Bulldog

Imagine Yao v Shaq in the All Star Game next year too that could be nice...! I also think Yao and McGrady will be awesome to watch. I would predict a Houston v San Antonio West Finals next year.

it was interesting that Carlos Boozer - the down and dirty keep it simple player was one of the most effective down the stretch. I would give more minutes to Lebron though. The guy is a winner through and through who shares the ball very well. I think he could carry the team more than he is being allowed to.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1861620 Eduardo Najera, Christian Laettner, two future first-round picks and cash would go to Golden State. In return, the Mavericks would acquire Dampier, center Evan Eschmeyer and guard Dan Dickau. Wow..wasnt the Knicks deal much better than that for G-State? Anyhow no Damp to the Hawks and the Mavs suddenly look like contenders again

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/S.../13/580380.html PLAYOFFS ... or a beard, Yao vows Yao says that if China do not reach the 1/4 finals in the Olympics he will not shave for 6 months! Sorry - its not particularly newsworthy, but it made me chuckle. Retro Yao - that would be funny to see.

I think it was Cassell for Marbury before... Anyway I agree the trade would not be that great for the Nets. Im sure they could find a better opportunity than this.

The Nets remember have already traded Cassell away and they would probably look to get younger talent back. Wally is a good player, but they will probably want a young all star or young near all star in return I would guess. Kidd for Carter? I dont think Toronto would do it though. Still Minnesota would do this deal in a minute.

The Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman writes today about the Timberwolves rumored trade that would ship Sam Cassell and Wally Szczerbiak to the Nets for Jason Kidd. The Wolves would be taking a big risk on Kidd's knee and also would have 2 huge contracts on their books with Kidd and KG. But what a trio - Kidd, KG, Sprewell. If he is healthy they could definitely make a run at the title with those 3.

The Heat had to get someone in Person's position and he was the best one left. I think it is a good acquisition. The fact is with Shaq in the middle there are open looks on the outside. The stats for Jones changed because he was constantly rumoured to be traded and his game fluctuated as a result. When it mattered Horry, Fisher and others have had a position to hit outside shots because of the coverage in the middle. Look at the Spurs. Turkoglu was not thought of as a top 3 point shooter until last year when his % rocketed from 37% to 42%. I think Bowen led the NBA last year too at 44%. It is scary to think what Brent Barry is going to shoot this year... Anyway the point is that a quality big man will open up the perimeter and so Person was a good signing. I'm sure that his numbers will go up this year and Miami will get to the East Finals (but not past Detroit)...

There is talk of a Carter for Marbury swap between Toronto and NYC at present amongst the press. Obviously under this scenario Carter would play Small Forward with Houston at SG and Crawford at PG. Although this would be an exciting move, I think it may not be a good one for NYC. Crawford is not really a PG and whilst Stephon is a shooting point guard he still averaged 6.5 assists per game. It is so important to have a good PG that to give up Marbury would be a mistake, especially when there are already a number of wing men on the team (even if they are not as good as Carter). I think it may be more likely that Carter ends up in Seattle for Ray Allen, but I think that Isiah should resist the temptation to bring in Vince. Anyone agree?

He would be deadly in San Antonio or Miami where there is a dominant big man who can kick out from a double team. But Sacramento will want more than Eddie Jones from Miami, and more than Rasho from San Antonio. Maybe a deal of Peja and Christie to Phoenix for Marion and Joe Johnson would get it done. But the Kings are probably trading like for like while downgrading there. Tim Thomas and Mike Sweetney for the same package from NYC? Maybe some sort of package to the Timberwolves for Wally Sczerbiak? Either way, it looks like it will take a while for Sacramento to find the right deal.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/...-roundup2_x.htm Jamal Crawford is on his way to the New York Knicks after signing a seven-year deal worth about $56 million. But why? New York is still desperate for a Center to man the middle. Mohammed is not enough. Before the trade who do they have in the way of big men. Kurt Thomas is clearly their best big, although not big enough for the 5 spot. Then they have 80 year old Mutombo, Trybanski who never played, Baker who is a shell of the player he was, Mohammed and Sweetney who looks like he could be a keeper. So Thomas and Sweetney can hold down the 4 spot, but who plays 5? What they need is Dampier the Warrior free agent. Great fit. 7 feet of banging Center to man the middle. But who do they go for - yet another 6-5 wing man. They already have Marbury, Houston, Anderson, Ariza, Hardaway, Demarr Johnson, Moochie Norris etc Unless they can get Dampier some other way still I think Isaih has made a mistake here. They needed size. They got the opposite...and overpaid for it. £56m for Crawford??

I agree with you. He just needs time. The other youngster that intrigues me is Maciej Lampe. I really think that he will end up being very good He has a range of skills and can probably play all 3 frontcourt positions. At 7 foot he is quite a match up problem. He did see some time last year in phoenix and I think will see more this year.

The Pistons still love Darko. He has apparently worked very hard in training without complaint. But they are a vet team so its difficult to give him minutes. I still think Darko will be an all-star player. Everyone in Europe was mad about him, and Detroit still make the right noises about him. He will play some minutes this year. Remember Detroit have a 4th year team option on him, so he was always going to be a 4 year plan. Look for about 15-20 minutes per game in year 3 and a break out year 4. Thats what Detroit will be aiming at. The masterplan for this year was to get rid of Williamson's 3 year deal for Coleman's $9m 1 year left. DC will be as effective as Corliss and now they have flexibility again in the free agent market next summer. Yet another good move from Joe Dumars.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1851245 The Dallas Mavericks are expected to complete a trade Wednesday that will send Antoine Walker to the Atlanta Hawks for guard Jason Terry and forward Alan Henderson, league sources have told ESPN.com. With the league office closed Tuesday, the deal cannot be finalized before Wednesday, sources said. The trade increases the likelihood that Jason Kidd will be staying with the New Jersey Nets. I think that Atlanta have done quite well with this trade. JT didnt have that much trade value and he has been turned into Walker, who although not on the top rung of NBA forwards, is a very versatile and skilled big man. He is also in the last year of his contract meaning that the Hawks keep their flexibility for next summer. The Hawks badly needed to make some sort of move, so in the circumstances I would call it a successful trade. Anyone agree?

New Jersey never makes that trade. If they trade Kidd it is for a young All-Star.

First Martin is shipped out to save money in return for draft picks, and now Kerry Kittles is shipped to the Clippers. Hmm what for? a solid power forward to bang along side Jefferson? A new centre? Nope - a future 2nd round pick and cash. Say what? If Kidd is still in New Jersey when the season rolls around I will be surprised. For one, Kidd must be furious that he signed a long term deal in NJ to win a championship there only to see the team blown apart by the new owners. And second if the new owners are interested in saving money now for the future, what do they want with a 31 year old point guard on a $120m contract? I wouldnt be surprised if the Kidd to San Antonio rumour mill gets going again with Parker moving to NJ. Anyone agree?

It is likelyo to be between 3 teams: Lakers, Spurs and Heat. I think his best chance of a ring is with the Spurs, so that is who he will go with. He would fit in well there probably startin at PF with Duncan in the middle and Rasho coming off the bench. Or he could be the 6th man spotting both and taking care of himself for the playoffs. But I definitely see him in San Antonio as I dont think the Heat would get past the Pistons. Anyone agree?

In under 20 minutes per game he has scored 10.3 ppg (shooting 50%) , 4 apg and 1.3 spg. I know it is only Summer League etc, but I had thought that he might disappear completely. We will have to wait to see if he gets any minutes at all in the regular season especially with Stoudemire and Nick the Quick in front of him, but the Blazers have to be quietly encouraged with his play.

There are a handful of talented free agents still out there for the taking, but the teams with cap room are dwindling. The Hawks could pick up a bargain in this environment. For example the only suitor for Darius Miles seems to be Portland resigning him. As he plays 3 positions and is young and athletic and therefore in the mold that the Hawks are after why dont they make an offer? He really improved last year and if he was offered even $5m per year, that might do it. Anyone agree?

Champs - Spurs over Pistons MVP - Shaquille O'Neal All NBA 1st team - O'Neal, Garnett, Duncan, Bryant, McGrady ROY - Emeka Okafor All Rookie 1st team - Emeka Okafor, Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, Devin Harris, Josh Childress Defensive Player of the Year - Ben Wallace 6th Man of the Year - Quentin Richardson Most Improved Player - Mehmet Okur Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan Executive of the Year - Pat Riley

This is a terrible trade for Golden State yet again... From New York Post: Isiah Thomas and the New York Knicks received some good news Sunday when the Golden State Warriors accepted their offer of Nazr Mohommed and Othella Harrington for a signed and traded Erick Dampier, but will Dampier choose the Knicks over the Atlanta Hawks? That is the decision facing the 7 foot monster who meets with Hawks officials today in Atlanta. The Knicks want Dampier to meet them in New York tomorrow before he makes his decision, which according to the New York Post could come as soon as today. The Knicks are reportedly offering Dampier a six year contract starting at $9 million, while the Hawks can sign him to a maximum salaried contract with cap room. New York, via the sign and trade, have the luxury of a seventh year to offer if need be. "Erick wants to win a championship and the Knicks are definitely in the mix," said Ed Jones, Dampier's business manager and director of his kids foundation. The Post reports that the Warriors were also pressing for Nick Van Exel to be included as part of a bigger deal, but Thomas was not interested. It is believed that the Knicks boss is still interested in the Bulls Jamal Crawford who is younger, bigger, and improving. However Harrington was a big part of the package being offered to Chicago which will make things harder for the Knicks.

You have to put Miami in the mix now. Dwyane Wade is for real. Him and Eddie Jones are a very good backcourt with Dorrell Wright as a wild card off the bench. Udonis Haslem is a very solid PJ Brown type defender/rebounder and there is Shaq Daddy in the middle. Now Martin has gone West there are only 3 teams worthy of a mention from the East - Pistons, Pacers and Heat. The Pistons have the edge (if they re-sign Sheed) and I would put the Heat after them. I think the Spurs will be very dangerous with barry too. That is a great pick up. He does it all and is a crafty vet. they have to start favourites. So: 1 Spurs 2 Pistons 3 Twolves 4 Kings 5 Heat 6 Pacers 7 Nuggets 8 Suns 9 Mavs 10 Grizzlies

Thats quite a fair point. But he is only a role player who is effective at hitting the outside shot on a championship team - not carrying a lesser team. Plus this year he actually played poorly. Although he will be remembered for his playoff heroics in the regular season he shot 35% and 29% from downtown. Not great for your designated spot up shooter. The other eyebrow raiser is that he got a 6 year deal, when he will be 30 at the start of the season. All in all at $6m per ($37m over 6 yrs) he was overpaid. But I take your point that he probably wasnt overpaid by too much, but maybe for too long. When you consider some other deals like for Joe Smith, Jim Macilvaine, Juwan Howard, Allan Houston etc it is not terrible business for Golden State, but they might have got better value all the same.

I agree totally with Jezmund and KB21 - they paid far too much for Foyle and Fisher and lost the best coach they have had in a while. Musselman had them talking playoffs last year before yet again they could not hang on to their free agent (that time Arenas). There has to be a culture change to keep players around. A few years ago Denver was noone's choice and now it seems every top free agent meets with them. This is what Golden State needs. That probably means changing the GM to someone with more of a brain than a chimpanzee. $78m gets you more than Adonal Foyle and Derek Fisher.

interesting. i dont know if that is a good idea though. Marion is a really underappreciated player. He is almost a 20-10 guy and also adds 1.2 spg and 1.6 bpg - meaning he fills up a stat sheet every game. Maybe they will move him for Dampier. That might work although I think still think the Suns should hold on to Marion. I would like to see Lampe get more time in the middle. He is 19, 7 feet tall and still managed 4.6ppg, 2.1 rpg in only 10 minutes and shot just under 50%. I think he has a great future, so it owuld be interesting to see what he could do with more time on court.