When I was younger, I used to love the NBA's All-Star Weekend.  I liked watching the best three point shooters drain shot after shot.  I liked watching the best dunkers contort their bodies wildly as they competed for style points.  I even enjoyed the all star game, even if it did amount to the same organization as a YMCA pick-up game (with incredibly talented goliaths).

Over the years my interest, along with (apparently) the interest of the rest of the civilized world, in the events has declined.  The league has fiddled with the formats to the point where a couple of years ago the slam dunk contest included a Wheel of Fortune of classic dunks the participants would have to emulate.  A rookie challenge was added, and now there is some sort of "skills" competition.

Gimmicks are not what this formerly great tradition needs.  The real reason that interest waned is that the games stopped being about providing entertainment for the fans and more about providing marketing for the league.  It is kind of like if you were a member of NetFlix and instead of them sending you the "Wedding Crashers" video you had in your cue, they sent you a DVD of skits about the benefits of joining NetFlix.  Let me explain...

Back in the day, established legends like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkens, et cetera, participated in the events that they were most apt for.  Now, the NBA force feeds the viewers young guys who are only admired by their hometown crowds (if that).  For instance, this year, former slam dunk champion Desmond Mason openly lobbied the NBA to include him and the leagues other former champions in an effort to make the dunk contest a real event.  Who is participating?  Rookies Nate Robinson and Hakim Warrick, and second year players Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala.  Granted, Smith is a former champion, but he is a former champion who won in a watered down competition.  Of the four competitors, only Iguodala is a starter for his team, and he is more known for his defensive prowess than his highlight reel.  I am a huge basketball junkie, and none of those players have me anxiously awaiting this competition.  Personally, I'd prefer the guys who make ESPN's top plays everynight...and it is not these guys unless you count them as being in the background in their warm-ups.

The three point competitors have not been announced yet, but if this is like the past few years, most of the competitors will be guys who wave towels for a living.  There will probably be a couple of joke entries of centers who never wander outside the paint, and I will not be watching.

If the league wants to market some of their up and coming players, I'm fine with that.  But isn't that what the Rookie/Sophomore challenge is all about?  Let those guys play their little scrimmage, and let the big boys who have developed a reputation show off in the individual spotlights.  And if guys like LeBron James turn them down, David Stern needs to make them.

On a completely different rant that also shows the stupidity associated with the All Star weekend, the Rookie/Sophomore Challenge rosters were announced today.  Five of the nine players on the rookie roster are point guards.  T.J. Ford who was a rookie two years ago apparently received a medical redshirt allowing him to be a sophomore this year.  This does not sound promising.

Even before Chris Andersen was suspended for violating NBA drug policy, the Oklahoma City Hornets were thin on the front line.  Andersen, at 6'10", spelled P.J. Brown (6'11") and occasionally David West (6'9").  It was a small line-up that could go ultra-small with Rasaul Butler (6'7") shifting to the power forward position.  Now that Andersen is gone, the team not only needs a player who can help in the post, they need a replacement for him.

Complicating matters is that the Hornets are actually decent.  Before the season started, had this scenario been mentioned, the likely response would have been:  "So what?  Let them play undersized, it will get the team a better draft slot."  Instead, the rejeuvenated team is actually battling for a playoff spot in the loaded Western Conference, getting to a .500 record with their win over Eastern Conference contending Milwaukee last night.  With the playoffs in their eyes, something will be done to strengthen the glaring weakness.  The question is "What?"

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Option 1:  In House

Coach Byron Scott recently mentioned that he only trust "eight or nine" of his players.  One of those was certainly Andersen, so that means he now feels comfortable with only seven of the players on his roster.  The good news about that is that there is room for someone who is already in Oklahoma City to step up and pick up the minutes that are now available.  The bad news is that these guys will have to get back in Coach Scott's good graces.

The Candidates:

Jackson Vroman (6'10")

Maciej Lampe (6'11")

Brandon Bass (6'8")

Of these three, Vroman is the most likely to step up.  He has already been the most consistently used reserve big man outside of "The Birdman."  Scott called him out specifically, though, when he was talking about his rotation.  He really brings little to the floor.  His defense is suspect and he spends more time around the perimeter on offense than trying to bang for offensive rebounds.

Lampe has the most potential to step up.  In the preseason, Lampe appeared to be more likely than David West to take the starting slot opened in the trade of Jamaal Magloire.  He even managed to lead the team in scoring in a couple of preseason games.  However, once the season began, Lampe was on the inactive list and has only played in two games this season.  He certainly has good potential, but injuries have derailed this season, and his inability to rehab from them has angered Coach Scott.  Even after the Andersen suspension and Lampe being healthy, Scott kept him on the inactive list.

Bass is a longshot.  The second round pick from the 2005 draft tends to play only in the fourth quarter of blowouts.  If the team had more depth at the power forward position, Bass would almost certainly be playing with the Tulsa 66ers of the Developmental league.  He is a longshot to get any significant playing time this season unless the Hornets get into a really bad injury situation.

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Option 2:  Trade

With the trading deadline rapidly approaching, the buzz is that the Hornets are seriously looking into the option of a trade.  As a trading partner, the Hornets are certainly attractive.  They were six million dollars under the salary cap before the Andersen suspension, and his departure cleared an extra two and a half.  That means the Hornets can take back up to $8.5 more in salary than what they send out.  This is a huge asset when trying to make a trade with a team who is over the salary cap (which is every team except OKC and the Charlotte Hornets).  The Hornets also have two first round picks in the upcoming draft.

That's the good.  The bad is that from a personnel standpoint, the Hornets do not have a lot to offer.  The seven or eight players on the roster that Scott would be willing to give up are not going to be players other teams are clamoring to get.  There may be some value in Lampe, since it is Scott's doghouse keeping him from production, and the guard position is loaded keeping foreign prodigy Arvydas Macijauskas on the end of the bench.  Neither of those players have been allowed to prove themselves, though, so it would be difficult to get a valuable rotation player in return.  That means the only trade asset of any real value is J.R. Smith.

Smith, who came to the NBA straight from high school, was the Western Conference Rookie-of-the-Month three consecutive months of the 2004-2005 season.  He began the season as the starting shooting guard, but was supplanted by Kirk Snyder when Smith fell into a shooting slump and angered Scott with his lack of effort on defense and in practice.  At twenty years old, he has tons of potential, and it would be tough to think the Hornets would give up on him this early in his career in hopes of barely making the playoffs.  For the right player, he might be available.

The Candidates:

Boston Celtics - Michael Olowokandi for a second round pick

This is the deal that should be done.  Boston acquired Olowokandi in last weeks blockbuster with Minnesota.  Odds are, Boston did not really want or need the "Kandiman" and would like to unload him in order to open up playing time for Al Jefferson.  Rumors are that the Celts, if they cannot find a suitable trade, will buyout Olowokandi's contract and waive him.  Considering that, the Hornets may be able to get him cheap.  They have the cap space to assume his contract, which is in the final year, and Boston would save some money and get a no-risk draft choice.

Seattle Supersonics - Vladimir Radmonovic for a first round pick; Vitaly Potapenko for Maciej Lampe or Bostjan Nachbar; Reggie Evans for Maciej Lampe

In an earlier blog post I lauded the logic of a Vladimir Radmonovic trade.  In the current scenario, he is less ideal for the team.  While he is tall, he is anything but a traditional post player.  It would still be a good trade in the long run.  In that same blog, I also mentioned a possibility of a Potapenko trade.  He is a traditional post and could fill the void left by Andersen.  Since that posting, though, Reggie Evans has begun making noise about wanting to be traded.  He is the shortest of the three, but probably the best rebounder.  He is tenacious on the boards and able to "goon" it up underneath.  If the Hornets could get him or Potapenko without giving up one of their rotation players (a first round pick would likely be overpaying, also), either could improve the team.

Toronto Raptors - Jalen Rose and Rafael Araujo for Desmond Mason and Arvydas Macijauskas; Charlie Villanueva for J.R. Smith and a 1st Round Pick

The first trade would be very short-sighted, the latter trade is very unlikely to even be discussed seriously.  Should the Hornets acquire Rose and Araujo for Mason, the Raptors would benefit from clearing cap space for next season.  Araujo is big, but has been very disappointing.  The Hornets would be rolling the dice that he could offer quality minutes.  Rose, on the other hand, is an alpha-scorer the team lacks.  His contract goes thru next season at approximately $15 million and would eat up all of their cap space.  His production certainly does not merit that, and his attitude is very likely to disrupt the chemistry of this overachieving team.  As for the second trade, it is entirely unlikely, but the Hornets would have to leap at such an opportunity if it became available.  Smith could replace the excitement the Raptors lost when they traded Vince Carter, and Villanueva is the kind of budding young player who could pair with Chris Paul for years to come.  Getting a young big for a guard is only something that might happen if Isiah Thomas were involved, though.

Denver Nuggets - Nene for J.R. Smith

Such a trade would do nothing for the Hornets short term.  Nene is out for the season with a knee injury.  For the long-term, it would be a good trade for Oklahoma City.  P.J. Brown is nearing the end of his career and Nene could be his aire apparent.  The Nuggets are in dire need of a shooting guard and would probably leap at getting Smith.

Miami Heat - Michael Doleac for Arvydas Macijauskas

Doleac is buried on the Heat depth chart and has been rumored to be on the market.  Whether the Heat would accept a potential sharp shooter for him is hard to say.

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Option 3:  Free Agent

There is typically a reason a player is not playing in the NBA, and it typically involves those player not being good enough.  This is certainly the worst choice if trying to make a playoff run.  That being said, some players are capable and wait until mid season to sign with a team.  Finding said player and convincing him that he would benefit from playing for the Hornets is hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, though.

Option 3A:  The D-League

The benefit of looking in the D-League is that the players are definitely in playing shape.  Talent-wise, however, they may not match some of the other free agents.

Candidates:

Ken Johnson

Peter John Ramos

Marcus Fizer

Of the three, Fizer is the most NBA seasoned.  He had several injury-plagued seasons for the Chicago Bulls.  Fizer is likely the best offensive player of the three, as well.  He currently is among the Developmental Leagues scoring leaders and rebounding leaders.  His downside is that he's also the shortest of the three.

Ramos is the tallest of the three.  At 7'4", he would be the only Hornet at or above seven foot.  Of course, it says something when a guy of that height cannot make an NBA roster.  In the D-League, he is among the leading shot blockers and rebounders, but the competition level is much lower than NBA competition.

Defensively, Johnson is probably the best of the three.  Even in the Developmental League, his offensive numbers are poor.  Considering the Hornets needs, though, he could be worth at least a ten day contract to see if he can provide the support they need.

Option 3B:  Former NBA players who are without a team

Candidates under this option may sound more sexy than the D-Leaguers, but that's until one sees them and the poor shape they are likely in right now.

Candidates:

Shawn Kemp

Rodney Rogers

Andrew DeClercq

Christian Laettner

Vin Baker

Keon Clark

Dennis Rodman

Robert "Tractor" Traylor

Paul Shirley

Several of these players are former All-Stars, but are long past their prime.  Of them all, Shawn Kemp is the player with the most desire to return.  After bloating himself out of the league, the player who used to be known as "Reign Man" has reportedly droped 55 pounds in an effort to interest teams.  Considering the Hornets situation, he may be worth giving a minimum contract.

Other players who could possibly be a short term stop gap include Vin Baker (who has had problems with alcohol abuse), Rodney Rogers (who is running a landscaping company right now) and Robert Traylor (who may not be able to play because of a heart defect).  All three are big bodies who provide offense, as well.  When in top form, any of the three could be starting for the Hornets, but at this point in their lives, none are close to that form.

Some of the more interesting candidates are Dennis Rodman and Christian Laettner.  Rodman is one of the best rebounders in NBA history, but his (shall we say) personality makes him tough to swallow.  Laettner is a former college legend and a solid NBA player who could possibly provide solid minutes.  The odds of him coming out of retirement to play for a borderline playoff team are slim.

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Addiction is a disease.

That point has been hammered home to me on a million occasions by my mother who is one of this state's greatest experts on the topic of addiction.  It is just as malignant as cancer and just as much of a handicap as a traditional physical disability.  Many people dismiss this because addiction is something one brings upon one's self, they believe addicts deserve the penalties they incur and compassion is at the bottom of their emotions when they hear of a story like Chris "The Birdman" Andersen.

For those who did not see it on the bottom of the ESPN scroll, or read it in their Sunday paper, the "Birdman" became the first person since Stanley Roberts in 1999 to fail an NBA administered random drug test.  That's saying something.  In a league that is known for its extreme life style--tattoos, gangsta attitude--no one has been caught partaking in a hard partying activity in seven years.  Unlike Major League Baseball's style of looking the other way, the NBA has actually held their players accountable.  Each player is called to participate in testing at random times four times each year, and while leeway is still given for "performance enhancing" drugs, a posititive test for recreational drugs comes with an automatic two year (minimum) ban. 

To put that penalty into perspective, Ron Artest stormed in to a crowd of paying customers and received a 73 game suspension.  Latrell Spreewell threatened to kill, then choked Coach P.J. Carlesimo for telling him to make crisper passes during practice.  An arbitrator ruled that Spreewell's suspension could only amount to one month.  At minimum, Chris Andersen's drug abuse suspension will last twice as long as a player who assaulted fans and attempted murder on his coach combined.  Most players who run askew of the league's drug policy, however, never return.

Now that he is gone, it might be important to understand who "The Birdman" was.  As a player, the guy was hardly an all-star.  For the season, he was averaging about five points and five rebounds coming off the bench to spell P.J. Brown, and for his five year career on both the Nuggets and Hornets for that matter.  He had a tenacity about him, though, that made him stand out.  Despite playing less than twenty minutes a game, he led the team in blocks (1.3) and made plenty of hustle plays that made up for his inability to make easy shots or his tendency to be foul prone.  On a national scale, he is likely most known for his embarrassing turn in the all-star weekend slam dunk contest last season.  After boasting prior to the event that it was "time for 'The Birdman' to fly," he failed to even make a dunk.  Nonetheless, his early departure put him in the public eye.

It was that hammy attitude that made him a fan favorite for the Hornets.  Despite his minor role on the team, the Hornets P.R. department made him a key part of the marketing campaign to ingrain them in Oklahoma City.  In a series of billboards introducing the team's coach, Bryon Scott, and the team's best player (Chris Paul), the third board went to a role playing post player.  If they had not taken that step, he still would have stood out.  "Birdman" sightings were a common occurence in OKC.  Anyone who went out to a bar was likely to spot the tall, tatted up white guy with hippy hair at some point during the night.  He liked the spotlight and he liked creating his persona.  While sitting out with a minor injury around the Thanksgiving holiday, Andersen took the free time to call season ticket holders and thank them for their support.  He came up with a catch phrase, which he also trotted out on the P.A. system at halftime of their Thanksgiving eve outing, sounding like Matthew McCognehey in Dazed and Confused, "At Thanksgiving dinner, stick to the ham, lay off of the Biiird."

It was this catchphrase that brought Andersen's name to my family's Thanksgiving table.  My cousin, who is a New Orleans transplant, loved that phrase.  Personally, I tend to dislike puns, so I rolled my eyes about it.  This cousin continued to laud what he liked about "The Birdman."  I told him that I liked what he did on the floor, but he just seemed like a guy who was always high, which at the time I meant as a joke.

Obviously, it was not a shock to me to learn that Andersen did have a drug problem.  Since guys like Damon Stoudamire and Carmelo Anthony have been busted by the police for having marijuana with no penalty from the NBA, it had to have been something stronger.  The list of narcotics the league does test for seem to suggest it was either cocaine, meth, acid, or prescription pain medications.  Certainly, the man needs help.

The typical response from the average fan is going to be disbelief that someone could throw their life away for something as worthless as drugs.  "He gave up twelve million dollars just so he could get wasted?" they will wonder.  If it was all about logic, that would be a relevant observation.  Logic is the last thing involved in a drug addiction.  If logic was involved, no one would ever ingest anything addictive.  Ask any Alcoholics Anonymous participant if they wanted to throw their life away with a debilitating addiction, and see what response you get.

It may have been ignorance or arrogance that got Andersen started.  Regardless, some mental defect told him that he wanted to try the drug, but that he would not let it get control of him.  Now the addiction controls him.  Obviously, it could not be bought off with luxuries only society's elite enjoy.  Now, hopefully, being informed his crime was twice as bad as Ron Artest will convince him to get the help he needs.  As my mother will tell me, though, he has to want to get better.  History says he will not.  The drive to return to basketball was not enough to get Stanley Roberts straight.  Seven years later he has never played another game.  Before him, Roy Tarpley and Richard Dumas failed.

So, I hope I am proved wrong and speaking about Chris Andersen in past tense was a mistake.  But for the time being, so long "Birdman"

In a word:  both.

The Indiana Pacers have been criticized for dragging out the Ron Artest drama, but in the end, it appears it was for the franchises best.  Rarely does a trade make so much sense.  Even rarer does something involving Ron Artest make sense.

As a franchise, the Kings are back sliding.  At the height of the Kobe/Shaq empire, Sacramento was the only team that gave the Lakers a decent test.  The group dynamic of that team quickly dissipated, though, as Vlade Divac was asked to move on, Chris Webber was traded, Mike Bibby's development regressed after signing a huge contract extension (surprising how that works), and the team just became complacent, in general.  What the team needed, more than anything, was a shake up.

Shake ups can happen in multiple ways.  There is the gradual shake up, more like an aggitation--think stirring a paintcan, which the Kings have arguably been going through since building to challenge the Lakers.  Obviously, that was not working.  Then there is the rapid shake up, think elementary school boy getting ahold of his classmates soda can while the kid is not looking, and nothing can assure an explosion like acquiring Ron Artest.  Either he will come in as a good soldier, give the team a top-15 league talent, and assist them in challenging again...or he will be a problem child, make the team rue his arrival, and make them headlines for anything but their poor performance.  Either way, the status quo of mediocrity disappears.

For the Pacers, this is an addition by subtraction, sure.  Artest had worn out his welcome.  However, more important than getting him out of the clubhouse is that the team filled their most glaring weakness (outside shooting) with the best outside shooter in basketball.  Getting Peja Stojakovic on the floor will open things up for the rest of the team.  Jamal Tinsley will be able to drive, Jermaine O'Neal can post up, and...well, Stephen Jackson can do whatever it is he does that supposedly makes him valuable.  Peja gives the team the outside threat they lost when Reggie Miller retired.  Now teams cannot collapse inside the lane without fear of retribution.  That will be huge.

1.  At least one Cuban player will defect during the tournament.

It seems to happen everytime the team leaves the country.

1a.  That player will attempt to get citizenship in South America before attempting to play in the United States.

The player could certainly seek assuylum in the U.S., but why would he want to leave a system of diminished freedoms to enter the MLB draft system of diminished freedoms?

2.  A Major League player will be hurt during the tournament. 

Law of averages.

2a.  The media will seize on this as a reason the tournament was a mistake.

Law of averages.  It will be the most sensational spin on the story, so it will be the main spin on the story.

3.  Several players who play in the tournament will get off to hot starts once the regular season begins.  Several players who play in the tournament will get off to slow starts once the regular season begins.

Some players come out of Spring Training hot, others cold.  There is no reason to expect any different after the WBC.

3a.  The media will suggest that their participation in the Classic was why (Player) got off to a (hot/cold) start.

See 2a.

4.  When a participant in the Classic goes down to injury during the pennant race, the media will decry that said participation caused the injury.

See 2a.

5.  When a non-participant of the Classic goes down to injury during the pennant race, the media will not mention this when discussing the injury in Prediction # 4.

See 2a.

6.  A few non-MLB players will make a huge impact in the tournament.

This I base on the "something to prove" theory.  These will be the proverbial "David's" to the Classic's MLB star "Goliath's."  With a World's stage to prove themselves on, some will seize the opportunity to become international names.  See 7 & 8 for why this will be made easy for some.

6a.  There will be a huge bidding war to sign these players, and the Yankees will acquire at least one.

These guys will already have the status the Cuban defector will be seeking.  As international players, they will be free agents rather than draft eligible players.  Having performed well against the "world's best", several teams will think these players are the kind of difference-makers they need to get to or win the World Series.  The Yankees seem to always get into these battles.

6b.  Most of these players will fizzle out in the minors.

What many of these teams will forget is that the Classic is over a limited time.  Some players get into hot streaks they cannot ever duplicate.  There have been times where September call-ups have smashed a few homers, and then when that got them an invitation to Spring Training, it showed to be a fluke.  Unfortunately for the teams, the guys in this WBC will be free agents going to the highest bidder, and capitalizing on their flukish performances.

7.  Many of the biggest names in the tournament, particularly those on the U.S. roster, will dissappoint.

Kind of the opposite of the "something to prove" theory.  The big names tend to come into Spring Training out of shape and apathetic.  My guess is that most of the big stars, will not go out of their way to show up for the Classic in player's shape.  See 8 for why.

8.  Several big names will bow out of the tournament with "injuries."

Even with huge contracts and major objectives for the upcoming season, players do not condition themselves to play an entire 162 game schedule.  Now, adding an extra twenty games without paying them any extra...doesn't sound like a formula for eager participation.

9.  The Dominican team will score a lot of runs, but give up even more.

The Dominican Republic has a team that could dominate slow pitch softball league.  From top to bottom of their batting order will be players who rank among the greatest sluggers at their position.  Unfortunately for them, baseball is made up of many different facets.  The most important is likely pitching, and with the exception of Pedro Martinez (whose participation will be limited by strict pitch counts), they do not have a great starter (unless Bartolo Colon is cleared to play--doubtful) and a thin bullpen.  Defensively, they will be giving up a lot.

10.  The United States wins.

While most of the star power of the MLB will be distributed thoughout the world, the U.S. still possesses an uneven division of such.  The Dominican will have a better batting order, Venezuela will have more dominant pitching, and Puerto Rico will have superior defense.  In a Classic that I predict will be characterized by players defering for minor ailments and players mailing-in performances, and pitchers being limited in how much they can participate, the U.S. will have the greatest benefit...depth.