Offical 2009-10 NBA Season Thread

[al3xis]

Its not like we talking Deron Williams when we talk about Russy.
no, but Eric Maynor will be no reason to think about trading him.

 

[blazers21ntnp]

[h1][/h1]

[h1]Nuggets offer Karl contract extension[/h1]
By Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post


Posted: 12/23/2009 08:21:04 AM MST

Updated: 12/23/2009 09:29:15 AM MST

Steps are being made for the Nuggets to lock down coach George Karl for the next three years. Karl has been offered a contract extension worth around $11 million, a source confirmed this morning.

Karl, who is 244-152 with the Nuggets, is currently in the last year of his contract.

The coach of the Nuggets (19-9) has said he wants to be in Denver for a while. There are still semantics being worked out in the contract, the third contractual year has not yet been guaranteed, sources said.

Tonight, Karl faces another 19-win team coached by a guy in the last year of his contract - Atlanta and Mike Woodson.

Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or [email protected]

 

[bhzmafia14]

double

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by BangDak

If it was just gasol and lee though, that would have worked nicely though.


Maynor isnt ready to run a team YET. in 2 years man.

Rebounding wise, yes Lee would have worked. Offensively, he wouldn't have. His offensive game is not on the level of Z-Bo. Therefore, there would be nodouble teams down low in the paint opening things up for OJ and Rudy. That's what makes the team so effective right now.

RW wasn't ready to run a team when he came into the league, but he was put in a position to do so. I'm not saying Maynor will take his position thisseason or something, but its something to look out for.

Maybe I just like Maynor too much. I don't think its fair to call him a backup already and he hasn't proven himself yet like some other PG's in hisclass so far.

 

[CP1708]

Originally Posted by Blazers21NTNP

[h1][/h1]

[h1]Nuggets offer Karl contract extension
[/h1]
Steps are being made for the Nuggets to lock down coach George Karl for the next three years.

Outstanding news for Laker fans.

 

[westcoastsfinest]

Originally Posted by Menacin Methods

regarding that karl extension?...why?...i really dont think he deserves it but thats just my opinion

 

[airmaxpenny1]

Westbrook>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Maynor. It's not close.

 

[dman14]

von wafer fails his physical with the rockets, they signed mike harris instead
i think von was coming off back surgery, dude had to pay like a million to get out that contract

http://www.chron.com/disp...orts/bk/bkn/6784655.html

[h1]Rockets sign Harris after Wafer fails physical[/h1] [h3]By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle[/h3] [h4]Dec. 23, 2009, 1:06PM[/h4]

http://www.chron.com/photos/2008/10/07/19721415/260xStory.jpg

[h6]Nick de la Torre Chronicle[/h6]
Former Rice forward Mike Harris is back for another tour with the Rockets.

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Video by Adam Ariganello June 26, 2009.Morey on Rockets' draft picks, houston sports,nba,chron.com,rockets,sports,houston,chronicle sports, General manager Daryl Morey talks about the Rockets' second round draft picks Jermaine Taylor, Sergio Llull and Chase Budinger. Video by Jared Barnes. June 26, 2009.Rockets fans talk NBA draft and Yao Ming, sports,basketball,nba,chronicle sports,houston sports,chron.com,nba draft,fans,rockets,houston,house of blues,yao ming, Fans talk about the first round of the NBA draft, the Yao Ming injury news and next year's expectations. Video by Jared Barnes. June 26, 2009.Rockets 2009 draft preview, chron.com,nba,chronicle sports,rockets,houston sports,sports,houston, The Rockets don't have a pick in the first round but Anna-Megan Raley and Jonathan Feigen talk about the draft and what the team might do. Video by Adam Ariganello, June 24, 2009.Rockets hungry for more success, sports,nba,chronicle sports,chron.com,houston,houston sports,basketball,rockets, Rockets Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks and Carl Landry talk about how their successful season left them hungry for more. Video by Jared Barnes. May 19, 2009.Rockets brain trust not quite satisfied, houston sports,chron.com,houston,nba,sports,Rick Adelman,chronicle sports,Daryl Morey,rockets,leslie alexander, Owner Leslie Alexander, GM Daryl Morey and head coach Rick Adelman are proud of this year's Rockets, but will be looking to improve the team in the offseason. Video by Jared Barnes. May 19, 2009.Final Rockets Talk, houston,chron.com,sports,nba,houston sports,basketball,rockets,chronicle sports, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley recap the Rockets' season and look forward to possible offseason transactions. Video by Jared Barnes. May 19, 2009.Rockets-Lakers Game 7 Extra, houston sports,rockets,chronicle sports,chron.com,sports,houston, The Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen and the Los Angeles Times' Mike Bresnahan break down L.A.'s 89-70 win at Staples Center. Video by the Los Angeles Times. May 17, 2009.Texans coach on OTAs and Rockets, chronicle sports,Texans,houston,rockets,houston sports,chron.com,sports, Gary Kubiak talks about not having his draft pick at OTAs and Oliver Luck and Kubiak talk about the Rockets. Video by Adam Ariganello May 15, 2009.Rockets Talk, houston,nba,chronicle sports,rockets,chron.com,basketball,sports,houston sports, Jonathan Feigen and Jerome Solomon get you ready for Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals between the Rockets and the Lakers. Video by Jared Barnes. 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April 29, 2009.Rockets-Blazers Game 6 preview, sports,nba,Blazers,chronicle sports,houston sports,chron.com,houston,rockets, Jerome Solomon and Joseph Duarte discuss which team has the most pressure to win Thursday and how that impacts Yao Ming and Ron Artest. Houston leads the series 3-2. Video by Jared Barnes. April 29, 2009.Game 5: Rockets fall to Blazers, sports,The Oregonian,houston chronicle,Jonathan Feigen,rockets,jason quick, The Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen and The Oregonian's Jason Quick break down the Trail Blazers' 88-77 win in Portland on Tuesday. Video by Joel Odom/ The Oregonian. April 28, 2009.Rockets Game 4 Extra, houston,houston sports,sports,basketball,rockets,Blazers,nba,chronicle sports,chron.com, Columnists Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle and John Canzano of the Oregonian discuss Houston's 89-88 Game 4 win over Portland. Video by Jared Barnes. April 27, 2009. Rockets beat Blazers, houston sports,sports,chron.com,nba,houston,Blazers,chronicle sports,rockets,basketball, Go inside the locker room for all the interviews after Houston's 89-88 Game 4 victory over Portland. Video by Jared Barnes. April 27, 2009.Rockets Talk, chron.com,basketball,Blazers,rockets,chronicle sports,nba,houston sports,sports,jason quick,oregonian,houston, The Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen and the Oregonian's Jason Quick break down Houston's 89-88 Game 4 win. Video by Jared Barnes. April 27, 2009.Rockets fans at Game 4, houston sports,chronicle sports,Portland Trailblazers,houston,sports,rockets,Houston Rockets,chron.com,basketball,nba, Chron.com asks fans if the Rockets will make it out of the first round following Sunday's 89-88 win over Portland. Video by Chris Elliott. April 26, 2009.Rockets Game 3 Extra, houston chronicle,richard justice; jon canzano,rockets,sports,oregonian, Columnists Richard Justice, of the Houston Chronicle, and John Canzano, of the Oregonian, discuss Houston's 86-83 Game 3 win over Portland. Video by Jared Barnes. April 24, 2009. Rockets Talk, nba,Jonathan Feigen,houston chronicle,sports,jason quick,rockets,NBA Playoffs,Trail Blazers, The Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen and the Oregonian's Jason Quick break down Houston's 86-83 Game 3 win. Video by Jared Barnes. April 24, 2009.Rockets beat Blazers, Trail Blazers,rockets,houston chronicle,sports,NBA Playoffs, Go inside the locker room for all the postgame interviews after Houston's 86-83 Game 3 victory over Portland. Video by Jared Barnes. April 24, 2009.Rockets get ready for Game 3, rockets,chronicle sports,yao ming,Blazers,sports,Luis Scola,basketball,Shane Battier,houston sports,nba,von wafer,chron.com,houston,Rick Adelman, Coach Rick Adelman and players Luis Scola, Von Wafer, Shane Battier and Yao Ming talk about the Blazers and coming home to play at Toyota Center. Video by Jared Barnes. April 23, 2009.Mutombo press conference, sports,nba,houston sports,houston,rockets,chron.com,chronicle sports,mutombo,deke, Dikembe Mutombo talks about his injury, retirement and his future with the Rockets' organization. Video by Jared Barnes. April 23, 2009.Feigen talks Mutombo, mutombo,houston,deke,chronicle sports,rockets,Feigen,chron.com,sports,nba,houston sports, Rockets beat writer Jonathan Feigen talks about some of the great things Dikembe Mutombo has done and what he meant to the Rockets. Video by Jared Barnes. April 23, 2009.Rockets fall to Blazers, sports,jason quick,rockets,oregonian,Trail Blazers,houston chronicle, The Chronicle's Jonathan Feigen and the Oregonian's Jason Quick break down Portland's 107-103 Game 2 win, Dikembe Mutombo's injury and where the series goes from here. Video by Joel Odom/ the Oregonian. April 21, 2009.Rockets fans at viewing party, sports,rockets,chronicle sports,houston,basketball,red rowdies,houston sports,Houston Rockets,chron.com,nba, With the series tied at 1-1, the Red Rowdies speak for the Rockets fans on first-round predictions and X-factors. Video by Chris Elliott. April 22, 2009.Adelman finishes 2nd for coaching award, Rick Adelman,chron.com,Shane Battier,houston,houston sports,rockets,nba,sports,chronicle sports, Rockets coach Rick Adelman reacts to nearly garnering the NBA's top coaching honor. Player Shane Battier and General Manager Daryl Morey also weigh in. Photos by Chronicle Staff. Audio by Richard Justice. April 20, 2009.Solomon's keys to the series, chron.com,chronicle sports,rockets,nba,houston sports,Portland Trailblazers,Houston Rockets,sports,basketball,sports chron.com,houston, The Rockets must get superb point guard play from Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry if they plan to advance. Video by Chris Elliott. April 16, 2009.Rockets Talk, sports,chron.com,chronicle sports,rockets,nba,houston sports,houston, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley discuss the Rockets' 86-66 win over the Hornets and possible first-round playoff opponents. Video by Jared Barnes. April 14, 2009.Rockets beat Hornets, rockets,houston sports,chron.com,sports,houston,nba,chronicle sports, Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming, Shane Battier and Luis Scola talk about how defense was the key to beating New Orleans 88-66. Video by Jared Barnes. April 13, 2009.Rockets beat the Magic, houston sports,chron.com,sports,rockets,magic,houston,nba,chronicle sports, Yao Ming, Shane Battier and Carl Landry talk about the Rockets' 93-83 win over the Magic. Video by Jared Barnes. April 8, 2009.Rockets Talk, nba,chronicle sports,basketball,houston,chron.com,sports,rockets,houston sports, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley talk about the Rockets'102-88 win over the Blazers. Video by Jared Barnes. April 4, 2009.Rockets beat Blazers, chron.com,sports,houston,nba,basketball,rockets,houston sports,chronicle sports, Kyle Lowry, Yao Ming, Aaron Brooks and Von Wafer talk about the Rockets' 102-88 win over the Blazers. Video by Jared Barnes. April 4, 2009.Rockets play backyard ball, sports,rockets, The Stafford family of Lisa English plays basketball with Rockets Shane Battier and Carl Landry after winning the Direct Energy Driveway Challenge. Video Johnny Hanson, edit Jeremy Carter. March 30, 2009.Rockets blow out Clippers, chronicle sports,nba,houston sports,houston,chron.com,sports,basketball,rockets, Players Yao Ming, Shane Battier, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola and Ron Artest talk about their 110-93 drubbing of the Clippers. Video by Jared Barnes. March 28, 2009.Rockets Talk, sports,basketball,houston sports,chron.com,chronicle sports,rockets,houston,nba, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley talk about the Rockets' 110-93 win over the Clippers. Video by Jared Barnes. March 28, 2009.Drexler, Worrell on who's greatest Rocket, houston sports,houston,chron.com,basketball,chronicle sports,sports,rockets, TV and broadcast personalities give their picks for the greatest Rocket of all time. Video by Chris Elliott. March 24, 2009.Fans on who's greatest Rocket, houston sports,sports,rockets,houston,chronicle sports,basketball,chron.com, The Red Rowdies speak for the fans at Toyota Center in naming the greatest Rockets player of all time. Video by Chris Elliott. March 24, 2009.Rockets beat Timberwolves, chron.com,nba,houston,basketball,sports,rockets,chronicle sports,houston sports, Aaron Brooks, Luis Scola, Shane Battier and Brent Barry talk about the Rockets' 107-88 win over the Timberwolves, and Sunday's showdown with the Spurs for first place in the Southwest Division. Video by Jared Barnes. March 20, 2009.Rockets Talk, chron.com,basketball,sports,houston,rockets,nba,houston sports,chronicle sports, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley discuss the Rockets' 107-88 win over the Timberwolves. Video by Jared Barnes. March 20, 2009.Rockets beat Pistons in 2 OTs, houston sports,nba,chronicle sports,basketball,rockets,sports,houston,chron.com, Luis Scola, Shane Battier, Aaron Brooks and Yao Ming talk about the Rockets' 106-101 victory over the Pistons at Toyota Center. Video by Jared Barnes. March 18, 2009.Rockets Talk, rockets,sports,basketball,chronicle sports,chron.com,nba,houston sports,houston, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley discuss the Rockets' 106-01 double-overtime win over the Pistons at Toyota Center. Video by Jared Barnes. March 19, 2009.Rockets lose to Spurs, nba,rockets,houston sports,houston,basketball,chronicle sports,Spurs,sports,chron.com, Aaron Brooks, Shane Battier and Yao Ming talk about the Rockets' 88-85 loss to the Spurs. Video by Jared Barnes. March 14, 2008.Rockets Talk, chronicle sports,chron.com,basketball,nba,houston sports,houston,rockets,sports,Spurs, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley talk about the Rockets' 88-85 loss to the Spurs. Video by Jared Barnes. March 14, 2009.Rockets fall to Lakers, rockets,chronicle sports,chron.com,basketball,sports,houston sports,houston,nba, Shane Battier, Ron Artest and Yao Ming talk about the Rockets' 102-96 loss to the Lakers. Video by Jared Barnes. March 11, 2009.Rockets Talk, rockets,basketball,houston sports,nba,sports,chron.com,chronicle sports,houston, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley discuss the Rockets' 102-96 loss to the Lakers. Video by Jared Barnes. March 11, 2009.Rockets beat Nuggets, sports,Rick Adelman,chronicle sports,houston sports,ron artest,nuggets,houston,rockets,houston chronicle,chron.com, Rockets guard Ron Artest, coach Rick Adelman and the Nuggets' Chauncey Billups discuss Houston's 97-95 win in the Mile High City. Photos and audio by AP. Slideshow by Mark Suarez. March 9, 2009.Rockets beat Grizzlies, chronicle sports,houston sports,houston,nba,chron.com,basketball,sports,rockets, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola and Shane Battier discuss Sunday's 93-83 victory over the Grizzlies and the team's upcoming schedule. Video by Jared Barnes. March 9, 2009.Rockets Talk, chron.com,rockets,grizzlies,chronicle sports,nba,houston sports,basketball,houston,sports,rockets talk, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley discuss the Rockets' 93-83 victory over the Grizzlies. Video by Jared Barnes. March 8, 2009.Rockets beat Suns, sports,nba,chron.com,basketball,houston sports,chronicle sports,houston,rockets, The Rockets talk about their big 116-112 win over the Suns, and Steve Nash drops by the Rockets' locker room to share his takes on Yao Ming and Aaron Brooks. Video by Jared Barnes. March 6, 2008.Rockets Talk, basketball,rockets,houston sports,nba,sports,houston,chronicle sports,chron.com, Jonathan Feigen and Anna-Megan Raley talk about the Rockets 116-112 win over the Phoenix Suns. Video by Jared Barnes. March 6, 2009.Rockets beat Raptors, houston,chronicle sports,sports,rockets,nba,houston sports,chron.com,basketball, Carl Landry, Luis Scola and Shane Battier discuss Tuesday's 107-97 win over the Raptors and their upcoming game against the rival Jazz. Video by Jared Barnes. March 3, 2009.

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The Rockets on Wednesday signed former Rockets and Rice forward Mike Harris to fill the vacant roster spot and provide depth with guard Chase Budinger out for several weeks with a sprained right ankle.

Harris had been averaging 25.3 points and 7.1 rebounds with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League. He signed after the Rockets reached agreement with former Rockets guard Von Wafer, but Wafer was unable to pass his physical Tuesday evening.

Harris has had several offers to play in Europe or China this season, but chose to join the Rockets D-League affiliate in the hopes of returning to the NBA.

"Mike Harris has been the best player in the D-League and instrumental in the Vipers 7-3 start," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "He will be a quality addition to our team. We are excited to add him."

Harris averaged 3.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 17 games with the Rockets in the 2007-08 season, including several strong performances during the Rockets' 22-game winning streak.

The Rockets had considered signing Harris last weekend when Carl Landry was hurt against Dallas. When Landry was able to return quickly, missing only Saturday's game against Oklahoma City, and Budinger was hurt, the team turned instead to Wafer, who had reached an agreement on a release from Olympiakos.

[email protected]

 

[japanair21]

Wafer..

 

[japanair21]

Ibaka isn't big enough?

You seen this cat? He's Dwight-lite. He's NOT frail, he's proportioned just fine for a Center.

 

[bigmike23]

Originally Posted by Al3xis

Its not like we talking Deron Williams when we talk about Russy.

no, but Eric Maynor will be no reason to think about trading him.



QFT and thats the end of it

even when Russy is shooting bad or turning the ball over, he still plays very good D.

its about to be his 2nd full season playing PG full time and is only getting better. when he plays under control you get games last night.

he just need to shoot more jumpers in the offseason to get that jumper right

 

[bigmike23]

Paul Pierce out 2 weeks after getting his knee drained

LOL great job PP waiting till the hoildays to get it done, SMART MAN

 

[mateen cleaves]

damn what the hell happened with Wafer that would make him fail his physical? i wanted to see him back in the league.

 

[JD617]

Pierce out 2 weeks with knee injury
Celtics captain Paul Pierce underwent arthroscopic irrigation on his right knee Wednesday and is expected to miss the next two weeks, according to the team.

After a knee infection was discovered following Tuesday's win over the Indiana Pacers, Pierce underwent the procedure at New England Baptist Hospital Wednesday morning under the direction of team physician Dr. Brian McKeon.

Pierce will not travel with the team on its four-game road trip that starts Friday with a Christmas Day showdown in Orlando and continues with a three-game trip out West.

Pierce is averaging 18.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. He scored 16 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter of Tuesday's come-from-behind triumph over the Pacers.

Pierce appeared at his usual postgame press conference and again in the locker room following the game, and did not appear to be any worse for the wear at that point.

Pierce appeared to be struggling over the first eight games in December, scoring more than 20 points in just one of those contests.

Pierce, a 6-foot-7 forward, has played in every game this season for the Celtics and is averaging a team-high 18.2 points. He is currently shooting a career-high 47.3 percent from 3-point land and is ranked fifth in the NBA. The Kansas product netted a season-high 33 points against the Knicks on Nov. 22.

 

[CP1708]

[h2]How to change your NBA destiny[/h2] [h3]In the No Benjamins Association, expect more trades than ever this season[/h3]
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By Bill Simmons
ESPN.com
Archive | Contact

If someone gains weight, they can hide it a little. Grow a beard. Wear baggy sweaters. Whatever. But when an NBA team is struggling financially? It can't hide it. Rasheed Wallace famously loves to say, "ball don't lie." Neither do the seats. Especially in the lower-level sections between the baskets, the ones that blend into the background of every live telecast. If attendance is sparse enough, the blurry collage of fans, colors and empty seats almost looks like a Monet painting.

In Year 2 of the No Benjamins Association a disturbing number of home games have that Monet feel. Fudged attendance figures have become as commonplace as jokes about Shaq's weight. Two weeks ago, I took my daughter to a Magic-Clippers game that seemed about half-full … you know, just like every other Clippers game. The Staples Center has a capacity of 19,000 people and 30,000 pounds of Botox. When I played the "How many people are here?" game with Lenny, a friend in my section, I guessed 10,000 and Lenny guessed 9,500.

The announced crowd that night? 16,750.

Sorry, Clippers. Seat don't lie.

Fortunately, Ken Berger, a CBS Sportsline reporter, obtained attendance figures for the first quarter of the season. Only one ticket-related statistic matters in professional sports: net gate receipts. (The attendance number doesn't matter because it's so easy to manipulate; teams either fib or boost the total by giving tickets away for absurdly low prices, hoping to recoup some of it through concessions and merchandise sales.) According to Berger's information, net gate receipts have dropped 7.4 percent from last season. Eight teams (Philly, Sacramento, Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota, Milwaukee, Indiana and Atlanta) already reside in the dreaded "We Make Less Than $500,000 Per Game" Club, and that number could swell once non-contenders either gut their teams or start tanking for lottery purposes.

The long-term point: Until the NBA revamps its financial system after the 2010-11 season, we're going to see a handful of teams willingly weaken themselves just to save money. We got a taste with the Shaq/Jefferson trades last summer, but this will be different. This will feel more like baseball: the "haves" preying on the "have-nots." This year's luxury-tax line is $69.2 million. Next year's line will drop to between $62 million (worst-case scenario) and $65 million (reasonable). What do you do if you own New Orleans, a .500 team that has $73.1 million committed this year and $71.8 million committed next year? Do you just suck it up and lose $12 million in tax money for these next two seasons on top of significant revenue losses? Or do you do something to change your destiny. You know … like …

(Hornets fans are screaming right now. I'm sorry. They have to hear it. They need to know.)

Like giving away David West …

(They're screaming, "No! Don't say it! No!" but it has to be said. I'm sorry.)

[h4] [/h4]​

Or … (gulp) … Chris Paul?

The short-term point: We're headed for a particularly feverish trading season. Heading into Christmas, I can't remember a longer list of teams that absolutely have to make a move for one of three reasons:

Group A: To save money and/or shed cap space for next season (and the next two to three seasons).
Group B: To get something for a franchise player before he flees in free agency.
Group C: To give away a top-shelf player as a way to shed an unpalatable contract or three.

And we have Group D: Boston, Dallas, Cleveland, Miami, Houston, Portland and the Lakers … or as they're more commonly known, "The Teams That Can't Wait To Take Advantage Of Someone In Group A, B or C." I am including Miami despite its nightly Monet painting; the Heat have $50-plus million in expiring contracts for panic trades in case Dwyane Wade plays the "I don't want to waste another season in my prime, I'm leaving in July for Chicago or New York if you don't get me some help for the 2010 playoffs" card. Which, by the way, should be happening within the next five weeks. There's only so many times you can kick it to Mario Chalmers for a wide-open three and watch it clang off the rim.

So where do we stand? Let's figure out the identity of the sellers, along with their payroll situations and free advice from the VP of Common Sense and Picasso of the ESPN Trade Machine. (By the way, both nicknames are mine. I can't have enough nicknames. I'm like Apollo Creed.) All projected 2010-11 payrolls do not have salaries for 2010 draft picks factored in, obviously.

(Important note: I am excluding the Nets, who are being sold right now to Mutant Russian Mark Cuban and won't do anything major before February. I'm also excluding Utah, which jumped the gun on me by shedding cap space in the deal with the Zombie Sonics: Matt Harpring's expiring contract and impressive rookie Eric Maynor for nothing. How dare you jump the gun on my column, Utah! You couldn't have waited a day?)
[h3]New York Knicks (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $83.1 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $27.3 million

• The VP's Take: They need to clear $18 million of Eddy Curry/Jared Jeffries contracts before next summer's LeBron Sweepstakes, either by trade or by spiking their Gatorade with heroin. The second move would be a criminal act; the first move could only happen if they threw their last two lottery picks (Danilo Gallinari AND Jordan Hill) into the trade (or trades). They need to carve out $45-48 million in cap space so they can lure LeBron, Bosh and either Wade or Joe Johnson as The Ultimate Big Three. Everything else will take care of itself.

• Mitigating Factor: Knicks GM Donnie Walsh has been offering Al Harrington around for ECs (expiring contracts), then insisting the other team takes Curry or Jeffries as well. Gee, thanks, Donnie! Really, you're throwing one of them in for me free of charge? How nice of you! He's the annoying guy in your fantasy league whose e-mails you finally just start deleting. Donnie, you need to get a little more realistic. And soon.

• The VP's Verdict: Trade! Trade! I am thinking something like this …

Fake Trade 1a: Gallinari, Curry and $3 million to Minnesota for the Mark Blount/Brian Cardinal ECs. Basically, Minnesota would be paying $10 million next year to get Gallinari for 2011, 2012 and 2013. Total financial commitment: $23 million. Isn't a lottery pick and potential 50-40-90 percentage guy worth $23 million over three years (just $9 million for the last two), especially for a team stupidly playing the "we're waiting for Ricky Rubio, so tuck yourself in and enjoy three years of losing and misery!" card? Of course.

Fake Trade No. 1b: Jeffries, Hill and $3 million to Sacramento for Kenny Thomas' EC. Same principle, less money: You just bought a lottery pick for the price of Jeffries' 2010-11 contract ($6.5 million, and by the way, he's a valuable defender). The same offer could work for the Nets (Bobby Simmons), Zombie Sonics (Etan Thomas) and Blazers (Steve Blake/Travis Outlaw). Someone will bite.

Back to the Knicks: Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas did so much damage to that franchise that, really, there's a certain symmetry in them emerging from the 2000s without keeping a single lottery pick thanks to the aforementioned two trades. But if they cleared the decks completely, couldn't they seduce LeBron with the offer of building his own franchise from scratch in America's biggest city -- the metropolis where basketball matters the most, in a market he could potentially own like no New York athlete since Namath, in one of the two cities that would respect his privacy and allow him to pursue all the non-basketball things he wants to pursue -- and put himself on the map for eternity as the guy who saved basketball in New York City? Anyone can win a title. Not anyone can own New York for a few years.

Look, I change my mind on this topic almost every month. I have no idea how it will play out. None. I just know the Knicks have a chance to offer LeBron James something that nobody else has ever been offered in sports history: A blank canvas and unlimited resources for a potential top-10 player of all time who is just hitting his prime to build his own All-Star team. It's unprecedented. If Gallinari and Hill have to be sacrificed to make it happen, you do it. You don't even think twice.
[h3]Milwaukee Bucks (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $68.3 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $51.6 million

[h4]
• VP's Advice: Need a contender to bite on Michael Redd's contract ($35M remaining through 2011), and if that team is stupid enough to take Dan Gadzuric's contract as well ($14M through 2011), even better. It's the Jennings/Bogut Era now. A surprisingly fun one, by the way. Who knew?[/h4]​

• Mitigating Factor: None. Although it would help if Gadzuric showed a pulse for the first time in five years. I wish NBA teams could motivate players the same way I motivate my daughter during the holiday season. Wait, do you want me to tell Santa that you did that? I'm talking to him tomorrow! I'm going to tell him that you did that!

• VP's Verdict: Wait six weeks. If Redd heats up, they might be able to rope Cleveland into a "Shaq for Redd/Gadzuric" panic trade. Regardless, they're under the tax, and more importantly, people give a crap about basketball in Wisconsin again. Two 2009 lottery picks revived NBA franchises … and neither of them were named "Griffin" or "Rubio"? Flabbergasting.
[h3]Golden State Warriors (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $65.9 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $52.1 million

• VP's Take: No plan, no identity, and no idea what they're doing. All bets are off. They might be dumb enough to use Anthony Randolph (a top-10 talent among the under-25 guys, even if he's a little nuts) or Andris Biedrins to get someone to bite on Corey Maggette's contract ($40 million remaining through 2013). Let's hope not. They should be building around Randolph, Biedrins, Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry and giving them the lion's share of minutes.

• Mitigating Factor: It wouldn't shock me if they dealt Randolph, Biedrins, Ellis and Curry in the same trade. It also wouldn't shock me if Don Nelson coached a game naked from the waist down, or if their devoted fans organized the first-ever boycott of a professional sports team that actually worked. Can an entire franchise get Tyson Zone status?

(Random note: One of my favorite movies growing up was called "Inside Moves." It's about a lovable bar of cripples and sad sacks in San Francisco. The bartender is a Warriors season-ticket holder who had a promising basketball career derailed by a bum knee. I won't spoil the ending for you, but it's important to note that when this movie was being made, somebody asked, "Who should be the favorite team for the gimp bartender? Wait, I got it … the Warriors!" And this was 1980. At least with the Clippers, you can blame Donald Sterling for their problems. Who do you blame for three-plus decades of Warriors dysfunction? I mean, other than God?)

• VP's Verdict: Don't trade, G-State. But if you do, here's an idea …

Fake Trade No. 2 (three-way): Tracy McGrady's EC to the Knicks; Randolph, Eddy Curry and Cuttino Mobley's EC to Houston; Gallinari to the Warriors. New York wipes Curry off the books. Houston takes a $10 million hit next year for a chance to hit superstar pay dirt with Randolph. Golden State gets something for Randolph before he inadvertently sabotages his trade value for good by crying during all five games of a road trip. And Gallinari realizes his destiny as a NellieBaller. Everyone wins.

(Well, except for the Warriors fans. They always lose. It's just the rule. I have no doubt that Anthony Randolph can only fail for Golden State, and I have no doubt that he will come back to haunt them somewhere else. Maybe they're better off just keeping him and continuing to destroy him mentally until he goes Sprewell on someone. Or as Don Nelson calls it, "Plan A.")
[h3]Indiana Pacers (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $66.9 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $65.7 million (OVER)

• VP's Take: The Pacers should be a small-market team that pays one big star (in this case, Danny Granger) and a bunch of scrappy role players. Right now, they're in no-man's land -- destined to win 35 to 42 games a year, with no chance of growing into something better than that. Why not just bottom out? Like what David Kahn tried to do in Minnesota, only not as clumsy and caked in double-talk.

• Mitigating Factor: Any "bottoming out" needs to include the team dumping Troy Murphy, Mike Dunleavy and/or T.J. Ford (making $60.3 million combined through 2011). On the Untradeable Scale from 1 to Gilbert Arenas, Murphy is a 2, Dunleavy is a 6.5 (because of knee issues) and T.J. Ford is an 8.

• VP's Verdict: Move those Dunleavy/Murphy contracts while they're in uniforms and not street clothes or walking casts. For example …

Fake Trade 3a: Murphy and Dunleavy to Cleveland for Shaq's EC. Love the Murphy fit for Cleveland because he can shoot threes and rebound; they could play him, Varejao, LeBron, West and Williams at crunch time. Anything Dunleavy gives them is a bonus. For Indiana, they can buy out Shaq (saving a couple of million), then save another $23 million next season. And you thought professional basketball couldn't be salvaged in Indiana! Let's celebrate by hitting a local strip club and firing gunshots into the air. What, too soon?

Fake Trade 3b: Murphy, Dunleavy and Travis Diener to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko, Kosta Koufos and Kyle Korver's EC. Admittedly, this trade makes no sense -- I just wanted to break the record for "most white guys in an all-white trade."
[h3]Minnesota Timberwolves (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $64.3 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $37.9 million

• VP's Take: The only "seller" not worth discussing -- they have almost $23 million in expiring contracts to play with, but it would be crazy for them to add 2010-11 payroll when they aren't going anywhere and have made it VERY clear that they don't care for two years. Word on the street is that they won't even discuss Rubio trades with other teams. That's amazing. Look, there is no bigger Rubio fan than me. But he's not a sure thing. This isn't like waiting for Larry Bird to finish his 1978-79 Indiana State season … and even worse, it's two seasons and potentially three. If you're a floundering NBA doormat struggling to generate revenue, and you just spent the past 10 years proving to your fan base that they shouldn't have faith in the decision-making for the team, can you really play the "Just Be Patient" card?

Being a Wolves fan is like sitting in an airport gate waiting for news on a delayed flight. Do you think we'll take off today? Any word yet? Only it's going to be like that for the next two years. At least.

(You know what would be really funny? Minnesota ending up with the No. 1 pick next spring. Again, I love Rubio … but John Wall is a sure thing. He's a cross between Dwyane Wade and Derrick Rose. You keep Wall over Rubio 100 times out of 100. Watching David Kahn sheepishly shop Rubio's rights a year late would be high comedy. Look, we still love Ricky, this doesn't change how we feel about him. But when you have a chance to add Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum to your team, you have to do it.)
[h3]Charlotte Bobcats (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $67.0 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $59.8 million

• VP's Take: I don't mind watching these guys. They play hard, they're well-coached and Gerald Wallace's rebounding binge ranks up there with Kevin Porter being a four-time assist leader and E.C. Coleman making first-team All-Defense as one of the most random NBA things that's ever happened. If they upgraded Boris Diaw ($27 million through 2012), they might even be a mildly frisky Round 1 opponent. On the flip side, they're leading the league in Monets and paying $50.5 million combined through 2011 to Tyson Chandler, DeSagana Diop and Nazr Mohammed … or as they're more commonly known, "50.5 Million That We Should Have Just Set On Fire."

(Important note: Did you know DeSagana Diop will earn $7.342 million just for the 2012-13 season? I think the Mark Cuban Big Man Scholarship Fund is my favorite NBA charity. The NBA really DOES care.)

• Mitigating Factor: Larry Brown is permanently wired in "short-term right now we gotta fix this and get better!" mode, only they're getting destroyed financially and can only hope to win 37 to 40 games (good enough to make the playoffs in the crappy Eastern Conference, but still).

• VP's Verdict: Go for it this year and tank long-term. For example …

Fake Trade 4a: Diaw, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Henderson to Phoenix for Amar'e Stoudemire and Taylor Griffin (cap throw-in). Charlotte satiates Brown's short-term competitive disorder, gets a 20-point scorer AND gets out of Diaw's deal. If Amar'e leaves after the season, so be it. Phoenix saves $6 million (including the tax), adds two young assets and gets something for Amar'e. One danger: Nash pulls a "BROOKS WAS HERE" in his hotel room when he hears about the trade. Otherwise, I like it.

Fake Trade 4b: Chandler and Wallace to the Clippers for Marcus Camby, Al Thornton and the Rasual Butler/Ricky Davis ECs. Camby is a one-year upgrade on Chandler who replaces Wallace's rebounding; Thornton/Butler could replace Wallace's scoring; and the deal saves Charlotte $3 million-plus this year, then another $20 million next year. Again, have you seen their home games? They hosted Detroit on Tuesday and it looked like it was "Get Your Own Row Night."
[h3]L.A. Clippers (group A)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $59.7 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $39.0 million

• VP's Take: A frontcourt logjam looming with Blake Griffin coming back soon. Can't mess with his minutes. He's a stud. That means trading Chris Kaman (near impossible) or getting something for Marcus Camby (expiring this summer) while he's healthy. And if they save money, that's a bonus. Remember, they're owned by the cheapest man alive.

• Mitigating Factor: Mike Dunleavy doesn't see it that way, explaining their decision to keep Camby like this: "When you have a stock that's going up, you don't want to sell it. When it's going down, nobody wants to buy it. So we just want to freeze, do nothing and continue to suck the soul from our fans." Fine, I made the last sentence up. He said the other two, though.

• VP's Verdict: Camby's stock WILL go down. Time to sell. Right now. Today. We even have the perfect suitor: the Trail Blazers, who tragically lost both of their centers in a four-week span. What about …

Fake Trade 5: Camby to Portland for the Outlaw/Blake ECs and the rights to Victor Claver (Portland's 2009 No. 1, currently stashed in Europe). Pretty good haul for the dirt-cheap Clips -- they end up with a $4.5 million profit swing and a highly regarded European for someone who was leaving anyway.

(Important note: If the Clips had a real owner, they'd be shopping Kaman and offering the rights to Minnesota's 2011 pick to get it done, just to clear cap space for LeBron and another big-ticket free agent this summer. Sadly, Donald Sterling's skills lie in housing discrimination, not owning a basketball team. Too bad.)
[h3]Memphis Grizzlies (group B)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $54.4 million
Projected 2010-2011 payroll: $47.4 million

• The VP's Take: Can you have a feel-good season when you're 13-15? Apparently so. Like always with the Grizzlies, there's a problem looming: Rudy Gay (playing well) has moved into the deadly Iguodala Zone for non-franchise players who will get overpaid, and even worse, start believing this makes them a franchise player. You don't want to shell out $75 million for Rudy if you're doing everything short of passing a hat around at home games like the Grizzlies. It might make more sense to flip Rudy and dump Marko Jaric's contract ($14.7M through 2011) in the deal. Repeat: might.

• Mitigating Factor: Chris Wallace is in charge. Open the window, pour a glass of reason and toss it out the window.

• VP's Verdict: I say keep the Gay-Mayo Era going through the spring, then hope Rudy gets attached to playing on what has become an immensely fun Grizzlies team. If he isn't feeling it, sign-and-trade him in July. Don't panic now. Do you hear me, Guy Who Traded Pau Gasol Three Weeks Before The 2008 Trade Deadline? DON'T PANIC NOW.
[h3]Toronto Raptors (group B)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $68.2 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $47.5 million (not counting Chris Bosh's $17.1 million player option for 2010)

• VP's Take: As I wrote last July, there's nothing more dangerous than a GM worried about his job who dumps the team's long-term interests to protect the short-term. Everything Bryan Colangelo did last summer screamed, "I need to keep my job!!!" Now the Raptors are hamstrung with an overpaid, below-.500 roster that doubles as the worst defensive team of this decade -- seriously, what did they think would happen when Jose Calderon, Hedo Turkoglu and Andrea Bargnani were three of the team's best four guys? -- and Chris Bosh seems like a mortal lock to leave. You can't do the Frank Drebin Memorial "Please disperse, nothing to see here, please disperse" routine. Raptors fans are too smart. They get it.

• Mitigating Factor: By dealing Bosh, Colangelo would be effectively saying, "I made some mistakes, we need to press the RESET button and start over." Translation: "Fire me, I deserve it." Since nobody would ever sabotage their own job like that, he will probably keep Bosh, make a smaller trade and pray things turn around. If they don't, the Raptors will get nothing for him. Not fair to the Raptor Truthers. At all.

• VP's Verdict: Bosh doesn't have nearly as much trade value as Chris Paul because he's obviously fleeing in six months. Still, they should be using him to retool and dump the Marcus Banks/Reggie Evans ECs ($9.8 million owed in 2011). A trade like Bosh, Reggie Evans and Marcus Banks to Houston for T-Mac, Luis Scola, a 2010 No. 1 pick and $3 million makes a little sense, but Colangelo would never do it. He'd be better off keeping Bosh and making believe he might stay. One scenario DOES make sense though …

• Fake Trade 6: Bosh/Evans/Banks to Dallas for Erik Dampier (team option for 2010-11, making him valuable since he can be used as an EC for a summer trade to a team that would then waive him to chop payroll) and Josh Howard (EC). I like this one because it keeps Toronto competitive for 2009-10 and again this summer if they want to flip Dampier (for instance, they could send him to New York for a Gallinari/Curry package). And for Dallas … I mean … could you win the title with Dirk, Bosh, Marion, Kidd and Terry as your crunch-time five? I feel like you could. Even with Dirk's hair looking like it does.

And while we're here …

• Fake Trade 7a: Jose Calderon to the Lakers for Adam Morrison (EC), Jordan Farmar and $3 million. Time for Toronto to cut the cord with Calderon (owed $37.5 million through 2013), the league's No. 1 desperately-needs-a-change-of-scenery guy right now. He can't defend anyone, has lost his mojo and plays with zero confidence against the Nashes and Pauls. I don't know what happened to him. (And yes, I know his stats aren't much different than they were in 2007. I just know what I see.) But in L.A.? He could be rejuvenated as a Steve Kerr-type shooter in that system; he'd have shot-blockers to protect him defensively; he'd have Phil Jackson rebuilding his confidence and giving him Gabriel Garcia Marquez books; and he'd get reunited with Team Spain buddy Pau Gasol. Meanwhile, Toronto makes money this year, saves 2011-2012-2013 cash and doesn't lose much with Farmar and Jarrett Jack running the show. Win-win.

• Fake Trade 7b: Calderon to the Celtics for Eddie House (EC), Tony Allen (EC), Glen Davis and $3 million. Celts get the third guard they need; Toronto dumps Calderon's contract, pockets $3 million and gets a useful banger in Big Baby.

(Crap. That's not nearly as good as the Lakers trade. I feel sick. Forget I mentioned this.)
[h3]New Orleans Hornets (group C)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $73.1 million (OVER TAX)
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $71.8 million (OVER TAX)

• VP's Take: Let's go Hubiespeak for this one. You have Chris Paul, one of the 10 best players in the league. (The other nine: LeBron, Kobe, Dirk, Melo, Nash, Howard, Wade and LeBron again. He counts twice.) You owe Peja Stojakovic, Mo Peterson and Darius Songaila $51.8 million combined through 2011; you also owe James Posey $21.5 million through 2012. Throwing in the luxury tax (you're over this year and next year), you're losing eight figures per year to keep Chris Paul on a team that can't win the title, anyway … and you can't do anything to help his supporting cast for at least a year. What if someone made you a Godfather offer for Paul and absorbed your bad contracts? What then?

• Mitigating Factor No. 1: Trading CP3 effectively murders basketball in New Orleans UNLESS it's a good enough deal. And even then, it's an attempted murder with a severe loss of blood.

• Mitigating Factor No. 2: They can't use West to solve their tax issues because Paul would immediately demand out. For instance, let's say Houston offered them Shane Battier, $3 million and the Brian Cook/Chuck Hayes ECs for West, Peterson and Ike Diogu's EC. The Hornets would save $3.2 million in salary, $3.2 million in tax money, then earn another $3 million from the extra cash this season. Next season, they'd save another $7 million in salary and $5-7 million in tax money. On top of that, they'd be eligible for tax benefits as an under-the-tax team. Adding everything up, that trade saves them more than $22 million. But what's the collateral damage? Chris Paul says, "Get me out of here." So they couldn't go there unless they were ready to move Paul as well.

• Mitigating Factor No. 3: New Orleans has no way to really improve until the summer of 2011. Won't Paul eventually flee, anyway? What about the persistent rumor that LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Kobe and Paul made a pact in Athens to play together some day, with the first three joining forces in 2010 and the two coming in 2012? What about the fact I just made that rumor up and you believed it? Isn't the Internet great?

• VP's Verdict: I'd think about it. But here's what the phrase "Godfather offer" entails …

Fake Trade 8a: Houston trades Aaron Brooks (expires 2011) with T-Mac, Scola and Brian Cook (all expire 2010) for Chris Paul and the Peja-Songaila-Posey cap-killing trio. Considering Houston's deep pockets, they'd have to do it -- how else can they acquire a top-10 player? And New Orleans would fall under the tax (saving them about $16-17 million this year, plus another $25-30 million next year) and replace a decent chunk of Paul's production with a Brooks/Darren Collison combo.

Fake Trade 8b: Same trade as above, only with Miami giving up three ECs (Jermaine O'Neal, Mario Chalmers and Dorell Wright) plus Michael Beasley. Not as good of a deal as the Houston one. Although the thought of a Wade-Paul backcourt just made me pee on myself.

Fake Trade 8c: Cleveland deals the Shaq/Ilgauskas ECs with Jamario Moon (expiring 2011), J.J. Hickson (ditto) and Jawad Williams/Darnell Jackson (EC throw-ins) for CP3, Okafor, Peja, Peterson and Songaila. That knocks the Hornets well under this year's tax, gets them out of $26.6 million of Peja-Songaila-Peterson in 2011 AND dumps Okafor's monster deal ($70 million through 2014). Sure, it's the biggest salary dump trade of all time. But shouldn't New Orleans do the Grizzlies routine for a year or two (super-low payroll, rebuild through the draft) over losing $25-30 million a year to be a fringe contender these next three years? And if you're Cleveland, don't you have to take a risk like this to keep LeBron?

Here, look. We built you a super-team: Okafor, Chris Paul, Mo Williams, you and Varejao, with Delonte West, Anthony Parker and February Buyout Big Man X coming off the bench. We can win four straight titles with this team. CP3 makes your life easier. Stay here. Just stay.

He'd have to consider it. Right? Great trade. Also, Knicks fans and Hornets fans are now drinking. Heavily. And the Cavs fans are doing shots in celebration. You have to love a fake trade that causes three different fan bases to immediately switch to hard alcohol.
[h3]Washington Wizards (group C)[/h3]

[h4] [/h4]​

2009-10 payroll: $78.5 million (OVER TAX)
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $53.2 million

• VP's Take: Would anyone like Gilbert Arenas at a steep discount? That's what I thought. (Check the sidebar to the right for my buddy House's sad take.) The way he's played this year, he might have to change his nickname from Agent Zero to The Chalk Outline. That leaves Plan B: packaging Caron Butler ($20.3M through 2011) with Antawn Jamison ($39M through 2012) to lower this year's luxury tax, defray future payroll and go with Arenas and the kids.

• Mitigating Factor: Like Colangelo, embattled Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld can't hit the RESET button because he'd be effectively resigning with pay. But still. Every Wizards fan is ready to see this team blown up. When I threw the idea at House, he chewed on it a little, then asked, "Do I get a new GM out of it?" (Yes.) "Then please blow it up. I want to build around our 2009 lottery pick that we gave away. I hate being a Wizards fan. Put that in your column."

• VP's Verdict: I'd clean house. What would Cleveland say if Washington offered them Jamison, Butler and Brendan Haywood for Shaq's expiring contract and J.J. Hickson? What would Miami say if Washington offered them the same trade for Jermaine O'Neal and a 2010 No. 1? My favorite of the possibles …

Fake Trade 9 (three-way): Wizards get Carlos Boozer and Shaq; Utah gets Butler and Mike James' EC; Cavs get Jamison, Haywood and Kyle Korver's EC. Utah drops close to the tax line. Cleveland upgrades two positions for nothing. And Washington remains competitive this season and gets to start over financially next summer. Just enough to string fans along in case the Chalk Outline rises from the sidewalk.

(By the way, have you noticed all the different ways Cleveland can improve over these next two months? As a Celtics fan, I am getting progressively more terrified as this column keeps going. And I was already scared. Did you see them blow away Phoenix with smallball and LeBron playing power forward the other night? That was the best quarter I've seen any team play this season. As I tweeted that night, Cleveland's smallball lineup is poop-in-your-pants terrifying. Thank God Mike Brown hasn't noticed.)
[h3]Detroit Pistons (group C)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $58.6 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $55.6 million

• VP's Take: A confusing mess of overpaid perimeter guys and underpaid perimeter guys, with a mildly rejuvenated Ben Wallace thrown in, as well as a dude named "Jonas Jerebko," the first NBA player whose name could double as a USA Network pilot. And they're losing fistfuls of money at the gate. A prime candidate to shed payroll.

• Mitigating Factor: Joe Dumars is the most perplexing GM in the league. The 2004 title run was amazing. The Darko/Carmelo pick was horrific. Dumping Billups, then overpaying Hamilton, made no sense as a tandem move. Dropping $94 million on two offense-only guys (Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva) was a head-scratcher. And yet, he nails little things, like signing Will Bynum and stealing Jerebko in Round 2 (I'm a fan). Just a lot going on. I can't figure him out. He is Mr. Hit or Miss.

• VP's Verdict: Nobody is biting on Hamilton's contract ($49 million through 2013) or Jason Maxiell's deal ($20 million through 2013). That leaves Tayshaun Prince (21.4 million through 2011), who's recovering from a ruptured disc right now. (Enticing!) Still, they could save some cash and chop 2011 money by either doing …

Fake Trade 10: Tayshaun and DaJuan Summers (cap throw-in) to Boston for the Tony Allen/Brian Scalabrine/J.R. Giddens expirings plus Big Baby and $3 million. Imagine the Celts tossing out a defensive quintet of Pierce, Rondo, Prince (if healthy), KG and Perkins? Now that's a championship quintet! Worth the risk, I say.

(Note: I would have swapped Rasheed Wallace for Perkins there, but it's tough to frighten teams defensively when your center has man-boobs. Hey Rasheed, when do you plan on getting in shape for the season? It's Christmas. Do we have an ETA yet? February? March? Could you let us know?)
[h3]Philadelphia 76ers (group C)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $64.0 million
Projected 2010-11 Payroll: $65.3 million (OVER TAX)

• VP's Take: No chance of dumping Elton Brand or Sam Dalembert unless they include Andre Iguodala in the deal.

• Mitigating Factor: This is the same front office that A) spent $85 million on Brand, and B) took two weeks to realize that signing Allen Iverson might boost ticket sales and local interest. Not exactly a bunch of Mensa scholars here.

• VP's Verdict: Shop Iguodala-Brand-Dalembert for expirings. (Their only chance: If Wade threatens to leave unless Miami does something by the deadline, so Miami bites on an Iguodala-Brand-Dalembert for O'Neal-Haslem-Richardson. Odds of this happening: 10-to-1.) After every team hangs up, call an audible and shop Iguodala and Dalembert as a package. Iguodala isn't worth the franchise max for a bad team, but if he's your second- or third-best player on a contender with deep pockets, it's not the worst thing in the world. He's not making or breaking the Sixers. He doesn't sell tickets. Doesn't that make him expendable? Leading us to …

Fake Trade 11: Philly trades Dalembert, Iguodala and Jason Kapono's EC to Miami for the O'Neal/Richardson/Wright expirings. Philly ends up with their fifth overpaid has-been frontcourt player this decade (joining Mutombo, Webber, Coleman and Brand in what's becoming a tradition right up there with Easter and Thanksgiving); Quentin Richardson adds another team in his quest to play for all 30; Kapono ends up back in Miami, a nostalgic romp for all 43 Heat fans; and Miami becomes a fringe contender with a Wade-Iguodala-Dalembert-Beasley nucleus. This one makes too much sense.
[h3]Sacramento Kings (group C)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $53.4 million
Projected 2010-11 payroll: $40.7 million

• VP's verdict: In a position of strength, if that's possible: They have a potential superstar in Tyreke Evans, only he's definitely not a point guard … which means he plays the same position as the best guy on their team (Kevin Martin, currently injured). And Martin's favorable contract ($46 million through 2013) gives him real value despite his bad luck with dopey injuries. I'd compare him to Jeff Hornacek in the early '90s -- a very good offensive player who'd be even better on a contender.

• Mitigating Factor: None. After a shaky decade, the Kings are on a red-hot front-office run and T.J. Lavin'ed their past two drafts. I thought Rubio/Evans would haunt them; if anything, it totally invigorated them.

(Important note: Dismissing Evans' potential was my single biggest column-related misfire this decade, and I'm the same guy who thought Orlando was crazy for taking Howard over Okafor. In my draft diary, I wrote the joke, "[Stu] Scott on Evans: 'His nickname is 'Hugo' because he was born during Hurricane Hugo.' That pick was a natural disaster. Literally." The whole debacle mortally wounded my chances to become a GM someday. I'm not gonna lie. Evans has a chance to be a top-10 player some day. Although I still believe I was correct with one thing: In no way, shape or form is he a point guard. You will never sell me on that one.)

• VP's verdict: Package Martin with Kenny Thomas' expiring contract for future assets. Biggest no-brainer of this column. Move now. For example …

Fake Trade 12: Martin/Thomas to Utah for Andrei Kirilenko (expires 2011), Kyle Korver's EC, $3 million (not a problem because Utah still saves $3.2 million with the difference in salaries, plus another $3.2 million in luxury tax money) and the rights to New York's unprotected No. 1 pick in 2010.

(Hold on, we have to wait a few seconds for every Knicks fan to stop shaking his or her head. Just a few more seconds. Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. And … we're good.)

I love this trade. For one thing, a Martin-Deron Williams backcourt would be loads of fun (shades of Utah teaming Hornacek and Stockton back in the day). Utah gets damned close to being under the luxury tax. Sacramento gets a gigantic expiring contract for next year (Kirilenko's $17.8 million), another scrappy, balls-to-the-wall guy (Kirilenko again), an official "this is your team" announcement to Evans AND a lottery ticket for the John Wall Sweepstakes.

Everyone wins. You can't say that too often during Year 2 of the No Benjamins Association.

 

[CP1708]

CP1708 wrote:

[h3]• Mitigating Factor No. 3: New Orleans has no way to really improve until the summer of 2011. Won't Paul eventually flee, anyway? What about the persistent rumor that LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Kobe and Paul made a pact in Athens to play together some day, with the first three joining forces in 2010 and the two coming in 2012? What about the fact I just made that rumor up and you believed it? Isn't the Internet great?[/h3]


Best part of the article.

 

[i nasmatic i]

Those trades are so ridiculous that they seem reasonable

.

 

[big j 33]

I got halfway through that article and then I passed out due to confusion and possible trade scenarios.

 

[halfwaycrook]

PP

Way to many injuries right now.

 

[bangdak]

Originally Posted by Big J 33

I got halfway through that article and then I passed out due to confusion and possible trade scenarios.

i was done after the clippers.



EVEN I make better trades then that

 

[bhzmafia14]

Originally Posted by BangDak

Originally Posted by Big J 33

I got halfway through that article and then I passed out due to confusion and possible trade scenarios.

i was done after the clippers.



EVEN I make better trades then that

I bet you really liked that Gallinari deal that gave ya'll an expiring contract.

 

[i nasmatic i]

[h3]Memphis Grizzlies (group B)[/h3]
2009-10 payroll: $54.4 million
Projected 2010-2011 payroll: $47.4 million

• The VP's Take: Can you have a feel-good season when you're 13-15? Apparently so. Like always with the Grizzlies, there's a problem looming: Rudy Gay (playing well) has moved into the deadly Iguodala Zone for non-franchise players who will get overpaid, and even worse, start believing this makes them a franchise player. You don't want to shell out $75 million for Rudy if you're doing everything short of passing a hat around at home games like the Grizzlies. It might make more sense to flip Rudy and dump Marko Jaric's contract ($14.7M through 2011) in the deal. Repeat: might.

• Mitigating Factor: Chris Wallace is in charge. Open the window, pour a glass of reason and toss it out the window.

• VP's Verdict: I say keep the Gay-Mayo Era going through the spring, then hope Rudy gets attached to playing on what has become an immensely fun Grizzlies team. If he isn't feeling it, sign-and-trade him in July. Don't panic now. Do you hear me, Guy Who Traded Pau Gasol Three Weeks Before The 2008 Trade Deadline? DON'T PANIC NOW.

Something I have thought about and have come to accept. If it's not with the Grizzlies, it'll be for the TWolves or Knicks.

 

[bangdak]

im sorry, but no thanks.



maybe in 4 years once he spends more time in those olympic practices. im sure he'll be a franchise player then.

 

[bhzmafia14]

Well Iggy's new deal inked him 6yrs/80

First off, I don't see Rudy getting inked for 6 years. He will probably get 5yrs/70mil AT THE MOST and that's if another team offers him. I thinkMemphis could get him for 5yr/65mil if he doesn't get any other offers. More than likely Memphis will wait til' a team offers him and we match itthough.

Also, it's just alot of things that Rudy can do on the floor than Iguodala. He prove that when Memphis played Philly earlier in the season. He took it toIguodala basically the whole game. Iggy is more valuable on the defensive end and he's hit a few big shots in his past. Offensively, he just has too manyholes in his game that he hasn't even developed. That's what Memphis will be paying Rudy for. Rudy can be unstoppable on nights and he's stillimproving on the defensive end. I wouldn't feel as bad giving Rudy that type of money compared to the money Iggy received. Iggy's deal reminds me moreof Luol Deng. A guy who was a good defender and had potential offensively, but never reached it.

I would put Rudy in the Granger range. If someone questions me on that, I have a bunch of stuff to pull from the books on why I think that.

Rudy is just as skilled as Granger on the offensive end, but Granger'sdefense is better. Like bang said, if Rudy keeps working hard with Team USA and on his own, he will reach at least become an average to above average defender.

I don't consider Rudy a franchise player, but you do have to pay to keep your best players. Having Rudy and another guy capable of being a 20ppg scorer cando the job. Luckily, Gasol could easily become better than what he is right now and OJ will always flirt around the 20 mark. I won't mention Zach becausehe probably won't be here no longer than 4 years. Heisley is already talking about inking Zach next season after he inks Rudy.

Its not like we just have Rudy and a bunch anybody's around him either. Philly was expecting Iggy to lead a team with major offense whatsoever in thelineup other than the aging Brand. Chicago was expecting the same for Deng.

 

[i nasmatic i]

The problem is Rudy wanted a Granger-like deal before the season. Now that he's playing very well and the team is winning, that will jack up his stock/ego more. Similar to the Suns-Joe Johnson situation a fewyears ago. Depending on what happens with the other free agents, there's going to be a franchise with a lump some of money that will be desperate to cashin.