Friday, June 4th, 2010 at 2:57 pm  |  123 responses

SLAM 140: On Sale Now!

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the vaunted free-agent class of 2010.

by Ben Osborne / @bosborne17

“Upstage the Finals”? In print, right now? Sure. We save our magazine Finals coverage for the issue that comes out right after the season ends, when we can celebrate the champ with a must-have issue for every NBA fan (will Rajon get his first cover? Ron-Ron his second? Kobe his millionth?). Besides, we’ve got these Finals owned online, with memories, live blogs (last night’s is here, with one slated for every game), analysis, and just killing it on Twitter.

So, SLAM 140. Look, in much of the NBA Universe, free-agent mania has already set in. Once this Finals gets out of hand (hopefully it isn’t already), the rest of the country will be in, too. Why not take the free-agent madness and break it down better than any other outlet in the game?

We started with the covers, which will both be on newsstands everywhere next week and were beautifully executed by image wizard Peter Possenti and Creative Director Melissa Brennan. They were designed to look good, grab your attention, attract eyeballs, etc (you know, like every magazine that needs to sell copies on newsstands does). I think they will.

As for the cover story, well, I’d say its as good a preview of what can happen come July 1 as you will find anywhere.

Looking for even more insight than the regular SLAM folk can provide, we reached out to the great Dave D’Alessandro to write an educational and funny piece explaining the myriad possibilities of what could happen to the NBA over the next two months or so.

If you like NBA journalism, you surely know who Dave is. And if you don’t, well… Dave is the NBA columnist for the Newark Star-Ledger and has been writing about the League since 1983. His recent work for the Ledger can be found here. I’m going to humbly stack this SLAM cover story up there with any of his work. Again, it’s educational and entertaining, like we strive to be every month.

If you’re sick of free agency already (in which case you may want to leave the country and the internet for a couple months), there’s still plenty of great stuff. The full version of Lang’s Rajon Rondo feature/interview. A dope catching-up-with-Steve Francis feature by Bonsu Thompson. Pieces on in-the-news ballers such as CJ Miles, Joakim Noah, Candace Parker, Brandon Roy, plus all the great photos, shoes and high school coverage we always deliver.

Get it.


wade140big

lebron140big


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  • http://brimartin13@gmail.com Brion

    I heard on the Colin Cowhird show that there is no way Lebron signs w/ N.Y due to the recently passed Tax law that makes any New Yorker thats a millionare pay a ridiculous amount in taxes. They said if Lebron signed there he would only earn 36 cents on every dollar he made.

  • http://www.sonicbids.com doyouwantmore

    Not to be a party pooper, because the cover is at least an interesting idea (especially if it turns out to be prophetic!) but these covers sort of strike me as weirdly disrespectful.

  • http://nicekicks.com meloman2.0

    these look so… fake. You know how KING magazine used to have a feature every month of Covers you’ll never see…

  • http://nicekicks.com meloman2.0

    these look so… fake. You know how KING magazine used to have a feature every month of Covers you’ll never see…

  • http://www.sonicbids.com doyouwantmore

    Here’s what happened to Steve Franchise: On draft day his character was tested, and found lacking. His career followed suit. Great potential, meteoric rise, meteoric downfall, obscurity. Steve couldn’t control injuries and other things that were out of his hands, but he could control what came to mind when his name is mentioned. I lived in Vancouver the day he was drafted by the way, so forgive me if I sound harsh.

  • http://lastknickstanding.blogspot.com Bryan

    Even if he’s an unproven future Steve Francis , Lebron looks good in the Knick colors.

  • ab_40

    that is some terrible photoshopping. kinda wack slam

  • http://yahoo.com kevin armenta

    @susan i have ish 36.i was just being a comedian.it is friday!

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    @Bryan Crawford – next time you need a good laugh, go to the corner of LaSalle and Grand. You gonna be like, “NO THEY DIDN’T!”

  • jumpman3224

    I thought these were a joke at first. I’m not going to lie, I’m interested in reading the cover story though. That being said, seeing as DWADE & LBJ aren’t free agents until July 1, is this even legal?

  • jumpman3224

    Knicks become first team in SLAM history to have two covers with players that don’t play for them: Holdsclaw and LBJ.

  • http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    @Enigmatic… I just found out where it was today and I was tripping because I drive past there every single day! I guess I don’t really pay attention to the billboards downtown like that.

  • http://joeloholic.wordpress.com Joel O’s

    Crazy covers.

  • http://www.twitter.com/GerardHimself Gerard Himself

    I thought the same thing as jumpman when i saw this article on the frontpage. For the first time in… well, maybe for the first time ever: I’m disappointed in the covers this month. I understand why this choice was made, so no one has to explain it to me why it’s “great!”. But everybody’s doing it, every basketball website, every newspaper already has done it, so didn’t expect SLAM to do it. It’s unoriginal, uninspired, and cheesy. And yes, I’m aware I will get flamed for saying that, but I’ve been positive on SLAMonline 99% of the time, and it’s fair as a longtime reader to vent instead of praising everything.
    However! I’m VERY interested in Dave D’s article though, since I’ve been reading his articles for the Star-Ledger for the last couple of years. I love his style, his sarcasm, his humor but also is really knowledgeable. When it comes to Nets info, his articles are all you need to read.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Pardeep

    I cant wait to read the Steve Francis piece

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CathedralsRecords?feature=mhw4 Earl

    Hey, DWade’s gonna go to New York with LeBron! :)

  • logues

    i must say SLAM def has some balls. i mean, y’all would look kinda dumb if neither of them ended up chicago/new york. but nobody else wouldve even thougth about or had the balls to do this cover, so i like, just dont like the fact that ur making me buy two covers again.

  • logues

    o, and dwade looks nice in that bulls uni, but bron in a knicks uni just dont look right to me

  • logues

    cosign pardeep, stevie was really fun to watch… till he got chubby and lost his hops.. hope dave zirin wrote the article

  • logues

    “killing it on twitter.” did u really say that? wow..

  • Alex z

    I subscribe cause I want the best covers not Wade in a bulls jersey over LEBRON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Heals

    First glance I wasn’t feeling them, but as they switched back and forth for a few seconds they grew on me. Another couple of slick covers, I’ll be happy either way out here in CA…

  • Ivan

    Surely Wade looks better in that Chicago Jersey compare to James in NY Jersey.

  • Mr.Crowley

    LOL I’m laughing ’cause most folks are intrested in Steve “one time flyer” Francis than either Lebron or DWade. As a Bulls fan i would prefer Lebron in the Bulls uni ,but beggers can’t be choosers can they?

  • str8 from samoa

    dam those covers are nice.

  • underdog

    You…just…didn’t…

  • D.

    Congratulations, Slam, you just sewed it up. LeBron will miss the season getting treatment on the tumour in his elbow and D-Wade will take a season off to spend time with his family.

  • Yann Blavec

    PG – Chris Duhon
    SG – Wade
    SF – Lebron
    PF – Amare
    C – Shaquille O’Neal

    Your Knew York Knicks.

  • http://Www.lkz.cn Darksaber

    One word: FRESH (Dwyane looks good in Bulls homw whites)

  • http://slamonline.com big_ticket

    hopefully international subcribers like me could get this in a week!!
    nice slam your the best in the biz..

  • ripslam

    Did you take that Chicago uni off of a pic of Jerome James, ’cause Wade looks hella fat.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com/ Moose

    +1 @ Gerard.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    TO BE HONEST, I would want Dwade over Lebron to lead my team. Some will say NOOOOOOOOOO SEEEEEED!!! I see Dwade as a poor man’s Kobe and thats GGGGRRRREEEAAAT in this water down NBA. Dwade to me has a better jumpshot, to me is quicker, plays better defense, wants to score in cruch time more and doesn’t care who he plays with, GIVES ONE HUNDRED EVERY TIME ON THE FLOOR. POLL QUESTION who played better against the Celtics this year in the playoffs. Dwade or Lebron, My answer is Dwade the funny thing is, I feel if Dwade was on the CAVS this year they win the east. No one looks at it like that. Heat gave Celtics more run for their money and give Dwade Jamison, Mo Williams and an OLD SHAQ he is in East Finals. THE TRUTH!!!!

  • KB8

    NYC can have LBJ. The Bulls however would be wise to grab Wade tight and hold on till he retires, because after my man KOBE!! (That’s right I said it, What??) Wade is going to tailor Banners for your team. Just imagine. Wade, Rose, Noah…sheeeeet, the Bulls could be back with a vengeance next season. I’m calling it right now. If the Bulls land Wade, it’s going to be a Lakers vs Bulls finals. No question. I said that too, what??

  • http://aol.com Martin Fenn

    @Seed: You forgot to mention DWADE is a better teammate than Kobe. I don’t know if he’s more fun to play with than LBJ though.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/CathedralsRecords?feature=mhw4 Earl

    Better teammate than Kobe? I’d rather get to the Finals then exit first round! :)

  • TyMo

    How good is SLAM gonna look if Bron goes to NY and Wade ends up in Chi-town? Really looking forward to reading the analysis on the frenzy that will be 2010 NBA free agency.

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    The Heat definitely did not give the Celtics more run for their money than the Cavs. That’s just ridiculous. Everything you say about LeBron and D Wade is ridiculous, Seed.

  • james

    WHAT HAPPENED TO STEVE FRANCIS?!?! YES INDEED

  • http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a78/nursetpd/TSB/Danny_Ainge_Shamwow.gif ENDS

    Shoulda put them in there road unis

  • hoodsnake

    have Bron and Wade sign the jerseys and then you give it away in a comp lol

  • Cool Dude

    I really hope Bosh goes to the Wade and creates the Lakers of the east.

    Kobe vs Wade
    Gasol vs Bosh
    PJ vs Riley

    Man that would make one of the best finals since MJ-Stockton and Bird-Magic.

  • LD

    LeBron is by far the greatest pre-game instroduction teammate ever. One of the best regular season players ever.
    All Wade and kobe have to show for their careers are championships. And those don’t really count because the reporters don’t get to vote the NBA champions.

  • http://www.bulls.com Enigmatic

    @LD -LOL!

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  • R2J

    I hope I get this issue. Wade staying so he can
    recruit LeBron and etc. LeBron has CLE or CHI, Bosh is going where LeBron is going but we’ll see what happens after July 2nd.

  • http://aol.com Martin Fenn

    @Earl: Ok good point. But Kobe would be in the same position as Wade if not for Gasol, Bynum, and Lamar Odom. Wade is a more complete player than Kobe imo.

  • Blame_Canada

    Kind of a predictable set of covers … I know you guys need to sell magazines, but there must be other ways to do it than rotating LeBron, Kobe and DWade through the cover cycle.

    If LeBron does change teams, chances are he’ll be on the cover of your first issue this fall. No offence, SLAM, but I’m not lovin’ it.

  • http://slamonline.com Ben Osborne

    @Blame_Canada: Wade hadn’t been on our cover in 15 months.

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