Mike Bibby

Atlanta Hawks point guard was given some rumors that he may go to Philadelphia to play for the Sixers.

But Sixers fans, you might want to stop cheering and put your hands down. The Sixers aren't interested in Bibby, according to the Inquirer.

But heck, it would be real nice for Philly to get him. But as for right now, he's chilling in Atlanta.

He is also looking to bring the Hawks to the playoffs again and hopefully passing the second round and not getting killed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

My bad, Atlanta. Sorry for bringing back bad memories.

Ricky Rubio

Jeez Ricky!

I really don't understand what's the point of him coming to the NBA after reading this about him going back to Spainto play proffessionaly for two more years!

But it won't matter because if he wants to return to the NBA, the Timberwolves still hold the rights to him. So Ricky, it really doesn't matter if you don't want to play for Minny, just try to make the best of it, okay?

Nah, he won't.

Hedo Turkoglu

Hedo Turkoglu, he recently opted out of his contract with the Orlando Magic, shouldn't be really happy right now.

The Toronto Raptors were about to give him a $60M contract but they decided not to, according to The Star.

We'll see what happens, maybe Toronto be decide to again. And teams going for a bid?

As of right now, not many. Sorry, Hedo. Want to go back to Orlando? Nah, I really think he doesn't. Let him wait, he'll get the deal and the team he wants.

New Orleans Hornets

The Times-Picayune reports that the New Orleans Hornets are deciding to acquire the following free agents:

• Mikki Moore (right)
• Maceo Boston
• Jake Voskuhl

ESPN.com reports that the Hornets are also taking a look at former-Hornet, Brandon Bass.

Let's see who they pick because all of the players look interesting to me. Moore might fit well.

I don't know who to pick, it'll be a tough decision. But hey, why not , sign them all. But nah, it'll probably be a not-so-smart idea.

Josh Childress

The Journal Times reports that the Milwaukee Bucks are trying out Josh Childress, who the last NBA team he played with was the Atlanta Hawks after moving to the Olympioacos.

Childress has been called by many NBA teams, and he does look like he can fit nicely with the team after that trade that sent Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs.

Here is the biggest news of the day! Now that I have made a new website called MemphisBlueBears.com, a site about the Memphis Grizzlies (I am a bigger Indiana Pacers fan, though, of course), I know have to write some Grizzlies news.

Well, Allen Iverson announced that he wanted to play for the Memphis Grizzlies, ESPN reports. Here's what Iverson said on his Twitter:

"I'm a free agent, healthy again, and capable of signing with any team. My only preference will be [is] to play for a coach that knows what I bring to the table and that I am going to bring it every night! Someone who best knows how to utilize my skills to make our team the very best it can be. For those of you who thought I was done, think again."

Whew, A.I. had a lot to say there to all of his fans on Twitter (more than 16,000 to be exact, dang!). Let's see how everything turns out.

He looks good with the Grizzlies as a new "Big Three" may approach with him, Rudy Gay, and O.J. Mayo. Now that would be nice. We'll see how it turns out, as of right now, Iverson is probably chilling (and why wouldn't he?).

According to multiple team executives, the Cavs have aggreed in principle to a trade with the Phoenix Suns to bring the four-time champion and future Hall of Famer to Cleveland. The team is hoping he is the biggest missing piece alongside LeBron James in a quest to win their first NBA Championship.

The Cavs will send the Suns veterans Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic in a deal plus the 46th overall pick in Thursday's NBA Draft. It is a trade that has mostly financial incentives for the Suns as they stand to save around $9 million in salary and luxury taxes while the Cavs take on the final year of O'Neal's contract at $20 million. The Suns could save even more if Wallace accepts a retirement buyout as he hinted at the conclusion of the season.

The trade could be finalized on Thursday.
The Cavs and Suns have been talking about this swap for the last six months off and on and couldn't get it done ahead of February's trade deadline. Talks re-started last week and became intense Wednesday.

The Cavaliers were also in talks with New Orleans about obtaining Tyson Chandler. If they had not made the trade for O'Neal, they would have traded for Chandler, according to a source.

A week and a half after publishing Version 1.0, it's time to edit the first round of the draft. There will be many picks that don't change, but there are definitely some risers and fallers and that will be depicted in this version.

1. Los Angeles Clippers - Blake Griffin, F, Oklahoma

This is a no-brainer pick. He has been the #1 pick in this draft since last November and has won every Player of the Year award you can think of. I've already posted my thoughts on this pick for the Clippers, so I won't go over it again. He's got the potential to be a top power forward in the league in a few years, but also if he doesn't develop much of an offensive game, could have already plateud. I don't expect that to happen, so he will develop into a very good, borderline great, power forward in the league.

2. Memphis Grizzlies - Ricky Rubio, G, Spain

Rubio's agent has already said they will do what they can to avoid him going to either Memphis or Oklahoma City, but the same agent tried to do this with Yi last year and failed. Ultimately, I think Rubio decides to play for whoever takes him and Memphis, with the #2 pick, should take the 2nd best talent on the board. People widely consider Rubio and Thabeet to round out the top-3 with Griffin, but I could see Memphis consider Jordan Hill at this pick if they do not want to stunt the growth of Mike Conley, Jr. In the end, Rubio is the pick and should embrace the chance to play with OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay.

Memphis' brass has been over in Spain interviewing this kid and Marc Gasol, fellow Spaniard, has talked to him as well and it seems as if Rubio is coming around to the idea of being in Memphis.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder - Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut

The Thunder have many holes and are not in a position to draft by, well, position. Other than Westbrook, Durant and Jeff Green have solidified their spots on this team. Nenad Krstic was a nice pickup last year, but he's not a center you would want to build around. Thabeet would give them an instant upgrade in the defense department and if his offense ever comes around, he could become a really nice player. He must bulk up, but who in the draft doesn't? Also considered James Harden and DeMar DeRozan at this spot.

4. Sacramento Kings - Brandon Jennings, G, Italy

The Kings have drafted big men in the last two drafts with Spencer Hawes and Jason Thompson. Both of them look as if they will grow into good players in the league. Add to those two Kevin martin and Andres Nocioni, the lack of a playmaking point guard really holds this team back. Beno Udrih was given a horrible contract and the Kings will be eating that while Jennings runs the show. Though Jennings isn't a pure point guard, his scoring ability will be greatly welcomed by the Kings.

5. Washington Wizards - Jordan Hill, F, Arizona

The Wizards are actually trying to shop the pick, but if they keep it, I think Hill will be a great pick at #5. I think that Hill will be the 3rd best prospect in the draft behind Blake Griffin and DeMar DeRozan. Hill has developed his game to a higher level after every season at Arizona and should only keep getting better. If he can add more weight and some refined post moves, he'll be a very productive player in this league.

Read the rest of the article here!

Remember, there is absolutely nothing set in stone at this point in time. Many changes will come about as team workouts get underway in the upcoming weeks. I'm trying to ignore all the ridiculous speculation and stay focused on penning in players where I believe they will best fit.

Things are going to get interesting after David Stern announces the reigning College Basketball Player of the Year as the top overall pick. With two players vying for the No. 2 selection, there's bound to be a domino effect for each impending scenario. Without further ado ...

1. Los Angeles -- Blake Griffin, PF, Oklahoma, So.
Headlining the 2009 draft class is the explosive Griffin, the most dominant player on the board. Blake's combination of size, speed and athleticism is second to none, and he's hands down the best player in the draft. If he can master the mid-range jumper, he'll be unstoppable. Taking Griffin is a no-brainer regardless of the plethora of big men on the Clips roster. Talk about winning the lottery.

2. Memphis -- Ricky Rubio, PG, Spain, 1990
This is where things get interesting. While the Spanish prodigy is more than ready to migrate overseas, there are several question marks surrounding his draft status. First, will he leave his comfortable situation in Spain and risk playing in a Memphis market that hasn't been kind to former nationals Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro? If yes, will the Grizzlies front office select Ricky over Thabeet, who owner Michael Heisley prefers. For now, I'll pen in Rubio because of his amazing playmaking abilities. His basketball knowledge is off the charts and some scouts say he is eerily similar to Pistol Pete. You'd have to be out of your mind to pass this kid up.

3. Oklahoma City -- James Harden, SG, Arizona State, So.
Harden exploded onto the draft scene this season as he torched the nets all year long in Tempe. Don't let the dismal tournament performance fool you, this kid can flat out score. He's got great size to go along with his sweet jumper, although I'd love to see him be more aggressive taking the ball to the cup. Harden could slide nicely into the rotation in Oklahoma City and form a very solid backcourt with Russell Westbrook. And who better to show him the ropes than Kevin Durant.

4. Sacramento -- Jrue Holiday, PG, UCLA, Fr.
Call it a reach if you must, but Holiday is the real deal. Jrue wasn't able to showcase his abilities to the fullest playing in Ben Howland's system, not to mention Darren Collison returning wasn't exactly expected. Nonetheless, Holiday fits the mold in Sacramento, where the Kings are in dire need of a point guard. His defensive tenacity is incredible and he's got one of the best motors in the draft. Combine that with his strength, exceptional floor general skills and long 6-foot-8 wingspan, and you've got all the makings of a very special player.

5. Washington -- Hasheem Thabeet, C, Connecticut, Jr.
Rumor has it the Wiz are exploring options to trade up for Thabeet after Javale McGee didn't pan out this past season. However, there's a slight possiblity that the 7-foot-3 Tanzanian could fall right into their laps. Trust me, I'm well aware of his height, shot-altering capability and ability to block shots into next week, but after watching him get pushed around by Michigan State in the Final Four, I saw nothing but red flags. I'm still skeptical of his strength and defensive positioning in the paint. He's a sure-fire top five pick, but I've got him at the back end because he's very, very raw -- and his offensive artillery is a joke.

6. Minnesota -- Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Memphis, Fr.
Simply put, Evans is a proven winner and he wants the ball in his hands with the game on the line. That's saying a lot for a 19-year-old that played in such a high-tempo offense at Memphis. He cemented himself throughout March Madness as the best freshman in all of college basketball with an amazing 33-point performance against Missouri. His ability to drive the lane and attack the basket is hard to overlook, and he's a great ball handler with an explosive first step. The sky is the limit for the Aston, Pa., native.

7. Golden State -- Brandon Jennings, PG, Italy, 1989
Unfortunately, college basketball fans didn't get to witness how talented the American exile was this past season as he opted to skip college and bring his game overseas. And while he had a slight falling out with Lottomatica Roma, it doesn't change his freakish speed and athleticism, not to mention his ability to create off the dribble and envision reads before they happen. Pair him with Monta Ellis and you have a dangerous backcourt for years to come.

8. New York -- Stephen Curry, PG, Davidson, Jr.
Not sure whether Knick fans are going to ring out cheers or boos, but it seems almost certain that Curry will be playing his home games at the Garden next season. He fits perfectly into Mike D'Antoni's run-and-gun offense and he's got the sweetest stroke in the draft. DeMar DeRozan would be a tremendous fit as well, but something tells me the star of the 2008 tourney is headed for the Big Apple.

9. Toronto -- Jordan Hill, PF, Arizona, Jr.
A lot of experts are penning Hill in the top five, although I've got him falling at the moment because the majority of teams before Toronto are looking to draft guards. He'd have the luxury of going up against Chris Bosh on a regular basis and could help shoulder the load shoud CB4 leave in the summer of 2010. Depending upon how well Hill works out (and where Thabeet is picked), he could definitely rise up the board when all is said and done.

10. Milwaukee -- Jonny Flynn, PG, Syracuse, So.
Flynn's stock has skyrocketed as of late as several GMs are impressed with his athleticism and explosiveness. As he displayed throughout the Big East and NCAA tournaments, Flynn is a great leader and an extremely strong player that pushes the ball relentlessly. And his vertical leap more than makes up for his lack of height. Should Ramon Sessions bolt for free agency, the Syracuse alum could easily pick up the slack and keep the Milwaukee train on track.

11. New Jersey -- DeJuan Blair, PF, Pittsburgh, So.
I can understand why GM Rod Thorn wants toughness at the 4. Watching a platoon of Ryan Anderson and Yi Jianlin at power forward would have me drooling at the mouth for a player of Blair's caliber. He's built like a tight end and possesses great hands to accompany his insane 7-foot-3 wingspan. While he might not have the height of the typical PF, there's nothing small about his play down in the paint.

12. Charlotte -- DeMar DeRozan, SG, USC, Fr.
Getting a player with DeRozan's skill set and potential at this point in the draft would be a no-brainer for the Bobcats. He might be the best athlete in the entire draft and his size has scouts and GMs shaking their heads. There are still a couple question marks with his game, but with the way he progressed throughout his freshman year at USC, I wouldn't be shocked if he was an All-Star in five years with how much talent he brings to the table.

13. Indiana -- Jeff Teague, PG, Wake Forest, So.
With the way his sophomore campaign ended against Cleveland State, I'd love to see Teague return to Winston-Salem for his junior season. If not, he's got the talent and potential to warrant a lottery selection, and as he showed in huge wins over North Carolina and Duke, he's a playmaking leader that can score at will. With Jarrett Jack's Pacers future in question, Teague would be a great replacement. When his ball handling abilities and decision making come full circle, he's going to be an absolute stud.

14. Phoenix -- Earl Clark, SF, Louisville, Jr.
The Suns would love to get their hands on Clark, as he was a tremendous asset all year long for Louisville. His natural versatility would work wonders in the Suns' fast-paced offensive attack. The athletic Clark plays long, he's a great distributor and he makes scoring look easy from 15 feet and in. God help defenders if he bulks up and develops a low-post arsenal.

15. Detroit -- Austin Daye, SF, Gonzaga, So.
While his best dayes are down the road, Detroit is re-stocking for the future and should have the patience to wait for a star like Daye to develop. He's still visibily frail, but that was the knock on Tayshaun Prince as well. The Irvine, Ca., product will never bang in the post with the power forwards, but if he packs on the pounds and hits the weight room, he'll be a dangerous weapon at the 3. Daye has all the tools to be a star; whether or not he's motivated to become one is the key.

16. Chicago -- Gerald Henderson, SG, Duke, Jr.
It was hard dropping Henderson this low because he's such a tough, talented player. Or maybe I'm just biased and would love to see him playing for the Bulls. Either way, he's extremely versatile and does everything very well. His biggest knock is that he's undersized, but hell, I'll take my chances on someone that has the testicular fortitude to hammer Psycho T in the nose.

17. Philadelphia -- Ty Lawson, PG, North Carolina, Jr.
Assuming the Sixers don't bring back Andre Miller, they'll be faced with the decision of taking Lawson or Eric Maynor. Many consider it a coin flip, although I point to this past NCAA Tournament as Lawson's breakout party. He was by far the biggest reason the Tar Heels won the national title as his quickness worked wonders on both ends of the floor. He's a great athlete with good court vision and his size concerns will go to the wayside if he learns how to change speeds.

18. Minnesota -- James Johnson, PF, Wake Forest, So.
Many feel Johnson has what it takes to crack the lottery seeing as how he's a unbelievable athlete with great size and build for the pros. However, as someone who's seen him play at least 10 times, his basketball IQ suffers compared to his competition. So many times this season Johnson thought he was a point guard in transition and either lost the handle or threw the ball away. That won't cut it in the league. He's still got the tools though, and a team like Minnesota should have no problem taking a flier on him.

19. Atlanta -- Eric Maynor, PG, Virginia Commonwealth, Sr.
With Acie Law not cutting it in Hotlanta, the Hawks are primed to select Maynor, who is one of the most NBA ready players in the draft. He's a seasoned veteran that excelled in the national spotlight against the likes of Duke and UCLA. He might not be as quick as Lawson, but he's better at attacking the basket. Combine that with his defensive repertoire, and you've got a well-rounded player that will get results.

20. Utah -- Tyler Hansbrough, PF, North Carolina, Sr.
Like most college seniors that enter the draft, Hansbrough has a limited upside as far as growth is concerned, but you can't discount his tenacious play in the paint on both sides of the floor. He's the type of gritty, hard-nosed player that could flourish under Jerry Sloan in Utah. T-Hans is an extremely hard worker that outhustles and outworks his competition. He's not the most talented player, but with a sweet mid-range jumper and the ability to get to the charity stripe and convert, he'd be a bargain at No. 20.

21. New Orleans -- Wayne Ellington, SG, North Carolina, Jr.
The Philadelphia native's hot hand from three-point land would undoubtedly give the Hornets another perimeter option off the dribble-drive for Chris Paul. Ellington was a shooting star throughout the NCAA Tournament and by working on his pull-up last offseason, he's more than just a catch-and-shoot player. His range mirrors that of Curry's and when he gets hot there's no cooling him off.

22. Dallas -- B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State, Fr.
With Erick Dampier posting some of the lowest averages of his career this season, it might be time to invest in a center for the future. Mullens was a projected Top 5 pick at the beginning of the college season on potential alone, although he struggled often in Columbus. Still, that doesn't change the fact that he possess an unfair amount of size and athleticism. He's explosive above the rim and when he gets it all together, he'll definitely be a productive player.

23. Sacramento -- Gani Lawal, PF, Georgia Tech, So.
While there's still a strong possibility he withdraws from the draft and returns for his junior season, the Kings would love to scoop him up and let him develop along an already young frontcourt featuring Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes. Lawal is long and athletic, and he's a very tough, physical player. He's still raw, but at this point, it's all about potential.

24. Portland -- Chase Budinger, SG, Arizona, Jr.
Trade rumors for Rudy Fernandez are heating up again and should Kevin Pritchard pull the trigger, Budinger has enough athleticism and explosiveness to fill the void. A former volleyball player, Chase is blessed with an insane vertical that allows him to crash the boards better than most of his matchup players. His jumpshot keeps getting better and better and he's not afraid to create his own looks.

25. Oklahoma City -- DaJuan Summers, SF, Georgetown, Jr.
Summers is a great athlete with loads of talent and potential. While he was the prototypical small forward in college, many believe he has the size and the know-how to develop a low post game. He's an above average shooter, but he needs to be more aggressive and attack the paint. At this point in the draft though, he's definitely worth the selection.

26. Chicago -- Terrence Williams, SF, Louisville, Sr.
One of the most flamboyant players in the draft, Williams is the definition of versatility. An extremely athletic point forward that explodes to the basket, T-Will has all the tools of a lottery pick although his decision making and tendency to disappear has scared teams away. However, in a less heralded role where he isn't expected to make all the big plays, Williams could flourish.

27. Memphis -- Sam Young, SF, Pittsburgh, Sr.
If Young had not just turned 24-years-old, we'd be locking him into the lottery. Scouts are questioning his upside (or lack thereof) despite his ability to score from inside and outside, and finish with the best of them above the rim. Young has come a long way on the defensive side of the ball as well and he could really find his niche playing with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo in Memphis.

28. Minnesota -- DeMarre Carroll, PF, Missouri, Sr.
A scrappy, hard-nosed player, Carroll made a name for himself this season leading Mizzou to the Elite Eight. He's a very strong player that loves to crash the boards. His stock is rising after a few great workouts, where I've heard his jumpshot has improved by leaps and bounds. Carroll is a little undersized for the 4, but his athleticism and energy could be vital off the bench for the Wolves.

29. Los Angeles -- Darren Collison, PG, UCLA, Sr.
Collison is a very interesting player as he was pegged as a potential lottery pick during his sophomore season in Westwood. Things didn't quite go as planned, but the senior guard is a fantastic all-around prospect at the point guard position. Derek Fisher is waning out the end of his career, and picking a incredibly quick court general like Collison with NBA range and great defensive length would be well worth the risk if Jordan Farmar isn't ready to handle the everyday duties.

30. Cleveland -- Derrick Brown, PF, Xavier, Jr.
Brown would bring explosiveness and athleticism to a frontcourt that definitely lacks a punch. Ilgauskas has never been known for his toughness and Varejao is nowhere to be found on the offensive end of the ball. Brown is a strong finisher around the circle and is adept at shooting the long ball (43 percent). He's a little bit of a tweener, but should he remain in the draft, it's worth the risk to give him a shot.

--

As always, discussion and comments are welcomed. Also, feel free to e-mail me with any further questions or follow my Twitter updates as the draft draws closer. Let the debating begin!

According to multiple sources within the Cavs, franchise majority owner Dan Gilbert has a tentative agreement in place to allow a group of Chinese investors to purchase a significant stake in the Cavaliers Operating Company, the entity that owns the Cavs and operates Quicken Loans Arena. The group is led by JianHua (Kenny) Huang, a Chinese businessman who has become successful by linking American and Chinese companies...

...The direct impact of the move is securing the future of the franchise, which has been in a minority ownership flux for the last couple years as it loses millions in attempting to build a championship-quality team around James. It will not only mean an injection of capital but will open the Cavs to business in China. The move, which has been kept mostly secret in America, is being supported by the NBA as they have encouraged development in China.

The other effect, which is surely the more interesting side to Cavs fans, is how vital this new link could be for James -- providing a huge tie-in with an economy James is eager to tap.

Any team ownership transfer of more than five percent must be voted on by the NBA's Board of Governors following background and financial checks. If the deal comes to fruition and is approved by team owners, it could help to remarkably strengthen James' relationship with the Chinese fans and consumers that he's been working to reach for the last four years.

Huang, who has been working with the Cavs for the last two years in securing Chinese sponsorship through one of this companies, would represent a direct link between hundreds of millions of Chinese basketball fans and James. If the deal comes off, Chinese fans could start to feel a connection to James and it could expand his business interests by remaining with the Cavs past next season when his contract with the team expires.

In other words, there is great potential in being with a franchise that has a deep relationship to China -- likely even more so than just playing in the largest market in America. There has been intense speculation that James will be attracted to playing in New York because of the business opportunities.

"You have to think globally," James said recently of his business interests. "I have a lot of fans in China and they're important to me."

James and Nike, by far his largest sponsor, have been on a mission to create a bond with the Chinese over the last three years in the run-up to the Beijing Olympics. James has made four visits to China, one with the Cavs as part of a preseason trip in 2007.

With basketball exploding in popularity among millions of young Chinese with exponentially growing buying power, James has targeted opportunities in the Far East to make the same kind of marketing impact in modern China that Michael Jordan had in the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. Only the market there operates on a dramatically larger scale.

Becoming the Jordan of China from a marketing standpoint would allow James to reach his goal of someday becoming the first billionaire athlete.

Despite being the Cavs' majority owner, Gilbert's ownership team is perhaps not what he thought it would be when he purchased the club, its debt and the rights to run The Q for $375 million in 2005. At the time, former majority owner Gordon Gund and Gilbert's cousin and longtime business parnter David Katzman were believed to have taken a combined ownership stake of more than 30 percent. Gilbert also had a deal to sell a piece of the team to music star and actor Usher Raymond IV.

But over the last several years things have changed. Gund has begun to pull back on his desire to remain a part owner and focus on his foundation, the Foundation Fighting Blindness. He's already reduced his stake in the team from the initial investment.

Usher remains a part owner, but did not invest the amount he and Gilbert agreed to at the beginning and has taken a low profile after being on the dais with Gilbert, Katzman and Gund on March 1, 2005, the day the ownership transfer took place...

...Over the last four years, the Cavs have spent around $20 million in upgrades to The Q, invested $25 million in a practice facility in Independence and spent wildly on players. The Cavs have paid the luxury tax in each of the last two seasons and this year will commit to more than $100 million in payroll and taxes.

Even with record-shattering revenue -- including one of the most rewarding local television deals in the NBA despite being in the 17th-largest market -- the Cavs are still believed to be losing millions. Their current owners are also heavily invested in industries that have suffered losses over the last two years.

The Cavs ownership group currently consists of three faces. Coach Mike Brown now routinely refers to the team's "three owners" which include Gilbert, Jeff Cohen and Nate Forbes. Cohen is a wealthy builder of homes and commercial properties in Michigan and Florida. Forbes is a Detroit-based mall developer. Gilbert made his fortune mostly in mortgages.

You need a team with a dwindling fan base and/or bailing sponsors and suite/courtside customers. (I count 11: Indiana, Memphis, Milwaukee, Sacramento, New Jersey, New Orleans, Miami, Orlando, Minnesota, Charlotte and Philly.) You need a team trapped in an aging stadium that can't drum up local money for a new one. (I count three: Sacramento, Jersey and Milwaukee.) You need an owner who purchased his team because he was worth a ton of money ON PAPER ... only now, he's worth significantly less and might even be worth $10 for all we know. (Consensus candidates for this list: Phoenix, Hijack City, Jersey, Memphis, Indiana, Atlanta, Milwaukee, Charlotte ... and, surprisingly, Sacramento and Cleveland.) You need cities with NBA-ready, modern arenas either finished or about to be finished that would love nothing more than stealing a team. (Definitely Kansas City, Anaheim, San Jose, Louisville, Tulsa and Pittsburgh; possibly Columbus, St. Louis; and just for fun, let's throw in Montreal and London.) And you need a struggling team that can actually extricate itself from its lease.

In 2005, Gilbert inherited a woeful franchise. The lottery-doomed Cavs were riding a six-year playoff drought, but they did have a draw in a rookie named LeBron James from nearby Akron. After a rough start to his tenure, Gilbert began a process that included surrounding his marquee star with complementary talent, adding an able GM in former Cavalier Danny Ferry and installing a players' coach in Mike Brown. Cleveland made the playoffs in 2006 and hasn't looked back since. A year later, Gilbert funded a state-of-the-art $25 million practice facility for King James & Co. that is among the best in the NBA.

Whatever happens, James is expected to sit tight this summer and not sign an extension. He probably doesn't want to get buyer's remorse like Hornets guard Chris Paul did. Sources say the Hornets are like a house of cards and could tumble at any time.

Sources say everyone on the Hornets' roster is available except Paul and power forward David West. The Cavs could have interest in 7-foot-1 center Tyson Chandler, who has had some ankle and toe problems. But he's only 26. That's one to keep your eye on.

I never thought this would happen, neither would Danny Granger, either. Granger won The Most Improved Player of the Year Award, by averaging 25.8 points per game, a career-best.

Granger accepted the award today at Conseco Fieldhouse, barely beating out New Jersey Nets', Devin Harris, by 364 votes 339. The voting was made from a panel of 121 journalists. While on vacation in Venice, Italy, that is how Granger found out about the award.

"I can honestly say it really did come as a surprise," he said. "I really had it out of my mind for a while. I was on vacation, enjoying Italy, and all of a sudden, I'm winning the award."

Granger was also honored before this award, as he was voted to the All-Star team by improving his scoring average by at least five points in each of his last three seasons. He averaged 7.5 as a rookie, 13.9 in his second year, 19.6 in 2007, and now 25.8 this year.

His 25.8 points was ranked fifth in the NBA.

"I think in my fourth year, I just had the experience of playing a lot of minutes," he said. "I could read defenses a lot better. I could get my shot a lot easier than what I had in the past. I think I just thought my way through the game a little more than I had previously."

Granger has also been asked to participate for the USA Basketball team training camp this summer, the first phase for selecting the squad of the 2012 Olympics team in London. Tuesday, he accepted the offer.

Granger played his best in January. He averaged 34.7 points per game during the six-game span against Western Conference teams. That stretch began on the third and during that time, he made a game-winning three-pointer over two-time MVP, Steve Nash, in a 113-110 win. A week later, he made a game-tying jumper, but later to beat the Pistons in overtime.

He made another exciting shot on the 19th as he made a game-tying three but later to get upped by Chris Paul at the buzzer. Granger missed 11 games this season and improved after his return, averaging 28.4 points per game in his last 15 games.

Now all Granger needs to do is win a MVP award next year!

Here are some history information and stats on this award, thanks to NBA.com:

2008-2009 Season Voting on MIP Award

All-Time Roster of Players to Win the Award

"It's unexplainable, honestly. There's only a few guys in this league that can get into a zone like that, and I'm blessed to have the ability to be one of those guys.

"You just feel like you can make pretty much every shot you take."

"A gentleman over there decided to talk back with me. It's happened in the past. It usually doesn't work out good for the other team."

Official Roy Boy

Okay, okay, Blazers fans are alive after all.  Roy Boy nation is fine.  After the Rockets beat the Blazers I started writing a piece about the Blazers-Lakers series that would have started Monday night -- how Roy averaged 42 points per, how Yao got called for that arm bar takedown on Pryzbilla, how Outlaw was so clutch on the road, and how now Phil Jackson is shivering over the idea of playing in Portland again.  Blazers in seven. 

Alas, I've accepted our fate this year, and now Roy Boys and Blazer fans alike are looking forward to next season. 

We have high expectations.  The Blazers lose zero players to free agency this offseason.  That's right, the entire team returns.  However, Blazers management does need to decide whether or not to exercise team options on Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw, which could be interesting.  Outlaw, in his sixth season, came straight out of his Mississippi high school and was drafted in the first round by the Blazers.  His game has improved every season.  He provided instant offense off the bench during the regular season and was in many discussions about Sixth Man of the Year (usually listed third), but his defense is still suspect, and he had a poor series against the Rockets, shooting only 32%.  (His defense in the postseason, however, was pretty solid.) 

Sounds like Outlaw could or should be moved, right?  Maybe even a sign and trade, because Travis's skills with the ball are outstanding.  But, here's the thing: he's Brandon Roy's best friend on the team, and one of the best guys in the organization, period.  He's humble through and through, and his work ethic has never been questioned.  Outlaw, a high-flying, lanky guy who can dunk over almost anyone if he gets a step, never shows up an opponent, doesn't get pushy with teammates in practice, and does anything the coaches ask of him.  My guess -- and my hope -- is that Outlaw returns next year and embraces the opportunity to show some calm under playoff pressure. 

I'm not as hopeful about Blake.  He's efficient, we know.  He shot 43% on threes this season.  He's got fire, a ton of heart, and he's a good locker room guy.  Nevertheless, his defense is suspect and he lacks the ability to beat most point guards off the dribble to create for his teammates.  I wouldn't mind seeing him in a backup role, but I'm not sure how well he'd accept that role.  I think GM Kevin Pritchard should see what his value is around the league and consider a sign and trade.

Two guys need to go: Channing Frye and Sergio Rodriguez.  I can out-shoot Sergio, yet he thinks he deserves more playing time.  His jumper can improve, sure, but I think he has some value and should be moved, especially considering that he and his buddy Rudy Fernandez could get a little feisty with Nate if Sergio doesn't get more minutes.  He can be a great passer when in rhythm, and his defense is acceptable.  Channing is another guy who thinks he deserves more time than he gets.  He's a hard-working, team-first player, often the first and last person in the weight room, but ultimately Frye is the 8th or 9th man on most average teams.  His blog is fun, but I'd be fine with him reviewing some other city's restaurants next season. 

My point is that it's merely tinkering that needs to be done this offseason.  I'd like to see a few role players moved and a more potent veteran point guard brought in, maybe Andre Miller or Kirk Hinrich.  With Raef's contracting expiring, Portland has money to spend this offseason. 

This was, without question, a successful season for the Blazers and they exceeded expectations even while losing to the Rockets. 

Grungedave at The Dream Shake drooled all over Daryl Morey for "effectively trad[ing] Nicolas Batum for Ron Artest" last year, but I'll take the 20-year-old French rookie on my team any day, any situation.  Nic started most of the season at small forward and covered the best players in the league, often with great success, while providing energy on the offensive glass and hitting timely threes.  I anticipate a ton of growth from this kid in the offseason (watch for him to put it on the floor with more confidence), and I'll be thrilled to see him platooning at forward with (hopefully) Outlaw and a (hopefully) healthy Martell Webster. 

Rudy Fernandez is a cold-blooded dude.  He can shoot with the best gunners in the league and he showed some serious defensive ability late in the season.  Next year I look to see Rudy put the ball on the floor a bit more and use his passing skills to nicely balance his long-range game.  He'll have some high-scoring games and he'll have a lot of opposing teams' third best defenders falling on their asses and fouling him on three-point attempts. 

Greg Oden needs to, and will, grow emotionally and in his court awareness.  We all know this, and we all foresee it happening.  Sure, his health is an issue, but it's not something Blazers fans concern ourselves with as much as, say, Oklahoma City fans probably think we do.  He'll be fine.  And if he's not, if Greg goes down with an injury, the team gets along quite well with Joel Pryzbilla at center.  But, that said, it'd be great to have a veteran big guy to play power forward and center off the bench.  This was Roy's one request, "maybe a banger, a power forward, a rebounder in back of LaMarcus.  Something like that."  Let's just say that, considering these remarks, there's a good chance it'll happen. 

Roy has become one of the best players in the league.  By Hollinger's standards, Roy's the 7th best offensive player in the league, and his defense is getting tougher each year.  I'll take Roy over Kobe.  I'll take Roy, right now, over the aging D-Wade.  I'll take Roy over anyone who didn't win the MVP award this year.  (Chris Paul?  Toss-up.)

Speaking of LaMarcus, he had another great season, and he's getting better all the time.  But he's got work to do yet -- work to do on the defensive end, work to do on the defensive glass, and work to do on his low-post game.  He's 6-11 and needs to get tougher, get stronger, and get better position on the blocks early in the shot clock.  And he will.  His jumper is deadly right now, when he has some space, and he runs the floor as well as any big man in the league.  It's easy to forget that these guys are all so young. 

Anyway, game 1 in L.A. just went final, and like I said at the beginning, looks like Blazers in seven.