Nitro

Hahahaha wow. Don't know what else to say.

In no way, shape or form is Rasheed a HoF player, but he had a GREAT career. He was an All-Star caliber player with superstar talent, and he always came up big when it counted. People always speak about how much potential offensively he had, while overlooking his incredible defense. Pairing him with Ben Wallace made the Pistons arguably the best defensive team in NBA history, and he did much of the same even at 35 years old with the Celtics.

It's not exactly easy to find a 25PPG player on solid shooting percentages across the board like Granger is in the draft. I agree it'd be best to just stick with the #3 pick (unless you can get a Chris Paul type talent via trade), but in all likelihood the Nets won't be getting a player the caliber of Granger in the draft.

I understand the Wizards need a veteran, but with his contract...eh. I don't know, I think I'm a bit biased in this trade because I feel that Hinrich is one of those PG's that plenty of contending teams could use to solidify their backcourt.

Great trade for both teams. Bulls are going to be a top 3 team in the league next year...all they really have to do is sign Bosh and plug any other holes with the impresive cap space they have, or go for it all and sign 2 big name FA's. Either way, Chicago's going to be elit next season. As for the Wizards...Hinrich is a nice player but unless the Wizards make some moves and become a playoff contending team, I don't think having a veteran role player with no untapped potential like Hinrich is worthwhile addition. He's a fantastic defender and good jumpshooter, but that's it (besides his relatively big contract and 0 upside). I like how they snatched the 17th pick, though. Who know, they might get lucky with that pick.

Pretty cool, probably gonna be the most impressive meet-and-greet James will have with any organization during this free agency. That first week of free agency is going to be absolutely insane. Can't wait.

It's a bad trade for NJ because they give up the #3. If it was Granger for Harris/Yi straight up, then it'd be a wash IMO. But giving up the chance to get Turner/Favors/Cousins/Johnson...eh.

The difference is Arenas gives you the flexibility of being able to play PG, giving Lewis the chance to get more time at SF (his natural position) and Gortat/Bass more minutes. Offensively, at this stage of his career, there is no question he will give the Magic a lot more than Carter did last season. And sure, the Celtics abused Carter defensively, but defense was not the issue in that series...Orlando not being able to find offense was. In that series the Celtics never scored over 96pts and never shot above 46.5% from the field. Where the Magic lost the series was not having a reliable go-to scorer. Even though Arenas had a down year last season from what we'are accustomed to seeing, but he still showed he can score. He started off the season horribly, but in his last 17 games he averaged 24.5PPG, dished 8APG and shot 43% from the floor, 36% from 3. Magic could use that firepower.

It's his only legit shot at winning a ring unless the Magic make some big moves. Eh, remember a few things, 1) Last year Carter had to go from being "the guy" in NJ to basically a glorified role player in a brand new system. After the ASG he shot 49% from the field and 43% from 3, showing his percentages were a bit of a fluke . And that was also in an offense that basically encourages players to get trigger happy with jumpers from mid-long range. In the triangle, I think he'd be able to get better looks and more oppertunities to attack the rim. 2) Carter wouldn't have to play 31MPG like he had to last year with the Magic, and his role would be much more managable. 3) Is he really, honestly worse than Farmar/Brown/Vujacic? Heck no, all are chuckers without a quarter of VC's talent. None of them give you as much flexibility and versatility as Carter gives you. 3) Key- He's an expiring contract.

Every year he plays this game, using his health as the primary fuel for retirement. I know he's had his health issues, and I'm sure they've only gotten worse over the years, but I think it'll take a LOT for Jackson to give up this new Lakers dynasty. And considering we've all heard this song and dance before, I'm assuming it'd be more likely for him to come back than call it quits.

Who cares if Carter chokes? You don't play Luke or Mbenga in clutch situations (maybe Luke on rare occasion), and you wouldn't need to play Carter either with the game on the line. Off the bench he could offer a few of the things the Lakers could really use...a player who can create his own shot extremely well, unlike Odom will shoulder the offensive responsibility when his team needs it, and he's also an exception jumpshooter from all ranges and has impressive court vision. Really, except for PG the Lakers don't NEED anything. And I know it might seem risky to add a player like Carter to the Lakers because many see him as a stat stuffer who doesn't have the intangibles that the Lakers could use (which is why Bell would be perfect), but watching him play here in NJ for a few seasons, I do think he could offer the Lakers a lot. Off the bench he'd be the offensive firepower the Lakers could definitely use.

Celtics aren't dumping Rondo. He's too young with too much potential. And if that trade did somehow happen, it certainly won't be for only 2 1st round picks.

I actually agree with STL10...from a basketball standpoint, Arenas would thrive in that offense. The nature of their offense would allow it so that Arenas' ill-timed jacks and 30ft 3's be acceptable, and his ability to create his own shot and carry the team if Howard's having a tough time would be so valuable. If he could tone things down just a bit and learn how to play a little better team ball, he'd be a near-perfect fit for the Magic. It would also help alleviate a lot of the chaos surrounding the Wizards right now. Getting rid of Arenas' contract and getting a nice expiring contract in Carter, along with giving Wall more freedom...I like it on the Wizard end as well.

Eh. If the Magic didn't want to take on Turk's oversized contract BEFORE last season, I highly doubt they will now. And Carter going back to Toronto? Yikes.

Assuming it's a girl (which I really think it is), I'd smash. And who the hell cares if she smokes? About 25% of the adult US population are smokers, and I'm sure that number is even higher from 16-25 year olds. If some of you are going to be really picky about things like that, you'll never get laid.

Skip doesn't play street-ball in the NBA. Trust me, I watched almost every game of his for 2.5 years...he's Derek Fisher with better defense, better handles, better passing, but is far worse in the clutch and equally disastrous FG%. He's a great backup because he's low TO prone and is very good at setting an offense up, but he'd give them too much of the same from what they get out of Fisher. Sp unless they got a 3rd PG with a entirely different style of play from those two, it wouldn't work out too well.

Are you KIDDING me? For a 6'7'', 210lbs player to average over 16RPG 5x in his career you have to outhustle every single player in the league. Rodman was one of the hardest working, hyper-active players on the defensive end and on the glass that the NBA has ever seen. As for the debate, give me Noah. Just a much better defender and slightly better rebounder. Neither will be primary offensive options, and neither are liabilities either, so defense/rebounding is the only area that really means a lot here.

The Celtics sure could have used Rondo's ability to score in the Finals but he was nowhere to be found. Do you honestly think Kobe would be able to play center-field against Chris Paul? Paul would have eaten him alive. Last year Paul shot 49% from the field (was over 50% pre-injury), 41% from 3 and 85% from the line, and his AST:TO ratio was a ridiculous 10.7:2.5 (Rondo was 9.8:3.0). Basically my point was just countering how highly some people think of Rondo, and how quickly people forget how incredible Paul is just because the Hornets had a down year and he was injured.

Because Paul is a top 5 player in the league who every year will give you over 20PPG, 11APG, nearly 3SPG and shoot over 50% from the field and almost never turn the ball over. I've been saying it since he came into the league, he's a once in a generation PG.

Spend some time when you get the chance to really listen to and absorb the lyrics. Recovery certainly is not at the level of either of Em's first 4 albums lyrically (by that I mean from Infinite-TES), and he has more songs on Recovery that are duds as opposed to those classics. However, a good portion of Recovery is very solid lyrically, a huge upgrade from most of Encore and Relapse. I agree with people when they say Em's songwriting skills have fallen off big, but his MC skills are still elite.

Bosh will never be able to be the centerpiece of a championship team...the last 20 years have been dominated basically by 5 players- Jordan (6 rings), Kobe (5), Shaq (4), Duncan (4), Hakeem (2). Only 2 seasons since '91 has the championship trophy not been raised by 1 of those 4. One was a perfect-storm type team in the '04 Pistons, and the other was a Celtics team with arguably 3 HoF players all in their prime. Shaq wasn't the best player of that '06 Heat team, but Wade played like an all-timer that Finals, and regardless you get my point. Knowing the history of the NBA's last 20 years (and we could go back even further, same pattern), is it realistic to believe that anyone BUT the top 3-4 players in the league have ANY shot of being the centerpiece of a championship team? No. Could Bosh be the centerpiece of a fringe contender over the next few seasons? Sure, and that is really the ceiling of 98% of NBA players. To him, that'd probably be an accomplishment, and when he enters his 30's then he can worry about winning a ring.

Relapse was trash. But lyrically Eminem is TIGHT on Recovery. What kind of kills the album for me is the production and guest appearances, and some also don't like the subject matter. But in terms of MC skills Em is still among the elite. I'd certainly put his rapping skills at this stage of his career above Jay's, but from an all-around musical standpoint Jay has his style on lock right now, Em does not. But if you listen to various freestyles and guest appearances on other songs, Em's skills are still sharp. It's his inability to mesh the tight lyrics from his verses with a great hook and beat that is the problem...IMO.

Eh that's not true. With Houston he was a very, very solid defensive player, and those Rockets' were always among the elite defensive teams in the league. The biggest issue with Rafer is the same issue as with Fisher...low percentage shooter except behind the 3pt line. He is terrific at setting offenses up, though, and would be a solid backup PG. Anyway, as for Bell, I think he'd be perfect for LA. Everyone knows how big he'd be for LA in the 3pt shooting department, but where I think he'd also help out is taking on offensive players that are too quick for Artest to handle. Artest has trouble with quicker players and fighting through screens, but Bell is terrific in both scenarios. Together they'd be a nightmare tandem (along with Kobe) for any of the elite offensive wings in the league.

Jackson plays this game every year. Everyone wants him back, the Lakers have a great shot at yet another three-peat, the roster will remain intact (if not upgraded)...I just have a gut feeling he knows deep down that it'd be a huge mistake for him to pass up possibly the last chance he'll ever get at winning another ring.

Assuming Salmon's is gone for sure, I don't mind this for the Bucks. I understand he's not the ideal player to add from a chemistry/balance standpoint, but without Salmons they desperately need a wing player that can create his own shot and score. Maggette certainly gives them that. The success of this trade will be determined by Michael Redd's health IMO. If he's healthy, the Bucks will have someone that can space the floor and unclog the lane for Maggette and Bogut. They would actually have a pretty dangerous starting lineup offensively, and Scott Skiles will find a way to make Maggette at least a solid body on defense. But if Redd's not healthy, this trade won't mean much for the Bucks.