Mo Williams Trade Huge for the Cavs
August 14, 2008
A lot of people didn’t pay much attention to Mo Williams last season and that’s understandable since he was playing in Milwaukee and in the shadow of Michael Redd and even Andrew Bogut, but that is all going to change this season now that he’s in Cleveland. This trade is huge for Cleveland. It’s just what the doctor ordered if that doctor is Lebron James. Mo Williams, in case you had forgotten, brings an average of 17 points and 6 dimes to the Cavs, taking a whole lot of pressure off The King. No more Sasha Pavlovic at point guard, no more Damon Jones pouting on the bench. Larry Hughes couldn’t deliver as Lebron’s sidekick a few years ago, but Mo Williams will.
This puts the Cavs right in the mix in the East. They are serious contenders to the Celtics and Pistons. Given that the Celtics will be a year older and less motivated, the door is wide open for Lebron James. For the first time in his career, he’ll be able to trust that his teammates can get it done when he needs a breather. I’m not ready to call the Cavs the East champions, but I’m getting close.
Amare Stoudemire for Tim Duncan?
August 4, 2008
Ok, calm down, this trade has not happened and probably won’t, but I was thinking the other day about what the Spurs should do to get back to the Finals and I came up with this biggie. While it doesn’t seem to make sense that the Spurs should trade away their franchise player, I’m not sure that Tim Duncan is the best fit in San Antonio anymore (Spurs fans gasp here). He’s been slowing down the last few seasons and plays mostly in the half court making his own shots and kicking it out to perimeter shooters. But, the thing is, neither Manu Ginobili or Tony Parker is a spot up shooter. Brent Barry is gone as well. Bruce Bowen can still knock down shots as can Michael Finley, but they aren’t exactly young either. Maybe it’s time the Spurs make a move for the current and the future, and go all-in with a new, up-tempo style? If Gregg Popovich could accept the trade without having a heart attack, it makes a lot of sense.
The Suns, on the other hand, gave up some young, athletic talent in Shawn Marion to get the lumbering Shaquille O’Neal. Time is not exactly on Shaq’s side and how nice would it be to see him paired with his former nemesis? The Suns didn’t win a title with their up-tempo style and now that Shaq is there and D’antoni is gone, why not give up Amare and transform into a veteran, half-court team? Nash likes to run, but I’m sure he won’t exactly have a problem getting easy buckets for the big men in the halfcourt either. And, Shaq and Duncan still both command double teams so it’s be a shooter’s paradise in Phoenix. Not to mention, Phoenix would have the best interior defense in the league.
I went over to RealGM’s trade checker to see if the deal works and it doesn’t when you make the trade straight-up because of Timmy’s salary, but the Suns would just have to add one more player, perhaps their draft pick Robin Lopez.
So, what do you think? Do you want to see the run-and-gun Spurs vs. the boring Suns next season?
Is Artest the Answer for the Rockets?
July 31, 2008
On paper, the Rockets look like championship contenders, but, then again, this is Tracy McGrady’s Rockets and not Hakeem Olajuwon’s. With the addition of Ron Artest yesterday, the Rockets undoubtedly have one of the best trios in the league. Artest-McGrady-Yao, when healthy, probably only falls behind the Celtics trio of Allen-Garnett-Pierce. The Wizards, Lakers, and Spurs all have decent arguments, but whatever your opinion, the Rockets are going to be right up there. The supporting cast is not bad either with Rafer Alston at the point, and the up-and-coming Luis Scola at power forward. Then, you’ve got a great defender and role player in Shane Battier off the bench. Brent Barry and Luther Head can come in and hit some shots, too.
All the pieces are there and Rick Adelman is a good, experienced coach, but I’m not putting my money on the Rockets to win it all. You’ve got to worry about the fact that T-Mac is probably going to miss a fair chunk of games, same goes with Yao, and then even if they do get to the playoffs healthy, T-Mac has never gotten out of the first round!
No question this is an intriguing move and the Rockets could have a magical season, but Rockets fans shouldn’t hold their breath.
What do you think? Can McGrady finally do it?
Will Kwame Brown Blossom in Detroit?
July 29, 2008
Seven years ago, he was drafted #1 overall straight out of high school. Three teams later, he’s the butt of many NBA jokes, especially in the Washington area. Make no mistake about it, Kwame Brown is not half-bad as far as NBA centers go, but he’s certainly never met even the most modest expectations. Although his scenery has changed several times, it’s always been the same story with Kwame. Just like pre-2004 Red Sox fans, Kwame apologists keep on saying, “just wait, this is gonna be the year.”
After arriving in DC, Wizards fans couldn’t wait to see this athletic 6′11″ big man paired with MJ. It didn’t take long, though, before Kwame was driven out of town by the pressure and his own lack of effort. If you think his stock had hit rock bottom after failing in DC, the Lakers proved that theory wrong by offering up Caron Butler for Brown. It was hoped that playing alongside Kobe, Kwame could flourish in an A-list city where he could just as well be anonymous. But, it didn’t work out in L.A. either. His time there was plagued by injuries and, then, the emergence of Andrew Bynum dimmed any chance he had at the limelight in a Lakers jersey. So, now he’s been in the league over 6 years and done hardly anything…he’s worthless right? Well, not to the Grizzlies who were willing to part with all-star Pau Gasol for Brown, Javaris Crittenton, and some draft picks.
Now, after just half a season in a Grizzlies uniform, Brown is leaving for Detroit. He could have signed with a lot of teams and not raised an eyebrow, but Detroit doesn’t just sign anybody. They try to sign pieces to their championship puzzle. And, when you consider that the Pistons haven’t been able to replace Ben Wallace, maybe they are looking at Kwame to fulfill this role? Like Brown, Wallace struggled early in his career in Washington, and was uncoveted when he arrived in Detroit. The two have similar physiques (although Kwame is a bit taller) as well. Kwame’s strength’s are his defense and rebounding, which is all they are going to ask him to do in Detroit. He won’t need to touch the ball on offense and he’s surrounded by veterans with a ring on their fingers who lead by example rather than words. Kwame’s not going to have anybody screaming at him in the Motor City. They’d just bury him at the end of the bench if he doesn’t want to play. At 26 years old, Kwame still has time to become a high caliber player, and maybe, just maybe, he’s finally landed in the right situation.
Fun with Oklahoma City Nicknames
July 25, 2008
I remember in 1997 when my hometown’s franchise (now the Wizards) was in the process of choosing a new nickname to replace the old moniker Bullets. Oh, how odd those name choices sounded: Dragons, Express, Stallions, Sea Dogs, and Wizards. Those were the five name choices according to Wikipedia, but I remember Monuments being a sixth option, which I had wanted the team to choose. Eventually, of course, the name Wizards was chosen…I thought it sounded stupid, and now 11 years later it’s hard to imagine the team with any other nickname. The Oklahoma City franchise is going through a similar process this off-season and their name choices sound equally awkward. Here are the choices:
- Barons - This one doesn’t sound so bad at first, but if you do a little digging it’s rather amusing. The first definition for baron is, “a member of the lowest grade of nobility.” I guess the franchise formerly known as the Sonics wants to set low expectations? Of course when you hear baron, you might think along the lines of a business tycoon rather than a member of nobility. In fact, capitalist is a synonym of baron, which is a pretty good description of the franchise’s ownership (as Seattle fans will no doubt agree). Maybe since the franchise ain’t that good and is run by a seemingly greedy owner, Barons is an apt choice.
- Bison - Alright, this one is just plural for buffalo. Are you ready to imagine a logo similar to the Buffalo Bills or Colorado Buffaloes? It doesn’t seem to really fit in a sport that favors a deft combination of agility and athleticism over brute force. I think I could live with this name, though.
- Energy - Are you kidding me? Is this an electric company or a basketball franchise? In a day and age when we are talking about conserving energy, choosing this nickname would make the OKC franchise the butt of NBA jokes for years. Then again, maybe if the team were to turn down private jets for buses that run on clean, natural gas, they could start a revolution.
- Marshalls - Now, this one is weird. According to the patents filed, the NBA is spelling this one with two Ls when the normal spelling only has one. The spelling difference is minimal, but the difference in meaning is enormous! The NBA is choosing a cheap family clothing store over a military officer of the highest rank! Or, could they be naming the team after a particular person named Marshall? Hmm, Marshall Faulk? No. Marshall Mathers? In David Stern’s nightmares maybe.
- Thunder - Enough with the weather nicknames! We’ve got the Lightning and Hurricanes in hockey and we’ve got a soccer team named the Earthquakes. These weather nicknames belong in second-rate professional leagues and wrestling. Plus, let’s save the OKC fans the annoyance of hearing synthesized thunder at all their home games.
- Wind - Arghhhhh! What did I just say? Aren’t you listening, NBA? I guess the idea here is “swift as the wind.” I could do without the newspaper headlines, though, “The Wind is Howling!” when they’re on a winning streak and “Blown Over by the Wind” when they beat an opponent. It might not be good for PR when the real wind comes to OKC in the form of a tornado, either.
So, here we are once again, with a bunch of nicknames that look laughable, but whatever the choice is, we’ll get used to it.
The poll on your left has been updated to ask you what nickname you’d choose. Looking forward to your votes!
Clippers Desperate? Hornets Destined?
July 18, 2008
After losing out on Elton Brand last week, the Clippers finally landed somebody this week picking up Marcus Camby for virtually nothing. It’s usually a good thing to pick up a solid player for virtually nothing, but in the Clippers’ case, they are more or less waving the white flag in the free agency market this summer. Josh Smith is still out there. Emeka Okafor and Andre Iguodala are too. They are all young and will star for your franchise for years to come, but the Clippers instead decided it wasn’t worth the risk of going after a restricted free agent. But, why Camby? What does he add to the Clippers at 35 years old? Don’t get me wrong, Camby is a great rebounder and shot-blocker, but he’s not going to get them to the playoffs.
So, the Clippers, in their ongoing misery, manage to add Baron Davis and get the fanbase excited and then proceed to lose Corey Maggette and Elton Brand. And, now they tie their money up with an aging player? The sad thing is this is par for the course for the Clippers.
On the other side of the spectrum, the New Orleans Hornets are having a great free agency. They signed Chris Paul to an extension which basically guarantees the playoffs for the foreseeable future and they just picked up James Posey who was so important to the Celtics title run. So, the team that was 2nd in the West, just behind the Lakers with youth on their side, now picks up a championship level defender. The Lakers will have Andrew Bynum back next season, but it will be hard not to pick the Hornets to come out of the West. The Hornets definitely will be in the discussion when you talk about Western Conference contenders.
Newspaper Gaffe - Andris Biedrins Gets No Respect
July 15, 2008
After leading the league in Field Goal Percentage this year, Warriors center Andris Biedrins is being courted by both the Warriors and Pistons in the free agent/trade market this off-season. Good numbers, good demand…makes you think Biedrins might get some respect, but not in Myrtle Beach where the Sun News made this little gaffe back in March:
Yeah, that “whoever” leading the league in FG% is Mr. Biedrins. C’mon, Sun News, we’d understand if you did that to Erick Dampier, but Biedrins is an up-and-coming player. You’re better than that!
Free Agent Spotlight: Josh Smith
July 11, 2008
The dominoes are falling fast in free agency this summer. We’ve already got Gilbert Arenas re-signing in Washington, Elton Brand going to Philadelphia, Corey Maggette and Baron Davis swapping teams, and Lebron James going to New Jersey (oh wait, that’s not for 2 more years). Josh Smith, though, hasn’t made a decision yet. Mostly that’s because he’s just outside the top tier of free agents, but, after this season’s playoff performance, maybe he should be more of a priority? Regardless, the man is going to make big money and he’s still seeking a monster deal, and that is what makes his free agency so interesting. Nobody doubts Josh Smith’s athleticism or ability to put up numbers, but is he the kind of player that can carry a team? It looks like the Sixers don’t think so now that they passed up Smith and sunk their money into Elton Brand. Most teams would probably do the same going for the reliable big man over the flashy athlete.
So, the Hawks are facing a pretty big question these days as they try to decide what to do with Josh Smith. With the Clippers losing Brand and Maggette, they are probably going to make a big offer to Smith. They’re going to make a big offer, it’s just a matter of whether it goes to Smith or Emeka Okafor. Smith would seemingly be the better fit for the LA market and that seems to be how Donald Sterling makes his decisions most of the time. Now, Smith is restricted so assuming he does get a big offer from the Clippers, the Hawks would have 7 days to match it. Should the Hawks go all-in on Josh Smith?
If I’m the Hawks, I do it. It’s true Smith is young and mostly unproven, but we’ve seen what he can do in the playoffs and for the city of Atlanta. Barring an injury, there should be a lot of exciting games and a pretty good team in Atlanta for years to come. He is not going to be Lebron or Duncan, but neither is anyone else on the market right now and you can’t attract them to a listless franchise anyway. Atlanta probably never will be a championship team with Josh Smith as its centerpiece, but when you’re putting “championship” and “Atlanta” in the same sentence, you’re probably dreaming anyways. Don’t ruin a good thing, Hotlanta. Re-sign Josh Smith.
Clippers…still Cursed
July 9, 2008
Just days ago Clipper fans across the globe (or, more realistically, across some areas of LA) were contemplating how far the Clippers might go in next season’s playoffs. Today those fans are hearing that Elton Brand is planning to leave the franchise for The City of Brotherly Love, a move that, no matter how unexpected, can’t be that surprising to fans of the NBA’s most cursed franchise.
The Clippers were a laughingstock in the 90s and haven’t fared too much better this decade despite short bursts of hope. It seemed LA’s 2nd team was finally turning the corner when they went 45-37 and qualified for the playoffs in 2005-06. The Clips couldn’t build on that momentum though and failed to make the playoffs each of the past two seasons, with Brand missing almost all of last season. Still, this didn’t look like your 90’s Clippers as the franchise enticed Baron Davis back to his hometown just a week ago. Sure, they’d lose Corey Maggette, but every team has financial constraints and a Davis-Brand combo could be lethal. But, now it looks like we’ll never see that 1-2 punch with Brand bolting for Philadelphia.
A look back at recent Clippers history:
- Clippers draft Darius Miles 3rd overall in the 2000 NBA Draft. No high school player had been picked as high in the draft before. He played 2 seasons with the Clippers, never averaging more than 10 points a game.
- In the summer of 2004, Kobe Bryant flirts with the idea of jumping ship to the Clippers before re-signing with the Lakers.
- Clippers draft Shaun Livingston 4th overall in the 2004 NBA Draft. To date, he’s missed 101 of 246 regular season games due to injuries.
- Elton Brand ruptures his Achilles tendon in August 2007 and misses nearly the entire 2007-08 season.
Just another day for Clippers fans.
Free Agency Update
July 2, 2008
Yesterday was the first day of the NBA free agency period and here’s what you need to know:
- Baron Davis has reportedly reached an agreement to sign with the Clippers. This is a bit surprising considering the professional e-mail he had previously sent to ESPN: “”Clipps r possible. G State is where I wanna b”. Now the Clippers have to worry about re-signing Elton Brand. They’re going to have to let Corey Maggette go to pull that off and Brand will have to take a paycut, but it looks like he is willing to do so.
- Gilbert Arenas received a max offer from the Warriors. So, Gil’s old team is going after him again now that they’ve lost their point guard. The Warriors are young and fun, which fits Arenas’ style, but it’s hard to see him choosing them over Washington.
Where do you think Davis, Arenas, Brand, and Maggette will wind up?
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