winning+in+1983.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Jim+Cummins-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"2":{"0":"Chris+Bosh%3Cbr%3EMiami+Heat","caption":"Chris+Bosh%3Cbr%3EMiami+Heat","1":"461795","photoID":"461795","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"Bosh+hasn%27t+put+up+the+gaudy+numbers+some+free-agent+acquisitions+have.+But+without+Bosh%2C+who+came+to+Miami+from+Toronto+in+the+summer+of+2010+after+a+sign-and-trade+was+worked+out%2C+the+Heat+wouldn%27t+have+won+the+past+two+NBA+titles.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EEven+though+Bosh+is+regarded+as+Miami%27s+third+wheel+after+James+and+Dwyane+Wade%2C+coach+Erik+Spoelstra+calls+him+the+team%27s+most+important+player.+That%27s+because+he%27s+the+Heat%27s+only+star+post+player.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBosh+has+made+sacrifices+with+the+Heat%2C+playing+center+even+though+he%27s+a+natural+power+forward%2C+and+seeing+his+scoring+average+drop+from+24.0+in+his+final+season+in+Toronto+to+less+than+19+in+each+of+his+three+Miami+seasons.+Still%2C+Bosh+has+been+an+All-Star+in+each+Heat+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBosh+could+win+more+championships+with+Miami.+Doing+so+would+certainly+move+him+up+on+this+top-10+list.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28USA+Today+Sports%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"Bosh+hasn%27t+put+up+the+gaudy+numbers+some+free-agent+acquisitions+have.+But+without+Bosh%2C+who+came+to+Miami+from+Toronto+in+the+summer+of+2010+after+a+sign-and-trade+was+worked+out%2C+the+Heat+wouldn%27t+have+won+the+past+two+NBA+titles.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EEven+though+Bosh+is+regarded+as+Miami%27s+third+wheel+after+James+and+Dwyane+Wade%2C+coach+Erik+Spoelstra+calls+him+the+team%27s+most+important+player.+That%27s+because+he%27s+the+Heat%27s+only+star+post+player.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBosh+has+made+sacrifices+with+the+Heat%2C+playing+center+even+though+he%27s+a+natural+power+forward%2C+and+seeing+his+scoring+average+drop+from+24.0+in+his+final+season+in+Toronto+to+less+than+19+in+each+of+his+three+Miami+seasons.+Still%2C+Bosh+has+been+an+All-Star+in+each+Heat+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBosh+could+win+more+championships+with+Miami.+Doing+so+would+certainly+move+him+up+on+this+top-10+list.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28USA+Today+Sports%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"3":{"0":"Dikembe+Mutombo%3Cbr%3EAtlanta+Hawks","caption":"Dikembe+Mutombo%3Cbr%3EAtlanta+Hawks","1":"461797","photoID":"461797","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"Mutombo+was+the+best+defensive+center+in+the+NBA+when+he+left+Denver+in+the+summer+of+1996+to+sign+with+Atlanta.+He+didn%27t+slow+down+in+the+slightest.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+his+first+two+seasons+with+the+Hawks%2C+Mutombo+was+named+NBA+Defensive+Player+of+the+Year.+In+his+four+full+seasons+with+Atlanta%2C+Mutombo+played+in+three+All-Star+Games.+The+only+reason+it+wasn%27t+four+was+because+the+1999+game+was+canceled+during+a+lockout-shortened+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+Mutombo%27s+first+season+with+the+Hawks%2C+their+record+went+from+46-36+to+56-26.+They+won+50+games+in+his+second+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+Atlanta+never+was+able+to+get+past+the+second+round+of+the+playoffs.+Midway+through+2000-01%2C+a+season+in+which+Mutombo+would+win+the+fourth+and+final+Defensive+Player+of+the+Year+Award+of+his+career%2C+Mutombo+was+traded+to+Philadelphia+as+the+Hawks+began+to+rebuild.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Scott+Cunningham-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"Mutombo+was+the+best+defensive+center+in+the+NBA+when+he+left+Denver+in+the+summer+of+1996+to+sign+with+Atlanta.+He+didn%27t+slow+down+in+the+slightest.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+his+first+two+seasons+with+the+Hawks%2C+Mutombo+was+named+NBA+Defensive+Player+of+the+Year.+In+his+four+full+seasons+with+Atlanta%2C+Mutombo+played+in+three+All-Star+Games.+The+only+reason+it+wasn%27t+four+was+because+the+1999+game+was+canceled+during+a+lockout-shortened+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+Mutombo%27s+first+season+with+the+Hawks%2C+their+record+went+from+46-36+to+56-26.+They+won+50+games+in+his+second+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+Atlanta+never+was+able+to+get+past+the+second+round+of+the+playoffs.+Midway+through+2000-01%2C+a+season+in+which+Mutombo+would+win+the+fourth+and+final+Defensive+Player+of+the+Year+Award+of+his+career%2C+Mutombo+was+traded+to+Philadelphia+as+the+Hawks+began+to+rebuild.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Scott+Cunningham-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"4":{"0":"Spencer+Haywood%3Cbr%3ESeattle+SuperSonics","caption":"Spencer+Haywood%3Cbr%3ESeattle+SuperSonics","1":"461807","photoID":"461807","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"Haywood+was+basketball%27s+first+big+free-agent+signing.+After+he+had+been+named+MVP+and+Rookie+of+the+Year+with+Denver+in+the+ABA+in+1969-70%2C+the+Seattle+SuperSonics+stole+him+away.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIt+wasn%E2%80%99t+without+a+fight.+The+NBA+sought+to+bar+Haywood%2C+who+would+have+been+a+college+senior+in+1970-71%2C+because+his+college+class+had+not+yet+graduated.+But+Haywood+sued+the+league+and+won+a+Supreme+Court+case%2C+clearing+the+way+for+him+to+play.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter+an+abbreviated+1970-71+season%2C+when+he+was+in+a+court+battle%2C+the+forward+played+four+full+seasons+with+Seattle.+He+made+the+All-Star+Game+each+of+those+seasons%2C+twice+being+named+to+the+All-NBA+first+team+and+twice+to+the+second+team.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStill%2C+Seattle+made+the+playoffs+only+once+with+Haywood+and+didn%27t+get+past+the+second+round.+He+was+traded+to+New+York+before+the+1975-76+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Dick+Raphael-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"Haywood+was+basketball%27s+first+big+free-agent+signing.+After+he+had+been+named+MVP+and+Rookie+of+the+Year+with+Denver+in+the+ABA+in+1969-70%2C+the+Seattle+SuperSonics+stole+him+away.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIt+wasn%E2%80%99t+without+a+fight.+The+NBA+sought+to+bar+Haywood%2C+who+would+have+been+a+college+senior+in+1970-71%2C+because+his+college+class+had+not+yet+graduated.+But+Haywood+sued+the+league+and+won+a+Supreme+Court+case%2C+clearing+the+way+for+him+to+play.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EAfter+an+abbreviated+1970-71+season%2C+when+he+was+in+a+court+battle%2C+the+forward+played+four+full+seasons+with+Seattle.+He+made+the+All-Star+Game+each+of+those+seasons%2C+twice+being+named+to+the+All-NBA+first+team+and+twice+to+the+second+team.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStill%2C+Seattle+made+the+playoffs+only+once+with+Haywood+and+didn%27t+get+past+the+second+round.+He+was+traded+to+New+York+before+the+1975-76+season.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Dick+Raphael-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"5":{"0":"Tracy+McGrady%3Cbr%3EOrlando+Magic","caption":"Tracy+McGrady%3Cbr%3EOrlando+Magic","1":"461811","photoID":"461811","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"Orlando+didn%27t+win+big+under+McGrady%2C+but+he+sure+put+up+big+numbers+after+leaving+Toronto+as+a+free+agent+in+the+summer+of+2000+and+a+sign-and-trade+was+worked+out.+McGrady+won+scoring+titles+for+the+Magic+in+2002-03+and+2003-04.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+plan+had+been+to+pair+together+McGrady+and+Grant+Hill%2C+who+had+bolted+from+Detroit+to+Orlando+after+also+becoming+a+free+agent+in+2000.+But+Hill+was+bogged+down+by+foot+problems+and+a+terrific+twosome+never+materialized.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMcGrady+did+what+he+could+during+his+four+seasons+in+Orlando+even+if+the+Magic+never+got+beyond+the+first+round+of+the+playoffs.+The+swingman+played+in+four+All-Star+Games+and+twice+made+the+All-NBA+first+team+and+twice+the+second+team.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EEventually%2C+McGrady+was+shipped+to+Houston+in+the+summer+of+2004+in+a+deal+in+which+the+key+returning+pieces+were+Steve+Francis+and+Cuttino+Mobley.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Fernando+Medina-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"Orlando+didn%27t+win+big+under+McGrady%2C+but+he+sure+put+up+big+numbers+after+leaving+Toronto+as+a+free+agent+in+the+summer+of+2000+and+a+sign-and-trade+was+worked+out.+McGrady+won+scoring+titles+for+the+Magic+in+2002-03+and+2003-04.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+plan+had+been+to+pair+together+McGrady+and+Grant+Hill%2C+who+had+bolted+from+Detroit+to+Orlando+after+also+becoming+a+free+agent+in+2000.+But+Hill+was+bogged+down+by+foot+problems+and+a+terrific+twosome+never+materialized.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMcGrady+did+what+he+could+during+his+four+seasons+in+Orlando+even+if+the+Magic+never+got+beyond+the+first+round+of+the+playoffs.+The+swingman+played+in+four+All-Star+Games+and+twice+made+the+All-NBA+first+team+and+twice+the+second+team.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EEventually%2C+McGrady+was+shipped+to+Houston+in+the+summer+of+2004+in+a+deal+in+which+the+key+returning+pieces+were+Steve+Francis+and+Cuttino+Mobley.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Fernando+Medina-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"6":{"0":"Chauncey+Billups%3Cbr%3EDetroit+Pistons","caption":"Chauncey+Billups%3Cbr%3EDetroit+Pistons","1":"461793","photoID":"461793","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"Billups+wasn%27t+highly+sought+after+when+he+became+a+free+agent+in+the+summer+of+2002+and+was+prepared+to+leave+Minnesota.+After+being+the+No.+3+pick+in+the+1997+draft%2C+Billups+was+a+disappointment+while+playing+for+four+different+teams.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+the+point+guard+found+his+niche+after+signing+a+modest+six-year%2C+%2435+million+deal+with+Detroit.+In+his+six+full+seasons+with+the+team%2C+the+Pistons+went+to+the+Eastern+Conference+finals+each+time.+They+advanced+to+the+Finals+in+2004%2C+winning+the+crown+when+Billups+was+Finals+MVP%2C+and+in+2005.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+those+six+seasons%2C+Billups+played+in+three+All-Star+Games+and+made+the+All-NBA+second+team+once+and+third+team+once.+He+eventually+was+traded+to+Denver+in+November+2008+in+a+deal+in+which+Detroit+got+Allen+Iverson.+But+it+was+a+move+the+Pistons+soon+regretted+as+Iverson+flopped+and+Billups+led+the+Nuggets+to+the+2009+West+finals.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28David+Dow-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"Billups+wasn%27t+highly+sought+after+when+he+became+a+free+agent+in+the+summer+of+2002+and+was+prepared+to+leave+Minnesota.+After+being+the+No.+3+pick+in+the+1997+draft%2C+Billups+was+a+disappointment+while+playing+for+four+different+teams.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+the+point+guard+found+his+niche+after+signing+a+modest+six-year%2C+%2435+million+deal+with+Detroit.+In+his+six+full+seasons+with+the+team%2C+the+Pistons+went+to+the+Eastern+Conference+finals+each+time.+They+advanced+to+the+Finals+in+2004%2C+winning+the+crown+when+Billups+was+Finals+MVP%2C+and+in+2005.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EIn+those+six+seasons%2C+Billups+played+in+three+All-Star+Games+and+made+the+All-NBA+second+team+once+and+third+team+once.+He+eventually+was+traded+to+Denver+in+November+2008+in+a+deal+in+which+Detroit+got+Allen+Iverson.+But+it+was+a+move+the+Pistons+soon+regretted+as+Iverson+flopped+and+Billups+led+the+Nuggets+to+the+2009+West+finals.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28David+Dow-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"7":{"0":"Steve+Nash%3Cbr%3EPhoenix+Suns","caption":"Steve+Nash%3Cbr%3EPhoenix+Suns","1":"461809","photoID":"461809","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"The+only+free+agents+to+join+a+new+team+and+win+MVP+are+James%2C+Moses+Malone+and+Nash.+Nash%2C+like+James%2C+claimed+two.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+that+hardly+was+expected.+The+point+guard+probably+would+have+stayed+in+Dallas+had+the+Mavericks+been+willing+to+match+the+six-year%2C+%2463+million+deal+he+got+from+Phoenix.+But+the+Mavericks+wondered+if+Nash%2C+about+to+turn+30%2C+was+worth+that+kind+of+money.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EHe+sure+was.+Nash+was+named+MVP+in+2004-05+as+the+Suns+improved+from+29-53+to+having+the+NBA%27s+best+record+at+62-20.+The+next+season%2C+Nash+became+the+ninth+player+in+NBA+history+to+win+a+second+straight+MVP%2C+a+list+now+at+10.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+Suns+were+championship+contenders+for+the+first+six+of+Nash%27s+eight+years+in+Phoenix+--+it+was+his+second+stint+there+--+but+never+could+get+to+the+Finals.+After+the+Suns+went+into+a+rebuilding+mode%2C+Nash+went+to+the+Lakers+in+the+summer+of+2012+in+a+sign-and-trade.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Kelley+L.+Cox-USA+TODAY+Sports%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"The+only+free+agents+to+join+a+new+team+and+win+MVP+are+James%2C+Moses+Malone+and+Nash.+Nash%2C+like+James%2C+claimed+two.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+that+hardly+was+expected.+The+point+guard+probably+would+have+stayed+in+Dallas+had+the+Mavericks+been+willing+to+match+the+six-year%2C+%2463+million+deal+he+got+from+Phoenix.+But+the+Mavericks+wondered+if+Nash%2C+about+to+turn+30%2C+was+worth+that+kind+of+money.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EHe+sure+was.+Nash+was+named+MVP+in+2004-05+as+the+Suns+improved+from+29-53+to+having+the+NBA%27s+best+record+at+62-20.+The+next+season%2C+Nash+became+the+ninth+player+in+NBA+history+to+win+a+second+straight+MVP%2C+a+list+now+at+10.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+Suns+were+championship+contenders+for+the+first+six+of+Nash%27s+eight+years+in+Phoenix+--+it+was+his+second+stint+there+--+but+never+could+get+to+the+Finals.+After+the+Suns+went+into+a+rebuilding+mode%2C+Nash+went+to+the+Lakers+in+the+summer+of+2012+in+a+sign-and-trade.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Kelley+L.+Cox-USA+TODAY+Sports%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"8":{"0":"Moses+Malone%3Cbr%3EPhiladelphia+76ers","caption":"Moses+Malone%3Cbr%3EPhiladelphia+76ers","1":"461803","photoID":"461803","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"After+having+won+two+MVP+awards+in+four+years%2C+Malone+was+a+restricted+free+agent+with+Houston+in+the+summer+of+1982+at+a+time+when+the+rules+were+vastly+different.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+hard-working+center+worked+out+a+six-year%2C+%2413.2+million+deal+with+Philadelphia%2C+which+was+huge+money+at+the+time+and+an+amount+the+Rockets+didn%27t+want+to+pay.+So+they+matched+the+offer+sheet+and+then+worked+out+a+deal+in+which+they+got+Caldwell+Jones+and+a+first-round+draft+pick+as+compensation.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMalone+was+an+instant+sensation+in+Philadelphia.+He+was+named+MVP+in+1982-83+and+steered+the+76ers+to+a+65-17+regular-season+record+and+the+NBA+title.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMalone%2C+though%2C+didn%27t+have+staying+power.+The+76ers+never+got+back+to+the+Finals+during+the+center%27s+four-year+run+with+the+team+that+ended+with+a+1986+trade+to+Washington.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Jim+Cummins-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"After+having+won+two+MVP+awards+in+four+years%2C+Malone+was+a+restricted+free+agent+with+Houston+in+the+summer+of+1982+at+a+time+when+the+rules+were+vastly+different.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+hard-working+center+worked+out+a+six-year%2C+%2413.2+million+deal+with+Philadelphia%2C+which+was+huge+money+at+the+time+and+an+amount+the+Rockets+didn%27t+want+to+pay.+So+they+matched+the+offer+sheet+and+then+worked+out+a+deal+in+which+they+got+Caldwell+Jones+and+a+first-round+draft+pick+as+compensation.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMalone+was+an+instant+sensation+in+Philadelphia.+He+was+named+MVP+in+1982-83+and+steered+the+76ers+to+a+65-17+regular-season+record+and+the+NBA+title.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EMalone%2C+though%2C+didn%27t+have+staying+power.+The+76ers+never+got+back+to+the+Finals+during+the+center%27s+four-year+run+with+the+team+that+ended+with+a+1986+trade+to+Washington.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Jim+Cummins-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"9":{"0":"LeBron+James%3Cbr%3EMiami+Heat","caption":"LeBron+James%3Cbr%3EMiami+Heat","1":"461801","photoID":"461801","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"One+more+championship+and+James+moves+to+No.+1+on+this+list.+Perhaps+one+more+MVP+trophy+also+will+do+it.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EJames+became+the+most+publicized+free+agent+in+NBA+history+in+the+summer+of+2010+when+he+completed+his+contract+with+Cleveland.+After+he+chose+Miami+on+the+infamous+fjfThe+Decisionfjf+show%2C+the+Cavaliers+eventually+worked+out+a+sign-and-trade+deal+to+get+draft+picks+and+for+James+to+receive+an+extra+year+and+more+money+on+his+contract.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+forward+steered+the+Heat+to+the+NBA+Finals+in+his+first+Miami+season%2C+but+the+Heat+lost+to+Dallas.+James+also+saw+his+two-year+streak+of+having+won+MVP+end.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+James+has+done+it+all+the+past+two+seasons+for+the+Heat.+He+has+hoisted+the+regular+season+and+Finals+MVP+awards+in+both+seasons+as+Miami+has+won+two+straight+crowns.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Wilfredo+Lee-Associated+Press%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"One+more+championship+and+James+moves+to+No.+1+on+this+list.+Perhaps+one+more+MVP+trophy+also+will+do+it.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EJames+became+the+most+publicized+free+agent+in+NBA+history+in+the+summer+of+2010+when+he+completed+his+contract+with+Cleveland.+After+he+chose+Miami+on+the+infamous+fjfThe+Decisionfjf+show%2C+the+Cavaliers+eventually+worked+out+a+sign-and-trade+deal+to+get+draft+picks+and+for+James+to+receive+an+extra+year+and+more+money+on+his+contract.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+forward+steered+the+Heat+to+the+NBA+Finals+in+his+first+Miami+season%2C+but+the+Heat+lost+to+Dallas.+James+also+saw+his+two-year+streak+of+having+won+MVP+end.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EBut+James+has+done+it+all+the+past+two+seasons+for+the+Heat.+He+has+hoisted+the+regular+season+and+Finals+MVP+awards+in+both+seasons+as+Miami+has+won+two+straight+crowns.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Wilfredo+Lee-Associated+Press%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"10":{"0":"Shaquille+O%27Neal%3Cbr%3ELos+Angeles+Lakers","caption":"Shaquille+O%27Neal%3Cbr%3ELos+Angeles+Lakers","1":"461805","photoID":"461805","2":"jpg","file_ext":"jpg","3":"When+O%27Neal+arrived+in+1996%2C+the+Lakers+had+gone+eight+years+without+a+title+and+actually+had+losing+records+in+two+of+the+three+previous+seasons.+But+the+Lakers%27+dominance+would+return.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ENo%2C+the+Lakers+didn%27t+win+a+title+immediately.+But+under+O%27Neal+they+eventually+won+championships+in+2000%2C+2001+and+2002+and+lost+in+the+Finals+in+2004.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+center+was+named+MVP+in+2000.+While+being+acclaimed+as+the+best+player+in+the+NBA+around+the+turn+of+the+century%2C+he+probably+would+have+won+the+MVP+trophy+multiple+times+had+he+not+missed+15+or+more+games+each+in+five+different+Lakers+seasons+due+to+injury.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EO%27Neal+played+eight+years+with+the+Lakers.+In+2004%2C+he+was+traded+to+Miami%2C+where+he+would+win+a+fourth+career+title+in+2006.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Andrew+D.+Bernstein-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","extended_text":"When+O%27Neal+arrived+in+1996%2C+the+Lakers+had+gone+eight+years+without+a+title+and+actually+had+losing+records+in+two+of+the+three+previous+seasons.+But+the+Lakers%27+dominance+would+return.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ENo%2C+the+Lakers+didn%27t+win+a+title+immediately.+But+under+O%27Neal+they+eventually+won+championships+in+2000%2C+2001+and+2002+and+lost+in+the+Finals+in+2004.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EThe+center+was+named+MVP+in+2000.+While+being+acclaimed+as+the+best+player+in+the+NBA+around+the+turn+of+the+century%2C+he+probably+would+have+won+the+MVP+trophy+multiple+times+had+he+not+missed+15+or+more+games+each+in+five+different+Lakers+seasons+due+to+injury.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EO%27Neal+played+eight+years+with+the+Lakers.+In+2004%2C+he+was+traded+to+Miami%2C+where+he+would+win+a+fourth+career+title+in+2006.%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cem%3E%28Andrew+D.+Bernstein-NBAE+via+Getty+Images%29%3C%2Fem%3E","4":"","more_URL":""},"gallery_properties":{"0":"All-Time Top 10 NBA Free-Agent Moves","title":"All-Time Top 10 NBA Free-Agent Moves","1":"Chris Tomasson takes a look at the top 10 NBA free agents to have changed teams.","description":"Chris Tomasson takes a look at the top 10 NBA free agents to have changed teams.","2":"0","height":"0","3":"600","width":"600","4":"1372959484","created":"1372959484","5":"150","thumbnail_width":"150","numrows":"11"}}

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