Kyle’s View

As of 12:01 est last night, The frenzy that is NBA free agency began. Although it has been quiet as most expected, the first bigger name free agent has got his deal done, Rudy Gay agreed to stay with the Grizzlies in Memphis, with a 5 year/81 million dollar deal. I was surprised not only to see Rudy Gay was the first to get a deal done but staying with Memphis. He seemed to be one of the more likely to move players. This off season could be the biggest talking period and most if not all players just stay with their previous teams. Although next week will bring some revelations as soon as Lebron gets his deal done.

Dwight Howard is a top five player that has potential to be a top 3 player and is completely underutilized. He continues to put up solid numbers all season long but when its clutch time in a game, either Hedo Turkoglu or Rashard Lewis are jacking up a three pointer or shooting a fade away to try and win a game. Watching the Magic vs Sixers game one tonight, this could not be more apparent. At halftime the game was close and the Magic were blowing opportunity after opportunity to get Howard a shot within two feet of the hoop. The third quarter showed the power of Dwight Howard especially with the weak front line the Sixers have. The had an 18 point lead and by the end of the fourth quarter Andre Igoudala has a chance to hit a shot at the end of the game. Howard should get the ball with the game on the line unless they need a three at the buzzer. Dwight dunked over Theo Ratliff with no issues and can do this against most other NBA front court players. The only reason that seems to be present is the poor free throw percentage. If that’s the case then maybe Orlando should ask the Lakers and Miami for advice. Shaq is a terrible free throw shooter that got the ball in late game situation and no team could stop him. Howard has the same potential to dominate games as Shaq did. The question then becomes wether or not Howard has the killer instinct. If that is the case then the Magic need to make a move to get a end of game scorer that can take over a game.

Maybe its just me, but the NBA doesn’t have the same feeling as it used to. The rivalries have faded and stars are becoming few and far between. It seems like the NBA season has come down to 3 teams and two players. All the sportscasters, writers, and broadcasters talk about a specific niche of NBA. The two main topics are Lakers vs Celtics and Lebron vs Kobe. The Cavs are so overrated i can’t put it into words. Lebron puts up amazing numbers and carries his team on a nightly basis but his supporting cast is the same as last year in which the were swept by the Celtics. They added Mo Williams who is a solid player and plays a important role but is not the sidekick Lebron needs to win the title. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is still decent but hes reaching the end of his career and cant contribute the way he used to. The Cavs also have to rely on Wally Szczerbiak and Daniel Gibson to hit big shots at key moments and i just dont see it.

The Lakers and Celtics rivalry is awesome and can create some new excitement for the NBA, but are we going to have to wait until June every year to watch them play for something meaningful. I feel like there is no reason to watch the 82 game season. Even with this Kobe and Paul Pierce are not young guys who can carry the NBA forever.

Do teams like Utah and Denver matter? Utah has a solid team that has a floor leader in Deron Williams who is vastly underrated. Denver acquired an Chauncey Billups for an past his prime AI which made the Nuggets the second best team in the western conference. But does there play mean anything? Does anyone really care what happens with these teams besides the people in their markets? Maybe being in Sacramento watching the Kings waffle through the season and make moves that make no sense has made me jaded but the NBA just doesn’t have the same allure it used to.

In addition are fans not getting everything they should be getting? Amare’ getting hurt all but eliminated the Suns from contention. Manu’ Ginobili being out for the season made the Spurs an above average team at best. Even if these teams are healthy, can they compete with the Lakers? That said are the Lakers even that good? I think Kobe is an amazing player and has some good peices around him if Andrew Bynum is healthy and Lamar Odom can produce. Maybe the problem is the talent level of the NBA isn’t at the levels of the past. Maybe the late 90′s and early 2000′s spoiled us. I remember growing up with great rivalries with Phoenix and Dallas, as well as Sacramento and the Lakers. The sound bites of Shaq saying Sacramento was a cow town or Mark Cuban running up and down the court in Phoenix after Dirk hits a big shot. The magnitude is the thing that seems to be lost in the new NBA.

The NBA has players to build around with stars like Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade and Dwight Howard, but the NBA don’t seem to take full advantage of their potential. These guys should be on TV all the time showcasing the future. Maybe the NBA is too watered down. What if the David Stern took two or four teams out of the NBA? This would make all the teams stronger, keep good but not great players in college for longer and make the brand of basketball more exciting to watch. It would be interesting to see how players would get re-dispersed. Maybe worst record gets first pick. Maybe the Kings then pick Danny Granger if Indiana were no longer a team. Would make teams much stronger and get players out of the NBA when they aren’t NBA caliber players.

Maybe i’m out of my mind and the upcoming NBA playoffs will remind me why i loved the NBA but the NBA does need to do something to improve its product or the end could be here sooner that most people think.

Less than 24 hours after opting out of his current deal with the Golden State Warriors,   Baron Davis signs a reported 5 year and 65 million dollar contract. He joins a team that could pose a threat in the westen conference. It still remains to be seen what Elton Brand will do after opting out of his contract today. The Clippers could a be a big player this offseason to keep up with the Lakers who they not only share a city but an arena.

With the final year of large deals hanging over their heads two of the NBA’s stars made the move to option out of thier deals. Baron Davis and Elton Brand decided to forego their final season within their current contract and test the waters in free agency.  This means they want to leave their current situation or feel like they can make more money with a new team. In this case i think both players want to opt out for a chance to win a championship. Elton Brand has been talked about a lot leading up to and on draft night. Their is a rumor that the Heat and Clppers are trying to work a sign and trade deal to send Elton to Miami in exchange for Shawn Marion who is also in the final year of his deal. The Clippers are looking to rebuild around Al Thorton who had a really good rookie year and often injured Shaun Livingston. Marion would fit in well with what the Clippers are looking to do. Also they have been shopping Corey Maggette, who could provide a slasher and scorer to a team ready to take the next step such as Toronto or Cleveland.

As for Baron Davis his future is up in the air. After the ending to last season not going according to plan and the Warriors not making the playoffs and Don Nelson sitting him the entire second half of a game that could of put them in the playoffs, it seems Davis wants to move on and see what his options for a title are. He would really love to go home and play for the Clippers which is a serious option or Lakers which would require a pay cut, but would offer a title shot. Other than that maybe Orlando could be an option.

After a flurry of rumors and trade talks the NBA draft provides excitement and does not disappoint. The speculation of what the Heat would do at #2, they did what everyone thought they should and would do and drafted Michael Beasley. However after the first two picks, the draft picks went not the way most predicted. The 4th pick surprise of Russell Westbrook will provide some more talent to the young core of the Sonics with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green. The trades became a flurry after that.

Kevin Love was sent with Mike Miller, Jason Collins, and Brian Cardinal to the Timberwolves for O.J. Mayo, Marco Jaric, Greg Buckner. The Wolves are starting to form a solid line up with Love, Miller, Jefferson, and McCants, however I don’t like the trade for either team, the Wolves combo with Mayo and Jefferson would have been awesome and provided an inside/outside game for the Wolves. The combination of Mayo and Gay will be good for the Grizzlies but they still need some low post presence. II like the fact that Wolves added a solid player in Mike Miller who does a lot for your team and Kevin Love will be solid but not great, and definitely not a top 5 pick. While the draft improved both teams they will be both be seen in the lottery again next year.

The Blazers made a flurry of trades again on draft day. They added the Point Guard they needed with some solid role players and rookies who could make an impact and help the Blazers take the next step. The Pacers picked up a player with a ton of potential in Brandon Rush to put with newly acquired T.J. Ford and swing man Danny Granger.

There were a lot of smaller deals that went down swapping mostly late first and second round talent./

That said the Nets did a great job adding 3 players who will contribute and be effective day 1. Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson will add size and scoring. They also make room to shop Nenad Kristic being he is in the last year of his contract and they can get value for him. Chris Douglas-Roberts will give them a guy who can play either 2 or 3 as well as a scorer with a high upside. He was a steal and could be the Gilbert Arenas or Carlos Boozer of the draft. He has first round talent.

The Heat also did well adding Beasley. He can play day one and fit in nicely with D-Wade and Shawn Marion. I also love the pick of Mario Chalmers. He can be a spark of the bench and play either point or two guard.

While the Heat and Nets really improved thier team I think the Kings and Knicks had bad drafts. WHile the Knicks got a great player and will definetly improve the team, the Knicks need a face of the franchise and locker room leader. While this might not come from the draft, Gallanari will not provide either for the Knicks. The should have went with Jerryd Bayless or Eric Gordon to add a leader in the backcourt and some to be a face for the Knicks for a long time. The Kings however had a bad draft because they made poor selections. They reached on a player the might turn out to be a solid role player and a couple of late rounders that wont contribute right away or might not even make the team.

The nba draft always seems to bring about a trade or two. It usually involves some lower tier players or a swapping of picks. After last year when Ray Allen was traded to the Celtics on draft day a new trend could be starting. This year it seems to have only picked up where it left off.

The deals as of 12:45pm (pst)

The Nets are sending Richard Jefferson to the Bucks in exchange for Yi Jianlian and Bobby Simmons. This shows the Nets want to rebuild. I think Vince Carter could be the next player to leave New Jersey. This will also improve the Bucks and give them another solid player to go along side Michael Redd.

Jermaine Oneal is heading to Toronto for T.J. Ford, Rasho Nesterovic and the Raptors first round pick number 17 overall. This is a clear sign that Toronto wants to make a serious run towards a title. If they can add a solid scorer to the backcourt they could pose a legitement threat to the east and Boston. This also gives Indiana a point gaurd for the future. This will allow someone like Dj Augustin or Jarryd Bayless to fall farther in the draft and let a team like Sacramento get the point guard they covet.

A swap of picks is instore for the Clippers and Sonics. The Clippers want Eric Gordon and they will draft Brook Lopez for Seattle and then swap players.  This allows the Sonics to pay less for the player they want and ensure the Clippers get their guy. This is assuming that O.J. Mayo goes to Minnesota at number 3.

More news to come as soon as more information is available.

(all photo credits to ESPN.com)

Its tourney time and I’m going to take my opportunity to throw in my two cents. This year is one of the deepest tournaments with a lot of really good teams. I filled out my bracket and have found my winners.

The west regional is has the easiest road for the number one seed UCLA. Duke is the second best team in the region and I can see them not even making it to the sweet sixteen if West Virginia and Joe Alexander play to their potential and play the way they did down the stretch. Plus their Coach Bob Huggins has the experience to lead his team far.

The Midwest regional looks to have multiple teams that can make a serious run. USC and OJ Mayo have the potential to make some noise. OJ is an outstanding freshman and could lead his team just like Carmelo Anthony. With that said I believe Georgetown is the class of this region. They went to the Final Four last year and lost to a team just a little stronger with current NBA players Greg Oden (#1 pick), Mike Conley (#4 pick) and Daequan Cook (#21 pick). They have the experience, defense anchored by Roy Hibbert and great coaching in John Thompson 111. I think Kansas and Clemson will make a push to win the region but Georgetown will outlast them.

The South Region has three really good teams in Stanford, Texas, Memphis. Memphis has the talent to make it all the way, with that said I don’t think they will. They have issues making free throws at the end of games. This hasn’t been an issue because of the way they have won, however they will be forced to make free throws when they meet up with Texas and even Michigan St. Also Memphis have freshman Derrick Rose leading them. He is an outstanding talent who could be the first player taken in the NBA draft however I don’t think he has the leadership to carry Memphis all the way to the final. That said I see Texas and DJ Augustin coming out of this Region. I think they have the most talent, great coaching and will play defense down the stretch to make it to the Final Four.

The East region has some of the best team and will be the toughest to make it out of. North Carolina is the number one seed for the whole tournament and Tennessee could have easily been a number one seed in another region. Also Louisville is the three seed and is an incredibly good. When they play to their potential they can beat anyone on any night. That said, Tennessee will advance from this bracket and make it the Final Four. Like all of my Final Four Picks I go with point guard play and coaching. Chris Lofton can lead his team along with the wings and bigs on his team. I had a really hard time with this bracket. I really debated between UNC and Tennessee. North Carolina is playing close to home, has great coaching and on the floor leadership with Tyler Hansbrough (national player of the year) and Ty Lawson. I just feel Chris Lofton and Bruce Pearl will get this team to Final Four.

My Final four is set up with Georgetown and Tennessee playing to go the final. I have Tennessee winning this match up and making it to the championship. I have to take Bruce Pearl, orange sport coat and all to the championship. On the other side I have UCLA and Texas playing to face Tennessee. As much as I love me some Love and Ben Howland’s coaching and their experience in the final four last year, I’m taking DJ Augustin and the Texas Longhorns. They are playing in San Antonio, which is an easy drive from Austin. I just feel Texas will do a little more and win the game. With Tennessee and Texas meeting in the final, I faced the my biggest headache trying to pick a winner. I really like the Chris Lofton vs. DJ Augustin matchup. I think the mass amount of orange in the crowd could be blinding and the game will come down to a final shot or free throws. With that said I have the Volunteers of Tennessee cutting down the nets and hoisting the trophy. I would not be shocked if Texas is hoisting the trophy along with the horns that are synonymous with University of Texas. Get ready for an awesome tournament.

With the barrage of trades at the deadline, i figured i take a moment to throw some thoughts in to what the teams have done. One of the most active trade deadlines came and went last Thursday. Stars swapped coasts, changed teams, and geared up for playoff runs. With two sure fire Hall of Famers going to Western Conference heavy weights and  number of all-star and notable players switching teams the list of players was astounding.

The Suns made one of biggest acquisitions in both size and magnitude when they acquired Shaq, but also lost a huge part of what they did when they sent Shawn Marion off to Miami along with Marcus Banks. They felt their interior was an issue and addressed the issue accordingly. They are going to spend the next month or so figuring out how to rework parts of their offense. The sooner they can figure it out the better. They are in middle of one of the closest races in recent history with 6 teams all separated by a game and a half going into tuesday nights play. The teams they are fighting with for the coveted top spots also made important moves.

The Jason Kidd to Dallas trade finally went through after Dallas lured Keith Van Horn out of retirement to sign a contract for the rest of the season and was subsequently traded to New Jersey. This needed to happen for two reasons. One being the blocking of the trade by Devean George, because of the no-trade clause in his contract allowing him to halt trade plans if he does not approve. The second being the comments that Jerry Stackhouse referring to what i said in the previous post about this trade where it was widely know the Nets would cut him and allow for a return to Dallas. He made comments in the news paper and NBA powers that be told him that would not be allowed to return thus the Mavericks had to make new plans to acquire the point guard they so highly coveted. This trade makes the Mavericks a legit contender for a title and one of the favorites especially after last years meltdown and the hands of the #8 seed Golden State Warriors. The Mavericks have the leader at point guard and will make some serious noise in the playoffs. These two trades over shadowed a deal that happened a few days prior but for all serious NBA fans will realize was the best of all three trades.<

The Lakers acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis giving little more than a couple reserve players and some draft picks. Pau can step in immediately and pay huge dividends and already has. He gives the Lakers one of the best front courts with Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom. Oh, and by the way Kobe Bryant is also on the team. The Lakers look to be the class of the NBA.<

With the western conference dominating the headlines at the deadline the Cavaliers, Bulls and Sonics made an  11 player swap. The move was the Cavs attempt to make their team, which was unchanged from last year ( which was swept in the finals) and facing an uphill climb to make it out of the east against Boston and Detroit before they can think about a return trip to the NBA finals. They acquired Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West, and Wally Szczerbiak while the Bulls acquired Drew Gooden, Larry Hughes, Shannon Brown, and Cedric Simmons, and the Sonics getting Donyell Marshall, Ira Newble, and Adrian Griffin. The Cavs added front court help with Ben Wallace being the biggest name, however the best player they acquired was Joe Smith. He was the Bulls most consistent player this season and can play both center and power forward. However i don't think this trade makes any teams better. The Cavs got inside help which they really didn't need in exchange for Larry Hughes maybe inconsistent but was starting to improve guard and Drew Gooden who was playing the same roll as joe smith or ben wallace and would be just as effective. I felt this trade was made more out of not doing anything all off season and watching the west make vast improvements.

In addition to the big trades there was also a furry of smaller trades. The Hawks improved immensely adding Mike Bibby to a team that was in desperate need for a point guard. The Spurs added Kurt Thomas for front court play and playoff experience. New Orleans added Bonzi Wells for some bench depth and solid play form the swingman. 

Its scary to thing the NBA's best team from last year could be arguably the 5th or 6th best team in the west. Tune in for the rest of the season and through the playoffs to see what happens and how the trades pan out. This years playoffs will be one of the best in along time if not ever. Watch for a lot of the series to go 7 games.