Many teams and fans like the current salary cap situation. they say it provides balance for all 30 teams in the NBA. Well I'm here to tell you that if it doesn't change soon it will inevitabley lead to the downfall of the NBA. It's conquerers. . .  the teams that lay across the Atlantic Ocean. (If geography as not your strong suit go get a map i'll wait)

As many of you know some NBA talent has decided to go play oer seas in recent days however the bigger story lies in the form of Atlanta Hawks guard Josh Childress. This is BAD. Chilldress has been offered a 20 million dollar deal over 3 years from a Greek team. TAX FREE. So essentially 7mil a year for a well above average roll player. Now here's where it gets worse Childress is a restricted free agent so the Hawks have the right to match any offer a team makes him. . . . NBA TEAM. This means that should he choose to sign with the greek team Olympiakos the Hawks would not have the right to match that offer as this rule of the restricted free agent doesn't extent to global basketball or FIBA. This could happen to an Emeka Okafor, a Luol Deng, Andre Iguadala or a Josh Smith and thats just this years class of restricted free agents. 

Now many of you might be saying "well it's just Childress. He could be a starter in this league but nothing special." Well then let me roll out another senario for you.  Perfect example Shawn Marion. Let's say 2009 rolls around and Shawn is still on this insane kick that he's worth a max contract. No NBA team in their right mind would give him that due to the lack of wiggle room they'd have as far as cap space for the next 4 or so years and the luxury takes they'd have to pay for being over the threshold. So with the substancial betterment of the Euro over the dollar a european team sweeps in and offers him that HUGE contract he wants and tax freee no less. Even a guy like Ron Artest who thinks he can get huge money but doesn't realize he's not very marketable do to past off the court and on the court issues. He becomes a free agent expecting 10-12 mil but doesn't get it. Could he be next to jump continets?  Would these guys pass up the prestige of playing in the greatest baskeball league in the world. With the greats being guys like Micheal jordan and magic johnson or Bird, Kareem etc to jump ship and play over seas where the greats were mike D'antoni and Kobe Bryant's dad all for a few extra million? You bet they would when money talks stars walk.

Lastly this doesn't have as much to do with the salary cap but it's salary related. NBA draft picks are staying overseas and in some cases crippling their respective teams plans ( like Taigo Splitter and the Spurs) by staying over seas for a while because they can make millions over there then what they can make in their first few years in the NBA due to the NBA's almost rediculously low payscale. In fact Memphis' rookie sharp shooter Juan Carlos Navarro spent one year  in the NBA an took the next ship back to spain to get payed. It's rediculous these players sign contracts to play for these NBA teams they are legitamite property of the 30 NBA franchises. Players who aren't designated for assignment by their respective franchise shouldn't be complaining about wanting to make more money.

So here it is what either has to happen is one the NBA finds a way to work around the salary cap in order to prevent things like this for potentialy happening. Or option two the world recognises and respects the NBA for what it truly is the best basketball league in the world. I say get rid of the D-league and make the world satisfied and let other teams in the world be where we send players when they need to work on skills or roster space is needed.

Countries over seas I implore you to cease and desist before this gets out of hand. If you're trying to get back at us for taking David Becham away you can have him we still don't like soccer and we never will so don't take it out on the NBA. 

Now I know people are reading my blog posts. People like the Philadelphia 76ers front office. In my blog "What your team NEEDS to do" I said nothing jumped out at you about the 76ers roster. They had average stats, average players and no franchise player to allow them to take that next step. I said that until they got a TRUE franchise player they could never be any better than a perrenial  six seven or eight seed. Well they listned and now we enter the new Elton Brand era of the Philadelphia 76ers. Wow this is a great deal. Does this make the 76ers better than the Wizards. . . yes. Better than the Cavaliers. . . . yes. Better than the Pistons. . . . . . yes. Better than the Magic. . . .  . extremley slightly but yes. Better than the Celtics. . . . . . . .  No. He's Elton Brand not Kareem Abdul Jabaar.

So what exactly does Brand do for this team? It sends Iguadala and all his skill and potential into his proper roll as the number two man on that team. He doesn't have to be the man anymore. He no longer has to be looked as the man who must be the franchise Allen Iverson once was. No longer will people talk when he only puts up 17 points in the big game or doesn't make the All-Star team again. Brand is also the perfect complement to Samuel Dalembert who has already started to show signs of becoming a real solid player. Lastly when Brand is playing well he COMMANDS a double team. Philly hasn't had that low post presence in a while that is gonna make the opposing team put two bodies on him. It's gonna be a first for Philly to get some nice open looks for their players due to somebody being open. Brand makes this team superb team who easily should get homecourt advantage in a first round matchup barring injury of course and MAYBE JUST MAYBE because the Celtics are another year older and may be a bit laxed from finally winning it all. Maybe. . . . . NO i'm saying it right now  Elton Brand Andre Iguadala and the Philadelphia 76ers WILL KNOCK OFF THE BOSTON CELTICS IN THE 2009 PLAYOFFS. Now I speak as a Laker fan. I want a rematch. Celtics I promise we'll be there! Will you? I can hear the theme music for the 2009 Eastern Conference Finals: The celtics wanna go to the Finals but Elton Brand said NO,NO,NO.

Lakers: Everybody is throwing around that Odom for Artest rumor and how the  Lakers need defense and tenacity. Well I'm here to tell you that's not gonna happen. The Owners of the Kings (maloof brothers) aren't gonna trade with the hated lakers because they're still bitter over the slight rivalry that exsisted in the early 2000's. Though it doesn't exist anymore. So I propose an alternative . . . . . . Andrei Kerelinko! He's unhappy in Utah and would come without them having to give up Lamar Odom. A package of Luke Walton Chris Mihm and maybe a second round pick or two etc. should suffice. He doesn't bring that offensive mind set but is long and place very tough defense. The question then becomes does he start or come off the bench.

Pistons: The Pistons desperatley want to shake things up because Dumars knows this is as far as this unit can go. The most obvious choice is to trade Rasheed. Here's the problem they'd have to take a hit because they WILL NOT get equal value. If you need evidence just look at the Toronto deal. Are you telling me they gambeled on a Jermaine O'neal rather than a currently proven rasheed Wallace who has always been a solid all star caliber player with a small injury report as opposed to O'neal's rap sheet? No. You never no which rasheed will show up, the i don't care it's just another game, the whine about every obvious call, the I'm going to curse the ref. out and throw my head band him, or the firey rasheed that plays every minute with hustle. If they do trade Rasheed it won't be for a guard because hamilton, billups and stuckey have that covered. A small forward is unlikley do to Prince. So what piston fans are looking at in the best case senario is a young power forward/center. I think the most logical thing would be a package deal with the bulls and maybe send a tyrus thomas, Joakim Noah and a signed and traded Ben Gordon over with a few other pieces for salary sake.

Spurs/Magic: Ginobli should be traded for Hedo turkoglu straight up (salaries permitting) This trade would immediatley fill a need for both teams. The Magic would get a shooting guard/ small forward who can immediatley jump in and create for himself off the dribble. Something Reshard Lewis can't do. They also take pressure off of Howard as now double teams wouldgradualy start to cease as you have a guy who can take guys off the dribble if they play him to close or can burn them with a long range jumphot if they sag off of him. Ginobli also brings a much needed championship expierienced player to a team who very much could contend in the East but doesn't have guys who have been there to do it before. The Spurs get a young explosive guy who can put up 25 if needed consistantly. He's very clutch late in the game and much like what Ginobli would do for Howard Turkoglu would take pressure off of Duncan with his consistantly drain the three (something Tony Parker cannot do). Lastly it also brings the spurs youth which is something the Spurs DESPERATLEY need right now.

Upest by your teams first round playoof exit? Frustrated by their deadline trade that was supposed to put them over the top but instead got them a spanking from the Hornets in 5. Dallas im talking to you. Well in this blog i'll tell you what you're team needs to do to get better. Today will be the 16 teams that made the playoffs check in July 4th or 5th to see the other 14.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

Lakers: It's really simple GET TOUGH. they're a finesse  team. Which is cool in the west as most of the teams are but it showed once they got to the finals that the east teams play rough. Here's what i'd do first prepare for the return of Andrew bynum. Also If you can get a Ron Artest who is a very tough talented player who can play D that helps . Lastly (L.A. fans don't judge me because i used to hate this man as much as the next guy) *gulp a guy like Kwame Brown was developing into a solid low post defender. He's big and athletic and could be picked up for very cheap and he surly could've put more of a body on Garnett and Perkins then Gasol, Turiaf and Odom did.

Hornets: Wow Chris Paul is good. As a L.A. fan I wanted no part of Chris Paul in the western conference finals but as a basketball fan I'd have loved it. This team is young and athletic. If they have any weeknesses it would be the lack of a penetrater with size say 6-4 to 6-6. Which is why I was shocked that they treaded Arthur in that draft at number 27. Well now I'd say Ricky Davis is they're best bet as he'd be an immediate upgrade over Bonzi Wells and they could get him for around the Mid level exception (MLE).

Spurs: Some say the window is closing, The truth is it's now CLOSED! They're still a 55 win team they're still great to watch and parker and Duncan are still all-stars but pretty much the rest of the team is spending the summer telling those young whipper-snappers to not skate on they're lawn. They won't do it because they stll think they've got a chance but they need to get young now. Because with VERY YOUNG teams like the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz, and the Blazers the sun is clearly setting on the present state of a amazing franchise.

Rockets: To bad that 22 game win streak didn't come in the playoffs because they'd have had 6 games to spare. This team isn't gonna work for 1 reason. . . .  Tracy McGrady. He has to be traded. He has to big a burden on his shoulders and feels he has to be right on par with Yao who is clearly the best player on this team. I'm not saying he doesn't have the skill Houston just isn't the place for him to do it.

Jazz: The jazz are a very good team. Nuff said. They've got the biggest home court advantage in basketball. The problem is they're not deep. On that bench after milsap and Korver I wouldn't trust anybody in a big game shooting wise, rebounding wise or defensive wise. Look at the Celtics they padded that bench with nice players even with that star studded starting 5: Posey, Powe, House, Brown, Cassell even Tony Allen was a defensive specialist. My point Utah's nucleus is strong but they need role players to contend.

Suns: Shaq was a bust. That trade was specifcally designed to beat the spurs and it wound up making them be eliminated in 5 games by that very team. I don't know where they're going. No Dantoni and a awkward roster. I think that Nash and Stoutimire with some help can get this team a 7th or 8th seed but not much more. Kerr made his bed now he has to somehow make it comfortable enough to lie in.

Mavericks: First off I gotta say Cuban should be ashamed for firing ne of the best coaches in the league. No coach could win a title with that roster. So Cuban Carlisle needs to be fired immediatley after you either get swept bt the #1 seed or don't make the playoffs entirley. It's hard to do much with this roster with no trading chips or cap space. Nowitzki is a number two truly and kidd doesn't have as much of "it" as he used to. Do they want to run or play half court. Play off Nowitzki or let Kidd run the show. The best thing they can do to try to become better is to rehire the little general Avery Johnson to coach!

Nuggets: These guys front office was in just as much dissaray as the knicks. Now they want to trade one of the young stars in the league in Carmelo Anthony!?!? WHAT?!? If this team wants to shake up the roster big time they've definatley got the picies to do it with. A expiring contract of Allen Iverson, A good center in Marcus Camby. K-mart possibly. And an intriguing player in Nene. People say shake things up but trading the franchise player doesn't count!

Warriors:  Yes I know they weren't a playoff team but they won 49 games so I got the sense I had to talk about them before I moved on. With that said they lost Baron Davis Gilbert signed with the wizards. So now they MUST pull in Elton Brand to remain competitive. They don't have any body else who can create for themself. This would make Mr. Don Nelson think his Nellie ball thing where every shot is a good shot isn't working out all that well.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

Celtics: Can i really tell what the world champs what they need to do hmmmmmmm. . . . yeah I can. The only thing I see them lacking is a solid backup for Rondo at point guard. somebody who can come in and handle the ball and not make stupid mistakes and Chris Duhon fits that bill for me perfectly. They must also resign James Posey. He is a vital part of that team that I almost thought of putting him in the "Big Four" at least as far as importance goes.

Pistons: I always felt this team was the model for other teams to follow. 7 straight conference finals appearences? Thats unbilievable. Unfortunatley only one title which leads me to believe that a change is coming. Although clearly no body is safe Wallace seems most likley to go. If he does the logical thing to do is try to get a nice postup player as they're the definition of a half court team think Pau Gasol (don't get any ideas i was only making a connection hands off detroit).

Magic: Dwight Howard is a B-B-B-BEAST! I like this team more than the pistons currently but they need a backcourt presence that can facilitate and put up 20 plus if needed. I would think that do to Mr. Turkoglu's breakout season he is great trade bait to get that player. Maybe T MAC could move to shooting guard and make a homecoming if a deal persuaded the rockets enough?!

Cavaliers: THE MAN CANNOT DO IT ALONE GET HIM SOME HELP! I speak of course of King James. He needs a second man to help him out. Despite what they're management thinks their theory of the more people in the trade the better it is, is completley wrong. Everybody else on that roster would make the best group of role players in the NBA but without a second guy who can create and get his own shot without Lebron's help is greatly needed.

Wizards: On paper this team isn't half bad in truth. Butler Jamison and Arenas are all all-stars the problem lies in chemistry. If you actually watch the team with Arenas and without him  they play better when he doesn't play. Arenas is selfish. He wants the ball in the clutch but the truth is he's streaky. He can nail a series of game winning daggers or go 0 for 8 in the last  1:30 and never pass it to his team mates once while heaving up 25 footers while saying  his trademark :"HIBACHI". He should be traded but he signed a new contract worth 111 million so he won't. Good news for Lebron because he obviously can handle the Wizards on his own as he's done the past 2 years.

Raptors: They've done what they should've done a while ago. They got a solid post up player in Jermaine O'neal. People  say well they have Chris Bosh. True and he's a good player but his post up game leaves alot to be desired. The question is can O'neal recapture his pree knee problems form. Also the loss of T.J. ford won't hurt all that much as Calderon is very capable and may even be a sleeper to make an all star team this year.

76ers:  When you look at this team on paper nothing jumps out at you. Average players average stats Average team. Name me the last championship team that didn't have an all star player . . . . . . . . im waiting? And NO Andre Iguadala doesn't count he's a B minus player. I'd explore trying to pry restricted free agent Josh Smith from the Hawks though that won't happen.

Hawks:  This team needs solid big man with energy who can get you 10 and 10 in a starting role. They need HUSTLE,SPIRIT,HEART they need a guy like Ronny Turiaf. This team doesn't have alot of holes they are pretty solid certainly better than the 76ers. but they seem lathargic at times and a guy like Turiaf livens a whole team up. Just ask somebody who watches him play with the lakers. I believe in a starting role Turiaf can average 10 and 10 and make hustle plays and liven up that team. Certainly worth a nice 2-3 mil to bring him there. Although he would probrobly take less to stay in L.A. Lastly they can't let Josh Smith go although they definatley already know that.

Well there you go if you are a fan of a team not fortunate to make the playoffs (not warriors)stay tuned soon for your teams off season outlook. Well there's what your team needs to do ponder these thoughts and let the debates begin!!