Saturday, February 23, 2008

Houston, Toronto, Cleveland, Seattle, Chicago, make deals at trade deadline.

Let's summarize first before we go any further. So many trades at the deadline! I'll have to start with my favorite teams first.

1) Houston gives Bonzi Wells, Mike James to New Orleans and Kirk Snyder to Minnesota. Houston gets Gerald Green, slam dunk champion from a year ago, from Minnesota and Bobby Jackson from New Orleans

For Houston, I think this trade was to give more playing time to Luther Head and Carl Landry. Jackson is close to retiring. Gerald Green has potential but only a high flyer at this point. Houston had to let go its glut of guards

New Orleans got even stronger I think. James and Wells will help them a lot and keep them at the top of the standings

2) Toronto gets Brezec from Detroit for Juan Dixon

Where is Juan going to play with the Raps having Calderon and Ford? Toronto is better off keeping Graham who had been languishing on the bench because of Dixon. This shows more confidence in Graham by trading Dixon. Brezec? He was just a filler for the trade.

3) THE BIG THREE TEAM TRADE

Cleveland gets: Ben Wallace and Joe Smith from Chicago, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West from Seattle
Cleveland gives: Larry Hughes, Drew Gooden to Chicago. Donyell Marshall, and Ira Newble to Seattle

Seattle gets: practically no one. Newble and Marshall and Adrian Griffin. Rebuiding phase! They also get Barry and Elson from the Spurs. Barry was waived
Seattle gives away: Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West

Chicago gets: Larry Hughes and Gooden.

Seattle is rebuilding and they got nothing on these trades.

Cleveland finally gets some help for Lebron James and they got so much stronger. Once Varejao gets back, who will be the help on offense for Z in the frontcourt? Wallace and Varejao are no scorers. I guess this is where Smith comes in. They lose a good perimeter defense player in Hughes, rebounding with Gooden. I guess James will take the brunt of the offense now. Wally is an outside shooter that will help but is not a defensive player. West really gives them that point guard they really need and moves Gibson to SG.

By getting Hughes and Gooden, Chicago is in good shape for next season.

4) San Antonio Spurs acquire Kurt Thomas and give away Elson and Barry.

This trade is pretty much meh. You can never go wrong with veterans.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Trades galore part 1

So much movement in the NBA. Part 1. Yesterday there were even more trades!

Gasol --> Lakers


I love Gasol but I am a Kobe hater. I'm still contemplating whether to cheer for them. Maybe for Gasol to do well, but that's it.

Shaq--> Phoenix, Marion --> Heat

He had his first game yesterday. Can't really say much. He needs to play a little bit more. I don't like the trade and I agree with Kenny Smith who said that the Suns window to win is now just two years. One thing is for sure, the Suns will not be one of the best free-throw shooting teams anymore. 3-12 for Shaq in the free throw line. Ouch! He's lucky he's got a good FT shooting team. Maybe it will rub off on him.

Miami got a gem in Marion. Very good player to build around and will do well with Wade. I have to admit though, I am starting to like the trade.

Bibby --> Hawks


The Hawks need someone like him to build on the East playoffs where mediocrity is the name of the game

Webber--> Warriors

Meh, Webber is washed up. Signing won't do much

Kidd--> Dallas


Dallas instantly becomes a contender for a title and will surely get past their upset a season ago. He will lead them far in the playoffs.