Can Danny?

With Posey gone, the Celtics now have three available roster spots, all three of which will likely be in the rotation (two of which could be the first two players off the pine). Who can the Celtics get to fill these spots? Who's available?

1. Kelenna Azubuike: If you know me, you're probably sick of hearing me gush over Azubuike but I love this kid. He can defend and he can hit the open 3. He doesn't have Posey's height so he won't be as strong against opposing SF's (or the only one that matters, LeBron) but he's better against 2-guards.
Signed Offer Sheet with L.A. Clippers

2. J.R. Smith: J.R. Smith for the MLE would be a steal but the reason I rank him below 'Buike is his defense. Smith has All-Star talent in him but he hasn't been able to put it all together. If there's a chance for him to do it, what better place than alongside Ray Allen, Pierce, and KG?

3. Josh Childress: Can't imagine Atlanta doesn't match but he's basically Posey-lite.

4. Devin Brown: A tough veteran, Brown would be a great, cheap answer however I am a bit nervous about the fact that his three point percentage dipped to 31% last season.

5. Mickael Gelabale: The 6'7 Frenchman probably isn't strong enough to defend LeBron but he is an active defender and shot the ball fairly well last season. Plus, he's got some great hair. The problem, of course, is that he might not be ready (or able) to handle significant minutes, especially come playoff time.

6. Devean George: Fading as he gets older, George can at least still defend and shoot the three.

7. Matt Barnes: I'm not a Matt Barnes fan, especially since his three point percentage dipped this past season, but he can handle the 3 and 4 and wouldn't be a bad signing. If we could get Barnes and a 2-guard lik Azubuike, I'd be happy.

8. Kirk Snyder: Still only 25, Snyder seems like the guy who could be a late bloomer in the right situation. He shot the three pointer better earlier in his career and is potentially a good defender, he might not be a bad option to take over Tony Allen's roster spot.

9. Mo Evans/Keith Bogans: Meh. Either of them wouldn't be a bad last ditch signing but I wouldn't offer much.

10. Ruben Patterson: If it's defense we need, it's defense he can provide. However he most certainly won't fit Posey's three-for-all role in the offense.

After that ten, I'd probably just look to bring back Tony Allen and spend more money on a backup point guard.

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

James Posey is heading to New Orleans, wallets bulging with a four year, 25 million dollar contract. The move makes sense for the Hornets who have a lot of money spent on Peja and Morris Peterson for three more years so it's not like they'll have much cap space to play with anyway. Year 4 is a wash since James will be an expiring contract and, at the very least, a tradeable commodity.

Part of me wishes we kept James but, on the other hand, I don't think this is a crushing blow to the Celtics and it should definitely keep the guys from getting complacent. ESPN claims the move was due to "luxury tax concerns" but I don't buy that because the stumbling block was the amount of years and the luxury tax problem would be at its worst in the next couple of years (with the Big Three still on their big contracts).  

It was a tough call on Ainge's part but the real impact of the move won't be felt until the other shoe drops. The C's now need to look at their backup options (I'll be posting about this tonight or tomorrow) and see what they can do to reload for their title defense.

Posted by SoulHonky at 08:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Vince Carter to the Clippers
I thought this deal needed to happen before the Clips got Marcus Camby but I think it's even more imperative now. The two best players on Southern Cal's other team are both north of 30 so the window for winning is small (if it even exists in the Western Conference). The team isn't going anywhere as is and probably just succeeded in getting themselves a worse lotto pick. True, Camby's contract is off the books before the Great Free Agent Class of 2010 but how many players do you know that are going to be interested in placing the prime of their careers in the hands of Elgin Baylor?

The Clippers one chance to make some noise this offseason is to deal package the contracts of Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley along with Eric Gordon and a future pick to get Vinsanity. The lineup of Baron Davis, Vince, Al Thornton, Marcus Camby, and Chris Kaman could make some noise in the West and gives the Clippers their best chance at being a relevant franchise. The Nets get a young prospect in Gordon, future pick(s), and cap space for LeBron in 2010. A supporting cast Devin Harris, Gordon, Yi, Sean Williams, Brook Lopez isn't a bad start and that's not including what's sure to be another lotto pick this year.

Jason Kidd for Allen Iverson 
Two experiment gone mediocre, it's time to try to fix things a bit in Dallas and Denver. The Iverson/'Melo tandem is fun but it's gone about as far as it could possibly go (especially with Camby no gone). The best thing for 'Melo, K-Mart, and JR Smith (whom they should re-sign) is to team them with the consumate running PG in Jason Kidd. Martin had his best seasons running alongside Kidd and I could see Smith blossoming by feeding off of him. 

As for the Mavericks have been in dire need of some toughness and cajones and that's always been Iverson's greatest strength. I might even go for an overload of cajones and deal Josh Howard for Ron Artest and Shelden Williams while I was at it.

Tracy McGrady for the Pistons backcourt 
In the Conference Finals, the Pistons played with a been there, done that attitude that made it seem like they didn't really care whether they won or lost. If there's one guy out there who could change that attitude, it's the still-never-won-a-playoff-series Tracy McGrady. The Rox and Stones make a huge swap, with Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince heading to H-Town while the Motor City welcomes T-Mac, Shane Battier, and a sign & trade of Carl Landry Houston adds a championship caliber backcourt alongside Yao, Scola, Landry, and friends while the Pistons trot out Stuckey, T-Mac, Battier, Landry, and Rasheed Wallace. I'm not sure if it would bring these teams the titles but it's better than maintaining the status quo.

Chi-Town Shaq
The Suns give up on the Shaq experiment and, while they don't get anyone the caliber of Shawn Marion, they do get three solid backup pieces in Larry Hughes, Andres Nocioni, and Joakim Noah.  Chicago teams the #1 pick (whom some have compared to Dwyane Wade) with the man that helped Wade win a ring. Diesel might not be the player he once was but the lineup of Rose, Hinrich, Deng, Gooden/Thomas could be good enough to help him make a run at one last ring. If the Bulls could sign & trade Ben Gordon and Ty Thomas for a starting power forward, even better.
--- 

And if we need one more to make it five, I'd deal Shawn Marion to the Bobcats for Gerald Wallace. Someone else might have to be added to make it work but if I'm the Heat, I'm happy to add a defensive minded player to complement Beasley (and one who's not a free agent next year). I might even be willing to take on Matt Carroll's terrible contract. As for the Bobcats, they get a veteran who could help the team take it to the next level (which is still a level below the playoffs). The last person the Heat need to get on their team (especially for Marion) is Lamar Odom. Why would you team a crazy but uber-talented kid like Beasley with one of the biggest wastes of talent of the last decade? 

Posted by SoulHonky at 03:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Marc Spears (who I should take a moment to commend on his excellent coverage of the Celtics) is reporting that the Celtics seem to be locked into a two year offer to James Posey while Team Posey is understandebly looking for a longer deal.

Celtics forward James Posey's agent, Mark Bartelstien, said Sunday that there could be "something" contract-wise for his client on Monday. Bartelstien would not divulge the interested teams, but an NBA source said that the Hornets seem to be Boston's main competition. The Celtics seem willing to give Posey the full $5.5 mid-level exception, but it seems doubtful that it will be offered more than two years. The 31-year-old seems interested in getting a four-year deal. Other teams potentially interested in Posey include Detroit, Washington and Cleveland

If this is true, I can't see how Posey wouldn't take the Hornets offer. New Orleans paid Peja Stojakovic the max and gave the full MLE for four years to Morris Peterson so you have to imagine that they won't think twice about offering James what he wants. Posey is also from Cleveland so I could see why going to the Cavs might make sense (although I'm not sure why they'd invest their MLE on a guy who plays the same position as LeBron but this IS Danny Ferry we're talking about).

The play for four years is a no-brainer for Posey as he'd stand to possibly lose millions of dollars if he settled for just a two year deal and then was looking for a new contract when he was 33. As for the Celtics, I initially felt like four years was too much to offer but now I think it could be worth it. How many more years does Posey have left in him? I could see him being successful for a couple more years and even if he tails off in year three of the deal, he'll still be an expiring contract and a useful trade asset heading into year four. The C's currently have a little cap space saved up for the Great Free Agent Rush of 2010 but it's a bit deceiving. Yes, they only have 44 million in salary promised for that year, that is just for Pierce, Garnett, and Kendrick Perkins. Once we re-sign Rondo and add our draft picks, there won't really be much left to offer. Also, we HAVE to replace Posey should he go and I'm not sure how many worthwhile players would really be interested in a 2 year deal.

There's no easy answer here but right now, I'm leaning towards sticking with Posey, even if it means giving him the four year, full MLE deal.  

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Los Angeles Clippers seem to want to fail. They've lost Elton Brand and now apparently think that a suitable replacement would be Zach Randolph. There couldn't be a worse move out there (Okay, I'm sure Elgin Baylor could find a worse one but this one's really bad).

The issues with Zach are many and well-documented but the most important one is that the man simply doesn't help his teams win. He doesn't help in the locker room or on the court. He's essentially a younger version of Shareef Abdur-Rahim who was equally adept at raking in 20/10 and lottery picks. With all of the young talent still available, it really makes no sense to waste cap space on Randolph and his exorbitant salary. Thankfully, Donnie Walsh is saving the Clippers from making this mistake by making a mistake of his own.

The New York Knicks got Zach for an underwhelming Channing Frye and the corpse of Steve Francis. After this past disaster in MSG, I'm not sure how Walsh could think he's going to get something better than that offer. And to be honest, cap space alone is a better offer than what the Knicks gave up. The Clippers are supposedly offering a second round pick which isn't bad seeing that it should be a decent one if Randolph lands at LAX. And while I understand that Walsh might hope that he could get something more for Randolph, there comes a point when you just have to cut your losses and move on. That time is now, especially if they can get immediate salary relief.

The Clippers need to focus on bringing in some of the young free agents like Josh Smith, Emeka Okafor, Carl Landry. or Nenad Krstic and avoid the disaster that is Z-Bo.

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I liked the idea of giving Patrick O'Bryant the Scot Pollard Memorial roster spot before the draft but before the draft i was also thinking that we might walk away with one or possibly no new players. Talk was that the C's could trade their first rounder and take a Euro to stash away overseas with the second pick. Now with two rookies as well as Gabe Pruitt, I'm not so sure about having over a quarter of our roster being unproven young guys.

On the other hand, I really like the idea of Clifford Ray getting to work with the athletic O'Bryant and I could see him doing enough in this one year to fool someone into thinking that he could be the next big thing. Maybe we could then move O'Bryant along with Ray Allen's expiring deal for a younger player. I wouldn't put it past Rick Sund (of Robert Swift, Johan Petro, Saer Sene fame) to get all hot and O'bothered about Patrick and think about shipping Joe Johnson back to Beantown.

In the end, it's an interesting move by Ainge but it also makes the rest of the roster spots all the more important. I really hope we aren't relying too heavily on one or two of our unproven commodities. 

Posted by SoulHonky at 03:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

RealGm reports that Paul Pierce has said that the Knicks should dump Stephon Marbury if they truly want to rebuild. While this might look like a shot at Marbury, his comment seems like it might be more of a dream than a diss.

"I'd try to trade him or buy him out at this point," added Pierce, who still believes Marbury can be a starting point guard in the NBA. "I just think he needs a fresh start somewhere else. Marbury needs to be on a veteran team where he fits into what they're trying to do a little bit more."

If someone can get through to Marbury, it would probably be Piece and old friend Kevin Garnett. I think Steph is ready for a comeback season and would love to see him in the Celtics green. Hopefully, the Knicks won't be able to find a trade partner and just buy out Steph, opening up a path for him to come to the C's.

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The opening of free agency has been filled with surprises as well as the typical head-scratching decisions (the full MLE for Desagana Diop? 4 years, 17 million for Ronny Turiaf?). So let's look at how teams have fared after the first flurry of free agent signings.

Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers are the big winners, possibly moving up to #2 in the Atlantic division with the addition of Elton Brand.  That being said, the Sixers aren't as big a winner as some people seem to think. While Brand is an All-Star player, I don't think he makes the Sixers an elite Eastern Conference team and part of me isn't sure how much better they are than the Washington Wizards. Still, Brand is a huge signing and puts the Sixers smack dab in the middle of the playoff picture.

Los Angeles Clippers: While the Clippers seem like big losers after not landing the Baron/Brand duo, they actually could come out in a great position. Personally, I think going from Maggette and Brand to Baron Davis and Josh Smith would be an improvement. I think the Thornton/Smith duo at the forward spots could be a dynamic duo, especially when running alongside Baron. The key is for the Clips is to not panic and overpay someone.

Miami Heat: I like the Chalmers/Wade/Marion/Beasley foursome but I thought the Heat would make a run at a low post big man rather than spend a good chunk of change on a fairly one-dimensional 2 guard James Jones.

Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks re-signed Andrew Bogut to a 5 year, 60 million dollar contract with inentives that could make it worth 70+ million. While I liked Bogut, he's not that good and when you already have big money invested in Michael Redd and Richard Jefferson, I'm not sure if spending more on Bogut makes much sense.

New York Knicks: New GM, same issues. The Knicks overpaid for a good but not great player who I don't see getting any better in the future. It also doesn't help that Chris Duhon was hardly a Boy Scout in Chicago so it's not like he's going to be a steady force in the locker room.

Dallas Mavericks: Well, at least you can't say they're rearranging the deck chair on the Titanic. The Mavs overpaid old friend Desagana Diop and then signed up the fun but not going to help much when it matters Jose Juan Barea. Unless something changes soon, I wouldn't be surprised if the backup plan in the LeBron sweepstates is Dirk Nowitzki.
 
Golden State Warriors: I thought Chris Mullin and the Warriors were favorites for Worst Offseason of the Year but I never expected it to be this bad. If you had told fans in the Bay Area that their team would trade Baron Davis for Corey Maggette and Ronny Turiaf, they'd call you crazy. Unfortunately for them, that's essentially what the Warriors have done. They've also lost Mickael Pietrus and have yet to re-sign Monta Ellis or Andris Biedrins. While the Warriors can definitely salvage this lost offseason, the scary thing is that things still could get worse.

As for the Celtics, the good news is that nobody has grabbed Posey but the bad sign is that it seems like Posey is definitely going to get a full max, 5 year offer. As much as I'd like to try to split the MLE to grab a couple of players, it's looking like we'll have to use the full MLE to bring in anyone of any value.

Posted by SoulHonky at 07:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The C's are taking a look at free agents but right now the key move is to figure out what to do with your sixth man. While re-signing James Posey seemed like a no-brainer, the fact that he wants the full MLE for five years is enough to give any team pause. Is it wise to invest that kind of money on a 31 year old swingman? When the alternatives are Corey Maggette and fellow Clipper teammate Darius Miles, the answer is yes.

Maggette is younger than Posey and he'd help add scoring to the second unit but his defense is a problem. Ray Allen wasn't known as a great defender but made due here last season but the big difference is that Ray knows how to play defense and could fit the system while Maggette's never really shown that he understands defense. In fact, there are a lot of questions about how well Corey understands offense outside of being able to create his own.

As for Miles (who I didn't even consider in my top 75 free agents), he has the potential to be a very good defensive player but he's an All-Time headcase and has chronic knee problems. And even if he helps on defense, Miles is a problem on offense. It's hard to have a sixth man whom you pretty much can't play at the same time as your starting PG. No team is going to lose sleep leaving Rondo and Miles wide open on the perimeter. But that's getting ahead of ourselves because the bottom line is that Miles is the kind of attitude that could bristle even when KG, Pierce, or Ray Allen try to keep him in line. In the end, Miles would be taking Scot Pollard's 15th man spot and I'm not sure if Darius is the kind of guy you want with idle time on his hands. Honestly, I hope Miles can turn his career around and make a great comeback. I'd just rather not take the risk on him.

In the end, while I'm not sold on Posey getting a big five year deal, he's looking like the best option out there (although I'd still like the C's to take a look at Kelenna Azuibuike).

On a related note, while I think John Hollinger's scouting reports are usually a great read, nothing is better than this little blurb on James Posey.

2007-08 outlook: The Celtics signed Posey to a two-year, $7 million deal, one that I think might disappoint them a bit. While Posey answers their need for somebody who can guard LeBron James come playoff time, he struggles defending quicker guards and is unlikely to be much help the likes of Dwyane Wade or Ben Gordon. Additionally, he's likely to drop off a bit from his numbers of a year ago.

The bigger reason he'll disappoint, though, is that he's not Ruben Patterson -- the player Boston passed up in order to sign him. Comparing the two, I'm struggling to fathom how the Celtics came to this decision, and I think it's one they'll regret.

Posted by SoulHonky at 04:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's the end of the list.

51. CJ Miles: The straight-outta-high schooler has shown flashes but hasn't been able to put it all together. Getting away from Jerry Sloan and finding a mentor (ala Ray Allen) might help him progess.
52. Shaun Livingston:Odds are that Livingston is done but he might be worth a look.
53. Mickael Gelabale: The Frenchman should be a solid defender off of the bench.
54. Ricky Davis: Crazy and not the greatest locker room presence, Davis is still a hell of a scorer.
55. Anthony Johnson: A very nice, cheap backup PG option.
56. Devean George: George is getting older but he's still a solid 5th starter/6th man.
57. Brian Skinner: A legit big man option who does the dirty work and is surprisingly effective.
58. James Jones: Lights out shooter off of the bench, Jones's problem is that he doesn't really offer much of anything besides light out shooting off of the bench.
59. Roger Mason Jr.: Under the radar combo guard, Mason Jr. should find himself playing an expanded role this year. He's good enough, he just hasn't gotten the chance.
60. Ronny Turiaf: Ronny is a banger but I have a feeling he's going to get overpaid. He's a nice player off of the bench but really isn't better than most end of the bench bigs, almost all of whom can come farily cheap.
61. Theo Ratliff: Theo showed he had a little life left in him this past season with the Pistons. He's a solid backup and a great vet in the locker room.
62.  Keith Bogans: I've always thought Bogans had been underrated as an NBA player. He's the kind of guy who could step up in the playoffs and make a name for himself if given the chance.
63. Chris Mihm: Long forgotten because of injuries, Mihm is a good big man who would be ranked higher if you could only count on him to stay healthy.
64. Kirk Snyder: A good defender and hard worker, Snyder might not be as talented as someone like Tony Allen but he's steadier.
65. Derek Anderson: A solid veteran swingman who can fill in as a start in a jam.
66. David Harrison: A good big man who you keep thinking should be better but never is.
67. Chris Anderson: The Birdman is a good energy guy off of the pine but his lack of defense makes it hard to really put him as a key role player.
68. Royal Ivey: A nice defensive-minded backup PG, he's kind of like a completely flat broke and in debt man's Rajon Rondo.
69. Steve Francis:I might be holding on to the past here but I think Franchise could help out a team in a limited role ala Dominique Wilkins in his year with the San Antonio Spurs.
70. Yakhoba Diawara: A hard worker, Diawara isn't a bad option as a tenth or eleventh man.
71. Darrell Armstrong: Can't go wrong with the vet PG.
72. Bobby Jones: Another solid defender, I think Jones has some potential and could blossom into a Bobby Simmons type talent.
73. Quinton Ross: He really had no business starting over Corey Maggette and whlie he's a nice player, you aren't winning many games if he's a key contributor.
74. Anthony Carter: A last resort, Carter is a capable if underwhelming backup PG option.
75. Paul Davis: A solid big man with a decent shot, Davis isn't going to win steady minutes but he's the perfect guy to turn to when you're in a jam.

Also-Rans
Fred Jones: He could bounce back as a scorer off of the bench but Jones didn't nothing to inspire too much hope during his time with the Knicks. 
Jamaal Magloire: Worth a shot but he seems to be uninspired of late.
Bonzi Wells: Probably not worth the trouble but if a team needs some help offensively, they could do worse than take a shot on Wells.:
Randolph Morris: Still living off of his high school hype more than anything, Morris is a 12th man. While he has the size, most teams would be better off going with smaller, better options like Paul Davis.
Patrick O'Bryant: I had him higher but reports from workouts are that he simply doesn't have it. If a team has a roster spot available, he's worth a flyer but odds are that he'll be out of the league very soon.

Posted by SoulHonky at 04:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here's the next group of FA talent. The key to this list is trying to find the bargain and not overpaying for a good but not great player. In many cases, teams might be better off signing the lesser talent because they aren't much worse but will make half as much. It's possible that a team could sign a couple of players ranked in the 40's for the same it costs to get someone ranked in the mid-to-late 30's.

21. Louis Williams: I doubt he'll ever live up to his HS hype but Williams still has a lot of potential and sees to be improving each year. He has a chance to be a Barbosa-type off of the pine.
22. Sasha Vujacic: I wouldn't pay Sasha too much but he's a solid player off the bench, bringing a fiery attitude, nice shot, and better than expected defense.
23. Devin Brown: I've alwards been a fan of Brown, a poor man's Posey who can keep defenses honest and also bring some tough defense.
24. Kurt Thomas: Much like PJ Brown for the Celtics, Thomas won't wow you with anything but he'll always seem to be in the right place at the right time and can hit the big shot/make the key stop when need be.
25. Robert Horry: Big Shot Bob's days are coming to a close but he's still a very nice asset to have coming off the bench.
26. Jason Williams: Williams is a tough call because he's either going to plummet as a many 32 year old guards do or he could just as easily make a James Posey-esque Escape from Miami type comeback. He's not someone you'd want to invest in long term but he's still a starting PG in this league and is worth a look.
27. Robert Swift: If he's angling towards anything close to the MLE, his stock moves down. But as a cheapie, 2 or 3 year contract, Swift could be one hell of a catch. He showed some signs of being a starting NBA center a year ago before going down with injuries yet again.
28. Maurice Evans: Evans is a steady-as-she-goes swingman who can is a notch below the likes of Posey, Pietrus, and Childress. He's a solid 6th man but he doesn't seem capable of really stepping up at all. He'll give you what he gives you and nothing more.
30. Matt Barnes: Of all the players in the Warriors system, I think Barnes benefitted the most from the Nellie ball system. Still, he's a solid player who should be able to help a team off of the bench.

THE POINT GUARD PILE 
31. Daniel Gibson
32. Delonte West
33. Lindsey Hunter
34. Keyon Dooling
35. Tyronn Lue
36. Eddie House
37. Chris Duhon
38. Carlos Arroyo

There are a lot of solid backup point guards on the market, all of whom can help a team and none of whom are really worth more than a couple million a year.  Each of the guards has their flaws and there's no one player who I think is a great fit for every team.

39. Bostjan Nachbar: Nachbar has some impressive games
40. Tony Allen: Tony can be extremely frustrating to watch but the fact remains that he is a talented player who also does some solid work on the defensive end.
42. Salim Stoudamire: I've always been a fan of Stoudamire and think he could turn into an Eddie House type sparkplug off of the bench. The key difference though is that Eddie is a great locker room guy whereas Salim doesn't seem to bring much to the table in that department.
43. Craig Smith: An undersized big man who could start but probably shouldn't, Smith would help almost any team off of the bench.
44. Kwame Brown: For all of his faililngs, Kwame is actually a solid enough defensive player. Unfortunately, he just doesn't seem to like basketball and he can't be counted on to catch the ball on offense, let alone score.
36. Eduardo Najera: Najera's adds toughness and some range off of the bench.
45 Jannero Pargo: Pargo had a breakout season but I'm still not a huge fan. Still, he's a viable option for backup PG minutes.
46. Brent Barry: He's only got a couple of years left but Barry is still a great weapon to have coming off of the bench.
47. Sam Cassell: While he was very annoying to watch at times in the playoffs, most teams could still do a lot worse than having the Alien as their backup PG.
48. Ryan Gomes: Gomes's problem isn't that he's a tweener, it's that he isn't able to use his in-between game to create mismatches. He's not going to blow past many PF's nor is he really going to post up SF's.
49. Paul Millsap: If Millsap could add some of Gomes' SF skills to his repertoire, he's be a hell of a player. As it is, he's a great big man off of the bench but he can't shoot and turns the ball over too much.
50. Sebastian Telfair: Point guards always take longer to mature and I still think Telfair has a place in the league. If he could settle into a backup spot in Toronto or Atlanta, he could flourish.

Posted by SoulHonky at 02:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The mad season is upon us and it's time for GM's to open up their checkbooks and force undeserved millions upon some lucky players. Meanwhile, other quality players will be forced to settle for scraps (or the MLE). It's the cruel world of NBA finances (if you can call making 1 - 5 million dollars a year to play hoops "cruel". Here's my list of the top free agents (figuring in talent as well as possible contract offers).

The Elite
1. Josh Smith: An improving offensive player and elite defensive force, Josh Smith is going to be an impact player on both ends of the court for years to come.
2. Monta Ellis: A young scoring guard who also is showing a knack for being a team leader, Ellis will be the player who helps lead the Warriors (or whomever he signs with) into the playoffs.
3. Elton Brand: Brand is a better player right now than Smith or Ellis but his injuries and age have him down a couple of notches. Still, he's the type of player who could turn a playoff team into a title contender.
4. Andre Iguodala: Iggy is probably better served as a second star but I've thought the same thing about Paul Pierce for a while too. I think he'll improve yet again his season and prove himself to be a true franchise player.
5. Luol Deng: Deng needs to bounce back from last season but he's a great talent who can be an impact player on both ends of the floor. However, he doesn't seem like a team leader at all.
6. Gilbert Arenas: Gil is arguably the best player on this list but he's looking for a second max contract and I don't think many players are worth that. Gil isn't worth it and his injury issues the last couple seasons make him a risk, which moves him down to #6.
7. Ben Gordon: I know I'm one of the few people who watch the NBA who still believe Ben Gordon could be an All-Star talent but he's young and is a great scorer. He's probably shown less the 75% of his abilities in Chicago and should have a breakout season should he lands in the right situation.

The Key Role Players 

8. Andris Biedrins & 9. Emeka Okafor
Biedrins and Okafor are two young, talented, defensive-minded bigs who could help a lot of teams improve immediately. Biedrins seems to be improving more than Okafor so he's ranked higher. On the other hand, I don't think he's worth a max contract which some people are saying he might get.
10. Corey Maggette: Corey is a brilliant offensive player but his defense is lacking, as is his decision making. He could take a team like Chicago or Toronto to the next level but he's not for everyone. I think there are a lot of coaches who would have struggled with him like Mike Dunleavy Sr. did. Granted, most wouldn't go as for as benching him in favor of Quinton Ross but still...
11. J.R. Smith: Smith has attitude issues, seems like he'd rather forego even running back on defense let alone actually playing it, and could stand to improve his playmaking skills but he's also beyond talented and could be an elite level player if he got his head on straight. He has the potential to be the best player on this list and odds are that the team signing him won't have to pay for that potential so it's a good gamble.
12. James Posey: The perfect role player, Posey defends and can hit the open shot.
13. Kelenna Azuibuike: My man. I've been driving the Azubuike bandwagon for a while now and would love to see him on the Celtics. He can defend, score, and (best of all) should come ridiculously cheap. There's no better bargain on the market.
14. Mickael Pietrus: He has the potential to be the James Posey for the next decade. He can defend, loves the spot up three, and would benefit from getting out of Don Nelson's wacky rotations.
15. Josh Childress: Another Posey-esque role player, Childress is just missing something for me. He's a good player but he just seems to disappear too often for my liking. He'll likely end up getting overpaid.
16. Carl Landry: Overlooked because of Luis Scola's play, Landry could give 'Buike a run for the Best Bargain crown. He's a strong PF with a better than expected offensive game. He's a legit 4th or 5th starter.
17. Nenad Krstic: Krstic has the potential but now he's been banged up and he's a finesse big man, which definitely aren't in vogue after Pau Gasol's Finals performance.
18. Dikembe Mutombo & 19. Alonzo Mourning & 20. Michael Finley: Three wily vets who keep helping out their teams, these guys would be prime additions for almost any contender who is looking to secure their bench. They aren't the best long term investments but they could be the difference between first and second place.

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Day 1 of the 2008 free agency market saw a big winner and a big loser. The winner was the Clippers who added an elite point guard and put themselves into the thick of the playoffs picture out west. The loser was Corey Maggette who was hoping for a raise but instead will now have to take a pay cut. Because the Clippers renounced Maggette's rights and now have signed Davis, there's no way that they can or will agree to a sign and trade. With that possibility gone, there's only a few teams that can Maggette more than the MLE and I doubt any of the able teams are going to be willing to pay Corey what he was hoping for. The one team that might make it happen is Golden State but I just don't think, with half of their roster floating around as free agents, if they would really be willing to spend that much on Corey.

So what does that mean?

It means that Corey's loss is about to become some contenders gain. If Corey can't get paid, you'd think he'd want a shot at winning (which he hasn't done much of in his career). The Celtics have made an offer out to Maggette but personally I'd rather wait for Posey. If we can't re-sign James, I'd rather split the money between a good big man and a cheaper swingman. Corey is a hell of an offensive player but he struggles on defense and I think it's important to have someone who can body up LeBron on the bench.

So where would the best fit be?

Phoenix could use a small forward but they'd probably be better off looking for someone who could help out defensively. Utah might have the personnel to mask Maggette's issues but I can't imagine Jerry Sloan is going to want to put up with Corey's less-than-cerebral game. San Antonio wouldn't be bad but, again, Maggette might be an issue on the defensive end. I could see a lot of open drives to the hoop after Manu flops and Maggette misses his rotation. The Spurs seemed hesitant to go after Maggette last year (for Brent Barry and Beno Udrih) and I don't think anything really changed with Corey over the past season.  Detroit might be an interesting fit but I'd think that Corey would want to be a starter since he didn't seem thrilled in the 6th man role in Los Angeles (then again, backing up Tayshaun Prince is a lot different than sitting behind Quinton Ross). The knocks out Houston as well.

The perfect place for Corey Maggette to go could be Toronto. Anthony Parker could grab the tougher defensive assignment and Chris Bosh and Jermaine O'Neal would be backing him up. The only other team that I think could be as good a fit would be Dallas if they do indeed deal Josh Howard. But I can't see Corey waiting around for that to happen.

Can Bryan make it happen?

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

With the Nets clearing room to acquire LeBron James in 2010, it is only a matter of time before Vince Carter is shipped out of the swap. The question is, where will he end up? There aren't a lot of teams that will be willing to take on his huge contract and even fewer that will be able to offer up anything of value in return. But seeing as all Richard Jefferson brought back was a project (Yi Jianlian), maybe the asking price won't be as much as many would expect. Still, the key to any deal is a contract or contracts that run less than two years and a good-to-great young prospect whose rookie contract doesn't end before 2010.

As for the Celtics, a Ray Allen for Vince Carter deal is somewhat interesting but we don't really have any young prospects to offer. Also, if I'm shaking up the chemistry and dealing Ray Allen, I'd rather do it to get a little younger. Vince is a better talent than Ray but I'm not sure he's a better fit.

The 11 most likely destinations seem to be: 

1. Portland Trailblazers: This is Portland's deal to turn down. They have Raef Lafrentz's expiring deal and a boatload of young talent to offer up. Vince could play the 3 and give the Blazers a legitimate shot to win the West alongside Jerryd Bayless, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden.

2. Detroit: The Pistons could deal Rip Hamilton and Amir Johnson for Vince. The Pistons add a star player to team with Rodney Stuckey and Tayshaun Prince (should he not get dealt) while the Nets put together a Devin Harris/Rip Hamilton backcourt which should be very appealing to LeBron.

3. Denver: Marcus Camby and a sign & trade of J.R. Smith (4 years, around 16 million) would cover the cost of Vince. The Nets get a big man who'll be a valuable trade chip next season as both a player and an expiring deal as well as a promising and cheap 2-guard prospect to team with LeBron. With a backcourt of Iverson, Carter, and 'Melo, maybe the Nuggets won't have to ever improve their defense.

4. Philadelphia 76ers: The Sixers have cap space and could give the Nets immediately relief but I'm not sure they would be interested in Vince. They, like the Sonics, might rather stick with their young core rather than add an aging swingman. If the Sixers are going to make a run at a veteran, I'd bet on Elton Brand.

6. Washington: The Wiz could package Antonio Daniels and Etan Thomas along with youngster Nick Young and Oleksiy Pecherov in order to get Vince. I just don't know if Young and Pecherov are nearly enough to make the deal worthwhile. Adding more picks doesn't help any because I can't imagine a squad with Agent Zero, Vince, Caron Butler, and Antawn Jamison wouldn't be one of the best teams in the league. (Although it would also put Washington way over the luxury tax)

7. Minnesota Timberwolves: Like the Sixers, I can't imagine the Wolves are that interested in adding Vince (and I can't imagine that he has any interest in going to Minnesota) but a deal of Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Corey Brewer for Vince and fodder (Mo Ager or Josh Boone) would work. 

9. Golden State Warriors: The Warriors could make an offer but since they're already trying to re-sign Monta Ellis and Andris Biedrins, I can't imagine they are looking to add a huge contract like Vince.

10. Sacramento Kings: The Kings could offer contracts (Kenny Thomas and Shareef Abdur-Rahim) and Spencer Hawes. They could have sweetened the deal on draft day by adding their pick but I don't think Jason Thompson is going to interest Rod Thorn. Of course, they already have Ron Artest and Kevin Martin so I'm not sure they'd be interested.

11. New York Knicks: The Knicks have Stephen Marbury's expiring contract as well as David Lee and Danilo Gallinari so anything is possible. The question is whether or not they too are in a cap clearing state of mind, hoping to land LeBron or if D'Antoni just wants to add talent now.

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

- A solid deal for the Nuggets depending on the protection on the pick. The Bobcats aren't going to be great any time soon so it could pan out to be a very nice deal. The Bobcats will now be sitting pretty to get any player who drops (perhaps Donte Green) or they've added another asset to move up in the draft.

- The Hornets' fans should be a bit disappointed about selling the pick. There should be someone worthwhile on the board at 27 and New Orleans just missed a chance to upgrade their roster.

- The JO/Ford deal is win-win. The Raptors get a big man to team with Chris Bosh but they are still lacking in the swingman position. I like the Calderon/Bosh/JO trio but I just don't see it being good enough to get out of the second round of the playoffs, at best.  The Pacers add a young albeit injury prone PG and also net another draft pick which could be huge. The Pacers could come away from this draft with two VERY good prospects. Of course, I'm not sure if Jim O'Brien is happy about getting younger but this is the right move for the team in the long run. Of course, GM Larry Bird will probably blow the picks on Kosta Koufos and Ryan Anderson but still...

Posted by SoulHonky at 03:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Can Danny Ferry or Kiki Vandeweigh pull an Ainge and turn around their team's fortunes? Can Rick Sund get the Hawks to the next level or will he just spend his years collecting project big men like he did in Seattle? Will Joe Dumars be able to retool? And is Mitch Kupchak really going to stand pat rather than try to move Odom for someone with a heart?

This offseason is going to be a very interesting one (for the Celtics as well who need to re-sign Posey and figure out if they want to keep Eddie House) and someone should come away as a possible new contender to the crown. Who will it be? 

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Bucks need to shake up their squad. The team has some talent but it just doesn't seem like an actual basketball team. Now deposed GM Larry Harris put together a rag tag bunch of questionably talented players but all isn't lost for the club.

1. Sort Out The Roster 
The first thing you have to do is figure out what to do with Michael Redd. Personally, I just don't think he's worth the money he's being paid so he needs to go. Then you look at the young guys (Bogut, Yi, Charlie V) and figure out who you want to keep and who you want to move. Right now, I'd be willing to deal any and all of them. In fact, like the Knicks, I don't think there's a single guy that I would consider a cornerstone who I'd build around.

2. The Draft
The trade I mentioned in the Knicks piece is intriguing but I just can't recommend that any team take on Zach Randolph. However, if Golden State does make the rumored Brandan Wright and #14 for Yi Jianlian, I think you have to take it. I'm actually a fan of Wright and think he could pan out in a couple of years so it's a no brainer to me. As for the draft pick, I think the decision is between Russell Westbrook and DJ Augustin and right now I'd bet on Westbrook.

In the second round, the Bucks should go after a defensive-minded big man, which should be available at #37. 

3. Trade Market
During the season, I made some trade suggestions for the Bucks but I'm not sure if any of them besides making a move for Ron Artest would be available anymore. If they could move Charlie V, Dez Mason and fodder for Artest, they should definitely think about that move.

Still, I would look into dealing Redd. The Cavs lowball offer of Wally, Damon Jones, and #19 isn't going to be enough. Would Michael Redd and #8 for Josh Howard and Jason Terry work for Dallas? They'd likely counter with Howard and Erick Dampier for Redd but I just don't think it would be wise to take on Damp's horrible deal. Corey Maggette, Cuttino Mobley, and the #7 might be the best possible deal. Even if they lose Maggette next year, they'd clear Redd's contract and have Mobley as an expiring deal along with another top young prospect.

If they can find a taker for Mo Williams, they should jump at it. Mo isnt' bad but 5 years of around 8.5 million per is too much.  Bobby Simmons's deal is getting shorter by the year but is still a tough pill to swallow. I'm not sure how Dan Gadzuric got his 4 years, 26 million dollar deal but I'm very sure that nobody is going to be all that interested in trading for it.

One underrated guy that I'd hold on to is Ramon Sessions. The last two games were likely an aberration but he's a hard working, pass first point guard, and a willing defender. At the very least, he's going to be a nice guy to have off the pine.

And, of course, there's always Bogut. Do you trade him? What can you get in return for him? The Bucks should try to re-sign Andrew Bogut to a sensible contract. If Bogut demands are too much, then he might have to move the mediocre big man.

4. Free Agency
I can't imagine anyone is all that interested in signing with the Bucks right now.

5. Summary
John Hammond's first year as Bucks GM might not be a flashy one as he isn't really in the best position in terms of trade assets. Dealing with Bogut and Redd will be his first two jobs but it's probably going to be another year of mediocrity for the Bucks.

Possible Final Roster
Starters: Mo Williams, Corey Maggette, Ron Artest, Brandan Wright, Andrew Bogut
Bench: Ramon Sessions, Russell Westbrook (#8), Bobby Simmons, Danilo Galinari (#7), DeAndre Jordan (#14), Charlie Bell, DJ White, Dan Gadzuric

Posted by SoulHonky at 06:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While everyone likes to dump on the Clippers, they aren't in a bad position. It sounds like Shaun Livingston is done but Elton Brand should be healthy and Al Thornton has a year under his belt so they team should definitely be improved next season even if they stand pat.

1. Sort Out The Roster 
A lot of people act like Chris Kaman and Al Thornton make Elton Brand available but I think Brand is still hands down the best player on the roster. The only way I deal him is if I'm getting a top 2 or 3 pick back in return. I could see the Heat possibly moving the pick so they could team Brand with Wade and Marion. But if those offers don't come, the Clippers have Kaman, Brand, and Thornton to build around. Corey Maggette is a wild card since odds are that he is going to opt out. If he doesn't, he should be the team's #1 trade asset. Odds are they'll had to give up Maggette and the pick to make any big moves because, to match salaries and get a max player, they'll have to include Tim Thomas or Cuttino Mobley who have negative trade value right now.

Other than that, there's really not much on the roster worth discussing.

2. The Draft
The Clippers are in dire need of someone to fill the 1 and 2. Depending on Shaun Livingston is ridiculous because the kid wasn't even holding down the point when he was healthy. Relying on potential is one thing but relying on potential after a devastating knee injury is a recipe for disappointment. Sitting at the #7 pick, the Clippers choice will likely be between Eric Gordon or Russell Westbrook. DJ Augustin is a dark horse but I don't think I'd pass on Westbrook or Gordon for him. As of now, I'd go with Gordon. OK, actually I'd trade the pick but if Elgin Baylor can't find a good trade partner, then I go with Gordon.

With their second round pick, the Clippers should hope that a guard like Mario Chalmers might fall to them. If not, a backup big man like JJ Hickson, Joey Dorsey, or DJ White might not be bad picks. 

3. Trade Market
The Clippers might just have a chance to make a Celtics-like push this offseason. They can build around Brand and move Maggette and the pick and then Kaman or Thornton for another veteran. Whether Elgin Baylor can get it done is the real question. 

The first thing the Clippers need to do is check the availability for two LA-bred guards: Baron Davis and Gilbert Arenas. Getting one of them could be difficult since the Warriors or Wizards would have to bite the bullet and take Cuttino Mobley or Tim Thomas but either trade would be worth it. If they can't get either of those guys, they might want to make a push for TJ Ford. I'm not sure if Toronto would be down for a Ford for Maggette swap (or if Donald Sterling would allow it since Maggette is his favorite player) but it could work. Another option might be Michael Redd, if the Bucks are indeed looking to move his contract.

On the other hand, if the Heat or even Wolves come through with an offer of the #2 or #3 for Elton Brand, you'd have to consider it. One issue, however, might be how one thinks Beasley complements Kaman and Thornton. If Anthony Randolph falls to #7, I'd almost be willing to take Beasley at #2, Randolph #7, and look to move Thornton for a guard.

The Clippers are going to be one of the more interesting teams to watch this off-season, both because of the strides that they could make and the fact that historically they always make the most confusing, ill-advised moves. 

4. Free Agency
Until they sort out their roster, I doubt many people will be interested in becoming a Clipper unless they overpay them ala Tim Thomas. This could be where old friend Gerald Green ends up (New York also being a good possiblity if they have roster space). If the Clippers do make a big splash with a trade, then they could be able to snag guys like James Posey and Eddie House.

5. Summary
This is a make-or-break year for the Clippers. They are either going to make a push to become a contender or dump Brand and start with the youth movement yet again. While I'm usually a fan of the youth movement, Elgin's already proven that he's not adept at that so it is about time that they make a real run at making LA a two contender town.  

Possible Final Roster
Starters: Baron Davis, Q Ross, Al Thornton, Elton Brand, Chris Kaman
Bench: Eddie Jones, Kurt Thomas, Cuttino Mobley, Joey Dorsey, Brevin Knight, Keyon Dooling, Paul Davis, Nick Fazekas, Marcus Williams

Posted by SoulHonky at 03:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Chicago Bulls have decided to go with Vinny Del Negro as their head coach. So rather than having Doug Collins, Dwayne Casey, or even Chuck "The Rifleman" Person, the Bulls opted for a guy who has zero coaching experience and has been just an announcer and an assistant to the GM. Some people have argued that this was all about money, with Jerry Reinsdorf simply not wanting to pay Doug Collins. Whatever the reason, the Bulls offseason just got a lot more interesting since now everyone is an option. Ben Gordon could be back, Michael Beasley could go #1, you name it.

On a related note, if Jerry Reinsdorf is so obsessed with saving/making money, do you think he's looked at the latest draft odds which have OJ Mayo as 50 - 1 to go first overall and thought about putting some money down? If he spreads his bets around ala the Black Sox scandal he could make some serious coin. And it's not like OJ Mayo isn't a good prospect. (And yes, I'm joking about this actually happening.) 

Posted by SoulHonky at 05:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Sacramento Kings have the most loyal fans in the NBA so you know that things are bad when people decide to find other things to do in Sac-town rather than go check out the Kings. The problem with Sacramento is two-fold: they aren't good and they aren't even fun to watch.

1. Sort Out The Roster 
Kevin Martin is the resident superstar but I'm not a huge fan of his game, primarily because he's pretty one-dimensional. While he might be the best shooter in the league, he doesn't do much else on offense, has a 1-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio, and doesn't create much of anything for his teammates. His defense is also nothing to write home about. On the other hand, I'm still a huge fan of Ron Artest.  

2. The Draft

3. Trade Market

4. Free Agency

5. Summary

Possible Roster
Starters:
Bench

Posted by SoulHonky at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

What to do with the Indiana Pacers. They might have the worst salary situation outside of New York City and have little potential to hang their hope on.

1. Sort Out The Roster 
Danny Granger is the only bright spot on this roster although I think he's a #2 star and not a legit franchise player. Jermaine O'Neal is now underrated IMO but he's on the decline and vastly overpaid. Mike Dunleavy Jr. emerged as a player in 2008 but I'm not sold on him. I think Bird would be best suited to sell while Dunleavy's value is high. Jamaal Tinsley and Troy Murphy are almost unmovable and definitely have negative value in terms of trades. Shawne Williams showed some improvement but seems awkward on the court. He's only 22 so you have to hold onto him. Nobody else really merits much discussion.

2. The Draft
You can make a strong argument for the Pacers being this decade's worst team in terms of the draft. The only thing in their favor is that they haven't been drafting in the lottery. Besides not drafting well, they've also given away lottery picks for guys like Jeff Foster and Al Harrington. Honestly, I'm not sure that this year will be any better.

Best case scenario, DJ Augustin doesn't move up into the top 10 and the Pacers can draft for need and add a point guard. If he's not there, then the pick might be between the best remaining PF prospects like Joe Alexander, Darrell Arthur, Marreese Speights, etc.  

3. Trade Market
The Pacers have to deal Jermaine O'Neal and pretty much everyone knows that. Even worse, JO makes so much money that it's going to be nearly impossible for the Pacers to throw in a guy like Jamaal Tinsley in order to dump that contract. Jermaine for Stephon Marbury and the #6 probably isn't possible because the Knicks need the lotto pick in order to dump Randolph. The stumbling block with the Cavs deal is likely Ben Wallace, whom I'd bet the Cavs would rather deal instead of the expiring contracts of Wally Szczerbiak, Eric Snow, and Damon Jones. Perhaps the Bucks could offer Bobby Simmons, Mo Williams, and Charlie Villenueva but that seems like a lot and they might want a pick back in return which I wouldn't do if I was Indiana because I'm not exactly thrilled about any of the three players I'm getting back for JO.  In the end, the Pacers decision might come down to either holding on to O'Neal for one more year (or until the trade deadline) or taking the Cavs lowball offer.

Another deal I would look into would be Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Marquis Daniels for Andrei Kirilenko. I like AK-47 working with Jim O'Brien and in Indiana, he'd get to be back at his more natural power forward position.  

4. Free Agency
Indiana might be where Tony Allen or Delonte West ends up. Both could work well in O'Brien's system at the 2 guard. Matt Barnes also might not be a terrible pickup for cheap while Mo Evans would be a nice fit as well, if Orlando lets him go. Unfortunately, after the Pacers decline and Jermaine O'Neal's public complaints and pleas to get out of town, I'm just not sure many quality players are going to be looking at Indiana as a possible new home.

5. Summary
Starters: Jamaal Tinsley, Mo Evans, Danny Granger, Andrei Kirilenko, Jermaine O'Neal.
Bench: Shawne Williams, Troy Murphy, DJ Augustin, Tony Allen, Jeff Foster, Ike Diogu, Travis Diener, Matt Barnes, David Harrison.

Posted by SoulHonky at 08:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If any team is going to make a run like the Celtics in the offseason, the Nets are it. If they want to build around Vince Carter (who came alive after the Kidd deal), they have some great trade assets in Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson, the #10 pick along with Marcus & Sean Williams and the right to Nenad Krstic (who is a free agent).

1. Sort Out The Roster 
Of course, the question remains: is a maxed out, 31 year old Vince Carter, who has some history with injuries, the guy you want to build around? That is the decision new GM Kiki Vandewegh has to figure out before he can do anything. I think Richard Jefferson is overpaid but his contract isn't bad. Devin Harris looks like he could turn out to be a bit of a bargain. That being said, if you are building around Carter, would you move Harris for a more veteran PG like Chauncey Billups or Baron Davis? Stromile Swift and Trenton Hassell are both expiring contracts (Hassell has a team option on his final year) so they are immediately on the block, as is Marcus Williams who seems like the odd man out after the Harris/Kidd deal. Sean Williams had a solid rookie campaign but is he going to be consistent enough to be a starter? Hell, even Josh Boone looked servicable at the end of the year. And what to do with Krstic? He's one of those guys that could get an ungodly offer from a team but if the Nets can retain him for a reasonable amount, you'd be best served to sign him up.

2. The Draft
Odds are that this pick along with at least a couple of Nets are headed somewhere else on draft day but if the Nets keep the pick, their most likely target is DeAndre Jordan. Jordan definitely has bust potential but the Nets are solid at pretty much every position so they can risk taking a flyer on Jordan.

Another reason they can take the flyer on Jordan is that they also have the #21 pick, where they should be able to grab a talented player like Mareese Speights, Chris Douglas-Roberts, Roy Hibbert, or Bill Walker. 

3. Trade Market
If the Nets can get Carmelo Anthony, you make the deal. I'd make pretty much everything on the roster available for Anthony. I still don't get why Denver is trying to trade him but if I'm Kiki Vandewegh, I don't care. Personally, I think the deal that makes more sense for the Nuggets would be an Iverson trade. Something along the lines of Devin Harris and #10 (alongside expiring contracts like Trenton Hassell and Stromile Swift) is more than enough to make the deal work. It gives Denver a better point guard and even the fodder like Hassell helps out defensively. You might even be able to make that deal with just Harris and the #21.

The Nets also could make a move of Richard Jefferson (plus salaries to make it match, including perhaps Marcus Williams) for Ron Artest and Brad Miller. I think Artest is someone they definitely look at as a defensive stopper alongside Carter and Iverson. Brad Miller's game is definitely declining but if he's the 4th or 5th option, I think he could be a solid addition. Another person I'd target is Stephen Jackson who might be on his way out if the Warriors decide to clear cap room and go young this offseason. Yes, the implosion risk with an Iverson/Carter/SJax or Artest lineup is high but I also think those are the kind of guys that will put everything on the line to get a ring (which should help balance out Vince's questionable desire)

But those are just two of many deals the Nets could make (and those could be worst case scenario deals with the Nets overpaying in both). if there's one GM I'd want to be this off-season, it's Kiki Vandewegh who should be in a great position to improve his team and make a legit run at the NBA Finals. There's no way that this team should be in the playoffs next season and I think it will be an absolute disappointment if they don't have home court for at least one round. They can make a play for almost every top available veteran (Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace, Baron Davis, Gilbert Arenas, Ron Artest) and should be able to walk out of the off-season with at least two top level new players.

4. Free Agency
If the Nets make the right moves, they should be the #1 destination for free agents. Veterans will be taking paycuts to play there.

5. Summary
Starters: Allen Iverson, Vince Carter, Ron Artest, Sean Williams, Brad Miller 
Bench: Nenad Krstic, Jason Williams, Josh Boone, James Posey, Eddie House, Penny Hardaway, Brian Skinner, Devin Brown.

Posted by SoulHonky at 07:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The goal of the Knicks is to clear out space for 2010 when the class of LeBron, Wade, 'Melo, etc. hits the free agent market. Mike D'Antoni says he wants to win but I'm not sure if you can win and clear out cap space at the same time. 

1. Sort Out The Roster 
To be completely honest, there isn't one single person on the Knicks roster who looks like a bonafide keeper. Nate Robinson is fun to watch but is a bench player, Jamal Crawford scores and doesn't do much else, David Lee showed promise in his rookie season but didn't improve all that much and supposedly isn't a favorite of D'Antoni, and so on and so forth.

Even worse though is the fact that they have a few players that many people believe are untradeable. Stephon Marbury make 20+ million and has been the face of the putrid Knicks over the last few years. The Knicks would love to get rid of him but can they without taking on a contract that lasts past 2010? I wouldn't trade for Zach Randolph. Period. I'm sure someone will be dumb enough to repeat Isiah's mistake but the guy has a lousy attitude, is a black hole on offense, and doesn't play much defense. Eddy Curry doesn't even seem like he enjoys playing basketball. He is probably the most movable piece but even that will be tough to pull off.

2. The Draft
If the Knicks make the Marbury to Seattle deal to move up in the draft, they might just be able to end up with OJ Mayo. If not, Jerryd Bayless is a good second place prize. True, he might just be a newer version of Jamal Crawford, but I think he'll pan out better than Jamal. Without the trade, the Knicks have an outside shot at getting Bayless but they might end up choosing from the top big men or projects like Randolph. I just don't see Galinari being the pick, even if it would make Little Italy happy. When looking at the big picture, I think it might make sense for Donnie Walsh to bite the bullet and make an Ainge-like #6 and Zach for scraps with short term contracts (ala the Raef/Roy deal). The current rumor is Philly making the deal but I don't think you could ask for a worse combo for a young team than Zach Randolph alongside Andre Miller during a contract year.

Another rumor had Golden State pushing hard for Yi Jianlian so a three team deal would work with New York dealing Randolph, Malik Rose's expiring deal, and the #6 and getting Bobby Simmons, Al Harrington, and Brandan Wright. The Warriors dump a year off Harrington's contract and the apparently unwanted Wright for Yi & Malik Rose while moving up from #14 to #8. Milwaukee gets Zach, New York's #6, and Golden State's #14. (And if New York also makes the Marbury deal, then Milwaukee would end up getting the #4 pick)  

The Knicks traded their second round pick for Zach Randolph. 

3. Trade Market
Again, I really can't believe anyone would deal for Zach Randolph so the Knicks are going to have to leverage their #6 pick (and possibly David Lee as well) in order to ship him out.

I'm not sure who wants Eddy Curry but since Rick Sund is back in the GM business and loves him some project centers, I wouldn't be stunned if Atlanta made a run at him. Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford for Marvin Williams, Speedy Claxton, Zaza Pachulia, and a future pick? Atlanta might like Marvin but adding a 20 point scorer off the bench and Curry (whose defensive lapses can be covered by Horford and Josh Smith) is tough to turn down. The Knicks give up more talent but they also get rid of the last two big contracts that they have on the books in 2010. Ideally they could also dump Jared Jeffiries in the deal but that would take a third team to work. The better deal might be Jamal, Eddy, and Jeffiries for Jermaine O'Neal and Marquis Daniels but I don't think it's a smart move. Of course, that's never stopped Larry Bird before.

On the other hand, the Knicks could also move the sixth pick, perhaps in a deal to get someone like Shawn Marion (see the Heat mock offseason). Right now I'd bet against that one because it doesn't help their cap nor does it dump Zach's contract.

4. Free Agency
New York is New York so people will always want to come to play. But with the Knicks looking to keep the books clear for 2010, I'm not sure exactly who they can get. They might have to settle for some short-term guys ala Ricky Davis, Gordon Giricek, or old friend Gerald Green.

5. Summary
No matter what D'Antoni says, this is a rebuilding year and the Knicks are likely going to be at the bottom once again (although they should have a rosier future than they've had in a decade or so). The key is to build a roster that should have better trade assets and short terms contracts so that even if they can't get LeBron, they should have some good youngster and cap space as a plan B. The roster I built isn't great (or even good) but next year they'll have decent talent almost all of which will be on expiring deals so they can make some legit offers in 2009 (or wait until the cap space arrives in 2010)

Possible Final Roster
Starters: Luke Ridnour, Nate Robinson, Marvin Williams, David Lee, Nick Collison
Bench: Al Harrington, Bobby Simmons, Brandan Wright, Earl Watson, Zaza Pachulia, Renaldo Balkman, Wilson Chandler, Jerome James, Jared Jeffiries, Mardy Collins, Speedy Claxton

Posted by SoulHonky at 02:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. Sort Out The Roster 
On the bright side, Memphis does have some solid young talent. Rudy Gay is living up to my expectations (and surprising the doubters) while the PG position is packed with Mike Conley, Kyle Lowry, and Javarris Crittenton. I'm not a huge fan of Hakim Warrick but he's good enough and is also someone who might have some trade value.

Brian Cardinal and Darko Milicic are eating up cap space but they both only have two years left on their deals so it isn't so bad. The Grizz should really put Mike Miller out of his misery and ship him out while they still can.

2. The Draft
I would have pegged DeAndre Jordan for this spot but after his disappointing pre-draft measurements/times, he seems like a good candidate to fall in the draft (if he even stays in). Anthony Randolph sounds a little like a very rich man's Kedrick Brown who Chris Wallace LOVED back in 2001. One issue could be the fact that Randolph seems more like a Travis Outlaw-type SF as opposed to a power forward and Rudy Gay already has the small forward spot locked up. Kevin Love or Brook Lopez could fit the PF spot but Lopez replicates Darko and I'm still not sold on Love going so early.

The Grizzlies could deal the pick but I'm just not sure who they could get that will help them long term. If they couldn't win with Pau Gasol, who's the 5th pick going to fetch that is somehow better than that? Do they roll the dice with the Pistons veterans and trade Miller, Darko, and Conley for 'Sheed and Billups? Would they have to include the #5 to make that happen and would Detroit even be interested? Darko didn't exactly wow Joe Dumars during his first go-around.

3. Trade Market
Mike Miller is the main asset but after giving away Pau Gasol, Chris Wallace might not be getting the best offers for him. In true Chris Wallace fashion, a cost-cutting deal like Miller and Brian Cardinal for Wally Szczerbiak, Damon Jones (both expiring deals) and the #19 picks might be enough.

EDIT: Chad Ford had an interesting draft idea: Mike Miller, Kyle Lowry and the #5 for the #2 and Marcus Banks or Mark Blount. One thing that doesn't make much sense to me though is why Miami would be interested in Lowry when they're target would be PG of the future OJ Mayo. Still, it would be a great move for the Grizz who could grab Beasley to take over the PF spot they vacated when they gave away Pau Gasol.

They also might be able to get something for Juan Carlos Navarro in a sign-and-trade but it probably won't be much. If Phoenix or New Jersey really wants to dump their pick, perhaps a Navarro for the pick deal could be worked out.

4. Free Agency
In order to get people to play for the Grizzles, they'd have to spend money and I just don't see that happening this offseason.

5. Summary
The Grizzlies have further to go down before they hit rock bottom. The plan is probably to stock up on young talent and clear out cap space and then to try to build with sensibly priced players. It sounds good but is nearly impossible for even the best GM's to pull off so I can't imagine Chris Wallace will be very successful.

Possible Final Roster
Starters: Mike Conley, Rudy Gay, Wally Szczberiak, Chris Wilcox, Darko Milicic
Bench: Kyle Lowry, Brandon Rush, Hakim Warrick, Lorenzen Wright, Anthony Randolph, Damon Jones, Shavlik Randolph, Scot Pollard, Casey Jacobsen.

Posted by SoulHonky at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)