So I had to take a break from all the places I write because it has been a busy year already.  I have some NBA stuff I need to get off my chest.  I need to smack some dime droppers and draft action as well.  First lets get to a few free-agents.

First off it bothers me that it is so acceptable, almost like no big deal (pun intended) when an above average players gets $60 million to play basketball for a few years.  This is also the cause to my problem of only getting to one game a year now because of ticket prices.  Really does a hot dog of that quality really justify $5 and beers for $9?

1. Rashard Lewis- Will he stay or will he go?  I think he goes.  He may not want to sign on as the lone gun on a team in rebuilding mode. The Sonics just drafted Kevin Durant who plays the same position.  Lewis may get short term max money such as the new common 4 years $60 million deal, but he could get that in a sign and trade almost anywhere.  Which teams could make the move?  Portland, Miami, and Orlando are the commons teams you here on him.  What about Boston?  They just got Ray Allen from Seattle why not Lewis also?

2.  Chauncey Billups - He is unrestricted but the chances of him leaving Detroit are restricted.  Orlando's name again pops up on this one.  The Pistons can offer more money to stay and the Magic would have to do a sign and trade.  These teams did it once before with Grant Hill.  I thought there was no way Grant would leave Detroit but a sign and trade deal that sent Hill to the Magic the Pistons got Ben Wallace and Chucky Adkins.  Maybe in this sign and trade deal the Magic would send Grant Hill and Darko Milicic back to Detroit.  All three players are free agents currently, Darko is restricted.

3.  Kurt Hinrich's mama is ugly.  He isn't a free agent but I had to say that.

4.  Gerald Wallace - he is probably going to remain a Bobcat.  He may get a little over rated by some because he carried the Bobcats most of the year.  Someone had to do it!  Although if he does stay and they solidify the roster around him they may make a playoff run.  He may still be a player on the rise.

Cleveland - take this time as a chance to get better.  Dont overpay for your own mediocre not supporting players you have as free and restricted agents.  Take this chance to get Lebron two guys that are going to step up and take the pressure off of Lebron.  They went all the way to the finals but got slammed by a team like San Antonio who plays 9 deep and as a unit.  The Cavs still stand around watching Lebron hoping he may kick it out to them at some point.


Greg Oden will be a solid player?  He looks like he has all the tools to be a two way player in the NBA.  Well actually he looks like "Grandpa Lebron" in the Nike commercials but that was another blog down the line.  I wish he could have played two more years in college to refine his game.  This may have been his fathers decision to come out early and go pro.

Kevin Durant is another player that two more years of college basketball would have helped immensly.  He has the shot and skills but doesn't have the "NBA body" that he needs to play with men instead of kids on the court.  Like they say on Wall Street though is "sell high" and their stock has never been higher and was at its ceiling.

UPDATES:

Rip Hamilton to Seattle?  Frank Hughes, Sonics Insider for The News Tribune, quoting a source from local radio station WXYT, says the Pistons are considering shipping Richard Hamilton to Seattle, for Lewis?

Gerald Wallace, one of the hottest names in free agency, has drawn interest from the Pistons.  According to the AP- The Charlotte Bobcats face heavy competition in their effort to re-sign leading scorer Gerald Wallace.   The Bobcats were one of eight teams that contacted Wallace when the NBA's free agency period began at midnight Saturday. Dallas, Orlando, Milwaukee, Detroit, Miami, Portland and Golden State all made inquiries, a person close to Wallace said Sunday.

  So Miami got their NBA rings on opening night and the preceeded to get POUNDED by the new look Chicago Bulls 108-66.  Something other teams will witness this season.  The Bulls are much improved this year.  The other suprise will be the Detroit Pistons returning to the NBA finals.  They lost Ben Wallace and that will make them better.  Washington Wizards will try to make a move this year in the right direction, but they still don't have it yet.  Lets breakdown some teams and make some predictions.


NBA Eastern Conferance playoff teams for 2007

1. Detroit Pistons
2. Washington Wizards
3. New Jersey Nets
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
6. Miami Heat
7. Philadelphia 76ers
8. Boston Celtics


Those are my predictions for the playoff brackets.  Teams 1, 2, and 3 are the division winners.  Boston will sneak back in this year, so will Philly.

Detroit will suprise people by not taking a step back from losing Ben Wallace.  He was the heart and soul for a few years but could never seem to get any better on offense.  Wallace is only a 41% free throw shooter for his career.  Wallace likened air balling to free throws to Paris Hilton say "thats hot!"  Enter Jason Maxiel for the Pistons.  He is a defensive player who actually can shoot.  They still have four of the same starting five they have had all along and also are looking to bring in Jalen Rose this week.  And they also have the X factor as well, ME, you can clearly tell by my picture that I play for them.

Washington will onlystep up to the second spot in the bracket because they will suprise everyone and win their division over Miami.  Washington has been on the rise for a few years now but still may not be ready to move deeper into the playoffs.  Only time will tell.  New Jersey is still the best in the Atlantic Division but that isn't saying too much, although I do have three teams from that division making the playoffs.

Chicago has been on the rise the last two years and may have added the one piece they were missing all along.  A player who will play like he has a pair and he will actually use them if neccesary.  Ben Wallace will be the heart and soul on defense with his great defensive ability, they just better not pass him the ball when it is time to shoot.  Alley oops only for Ben.  But when you need to get a stop on defense or get a huge blocked shot into transition he is your man.

Miami will take a step back with an aging roster that was old last year, but won the NBA title.  Shaq may have lost some weight but they will be beat by their own injury bug again but it may be worse this year.

Cleveland is blowing it.  They made a push last year giving Detroit all they could handle but fell short.  They bring in David Wesley who will just be version two of Damon Jones a player they already have at the same position.  They needed a big man, a dominant one.  They have Larry Hughes coming back but he has to get reaquainted with LeBron.  They may work out well for them once they make the playoffs.

Philly and Boston will both also be back to the playoffs but only for a few minutes once they get waxed in the first round.  Indiana has so many team issues on and off the court they won't be beating too many teams this year.  They may end the season with more players in jail than in the All-Star game.