July 1st: Grizzlies/Clippers Trade Review

THE TRADE:

To Los Angeles:
Quentin Richardson

To Memphis:
Zach Randolph

What it does for the Clippers:
The main purpose of the deal was to get rid of Randolph. He has a huge contract for the next two seasons. He is a solid player but has attitude problems. The Clippers also had a glut of big men so at least one had to go. Quentin Richardson comes back to the Clippers, he can score that is all.

What it does for the Grizzlies:
Memphis gets another big man to play along side Thabeet and Gasol. Unlike Thabeet and Gasol, Randolph can score. I wonder why the Grizz do this with Randolph's attitude and huge contract.

Winner of the Deal:
Los Angeles

Final Remark:
The deal Can't be done until next week supposedly.
Memphis makes another odd move but who really cares about Memphis. Great move for LA, they dump randolph and save over $7 million this year and over $17 million next year.

Ben Gordon/Charlie Villanueva Set to Sign with Detroit

Charlie Villanueva Ben Gordon

Well free agency started at midnight today and as expected the Pistons were big players. With nearly $20 million in projected salary cap room this summer the Pistons were in prime position to make a move. Joe D brought in former college teammates Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva today in hopes of convincing them that Detroit was a great basketball town. (Also, I'm sure the money helped)
Obviously, Dumars convince both players to wear the red, white, and blue next year. Gordon's deal is expected to be around $55 million over the next 5 seasons and Villanueva's deal will be around $40 million over the next 5 seasons. (More than I would've liked, such as the $35 million is said earlier)

Ben Gordon is a fantastic offensive player who can get to the basket and hits the three like few others. His defense can be suspect at times but we'll just have to wait and see. I like the move, Gordon is a young up and coming scorer and will bring a lot of offense to Detroit. His arrival in Detroit likely spells the end of Rip Hamilton's Piston career. I think we'll see a move in the next couple weeks where Hamilton gets traded for a center. (Kaman...?)

Charlie Villanueva is another very talented offensive player who is a great open court player at the power forward spot. He has three point range and is a strong finisher around the rim. His rebounding is not quite as good as you would like out of a player his size but that can be worked on. He still has a ton of potential at only 25 when the season starts. Villanueva is a perfect example of a Joe Dumars type signing. Under-appreciated (not given an offer by the Bucks, said to have been drafted too high) and given up on. (see Bucks, see Raptors) He is also one of those guys I really hated coming out of high school and then really loved in college and in the pros (probably because he decommited from Illinois and went to UCONN).

All in all I think these are two solid moves for Detroit. Sure it is a move toward a more offensive approach but we'll just have to wait and see.

FINAL NOTE: Sorry no draft stuff, formatting was terrible and took hours to get about a quarter of what I had.
Also, I can't wait for Alopecia wig night at the Palace next season

June 25th: Grizzlies/Knicks Trade Review

THE TRADE:

To New York:
Darko Milicic

To Memphis:
Quentin Richardson
Cash Considerations

What it does for the Knicks:
Word is head coach Mike D'Antoni really likes Darko. He feels that he would work really well in his running offense. Darko is capable of hitting a jumper or two. This move may also be to add some protection up front in the event that David Lee doesn't come back to New York next season.

What it does for the Grizzlies:
Memphis was another failed experiment on the on going Darko saga. Darko was relegated to a backup role after being beaten out for the power forward job by rookie Darrell Arthur last season. Richardson is past his prime at the ripe old age of 29 (not really old, more funny how far he has fallen since his days with Darius Miles in LA. Horns any one) but still has the ability to hit the three fairly well. (36.5% last year) Plus Memphis got some cash out of the deal and we all like money, especially if we are a failing franchise that should just be disbanded due to are ineptitude over our life. (That's right euthanize the Griz)

Winner of the Deal:
New York

Final Remark:
I only say that New York wins this deal because I actually think Darko could succeed in D'Antoni's system. He'll be able to play more the way he was accustom to back in Serbia (where he played just as much as he did as a piston). I'm probably wrong be it's possible

June 25th: Magic/Nets Trade Review

THE TRADE:

To New Jersey:
Tony Battie
Rafer Alston
Courtney Lee

To Orlando:
Vince Carter
Ryan Anderson

What it does for the Nets:
This is a huge money move for New Jersey. They dump Carter's huge contract that doesn't end until the summer of 2012. Along with the savings of $4.6 million this upcoming season they get a promising guard in Courtney Lee another point guard in Alston. Bringing in Alston is an interesting move here with Devin Harris already in the fold. Some people around the league are saying Harris might be available for the right price.

What it does for the Magic:
Orlando is coming off a very good season, making it to the NBA Finals and all. By adding Vinsanity the Magic are adding another star to their lineup. The deal would give Orlando an even more explosive offense next season if they can bring back Hedo Turkoglu. Alston, who had a solid post season in relief of injured guar Jameer Nelson, was expendible and likely had to be moved.

Winner of the Deal:
Both

Final Remark:
This move really sets up New Jersey for the summer of 2010 giving them $16.5 million more to spend. Also, the Nets save $41 million in whole. On Orlando's end, I wonder if the added salary Carter brings will affect the resigning of Hedo. Hmm?

June 25th: Lakers/Knicks Trade Review

FYI: I failed at my attempt at putting up a final Mock Draft. Internet went down last night while working on it, all was lost. Sorry.



THE TRADE:

To New York:
#29 Pick in 2009 Draft

To Los Angeles:
$3,000,000

What it does for the Knicks:
By acquiring a late first round selection the Knicks can add another player to their roster at a low cost, $830,200 cap hold this season to be exact. New York may be looking for a big like Josh Heytvelt or Jeff Pendergraph. Sources also have said they might look for a guard like Toney Douglas or Jack McClinton, whom the Knicks showed interest in while he was at Miami. I think what they do with the picks depends on who they end up with at #8

What it does for the Cavaliers:
It appears the Lakers must've not be really impressed with any one that might be available at #29. LA will be looking to resign Trevor Ariza, Lamar Odom, and Shannon Brown this off season so any extra money would be nice.(in this case $3.8 million extra) The Lakers were said to be looking at a possible guard replacement for aging pointman Derek Fisher. But with the strong play of Brown and Jordan Farmar this season they may go with what they already have.

Winner of the Deal:
Both

Final Remark:
Both New York and LA got what they wanted out of the deal. Everyone wins. YAY. (so far)

June 24th: Cavaliers/Suns Trade Review

THE TRADE:

To Phoenix:
#46 Pick in 2009 Draft
$500,000
Ben Wallace
Sasha Pavlovic

To Cleveland:
Shaquille O'Neal

What it does for the Suns:
It is widely known that over the past few years the Suns have been trying to cut salary and save some money. This deal for Phoenix was basically a salary dump. The Suns save $2.3 million as soon as the deal goes down. Then you factor in the fact that Pavlovic is only guaranteed $1.5 million next year. So if Phoenix buys him out they are at a savings of $3.8 million. Then consider the prospect that Ben Wallace retires, if that happens they could save even more with a buyout of his contract. And the topper too it all is that you can double what ever they save because they are over the luxury tax.

What it does for the Cavaliers:
This move was to provide a fill for the biggest hole Cleveland had during the Orlando series, interior defense. Shaq will provide someone who will be able to bang down low with the likes of Dwight Howard. Also this move gives LeBron James a serious interior scorer, though not like the Shaq of old, that the Cavaliers sorely lacked. The move is very low risk because O'Neal's contract is up at the end of the season. So if his tenure in Cleveland is anything like his in Phoenix the Cavaliers can wipe their hands clean next summer.

Winner of the Deal:
Cleveland

Final Remark:
This deal nearly went down at the trade deadline in February before Cleveland balked on it. Seems like this may be Cleveland's all out effort to impress LeBron before he becomes a free agent. Phoenix once again is just looking to cut costs for more profit, sad.

June 24th: Hawks/Warriors Trade Review

THE TRADE:

To Golden State:
Acie Law
Speedy Claxton

To Atlanta:
Jamal Crawford

What it does for the Warriors:
Head coach Don Nelson stated earlier this year his desire to trade Jamal Crawford if he were not to opt out of his contract. Nelson had an ongoing tiff with Crawford during the season and Nelson didn't see him in future plans. It has been know that the Warriors have been looking to add a point guard. They added two in this deal. The deal also will save Golden State at $2 million next season not including the insure that will pay for a good portion of, the injured guard, Speedy Claxton's contact. Oh yeah, and the Warriors were in need of point guards.

What it does for the Hawks:
The Hawks add a scoring guard with Crawford but also take on the remaining two years of his deal and $9.4 million he is owed this season. That cap figure could also hinder the ability for the Hawks to resign some of their free agents this summer. Mike Bibby and Marvin Williams are likely to be affected the most by the deal because the Hawks added nearly $2 million in payroll. Will the Hawks offer to Bibby be enough for him to resign with them? Will the Hawks be willing to match the offers Williams will get this summer? We shall see.

Winner of the Deal:
Golden State

Final Remark:
The deal is still pending because of the prospect that Crawford could opt of his contract after the deal is done. Likely the Warrior will have to get Crawford to sign a similar deal to what Etan Thomas signed yesterday to not opt out. Golden State dumps their cancer and Atlanta adds even more scoring.