Chalk is Cheap
I already tweeted this great headline, "chalk is cheap" but it's worth mentioning on the blog. Lebron may be the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. He may have the coolest kicks. He may have the most emphatic dunks. He may be the greatest thing that's happened to basketball since Kobe. But he is definitely not the best leader and has proved nothing and will continue to remain unjustified hype until he can take home a title. After all, chalk is cheap. I don't believe that the Cavs will win the championship next year, but at least they've elevated themselves to contender status. What everyone is waiting to see is how the two superstars will get along. Until this point, LBJ has never had to share the ball with anyone better than himself. How (much) will he facilitate with the acquisition of Shaq?
Danny Ferry said himself that this trade will wind up being a hit or miss deal - and I agree. I'm that Shaq won't be able to contribute anymore - even if he receives enough passes - just because he's closing in on retirement. It's not secret that Shaq isn't as beastly as he was several years ago. It's the fact that he may drastically hurt the team which Ferry should fear. When he came to Phoenix, the Suns were the best team in the Western Conference and subsequently missed the playoffs during Shaq's full year. You could attribute a drop in standings to the loss of Amare, but that's still no excuse for going from the penthouse to the outhouse.
In order to get some scoring from Shaq, though, the Cavs need a playmaker or more specifically, a passer, who can throw the ball into Shaq when he has position. Despite Lebron's high assist numbers, he is a scorer not a passer. Which means if and when the Cavs get hold of a passer, the point guard will have to find a way to appease the Big Aristotle and #23. My primary issue here is that even when Shaq was playing with arguably the best passer in the game and two-time MVP, Steve Nash, he was not able to take the Suns into the postseason. Last I remember, the Cavs wanted to win in the NBA Finals.
Also, as Shaq's previous teams have experienced, Mr. O'Neal has some fine print. Every time he moves on with another team, he doesn't technically move on for awhile. What I mean by this is that he never forgets to acknowledge all the shameful people in his past engagement (i.e. Kobe, Wade, Van Gundy, etc.). Make sure your players have thick skin, Ferry, especially that Mo kid, and make sure that they're out of the gym when Shaq is shooting free throws - you don't want them to learn bad technique.
Hego Turkoglu?
Having traded for Vince Carter, the Magic basically embraced the fact that Hedo's departure is imminent, especially since he opted out of his contract and had previously rejected an extension. What interests me in this deal is what the Magic sacrificed to get VC. They gave up on this year's playoff sensation, Rafer Alston, a somewhat effective big man who could possibly contribute more if he received more minutes, Tony Battie, and a promising mid-range shooter and a developing scorer, Courtney Lee. Although, in the end, this was at the worst a decent deal for the Magic. They needed someone who can create their own shot. In the Finals, we saw that the Magic didn't know who to turn to in clutch time. Imagine how much things would have changed if it were Vince Carter dunking that alley-oop pass in the final second instead of Courtney Lee missing it off the glass. Besides pick-and-rolls and Howard drawing double teams and kicking the ball out, the Magic couldn't design a complex strategy.
The only issue with this trade is similar to that of the Cavs: how will the ball be distributed among themselves? Vince Carter is currently surrounded by three other All-Stars in Jameer Nelson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard. Each player has their own unique style and way of contributing, but in order to do so, they need the ball in their hands. Surely, the statistics of those All-Stars will decrease in the upcoming season. And when they do, how will the players deal with it? Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard still haven't reached the primes of their careers and are working to build a reputation. Even if Rashard Lewis is okay with a drop in numbers, will his two All-Star teammates acquiesce?
Plus, Vince Carter, just like Shaq, is no longer a young powerhouse in the game. We saw him fade out during his time with the Nets and I'm afraid this may be the last stop of his career. However, the Magic have given themselves a better chance of winning it all with this transaction and in the end that's all that matters.
Roundup of Draft '09
As expected the Clippers selected undoubtedly the best player in the draft, Blake Griffin, with the first pick. Something has to go very wrong for Blake to turn into the busts of Clippers' past, but as I was watching the best briefing in sports, Around the Horn, my favorite sportswriter, J.A. Adande, made a great point: the Clippers are already stacked in the front court. And "who's going to pass Blake the ball? Baron Davis?" If anything the Clippers should look for a shooting guard and get an upgrade over Steve Novak. Not that Novak is a bad player, because he's not (I was at the game to see him drain a game-winning three pointer over the Nets during the season), but there were some promising guards in this draft that the Clippers could have taken. Still, it's not too late to trade for one.
Memphis really did themselves a favor drafting Hasheem Thabeet. Regardless of what analysts may say, the Magic have given O.J. Mayo support in the front court and this could get them to the playoffs. I won't go as far as to say that he is the perfect replacement for Pau Gasol, but with a little more work, he could become a threatening presence in the league.
The big discussion of the draft emerged when the T-Wolved picked two points guards with at 5 and 6. How is that going to help them? Well, with Ruboi claiming that he won't play in Minnesota because it's "too cold" and his father saying that Ricky will stay in Spain for one or two more years, I quote Kobe Bryant when I write "Ship his [expletive] out!" As Jay Mariotti pointed out on yesterday's episode of ATH, the T-Wolves need to trade Rubio "while everyone still thinks he's hot." Give him to the folks in NYC, which qualifies as the big cities that Rubio is fond of, and get something in return. There's no way that Minnesota can keep both Rubio and Flynn, and Rubio has already expressed negative thoughts so you might as well deal him.
After the T-Wolves picked Flynn, Golden State disappointed everyone in the draft facility when they selected Stephen Curry. This is, without a doubt, a great selection by the Warriors. Having traded Jamal Crawford for Acie Law and Speedy Claxton, the Warriors desperately needed a better starter. This pick at least gives them a great chance of securing a playoff spot and who knows, maybe the Bay Area boys will overcome the odds once again in a David vs. Goliath match-up (i.e. GSW vs. Dallas).
Kudos to the stars with their steal of DeJaun Blair in the second round. I was surprised to see him slip so low, even in mock drafts, after how much he impressed the nation with his play in Pittsburgh during the tourney. Nevertheless, you could say that the Spurs replaced Kurt Thomas and Oberto with this move, which is another reason to praise the minds of this franchise.
Also, congrats to the Sacramento Kings for the kosher selection of Israeli prospect Omri Cassipi at 23. The guy has long arms and will hopefully be a good representative of his country and restore confidence in the NBA's foreign players.
DARKO?!
In case you didn't hear the news, the Knicks traded cash and Quentin Richardson to the Grizzlies for Darko Milicic. Tim Cowlishaw made an interesting point yesterday when he said "I'm still figuring out what happened to Quentin Richardson's career." I don't know why anyone would trade specifically for Darko. This trade just confuses me and there's no question that Memphis is on the better end of this deal.
Rumors
Amare has been the protagonist of many rumors lately. He knows that too, just check his twitter. He has been mentioned in rumors sending him to Golden State, but at this point, I don't think the Suns can afford to degrade their team further. Which leads me to...
Steve Nash is waiting to see how the organziation will conduct business this summer before making a decision about a contract extension. If I were Steve, I would let them know very clearly that I'm gone unless they can make amazing happen and surround me with the talent I deserve. But then again, I'm not Steve Nash.
Yahoo! Sports brought this to my attention and I think it's worth mentioning: There is the possiblity that Jason Kidd could head to New York (interest is mutual), Portland, or Cleveland. If he went to Cleveland, the Cavs would have a strong chance of winning a title with Kidd, Lebron, and Shaq. It seems that the point guard is always the glue in these scenarios.
Ed-Note: Soccer!
USA Soccer has never looked this good. Some are calling the semifinal win over Spain the greatest victory in US soccer history. While Jim Rome of ESPN may be burning on how this win isn't that significant, I strongly disagree. Spain had gone undefeated in their last 35 matches! They hadn't suffered a defeat since 2006. Team USA now has some global attention, but they have to finish the FIFA Confederations Cup with a win in the final game against Brazil.
Many gave them no shot at winning against Spain and they proved soccer/futbol fans wrong around the world. But before we get too excited, Brazil is probably the most fluid team in the world and their mesmerizing passes and speed make them one of the hardest teams to match up with. USA has to remember that if they can beat the #1 team in the world, they are capable of beating anybody. The main issue will be defense. If Tim Howard doesn't have to make miraculous saves and the defense does a good job of clearing out, USA will have a chance at winning the game. That said, the offense must show up and a spectacular performance from Donovan, Dempsey, and Altidore will be instrumental in a USA win. Make sure to root for these newfound underdogs tomorrow at 11 AM on ESPN. 
This offseason is unique for several reasons. Firstly, because this is when the preparations for next year's big moves begins. With the upcoming stardom of the 2010 free agency, it can be easy to overlook the wonders of 2009. Although, we shouldn't even get to the hype yet because only a few years ago we saw an interesting trade go through...
The Spurs have traded for Richard Jefferson? Really?! The guy has only been in Milwaukee for a year and the Bucks already whisked him away. He was averaging a steady 19.6 points this season and was shooting a career best 39.7% from behind the arc, according to NBA.com. What's more amusing, though, is not the Richard Jefferson point-of-view on this, but instead the Spurs' perspective. San Antonio recently saw their past successes basically get shot out the window with their silent but disappointing performance this year. Even without Manu Ginobli, they were no longer contenders as they had been for the better part of a decade. It was the Tony and Tim Show with three pointers here and there from Matt Bonner and occasional performances outside of the dynamic duo. Maybe the Spurs read my post about the formation and demoralization of dynasties. Maybe they read the posts of other sportswriters; maybe the media was finally getting through to management.
Or maybe the Texans just woke up and realized they were not going to have a chance at pursuing titles unless they upgrade the quality of their roster. My primary criticism of this deal is that the Spurs may have just given up too much. They lost a hard-nosed defensive presence in Bruce Bowen, a bulky but somewhat effective forward in Oberto (not kidding), and a veteran presence in Kurt Thomas. I think those three role players may account for much more than Richard Jefferson. But there's no anger on the Spurs' players. Tony Parker has called RJ "a great wing" and a team with Manu Ginobli, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and now Richard Jefferson would a devastating match-up for most opponents.
Local free agency here in Los Angeles has also been well-documented recently. The Lakers must make up a decision on whether to resign Odom, Ariza, and Brown. Odom was on the books for $14 mil and a pay cut is imminent no matter where he goes, but he did play especially well in his contract year (surprise, surprise). Despite his anger at the beginning of the year, he has proven to be an exceptional x-factor and was very helpful in the absence of Bynum. Many teams will be watching Ariza after his growth this season. Throughout his pro career, he really hadn't made a reputation for himself other than being renown for his athleticism. This year he proved he can defend the quickest forward on the opposing team in addition to driving and shooting. As for Brown, the young man really made a name for himself by scoring and dishing out assists the second he came off the bench. Instead of his focusing on his lack of minutes he made the most of what he got and impressed everybody watching in the process. Teams will be eyeing this guard and will probably sign him as a back-up, although I believe the Lakers will resign him.
We have also heard talk of Hedo Turkoglu's departure from Orlando after he turned down a contract extension. I'm not sure where Hedo will go or what system he'd best fit in just because he is such a unique player. Nevertheless, while I was watching ESPN, it may have been Around the Horn, the only respectable part of that franchise, I heard of a possibly move to Detroit and that sounds about right. The Pistons are missing that extra piece to tone down Iverson's firepower and allow the Motor City's talents to mesh. This will all surely leave a major void to fill for Orlando.
There is also another departure, and not of a player's but rather an entire team . We have heard talk for a few months now that the New Jersey Nets are relocating themselves to Brooklyn. Now, the Nets owner has been graciously awarded a delay on his arena payments and can kick back and relax. A professional sports team in Brooklyn will definitely have an immense cultural impact. For years to come, rappers will be rhyming about this new team in their hood. The league would be allocating athletic representation to a city who desperately needs it. For decades, Brooklyn has only been known as a poor city full of African-Americans and the celebrities who emerge from the area have all prided themselves on their rags-to-riches journey. What better way to show the NBA cares than to designate a team to such a deserving region?
And of course, the big thing on everyone's mind right now is the NBA Draft. For some teams, draft day will turn out to be a historic moment that turned around their franchise. For others, it may result in a bust and a horrible decision may cost them, literally cost them, for the next few years. And for some, like the Lakers, this draft shouldn't matter that much at the moment. But as usual, this year we have foreign (Ricky Rubio) and domestic (the Clippers and other disastrous teams) hype. Will Brandon Jennings break into the association with a bang? Will Stephen Curry make an immediate impact? Will Ricky Rubio be the next Darko Milicic? Who is Milenko Tepic? (I found his name under the 57th pick for Suns on NBADraft.net's mock draft. He's from Serbia =)
What I'm concerned about in this draft is the resurgence of the league's currently "bad" teams. I always use the Clippers in video games but for some reason they can never get themselves together during the season. When you have Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Sam Cassel, and Cuttino Mobley you have to keep going after a ring. Lottery picks haven't really uplifted this team either. It even angers me to list all the people the Clippers could have picked when they chose to go a different way. Hopefully, Blake Griffin will be able to contribute right away. As for the Grizzlies, my apologies to all Memphis fans. After the Pau Gasol "donation", you all were disgraced and in return, Ricky Rubio, the latest foreign sensation seems like he can help. I'm particularly interested in is the performance of Stephen Curry. Two years ago, he had Lebron rooting for him and he was truly the talk of the town. This year we didn't hear as much about him, but he's still feared. NBADraft.net has him going to Sactown, where hopefully he can turn things around.
Also, make sure to keep an eye on ballers from around the world making their way to the NBA, the world's most coveted pro basketball league. There's a lot of hype currently surrounding Brandon Jennings, but I believe he will take the initiative to acclimate to NBA play this summer and be ready to woo the world during the season. I am very excited to report that this year's draft features the possible styles of this year's draft may include Israel, Spain, Ukraine, Serbia, France, Sweden. My only worry is that these boys will not represent their countries well, which we have seen from international players quite often in the past. However, most of these prospects are projected to be selected in the second round in mock drafts - which isn't a good sign for their position in the actual draft. Rest assured, though, there are plenty of other talented, home-grown prospects to fill the void.
Don't expect too much drama outside of the draft during this offseason, and if some trades do go down it's ultimately to prepare for next year's extravaganza. Many teams are looking to go younger and free up cap space and don't be surprised if this doesn't turn out to be a blockbuster summer, because general managers are eagerly awaiting to evaluate their team in season play. I'm expecting several trades to happen throughout the course of the year after we realize how much potential each individual has. Until then, we await draft day.