Click here for HD!

Predicting the Future?

“Eddie is a New York limo driver and a fanatical follower of the New York Knicks professional basketball team. The team is struggling with a mediocre record when, in mid-season, “Wild Bill” Burgess, the new owner, as a public relations gimmick, stages an ‘honorary coach’ contest, which Eddie wins. The fans love it, so “Wild Bill” fires the coach and hires her. She takes the bunch of overpaid prima donnas that make up the team and turns them around. But the owner hopes to move the team, now the darling of the New York fans, to St. Louis. He may OWN the team, but it BELONGS to the city and the fans!”

-courtesy Internet Movie Data Base

Fan Run Team

If only the Knicks would can Isiah Thomas and hold a contest. Then maybe somebody with some passion could take over this team. While I’m not a Knicks fan, the current state of the team is so embarrassing I feel compelled to do something.

So how does one fix the Knicks? Well, the first step would probably be to get new ownership but that’s not going to happen. Barring that the coach/GM Isiah Thomas needs to be dismissed immediately.

After that, the Knicks need to start dismantling this team from the top down. Anyone with a contract over 3 years or over 25 needs to go. David Lee and Renaldo Balkman form the foundation for the Knicks future, but the Knicks have spent so much so unwisely they may not be able to get those guys back.

I would do anything I could to trade away my big salaries for short term contracts. Forget trying to get talent for talent, the Knicks need to cut the bottom line and start the process of rebuilding. The contenders are a good place to shop.

Teams like the Lakers, Rockets, Raptors, or Wizards are good places to look. They’re all on the edge looking to make that playoff push so they would be willing to turn over some of their bench for a talent guy.

Then once the Knicks have spread their money back over multiple young, semi-talented players they finally begin to move forward. But they’ve got to save some money and pray for a miracle or it could be a long time before we see the Knicks in the playoffs again.

Conclusion

But then again, I’m not a Knicks fan, so I’m more willing to part with hope for a while. So, I’m wondering what others think the Knicks should do. I highly doubt they could get Kobe but maybe you can work out an appropriate scenario. What’s more important for the Knicks, a big splash or building for the future? I guess what I’m asking is, if you ran the Knicks what would you do to get them out of this nightmare?

See this post in Stunning, HD! And vote in my new poll! 

Introduction

In my humble opinion there are currently three truly major sports leagues in America: Major League Baseball, the National Football League, and the National Baseball Association. Other organizations like the National Hockey League and NASCAR are certainly popular but they can't lay claim on the prestige of those three.

Winning the championship in any of those three leagues is a point of pride for the city and region whose team does so. Usually, cities have to wait years even decades for one of their teams to capture the ultimate prize. Every once in a great while two teams from the same region will win their respective league's title.

This year, rather, season of 2007-2008 there is unique chance that three teams from the same town will be crowned world chances. The town is, of course, Boston and the teams are the Red Sox (MLB), the Patriots (NFL), and the Celtics (NBA).

Boston Red Sox

In 2004 the Red Sox were truly a miracle team. They came from a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the American League Championship Series to win the World Series. Now, a few seasons later they are the favorite to win another World Series. 

The Colorado Rockies were on a roll coming into this series. They had won 21 of 22 games including a one game playoff against the San Diego Padres and consecutive sweeps of the Phillies and the Diamondbacks. Then they ran into the jugornaut that is the Boston Red Sox.

The chances of the Red Sox winning the series look good. They won Game 1 handily behind excellent pitching by Josh Becket and a high powered offense. The Red Sox scored a total of 13 runs after a lead off homer by Dustin Pedroia. 

In game two the Rockies put up a serious fight. They scored first and held the Sox offense in check. However, Curt Schilling did his job and the early score was the only Rockies score of the game. The Red Sox won again by a score of 2-1.

Now, the series shifts to Colorado where the Rockies have excelled. The Red Sox are dominant and seem to simply be too overpowering for the upstart Rockies. However, there are plenty of obstacles still standing in the Sox way of victory.

First, Dice-K has been a rather shaky pitcher. Some games he pitches the way the Sox expected when they shelled out his massive contract. Other games, he appears no better than an average pitcher. If Dice-K pitches the way he's capable of then the Red Sox could win easily. However, if he doesn't pitch at the top of his game then the Rockies will quickly regain the momentum.

Second, who is their guy for game 4? Jonathan Lester? Does that name really inspire confidence? Sure he's a great story, and yes he was 4-0 this season, but is he seasoned enough to face a World Series caliber team? I have my doubts.

The Red Sox could easily lose the next two games behind weak pitching. Not that the Rockies pitching will be that much better (Josh Fogg, Aaron Cook) but they're playing in Denver and they're offense can heat up at home. Also, their team defense is excellent and if they can keep the ball in the park they will have a great chance to win.

So, as favored as the Red Sox are and as good as they've been playing they are in no way guaranteed to win. Even with a 2-0 lead there is a long way to go before the Red Sox win their second World Series title in 4 years.

New England Patriots

The Patriots have emerged from the controversy of "Spygate" to become one of the best offensive teams in history. Last season the Pats tried to win another ttle using their theory that any player would excel in their system. With no legitimate wide receiving threat the Patriots were dismissed from the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts.

This past off season they decided not to make that mistake again. They traded for Wes Walker (one of the must under rated, till now, players in the game), signed Donte Stallworth (Philadelphia's number one receiver last season), and traded for Randy Moss.

These three pieces have melded beautifully for the Patriots and given their offense a spark unlike any other team in history. Tom Brady is having a historic season with a 137.9 passer rating and has thrown for 27 touchdowns and 2 picks.

The Patriots are lighting up the score board (and maybe running up the score) by averaging 39.9 points per game. They are currently 7-0 and appear unstoppable. However, they too have plenty of road blocks in their way.

First, they must play the Indianapolis Colts. In a unique role reversal the Patriots have been the toast of the town, crushing opponents and looking like an offensive power house. Meanwhile, the Colts have been quietly winning games and playing efficiently. Their defense has silently become the best against the pass in the league and third best overall.

These two collide on November 4th but I almost guarantee his won't be their only meeting this year. Regardless of who wins November 4th there's a good chance they will play again in the AFC Championship game and the Colts could easily win that. As overpowering as the Patriots have been, we learned from those old Patriots-Colts games  that a great defense can contain an explosive offense. That leaves it up to the Patriot's defense to stop the Colts offense and, unlike in years past, I'm not convinced they're up to the task. 

Besides the Colts, they also face the Pittsburgh Steelers who have also been putting together a nice season. They are currently 4-2, scoring 26.7 points per game and have the top rated defense in the league. They are known for creating unique blitz packages and are fully capable of getting to Tom Brady. Again, I believe the Pittsburgh defense is capable of slowing down the tide of the Patriots' offense but am unsure if the Patriots' defense can do the same to the Steelers.

While there are discussions of the Patriots going 16-0 and winning the title that is easier said than done. As good as they've looked the Patriots have a long way to go before they bring home another Lombardi trophy (their 4th in 6 years). While I wouldn't bet against them I'm again not quite ready to crown them (though every week makes that tougher).

Boston Celtics

This is the team we know the least about. For twenty some years the Celtics haven't had a title and haven't made a serious run for several seasons. Then, this past offseason, the Celts traded for sharp shooter Ray Allen and power forward Kevin Garnett. This has lead to a feeling of a return to prominence despite the regular season not yet starting.

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett certainly look formidable on paper but we won't really know how good they are until they play the game. They added a few other pieces here and there but there remains serious questions about this team.

Even though the East is weak and a one man show in Cleveland made it all the way to the Finals last year, the Boston Celtics have a hard season ahead. Rajon Rondo must be an efficient point guard and play within himself this season. The Celtics also don't have a true center with Scot Pollard backing up Kendrick Perkins. Recent history has shown that shoring up those two positions may be the keys to post-season success.

If the Celtics escape the East, and with the new "Big Three" it's almost certain they will, there are major questions of how they would matchup against the Western Conference Champion.

The Dallas Mavericks, Phoenix Suns, and San Antonio Spurs are all easily better than the Celtics (again, on paper). Teams like the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, and Utah Jazz could surprise everybody and get themselves in the Finals. Once there, a case could be made that they too are better than the Boston Celtics.

Of all the Boston teams, the Celtics have the longest road to victory. Not only because the season has yet to begin, but also because they have the most equal competition. We shall see if the Celtics play as good as they appear on paper and I have the hardest time believing they will win it all.

Conclusion

I am far from convinced the Boston teams will sweep the Big Three Leagues. But I could easily see the Red Sox and Patriots winning their titles. That, in and of itself, would be a feat and something that Boston fans would revel in for years to come. If the Celtics won too, the city of Boston would have bragging rights it might never lose.

Whatever the case, I feel Boston has a unique opportunity this "season" and may be hence forth known as "Title Town."

See this post in Stunning HD! 

Introduction

I'll give you a moment to recover from the brilliance of my title...

Ok, moving on, Kobe Bryant wants out of LA. Early this summer he was screaming about being traded on national radio. Then he'd go on local LA radio and say he wanted to be a Laker for life. Apparently, Kobe hasn't upgraded to the digital age when pretty much anybody can get news from a wold away instantaneously.

Of course, the LA faithful bought everything he was saying. Growing up in Philly as a life long Laker fan? That sounds a little fishy to me but I digress. Kobe Bryant is only concerned with winning the championship and advancing his own career. Therefore, Bryant would love to go anywhere that he feels would give him a better chance to win the title and advance his own career.

So, using the technology of the ESPN trade machine I will try to put together some trades that would benefit everybody. Now, the likelihood of Kobe getting traded are about as good as an environmental activists' of winning the Nobel Peace Prize but it's always fun to speculate. 

Kobe to New York

Obviously, the Knicks have to top the list. For no other reason than that only New York is bigger than LA. New York could absorb Kobe Bryant and welcome him as a new star. My comrade Dudski talked about this in his blog and I concur.

The Knicks certainly have the pieces to make a big trade and I think going to the Knicks would satisfy Kobe's ego. Being able to resurrect Spike Lee's team would provide Kobe with some motivation and the opportunity to play for Isiah Thomas would make Kobe drool.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to New York Knicks for Malik Rose, Quentin Richardson, Jamal Crawford and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Get a tough power forward in Malike Rose, a great shooter in Richardson, and an upgrade at point with Crawford. The three of them could help in Phil's Triangle and are certainly upgrades over the current cast (excluding Kobe, of course). Crawford, Richardson, Rose, Odom, and Walton could make for a high-flying offense but they still have a huge hole in the middle. They would need to go get a center but this lineup is still better than what they'll have (again excluding Kobe) and two picks in '08 would give them a head start.

Knicks: Having Marbury and Bryant on the same team could be problematic. However, it wouldn't take long for Bryant to assert himself and I truly believe Starbury would defer some of his shooting to Bryant (this isn't Steve Francis we're talking about here). The Knicks would also be off to a good start at rebuilding here and could make a serious play in the East.

Kobe to Chicago

This is one of the most popular scenarios. But the specifics are hard to hammer out. Who would the Bulls be willing to part with? That largely depends on what direction the Bulls as an organization want to go. They have a five year deal with Kirk Hinrich and seem to have committed to him as  their point guard. But the rest of the team is really up for grabs so it's the Bulls choice to make.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Chicago Bulls for Chris Duhon, Ben Gordon, Ben Wallace, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Get a decent point guard who still has promise in Duhon, a developing superstar in Ben Gordon, and the show stopper in Ben Wallace. The first round pick is again, a necessity, and this trade would give the Lakers some options.

Wallace would finally provide a presence at the Center spot and both Duhon and Gordon will be free agents after next season. That would give the Lakers to opportunity to resign them or gain some salary cap space. Their youth is also a big plus and they could be paired with who ever the Lakers pick up to rebuild.

Bulls: Obviously getting Kobe would dramatically improve this team. Hinrich is a creative passer and Kobe is excellent moving without the ball. Those two could mesh beautifully and be a dynamic duo for the Bulls. Again, the middle is exposed without Wallace but this team would be a serious threat in the East.

Kobe to Dallas

The Dallas Mavericks are a very opportunistic team. Mark Cuban is obviously not afraid to spend but he would never execute this trade. Regardless, it's a trade that's possible and makes a degree of sense. But neither the Lakers nor Mavs would willingly make the other better.

This trade I think would also require a little more from the Lakers end to compensate the Mavericks and make the salaries work. Again, the first round pick is a given but if I was the Lakers I would also demand the rising star Josh Howard before I would even consider a trade with Dallas.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kober Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Dallas Mavericks for Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would obviously get two great pieces for their offense. Dirk Nowitski creates serious match up problems and paired with Obom could cause fits for opposing big men on the offensive side. Also, Josh Howard is getting nothing but better and adds a threat on both sides of the court. He's a guard-forward and a solid player. Again, two first round picks would give them some flexibility to build around their Nowitzki-Odom-Howard core.

Mavericks: The Mavs would lose two big pieces of their team but would gain arguably the best player in the league. Bryant would add some offense and some defense and Radmanovic can be counted on as the outside scoring big man. However, he is no Nowitzki and would definitely be a bench player. If Bryant could play like we know he can then this could be a serious upgrade over their current roster.

Now to get a little less conventional.

Kobe to Phoenix

I was thinking about Kobe Bryan in a Suns uniform and I think I like it. He would be a great fit for that offense and would add a dynamic option for them on both sides of the court. If the Suns could get somebody who could slow down opposing offenses then Kobe would easily put them over the top.

Shawn Marion is obviously the key part of any trade between Phoenix and LA but the Suns would have to do quite a bit to sweeten the deal.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion, Raja Bell, a 2008 First Round Pick and a 2009 Second Round Pick

Lakers: Marion for Bryant is not a good trade. However, Bell would add some toughness to the Lakers and could add some potency to their defense. They're not going to score more points with this trade unless they sign a decent point guard. However, getting two picks would give them some serious flexibility and Marion's athleticism would add a new dimension to the Lakers offense. Plus, Bell and Marion would work very well with the players already on the team and the Lakers could actually be a decent team.

Suns: Championship. Hands down. Nash+Stoudemire+Bryant+Diaw=Unstoppable. Plus, Hill off the bench will do great things. I didn't include the fifth man because he would be irrelevant. This trade would land the Suns the championship now and give them an easy chance to repeat next season. The Suns would give up some very big picks over the next couple years but their window is closing and they need to do something to win now.

Kobe to Washington

The Wizards are a team that are on the cusp of glory in the East. If they made a move for Bryant they would significantly increase their chances and get far better on the defensive side of the ball. Meanwhile, the Lakers would get two great components for the Triangle.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Washington Wizards for Antwane Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, and a 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would get two great scoring options and two great pieces for the Triangle. Gilbert Arenas is classified as a point guard and would be a huge upgrade over what the Lakers have. Pairing him with Fisher (similar to how the Mavs pair Terry and Harris) could be great. Meanwhile, Jamison has a good inside-outside game and this team could run the floor with the best of them. While they wouldn't improve on defense they would be dynamic on offense and could use that pick to get a true Center. Plus Arenas and Jamison both have short contracts and that would free up a ton of cap room for the Lakers if they chose not to resign them.

Wizards: This would significantly improve the Wizards, especially on the defensive side of the ball. It would give them the best scorer in the league and an extra option in Radmanovic. The Wizards still have Stevenson and Haywood and this would be a good foundation on which to build. In a couple seasons the Wizards could be real contenders.

Kobe to Houston

Here's another team that I could really see Kobe going to. Again, this trade is  far less likely than the already very unlikely trades mentioned above. However, I think a trade between the two could benefit both sides. I said a long time ago the Lakers should've traded Kobe to Orlando for McGrady and I'm thinking maybe they can still do it. McGrady is still a great shooting guard and with the right team can do some great things.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant and Vladimir Radmanovic to the Houston Rockets for Tracy McGrady, Bonzi Wells, Mike James, and 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: Mike James provides and instant upgrade at point guard. Again, he could be paired with Derek Fisher and provide a good option at the two spot. McGrady is one of the best guard-forwards in the league and is behind maybe only Kobe in skill. Things haven't panned out with Yao so maybe a change of scenery will revive him. Bonzi Wells only has a season left on his contract and could free up some cap space. In the meantime, he has flashes of brilliance on both sides of the ball and would add some toughness to the Lakers.

Rockets: The Rockets would get a breath of fresh air. Kobe's worked with a high-caliber center before and maybe he can help Yao get back to what he was promised to be. He can certainly score and play defense and again, a change in scenery could help revive him. Radmanovic would again be a third scoring option and I think could be a bigger threat with defenses keying on Ming and Bryant.

Kobe to New Jersey

Bryant really wanted to play with Jason Kidd. What player wouldn't? Besides Nash he is the most creative point guard in the league and wants to get his scores the ball. Vince Carter is untradable (not because he's better than Kobe, because he has a Trade Restriction) so they'd have to give up Richard Jefferson. They'd also have to give up some promising players and again that first round pick. However, a team with Carter-Kidd-Bryant would be unstoppable in the East and maybe even unstoppable against the west.

Los Angeles Lakers trade Kobe Bryant to the New Jersey Nets for Richard  Jefferson, Sean Williams, Nenad Krstic, Bostjan Nachbar, and a 2008 First Round Pick

Lakers: The Lakers would get Richard Jefferson to keep their scoring up and a promising young point guard to help lead the team. Krstic has been a surprise and could be a real asset to the Triangle. Nachbar also shows some promise but would open up a couple million in cap space if the Lakers decided not to resign him after next season. 

New Jersey Nets: This would set up an epic match up between the Nets and Celtics in the playoffs. Which big three would succeed? I don't know. The Celtics would have a hard time stopping Kobe and Carter plus the Nets have something the Celts don't: a true point guard. I think the Nets would come out on top and challenge for the championship. Again, the Nets window is closing and they need to do something to win now.

Conclusion

None of these trades will happen. However, it's always fun to speculate. My favorite trade is with the Suns because I believe that would spell championship. However, I would also like the Nets trade simply because it would be fun to watch them obliterate the East. All in all, Kobe will simply walk away in 2009 and the Lakers will struggle to rebuild. Buss should try to get something for him now but they will never get equal value for him.

So these are some random scenarios. Let me know what you think but I'm really interested to see if there are any other interesting trades you would have in mind (be creative!). Peace.

So, I was playing with the Trade Generator on ESPN.com. If you've never used it, it's a pretty cool and easy to use device so you can see how potential trades could shake up the league. It's very simplistic but is fun to use.

I decided I'd take a couple of the hottest trade rumors and combine them with Los Angeles Lakers, for reasons of pairing "somebody" with Kobe Bryant. I decided the four teams would be the Minnesota Timberwolves, New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, and the afore mentioned Los Angeles Lakers.

Here's the deal:
Los Angeles Lakers
G/F- Vince Carter (New Jersey Nets)
G- Mark Jaric (Minnesota Timberwolves)
F- Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies)

Memphis Grizzlies
F- Vladimir Radmanovic (Los Angeles Lakers)
G- Jason Kidd (New Jersey Nets)
F- Kevin Garnett (Minnesota Timberwolves)

Minnesota Timberwolves
F/C- Lamar Odom (Los Angeles Lakers)
G- Mike Miller (Memphis Grizzlies)
G- Richard Jefferson (New Jersey Nets)
F- Luke Walton (Los Angeles Lakers)
G- Eddie House (New Jersey Nets)
G- Damon Stoudamire (Memphis Grizzlies)

New Jersey Nets
G- Chucky Atkins (Memphis Grizzlies)
G- Aaron McKie (Los Angeles Lakers)
F- Brian Cardinal (Memphis Grizzlies)
F- Ronny Turiaf (Los Angeles Lakers)
F/C- Eddie Griffin (Minnesota Timberwolves)
G- Ricky Davis (Minnesota Timberwolves)
F/C- Kwame Brown (Los Angeles Lakers)
F/C- Stromile Swift (Memphis Grizzlies)

Potential Starting Rosters
Los Angeles Lakers
PG- Jordan Farmar/Smush Parker
SG- Kobe Bryant
PF- Pau Gasol
SF- Vince Carter
C- Chris Mihm
Analysis: Talk about a run and gun team. My concern would be point play but I think a team with this talent could over come that. Don't know how well this team would gel but I think their run and gun style would be fun to watch. Can you imagine the playoff games between this team and Phoenix? 120+ every night.

Memphis Grizzlies
PG- Jason Kidd
SG- Tarence Kinsey
PF- Hakim Warick
SF- Rudy ####
C- Kevin Garnett
Analysis: The Gizz are trying to be a run and gun team and this lineup would help them achieve that goal. Not to mention pairing Kevin Garnett and Jason Kidd. They have too many weaknesses to be a contender in the West but would be more exciting to watch. And who knows, maybe after a draft, free agency, swing a trade or two...
Given time, I wouldn't bet against a team anchored by Jason Kidd and Kevin Garnett but they'd have to build fast as both (Kidd especially) are aging. The Grizzlies need a spark despertely and this infusion of super star talent would certainly give them that.

Minnesota Timberwolves
PG- Damon Stoudamire
SG- Richard Jefferson
PF- Lamar Odom
SF- Luke Walton
C- Mark Blount
Analysis: Clearly losing Kevin Garnett would be a huge blow and probably a death blow to this season. But the Timberwovles don't really have a shot now and need to realize that and start fresh. They'd get a few good young pieces in Walton, House, and Miller and a couple stout vets in Jefferson and Odom.
This would give them options as to where to go in the future and would get rid of their irrational marriage to Kevin Garnett. Don't get me wrong KG is an amazing talent, but the franchise seems unable to put anything around him and his contract is imobilizing them. This team wouldn't be good this year but it could be the foundations of a successful future.

New Jersey Nets
PG- Chucky Atkins
SG- Ricky Davis
PF- Stromile Swift
SF- Antoine Wright
C- Kwame Brown
Analysis: This team would be losing three staples in Kidd, Carter, and Jefferson but they're another team that needs to move on. They've got some good young talent and need to unload those big contracts and develop for the future. This trade would create a bit of a logjam at the Forward and Center position but that could open up more trades for them later. Chucky Atkins expiring contract would give them another season before elevating Marcus Williams to their starting spot.
They would get a true center in "Baby Shaq" and Stromile Swift flashes the occasional greatness. In any case, this would be an atheletic team that would be fun to watch and hopefully develop into a contender in a few years.

Well, there you have it. Here is the link to the original Trade Machine results and I encourage you to play with it yourself.

This was entirely random with multiple teams and big names invovled. There are countless flaws with this trade and this would never really happen. I only ask you to consider it and let me know how you think this would shake up the NBA and what would be of these teams and players (both this year and down the road).

Thanks and have fun with the Trade Machine. Peace.

Chicago Bulls

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).

In the spirit of labeling teams I've decided to hand out some awards/titles for the teams in the early part of the NBA season. While we've got plenty more basketball before all the good teams reveal themselves and the flops rear their ugly heads, I think the beginning of the season has been fairly interesting.

Surprise Team of the Year:
Los Angeles Clippers
If you thought the Clippers would lead the Pacific Division please raise your hand. If you're raising your hand use it to slap yourself now because you're a liar! Granted a few die-hard Clips fans really thought "this is the year" but haven't they been thinking that ever year for the last, well forever! Everyone thought Sam Cassell was being traded to the Clippers to continue to smoulder in defeat and then quietly move from team to team until retirement. Suddenly, the Clippers are the elite team in LA and the Clippers are looking, if not good, at least not so bad.
In the running: New Jersy Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves

Biggest Bust Team of the Year:
New York Knicks
I had trouble with this one. The Kings were supposed to be at least as good as they were last year and still one of the best teams in the West (they're not). Then I almost selected Indiana because they finally get themselves into some real championship talk and then one player goes and ruins their chances (apparently). This seems to be a pattern and I think they'll be better without Artest. But I think the Knicks take the cake. The Knicks, while not supposed to be the second coming of the Bulls or anything, were supposed to be one of the better teams of the season. Maybe, we were giving Larry Brown too much credit (the Pistons are doing better without him) or maybe the Knicks just aren't as talented as they appear on paper. At any rate I expected a lot more from the new New York Knicks.
In the running: Sacremento Kings, Indiana Pacers, Atlanta Hawks, Houston Rockets

In Your Face Experts! Team of the Year:
Pheonix Suns
When Amare Stoudemire went down the league's leading mouths preached doom and gloom for the Suns. Even those that felt the Suns had a chance said they would struggle to stay at .500. They said the Suns would have to hope they could remain either at .500 or just below it when Amare got back. Well, I belive the Suns are above .500 now. I also believe they're playing some pretty good ball with out they're most dynamic player. The Suns have proven while they're not terribly deep they're certainly deeper than one player.
In the running: Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Clippers

We're Gonna Crash! Team of the Year:
Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers
They do every year. They start strong with AI leading the charge. Then he gets hurt and the team plummets. Why? Because they're so used to Iverson controling the ball when he's not there their chemistry is so off they can't rebound (figuratively speaking). They struggle scoring and somehow there's a mental block whenever Iverson isn't in the game. This isn't a knock on Iverson, he actually has quite a few assists in addition to his points (though I still think he tries to create too much for himself). Just like always this team will wear out and may slip out of the playoff hunt.
In the running: Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Seattle Sonics, Cleveland Cavaliers, NOklahoma City Hornets

Championship Team of the Year:
Dallas Mavericks
Mainly because I'm a Mavs fan. But beyond that the Mavericks have actually developed a fairly stingy defense. They've beaten the best of the East (Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers) and have the second best record in the league. They were winning convincingly without Jerry Stackhouse. While he's not neccessarily a differnece maker he adds even more depth to the Mavs bench which is oh so important come playoff time. The Mavs finally look like they may have the right combination of Offense and Defense. It would be a great all around series between the Pistons and Mavs as both teams have improved on their "weaknesses" and appear as solid all around teams.
In the running: San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat

So there you have it! My fake, completely biased yet strangely supported awards/titles what have you. Agree, disagree? Have a category I should have had or want to know why some of the "In the running" teams are there? Well, just leave a comment and I'll get back to ya.