I'm not going to make the obvious Michael Jordan reference after "The Chosen One's" two-point fourth quarter in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals.

That would be an insult to the newly-single Mr. Jordan because Jordan's Bulls won his first-ever conference finals game, 94-88 in the Palace of Auburn Hills. You can't make the argument that Jordan's Bulls were better than LeBron's Cavs, either. World-class players like Dave Corzine and Brad Sellers played major minutes on that '89 Bulls squad.

Ok, I know he's only 22 years old. But he's been in the League four years now, and he's in the Final Four of his league. The game was set up perfectly for James to make his seven years of hype (I'm including his final three years of high school) justified.

Cleveland led for the entire first half. The Cavs were down just one on the road. Right before the fourth quarter started, I said to myself, "Ok. This is where it starts. LeBron only has eight points. He's going to end up with at least 20 and Cleveland is going to win this game."

It didn't happen. Two points in the fourth on his way to a career playoff low of 10 points. A lay up. That's it. Yes, LeBron's facilitation skills (nine assists) helped keep his squad close. They had a wide open look with 12 seconds lef that would've given them a one-point lead. But when LeBron went into the lane on Cleveland's last possession, he should have said, "F%ck this play. I'm dunking it and we're gonna win in OT." He had a dunk. James went right around Tayshaun Prince. Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace showed help, but neither got to the spot in time to stop what should have been a thunderous slam.

It's been said several times over the past two seasons. LeBron needs to become a selfish player at times in order to become a great player. Dwayne Wade wouldn't have gone 5-15. Neither would Kobe. Great players' teams live and die with them. Not with guys like Donyell Marshall and Anderson Varejao.

But it's not all on LeBron.

If Cavs brass could, I would suggest them firing Mike Brown before the Tuesday shootaround.

Cleveland went 1-10 from three-point range. Damon Jones has stayed in the NBA based on his three-point shooting. Daniel Gibson led the team, shooting 42 percent from three during the regular season. Those two played a combined five minutes.

Detroit double-teamed LeBron throughout the contest. Brown did nothing to get James in a position to get easy looks. Whatever he got, it would have had to be the result of LeBron going coast to coast or getting the ball as the point crossed half court.

Yes, the game was close. Yes, all the games in the series could be close. But if Brown doesn't put his team, and LeBron in particular, in a better position to win, this series will be over quick.

So will Mike Brown's tenure in Cleveland.

 

 

A couple weeks ago, I broke down the needs of the playoff teams that were bounced in the first round. Now we'll get into the issues of the squads that were steps away from the NBA's version of the Final Four

Chicago Bulls - Everyone knows and beats to the death the fact that the Bulls need a post scorer. But more pressing is the need for a legit two-guard so Ben Gordon can reprise his role as Microwave 2000. Gordon is a helluva scorer, but he's not someone you can count on for 40-plus minutes a night. I also think it's a stretch to call on him to check a 6'5" or taller two. Talk of dealing Gordon is bogus. People in Chi-town have already dubbed him "Air Gordon." You can't deal a young guy who can fill it up.

The rumored deals for Kevin Garnett and Pau Gasol make sense for some reasons. But the cons heavily outweigh the pros. In three playoff appearances, Gasol is 0-12. Yes, the West is tough, but Memphis never finished higher than the eight spot in the playoffs. And who says he's so awesome in the post. Have you seen him play? Yea, he has post moves, but he's about as fleet of foot as Sean Casey. And I think his arms are longer than his legs. Take that as you will.

Garnett is intriguing. He's been a top-5 player for the last half decade. He has an MVP on his mantle. He's a fiery competitor. But before 2004, Garnett was 0-fer the playoffs. Since 2004, Big Ticket hasn't seen the postseason. Of all the great players in the League, I honestly believe Garnett plays with the most passion. But he should not be missing the playoffs at this stage of his career. Do you realize the 2007-08 season will be Garnett's 13th?

 

Yea, he'd be a massive upgrade over P.J. Brown, but I don't see him being the guy who gets Chicago over the hump. Even with Ben Wallace and Luol Deng on the roster, Garnett would still be The Man. He hasn't fared so well with that title when it comes to on-the-court. Missing the playoffs three straight seasons is evidence enough of that.

If I were Bulls GM John Paxson, I would build up my roster through free agency and the draft. Bobcats swingman Gerald Wallace is a free agent this summer. He'd fill the need for a legit shooting guard, paving the way for Gordon's return to the sixth man role. The Bulls could parlay the lottery pick they received from the Knicks by way of the Eddy Curry deal into 7'2" Roy Hibbert. If Hibbert can start right away and give Scott Skiles 14 and 8, the Bulls should be favored in the East. Chicago's 2007-08 rotation would then be: Hinrich, Gerald Wallace, Deng, Ben Wallace, Hibbert (starters); Gordon, Andres Nocioni, Tyrus Thomas, Chris Duhon and Thabo Sefolosha.

Yes, it's a young group. But the core has been in the playoffs each of the last three seasons and should have the confidence going into next season that it can hang with anybody and (maybe) make it to the Finals.

Golden State Warriors - Golden State was a great story and seeing the look on Mark Cuban's face when Dallas lost that series was classic. But anyone in the know knows the Warriors had no shot against any other team in the playoffs.

 

That helter skelter style makes for good TV, but it doesn't get you any jewelry. Golden State is a team that has to build a big lead and hold it or blow a team out. When it comes to making decisions in tight situations, that's where the Warriors struggle. Whether it be missing three free throws in the last 20 seconds of a game, or passing up easy mid-range shots in another, Golden State doesn't have the personnel to pull out close games.

Jason Richardson wants out. Monta Ellis doesn't want to be a career back up. And Stephen Jackson is psycho. That playoff run was the epitome of one of those "lightning in a bottle moments." Remember, the Warriors had to win 10 of their last 11 just to get into the eight spot.

Like Chicago, Golden State is too perimeter oriented. For that reason alone, if it's true Phoenix is shopping Amare Stoudemire, Chris Mullin should do everything in his power to get him to the Bay Area. The Warriors' style isn't hat far removed from what the Suns run. Baron Davis is a capable point guard, and Amare would be their first option - exactly what he wants. Amare is slated to make $15 million per for the next few years. A deal of Stoudemire for Richardson, Sarunas Jasikevicius and an expiring deal would get it done.

If Golden State doesn't find a guy who they can dump the ball to on a consistent basis, the second round is as far as they'll get.

New Jersey Nets - The return of Nenad Krstic will help the Nets immensely. In the 26 games he appeared in this season, Krstic netted 16.4 points and pulled down 6.8 boards a night.

But Kristic's return is the least of Jersey's worries. Vince Carter is a free agent. And Jason Kidd isn't getting any younger.

Kidd turned in one of the greatest playoff performances ever for two rounds, averaging a triple-double (14.6, 10.9, 10.9). And in one moment, Carter showed that after nine years in the League, he still isn't ready for prime time as he let 68-year-old Eric Snow body him enough to where he couldn't get a shot off in game 5 of the Nets/Cavs second round series. He also shot 6-23 in an elimination game.

If this team stays together, it has the pieces to make a run next spring. Jersey needs bench help. Bostjan Nachbar put in 9.9 in 23 minutes of work each night, but the rest of the Nets' bench did nothing.

This year's underwhelming free agent class consists of guys who would be solid contributors off the bench. Matt Barnes could give Jersey toughness and some energy off the bench, as could guys like Earl Boykins, Devean George and Andres Nocioni.

Phoenix Suns - If it wasn't for that bogus suspension, the Suns would still be playing. But they're not, so I have to address their needs now.

Phoenix doesn't need much. Kurt Thomas playing solid against Tim Duncan showed that. But Steve Nash's back isn't getting any better. He's approaching Larry Bird territory with that thing.

A couple of things could set the Suns up for years to come. If they play the Amare Stoudemire/Shawn Marion trade rumors right, they should get a starter and a first-round pick in either deal. Phoenix also has a potential top-five pick by way of the Joe Johnson trade. That pick could turn into Al Horford or Joakim Noah, making Stoudemire a little more expendable than Marion due to the positions they play. Marion's defensive performance against San Antonio, where he guarded both Tony Parker and Tim Duncan for stretches, increases his worth, too.

Steve Nash needs an understudy. If Stoudemire is retained, Phoenix should say "f$ck it" and draft Mike Conley Jr. with that pick and hope Boris Diaw regains his motivation. If Marion is retained, Phoenix should draft Horford or Noah, hope Milwaukee's Mo Williams, who averaged 17, 5 and 5 last year, doesn't want a "huge" deal and roll with a core of Nash, Marion, Leandro Barbosa, Diaw, Raja Bell, Horford/Noah, Williams and whatever piece they get in the Amare deal.

Remember, Phoenix got to the Western Conference Finals last season minus Stoudemire. He's no slouch, but trading Amare wouldn't set Phoenix back as much as trading Marion would.

More team needs coming after the conference finals.

After a topsy-turvy college career at Michigan State, and three uneventful stops in the NFL, quarterback Jeff Smoker may have found his niche.

 

Smoker was named Arena Football League Rookie of the Month for April 2007 after he completed 95-of-158 passes for 1,277 yards with 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions during his first full month as a starting quarterback in the AFL. Smoker led all rookies in passing yards, ranked second in touchdowns, and ranked third in passer rating (100.6) during the month that saw his Nashville Kats post a 2-3 record. His best performance of the month came in an April 14 win as he completed 18-of-28 passes for 235 yards and six touchdowns in a 62-36 victory over the Arizona Rattlers.

 

Despite the 2-3 record, this measure of success has to be bittersweet for the Manheim, PA native.

 

The accomplishment signals that Smoker may have vanquished the demons he encountered during his college days. Smoker had a well-publicized bout with substance abuse during his junior year in East Lansing. He was suspended for the last five games of the team's 4-8 campaign, and it was unknown if he would ever step foot in Spartan Stadium, or any other arena, ever again.

 

Then-MSU head coach John L. Smith decided to reinstate Smoker after holding him out of spring practice in 2003. That turned out to be a good choice.

As a senior, Smoker became the first quarterback in school history to reach the 3,000-yard passing milestone in a season, finishing 2003 with a 62 percent completion rate, 3,395 yards and 21 touchdowns (both school records). During the Spartans' 7-5 season, Smoker also ran for three scores on 63 carries, was a second-team All-Big 10 selection and was named team MVP. He also led the Big Ten conference in passing (261.2 yards per game) and in total offense (252.2 ypg). That year, Smoker broke his own single-season record for total offense of 2,512 yards when he registered 3,279 yards in his final season at State. 

Smoker ended his college career as the most decorated quarterback in Spartan history, setting Spartans records with a 60 percent completion rate - 685-1,150 - for 8,932 yards, 61 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He also set the MSU all-time record with 8,714 yards in total offense.  

Yes, his suspension came from a self-inflicted problem, but an intervention, help from family and friends, a vote of confidence from Smith and some hard work aided Smoker on his road back. 

Smoker's NFL career was an uneventful one, as he was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round (201st overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft, spending two season with the club. He also spent time with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs.

Although it can't possibly be on par with being named NFL Rookie of the Month, Smoker's recent accolade has to show him he has somewhat of a budding football career. Different people take different paths to get to where they eventually aspire to be.  

Sure, Smoker could have been an NFL first-round pick, but who's to say all the money he would have received with that deal would not have caused his problems to resurface.

If he is lucky enough to make it to the Big Show, his highs and lows will make him appreciate the experience that much more. 

Maybe Smoker's story will inspire one of his old teammates -- you know, the one who caught a number of Smoker's TD strikes -- to let old habits go, too.      

Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat brass should discuss a deal that would put Ben Wallace in Miami and Shaquille O'Neal in the Windy City.

 

Before you label me a psycho, think about this: if the Bulls were willing to part with one of their best players, Luol Deng or Ben Gordon, plus 2006 fourth overall pick Tyrus Thomas or P.J. Brown, for Memphis' Pau Gasol, why wouldn't John Paxson explore possibility of bringing in a guy who has four titles?

 

On Miami's end, the move would free up cap space: Shaq is owed $60 million over the next three years, whereas Big Ben is owed $36 million over the same time period.

 

I firmly believe Ben was brought in by Chicago to be a leader in the locker room and on the court. His performance in this Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Pistons shows he's far from the general type. It could be he still loves his boys from Motown. It could be he's now on Rasheed Wallace's old "CTC" kick. Whatever it is, Ben looks like he's ready for his summer vacation.

 

Although he's not the 29 and 17 Shaq of the mid-90s, O'Neal, who, if you believe rumors could be dealt this summer, anyway, is still one of the best big men in the game. He would fill the need the Bulls have for a post scorer and he's a great passing big, as well. I know reports have Paxson enamored with Gasol and Kevin Garnett, but Gasol's teams are 0-12 in three playoff appearances. And, with all due respect to the Big Ticket, Garnett's T'Wolves have made it out of the first round just once in his 12-year career and haven't sniffed the postseason since 2004.

 

If Paxson is feeling the pressure to win now, why not roll the dice on a proven winner. Chicago won 49 games and had no post threat for the entire season. Even if Shaq plays no more than 50 games a season for the next couple years, the Bulls would win the East each year because, added with those 49, I guarantee Diesel is good for 7-8 wins on his own. Don't forget, O'Neal, 35, led the Heat to a 16-7 record in the 23 games Dwyane Wade was out with his shoulder injury, averaging 19.3 points and 7.8 board a night during that stretch. In his three years in Miami, O'Neal has also shown he's willing to defer to anyone who doesn't have a big "8" on his back, as well. Yea, Shaq is getting up there in age; but, in 40 games, his 17.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg bested Wallace and Brown's combined 12.5 and 15.5.

 

A deal of Shaq for Wallace, Deng and Brown would accomplish a few things: Chicago would get the (short-term) post threat it's longing for; Wade would get a long-term running mate in Deng; and the pressure would be off Wallace to lead a team, since Wade and Pat Riley would control the reins in Miami.

 

Draft night, June 28, could soften the blow of dealing Deng, too for Chicago. The Bulls and Knicks swapped picks in this year's draft in the Eddy Curry deal. That pick, projected at No. 9 by NBADraft.net, could turn into the likes of Florida's Corey Brewer, Georgetown's Jeff Green or Kansas' Julian Wright. Bulls' coach Scott Skiles would likely want to bring his rooks along slowly, so a crafty deal for free agent Gerald Wallace or Bonzi Wells would fill the void left in Chicago's starting group left by Deng's departure. The Bulls 2007-08 rotation would then be Kirk Hinrich, Gordon, Wallace/Wells, Malik Allen and Shaq, with Chris Duhon, one of the three aforementioned draft picks, Andres Nocioni and Thomas coming off the bench.

 

If Riley makes smart deals, Miami could trot out free agent Mike Bibby (or Chauncey Billups), Wade, Deng, Udonis Haslem and Wallace. In print, this group looks to be as perimeter heavy as this year's Bulls. This year's Bulls, however, don't feature the 2006 Finals MVP, the '04 Finals MVP, or a guy who walks like he's got King Kong's sack when he hits a big shot.

 

Miami would get somewhat younger with the deal, too. Gary Payton and Alonzo Mourning will likely retire this offseason; and Antoine Walker and Jason Williams are on the wrong side of 30. Swinging these deal would also lessen my belief that "Riles" mortgaged the future of the Heat franchise to win the title last season.

 

Both O'Neal and Wallace have a need to be coddled, but that's a whole 'nother story. These deals, I think, could potentially make both these malcontents happy. Riley loves tough defense - right in Ben's wheelhouse - and I'm sure Skiles has bowed his head and closed his eyes and asked for a pivot with at least some semblance of an offensive game.

 

With the benefits this deal provides, if it's made, both sides could shout, "Hallelujah!"

The 2007 NBA Lottery is about two weeks away (May 22).

 

Fourteen teams will depend on ping pong balls to brighten their futures.

 

The other 16 playoff teams will have draft picks, too, but are in better position to improve their squads through free agency and trades.

 

With eight teams out of the race for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, here's a look at the needs of the squads that have been bounced from the playoffs thus far.

 

Dallas Mavericks

 

Bet you didn't think you'd see this team on the list 'til after the Finals, huh? What the Mavericks need can't be received through a trade, unless you can swing some kind of deal with a cardiologist.

 

Dallas needs heart. They need added toughness, too. The only killer on the squad (Jerry Stackhouse) is on the downside of his career, not to mention he comes off the bench. I don't see what good a rumored Dirk Nowitzki for Kevin Garnett deal would do since Garnett hasn't even gotten to the postseason in three years and is one good run ('04) from being lumped in with Tracy McGrady.

 

I have no clue what happened to Dallas. There was obviously no hangover from the Finals disappointment since the group won 67 games, but somewhere along the way, Nowitzki reverted back to soft Dirk, hanging out behind the 3-point arc, not going inside for boards on a consistent basis, etc. Avery Johnson pretty much waved the white flag in the Warriors series by changing his starting line-up so his team could play with Golden State. It should have gone the other way. The playoffs are all about match-ups, though, and the Warriors match up well with Dallas - Golden State did sweep the Mavs, 3-0, in the regular season.

 

Not too many moves need to be made. Josh Howard is heading into his prime and could end up being a better Scottie Pippen. Nowitzki turns 29 next month, when he should be the reigning NBA MVP. Devin Harris and Jason Terry are a solid backcourt. Dallas' bench is a little old, with Stackhouse (32), Austin Croshere (32) and Greg Buckner (30) being the Mavs major contributors off the pine. Stackhouse and Croshere are also unrestricted free agents this summer.

 

Dallas' bench could improve and get younger with a deal for a combo guard (Charlie Bell), a backup for Josh Howard (Morris Peterson), or a scoring threat at the five (Primoz Brezec, Darko Milicic).

 

Denver Nuggets

 

For the second time in three seasons, the Nuggets took game one from San Antonio in a first-round series. For the second time in three seasons, Denver failed to win another playoff game.

 

Scoring isn't a problem for the Mile High guys. Everybody knows Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson can go for 50 on any given night.

 

One question, though. How did Marcus Camby earn Defensive Player of the Year on a team that gave up at least 100 points 54 times this season and 110 points 23 times? It was well-documented this season that the Nuggets fielded a team of Steve Nash's. Could Kenyon Martin missing 80 games this season with a knee have had something to do with it? Maybe, but he's not a perimeter player. Denver's wing guys are like turnstiles.

 

A deal for Bell, Peterson, or Bulls forward Andres Nocioni (a restricted free agent) could shore up Denver's perimeter D and (possibly) help them win a playoff series or two. Martin's health will play a role in that, as well.

 

Houston Rockets

 

Athletes, athletes, athletes. Houston needs athletes like Paris Hilton needs recurring appointments at the Clinic.

I could venture to say that had the Rockets drawn any other team in the first round, the result would have been the same. Houston just doesn't have the horses to run with the other teams out west.

 

It will be difficult for the Rockets to improve, even though they did win 50 games this season. Houston's hands are tied with McGrady and Yao Ming for a few more years and they don't have the pieces to facilitate trades for what they lack - point guard and an athletic four.

 

No way Sacramento or Detroit takes a package of Rafer Alston, Juwan Howard, Steve Novak and picks in a sign and trade for Mike Bibby or Chauncey Billups. The Rockets may have to look at bringing in Brevin Knight or swinging a deal to reacquire Mike James, who they should have kept two season ago. James, a scoring point, could have helped immensely when Houston got just 16 points from guys on the roster not named McGrady and Yao.

 

Sonics forward Rashard Lewis (22.4 points, 6.6 rpg last season), who has an early termination option in his contract, is an intriguing piece. Lewis, 27, is a Houston product and has lobbied for a return home on several occasions. He's not someone who should command max money since he puts up his numbers on a bad Sonics team. Lewis is 6'10." If he builds on his 215-pound frame, he could play the four for Houston in a move that could possibly save Tracy McGrady's tear ducts future abuse.

 

Los Angeles Lakers

 

Kevin Garnett. Jason Kidd. Jermaine O'Neal.

 

Those are the names that keep coming out when people talks deals to La La Land.

Each makes sense in some way. Kidd because of Phil Jackson's obsession with big point guards. O'Neal because of his post scoring and defense. And Garnett is attractive because he's another missed postseason away from going Jigsaw on the T'Wolves brass.

 

O'Neal is the easiest of the three to obtain, since it seems like Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh are trying to go in a different direction with the Pacers. But the closest O'Neal has come to playing an entire season was the 81 games he played in 2000-01, his first year in Indy. If you discount his first three years in Portland, the lockout shortened season, and the 2003-04 season where he was suspended, O'Neal, 28, averages 71 games played a season. That's not awful, but those 11 games could mean the difference in getting a four or a seven seed in the playoffs.

 

Even at 34, Kidd is still one of the top three point guards in the league. He's one of the few players who can impact a game without scoring and he plays solid D. But he is 34. How many good seasons does he have left? Yes, he's averaged 80 games played the last two seasons, but age hits an athlete when he least expects it. It would be worth it to take a flier on Kidd if you had a serviceable backup point man in your rotation, but I wouldn't call Jordan Farmar serviceable at this point in his career.

 

Garnett fits with the Lakers for several reasons. Even though people have said it's difficult to mesh with Alpha Dog Kobe Bryant, Garnett would relish in the role because he'd no longer be "The Man." KG could just put up his 20, 10 and 5 every night, throw in the occasional 35 and 20 game, and go on about his business. Garnett is also perfect for Jackson's variation of the Triangle Offense. Like Shaq, he commands a double team in the post and is a very good passing big man. Like Bill Cartwright, Bill Wennington and Luc Longley, he can hit a 15 to 18-foot jump shot.

 

Each of these three will make a minimum of $18 million next season. Any deal for them would have to include two rotation guys and three expiring contracts. Each team (Pacers, Nets and Timberwolves) would most likely ask for young pivot man Andrew Bynum. To make the money match, swingman Lamar Odom would have to be a part of the deal, as well.

 

A deal for Garnett makes the most sense with what the Lakers have at this point. Moving Odom would make it easier to re-sign Luke Walton, who had a career year last year (11.4 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.3 apg). Say the Lakers go out and sign Brevin Knight. L.A. could have an Opening Night starting line-up of Knight, Bryant, Walton, Kwame Brown (who's not awful) and Garnett.

 

Garnett would get out of purgatory. And Bryant could show he can co-exist with another great player.

 

Miami Heat

 

If you take out all of the compelling elements of the David Halberstam book, "The Breaks of the Game," based on the 1977-78 Portland Trailblazers, you have the 2006-07 Miami Heat. Think about it: both were down 0-2 in the Finals. Both had players who willed their respective teams to victory (Bill Walton, Dwyane Wade). The makeup of the two is nowhere near similar, but the basic points match up well. Here's another eerie similarity: Walton's nagging foot injuries began to surface the season after Portland won the title. Wade's nagging shoulder injury took place after Miami hoisted the championship gold.

 

Wade will come back from that injury and once again be a dynamic talent. But the rest of Miami's vital pieces are ready to be put out to pasture. Shaquille O'Neal is a shell of his former self and has been for some time. How many games can he come out like Gangbusters, only to be gasping for air barely halfway through the second quarter? Gary Payton hasn't had a decent year since he left the Pacific Northwest. Alonzo Mourning doesn't have it anymore. The Eddie Jones deal didn't work out and Antoine Walker and James Posey are the first players in the history of sports to have received DNP: Too Fat.

Jones, Payton, Posey and Jason Kapono are all restricted free agents, none of whom should be re-signed. Mourning has limited salary protection, safeguarding is deal if he is with the team past Aug. 10.

 

Assuming none of these players is with Miami next season, the Heat could field a starting line-up of Jason Williams (also on the downswing), Wade, Dorell Wright, Udonis Haslem and O'Neal. If you add in restricted free agent Earl Barron, unrestricted free agent Michael Doleac and Chris Quinn, who also has limited salary protection, Miami's bench, at this moment, consists of Wayne Simien.

 

Miami needs roster turnover as bad as anyone. But who wants the contracts they have? Why would they sign Williams, Payton or Walker and trade them? Heck, who even wants Shaq's three-year, $60 million gargantuan deal?

 

For it to not look like they mortgage the next 10 years of the franchise, the Heat need to find pieces to build around Wade. It's not gonna happen overnight, but there are guys out there who are upgrades over what the team currently has. If the right salaries are dumped, Miami could make a run at Bibby or Billups, but I think it has a better shot at landing the likes of Milwaukee's Mo Williams and, possibly, Charlotte's Gerald Wallace. Those two could give the Heat the perimeter depth to deal with the Bulls' trio should the teams meet in the playoffs in the near future.

 

Orlando Magic

 

It's been said that Brian Hill could lose his job because of his relationship with Dwight Howard, or Young David Robinson as I like to call him. It's more likely he'll lose his gig due to Jameer Nelson's penchant to dribble 42 times on a pick and roll and jack up a 20-foot, contested fadeaway.

 

Point guard is just the start for Orlando. Dwight Howard is untouchable. He's also a couple post moves away from being unstoppable. Think how sweet Howard would be if he had Zach Randolph's post game. It'd be smart for Orlando to hang on to Milicic, too.

He's not All-Star material, but I think he could blossom into a guy who gives you 15 and 8 on a regular basis. I don't mean to go all Chad Ford on you, but he's also a very good passer who sees the court like a guard. There's Orlando's frontline for the next decade. The wing is where the problem lies.

 

Grant Hill is not a starter anymore. He'd be a great leader and bench guy on a team like the Pistons or the Spurs, but he's not good for 30 minutes a night. Throw Hedo Turkoglu in that dingy, too. Yes, he can shoot. But that's it. And Nelson is a two-guard masquerading as a point. All season long, reports have surfaced that Vince Carter wants to play in Orlando. Making that move would severely stunt both Howard and Milicic's growth.

 

Chauncey Billups, or any non-chucker for that matter, would be a much better fit. He'd be the team leader once he steps off the plane and he could get the ball to both post players in a position for them to score. Billups has said he would not discuss his contract status until the Pistons' offseason. He already has a title, and could have two this time in July. Why wouldn't he want to help a young stud like Howard become a Beast?

Bibby, Williams and Wallace aren't bad options, either. And Orlando has the flexibility to add to of those guys, which could give the Magic a shot at winning the east for the next three or four years.

 

Toronto Raptors

 

The Raptors are set at point with T.J. Ford, if he can stay healthy, and they have their cornerstone in Chris Bosh. Toronto also has size up front with 2006 number one pick Andrea Bargnani and Jorge Garbajosa. Anthony Parker, 6'7," provides the Raptors with size on the wing.

 

Making a play for Wallace could solidify Toronto's starting line-up for years to come.

 

Washington Wizards

 

Brendan Haywood has reportedly asked to be traded. I don't think NBA teams make deals with squads in the Chinese Premier League.

 

I'll admit, I thought Haywood would be a beast coming out of North Carolina. We all know how that worked out. Haywood's inability to crack the Wiz' playoff rotation says a lot. Because Washington doesn't have any frontcourt depth. Etan Thomas plays hard, but he's no good. The Darius Songalia deal didn't pan out, either. And I didn't even know Calvin Booth was alive.

 

You know there's not a lot of quality big men out there when Jamaal Magloire is your best option in free agency. But that's what Washington needs. The Wiz are set on the wing, with Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison. They need size and depth up front. Jermaine O'Neal would fit well here, but what would Washington give up to acquire him?

 

Next round of changes coming after the Second Round is complete.