The Bulls did what many have speculated they would. They successfully wooed Big Ben Wallace away from the Pistons to the Bulls. With that in just a few days of work, the Bulls have completely changed their teams chances. The biggest knock on the Bulls was that they didn't have any post presence, outside of Tyson Chandler. Now they've completely overhauled their front court.
They have Tyrus Thomas who, we heard multiple times, Jay Bilas feels could be the best player in this draft. With his shot blocking presence (which remains to be seen in the NBA) and Ben Wallace the Bulls may well be the hardest team to score on in the paint.
Besides that they will have better perimeter defense with Thabo Sefolosha. These moves will make them better regardless but I think they were geared for two players in particular
LeBron James
James is one of the most versatile players in the game. While he can't play all five positions he can make a strong showing at four. He is notrious for streaking to the basket and throwing it down over awed opponents. When teams clog the middle he's developed his outside jumper. Besides that he's been given Flip Murray to toss it too once he's pulled the defense in.
While James still had his way with Pistons D, Big Ben will cause some concern. With he and Thomas patroling the key James will be a little more likely to settle for outside shots. To help defend against that the Bulls will place Sefolosha on him. Either that or Sefolosha will be on Murray to prevent those outside looks.
Dwayne Wade
Wade is another player who cuts to the middle and scores between the big men. He's the best at it right now. It helps to have Shaq clearing out the middle but even without the Diesel this is Wade's primary scoring method. He too has developed an outside game. And while he didn't light the Mavericks up beyond the arc he did drop an unusually high number of trey's on them.
Now the Bulls will have Sefolosha harass him in the perimeter and have Thomas and Wallace collapse on him when he cuts. Depending on the final lineup, Wade won't have the same luxury of dumping the ball to an open three-shooter but may instead drop it Shaq or 'Zo.
The Heat, however, did retain a three shooter when Posey opted to stay in South Beach for another season. Posey has a great situation. He'll stay in Miami for one more year (which will probably be Miami's best chance for another title for a few seasons) and choose his own fate there after.
Allen Iverson
Then there's still the question of where Allen Iverson will be playing next season. Boston? Maybe. Utah? Probably not. Cleveland? Possibly. Denver? I wouldn't bet on it. LA? Not for the Clips.
Allen Iverson is the wild card this off season. I really don't think he's going to stay in Philadelphia. Where he'll go though is anyone's guess. Here are some trade options that may be being considered right now. I don't think the Celtics are going to be able to land him. But I'm not sure who has the will and the firepower to do it.
The Los Angeles Lakers just signed Vlade Rad so I don't think they're in the market (though they still need a point). The Clippers resigned Sam Cassell and have a good young guard in Livingston. They don't want to harm his development by giving his minutes to an aging Answer.
I think the Rockets could use another point guard. They also need another scoring threat besides McGrady and Ming. They don't have the talent to do it though. Maybe if they'd managed to keep Swift they could ship he and Battier to Philly for Iverson.
The Indiana Pacers are supposedly looking to move O'Neal (though I haven't heard much noise lately) so why not get the point guard they need so badly? I'm sure the Sixers would take O'Neal and maybe switch picks with the Pacers or something. However, the Pacers seem like they're preparing to become a team that's "a few years away" so I don't think Iverson is really in their plans.
The Nuggest have a few problems with big man Kenyon Martin. They just locked up 'Melo and Nene and could use a point guard and another scoring threat. I don't think they could handle th contract but I think it would be great trade for the Nuggets. They'd have to give up more for Iverson but I think it would be a great trade for Denver.
Finally, I think the Cavaliers are the darkhorse for this thing. They could sign-and-trade Drew Gooden and Flip Murray or even Larry Hughes. I know Hughes and Murray were really helpful to LeBron down the stretch but Iverson is still dominating. I would pull the trigger on this if I could and lock Iverson up for the rest of his career.
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks were quick to sign draft pick Maurice Ager. They're also trying to sign Mike James. If they managed to do that then they would have guards: Jason Terry, Devin Harris, Maurice Ager, Josh Howard, Jerry Stackhouse, Rawle Marshall, Mike James, and Marquis Daniels.
They also resigned DJ Mbenga and may have to make room on their roster for forwards Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Reggie Evans, and possibly even Kevin Pittsnogle. I think this may be the end for Marquis Daniels in Dallas. I don't think they'll just let him go but I don't know what they'll get for him. I'd advise them to contact the Knicks or Blazers.
The Mavericks need a tough Power Forward to backup Dirk, both to give him rest and to give teams a different look. If they get Evans then they'll have that and maybe have the final piece to the Championship puzzle. Remember teams start with superstars, it's usually the role players that put them over the top (case in point: Miami).
pittsnogle is going to play on the heat summer team i believe.
there's a real logjam at guard in dallas with all those guys, and if they #### mike james, somebody's gotta go. george1 and i have kicked around some ideas that would send devin harris and/or marquis daniels to the bucks for jamaal magloire and possibly another player to make the salaries match. it would benefit both teams, since the mavs need another big man if they're going to face shaq or amare in the playoffs, and the bucks need a PG and backup swingman.
I read the Pittsnogle was assessing his options and that they included the Mavs. Regardless of where he wants to go if he doesn't drop some fat and add some muscle he'll be in Europe if he plays anywhere.
As for the trade. That's possible depending the Evans situation. However, I think it would take a lot for the Mavs to part with Harris. He shined in the playoffs and is developing into an excellent point guard.
If they move Daniels I think they could get a pretty penny for him. They could get a new role player, expiring contract, and/or a decent draft pick.
if the mavs get mike james though, its going to crowd the backcourt so much somebody isnt going to see any time at all. with terry, ager, howard, harris and daniels, it's already crowded, and adding james would be impossible to get everyone enough minutes. plus, with magloire, they'd have another inside presence to #### with amare, duncan, and possibly shaq, should they meet in the finals again.
if magloire for harris works straight up, i'd be thrilled with it. it was just a thought, after all the rumors concerning what the mavs may do in free agency.
Yeah, it will be crowded. I suppose it depends what the Mavs priorities are. If they were to get rid of Harris they'd have to find another point within the next couple of years.
Magloire's clearly a better player then Evans but we'll see how much the Mavs are willing to give up this off season.
Regardless of what happens, the Mavericks are going to have to drop some people. They're not going to have enough room financially nor minutes in the games to warrant the team they have now. I still think it's Daniels that will be moving. Maybe a package of Daniels and Dampier for Magloire and cash/pick?
i hope not...part of the reason we're trying to move magloire is because our frontcourt is crowded, with the addition of villanueva. that, and the amount of money being paid between those 2, bogut and dan gadzurich.
the biggest reason though, is magloire didnt really fit in here. he was quietly pushing for more touches on offense, and basically asked to be traded as soon as the detroit series was over. i guess some of the other players complained too, that passing the ball to him was like throwing it into a black hole...while true, that's not a good way to create team unity.
the mavs wont need a PG in a couple years though, terry signed for 6 years, and mike james, if signed, would more than likely get 5, 4 for sure.
I guess that ruins any package deal included Marquis. I didn't realize his contract was so big or so long. They got quite a salary dump by exchanging him for Croshere.
This is basically like getting a younger Van Horn. Croshere has serious potential but has never been a ####er so we'll see how he does in Big D. At least he'll keep up the scoring with Dirk on the bench (hopefully more consistently than Van Horn).
I still think the Mavs would do well to sign a traditional power-foward to battle the other bigs in the paint but I can't say I'm sad to see Croshere arrive.
I am a FOX sports blogger because I like to talk and have opinions about pretty much anything and everything. I like pretty much any sport but I love football (basketball's a close second). The NFL is the only major sport I watch all season but I watch the others sporadically. My favorite teams are the Dallas Cowboys, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Red Wings, Atlanta Braves, and Boston Red Sox.
