In Part 1 of "How To Make Champions" I will give my ideas for trades and signings for some of the better playoff teams and champion contenders that could propel them to win the Championship. According to ESPN Trade Machine these trades work salary-wise and would probably be accepted by the GM's who want to win more.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers don't need to improve player-wise as much as they need to get tougher, stronger, better under pressure, better at defense, and a killer instinct. Kobe is the only one on the team that has all of those things, but if the others players get it then they will be championship favorites. But some trades could be done to make the Lakers a lot better. The best one would be to trade Lamar Odom and Joe Crawford to the Kings for Ron Artest and John Salmons. This would give the Lakers someone who would be perfect for the starting small forward position on their team. After the trade the Lakers could sign James Posey for the full 5.8 million mid-level exception and sign Theo Ratliff or Alonzo Mourning for a backup center. James Posey and Ron Artest can both shoot and drive on offense and are two of the best perimeter defenders in the league on defense. Having both of them on your team along with Kobe and Ariza would give you the best SG/SF guarding group in the league. The Lakers could also Lamar Odom and a 2nd round draft pick to the Pistons for Tayshaun Prince, a 1st round draft pick (or Arron Afflalo) and Theo Ratliff (sign and trade). If they did this trade they could then do the same signings as they did for the other trade. The Lakers should resign both Ronny Turiaf and Sasha Vujacic also.
BOSTON CELTICS
The Celtics won it all last year and all they need to do to get back to the Finals is to sign the players that are free agents and add a good role player power forward to take P.J. Brown's spot. The Celtics don't need to make any trades unless they wanted to do something stupid like trading Ray Allen and a pick for Rip Hamilton??? Even though Rip is a better defender and more consistent they don't want to ruin chemistry. They need to get a backup point guard and a backup center as well.
DETROIT PISTONS
The Pistons are the championshp contender that will probably be involved in the most trade rumors this offseason because of Joe Dumar's statements about trading his stars. The Pistons should keep Billups or Hamilton and Prince. They should trade Rasheed if they can get equal value for him. They should trade Rasheed Wallace, Arron Afflalo, Amir Johnson, a 2nd round draft pick, and Antonio McDyess to the Bulls for Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Tyrus Thomas, and Andres Nocioni. If they were to trade Billups they shoud trade him and some other players to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson. If they were to trade Hamilton then they should trade him and Amir Johnson to the Cavaliers for Wally Sczerbiak (expiring contract), three 1st round draft picks, and another good, young, and cheap player.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS
The New Orleans Hornets didn't end last season in disappointment in themselves like other teams did, because they had done far more than anyone expected and had brought basketball back to New Orleans. Hornets don't need to improve on anything except for their bench, defense, and point guard play. The Hornets don't need to make any major trades unless someone offers them one they can't refuse. That is all I have to say about the Hornets. Just kidding about needing to improve the point guard play for all those people who don't know what a joke is.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs aren't getting any younger and that is why their chance at another championship is getting smaller. The Spurs should try and sign Corey Maggette if he is interested. Since he probably isn't since the Celtics want to sign him they should just throw their name out there to James Posey who won't be returning to the Celtics if Maggette is signed. Their big 3 is fine but they need to get younger and more energetic role players. They could just let their free agents go and sign some younger players to make their bench.
They are pretty realistic trades. They work and could make the teams better. Some of the trades would be good if the team wanted to go in a certain direction.
PF its expiring, and thank GOD!!! EVeryone wants an expiring contract that size/ However Riley has wanted Lamar back forever, there are quite a few teams that have interes, they dont see his choking the same way we do. The best bet right now is pulling a trade for Sean Marion, one trade that hasnt been brought up that wouldnt surprise me is a trade involving Rasheed Wallace, pretty close on contracts both expiring, both teams sick of their players #### Both teams would probably benefit in a trade, but even if they didnt both contracts come off the books. The advantage of Wallace on Los Angeles is that he could hit threes and he could rebound just as well. It would make the already versatile Lakers more versatile.
I think the Posey thing is likely to happen, heres the deal though honestly with Posey and Ariza you neither need Artest or Lamar. The one way to snare Posey from the clutches of all the other teams bidding for him is to offer him the chance to start which he would, and Ariza could be his understudy for a couple years and work his way into the starting lineup by 2010. For emergencys you have the two terrible contracts of Luke Walton and Vladman, ideally you package one of those guys with Lamar and get back some better contracts in return. Hopefully Mitch will never get us so many garbage small forwards again, as he has done a much better job of drafting and trading than free agent aquisitions and contract resignings.
Doesnt sound like you like the Pistons too much as all those trades would be horrible for them. Affalo they have for cheap no value in trading him as there good young cheap guards are what is going to keep them competitive. They also have a no trade over Prince you dont give him up still young and great defense and team guy. Rasheed is the one who will go and has the most trade value even with his attitude. They dont need to blow the team up as they have a few young guys that looked ready to step up, they really just need a good coach.
Its just Glen Davis', Paul Pierce's, and sometimes KG and Kendrick Perkin's attitude. But Brian Scalabrine is the worst, he is way too cocky for someone who doesn't play at all. I don't have a problem with Rondo, Powe, Ray, and Posey (except when he flagrantly fouls people).
haha. noone like scal. people boo him at home games all the time....
Perkins does have an attidtude; but hes not outspoken. he just makes a face and keeps playing.
And posey fouls hard cause hes a good player. As stupid as it sounds, the first rule about basketball and fouling is if you're going to foul; foul hard...
Lakersfan19's line up is awsome, but its just a dream. The combined salary for these guys would be so over the top that the Lakers organization would go out of business. Nice dream however, but we all know it would never happen.
I like the Lakers and I hate the Celtics. I have been a Lakers fan since the 2007 playoffs. I am not a bandwagoner though, because I stayed a fan through Kobe's trade demands and watched every game this season even though people thought they were going to be bad. I hate the Celitcs because of the players attitudes and they are always favored by the refs. My favorite players are Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, and Kyle Weaver.
