Toronto Raptors

Artest, Ariza Signings Should Not Have Cavs Fans on Suicide Watch

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:43:40 -0500

Cavaliers introduce Shaquille O'Neal

All Cavs fans wanted Ron Artest in the wine and gold. Unfortunately for them, Ron-Ron's heart bled purple and gold, and in the end, the Cavs couldn't compete with the bright lights of Los Angeles -- Shaq and LeBron or no Shaq and LeBron.

And while a player like Trevor Ariza would have been a great fit for the Cavs, at what expense? The midlevel exception at $33 million for five years (which is what the Rockets reportedly gave him)?

Ariza's a nice player, and he has a fan in me after how he played in the postseason. But it's easy to look good when you are option #5 behind Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Derek Fisher. And if Ariza wants to go to a Houston team that is being gutted by the minute, then more power to him. He has his ring already, and although I don't know what his intentions are (or how serious the Cavs really were about signing the guy in the first place), he got the money he was looking for.

But one thing has become clear as this free agency season really began to take shape on Thursday: The Cavs plan to be big players in the 2010 spending spree. And if you didn't think that Chris Bosh is option #1, 2, and 3 at the Cavaliers' headquarters in suburban Independence, then it's time to get with the program.

Many fans will wonder why the Cavs are once again banking on free agency to build their team -- did they not learn their lesson in 2005 when Michael Redd and Ray Allen turned them down and they had to settle for Larry Hughes? And free agency is never a guarantee. While Cavs fans like to toot their horns about how their team can offer LeBron more money than anyone in the market next season, Raptors fans are sitting at home saying the same thing about their guy Bosh.

Still, unlike 2005, a guy like Bosh certainly won't be one of a few options out there. Amare Stoudemire will be available. Carlos Boozer will be back on the market, as will Joe Johnson. Dwyane Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, Steve Nash, and Mehmet Okur will also all be unrestricted. And teams with cap space will have a lot of options.

It hurts to think about it as a Cavs fan, because Cavs fans are running out of patience right now (at least if your objective for this team is to add young athletic pieces around LeBron James). But although a guy like Tyson Chandler is only 26-years old, the Cavs took Shaq because of his expiring contract for 2010. In the end, that -- not even Chandler's health issues -- was the ultimate trump card. So you tell me what that means.

We will get further proof of Danny Ferry's 2010 intentions based not only on how he eventually ends up using the midlevel exception (or even using it at all), but how he deals with his own free agent, Anderson Varejao.

In a perfect world, Varejao would have picked up his player option for $6.2 million this summer and gone unrestricted next summer. It would have made sense for him, too, because with money tight this summer and teams looking to spend at will next summer, will Varejao even match that $6.2 million that he was promised in his original contract? What does it say about him when Marcin Gortat is off the market before he is?

Regardless, don't be surprised if Ferry lets Varejao walk and brings in a guy like Antonio McDyess on a one-year deal, maybe even for the full midlevel exception (or preferably the biannual exception). A move like that should make it clear that the Cavs intend to put on the fullcourt press for Bosh and prepare a max offer to him next summer.

It's not a game I'd like to play, but at this point, only a guy like Artest is worth sacrificing 2010 cap space. In the end, according to multiple team sources, he was never really a realistic option for the Cavs compared to what the opportunity of playing with the Lakers gave him. A guy like Ariza, however appealing, isn't worth 2010 cap space. And the Cavs never had cap space this summer to give Charlie Villanueva his apparent market value, anyways.

So like it or not, that's going to be the course of action for the Cavs. You will hear names like Shawn Marion, McDyess, and Anthony Parker out there. But realize that the Cavs will not, under any circumstances, give any of these guys more than a one year deal. Passing up on Chandler for Shaq should have made that clear initially. Letting Ariza ride off into the sunset to Houston reinforced that.

There is no need to panic as a Cavaliers fan. The team still got Shaq pretty much for free, just like they got Mo Williams for free last summer. They're still a 66-win team with a depth chart at center that includes Shaquille O'Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, and even if Varejao leaves, McDyess may be an upgrade, anyways.

Just remember, Danny Ferry has bigger fish to fry. And while the Cavs were never really equipped to be major players in this summer's free agency, the pieces are being set to make sure that they are when free agency really matters: 2010.

Artest > Ariza

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:25:00 -0800

So, yeah, Trevor Ariza and Ron Artest swapped teams. Ariza is going to be saddled with more responsibilities in a team that MIGHT have trouble making the playoffs while Artest is going to be asked (and probably willing) to be a #2, 3, 4, 5, or even #6 option in a championship team.

Last we heard, Ariza (or rather Ariza's agent, David Lee... no, not the New York Knicks player) wanted $8-9 million. I think Mitch Kupchak knew what he was doing. He knew that Ariza wasn't going to get much more than the mid-level exception (projected to be around slightly less than $6 million per year). The only ones that could've paid him more were Detroit, Portland, and Toronto. Detroit already spent their dough on Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon. Portland and Toronto are busy wrestling over Hedo Turkoglu's services.

So Ariza explored his options. But when Ron Artest is roaming around freely, what were the Lakers supposed to do? Sit on their asses and watch another team snatch him up? Of course, I'd take Artest at a bargain. Especially since Artest actually WANTS to go to L.A. In a bizarre twist, Trevor went to Ron's former team, the Rockets. For essentially the same money L.A. put on the table. Way to go, Agent Assface.

Let's talk about the comparisons here. Do we seriously think that Trevor Ariza is as good as Ron Artest? Artest is more talented offensively than Ariza. He can post up, take it to the hole better, and make his perimeter shots. Sure, Ron takes wild shots... but in a better system and team, I think he'll be fine. Ariza became a dead-eye shooter, yes, but will he get those same looks in Houston?

Defensively, Artest is more physical and will get under the opponent's skin. Ariza is a very good defender but I don't think he's shutdown material. He's very good at anticipating the shot and the pass, yes (right, Denver?), but Artest is the better one-on-one guy.

And you've got to be kidding me when people say that Ariza has a higher ceiling. No disrespect to Trevor Ariza; I love his game. But I don't expect to see any Tracy McGrady breakout seasons from this guy. I'm willing to eat my words if he averages 25-6-7 next season because he now has room to do that with Houston not really having a go-to scorer aside from Aaron Brooks. But I just don't see Ariza getting much better than what he did in L.A. We already know what Ron Artest can do. He always brings it. Again, I understand that Ron Artest's shot selection has been porous but I don't think he'll be asked to chuck that many shots in L.A. And I don't think he'll complain about it, either.

But Ariza is younger, right? Of course. But you already know what I think of his ceiling. Was he supposed to be the next guy to step in when Kobe retires? Was Ariza going to be Kobe five years from now? I don't think age is a factor. Artest will probably retire, too, to resume his music career when Kobe retires. Maybe Ron and Kobe will do a song together. With Tyra Banks. Or Allure. If that's the concern, then the Lakers have to get their next superstar-in-waiting. But that's five years down the line. Let's talk about now.

I know what the Lakers are getting in Ron. Yes, he's a potential headache but I'd bank on him behaving. At the very least, I know Ron Artest will get suspended a few games next season. But it's not like Phil Jackson hasn't dealt with egos and nutcases in his coaching career. I'm sure y'all remember Dennis Rodman. Phil will just let Artest do his thang. And Kobe is definitely much more manageable now than when he was 25. There's no doubt that Ariza fit like a glove in L.A. but the Lakers look that much more dangerous if Artest fits in as well. And I think he will.

What are the Rockets getting with Ariza? Well, Ariza's only had one good year (and that was with L.A.). At his best, I can see him defend his man, make open threes (if there are any open threes), and hmmmmm... I guess, not much else. I just see him more as a complimentary player. Kinda like one they have now (Shane Battier). Ariza was more replaceable than, say, Lamar Odom (who is as versatile as you can get). But geez. I think Ariza really lost out in this deal (yes, I know... he's getting money but if you're a good NBA player, of course, you'll make millions).

What really gets me is the dealings between this Lee creature and Kupchak (who, by the way, has done a fantastic job recently as general manager).

"I can tell you definitively Trevor had an offer that was nine million more than what the Rockets offered and he decided to go with Houston."

So was that signing a way of sticking it to the Lakers? Oh, whoopee. He signed with Houston. Yay. TAKE THAT, L.A.

"It's like I told (Lakers General Manager) Mitch Kupchak. It was never about the money. It was about being at a place where he felt wanted and appreciated."

The Lakers resurrected his career and gave him a raise. Kupchak knew his market value. They traded for him. And if it wasn't about the money... how come they didn't sign with the Lakers then? It doesn't make sense to me at all. It was about respect? So why did Lee put him in a troubled situation? If he was going to place Ariza in a troubled situation then you might as well get him more money, right? There's also the potential that we might have already seen Ariza's ceiling. Ouch.

Agent Assface tried to play hardball and lost. I don't exactly blame Ariza for wanting to explore his options for more money (it's the first, and maybe only, big contract he's getting) but they should've known the marketplace better. I think if Artest wasn't free, negotiations would've gone longer and Ariza may still be a Laker today. Good luck in H-Town, Trevor. You played your role very well. I'm sure you're gonna be knockin' da boots.

Welcome the Tru Warier to L.A. I've always liked Ron Artest. And I'm happy that we have a nutcase in the Lakers. I don't think the Lakers will be bored in the regular season with Artest around. I know I won't be.

MORE OFFSEASON COVERAGE
My take on the initial wave of free agents agreeing verbally.
David Diep covers another "miracle on Figueroa St."
My reaction on the trades made thus far.

Follow me on Twitter. The name is @TheNoLookPass. I promise that my account's pretty sexy. Ha ha.

Say It Ain't So: Is The "R" Word In Store For The Bulls?

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:15:29 +0000

All signs point to it. The Chicago Bulls have been stockpiling young, cheap players the past couple seasons. They have several expiring contracts on the roster and have yet to move them. The front office drafted two power forwards, which likely spells the end of Tyrus Thomas' tenure as a Bull. The team is comprised mostly of recent draft picks (7 players have three years or less experience entering the upcoming season). The front office has used made thinly veiled references to it, mentioning the "process" and "learning curve" that will require patience and time. Most recently, we let our top scorer from last year walk. Yep, the signs all lead to one thing.

The Chicago Bulls are rebuilding.

I know, the R word is a dirty, vile, horrible label to put on a team, and this team isn't completely hopeless just yet. The front office could still pull off some huge deal to bring in a star to complement the young nucleus of Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng (his massive, long-term contract means he's a Bull for at least another two years, so we may as well accept him as our SF for the forseeable future). But, in all honesty, who can the Bulls get? More importantly, can the Bulls offer a package for a star that no other team can top? I think not.

Like I already mentioned, the writing has been on the wall for longer than we may like to believe here in the Chicagoland area. Since the Michael Jordan dynasty ended in the 90's, the Bulls have never been a legitimate contender, and whenever they got close, the front office made the wrong move at the crucial moment. Elton Brand was let go, only to bring in Tyson Chandler. When Hinrich, Deng, and Gordon stunned the NBA by shutting down Dwyane Wade in the playoffs and exceeding everyone's expectations, the Bulls spent their money on retaining Kirk Hinrich for the long haul and going balls-out for Ben Wallace. When that failed, and the Bulls had to decide to re-sign Gordon and/or Deng, they chose Deng, who has since been an oft-injured, scarcely productive flop.

Now, the Bulls are mired in mediocrity, with no substantial cap space for this season and little hope for landing a star next offseason. Sure, there are plenty of stars who will potentially hit the market in 2010, but why would they come to Chicago? Most of the top potential free agents seems to be winners, who would obviously like to play for contenders. Cleveland will probably bring back LeBron, and the rest of the top talent will likely end up with Boston, Orlando, Cleveland, Los Angeles, or another viable contender (perhaps Denver). So if we don't land a star now, and if that failure persists in 2010, we'll have loads of cap space to either waste on undeserving talent or to rebuild.

So if we rebuild, what does that mean? Well, the two best examples from recent memory are the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Both teams began with one star player (Paul Pierce and Kevin Durant, respectively), and they had to wait to slowly gather the right pieces to complement their stars. In the meantime, they cleared cap space, gutted their rosters, and collected a combination of expiring contracts and young players on rookie contracts. They then let the kids play, keeping the ones who thrived and letting go of those that didn't.

After that step is where the two teams too different approaches. The Celtics took note of two teams in miserable positions (the Timberwolves and, ironically enough the SuperSonics, who have since become the Thunder), realized that they were both ready to rebuild, and decided to throw all their efforts and cap space into getting a star from each team (Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, respectively). The all-or-nothing approach could have potentially doomed this team and forced them to start over yet again, but they won a championship the very next season, justifying their huge gamble.

The Thunder have yet to take that massive gamble, instead preferring to continue giving youngsters the opportunity to prove themselves. Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook seem to have worked their way into the nucleus alongside Durant, and new draftee James Harden will get the chance to join that core in the future. The Thunder appear willing to keep relying on draft picks to strengthen their team, and, though it has taken time, it has been working, slowly but surely. The team is clearly better than they were two years back when Durant began his career, and they still have plenty of cap space should they decide to take a gamble.

The Thunder's approach is much slower, and it mirrors the approach the Bulls themselves took after the MJ dynasty ended. Unfortunately, the "stars" the Bulls decided to build around were Hinrich and Deng, and Reinsdorf was gave them too much money and too many years to leave room for more talent, and his judgment leaves the team trapped in the middle of the conference. Luckily we have a true young star in Rose now, and we have already found a good, young complement for him in Noah.

The Bulls could, of course, pull off a move for some sort of temporary upgrade to try to contend next year, as Milwaukee did with Richard Jefferson last year. However, the Bucks found that their gamble was little more than a stall, getting them nothing more than assurance that they wouldn't get embarrassed throughout the season. The Bucks have since let Jefferson go, accepting their need to rebuild and preparing for a potentially long and painful period of trial and error to get back on track. Unless the Bulls pull off the miracle move and bring in a savior along the lines of Bosh, Wade, or Michael Redd (and I have little faith in any of these things happening), then, I have to grimace and grudgingly admit what is appearing more and more like the inevitable: the Bulls will have to rebuild. I hope we find that miracle cure, but to expect it would be naive. This team is in trouble, and the front office is faced with the decision to make one last gamble, or to prepare for the long and thankless task of rebuilding.

Uh Oh, The Bulls Are In Trouble

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:31:37 +0000

Moments ago, Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Detroit Pistons have agreed in principle to sign free agent shooting guard Ben Gordon. Bulls fans, we can now commence the panicking.

Gordon led the team last season with 20.7 points, and his offense was a huge reason why the Bulls put up such a valiant fight against the Celtics in the playoffs. His clutch scoring was unmatched on the Bulls, as he averaged 36.3 points per 48 minutes in situations with 5 or less minutes left in the game and a score difference of 5 or less points. He also had a sweet cajones dance that will be sorely missed.

Of course, there will be plenty of folks who will argue that Gordon is a one-trick pony, a one-dimensional player who excels in one area and provides anywhere from adequate to poor production in all other areas. This may be true, but that one dimension that he happens to possess is scoring, and you can't win without scoring more than the other team. Moreover, he scores consistently and in a number of ways. Short range, long range, free throws, wide open and with hands swarming his grill, BG finds ways to score night in and night out, and few players in the league can be trusted to make the vital shot with the game on the line.

I'm not saying that this will automatically plunge the Bulls into the abyss of the bottom rungs of the Eastern Conference with the dregs of the NBA society, but the Bulls have to do something to lessen the impact of Gordon's departure. As it stands, we now have no go-to scorer with games on the line, and Vinny Del Negro's crunch time playbook consists of doodles of Transformers and a sticky note reminding him to let one player do his best to take on the other team's five with the game on the line. We had Gordon to take on that thankless job last year, and he did it successfully at an alrming rate. John Salmons was asked to try his hand at that role, and he did respectably, but, unless VDN learns some actual strategy that the team can use late in close games, we're going to need someone who can score at will.

Maybe I'm naive, but I do think the Bulls have the means to make up for the loss of Gordon. We have a good mix of expiring contracts, young potential, and intriguing talent to make some moves, and I'm in favor of focusing our efforts on landing either Toronto's Chris Bosh or Milwaukee's Michael Redd.

Trying for Bosh has been argued to death in Chicago's fan circles (mention Bosh on Blog-a-Bull and prepare for a deluge of comments), but Brad Miller, Tyrus Thomas, and James Johnson/Taj Gibson/future 1st rounder for Bosh and Marcus Banks might be feasible. We get our man, a proven superstar with post presence and athleticism, and the Raptors get rid of Banks' lousy contract while getting the serviceable Miller and the freakishly athletic Thomas (the numbers work here, with the Johnson/Gibson/1st rounder part excluded). Miller would replace Bosh's rebounding and some of his offense, and his contract would expire after the season, freeing up cap space for 2010. Thomas could thrive in a new environment, and, at 23, his highly touted potential is still there. Bosh can leave in 2010, so the Raptors would be wise to at least explore what they can get for him now.

Redd can also walk in 2010 with his early termination option, and, since the Bucks seem to be slashing payroll (refusing to offer Charlie Villanueva a qualifying offer and trading Richard Jefferson for Bruce Bowen and cap space) and starting from scratch, they might be open to moving him. Offering Miller and Thomas (and maybe a future pick) once again would work financially, and Miller and Salmons would also work, provided we took someone else like Damon Jones or Dan Gadzuric to match salaries. Milwaukee could use Miller to back up Bogut or replace Charlie V for a year, then clear cap space the next season, and Salmons would be a direct replacement for Redd (or they can try their luck playing the "Tyrus Has Potential" game). The Bulls would be in need of a backup center in either case, but we would at least get the scorer we need (and an upgrade over Gordon in all other areas) and be better off for it.

At any rate, I hope I've made my point after all this ranting. Gordon is pretty much gone, and Bulls fans have reason to worry. The front office needs to move fast to bring in big talent, or Chicago could find themselves duking it out with the Timberwolves and the rest of the league's trash for lucky lotto balls in 2010.

(Photo from Bulls.com)

Varejao Opts Out, Becomes Unrestricted Free Agent

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:59:00 -0500

Could Anderson Varejao be headed elsewhere this summer?

Dan Fegan strikes again.

In what is no surprise to anyone who has followed the Cavs over the past year or so, Anderson Varejao has decided to exercise his player option and opt out.

Forward Anderson Varejao did not exercise the final year of his contract on Tuesday, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer, a source close to the player told ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

By opting out of his deal for next season, Varejao is leaving $6.2 million of guaranteed money on the table to try and test would could be a bare market this year.

It's been reported that Varejao could be seeking a contract with a per year earning of upwards of $9 million. In this economy with very few teams having that type of cap space, it's unlikely Varejao will get an offer that is around his asking price.

Right now it looks like there will be 5-6 teams that could challenge the Cavs for Varejao's services and offer a lucrative contract. Those teams with significant cap room are: Detroit Pistons ($19 million), Oklahoma City Thunder ($13 million), Memphis Grizzlies ($13 million), Sacramento Kings ($7 million), Portland Trail Blazers ($9 million), and Toronto Raptors ($9 million, if they let Parker, Marion and Graham walk).

Out of those teams it looks like Varejao may get a look from 3-4 teams.

The Pistons have bigger fish to fry than Varejao and are looking at some top free agents.

The Toronto Raptors are looking for a perimeter scorer and it's questionable how far under the cap they'll get at this point.

The Oklahoma City Thunder look like they want to add a young player and make a splash in free agency, so Varejao might be a back-up plan with them needing some bigs there.

The Memphis Grizzlies were rumored to be interested in Varejao last off-season so if things fall through with their other targets (reportedly David Lee) then some of that interest could be re-kindled.

The Sacramento Kings were adamant about including Varejao in the Mike Bibby talks a couple years ago and that could parlay the Kings into offering all of their cap space to Varejao should their other options dry up.

The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly been looking for toughness and defense to backup Aldridge and Varejao would be a great fit there. The only problem is that he might be too expensive.

The good news for the Cavs is that Varejao isn't going to garner a ton of interest from the teams with major cap room and that Varejao isn't looking like anyone's primary option.

While the Cavs can't match any offer because Varejao is unrestricted, the Cavs do look like they're going to put re-signing Varejao as their #1 priority and should get it done if Varejao keeps his demands reasonable (you never know with Dan Fegan).

It's been speculated that the Cavs might be willing to pay up to $9 million per year for Varejao but that might change once he hits the open market and the Cavs see what's available.

The right thing for the Cavs to do would be to re-sign Varejao at a reasonable price.

(P.S - And no, re-signing Varejao to a long-term deal doesn't mean the Cavs won't have 2010 cap space and not be able to sign Bosh. The 2010 cap space is an illusion and there's no way the Cavs will be able to have enough cap room to field a competitive team. So don't be worrying about that.

The problem with Varejao will be determining his value to the team. While I'm sure Fegan and Varejao see it as one thing, I'm also sure the Cavs see at as another.

Varejao is a good player but he's not worth $8.5-$9.5 million a year. Maybe if it was on a short-term deal (2-3 years), then it could be possible. But there's no way I can see the Cavs paying him that type of money over a long commitment.

Varejao's worth is probably in the $7.5 million range (give or take a half million) for a decent amount of years.

If Varejao and Fegan can't come to grips with reality, then the Cavs will probably be forced to either do a one-year deal at a high rate or sign-and-trade Varejao.

While the Cavs may not want to sign-and-trade Varejao, it may ultimately come down to that.

The one good thing is that Danny Ferry and Dan Fegan have since repaired their relationship since they hit rocky times last summer while negotiating Varejao's previous contract. Having a good working relationship is critical in working with agents and crossing the line when the two parties start getting into uncomfortable territories.

So will Varejao end up staying with the Cavs? Right now it's anybody's guess but with the way the market looks and how bad the Cavs want Varejao back, it looks like it's in the Cavs favor.

Random Draft Thoughts...

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:44:22 +0000

Some Random Draft Thoughts...

With both the NHL and NBA entry drafts going down this weekend, I thought I would throw my two cents out there and evaluate how the Leafs and Raptors fared with their first round pick:

The Raptor's drafted DeMar DeRozan, an athletic wingman who has shown he can play defence, and who's offensive game has a lot of upside. He will be allowed to develop over his rookie year, expected mostly to contribute energy and quality minutes in a supporting role. Verdict: The Raptors needed an athletic winger, (read: someone who can make their own shot) so they went out and drafted one. The USC product will have his ups and downs next season I'm sure, but there is a lot of potential here, and he fills one of the teams more pressing needs.

The Maple Leafs drafted Nazem Kadri after failing to move up to draft one of the more hyped players. (Good bye dreams of John Tavares in the blue and white!) The second London Knight off the board is a much bigger gamble, he does posses impressive offensive abilities, but I had a chance to watch him play twice last year, and he definitely struggles with defence and consistency. Hmmmm defence and consistency.... Aren't these the two words Brian Burke and Ron Wilson have been hyping so much since arriving in town? (Well, that and toughness.) Kadri will be a project. He will almost assuredly get another year in the OHL, and playing for the Knights, that is not a bad thing. But like Burke said this draft won't be able to properly be judged for a few seasons. Was Nazem Kadri a good pick for the Leafs? We'll get back to you.

Who made some good picks and got the "steals" of the draft? One name jumps out at me from each league. They aren't exactly sleeper picks, but we are still going to mention them, just so we look good when these guys are on all star teams in the future.

NHL: Nashville Predators take Ryan Ellis from the Windsor Spitfires with the 11th pick. I know the Leaf's felt they needed offence, but I was disappointed they let this guy go past them. He just keeps winning big games, and winning is what it's all about. Like Phoenix, Nashville's future may be the subject of much speculation, the future of Ryan Ellis will not be. He will be a quality player in the league for a good chunk of years.

NBA: In the league where rookies can turn around a franchise the one pick I like was Stephan Curry to the Golden State Warriors. Now I know what your thinking: Curry is too small, he lacks toughness, he is going to Golden State - where promising careers go to die. But like Ellis, Curry is a special player. What he did for Davidson is nothing short of spectacular. In a weaker draft year this will be the player that stands out in the future.

Draft Afterthoughts: Still Work To Do For Bulls

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:22:22 +0000

Contrary to the wishes of many fans, the Chicago Bulls made no moves on draft night, electing to take forwards James Johnson from Wake Forest and Taj Gibson from USC. Not exactly breathtaking, but decent selections nonetheless. Looking on Blog-a-Bull, I realized I was one of many who was hoping for the Bulls to pull off a blockbuster move, but, since July 1 opens up more possibilities for trades, the Bulls still have plenty of time to make that big change.

The Bulls' picks were not very appealing for trade scenarios, and so they took the player they wanted the most in Johnson. I admittedly don't know much about him, but video highlights and expert analysis tells me that he at least brings something different to the Bulls. He's a versatile player who has played both forward spots (although this might mean he's stuck in between the two spots at the professional level), possesses good range and the ability to create his own shot, and should be able to contribute off the bench immediately. Once again, my knowledge of Johnson is limited, but, as of now, I'm content with trusting the front office on this one.

As for taking Taj Gibson at 26, I'm somehat less enthusiastic. To me, he seems like a poor man's Tyrus Thomas with better shooting and far less athleticism. Gibson can block shots with his enormous wingspan, and he's a solid rebounder. However, considering that Joakim Noah is more of a power forward than a center (although he has filled the center role admirably), this means we now have four power forwards, not including Tim Thomas (who will probably be traded at some point before the trade deadline).

Not only is that too many power forwards for one roster, but the Bulls passed up on DeJuan Blair at 26, which I think could come back to haunt them. Most teams seemed worried about past knee problems for Blair, but he was a beast on the boards throughout college, and, should he stay as healthy as he did in college, the rotund and freakishly athletic Blair will make a lot of teams wish they had taken a chance on him. Nevertheless, the Bulls couldn't have expected much at 26, and Gibson is an upgrade over Linton Johnson, so the front office did an okay job on this one.

So the Bulls have too many power forwards now, two of which - Tyrus and Taj - have very similar playing styles. Logic tells me someone is the odd man out, and, based on the way Vinny Del Negro refused to play him in crunch time dueing the playoffs, I'd say Tyrus is that odd man. Hopefully the Bulls can trade for a superstar power forward or center,becuase right now we have neither. Noah will complement a superstar well, cleaning the boards and providing constant hustle, but none of Tyrus, Johnson, or Gibson comes close to solving our power forward situation as of now.

Rumor has it that Chrish Bosh wants out of Toronto, and, as his contract will expire after the upcoming season, I would think the Raptors front office would want to deal him before then to get something in return rather than losing him with nothing to show for it. I'll jump on the bandwagon with most Bulls fans and declare my support for going after Bosh, and, now that we have plenty of players who could play as his backup, we need to move quickly. Bosh and Patrick O'Bryant for Tyrus and Brad Miller (and maybe a future draft pick) works out financially, and the Raptors would get two serviceable players. They could try their luck at developing Thomas, and they could use Miller to complement Bargnani for one year, after which his contract expires and the Raptors will have cap space for the big 2010 free agent market.

The Bulls got better from this draft (assuming they re-sign Ben Gordon), but not enough to get them out of the first round of next year's playoffs. The Bulls may be signalling an intent to trade a power forward or two, or they may have simply picked up two rookies that they can use to fill up the roster for a cheap price (if that's the case, I recommend that they invite undrafted players Jerel McNeal and Dionte Christmas to the summer league roster, who could be cheap, useful backups at SG). Either way, the Bulls did a good enough job in this draft, and, while they can pat themselves on the back for now, they still have work to do to make this team a contender.

NOTE: Look for an early preview of the other teams in our division to come soon, as well as a post on how the East in general looks for the upcoming season. James Johnson's so excited, he's doing backflips in anticipation (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated and the Johnson family).

Talking To Chicks Who Love Hoops: The Big Trade Piece

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:36:10 -0800

Shaq going to Cleveland was one of the many trades that rocked the NBA world. This may be Shaq's last chance to get a ring and this may be Cleveland's last chance to get a championship before LeBron James goes into the 2010 free agent market.

I got reaction from my favorite NBA friends about this trade and how it affects their teams. Yup. Them chicks who love hoops.

PAIGE

Okay so this Shaq trade, he needs to throw in the towel.... his record is pretty amazing, amazing enough to retire number 32 for every NBA team out there. I mean if I had a 4-time NBA Champion, 2000 NBA MVP, 1992-93 NBA Rookie of the Year, 3-time NBA Finals MVP, 2-time NBA Scoring Champion, 3-time All-Star MVP, 15-time All-Star, 1994 FIBA World Championship MVP I would be pretty damn proud. Shaq is an amazing player and will always be remembered; I really believe that him and Kobe are competing to see who will stay in the game longer! (haha) I think when he came to Phoenix he was sitting pretty high on his horse saying whatever team I go to I win a ring. Well umm yeah that didn't happen while playing for us... not saying he wasn't fun to watch but don't promise fans something you really can't handle.

I'll still watch him play and follow his big head on Twitter cause he truly is a down to earth person... I do hope he does good with the Cavs.. but I'm going to have flash backs of the Shaq Kobe show when watching him and LeBron play together. Only problem is that was 4+ years ago & Shaq's body is not getting any younger. LeBron is too fast for Shaq AND Kobe.... just dont think Shaq will keep up & that will piss off LeBron. But I'm not going to sit here and put Shaq down cause like I said he is an amazing player & he has the record to back that shit up! He has a great family, a beautiful wife and he has given more than enough to the NBA and his fans.... go relax on the beach Shaq, just please remember to twitpic it ;)

GO SUNS!!!!!

And a different point of view from another Suns fan.

SARA

Hey Rey Rey,

Today is a great day to be a Suns fan! Shaq is being shipped off to Cleveland and we will be drafting in some new young blood this evening. I think although we may not have gotten amazing players in this trade, the shedding of Shaq will greatly improve our team. Since he arrived in Phoenix, we have gone from being the #1 team in the west to not even making the playoffs. Our style has been run and gun, exciting and fast...all Shaq ever did for our team was clog the paint, slow down our pace, forcing us to play a halfcourt type game and his ego pretty much over-rode our stars of many years. Trading Shawn Marion to acquire Shaq was a big mistake and cost our team greatly. Now that he is gone, I am excited to see our team return to what it does best.

It will also be funny to see the Cavs implode as I think that there will be a war between Shaq and LeBron. Two large egos on one team. Face it, the Cavs are LeBrons team, he is their major star...do you really think he is going to be happy to get a big man that will try to push him down and steal his spotlight? All this trade did for the Cavs was insure that LeBron is gonna be leaving next season as he will not be able to deal with Shaq's ego.

All I have to say now is 7 seconds or less baby!! Gentry will be back, our line up will be lean and mean and we are going to have an AWESOME 2010 thanks to last nights trade..

No picture for this chick. But imagine she's this.

MICHELLE

Dear my favorite Twitter playboy,

My reaction to the Shaq trade is that it's a marketer's wet dream. The Chosen One and the Big Shaqtus (oops, that doesn't work anymore, does it?) playing together at the Q? Cue the stampede for tickets, cue the "me n bron gun b bst 1-2 comb eva" tweets, cue the pre-game air badmitton antics, etc. In terms of how this impacts my boys from Boston, I guess it depends on who is playing for us next season... ask Danny Ainge (wait, don't bother, he'll just blow smoke up your wazoo). If we're looking at the current roster, I think we match up just fine thanks to Perk. Does this trade make Cleveland better? Sure. They gave away players they didn't use anyway and got back a guy who can help inside against guys like Dwight Howard. But, and this is a big BUT. The Cavs need to look at fixing other intangibles if they really want a championship. Regardless of who is on the team, they need to remind themselves that they aren't going anywhere by getting the ball to LeBron and then standing around like totem poles. Most importantly, guys like Mo Williams can't disappear when they need him the most. Hire a sports psychologist if you have to, but giving up is not an option. Mental toughness is an underrated skill set.

ps. Shaq's PR reps get mad respect from me for updating Shaq's Twitter background the same day as the trade was announced. It's the details, people.

Love and shamrocks,

Michelle
nbamusings.com (By the way, kids, you'd better visit NBA Musings or your face might get hit by the remote. Just warnin' ya.)

How about from a fan of a team that unexpectedly (well, she expected it) went to the Finals?

COLLEEN

REY-REY! Thanks for asking my opinion, you always make me feel special!!!!!!

Shaq 2 Cavs:

One Word: BACKFIRE! This is going to blow up in their face. LeBron (especially based on his attitude the past playoff season) will take offense to this move saying that they think he can't carry his team to a ring. He is also going to be having nightmares of the harassment Kobe received of not being able to get a ring without the original superman. He is not going to work well with him. Also, I know Shaq is a superstar center, however, we know he is past his prime and will simply just be a center. I think counting the Cavs into the Finals next year will be the echo mistake of everyone counting them in the Finals this past season. I hope Nike learned their lesson but keeps pumping out awesome commercials!

But that was not the trade she was really focused on. She wanted to spill her guts out for a trade that she wished it never happened.

Magic/Nets Trade:

Sigh...why am I having thoughts of Grant Hill right now? CLee gone - really? WTF? I understand VC is going to assist our team in an amazing way, however, for the cost of a Rookie that shined this year ??? We have had JJ since trade and have yet to use his tru ability and, in my thoughts, are definitely stunting his NBA growth, yet we throw away CLee who rose to the occasion without much effort? Really? I believe sleep will be lost over that move. I hope they do get Turk back and everything falls into place but right now I am mourning my CLee loss. I think the team i despise the most in this league (Raptors) are haunting me. With Carter being there and now coming to my #1 team and KAPONO on my #2 Team Philly (shivers). Anyway, as a girl I have to comment how excited i am that the Sixers are going back to the Old School Logo - woohoo!

All in all, I CAN NOT WAIT FOR 2009-2010 SEASON! I love this game!!!!!

Much Love
Colleen
#LadyBallers

P.S. also, only CLee can make me a Nets fan - which now i will be =)

As for what I think? There will be a whole separate entry for that as well as my thoughts on the other trades. I'd like to thank these ladies for participating! The next season can't come soon enough.

Follow me on Twitter. The name is @TheNoLookPass. And follow these women on Twitter as they have loads of B-Ball knowledge. Paige is @paigeiam, Sara is @Gilamuffin, Michelle is ~~@insanemusings~~ @NBAmusings, and Colleen is @ColleenBurns. I wish these girls were either my neighbors or roommates.

Sources: Vince Carter Headed to Orlando

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:00:33 -0500

It didn't take long for the Orlando Magic to respond to the Cavs by acquiring an over-the-hill transcendent superstar of their own.

Just a matter of a few hours after the Cavs and Suns made the trade for Shaquille O'Neal official, the team that ended Cleveland's dream season -- the Orlando Magic -- have agreed to deal that will send Courtney Lee, Rafer Alston, and Tony Battie to the New Jersey Nets for Vince Carter.

Per league source s:

The New Jersey Nets have agreed to a trade in principle with the Magic that will send Vince Carter and Ryan Anderson to Orlando for Rafer Alston, Tony Battie and Courtney Lee, two league sources told ESPN.com.

The two sides are expected to a complete the trade by the end of the day.

The trade would give the Magic even more star power on their quest to win an NBA championship. The addition of Carter to a lineup that already consists of All-Star players Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson would make Orlando the favorite to win the Eastern Conference title next year if the franchise also finds a way to bring back Hedo Turkoglu, who will opt out of his contract this summer.

Don't kid yourself. If you're a Cavs fan, this move is scary, especially if Turkoglu comes back. You're rolling out a starting five of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis, Hedo Turkoglu, Vince Carter, and Jameer Nelson. If you think last month provided some mismatch problems for the Cavs, then you haven't even heard of the definition for "mismatch problems" yet.

Four of those guys are All-Stars, and the one guy who wasn't -- Hedo -- sure as hell plays like one.

The Cavs have done a lot in addressing Howard by acquiring Shaq. But how do they match up with the 6'10" Lewis and Turkoglu and the 6'6" Carter? They had enough problems doing so in the Eastern Conference Finals. Acquiring help on the perimeter is absolutely critical as the Cavs and Magic continue their high-stakes poker game for Eastern Conference supremacy, one that will culminate next spring.

Some names to throw out there:

Shawn Marion, 6'7" SF (Age 31, unrestricted free agent, Toronto)
Rasheed Wallace, 6'11" PF (Age 35, unrestricted free agent, Detroit)
Ron Artest, 6'7" SF (Age 30, unrestricted free agent, Houston)
Charlie Villanueva, 6'11" PF (Age 25, restricted free agent, Milwaukee)
Lamar Odom, 6'10" PF/SF (Age 30, unrestricted free agent, Los Angeles Lakers)
Trevor Ariza, 6'8" SF (Age 24, unrestricted free agent, Los Angeles Lakers)
Marvin Williams, 6'9" SF (Age 23, restricted free agent, Atlanta)

Some Cavalier insiders have even mentioned the possibility of the team making an aggressive pursuit of Josh Childress, the 6'8" Atlanta Hawks swingman who decided to play in Greece this past season.

*Remember, the Cavs DO NOT have salary cap space and can only offer any one of these guys the midlevel exception of around $5.8 million to start for next season. That is probably less than the market value for any one of the players listed above, meaning the Cavs might have to get creative with sign-and-trades and draft picks.

The only thing we know for sure at this point is that the Magic are just as serious about winning this whole thing next June as the Cavs are. But with D-Howard secured long term, the stakes in Cleveland are a lot higher.

NBA Rumor Mill- Shaq & Nash Doesn't Work, Cavs' Part Owners Want Yao & Raptors to Sign-and-trade Bosh

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:50:40 -0500

Shaq & Nash Have to Part Ways?

Is it only a matter of time before Shaquille O'Neal leaves the desert? The Arizona Republic thinks so and are stating that Steve Nash may want it too.

Steve Nash met with general manager Steve Kerr in New York on Thursday, where the point guard made it clear that he wants to be sure about the roster before he sign an extension.

The Republic says, "The problem isn't a personality clash. It's that Nash and O'Neal can't co-exist on the court. You could not piece together a worse combination to defend the pick-and-roll, one of the most elementary plays in the NBA. It's one of the glaring flaws in this basketball team, and for that and other reasons, O'Neal must be traded in the coming months."

Shaquille O'Neal is better off on another team. Cleveland makes a lot of sense because they don't really run an offense any way. Cavs' coach Mike Brown says, "Give the ball to LeBron and hope things work out." Shaq would give some physicality to the team. If the Suns want to keep Nash, who could leave for New York next season, they better figure something out.

Cavs' Part Owners Want Yao

A deep run into the second round of the NBA Playoffs hasn't stopped the Rockets' most important piece from being mentioned in trade rumors. Houston's Yao Ming said a possible move to Cleveland was an "unknown." But if you read between the lines, it's hard to say he is completely opposed to the idea.

An Associated Press article helps give some insight into the situation.Yao spoke to his hometown Shanghai TV station and said he has "much affection" for the Rockets. Yao is beloved in the town where he was made the No.1 pick in 2002.

While Yao had not tasted a championship, he said Houston's drive to the second-round of the playoffs in 2009 had given him hope that the Rockets can contend next season.

A group of Chinese investors signed an agreement last month with the Cavaliers to become minority owners of the franchise, sparking the rumor of a move. It would come down to business, as Yao had an entire country of China behind him. No offense, Lebron but you can't mess with that. .

"I've already been with Houston for such a long time, I still have much affection for this team," Yao said. "Moreover, this past season we were very successful, and that let me see some hope.

Yao also made it clear he isn't playing favorites, saying, "Regardless of whether its a Chinese boss, or a foreign boss, they're both bosses and a boss is just a boss."

The Cavs have not made an official statement about wanting Yao, who has one guaranteed year left on his contract with Houston, including a player option for the 2010-11 season.

Cleveland has already had talks to get Shaquille O'Neal, so taking a stab at Yao makes sense.

The Rockets have a tough decision to make since Yao can't seem to stay healthy for an entire season. It is hard to imagine a Houston team without him on the team and they would have to get a great package to move him. Do the Cavs have that to offer? I doubt it.

Raptors Looking to Sign-and-trade Bosh?

The Toronto Raptors aren't keeping Chris Bosh. We all know this. So Toronto general manager Bryan Colangelo is doing his best to get maximum value from the Olympic gold medalist.

RealGM.com says that Colangelo "feels as though the team's best course of action is to sign-and-trade Chris Bosh. Bosh will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2009-10 season, which puts the Raptors in a difficult spot."

Listening to Brian Colangelo talk about it, you can totally understand why he is looking to make the move.

"We'll have the discussion, we'll talk about the pros and the cons, he'll most likely not sign it, and then we'll get in to next season, we'll figure out where we are," Colangelo said in an interview with The Fan 590 in Toronto. "In respect to the situation for him, there will be a handful of teams next year - I'm guessing between five and ten - which will have maximum allowable free agent money, which means Chris is subject to walk to one of those deals. But, I have to reiterate the point that keeps being overlooked - we're the only team that can offer him a full six years versus five years, 10.5% increases versus 8% increases ... Basically equates to a $30 million dollar difference. So, even if he wants to leave, he's still better served, and we're better served if he works a sign-and-trade with us where we can get some sort of an asset back from the team that he's going to. And, I think that's probably the thing that we'll both push for because he'll benefit from it and we'll benefit from it, and that's why it's probably not time to panic now and make a bad deal."

Bosh has reportedly expressed interest in playing with Miami, a move that would go a long way toward keeping Dwyane Wade in town. The problem is that Heat president Pat Riley isn't making any moves until he has Wade re-signed. I think Wade would stay if Bosh came to town, don't you?

Pacers Talk: I Think It's Time To Go After Odom

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:01:47 +0000

The Los Angeles Lakers have to pick between Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom to whom to sign and whom to go into free agency. Pardon the Interruption says that the Lakers should pick Trevor Ariza instead of Odom. Many people on the Internet say so as well.

And guess what?

The possibility of that happening is positive, so really, it's going to happen. And right now, the Pacers' bell should be ringing. They have to think about bringing in this wonderful kid, who just won his first NBA Championship.

And there may be a possible chance of him winning it again if he falls with the Pacers. With such superstars like T.J. Ford, Brandon Rush, Danny Granger, Jeff Foster, Marquis Daniels, lMike Dunleavy, Roy Hibbert, and Troy Murphy, it's time to bring in a new face to the team.

And the kid's name is Lamar Odom.

The Pacers have spread interest in Odom before in the 2007-2008 season when Jermaine O'Neal was at his worst in his career with Indiana. The Pacers were interested in Odom at the starting of the 2006-2007 season.

There were many trade rumors swirling that the Pacers would trade J.O. for L.O. And I actually thought it would happen, but I didn't want one of my idols to leave my favorite team for good. He did.

The Pacers traded Jermaine O'Neal to the Toronto Raptors for the fastest player in the NBA, T.J. Ford. Although T.J. Ford isn't a superstar point guard (just an above average one), he became a quick star with the Pacers, having career-highs in many categories.

But however, the Pacers could have went after a much better player in Lamar Odom. The Lakers would have agreed to the deal if they traded J.O. for Odom. Odom has all the skills. He has the size to take advantage of people with his 6'11" frame. He also can shoot as I have seen him hit big shots like shots from behind and above the arc.

He's pretty much like Troy Murphy, who has the same exact size and can do the same thing. But Odom is a thousand times better at it. And it's true, and hopefully, I think many of you agree with me on that.

When the O'Neal for Odom rumors spread, both players felt pretty happy actually going to a new home. Odom said he was, but not much of O'Neal, who was the heart and soul of the team at the time. People then expected too much out of him as they thought of Kobe Bryant with the Lakers.

I think Odom can fit very well with the Pacers squad. And when the Pacers sign him, I think they can be the team to beat as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Detroit Pistons chase after them to lead the division. Odom can make a very big difference, for sure.

The Pacers have struggled with rebounding. But with Odom on the team, I think they can be pretty successful. As watching some Pacers games on FSN, I have seen the Pacers go shoot for the long ball (many people dig it), and when one of the Pacers' shooters don't make it, no one is up at the rim to compete for the rebound.

And with Odom in, I think the Pacers will have a new lineup. A more improved one as well. I think they'll change completely as they probably might start Ford at point guard, Granger as shooting forward, Rush at shooting guard, Odom at Power Forward, and they think about putting Roy Hibbert as a starting center maybe.

It'll be a much different team, but a much better team as well. And every Indy fan will love that, wouldn't they? I think it's time to change, and the Pacers should.

The Pacers had three chances at getting Odom:

Trading T.J. Ford for Odom
Trading Jermaine O'Neal for Odom
Trading Ron Artest for Odom

Now they can't waste their fourth oppurtunity, which may be their last. It's time to bring him in.

Bring in the candy-obsessed Odom, because he can make a huge difference. And with him on the team, an NBA Finals title may be inching closer and closer by the second. And no one would take down that chance, would they?

I bet not.

Needs and Assets: Atlantic Division

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:00:00 -0800

Now that the season is over and we're a week away from the draft, the real fun begins. We've entered the time where speculation takes over. The Trade Machine gets fired up and free agents jump ship to move on to greener (read: more lucrative) pastures.

All the speculation and rumor mongering in the world is nothing without first identifying what teams need, what assets they have to move and whether or not they have the available cap to bring in a big name free agent (and whether or not they're willing to use said cap space).

Over the next few days we'll be giving an overview of each division and what each team will be trying to do this offseason. We'll start where rumors run rampant: the Atlantic Division.

Boston Celtics
Draft Pick(s): 58th
Free Agents: Stephon Marbury, Leon Powe, Glen Davis & Mikki Moore
Team Needs: Depth at PF/C & back-up PG
Tradeable Assets: Ray Allen has an expiring contract this season making him movable, and there have been rumors that the Celtics are shopping Rajon Rondo.

Any time a star player goes down, a team will have a hard time replacing him, and moving a bench player into the starting line-up will wreak havoc on a team's depth. This was abundantly clear with the injury to Kevin Garnett. His knee kept him out of the playoffs, and Boston was dependant on the production of Big Baby, Leon Powe and Mikki Moore. Davis and Powe filled in admirably for Garnett, but they could only do so much to match his intensity and production. All three back-up power forwards/centers are free agents heading into the offseason and Garnett's health is a big question mark.

Boston's biggest problem in addressing potential issues is their cap space (or lack thereof). They'll be significantly over the cap and reliant on brining players in using their mid-level exception. Their only other option is to make a trade.

There have been soom rumblings of a potential trade that would send Rajon Rondo to the Kings for Jason Thompson and Sacramento's fourth pick. This would solve one problem at back-up PF and create another at point guard. That would leave them without one of the better point guards in the league with no viable back-up to take his place. In that scenario, the Celtics would likely look to use the fourth pick on one of the available point guards in the draft. It would appear the Celtics don't have the depth at either position to make that deal.

Something Boston should consider is moving Ray Allen. His contract runs through the end of this upcoming season which makes him an asset to any team trying to shed salary for next season's free agent class. Allen showed he still has some bullets left in the chamber and has the outside shooting that any team would love to have. They could definitely exchange Allen for good, young players, and should consider it for long-term success. The problem is Ray Allen was Boston's best player in the playoffs this season, and moving him would be a big risk for the upcoming season if Garnett is healthy.

Philadelphia 76ers
Draft Pick(s): 17th
Free Agents: Andre Miller, Donyell Marshall, Theo Ratliff, Kareem Rush & Royal Ivey
Team Needs: PG & back-up C
Tradeable Assets: Thaddeus Young & Lou Williams make too little to get anything of equal value, and Andre Iguodala & Elton Brand make too much to move.

The Sixers went wild this past offseason locking up Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand into long-term deals. Those two are obviously their nucleus guys around which Philadelphia will build. Brand dealt with injuries that just so happened to coincide with the Sixers working their way back into contention in the East. So questions remain heading into this offseason about whether Brand is a good fit with the other players on this team (i.e. Iguodala, Sam Dalembert, Lou Williams, Thad Young, etc.).

The Sixers have already addressed two of their most pressing needs: coaching and outside shooting. Eddie Jordan is a good coach. He deserved another shot, and should make the most of it with this club. Philly also brought in Jason Kapono, one of the best statistical three-point shooters in the league, in exchange for Reggie Evans. Williams, Young and Willie Green just aren't consistent enough from three-point range, and the Sixers will need good spot-up shooters to compliment Brand. Brand demands double-teams, so he'll need reliable outside shooting to keep defenses honest and give him the ability to go to work down low. Kapono should give the Philly offense a legitimate deep threat.

The biggest concern this offseason will be the potential departure of Andre Miller to free agency. Miller was the driving force for the Sixers after the Brand injury averaging nearly 17 points, 6.6 assists and 5 rebounds after the All-Star break. He has been the veteran leader that a young team like Philly desperately needs and other teams would love to have. Miller is 33, so there could be concerns giving out anything more than a 3-year deal. There certainly will be at least one team willing to give him a contract along those lines, and the Sixers may not be willing to match it.

The Sixers may decide to hand the PG duties to Lou Williams, but this would be a mistake. Williams is a scorer and exciting player, but he just isn't the guy to run a team. If they let Miller walk, look for Philadelphia to address the point guard situation in the draft especially if Ty Lawson falls to them at 17.

New Jersey Nets
Draft Pick(s): 11th
Free Agents: Stromile Swift & Maurice Ager
Team Needs: SF, PF & back-up everything
Tradeable Assets: Bobby Simmons' albatross contract expires at the end of the season and could be used. The Nets also have an abundance of young players with moveable contracts.

The Nets have a talented pieces especially at PG, SG and C, but they need to improve their depth and the forward positions. Yi Jianlian has skills and could develop into something special, but he is an inconsistent shooter and isn't a dependable post player. Bobby Simmons is nowhere near worth the money he is being paid, but he is a very good outside shooter. He is the type of player that should be brought off the bench, but he is forced to start on this club. Josh Boone fell out of grace getting 10 fewer minutes per game last season despite fantastic defensive Per 36 numbers.

It may seem strange reading that one of the Nets' needs is SF when there are 4 already on the roster, but all of those players seem to be back-ups. The one player that could make that point moot is Ryan Anderson. Anderson showed some growth as the season progressed and seemed to be the guy late in his rookie year. He may be able to develop into a legit starter.

The real need is at power forward. Yi has the length to play the position, but he doesn't rebound like a seven-footer. Eduardo Najera is a roster filler at this point of his career. The problem is, outside of Blake Griffin, most of the power forwards in this year's draft are projects or have a lot of question marks. DeJuan Blair should be available at 11 and could be a good fit. They also could look to move Bobby Simmons' expiring contract in exchange for a PF and take a prototypical point guard in the draft to spell Devin Harris or run a small lineup. Outside of those options, the Nets don't have the cap to get a game-changer at the position; they could bring in an MLE guy.

Toronto Raptors
Draft Pick(s): 9
Free Agents: Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker, Joey Graham, Jorge Garbajosa & Jake Voskuhl
Team Needs: SG, SF, & C
Assets: Chris Bosh is very moveable at this point, but do the Raptors want to do that?

The Raptors have maneuvered themselves into a very favorable cap position. Shawn Marion's $17 million is now off the books, and that gives them a lot of wiggle room this offseason. Unfortunately they also have a lot of needs to address with that cap space. Toronto has about $12 million available to spend on free agents and will need to use it on multiple positions.

The biggest needs are at the wing positions with Marion and Anthony Parker heading into free agency and Joey Graham a restricted free agent. Compaound that with the Jason Kapono trade, and the Raptors are left without a single SG or SF on the roster. I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure a team can't win with only point guards or power forwards on their roster.

Expect them to try and re-sign Parker and give Graham his qualifying offer. There shouldn't be a bidding war for those two players, and the Raptors should be able to keep them without breaking their bank. Marion will go where the money is, but Toronto might not be the team that wants to spend it on him. Center will be the toughest position to fill. Andrea Bargnani is still developing and could become a very good player, but his lack of rebounding is worrisome. Bargnani was significantly better as a starter last season, so Toronto could be looking for a back-up that makes up for his rebounding numbers.

Demar Derozan seems like the pick for the Raptors if he falls to them. He's raw, but he could develop into something special. He also addresses a need at both SG and possibly SF. Derozan may not help the Raptors immediately, but he could be a project that pays off for them. If they're looking for more immediate impact, the Raptors could consider Gerald Henderson. Henderson is more polished and older than Derozan. He's also a much better outside shooter and could be a full time starter before the season is up. If another team talks themselves into taking Derozan before the Raptors, Henderson wouldn't be a booby prize.

New York Knicks
Draft Pick(s): 8th
Free Agents: Chris Wilcox, Nate Robinson & David Lee
Team Needs: PG, SG & C
Assets: A lot of expiring contracts, but they'll need those to go crazy in the free agent market next offseason.

The Knicks have two goals this offseason: 1. Re-sign fan favorites Nate Robinson and David Lee and 2. Hold on to as much available cap space as they can for next offseason.

It would be a PR nightmare to lose Lee or Robinson at this point, so it would appear that the Knicks are going to bring back both of their restricted free agents. They have no cap room available this offseason to spend on other free agents, so they'll have to be okay with bringing back the slam dunk champ and their all-hustle guy. Both flourished under Mike D'Antoni (what else is new?), so they will be cashing in. On the bright side, they are both restricted free agents, so New York can match any offer.

They do have the ability to move some expiring deals to bring in more talent since they are severly lacking in that department, but don't expect it. The Knicks have been building for the free agent bonanza next season and shouldn't jepordize that. It would make more sense for the Knicks to use Lee or Robinson in a sign-and-trade scenario if they really wanted to bring in new blood.

No offense to Chris Duhon, but he isn't the prototypical Mike D'Antoni point guard. The draft will be the best place to address that issue with a glut of very good point guards declaring. Stephen Curry, Jrue Holiday, Brandon Jennings and Jonny Flynn could all be available for the Knicks to take at 8. There is also a possibility that New York could trade up and make a run at Ricky Rubio. No matter where they end up picking, the Knicks should end up with a new point guard.

Exploring the Cleveland Cavaliers' Offseason Options, Part 3: Detroit's Rasheed Wallace

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:15:00 -0500

When you hear and read about the Cavs' offseason plans in the wake of the team's devastating season-ending loss to the Orlando Magic, many rumors and suggestions may follow one particular pattern: shakeup.

You will read about trades that gut the very essence of a 66-win team that pretty much tied the NBA record for best home record. You'll see names like even Delonte West being included in imaginary blockbuster trades. Even the Cavs' coveted young project, J.J. Hickson, as well as draft picks will be thrown by the wayside as overlooked throw-ins.

Or you'll see trades that force teams to take the Cavs' garbage for All-Star players. Teams don't want expiring contracts for franchise guys, especially franchise guys whose own deals are expiring in 2010, anyways. In either sense, they are pie-in-the-sky propositions that have less than a one percent chance of coming to fruition.

So although it takes two to tango (and make a trade), it only takes one to make a move in free agency. And given the Cavs' weakness in the frontcourt, their lack of another offensive weapon, and their desire to have a defensive big man help out with guys like Dwight Howard, they may be turning to an old nemesis this summer in free agency:

Rasheed Wallace.

Wallace is an unrestricted free agent this summer following his 14th season in the league. He turns 35 in September, but he's still more than capable of being an extremely solid third option behind LeBron James and Mo Williams. In 66 games this past season (including 63 starts), the four-time All-Star averaged 32.2 minutes per game to go with 12.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks. He also shot 35.4 percent from 3-point range, going 113-for-319 from beyond the arc.

The knock on Wallace was his extremely disappointing first-round series against these very Cavs, where the unmotivated and uninterested Wallace averaged just 6.5 points and 6.3 rebounds while shooting a putrid 36.7 percent from the field. But those numbers may seem like outliers, as the temperamental Wallace played in all 17 postseason games in 2008 as the Pistons went all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.

In those 17 games, Wallace put up 13.2 points and 6.4 boards in 34.4 minutes while shooting 24-for-75 (32.2 percent) from downtown. That postseason run included ousting Howard and the Magic in five games in the second round, a series in which Wallace helped Detroit's bigs do a great job on the 6'11" Howard.

With the Cavs, Wallace would help Cleveland, for once, be the team creating the mismatches. He would probably be best coming off the bench, so it's questionable about whether or not the Cavs should even look into bringing him in if he's not comfortable with that. But for a team that has looked at guys like Donyell Marshall and Joe Smith as veteran big men to come off the bench in the past, there is no doubt that Wallace would be twice as good as Marshall and Smith ever were, despite the fact that the former North Carolina Tar Heel is as enigmatic as any player in the NBA.

The best option for both sides would be throwing the entire midlevel exception at Wallace for between $5.5 million and $5.8 million. That means that Wallace, who made about $13.7 million with the Pistons this past season, would have to take a paycut of about $8 million. He is going to have to take a paycut regardless, as he won't sniff $13 million in free agency from anybody.

Wallace also won't get the $8 million per year that he says he's looking for this summer, but he'd be wise to realize that playing for the midlevel exception and being the sixth man for a team as hungry as ever to win its first championship would be the best for his career at this point.

Also remember that there were rumors last March that Wallace was looking for a buyout from the Pistons for the last year of his contract so that he could go join the Cavs for their stretch run. More reports suggested that Cavs' big man and former Piston Ben Wallace was in Rasheed's ear telling him about how good of a fit he'd be in Cleveland. So the concept of Rasheed to the Cavs definitely isn't a foreign one.

Wallace probably has about two, maybe three, productive years left in his career. He can be counted on for about 12 points and seven boards for the next two years at least, which would be lethal coming for a Cavs team.

The team's best option would be to give Wallace a two-year deal for the midlevel exception with a player option for a third year. This also wouldn't sacrifice the team's position in the summer of 2010, when many Cavs fans want the team to make Raptors power forward Chris Bosh the center of their attention.

There would be no trades involved. No "getting creative." No countless hours on RealGM's or ESPN's Trade Checkers. No giving up on J.J. Hickson or, God forbid, Delonte West. The team also keeps its draft picks. Just a nice, clean free agent signing.

Because doesn't gutting a 66-win team seem kind of silly to you?

Trade Speculation And The Bulls' Offseason

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 01:31:21 +0000

Every Bulls fan thinks he/she has a brilliant idea for the perfect trade, if only Jerry Reinsdorf would take the time to listen. I'm no exception. I found a few trade ideas on Blog-a-Bull (my personal favorite Bulls blog) that I've provided links to, some good, some lousy. I'll throw in a couple ideas of my own as well. Feel free to share your own ideas in the comments.

Washington/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: PF Antawn Jamison, F Darius Songaila, and #5 pick
Wizards get: PG Kirk Hinrich and F Tyrus Thomas
I'm not a fan of this idea, and I don't think the Wizards would like it either. The Wizards would lose their only good post player (which are hard to come by right now), and we would have an undersized backcourt (if Gordon stays) with atrocious defensive abilities. John Salmons would be our starting SG if Ben Gordon left, and I'm not sold on Salmons guarding quick shooting guards.

Spurs/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: F Bruce Bowen and C Fabricio Oberto
Spurs get: G/F John Salmons
This looks terrible at first (and maybe second) glance, but there actually is some solid logic to back this up. Bowen and Oberto hold non-guaranteed contracts, and we would release them both. The Spurs would get a good scorer for free, and releasing Oberto and Bowen would allow them to go back to San Antonio after a brief wait. Meanwhile, the Bulls would free up some cap space to re-sign Ben Gordon. However, I do like Salmons and the extra offense he brings, and, if we fail to re-sign Gordon, Salmons' scoring would be missed. I'd rather get more for Salmons than just cap space, if at all possible. Otherwise, we should just keep him, as he played pretty well for us last year.

Clippers/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: #1 pick
Clippers get: PG Derrick Rose
This looks terrible at first, second, and all subsequent glances. That's because it is terrible. It's downright awful. Derrick Rose is going to be a superstar, and he makes everyone around him better. Blake Griffin will likely be a very good player in the NBA, but he's not a sure thing (nothing is, just look at Michael Olowokandi), and Rose has proven he has what it takes to become an elite point guard. This trade idea deserves a communal booing. Boo!

Raptors/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: PF Chris Bosh
Raptors get: PG Kirk Hinrich and SF Luol Deng
This won't work. Why would the Raptors want Hinrich when they have Calderon? Why would they want two huge contracts when neither player was consistently healthy and productive last season? I'd love to see it happen, but it won't.

Pistons/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: SF Tayshaun Prince
Pistons get: SF Luol Deng and #26 pick
Easily the most poorly written post I've ever read. Add to that the fact that the Pistons would never be dumb enough to make the trade, and I'm honestly not sure why I even bothered mentioning the post. Comic relief, I guess.

There are also tons of ideas involving package deals with the Blazers, most of which involve Hinrich leaving and Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw coming to Chicago. Provided we don't give up much else, I like that idea. Here are some ideas of my own:

Bulls/Kings 2-way
Bulls get: F/C Jason Thompson, SF Donte Greene and PG Beno Udrih
Kings get: PG Kirk Hinrich and #16 pick (or future 1st round pick)
With this scenario, we get a solid PF who can rebound consistently and play three positions fairly well (he had a 15.7 PER as a PF and a 16.1 PER as a C, according to 82games.com). Udrih could also be a serviceable backup for Rose, while the Kings would get a much-needed upgrade at point guard. They already have the 4th pick in the draft, which they could use to replace Thompson, and they could use the Bulls' 16th pick to improve that awful bench of theirs. Greene makes the salaries balance out, which is the only real reason his name appears in the trade.

Hornets/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: PF David West
Hornets get: F Tyrus Thomas and G/F John Salmons
I think West would complement Noah well, as West could use his range to stretch the D, freeing Noah up down low. Both could rebound well and run the court, which would keep our up-tempo offense going, and the Bulls would finally have the low-post scoring threat they've needed. The Hornets, in return, would get Thomas to replace West, and maybe they could do a better job of getting him to use his potential. Chris Paul could work some nice alley-oops with Tyrus, and Salmons would provide the Hornets with a much-needed scorer.

Hawks/Bulls 2-way
Bulls get: SG Joe Johnson and C Randolph Morris
Hawks get: PG Kirk Hinrich and G/F John Salmons
This is not very likely to happen, but, if Mike Bibby doesn't re-sign with Atlanta, they'll need a point guard. Salmons could help replace Johnson's scoring, and Hinrich would do a good job of replacing Bibby. Johnson's a free agent in 2010, so the Hawks might want to at least explore the possibility of moving him, since there's no guarantee he'll stay beyond 2010. Morris balances the salaries, and does little else in this deal. I would really love to see this deal happen, but, once again, I think the chances of this happening are slim.