FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Well folks I have finally given in and decided to write a blog.  I do not know if it is due to me being adventurous or my shear boredom at work.  As I sit here at work and continuously read various sports sites, I wonder what it would be like to be a GM.  Now talk about a dream job, sure you half to be under the scrutiny of the public eye, but when you look at it who isn't under scrutiny now a days.  I could get into the Pac-Man rant, but as for me I am sick of hearing about him, now it is just to the point maybe the higher power should take a page from judge in the Paris Hilton case and put him behind bars for awhile and make him actually think about all he has done wrong.  Now I have never spent time in jail, nor do I plan on it, but sometimes you may think it is the best thing for a troubled young adult.  Enough about that.

NBA offseason, being that I recently relocated to Dallas I think that the Mavs flop was absolutely hilarious.  For a team that is full of veterans, plus have playoff experience, that was pitiful.  It showed their weakness, not only did they lack heart and intensity, it also exposed several other weaknesses.  I am under the belief that they CAN win with Dirk, but Dirk cant be the leader.  In a perfect world Josh Howard would step up, he has the talent, but he showed less heart then Dirk did in the playoffs (now that folks is bad news bears).  I think the Mavs first move would be to explore a trade where they could dump Terry's contract and send Howard along with him for a shooting guard (aka Paul Pierce, but that is too stereotypical).  Let's venture outside of the box on these trade possibilities (my work blocked ESPN so I can't get onto the trade scenario generator for contracts), lets say a deal that would bring J. Richardson and Stephan Jackson to the Mavs, not only do you get a very good shooting guard who brings both heart and intensity to every game, you also get a thug who can be very good when he wants to.  The other thing I like about this trade is it finally gives Devin Harris a chance to take over the team at the point, they need to give him a chance before they write him off (personally I thought they should have dished him to Toronto last year for Villenuava).

Trade scenario: Jason Terry, Josh Howard to the Warriors, for Jason Richardson and Stephan Jackson.  "If you cant beat them, buy them"

Now being a Nuggets fan has had its ups (a few of them) and downs (a lot of them), but the biggest rollercoaster has been Kenyon Martin.  I just dream of one day when they can finally dump that god-awful contract of his.  It is still too bad that he messed up his knee in the Conference USA tournament so long ago.  I don't know what the Nuggets can do this offseason, the Smith incident does not bode well either.  So what asset do the Nuggets have that others want...........power forwards, both Nene and Camby.  What do the Nuggets need.....Nene and Camby, but due to the salary situation one of them is going to have to go.  Especially with Camby winning the DMVP, sell high, buy low.  So in the buying low, lets take a look at Villenuava, the Bucks are in the market for a PF with experience.  I could also see a younger team, such as the Bobcats or Hawks slip in to make a deal, but at what price would they be willing to pay.  Would the Nuggets take a Sean May?  Would the Hawks give up their second first round pick?  The main thing with the Hawks and Bobcats is that they both have room under their salary cap to do some wheelin' and dealin'.  I love the thought of the Bobcats getting some guidence from a presence in the paint, they are so young down there that it would make their maturing progression accelerate by two-fold.

 Trade scenario: Marcus Camby and Linus Kleiza to the Bobcats for Sean May and Brevin Knight. "Cap causality trade with a glimmer of potential"

 Now to the one that everyone and their mom is blogging about, the Lakers.  Will they trade Kobe, nope, you cannot trade a superstar like that, let me rephrase that, you should not trade a superstar like that.  So what move do they make.  Well I think it has to start with......Lamar Odom.  He has the talent of a superstar, but there are plenty of players in the league who have the "superstar talent", so that does not do much for me, Odom is a very solid player when he is healthy.  My scenario for Odom, trade him to the Pistons for Rasheed Wallace.  Not only do you give Kobe another very good player, but you also add some girth down low to help in the development of Bynum. 

Trade scenario: Lamar Odom to the Pistons for Rasheed Wallace and Amir Johnson (who is going to be a serviceable sub for Luke Walton (if he resigns)).  "Lets make the best of both situations" trade

Now to kill two birds with one stone, why don't the Clippers and Jazz revisit the AK47 for Maggette trade.  Before the playoffs started I would have suggested that the Clippers would have to give up something else along with Maggette.  But after the playoffs I now consider AK47 the greatest one man show on earth, not only can he disappear, he can also be the leading man in a chick flick (he is versatile enough to even do crying scenes), and a basketball player once every 4 games.  Maggette has potential, but the question is has the potential passed him up?  I think a switch of scenarios would be great for both players.

Trade scenario: Corey Maggette to the Jazz for Andrei Kirilenko.  "Old faces in new places"

The next one will be for the man who is known as "Paris Hilton" of the rumor mill, Mr. Ron Artest.  Artest is making an art out of wearing out his welcomes.  So what better then sending him to the place that lives off of rumors, no not LA, but New York.  Send him to the Knicks for David Lee and Steve Francis.  The Kings may need to add in a small salary throw in (see John Salmons or Ronnie Price).  But with Lee you get an athletic forward to team up with Garcia and Bibby (who either needs a change also, or some new life, which Lee will provide) and you get Francis's salary off your books in the very near future.  The Kings get an actual scoring threat at the Forward position, sorry Ronaldo Balkman.  If I were the Kings I would aim for Channing Frye but settle for Lee, The Sacramento crowd needs excitement, and with Lee you get that.

Trade scenario: Ron Artest and Ronnie Price to the Knicks for David Lee and Steve Franchise.  "The Art of Trades"

Now to the Rockets, who have more PG's then Dan Patrick has scars from the lashing he took from Commissioner Stern (if you have not heard the interview proceeding the Phoenix suspension, I highly recommend that you find a way to hear it).  I don't think I have close to enough ammo to pull off a big time trade for Zach Randolph, I do believe that they have enough to get a Steven Hunter (from the 76ers) or how about this one.  Bonzi Wells, Rafer Alston and the 26^th pick in the first round for Drew Gooden and Shannon Brown.  This gives the Cavs another scoring threat in Wells (oh yeah that just depends on which Bonzi decides to show), and Alston a scoring point guard to combo with Boobie, plus a draft pick that the Cavs want.  On the Rockets end, they get a solid PF in Gooden and a sleeper in Shannon Brown.  They get rid of the headache known as Bonzi and in return have to pay a little bit of a premium for a solid PF that is an excellent rebounder but can also be a minor scoring threat.

Trade scenario: Bonzie Wells, Rafer Alston, and the 26^th pick in the 2007 draft to the Cavs for Drew Gooden and Shannon Brown. "A gamble on the future"

So I am pretty sure we can officially say the Spurs are a dynasty, what a dominate team.  No major trades in sight, but I think they need to get rid of Udrih.  I think they will hold out for a first round pick.  I think that pick could ultimately come from the 76ers.  They are in need of some youth at the PG position.  The draft has a few PG's but nothing at the 30^th pick with the potential of Udrih. 

Trade scenario: Beno Udrih to the 76ers for the 30^th pick in the 2007 draft. "One person's trash, is the other person's treasure"

The Suns on the other hand are in a very volatile place right now.  Not only do they need to dump salary, but the contract of Shawn Marion is coming up. Here is my diamond in the rough trade; Marion goes to Memphis for Pau Gasol.  D'Antone loves the international flavor and Gasol can hit the jump shot.  Though he is not as athletic as Marion, Gasol is a great trailer on the break and can spot up on kick outs.  I do not know how thrilled Marion would be, but he can opt out after next year so I wouldn't be too worried if I was the Grizzlies.

Trade scenario: Shawn Marion to the Grizzlies for Pau Gasol. "Why not give it a shot"

Seattle, now that franchise can count it's blessings from the Draft Gods, now all they need to do is have a chat with the Relocation Gods.  This is where there could be a possible Mike Bibby play, though he isn't getting any younger he can help out the situation, but then again Seattle has a lot of money tied up in poor PG's.  So the next option is for a Rashard Lewis sign and trade, and I think they need to find a PF at this point.  I think they should dangle him to the Celtics for Al Jefferson.  Now the only problem is getting the Celtics to bit, the Celtics are in the position where they have to do something to get another serviceable star in their to keep Pierce happy.  This also allows the Celtics to hold onto their 5^th pick.  To match salaries I would include Szczerbiak on the Celtics side and the Sonics could send one of their two second round picks.

Trade scenario: Rashard Lewis and the 31^st pick in the 2007 draft to the Celtics for Al Jefferson and Wally Szczerbiak. "Sign me and send me"

Last in our hearts but first in the draft, the Trailblazers.  Everyone knows they want to dish Randolph, I really think there could be a package of him and Jarrett Jack to the Hawks for the 3rd pick and Speedy Claxton.  Claxton can be the throw in for salary reasons, plus he gives the Blazers a PG who can start initially. 

Trade scenario: Zach Randolph and Jarrett Jack to the Hawks for Speedy Claxton and the #3 pick in the 2007 draft. "The stereotypical one"

BUT JUST WAIT A SECOND! Here is another trade scenario for Portland, and wait a second, it includes not only their partner in the Northwest but their buddies at the top of the draft, the Sonics.  Why not pull a sign and trade for Rashard Lewis and send the Sonics Zach Rudolph.  Not only does it address both the teams needs, but it addresses them with good players.  Also, I think Jack is going to be a very good point in the league, he can score and dish and I wouldn't write him off yet if I were the Blazers. 

Trade scenario: Zach Randolph to the Sonics for Rashard Lewis. "Not a bad idea, give a friend a helping hand"

 And there folks concludes my first blog, I would like to thank my employer for paying me to do this and also my homework for taking the backseat for the night.  Have a great night.  I will be rolling out the Eastern Conference in the near future.

MyBiasOpinion13