It was just announced that the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York will be enshrining two players in July.  The honorees will be Cal Ripken, Jr., who spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles, and lifetime Padre Tony Gwynn.  On the surface, their induction is a no brainer.  Both men achieve the 3,000 hit mark.  Ripken, for one, was credited with saving baseball after the calamity of the 1995 player's strike by breaking Lou Gehrig's record for consecutive games played.  Gwynn meanwhile won eight batting titles in his career.  In an ordinary year, it would have taken zero explanation for why they were voted in...but as it turns out, this is no ordinary year.

Overshadowing Ripken and Gwynn is another player whose name appeared on the ballot for the first time this year.  While Ripken nearly set a record by appearing on 98.5% of the ballots and Gwynn was given the green light on 97%, Mark McGwire's name was checked on only 23%.  Like Ripken, McGwire was credited with "saving baseball" when his historic chase for the single season home run record (along with Sammy Sosa's competition) fueled a media frenzy that made the sport interesting again.  During that Summer of 1998, McGwire not only caught Roger Maris' 61 home run mark, he shattered it and achieved a mark that many believed would never be caught again when he smashed home run number 70 on the final day of the season.  This was not the first time McGwire had achieved records.  As a rookie in 1987, "Big Mac" (as he was affectionately referred to as throughout his playing days) set a rookie record of 49 home runs, missing his shot at becoming the first player to hit fifty in over a decade when he missed the final weekend for the birth of his first child.  He then became the first player to hit more than thirty in his first four seasons.  In all, had it not been for missing most of three seasons to injuries, as well as retiring early due to injuries, McGwire likely would have smashed the career record for bombs.  Teams McGwire played for were also more successful due to his presence.  Unlike Ripken and Gwynn, McGwire does have a World Series ring.  Without a doubt, McGwire was always a bigger draw than either of the players who cruised into the Hall this year.

The odds of McGwire ever joining them is slim, though.  While his press conferences in 1998 were fawned over, the same men who deified him then have made him a pariah due to another interview that was less to their liking.  In 2005, the U.S. Senate held hearings about steroids in the game of baseball, mainly because of an investigation that had uncovered a lab that provided the illegal drugs to Barry Bonds.   There was also a "tell all" book from a disgraced former teammate of McGwire that implicated "Big Mac" as a steroid user.  During the hearings, McGwire basically pled the fifth amendment and was prosecuted in the courtroom of public opinion.  Other players called in to testify, and certainly just as guilty, adamently denied any wrongdoing.  One player, Rafael Palmerio, was later caught in the newly instituted drug testing.  However, since these players went on the record (likely perjuring themeselves), they have been given more lenience.

At the heart of the matter is that these players played in a flawed generation.  McGwire's rookie year of 1987 saw an explosion in home runs.  In all, twenty-eight players surpassed the thirty home run mark.  Only thirteen had done so the two years prior.  Cracking the top-50 in the sport required at least 26 bombs.  To explain light hitters like Matt Nokes and Mike Pagliarulo being able to smash more than thirty home runs, the conspiracy theorists hatched up a story about Rawlings wrapping the balls tighter.  Major League Baseball laughed off the loony suggestion and ignored the actual cause (all players developing forearms like Popeye) of amazing home run production.  And why wouldn't they?  The fans loved watching the majestic blasts and the media enjoyed writing about them.  Seats were filled constantly and new stadiums popped up like Starbucks.

No player filled those new seats better than the goliath known as Big Mac.  His arrival in a visiting town did for baseball what a Michael Jordan road trip did for basketball.  In a world of steroid popping players, where former defensive specialists were a threat to clear the bases on a hung slider, none of them held a candle to Mark McGwire.  Yet the most dominant player of the generation will be punished while those who did the same, with fewer results, will probably get their invite to Cooperstown.

Which brings me to the current inductees:  Why do they deserve enshrinement?  If McGwire is disqualified because he is known to have taken a supplement called Andro (which was not only allowed by MLB, but legal to buy at any mall front vitamin store) and suspected of taking worse--why are Ripken and Gwynn above suspicion of cheating?  Ripken played in more than 2,600 consecutive games without ever taking a break.  It was rare for him to even come out of a game early.  Who is to say he never took a steroid cycle to improve his recovery time and help him get over the sprains and strains that kept other players from making the same achievement?  Tony Gwynn was never a big power hitter, but he was known to use an extremely tiny bat to make sure his bat speed was good enough to spray singles.  Could he have corked his bat to give him an even lighter bat?  Obviously, I have no proof of either of these things, but there should be a cloud of suspicion in this extremely cynical era we live.

Then, of course, there are the other players who played during the time frame McGwire shook fear into opposing pitchers.  My favorite player, Kirby Puckett, saw his home run numbers explode in the late eighties after beginning his career as a doubles hitter.  Perhaps he had some chemical help.  Nolan Ryan somehow managed to get better as he reached his fourth decade of life.  Steroids certainly could have helped his body recover quicker between starts.  Should every player who took the field from 1987 to 2001 have their plaque removed?

As I see it, the Baseball Hall of Fame's purpose is to honor the greatest players of every generation.  Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth were enshrined even though their behavior was certainly upsetting to the fanbase of their time, because their exploits on the field were greater than their contemporaries.  Now, the voters want the Hall to become an arbiter of moral values.  In that case, only Dale Murphy and his boy scout behavior is probably the only player who belongs.  Of course, he again was denied admittance this year--which is probably just as well, he had some suspicious home run spikes once the steroid era began.  As the current precedent shows, suspiscion is all it takes.

The trading deadline in the NBA is a day I look forward to like a child does Christmas morning.  There are only a few days like this for me.  Major League Baseball's trade deadline, the NBA draft, national signing day, the NFL draft, the first day of March Madness...ironically, Christmas is not one of those days.

Now that the deadline has passed, it is time to analyze the outcome of the buzzer beating deals:

TRADE # 1:  Seattle Supersonics/Sacramento Kings/Denver Nuggets/Portland Trail Blazers

The first deal to go down was the days largest blockbuster.  (Blockbuster may be a little strong.)  In it, the Sonics came away with the biggest prize in Earl Watson.  (Prize may be a little strong.)

Sonics:

Players Received:  PG - Earl Watson, SG/SF Bryon Russell, and a future second round pick, all from Denver

Players Given up:  C - Vitaly Potapenko to Sacramento, PF - Reggie Evans to Denver

From a talent standpoint, the Sonics gave up more than they brought in even though they claimed the most sought after player who changed hands on the day.  Watson will be the Sonics second string point guard (something the Sonics sorely needed).  He is a huge upgrade over Rick Brunson and will give the team a better defensive presence on the perimeter when he spells Luke Ridnour.

That being said, the Sonics filled one void and created another.  What made the Sonics so strong last season was a backcourt of Ridnour, Ray Allen, and Rashard Lewis that filled up the hoop, and a platoon of big men who gooned it up on the inside.  In the past few weeks, the Sonics have jettisoned three of those post players, leaving a skeleton crew who will now have to ration their fouls.  On the other hand, that dynamic was not working well this season, perhaps due to the constant discord of the goon squad.  Both Evans and Potapenko had requested a trade, and Danny Fortson (who is still in Seattle) also demanded to be moved.  Freeing up playing time may create more harmony.

Bryon Russell was a salary cap throw-in with an expiring contract.

Denver:

Players Received:  PF - Reggie Evans from Seattle, SF - Ruben Patterson and SG - Charles Smith from Portland

Players Given up:  PG - Earl Watson, SG/SF Bryon Russell, and a future second round pick to Seattle, and SG - Voshon Lenard to Portland.

Denver exchanged problem children and still failed to bring in the sharpshooting two guard they have coveted for two seasons now.  They did bring in a talented rebounder in Evans who will provide depth on a front court maligned with injuries.  Ruben Patterson will bring defensive tenacity that has been missing with a banged up Eduardo Najera.  The fact that Patterson and Evans both wore out their welcome on their previous teams can only be mitigated because the Nuggets were able to schlough off two guards who had complained about playing for Denver.

Portland:

Players Received:  SG - Voshon Lenard from Denver, PF - Brian Skinner from Sacramento

Players Given up:  SF - Ruben Patterson, SG - Charles Smith to Denver, SF - Sergei Monia to Sacramento

Portland may have come out best in this deal.  They receive some salary cap relief by exiling the pouty (and perhaps rapist-y) Patterson for Lenard.  They also picked up a useful power forward who can spell Zach Randolph in Skinner.  Being able to get rid of another player who helped to create the team's bad public persona slightly make up for the team's failure to win the Penny Hardaway cap relief derby.

Sacramento:

Players Received:  SF - Sergei Monia from Portland, C - Vitaly Potapenko from Seattle

Players Given up:  PF - Brian Skinner to Portland

In return for one reserve, the Kings brought in two reserves.  Considering Sacramento's lack of depth, this trade provided them with a decent value.

TRADE # 2:  Oklahoma City Hornets/New Jersey Nets

Oklahoma City:

Players Received:  PF/C - Marc Jackson, PF - Linton Johnson

Players Given up:  SF - Bostjan Nachbar

Fans of the Hornets appear to be disgruntled by this move.  Odds are it is because their expectations were too high in anticipation of something involving J.R. Smith.  (There was a wild--and collective bargaining agreement illegal--rumor of Smith being packaged with David West and two first round picks for Kevin Garnett.)  Considering what the Hornets had to achieve before the deadline, this was a fantastic acquisition, though.  Considering that "Birdman" Andersen is out of the league and that Jackson Vroman is out for the season after breaking his wrist, two power forwards for the little used Nachbar was a coup.  While getting a superstar post man is always an objective, it is typically little more than a dream...particularly considering what assets the Hornets had to trade.  So, a solid but unspectacular body with six fouls and the capability to rebound should have tickled the fanbase (particularly when they were pumped at the prospect of bringing in Steven Hunter only a couple of weeks ago).

Losing Nachbar means the Hornets have no outside sniper unless Arvydas Macijauskas starts showing life.  Considering how often Nachbar actually came through as an outside sniper, though, they are basically in the same boat now.

Supposedly, another deal was turned in by the Hornets.  The Hornets would have sent J.R. Smith to San Antonio and the Spurs would have shipped Brent Barry to a mystery third team.  That third team would have sent a player (rumored to be a big man) to Oklahoma City and Byron Scott was reportedly excited about the deal.  Unfortunately, the paperwork was faxed in about five minutes past the deadline and was nixed by the league.  Now, Smith and Scott are fueding through the media after Smith threw a tantrum and Scott accused him of lying.  Look for Smith the be traded before the draft.

New Jersey:

Players Received:  SF - Bostjan Nachbar

Players given up:  PF/C - Marc Jackson, PF - Linton Johnson

"Bokie" may become the outside shooter he threatens to bein pregame warm-ups when the clock is running at some point, but that was not New Jersey's goal in making this deal.  If they could have traded Jackson for nothing more than a Charlotte second rounder, they would have pulled the trigger there first.  What motivated the Nets was shaving a couple million dollars from their payroll in hopes of skating under the luxury tax threshold at season's end.

TRADE # 3:  Cleveland Cavaliers/Seattle Supersonics

Cleveland Cavaliers: 

Players Received:  SG - Ronald "Flip" Murray

Players given up:  SG - Mike Wilks

This is the coup of the day, and it has not received nearly enough coverage.  The Cavs were in need of a shooting guard since they may be without Larry Hughes until the playoffs, and they basically stole Murray from Seattle.  For those who do not remember, or never knew, Murray was fantastic two seasons ago for the Sonics when Ray Allen was hurt.  Then, when Allen came back, minutes were scarce for Flip, who has been in a sort of pergatory ever since.

Murray could have vetoed this trade, and forfeited his "Bird Rights" which could have been used to get a bigger contract next Summer when he will likely be a hot commodity.  He is taking a calculated risk that he will be able to show the same form of two seasons ago as an audition for a team with cap space.

Seattle Supersonics:

Players received:  SG - Mike Wilks

Players given up:  SG - Ronald "Flip" Murray

They got nothing.  This was done specifically to grant Murray a chance he deserves.

TRADE # 4:  Cleveland Cavaliers/Philadelphia 76ers

Clevaland Cavaliers:

Players Received:  SF - Lee Nailon, and a 2006  second round pick

Players given up:  A conditional 2006 second round pick

Again, the Cavs got something (that may be overstating) for nothing.  Nailon was another player who showed promise multiple seasons ago before being buried in depth charts.  He has the ability to score and may be used as a sparkplug off the bench for the Cavs.

Philadelphia 76ers:

Players Received:  A conditional 2006 second round pick

Players given up:  SF - Lee Nailon, and a 2006  second round pick

They gave up a second round pick and a little used player for a possible pick.  I have no clue why they made this deal.

In all, it was a pretty lame trade deadline.  No big stars changed hands, and most playoff contenders took the day off.

Most trades involving a proven superstar for a prospect and cap relief are one sided.  Today's New York/Orlando trade is no different, just not on the side you would expect.

It is not all Steve Francis' fault that his tenure in Orlando was disappointing.  The year before he arrived, the Magic were the worst team in the NBA.  To get "Franchise," Orlando sent their two best healthy players, including one of the top five players in the league, to Houston.  So, he came into a situation that was bad and technically getting worse.

That being said, Francis is one of the most overrated players in the NBA.  He's too short to play shooting guard full time, and makes no effort to run any offense that does not involve him taking the shot.  While I know my opinion is biased by my infatuation with "pass first" (also known as traditional) point guards like John Stockton, Steve Nash, T.J. Ford and Chris Paul, history has shown that "hybrid" point guards like Allen Iverson, Stephon Marbury and Gilbert Arenas have little success on a team level.  Coupled with the extravagant salaries the players in the latter category demand, I have a lot of trouble understanding why any team would have interest in turning their franchise over to such a player...particularly a franchise run by Isiah Thomas.

Thomas, you see, was a very successful point guard, on personal and team level.  By any standard, though, he was a traditional point guard that distributed to his teammates, and looked for his own offense only when the situation dictated.  Today, he acquired his third shoot-first point guard in two years as team president of the New York Knicks.  The first, is the most egregious of floor general ballhogs in the league, Stephon Marbury.  His second was a taller version of Marbury in Jamal Crawford.  Francis is a more athletic Marbury.  So in the position that most requires passing acumen, the Knicks now have three basketball vacuums.

For Orlando, pulling the trigger on the deal that sent Francis to New York for small forward Trevor Ariza and the expiring contract of "Penny" Hardaway was a no-brainer.  Francis refused to pass the ball to Dwight Howard, the team's franchise player of the future, and ate up a large portion of their salary cap.  The team, which is in full rebuilding mode, has now torn down the flawed team build of the past and now sits on a firm foundation.  In a deal last week, they acquired a more traditional point guard in Carlos Arroyo and twenty year old seven footer who was once drafted second overall in Darko Milicic.  Only one bad contract, Grant Hill, remains on the books and his deal is complete after next season.  That means the Magic will be under the cap this off season and should have tons of room to make a splash in the much stronger free agent class of 2007.

After this deal, the depth charts for the two teams looks something like:

New York

Not a true point guard on the roster.  Even the 5'9" Nate Robinson is a short shooting guard.  That give the team lots of flexibility in the back court since any one of their players, including Jalen Rose at the three, can bring the ball up the floor.  Since none of them really have any interest in passing, though, it is a stretch to say any of them can initiate the offense.

Orlando

With Howard, Milicic, Nelson, Ariza, and (to a lesser extent) Deshawn Stevenson to build around, the Magic have a high potential young nucleus to build around.  Their first round pick for this year is promised to Detroit, but they could reclaim that if they are among the worst five teams in the league.  If Hill remains injured, they should not win a whole lot of games for the rest of the season, meaning they could get one of the top picks in this draft.  Then in the off season they can play the free agent market and in 2007 they can look to sign a proven superstar to couple with Dwight Howard with all the cap room available.

It began with a wild idea I read in Chad Ford's ESPN column.  Four teams, eighteen players.  It blew my mind.  Being the nerd that I am, I entered it all into Excel to see how it would look on paper, ran some numbers, and became completely deflated. The numbers did not jive.  Not to be denied, I made some corrections and voila...I came up with the largest trade in NBA history.  Five teams, twenty-two players.

To see the trade breakdown, click on the links.  As promised, in those links, here is the analysis on why the trade should (or should not) happen.

 TEAM # 1:  New York Knicks

Players Received:  PG/SG - Steve Francis (ORL), PG - Sebastian Telfair (POR), PG - Keyon Dooling (ORL), SG - Charles Smith (POR), SF - Sergei Monia (POR), PF - Zach Randolph (POR), PF - Eddie Griffin (MIN), C - Theo Ratliff (POR), 2006 First Round Pick (MIN)

note:  Charles Smith is included specifically to make the trade work under the requirements of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  He would be released by New York immediately upon completion of such a deal.  Also, Minnesota's First Round Pick may not be a necessary component to make this deal happen.

Players Given Away:  PG/SG - Stephon Marbury (MIN), PG/SG - Nate Robinson (POR), SG/PG - Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (POR), SG/PG - Jamal Crawford (ORL), SF - Trevor Ariza (POR), PF - David Lee (POR)

Possible Depth Chart:  (not that anyone can read Larry Brown's mind)

Why the Knicks would make this trade:

If anyone treats their team like a fantasy sports roster, it is Isiah Thomas.  He knows that New York fans do not handle the status quo or rebuilding well, so a shake-up is the only solution to the Knicks' ineptness.  With money not being a problem, and salary cap relief nowhere in sight, the Knicks can take on all the additional expense this deal would bring them.  With all the typical business implications out of the way, this makes the team better from a talent standpoint.

Getting rid of Stephon Marbury, even if it is for Marbury-lite Steve Francis, is important to any plan that could make the Knicks respectable again.  Of course, in this deal, they accomplish that, keep their local flavor (Sebastian Telfair), upgrade the frontcourt with a potential all star (Zach Randolph), add a shotblocker (Theo Ratliff), and keep their most tradeable asset (Channing Frye).  If Minnesota threw in a first round pick, as Ford suggested, this would be the greatest deal in New York history.

Why the Knicks would not make this trade:

Telfair, Randolph, Francis, and Dooling are all talented, but their heads are really questionable.  That has never stopped Thomas in the past (see trading the future for Eddy Curry), so it probably would not be a major barrier.

TEAM # 2:  Portland Trail Blazers

Players Received:

PG/SG - Nate Robinson (NY), SG/PG Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway (NY), SF/SG - Trenton Hassell (MIN), SF - Trevor Ariza (NY), PF - David Lee (NY), C - Tony Battie (ORL)

Players Given Away:

PG - Sebastian Telfair (NY), SG - Charles Smith (NY), SF - Viktor Khryapa (MIN), SF - Sergei Monia (NY), SF - Travis Outlaw (ORL), PF - Zach Randolph (NY), Theo Ratliff (NY)

Possible Depth Chart:

Why the Blazers would make this trade:

 From a business stanpoint, this would be a slam dunk for the Blazers front office.  Since the days of the "Jail" Blazers, the team has sacrificed team success for the goal of acquiring players with a better image and salary cap relief.  Then, last season, they completely went against that business plan by signing Zach Randolph (who had already brushed with the law and brawled with teammates on multiple occasions) long term to a max deal.  However, due to his "base year compensation" status, Randolph can be traded at his old salary to the Knicks to, in essence, clear a lot more salary cap space than they are actually trading away, and make the image makeover almost complete.

That makes "Penny" Hardaway the key to this deal, even though he may never actually suit up in the black and red.  His $16 million contract expires at the end of the season, and with the $24 million that Randolph and Ratliff would have made alone, this is huge cap relief.  As for the image, that leaves only one player with "Jail" Blazers ties--Ruben "I'm a good person, I ain't no rapist" Patterson.  Patterson is in the last year of his deal, with a player option for next season.  He has been very dissatisfied with his role on the team.  To keep him from exercising that option, they may keep him buried on the bench after making such a deal.  This cap space would allow them to re-sign Joel Pryzbilla and to make a move for more help through free agency.

From a talent standpoint, this deal would not leave the cupboard bare.  They would lose some proven talent, but the Knicks would be sending three promising players in Nate Robinson, David Lee, and Trevor Ariza.  Robinson had the added value of being a local star.  Also, without becoming immediately better, the team will get a better draft slot and a shot at another regional fave, Adam Morrison.

Why the Blazers would not make this deal:

This deal would sap them of their proven star power.  Darius Miles, who is not a leader, would be their only veteran.  Sebastian Telfair, as the team's point guard of the future, was the rationale for not drafting Chris Paul.  Trading him away the next season would be tough from a public relations standpoint.

TEAM # 3:  Orlando Magic

Players received:

PG/SG - Marko Jaric (MIN), SG/PG - Jamal Crawford (NY), SF - Travis Outlaw (POR), PF - Mark Madsen (MIN)

Players given away:

PG/SG - Steve Francis (NY), PG - Keyon Dooling, C - Tony Battie

Possible Depth Chart:

Why the Magic would make this deal:

Like New York, the Magic need to rid themselves of their ball hogging point guard.  Plus, Francis' contract is the biggest barrier to completing the team's rebuild.  So, this is a great addition by subtraction.  At the same time, Orlando would get a promising young shooting guard who can help at the point in Jamal Crawford.  Mark Madsen has a reasonable contract for a big man and he can tutor the young towers of Milicic and Howard both of whom would have a plethora of available minutes after Battie was moved.

Why the Magic would not make this deal:

It is hard to find a downside for Orlando in this scenario.  The one problem is the contract of Marko Jaric.  He is wildly overpaid for his abilities and has six more years left on his deal.  That could hurt the team's plans for making a big splash in the 2007 free agent market.

TEAM # 4:  Minnesota Timberwolves

Players received:

PG/SG - Stephon Marbury (NY), SF - Viktor Khryapa (POR), C - Steven Hunter (PHI)

Players given away:

PG/SG - Marko Jaric (ORL), SG - Richie Frahm (PHI), SG/SF - Trenton Hassell (POR), PF - Mark Madsen (ORL), C - Eddie Griffin (NY), 2006 First Round Pick

Possible Depth Chart:

Without the first round pick, this deal makes some sense, although much less than for every other team.  The good news is that this deal does get K.G. the superstar sidekick he has not had since...Stephon Marbury.  The team gets rid of the mistake they made with Marko Jaric's contract.  Madsen and Griffin are not part of the team's long term plans.

Why the Wolves would not make this trade:

This is where the trade unravels.  Marbury, even if he had not poisoned every team he has ever played for, wore his welcome out in Minneapolis back during his rookie contract.  He complained about Minnesota, the team, and forced his trade to New Jersey.  It is unlikely they would want to deal with him again.

To get him, they would have to ravage their frontcourt depth.  Khyapa is really a small forward, and he would have to be K.G.'s primary back up at the four.  Steven Hunter was traded to Oklahoma City earlier in the season, but had the trade rescinded supposedly because he had tendonitis in his knees.  Regadless, he is an injury risk and would be the only reserve center to Mark Blount.

Folding for this season would be a decent plan if it were to improve draft stock, but if the first round pick was necessitated, that would no longer make sense.

TEAM # 5:  Philadelphia 76ers

I'm not going to go through the whole process with Philly.  Their participation is unloading Steven Hunter for Richie Frahm and maybe some second rounders.  Frahm would be immediately released, and the Sixers would do it strictly to get the injury prone seven footer and his six year deal off of their books.

FINAL ANALYSIS:

This deal will never happen.  Minnesota would be crazy to play their part, and none of the team's benefitting from Kevin McHale's bad judgement would be Boston.  Plus, even if this deal were actually floated, the trade deadline is less than one week away, so all the details for something this massive could not be handled in time.  This is sad, because all four of these teams needs a major overhaul.

It was fun to think about, though.