5 NBA Trades That Could Change Contenders and Pretenders

As we approach the NBA trade deadline, there a few players that could be wearing different uniforms in a few weeks. General managers will have to evaluate their rosters and figure out a way to win the NBA Finals. Some teams will be looking for a player that could take them to the Finals this year. Other teams need to take a long hard look in the mirror and transition for the future. So I got to playing with ESPN NBA trade generator and this is what I came up with.


Boston Celtics trade Paul Pierce to Utah Jazz for Al Jefferson
This trade would be ironic, as it was Jefferson being traded to Minnesota for Kevin Garnett that made Boston's "Big Three" and eventual championship possible in the first place. With the news of Jared Sullinger now out for the year along with Rondo, the Celtics need to move toward the future.

Paul Pierce could fill two needs for the Jazz. One being the play maker on the wing the roster currently lacks. Secondly, Pierce would bring the most championship experience into Utah's locker room since Stockton and Malone.

The Celtics would be able to turn a 35 year old Paul Pierce into a 28 year old Al Jefferson. Jefferson could be the low post threat for the Rondo led Celtics for the next four to five years.



Utah Jazz trade Al Jefferson to Milwaukee Bucks for Brandon Jennings  
The Bucks could very well match a near max offer sheet this summer for Brandon Jennings. Making their four highest paid players Jennings, Monta Ellis, Ersan Ilyasova, and Drew Gooden. Does that seem like a championship contender? The clear answer is no, and the Bucks would be best served blowing the roster up and bottoming out. Taking the lead of the Thunder and find a true NBA star in the lottery and build young talent around that star. The Bucks need to find that star, and they won't find him being a middle of the road team as a seventh or eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

So they should package Jennings with Beno Udrih's expiring deal. Also, make the Jazz take Gooden and the two years and 13 million left on his deal. In exchange for Al Jefferson, Earl Watson's expiring deal, and a first round pick. This would allow the Bucks to let Jefferson walk this summer. Then, Monta Ellis would more than likely then opt out of the last year in his deal to avoid being a one man show. Bucks could then bottom out and hope they find their star in the lottery.

Brandon Jennings would represent the best play making wing player the Jazz have had since Deron Williams. The acquisition of Jennings would improve the Utah's offensive spacing, and team defense. As either Favors or Kanter would be a dramatic improvement over the slow footed Jefferson. Also, Jennings along with Favors, Kanter, and Heyward would be a solid foundation for the Jazz's future.

         

Los Angeles Lakers trade Dwight Howard to Washington Wizards for Bradley Beal
The Lakers blew a 13 point lead in the fourth quarter to the Suns and more than likely blew a shot at the playoffs along with it. Lakers had a 34% of making the playoffs before Suns game, 23% after the loss. With only 36 games left the five games they trail the Jazz might be too large to overcome. If the Lakers don't make the playoffs Howard will surely leave this summer via free agency. So the Lakers should get what they can for him now.

The Wizards despite the promise shown by Bradley Beal can't afford not to take a chance on Dwight Howard. The have never had a player of Dwight ability in their franchise's history. And in a city run by RGIII and the Redskins it might give Dwight breathing room, the kind he lacks from the media scrutiny of playing in LA.

The Lakers would be able to acquire a two lottery talents in Beal and Jan Vesely. Important as seeing they won't have their lottery pick this year due to the Steve Nash trade. Also Emeka Okafor contract comes off the books next year and won't interfere with Jim Buss' plans of making a run at Lebron after 2014.




Los Angeles Lakers trade Dwight Howard to Atlanta Hawks for Al Horford
A popular trade rumor these last few weeks Howard for the Hawk's Al Horford and Kyle Korver. It would return Howard to his hometown of Atlanta, to play alongside long time buddy Josh Smith. The Lakers would be able to turn a disgruntled Howard into Horford a fringe All Star PF and Korver as good a shooter as there is in the NBA. Horford is also in a favorable deal with three years at 12 million per year left on his contract.



Chicago Bulls trade Rip Hamilton To Orlando Magic for JJ Reddick
The Bulls already like JJ Reddick, they signed to the offer sheet that the Magic match three years ago. Bringing in JJ Reddick would give them the elite outside shooter to help the offensive spacing when Derrick Rose returns. All the Bulls would have to give up is Rip Hamilton, bench warmers Nazr Mohammed and Vladamir Radmanovic for cap purposes and a first round pick for the Magic's troubles. The Magic get to turn JJ Reddick, a player they will almost certinitly let walk this summer, into a first round pick.

Super Bowl or Harbowl? Who Wins and Why?

Deer antler spray anyone?

Super Bowl week always brings unexpected stories such as this one, but what were the odds the most talked about story would be about deer antler spray? A billion to one? As the weekend approaches and the players spend their time in hotels and not in front of TV cameras, the attention becomes refocused on the game itself.



The Ravens rode the momentum of Ray Lewis' emotional final season and the big arm of Joe Flacco all the way to New Orleans. The defense has made key halftime adjustments each of their last two games vs. the Broncos and Patriots, that spurred the Ravens to come from behind victories. The offensive line has looked better in the playoffs than it has at any point during the regular season. Joe Flacco has had arguably the greatest three game stretch of his career. Flacco has passed for 853 yards, eight touchdowns, and zero interceptions during these playoffs. Validating his self assessment that he was one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

Prior to this season, most people if told the 49ers would make the Super Bowl, would be inclined to think that the 49ers defense would be the main reason for the 49ers Super Bowl appearance. Yet, most people didn't even know Colin Kaepernick existed, let alone be the second biggest star this week next to Ray Lewis. Kaepernick has shown in victories of the Packers and Falcons, why Jim Harbaugh gave him the starting job over Alex Smith who was leading the NFL in completion percentage at the time. Kaepernick provides a game changing quality at the quarterback position that can only be rivaled by Robert Griffin III.



As would be expected when two teams are coached by brothers, they become very similar in approach and identity. The deciding factor in this game will be 49ers offensive line vs the Ravens front seven. If the Ravens give up huge chunks of yardage in the running game like they have this season they will have no shot of beating the 49ers. The 49ers feature the best offensive line the Ravens will have seen this year, sometimes putting six and seven offensive lineman on the field at once. If the Ravens slide eight in the box to stop the run they leave one on one coverage on the outside, coverage that Kaepernick has shown he can shred. The Ravens must pick their poison with these Kaerpenick led 49ers. Problem for the Ravens is both choices are deadly.

Ray Lewis' last ride ends in New Orleans like he planned. It just ends with the 49ers going home with the Lombardi trophy.

THE PICK 49ers (-4) over Ravens: 31-20  

Can The Lakers Actually Make The Playoffs?

The Lakers won their third game in a row Tuesday over the New Orleans Pelicans. (Mine as well get used to calling them the Pelicans and to all the haters is the Hornets much better?) The Lakers have clearly shown a philosophic change in their wins over Pistons, Thunder, and Pelicans. They have shown a slowed down pace that is beneficial for this veteran roster. Kobe Bryant has taking over the reigns as the main orchestrator of the offense from Steve Nash. Kobe has had 39 assists during this three game winning streak. The most he's ever had over three games in any point of his career. Steve Nash one of the greatest shooters of all time is playing efficient off the ball in his shooting guard role. Paul Gasol is starting to resemble the player that gave Team USA all it could handle this summer in London. And Dwight Howard who I bashed as early as last week has looked more emotionally committed and has kept his public comments this past week team oriented. So can the Lakers actually make the playoffs?

 

With the Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Grizzlies, Warriors, and Nuggets all but locks for the playoffs. That would leave the Rockets, Trail Blazers, and Jazz to battle it out with the Lakers for the remaining two playoff spots. Currently the Rockets and Jazz are in the lead with same winning percentage with records of 25-22 and 24-21 respectively. The Trail Blazers sit at 23-22 in ninth in the conference. That leaves the Lakers currently four games out of a playoff spot at 20-25.

When you take a look at the schedules the Lakers will have to play 21 road games as opposed to 16 home games the rest of the way. Their road games begin with their seven game trip starting tomorrow in Phoenix against the Suns. If the Lakers want any shot at making the playoffs they really need to go 5-2 on this road trip. The Trail Blazers have to play three more times on the road than at home in the Rose Garden. The Rockets have an equal number of home road games and the Jazz have the easiest route as they will have four more home games than road the rest of the season. Strength of schedule wise, the Rockets have the toughest road remaining with more games left against the premier teams than any of the four. The Jazz mean while not only have more home dates than any of the four, but also have the easiest slate ahead of them as well.

 

The Trail Blazers have gotten superb play from rookie Damian Lillard who is on his way to Rookie of the Year honors. He has shown the poise and explosiveness that could one day make him an All Star in the NBA. Speaking of All Stars LaMarcus Aldridge was named to the team for his second time this year, even though I feel Marc Gasol was a much more deserving candidate this year. While they have also had better than expected years from Nicholas Batum and JJ Hickson, I feel that they are still need a year more of Lillard progression to his game before making the playoffs.

The Jazz's outstanding front court talent and depth has been the main reason for their success this season. Al Jefferson is averaging 17 PPG and 9.6 RPG this season. Paul Millsap has played well starting all 45 games for the Jazz at power forward this year. Then there's the young and talented Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter who both look ready for more minutes than the Jazz can currently provide. They could use some of that depth to acquire a play making wing player as the Jazz's roster is currently devoid of one. They are currently starting Jamaal Tinsley, Randy Foye, and Marvin Williams. How any of those players are starting in the NBA let alone all three together is just astonishing.

The Rockets have been as exciting as any team to watch this season with James Harden showing he is worth every bit of the 80 million dollar extension the Rockets signed him too after acquiring the Olympian from the Thunder. Omer Asik acquired this summer from the Bulls has shown he can flourish as starter and dominant rebounder is the NBA. Also have had good years turned in by Marcus Morris, Jeremy Lin, and Chandler Parsons. The Rockets problem is they don't offer much depth after those five which could be a problem as the season winds down and the grind of an 82 game schedule begins to take its toll.

 

The Lakers clearly have the superior talent of the four teams but also have the most ground to make up. With Kobe becoming the main facilitator of the offense with his pass first approach the Lakers look much more cohesive and explosive. The Trail Blazers despite having ROY Damian Lillard are still at least a year away from the playoffs. Despite front court depth and favorable schedule, lack of offensive creator on wing will haunt Jazz in late game situations. So, Yes the Lakers will make the playoffs as the eighth seed with the Rockets taking the seventh seed. It's an uphill battle the rest of the way but I just don't see the Jazz or Trail Blazers keeping these Kobe pass first Lakers from the playoffs.

Where Could Alex Smith End Up Next Year?

So we have one of those rare Super Bowl weeks where not two quarterbacks are regularly covered but three quarterbacks are. Here the Alex Smith story is one of the 5 biggest story lines at Superbowl week including: two brother coaches, Ray Lewis' last game, Kaepernick's meteoric rise, and Obama's football safety remarks. And unless Kaepernick suffers some injury or the 49ers blow out the Ravens and Harbaugh gives Smith a series late. The next time that Alex Smith will play on in a NFL game won't be until the coming season. So unless one of the QB desperate teams just has to have Smith and pulls the trigger on a trade, he will more than likely be cut prior to the March 14th deadline where the 49ers would have to pay 1 million as opposed to 3 million to cut him after March 14th. So where will Alex Smith end up?



There are nine teams with QB situations that could spur them to make a change this off-season. Those nine teams are the Cardinals, Vikings, Browns, Raiders, Chiefs, Jets, Bills, Titans, are Jaguars. Now of those teams I don't see Bills making a change from Fitzpatrick to Smith when they have so much money committed already to a game manager type QB. Jets are too cap stricken to sign him outright and need to improve all over the field to trade picks for Smith. Titans I feel would prefer to give the young Jake Locker more time over bringing in Smith. Same situation with the playoff Vikings and their young starter in Christian Ponder. And the Raiders want a homegrown QB they're tired of QB retreads like Carson Palmer and Smith. So that leaves the Cardinals, Browns, Chiefs, and Jaguars as the likely spots Alex Smith could be starting next season.

If Alex Smith is the vindictive and revenge type, the fuck you destination of quarterback desperate teams would be the Arizona Cardinals. He would be able to face division opponent San Fran twice a year. What better way to prove that your to better QB over Kap, if he believes so, then go to a division rival. (clearly Kap is the better QB) He would have weapons in Larry Fitzgerald and Malcolm Floyd to throw to. But the Cardinals had the worst O-Line in football this year and Smith is a game manager not game changer. He would also have to face the Seahawks and upstart Rams 4 times a year, as the NFC West is arguably the NFL deepest division.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have overhauled the front office and have former Seahawks defensive Gus Bradley as their new coach. Blaine Gabbert has only ever looked good in shorts and a t-shirt during combine workouts. Chad Henne in his five years in the league has yet to throw more TD than INT in a season. The AFC South is home to the Texans and Colts who both made the playoffs this year and the Titans certainly aren't the NFL's doormat team. So if Bradley liked what he saw in Smith in his four years in Seattle and thinks he can with him. Then he should look no further then his predecessor's one year existence as evidence that winning is what matters.



The Cleveland Browns have similarly cleaned house with Mike Holmgren's departure. Mike Lombardi and Rob Chudzinski lead the way and I can't see them tying their success to a 29 year old second year player Brandon Weeden who was a poltergeist in a season of young QBs. The Browns have some pieces in a decent O-line based around LT Joe Thomas and last years 3rd overall pick Trent Richardson at RB. Yet the AFC North is the deepest division in the AFC and the Browns are clearly the whipping boy of the division. The Ravens are in the Super Bowl, Bengals made the playoffs for the second year in a row behind the young passing tandem of Dalton and Green, and the Steelers still have two time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger. Making a brutal six games on the schedule each season.

Kansas City to me is the most logical landing place for Smith. They have the number one overall pick in an unusually down year for quarterbacks. New head coach Andy Reid is known for bring out the best in a variety of quarterbacks. The Chiefs despite their league worst 2-14 record still featured five Pro Bowlers. An above average O-line and solid running game with Jamal Charles to aid in play action passing game. The Chiefs play in the worse division of the four possible landed spots for Smith. Sure Manning and the Broncos are there but the Raiders and Chargers provide four winnable games a year. The Chiefs provide the best complement of talent and winnable schedule that could prove favorable for Alex Smith.



So next September Alex Smith will be wearing another uniform. The revenge destination is the Arizona Cardinals and sensible locations in Cleveland and Jacksonville. But Alex Smith's quickest route back to the playoffs is in Kansas City. And the playoffs is where true redemption is earned.

Hi I'm Tim Duncan from the San Antonio Spurs Remember Us?

Over the last 20 years we've had several organizations stake their claim to dynasty status. The Chicago Bulls, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, and New England Patriots have all established themselves in that illustrious group. Only one team if its even possible became a dynasty quietly. And only one player in any sport became the greatest ever to play their position quietly. Even so that just what San Antonio Spurs and Tim Duncan accomplished, they climbed up to the rarest of air quietly.

Were half way through the season and once again the spotlight has been many places this season but it hasn't been seen in San Antonio. The most attention the Spurs have recieved was when David Stern fined the organization 250,000 because Gregg Popovich sent Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Danny Green prior to the team's nationally televised game in Miami. Other than that the national attention has been on the Thunder, Heat, Knicks, Clippers, and Lakers this season. 

But here the Spurs are with an NBA best record of 36-11.Tim Duncan is turning back the clock posting a 24.93 PER across 30 MPG. Tony Parker just received Western Conference Player of the Week and is playing as well as any point guard in the league this season. Prior though talking heads gave more focus to the play of New York Knicks backup point Jason Kidd then to Parker's. Manu Ginobili has played in 39 of the Spurs 47 games this season and Popovich has kept him below 24 MPG as to protect his oft injured star's playoff effectiveness.

No coach or organization managers the rigors of an 82 game schedule like the Spurs. They have had 13 players appear in at least 30 games this season. With players such as Tiago Splitter, Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Stephen Jackson, and Boris Diaw the Spurs boast the deepest team in the league. Yet the Clippers bench is the one that receives the national acclaim this season. This is the same Clippers team that got swept at the hands of the Spurs in the Western Conference Semis last year. 

Everyone seems to forget the 20 game wining streak the Spurs carried into game three of the Western Conference Finals last year. Then the Thunder won 4 straight games that each came down to the waning seconds before being decided. The much larger Thabo Sefolosha being assigned to Parker prior to game three was the turning point in the series. It allowed the Thunder to curb Spurs potent offensive attack enough to prevail as Western champs. It just feels as if people have already made travel plans for LA and OKC for the Western Finals this year.

The Spurs have the best coach in the league in Gregg Popovich. There getting a Renaissance year from Tim Duncan. Tony Parker is have arguably his best year he has ever had. Ginobili has stayed healthy and effective this year with flashes of brilliance. No team has a deeper or more quality bench. You can go ahead and book those flight for LA and OKC. Write in the Thunder to repeat as Western champs with ink. But don't be surprised if you see Pop, Duncan, and the Spurs do a little more writing in the tale of quietest dynasty of the 21st century. Don't be surprised if you see the Spurs hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy this June.

Hey Celtics the NBA Is No Place For Sentimentality

The Celtics lost Rajon Rondo for the rest of the season on Sunday, when it was discovered he tore his ACL at some point during Fridays game with the Hawks. Despite this news Paul Peirce and Kevin Garnett led the Celtics to a gritty double overtime victory over the Miami Heat in Ray Allen's return to Boston. After the game Doc Rivers said in response to Rondo's knee injury, "We'll find someone that's already in our locker room who will step up, You can write the obituary, but I'm not. We're going nowhere." Yet that's exactly what I'm doing. The Celtics have no shot to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy this June. Not without Rondo who earned his first All Star start this season and has clearly become the Celtics best and most important player. 

Who is this player or players Doc says will step up to fill the Rondo void. Jason Terry? Terry has looked old and slow this year. Even in his prime Jet never flew like Rondo. Avery Bradley? An absolute nuisance on the wing on the defensive side of the ball, but struggles to hit open shots and not much of a creator. Courtney Lee? He is a player best coming off bench to provide solid D and corner threes. Jeff Green? Played solid D on Lebron Sunday but is non existent on offensive side of ball. When I look at the Celtics roster I see a team that is headed to swiftly losing in the first round if they even make the playoffs at all. 

Now the Celtics are an average NBA team and they're old on top of it. They find themselves in the NBA wasteland too good for the lottery and too shitty to really challenge for the title. Now people will say Garnett, Peirce, Rivers, and wisdom are enough to challenge the Heat, Knicks, Bulls, and Pacers in the East. Yet all those teams are considerably younger, bigger, and quicker than the Celtics. Boston should stash some TNT in the locker room and blow this roster up. 

Do the Celtics really want to keep Garnett and Pierce around just because they can't envision them in another team's uniform? Do they really want to honor the 08 title so much as to sacrifice a shot at the next 5 championships. Now Garnett and Pierce can still contribute to a title contender over the next year or two. But there won't be a title contender in Boston in that time frame. That's why Danny Ainge and the Celtics should use Rondo's injury as the catalyst to transition to the future. 

They should trade not one but both Garnett and Pierce for the best haul of young players, draft picks, and cap space they can get from contenders looking to push their rosters over the top before next February trade deadline. Using the rest of the season to position themselves as best as possible in the lottery and evaluate talent on roster. Then next year Rondo can return to a younger team with a lottery pick player, Sullinger, and the others brought in on the trades. Use the cap space to make a run at a player like Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Rudy Gay, Demarcus Cousins, or Josh Smith over the next two years. 

 

The Celtics have had a great run over the last five years and should always remember the "Big 3" fondly. But should use Garnett and Pierce's trade value to improve their championship window over the next decade. Move them now before father time ruins their value. Don't keep them around to use as nails to close that championship window. They should heed the advice of Thomas Jefferson, "I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past". So, hurry up Celtics the clock is ticking.

Was Derrick Rose's Absence A Good Thing For The Chicago Bulls?

Since the end of last season there have been a plethora of story lines in the NBA atmosphere. Beginning with the coronation of Lebron James as king of the basketball world after his MVP, Finals championship, and Olympic gold medal. Then it was the Lakers winning the off season with acquisitions of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Next you had the Thunder trade Olympian James Harden to Houston for financial concerns. Immediately there after we had James Harden begin his Rockets career doing his best Isiah Thomas impersonation. We had the Knicks and Carmelo's red hot start. Followed by the Honey Nut Cheerios incident. And nothing has been as captivating as the Titanic level of the Lakers failure this year. Yet none of this story lines will be as important to shaping this and future playoffs such as extended absence of Derrick Rose due to a torn ACL.



I know it's a tough to wrap your head how Derrick Rose's injury could be a good thing. I know it sounds silly to agree with addition by subtraction especially when that subtraction is your MVP point guard. Yet this was something from the old adage what doesn't kill you will make you stronger. This extended absence has allowed the rest of the team to take initiative on the offense side of the ball.

Now last year's playoffs came to a screeching halt at the end of game one when Derrick Rose fell to United Center floor writhing in pain. But the year before the Bulls season came to a screeching halt when confronted with the Miami Heats suffocating D in the Eastern Conference Finals. The Heat were able to nullify most of Derrick Rose effectiveness and there was no one else who could meaningfully contribute on the offense side of the ball when the stakes got highest. The end result was the Bulls going home in 5 quick games. Not Carlos Boozer who they brought in from Utah to help ease the offensive burden on Rose's shoulders. Not the two time national champion from Florida, Joakim Noah. Nor Luol Deng who had made great strides  during the regular season but still wasn't ready to carry a team offensively for stretches in the post season. When faced with the intense Miami defense the entire Chicago Bulls roster came up short.



So that's why Derrick Rose's absence has been so important this year. It has forced Boozer, Deng, and Noah to each at times learn how to be comfortable and efficient with being the focal point of a NBA offense. Boozer after a sluggish start this season he has played at an All-Star level the last 2 months averaging 20 and 10 over that time. Deng who achieved his second All-Star appearance this year has made great strides with his shot selection as his threes have gone down from 4 a game last two years to just 2.7 this year. His field goal percentage has risen from .414 last year to .442 this year and scoring over 2 more points per game than last year. This is all a by product of attacking the rim more often than in previous seasons. Yet no one has come further in Rose's absence than Joakim Noah who earned his first All Star appearance. A player who was known for energy, rebounding, and defense coming into this season has blossomed this season. Noah is averaging career highs in points, assists, blocks, steals, ft %, shots attempted, minutes played, and tied for career high in rebounds.



With nothing but positive updates coming from Derrick Rose's rehab and return date sometime after All Star weekend. He will be returning to a team much more formidable than the one he left in pain last playoffs. The emergence of Noah, the return to Utah form of Carlos Boozer, and the more aggressive offense of Deng. The progress of the team as a whole on the offensive side of the ball will lead to a much deadlier attack when the postseason rolls around and not just this year but for years to come.