The champagne, popped.

The NBA championship, defended.

Once again, and for the 16th time in their history, the Los Angeles Lakers were crowned the best team in the NBA.

But I hope you saved some of that champagne, because the Finals haven’t even started yet.

No, the real fun gets underway on July 1, the start of 2010 free agency.

The prize?

Only just some of the most coveted free agents in history. The list includes two-time MVP LeBron James, scoring champion Dwyane Wade, superstars Chris Bosh and Amare Stoudamire.

Oh don’t forget about two of the “big three” in Boston in Paul Pierce and Ray Allen. Then there’s scoring machines Dirk Nowitzki and Joe Johnson and some aging center with four championships named Shaquille O’Neal.

You might have heard of him.

The moment Kobe Bryant walked off the Staples Center court hoisting the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the lights in the arena dimmed low, the attention immediately turned to James, Wade and the class of 2010.

No time for Bryant to even savor the title without questions coming his way. Reporters were thinking of a possible Wade-LeBron tandem threatening Bryant’s run at three consecutive titles.

“What is it with you, you want to emotionally drain me?” Bryant said to The Associated Press. “I don’t want to think about that. Those guys, I’ve seen those guys up close and personal. I don’t want to think about playing against them at the same time. I want to enjoy this for a little bit.”

And a little bit is all he’ll get, because even when the Lakers and Celtics were battling it out for another championship, the free agent market stole the show.

From James’ interview with Larry King, to owners and GMs — most notably Mark Cuban — being fined for commenting on James, the July 1 date was looming over the court in both Los Angeles and Boston.

But these Finals aren’t about titles or glory.

They are centered around money, hope and chance.

The money that New York and New Jersey have to shower the top free agents in.

The hope of cities like Miami and Cleveland that they can re-sign their beloved superstars.

The chance that one free agent can turn around a franchise.

The possibilities and dreams are endless.

Could James and Wade actually play together on the same court? Will Bosh and Stoudamire follow?

James is from the Cleveland area and doesn’t want to leave his home town.

In the interview with King he said Cleveland was the “favorite” to get his services, but the money might be enough to lure the King off his throne in Ohio and to a new pedestal, possibly in the Big Apple.

Wade is pretty set on staying with the Heat and has even said his intentions are to lure another big-time free agent to join him in South Beach.

And that’s all we know.

With the date looming, cities are pulling out all the stops to lure these faces to their respective communities.

Miami-Dade county officially becomes “Miami-Wade” county July 1.

A team of actors and superstars have formed a committee to try to lure James to New York.

Even President Barack Obama has made his pitch for both James and Wade to find a place in his hometown, Chicago.

It’s a seven-game series spread out over a month.

The last time a free agent period garnered this much attention was back in 1996, when O’Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Allan Houston, Kenny Anderson and Dikembe Mutombo stole the show.

Back then, O’Neal was the prize.

Now, he’s just an after thought in a class led by James and Wade.

The real Finals begins on July 1.

I hope you saved some of that bubbly.