What did you do Sacramento?

I personally hate the idea of doing a salary dump without any kind of commitment from the player/players they are targeting. This is the type of move you should be making once you have a verbal commitment from a player or if the assets moved do not ruin the franchise. I understand that the Woj will probably break the verbal commitment before he actually commits and the team taking on the salary will have a ton of leverage over them. IMO losing a pick or an extra player is worth it in the end if I get my guy. But my team better have a solid foundation and is a piece or two away from being a contender or at least a perennial playoff team. The risk is high but so should the return. Recently the Cavs dumped Zeller, Jack, Karasev with picks to free up room for Lebron. This was after all the reports of Lebron being done in Miami and rumors that he was interested in going home to Cleveland. Lebron did not commit yet but the odds were very much in their favor, so really calling this a risk is a bit of a stretch. We also know how that turned out for the Cavs. And just this season the Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a salary dump of their own. They got rid of $7+mill of Ilyasova for the non-guaranteed contracts of Caron Butler and Shawne Williams. It worked out for the Bucks and they landed their big man Greg Monroe. The Bucks have a great young core already in place. The Bucks finished last season as a .500 team but with the continued growth of that core and the addition of Monroe they are set to make noise in the very competitive central division. In these scenarios there was relatively low risk involved with a very high return. The Cavs gave up a middle of the road prospect in Zeller, a solid backup in Jack, a project in Karasev, and a late first round pick. Milwaukee gave up Ilyasova an injury plauged SF/PF that was going to lose out to Middleton, Antetokounmpo, and Parker anyways. Also, what the Suns did in their bid for the services of Aldridge was low risk, high reward. They sadly broke up the Morris twins but they were close enough to being the same player that they could afford to take the chance. Granger never saw the floor and Bullock is still an unknown entity but young enough to have a chance.

Now on to what the Kings did:

To Philly: - Nik Stauskas - Jason Thompson - Carl Landry - 2018 1st rd pick (top-10 protected) - Right to swap 1st rd pick w/Kings in '16 - Right to swap 1st rd pick w/Kings in '17

To Sacramento: - Rights to Arturas Gudaitis (47th pick in 2015) - Rights to Luka Mitrovic (60th pick in 2015)

Note Via NbaDraft.net:
"Bulls receive King's 2015 first round pick. Top 10 protected. 2015-2017, or second round pick in 2018 or extinguished"

Remember the ideal scenario is low risk, high return. But at the very least you want high risk, high return. Even if Cousins stays in Sacramento this team is still going to be a top 10 lottery team. The Kings are in a hyper competitive western conference and a roster as thin as a piece of paper. If Philly has a worse record, which I doubt at the time of writing this, they have an extra shot at landing a top 3 pick. Let's say the Kings have the 7th worst record and Philly is 2nd last. The pick swap would not make any sense prior to the lottery. But what the pick swap does is essentially give Philly extra ping pong balls in the lottery. Philly ends up with an extra 4.3% chance at the #1 pick and a an extra 15% at landing a top 3 pick. Who knows what Stauskas becomes, but at the very least he could become a specialist like Kapono. Jason Thompson can be a good player off the bench for them especially with Embiid questionable for the season, they could also move him to a team desperate for a big. Landry feels like an add on that Philly had to take, he could play mentor or be moved later on. Also, a top 10 protected 1st rounder in 2018 and beyond with other restrictions that have not been reported yet. In the current NBA it feels like teams are over valuing a 1st round pick, especially the late ones. But a top 10 with high probability of a top 3 pick does not compare. All that for the rights to a couple of Euro stashes that may never see an NBA court and the chance to sign Rondo, Ellis, and Matthews. They did the deal so late into day 1 that all the big name players had already commited or they have zero chance with the ones remaing. Their current roster is basically Cousins, Gay, McLemore, Cauley-Stein, Collison, McCallum, Moreland, and Stockton. That's it. Not an appetizing roster to look at, especially from a free agents point of view. Even if they landed 2 out of the 3 targets, how would that propel this team from bottom feeders into playoff contention in the west? That team does not even look like a .500 team. Even if they got 2 of those players they would have to fill their bench with minimum deals for players that would probably not play on other teams. It just doesn't make any sense. This team is screwed for the next 3 years at the very least. This was a high risk, with potential moderate return but it ended up as a big fat no return for the Kings. Get ready Seattle, start breaking ground on that stadium.

NBA Mock Draft 2015

Pick 1. Minnesota Timberwolves 2. Los Angeles Lakers 3. Philadelphia 76ers 4. New York Knicks 5. Orlando Magic 6.Sacramento Kings 7. Denver Nuggets 8. Detroit Pistons 9. Charlotte Hornets 10. Miami Heat 11. Indiana Pacers 12. Utah Jazz 13. Phoenix Suns 14. Oklahoma Thunder 15. Atlanta Hawks via Brooklyn Nets 16.Boston Celtics 17. Milwaukee Bucks 18. Houston Rockets Via New Orleans Pelicans 19. Washington Wizards 20. Toronto Raptors 21. Dallas Mavericks 22. Chicago Bulls 23. Portland Trailblazers 24. Cleveland Cavaliers 25. Memphis Grizzlies 26. San Antonio Spurs 27. Los Angeles Lakers(from Houston) 28. Boston Celtics(from LA Clippers) 29. Brooklyn Nets(from Atlanta) 30. Golden State Warriors

Julius.22 Karl-Anthony Towns(PF/C)  I believe him or Okafor each have a legitimate chance at being the top overall pick however Towns is a better defender. He has the potential to be a good offensive player. He is good around the rim and is a great free throw shooter already which would suggest his offensive game isn't too far away. Minnesota's rebuild is looking real good either way. Jahlil Okafor(PF/C)  I truly believe he is the best big in the draft but Towns, I feel, is a better fit for Minnesota. LA should be happy getting Okafor and pairing him with Randle for life after Vino. D'Angelo Russell(PG/SG) He's my favourite prospect and has the most boom/bust potential. At worst, he'll be a serviceable starter. The best floor general in the draft, would be an instant 76ers bandwagon fan if they select him. Willie Cauley-Stein(PF/C) I see the Knicks taking him. Cauley-Stein is the best interior defender in the draft and could be Tyson Chandler's long awaited replacement. Kristaps Porzingis(PF/C) His draft stock has been rising rapidly over the past few weeks leading up to the draft. I wouldn't be surprised if he was taken higher but I do believe that he will not fall after the fifth pick. Pairing him with Vucevic would be great to have because their offensive skill sets compliment each other. The Magic are on the rise and could be fighting for a playoff spot next year with their young nucleus. Emmanuel Mudiay(PG/SG) The Kings have been longing for a franchise type of point guard for a very long time. Although a bit of a mystery, he is a gamble the Kings might have to take. His pre-draft workouts are looking really good and it does look like his jump shot has improved. There's no doubting his athleticism and play making ability especially in today's NBA. Cameron Payne(PG/SG) I haven't seen a mock draft have Payne this high at all but he's been rising in recent weeks despite his injury. Ty Lawson looks to be on the way out of town and what better position to start a rebuild for the Nuggets than by drafting his replacement. This is my "YOLO" pick of the draft. Justise Winslow(SF/SG) Adding Winslow to this young core gives them another good building block for the future. He has as much potential as anyone in the draft and is ready to contribute from the fly. He also isn't projected to fall this low but I like being different. Mario Hezonja(SG/SF) I will admit that I don't know much about Hezonja but it seems to me like he's a freakishly athletic wing with loads of potential. Charlotte definitely needs to address many areas but Hezonja can fill a need here. Every other mock draft has him going nowhere lower than 8 so Charlotte should be happy if he falls here. Stanley Johnson(SG/SF) Johnson is an athletic two-way player that would fit well with the Heat especially if Wade leaves. He has a lot of long-term potential and could be an elite defender right away. Myles Turner(PF/C) Turner fits into the style that the NBA is going towards nowadays as a stretch big. The Pacers have vowed to play faster and even threw Roy Hibbert under the bus. Looks like a match made in heaven. Frank Kaminsky(PF/C) The Jazz aren't too far away from playoff contention, even in the wild west. They have a really good, young core. Gobert and Favors, although a very nice frontcourt, are not legitimate threats offensively. Kaminsky can provide the scoring punch and floor spacing that this team is lacking. Sam Dekker(SF/PF) Dekker seems like a good fit for the Suns. He can stretch the floor, take it to the basket, and play solid defence. He's a good two-way player that can play multiple positions. He'd be solid coming off of the bench for them. Devin Booker(SG) They say he's the next Klay Thompson and if that's true, OKC would be getting a steal at this point of the draft. He's a pure shooter with high basketball IQ however he's just average in other aspects of his game. Playing with KD and Russ would surely make him look like a future all-star. Trey Lyles(PF/C) The Hawks are losing either Carroll or Millsap and drafting to replace one of them would be the smart thing to do. Lyles is a versatile big that looks like a good fit with Al Horford. Kelly Oubre(SF/SG) Oubre is one of my favourite prospects in the draft because he reminds me of a lefty-Paul George. He has the potential to be one of the best players in the draft because of how good he can possibly be on both sides of the ball. He has a nice shooting stroke and has the ability to get to the rim. He is very inconsistent but let's hope he pans out. Boston needs a young wing to build around and Oubre is that guy. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson(SF/PF) High energy guy who is already a great defender. The hustle and heart is there and fits right in with a young Bucks group. He needs to develop a jump shot and when he does, he'll be a Kawhi-type of player. Tyus Jones(PG) I see them taking a point guard because I don't see Beverley, Prigioni, or Terry here much longer. Don't know whether it would be Jones or Grant here but Jones has more upside. Bobby Portis(PF) He can stretch the floor well and could be a complimentary piece for Gortat. This would also be a great replacement for the aging but effective, Drew Gooden. Montrezl Harrell(PF) A high-energy guy who is undersized however is a beast on the boards. With the Raptors possibly losing Amir Johnson and Tyler Hansbrough, they're going to need someone to grab rebounds at a high rate. The Raptors love surprising the world on draft day though so don't be fooled if it's someone else completely random either. Jerian Grant(PG/SG) Rondo did not fit in well with the team. He's a good playmaker and with an improving jump shot. Delon Wright(PG/SG) Wright is an explosive guard with good size. He would be able to contribute right away as Derrick Rose's backup. Kevon Looney(PF) Aldridge looks like he's on his way out so drafting Looney could be a good start for finding a replacement. Looney is a good prospect but has seen his stock drop in recent weeks. He still has a lot of upside and can ultimately become a poor man's Aldridge. RJ Hunter(PG/SG) Arguably one of the best shooters in this draft class. He could play both guard positions and be a lethal weapon for Lebron and company. Guillermo Hernangomez(C) Grabbing a backup big that could possibly be stashed is something I think the Griz might do. He's also the best international big man prospect after Porzingis. Justin Anderson(SG/SF) The rich get richer. I think Anderson drops here and provides Danny Green-like statistics. This would allow Green to walk and the Spurs end up with a cheaper replacement. Rashad Vaughn(SG) Potent scorer that could fit with Clarkson in the future. Probably won't play as much barring injuries to Kobe and Young but is a great prospect to red-shirt. Cliff Alexander(PF) Boston needs size. Alexander is a good interior presence with great defensive potential. Has limited offensive ability but has good potential to be a productive NBA player. Terry Rozier(PG/SG) Good lead guard with great toughness and hustle. Can be a very good backup for Deron Williams. Mouhammadou Jaiteh(C) The Warriors have covered their bases at every position and doesn't look to be in any major weakness. They may need extra size off the bench when they trade Lee. The Warriors can develop Jaiteh behind the scenes and hopefully he pans out.

Alphabits Karl-Anthony Towns(PF/C) Pretty easy pick here. Towns is very talented. His low post game is not quite as polished Okafor but his other skills put him just ahead of Okafor in my books. He is a better defender and better shooter. Jahlil Okafor(PF/C) They will take whoever The Twolves don't take between the two. He will be a beast on the block. I can see him getting into foul trouble early in his career but he'll figure it out. Randle + Okafor will be very scary. D'Angelo Russell(PG/SG)  Nasty handles and a great mid-range game make him a lot of fun to watch. He is exactly what Philly needs. Smith and Canaan are not the answer after trading away MCW, which still doesn't make sense to me. A big PG that can dominate at will. Emmanuel Mudiay(PG/SG) Another big PG, in the mold of John Wall. Strong finisher around the rim and can rebound. He will be a threat to pull off triple doubles. Only knock on his game is his shooting. He will need to work on his long range jumper because defenders will just keep daring him to shoot. If he figures that out he could be unstoppable. Willie Cauley-Stein(PF/C) The Orlando roster is packed with talent, especially that starting 5. All they are missing is another big to go beside Vucevic. In comes Willie. With all those offensive threats he's the perfect garbage man and rim protector to balance out that lineup. But if the reports are true Prozingis goes here and Stein goes to the Kings, which IMO is not the right move based on what the Magic need. Kristap Porzingis(PF/C) The Kings need a home run here. Their roster is riddled with holes and they need a game changer. In comes Porzingis. I really don't see him going in the top 5 based on what those teams need. 1/2 are locks, at 3 regardless of Embiid's injury they have Embiid and Noel. The Knicks have Melo and they don't need another volume shooter. Whether he is going to be Nowitzki or Bargnani is up to him. I think he falls somewhere in between. Justise Winslow(SF/SG)  I had a tough time with Winslow/Henzoja here but with Denver invested in Gallinari I see them trying to compliment him with a player like Winslow. Not the best shooter but he will defend the best player on the other team. Mario Hezonja(SG/SF) He is a scorer and after his performance in the Spanish finals he flew up the draft boards. Think of him as the Croatian Gallinari, which is why I don't see him as a Nugget. The Pistons know exactly what they need and they double down to see if they get it from Hezonja or in the trade for Ilyasova. Devin Booker(SG) After the Stephenson trade this pick became easier to call. They have prospects and stars at all positions except SG. Henderson is just to inconsistent and there is nobody after that. Add the fact that the Hornets can't shoot, adding the sharpshooter from Kentucky makes too much sense.  Stanley Johnson(SG/SF) Another pick that just makes sense. They need a good young wing to play behind Deng/Wade. He could be eventual successor to Deng. With a good blend of shooting and athleticism he could be a really good two way player in the NBA. Myles Turner(PF/C) The Pacers would love to see one of the 4 previous picks to fall to them but all those teams have bigs except for the Kings so they have a chance. Myles Turner would be a great fit as a stretch big next to Roy Hibbert. He projects as a C but he's way to skinny, he would be a nice stretch 4. Frank Kaminsky(PF/C) Utah could really use a SG but there are too many talented bigs left on the board. I don't see them taking a risk on Oubre and Dekker. Kaminsky's ability to stretch the floor would be a good fit next to the low post presence of Favors and Gobert. And they have the bigs next to him so they can hide him on defense. Trey Lyles(PF/C) A solid player, he won't be a star but he should be a solid PF. And he perfectly fills a need with the Suns. He is a good offensive player who leaves a lot to be desired on defense, but they have Len there so they should be fine. Kelly Oubre(SF/SG) I can see OKC looking for a 3 and D kind of player at this spot. And Oubre fits the bill. He shot a decent 37% from three. With a bunch of offensive wings Ourbre's defense will be a nice addition. Bobby Portis(PF) The Hawks can't afford to keep Carroll and Millsap. So one of them has to go. I think it's Millsap. Insert Bobby Portis. He's not in the same league as the other bigs but he's the best one available. Good all around player, but won't be elite. If they decide on letting Carroll go insert Justin Anderson here. Sam Dekker(SF/PF) They need a player like Dekker. He can play the 3/4 where they could use some help. He reminds me of Keith Van Horn. He is a good fit for a team in need of some offensive punch. Montrezl Harrell(PF) The Bucks need bigs. He may not be very big, but he plays big. And he is a vicious player who has endless energy. He crashes the glass hard and will contest everything at the rim. He will probably be prone to fouls early on in his career but he's the kind of player that every team needs. Cameron Payne(PG/SG)  It's time to end his slide. They need a PG behind Beverley who's playstyle will leave him prone to getting hurt. Payne is in that 2nd tier of PG's available behind Mudiay and Russell. Unfortunately for PG's this year most of the teams between 6-17 all have set PG's or have a bigger need to fill. The Rockets could use a backup rim protector but at this point there aren't are of those left. Tyus Jones (PG) A good pick and roll PG and can shoot. He doesn't turn the ball over either. Which is perfect as a backup PG. He won't' out jump or out run anybody so it makes him a weaker defender. But he can be a very capable backup in Washington behind Wall for the next 5 years. Justin Anderson(SG/SF) He is built exactly how a team would want a SF to be built. Strong, athletic, with a massive wingspan. He brings it on the defensive end and finishes strong around the rim. If his sudden jump in 3% was not a fluke he could be a nice 3 and D player for the Raptors. Also like Looney here if they decide to go big. Jerian Grant(PG/SG)  The window for Dirk is getting smaller and smaller every year. They need a PG and he's NBA ready. He's already 23 years old so his ceiling is not very high but he should be able to contribute right away. RJ Hunter(PG/SG) Great shooter, pegged as one of the purest shooters in college. He would fit nicely next to Butler and Rose on the outside.  Kevon Looney(PF)  The Trailblazers need some front court help and Looney could provide it. He is a bit of a project player but he has enough raw talent there that you can see the potential. And he will have time to develop behind Aldridge, assuming he sticks around. Rashad Vaughn(SG) Very young, a good scorer. He will have plenty of time to learn from all the vets on this team. He probably won't have any impact but this is a pick for down the road. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson(SF/PF) A steal at this point in the draft. Not a very good shooter but he plays hard and is a very good defender. He will try to dunk on everyone. If he can develop a respectable jumper he could be a very good player. At the very least he will be a higher energy guy off the bench. Chris McCullough(PF) He will have an amazing oppurtunity to learn from the best. He's a good rebounder and his offensive game keeps getting better. He has a pretty good ceiling it's just a question of whether he can reach it or not. But with the Spurs being the Spurs I can see them taking a stash player like Hernangomez, Osman, or Gudiatis. Delon Wright(PG/SG) Seems like everyone feel like the Lakers are making this pick. A big long defensive PG is what they need. Think of him as a 2nd JOrdan Clarkson. They might not even have this pick with them needing to put together a contending team for Kobes final year. Jordan Mickey(PF) The Celtics need a rim protector and he is good at that. But the problem is he is only good at that. He's undersized and his offense isn't really there. What he lacks in size he makes up for in effort. He fills a need and could carve out a nice role for himself. Terry Rozier(PG/SG) The Nets are in a weird phase where they are a fringe playoff team in the East but they are not really rebuilding. Rozier is a good pick up for them. An energetic young PG they could hold on to. They could also go with Powell here. Christian Wood(SF/PF)  Long lanky big that can shoot a bit. He's going to need a little time to grow into his body and put on weight. He has some solid upside and will have time to grow with Bogut, Ezeli, Speights holding down the fort for at least the next 2 years.

Ranking the Starting PG's

 It's been a while since I've last written something but I decided that I've been out of it for way too long. Since the NBA playoffs started today, I got a little more excited. I thought about doing a ranking of all the positions in the NBA.

What I based these rankings on are how they have played this year statistically, how much of an impact they make to their team, and how good their team is. Also, it's just my overall opinion.

For this post, I decided to only base these on the starting point guards. Since it's the most stacked position, I thought it would be fitting. Again, this is only just an opinion so don't bash me all too much.

Chris Paul

1. Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers)
 - I think this one speaks for itself. He's the ultimate floor general and he does everything humanely possible. He can score whenever he wants and will also make everyone around him better. For example, look at Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan. Let's be honest here. Are they really that good or are they just athletic freaks? With an average of 16.9 points and 9.7 assists on the year it makes him a steady contributor. He is also a pesky defender and led the league in the steals category yet again. He's the best player and anchor of that LA Clipper team. Imagine where the Clippers would be without him.

2. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder)
- He's starting to pass a bit more or so the stats say he is but he's at his best when he's aggressively attacking the rim. He's consistent and in my opinion, this era's Steve Francis. He's exciting to watch in the open court and I see him being a terror in this league for the next decade or so. The only problem I have with him is his shot selection but how can you be mad when he's doing everything else. Having Durant doesn't hurt either but Westbrook is still an amazing talent.

3. Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
- After his display this season, there was no doubt that he turned himself into an elite point guard in the league. He broke the record for most threes in a season and what's scary about that is that he missed a couple games too. While being a terrific scorer, he is also capable of being a great playmaker for his teammates. He's averaging a career high in assists with 6.9 and there's definitely more to come with him. I'm excited to see what he can do in the playoffs.

4. Tony Parker (San Antonio Spurs)
- In my opinion, he's one of the best. Although it doesn't seem like he's better than a lot of people, he actually really is. The Spurs, despite already being a great team, has relied on Tony Parker a lot especially in clutch situations. He's been a consistent MVP calibre player every year and he's done it under the radar. No one talks about him being one of the best, but he has clearly shown it.

5. Rajon Rondo (Boston Celtics)
- It was an unfortunate reality when he went down with the season ending injury. He was having another stellar year. He's as consistent as it gets and does everything a point guard needs to do. He's also the best rebounding and elite defending guards in the league. Boston rallied and defied the odds without him but they can only do so much before his presence is felt. Rondo is as good as it gets.

Kyrie Irving

6. Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers)
- Kyrie elevated his game this year and was selected to his first all-star appearance of his career. Despite being on a bad team record wise, you can see the strides the Cavaliers have made. He is scoring like one of the best but yet distributing at a high rate as well. His ball handling skills are probably one of the nastiest in the league. Brandon Knight should know how dirty it is. I would rate him in the second tier but since the Cavs aren't great yet I couldn't do it. Next year? Probably.

7. Deron Williams (Brooklyn Nets)
 - I couldn't leave him out for that long. He's finally looking like the D-Will of old and Brooklyn is rollin'.

8. Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers)
 - The rookie is for real! We all knew he was a good player coming out of Weber St. but we didn't realize how good he really was! The soon to be rookie of the year put up some tremendous stats in his first campaign. He's already adjusted well to the speed of the game and has gotten better as the year went on. As he gets more accustomed to the NBA life and the Blazers get more pieces, there's nothing stopping him.

9. Jrue Holiday (Philadelphia 76ers)
 - He took big steps forward this year and turned himself into an All-star. He averaged career highs in points, rebounds, assists and steals. He has become a threat and opened a lot of eyes this year. However, he fell off a little bit in the second half and so did the 76ers' playoff chances. He's still a really good point guard and will only get better from here. The 76ers need to build around him.


10. Ty Lawson (Denver Nuggets)
 - The speedy one is too good to leave off of the top 10 in my opinion. Denver needs him to stay healthy so that they can compete. Like many of the top guards in the league, he is a threat to do everything on both sides of the ball. He shoots the ball well and is also fearless when driving into defenders in the paint. The Denver Nuggets are the definition of how team play should be done and he's the main reason for it.

John Wall

11. John Wall (Washington Wizards)
 - When you look at the Wizards without him, you're looking at one of the worst teams in the league. With him, he makes them decent. Speedy isn't even a word to describe him. He is on another level when it comes to his quicks. Defensively, he is holding his own and offensively, he's more of a team player than he once was. His jumpshot is getting there and he's finally showing the promise we all thought of when he was drafted number one a couple years ago. I also like what Washington has been doing surrounding him with veterans and low-maintenance guys.

12. Mike Conley (Memphis Grizzlies)
- I think this is a good place to put Conley. No one really talks about him when it comes to Memphis because their team is settled around their bigs. He's steadily improving every year and he is carrying a bit more of the scoring load since Rudy Gay got traded. I expect him to be consistent for years to come.

13. Steve Nash (Los Angeles Lakers)
- He's been off the list for a long time and I think this is where he should be. He's still Steve Nash after all. He lost a little bit this year but I expect him to bounce back in the playoffs. Without Kobe, there's a little bit more pressure for him to perform.

14. Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- He is probably the best passer in the NBA. He is creative, exciting and fun to watch. The Timberwolves fell off last year when he got hurt. I expect him and the Wolves to get better next year when everyone is healthy.

15. Greivis Vasquez (New Orleans Pelicans)
 - Vasquez put up a career year and cemented himself as one of the best playmakers in the league. With one of the best assists rates this year, it's easy to say that he's getting paid in the summer. This is a great thing and it shows again that with the right opportunity, a star can be born. I guess Austin Rivers isn't the point guard of the future after all.

Brandon Jennings

16. Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks)
 - He's going to become a restricted free agent this summer and this may have motivated him to play better. After his stellar rookie season and scoring outburst, he has yet to take that next step. This year, he has certainly grabbed a lot of attention and led the Bucks to a trip to the postseason. He does still need to improve his awareness of when to pass and when to shoot but he did get better. It's going to be exciting to see where he ends up.

17. Jeff Teague (Atlanta Hawks)
 - Without Joe Johnson, Teague was pressured to carry a little bit more of the load on the perimeter. He has come into his own this year and has become a better player overall. The Hawks could be a darkhorse in the postseason but it could depend on the play of Teague.

18. Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
 - His first year with the Raptors has been interesting. I didn't want to be too biased so I placed him here otherwise he would have been a little higher. If we were talking about the best point guards of last year, he'd be up there. He had some problems with Coach Casey but slowly improved as the year went on. He shed his score-first mentality and turned into more of a passive guard. Casey tried to make a Calderon clone out of him and it clearly isn't him. However, he is getting better when it comes to knowing when to pass and when to shoot. I expect him to shoot up the rankings next year because he does everything on the court. His disappointing year put him here.

19. Jeremy Lin (Houston Rockets)
 - Linsanity has all but left but he was given a huge contract to duplicate what he did in New York. He has shown that with playing time, he could be dangerous. However, many of his flaws have been exposed. He's good but not great.

20. Raymond Felton (New York Knicks)
- He has always played his best ball with the Knicks. This year was no different. He has come in and played well.

21. Goran Dragic (Phoenix Suns)
 - Steve Nash's protege did a good job filling in. His team wasn't so good but we can tell Goran is the best player on it.

Kemba Walker

22. Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats)
- It's tough to find the silver lining with the Bobcats but he's only one of the few bright spots on this team. He's scoring more and improving his ball-handling skills. He is an integral part of the future.

23. George Hill (Indiana Pacers)
 - He has played pretty well for the Pacers and has really put himself in a good position with the team. The Pacers don't really have a threat to him for his job. He's been clutch and has done everything the team has asked of him. I feel he's more suited as a sixth man.

24. Mo Williams (Utah Jazz)
 - He played pretty good for Utah this year but we can see his best days are behind him. He will probably only be a marginal starter or good backup in upcoming years. His history and the Jazz playoff run puts him here.

25. Brandon Knight (Detroit Pistons)
 - He was shown getting clowned a lot more than his play. He has quietly gotten better but there's still a lot of work needed. Calderon could serve as a great mentor. Knight, like Kemba, is integral to the future of the Pistons. Give them a couple years and their core could be pretty scary. I would normally include Calderon but he has only been on the team for a few months.

26. Darren Collison (Dallas Mavericks)
 - The once young heralded point guard of the Hornets played okay this year for the Mavs. They believed they got their future point guard but I don't know. I think Dallas should look elsewhere for one. He still has a lot of upside to turn it around but he is slowly being forgotten.

27. Isaiah Thomas (Sacremento Kings)
 - He has improved and is certainly capable of being an everyday starting point guard. However, it seems as if he's looking to score more than pass. Earlier in the year, he was given limited playing time and also received a few DNP-CDs. His future is bright despite being overlooked in the draft two years ago.

28. Jameer Nelson (Orlando Magic)
 - He hasn't played a whole lot this year but he has came in and provided leadership. His stats are a little inflated because the Magic don't have anyone else. They developed their rookies pretty well though. The Magic need to find their new future point guard in the draft.

29. Mario Chalmers (Miami Heat)
 - He's good but the big three are carrying him. I think he could be better if he was on another team but he's ranked low because he isn't. He's an xfactor for the Heat but he's also nothing special.

30. Kirk Hinrich/Nate Robinson (Chicago Bulls)
 - Where's Derrick Rose? Come back man, we miss you. Kirk and Nate filled in well but I didn't think it was fair to rank two of them higher than Mario Chalmers. However, these two played well enough for the Bulls to make the playoffs.

My Tier System
Ultimate Point Guard - Chris Paul
The Elite - Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry, Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo
The Great Ones... - Kyrie Irving, Deron Williams, Damian Lillard, Jrue Holiday, Ty Lawson
"I'm not Great, but I'm still pretty good" - John Wall, Mike Conley, Steve Nash, Ricky Rubio
"I'm Almost there" - Greivis Vasquez, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, Kyle Lowry, Dragic, Kemba
"I play hard" - Jeremy Lin, Felton, George Hill, Mo Williams, Brandon Knight, Jose Calderon
"I am Surprised I'm Starting" -Darren Collison, Isaiah Thomas, Jameer Nelson, Mario Chalmers, Bulls
"I would be starting on another team"- Jarrett Jack, Andre Miller, Eric Bledsoe, Brian Roberts, Jerryd Bayless
"If only I wasn't hurt" - Derrick Rose

Well, here are my starting point guard rankings, I hope you enjoyed!

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Barbosa Deal

Today, amongst all the trade rumours, the Raptors and Pacers pulled off a deal. The Pacers would get Brazilian speedster Leandro Barbosa and possibly Anthony Carter for a 2nd round pick.

This came to me as a shock at first. For all the Raptor fans out there, you may be thinking that this may be the worst trade possible! Well...it isn't. I was ready to scream at my computer screen at the first thought of it because Barbosa is worth more than what we attained. However, I went through a couple forums, read some articles, got some insight on how the Raptors would benefit, and actually, this was a really good move.

By trading away Barbosa and Carter, the Raptors do free up some cap space. With Indiana way under the cap, they were able to absorb their contracts. The Raptors don't get salary in return, which is what BC always wanted. They also get a 2nd round pick and will now have three picks altogether which may create another trade or bring in some nice pieces for the future. Eric Smith tweeted another good argument saying "they(Raptors) now have $7.6 mil in cap space to spend BEFORE July 1 if they wish (about $12 mil total)." The Raptors may be able to pull of some deals prior to the free agent signing which is ultimately a good idea because it can open up trades and gives the Raptors more flexibility on Draft night.

Barbosa would have rot here with the Raptors anyways. We would lose more games than win(obviously) and then we would be left deciding whether or not to sign him. Barbosa did express a LOT of intrest to resigning in Toronto so that may be a great move. Maybe Colangelo thought about nabbing a 2nd rounder now and then eventually signing Leandro to a deal come July 1st. Remember, this is only a rental for the Pacers and this is why a 2nd round pick was huge. No team would ever give up a 1st for a rental player unless it was like Dwight or some other superstar. I would rather get a 2nd rounder than nothing at all.

On the other hand, the Pacers get a nice scoring punch off of the bench. He can provide a nice boost of energy and score pretty much when he pleases. George Hill has been playing good ball lately while Collison hasn't developed as much as they liked! Barbosa is a good option! One other thing that intrigues me is the history that Barbosa and Granger have. Remember they had a little scuffle about each team's end game shenanigans? Haha, good times. Anywho, I bet Granger is happy to have him on his side now as they look to make a deep playoff push.

It is sad to see the Brazilian Blur leave after all he has done for the Raptors. All he did was provide a boost off of the bench, a scoring punch, a defensive demeanor, excitement to the ACC, and a veteran presence. He did all the things that the team needed. I did expect a trade to happen to either Barbosa or Jose because of the way they were playing but I didn't really want to see it happen. Both teams got better....kinda. Well, the Pacers got better and we just got more money. That is all.

Good luck to Leandro! I'll miss you in Toronto and hopefully you come back when the free agency period starts!

Ellis-Bogut

WOW! As the trade deadline approaches and all these rumours start heating up, we were lucky to have a blockbuster deal fall onto our laps tonight! The Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors decided on a deal that would send Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson to GS for Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, and Kwame Brown!

 To me, both teams got something they needed and wanted but I think Milwaukee got the better end of the deal!

Let's talk about the Warriors here first though. Okay. We all knew Monta wasn't apart of the long term plan in Golden State. His name was being thrown out there in numerous trade rumours and I guess it was a mutual feeling. The Curry-Ellis experiment could only last so long. Now, the Warriors nabbed themselves a legit centre! When healthy, Bogut provides everything you want out of your big guy. He can score around the hoop, post-up, rebound, block shots, provide an inside presence, etc. He just does everything! He's the definition of a centre! You put him alongside David Lee and you now have one of the toughest frontcourts any opposing team can handle! Andris Biedrins will now ride the bench like no tomorrow! It's sad how he couldn't come back to the player he once was!

 As for, Captain Jack, he's back! He hasn't been doing anything at all for the Bucks this year and maybe a change of scenery might help him out! We all know what he's capable of doing. He can flat out score and be reliable in clutch situations. Let's see if he'll do grasp the opportunity and run with it! Watch out for Klay Thompson to fill the void that Monta Ellis left. Klay Thompson has the potential to become a potent scorer in this league. All he needs is more experience under his belt. With this trade, it opens up the court and he may be in line for a great second half as he will be looked on to provide more of the scoring. Overall, the Warriors look solid BUT they did give up a hefty price.

Now, for the Bucks side:

Fear the Deer!!! They do lose Bogut who is unarguably one of the best 5's in the league but his injury would've sidelined him throughout this year anyways. They want a playoff push and this may be the best way to do it. Adding Monta Ellis gives them another player that attracts double teams. He can light it up in any given moment and he's as quick as anyone in this league. He gives Milwaukee what they have been lacking this whole year; a shooting guard! Carlos Delfino and Mike Dunleavy are great role players but they really need that legit starter to make a good run! I'm looking forward to watching this backcourt tandem of Jennins and Ellis. Brandon Jennings is one of my favourite players and pairing him up with another scorer only gives opposing teams to pick their poison. So electrifying, no?

Despite losing Bogut, the Bucks added Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown. Kwame Brown gives the Bucks another big body to use. He can provide some veteran leadership, I guess. There's really nothing much more to say about him.... On the other hand, Ekpe Udoh is a guy every team needs. Although his offensive game is limited, his rebounding and defence makes up for it. His shot-blocking ability is pretty darn good. Now, you put him in a defensive system with Milwaukee and there you have a guy who can provide instant energy. Look for him and Larry Sanders to become the young, new, up and coming defensive duo.

Why nobody love me?

I may be a little too excited for the Bucks on this trade but really, who can't be? They'll definitely have one of the more exciting teams in the NBA. I do know that they'll be in the thick of things come playoff time. As for the Warriors, they now have the third best big man combo after the Lakers and Grizzlies in my opinion. Yeah, I think they are better than NY, CHI and any other team with a dynamic frontcourt duo. Maybe you'll disagree but hey, that's the beauty of having your own opinions. Express your feelings in anyway you want!

 Bucks win. Warriors win..kinda. BUT hey, both teams are happy so we should all be happy! Great swap to start off the trade deadline fiasco!

Who said this trade deadline was going to be dead silent? I didn't expect this to happen but I really anticipated a splash to be made! Hopefully a bunch of other teams follow up and make a deal with as much magnitude as this one! It only brings excitement to the fans and creates a buzz around the league!

Who's next? Is it Dwight? Is it Nash? Is it Pau? I can't wait for more noise to be made by teams as we approach the deadline!

The Little Engine

Sad news for the basketball world today, but even more-so, this is some sad news for me. TJ Ford recently told reporters and the whole basketball world that he was going to step away from the game. After taking another big blow in a recent contest versus the Knicks, it was evident that his basketball career was coming to a close. He is and will always be one of my favourite players, let alone favourite Raptors ever. And although he isn't one of the household superstars in our game today, I, along with many others, look at him as an inspiration story.

Do you remember TJ in his days at Texas University? He made history for the school and for the NCAA. He was undoubtedly one of the best up and coming players. A First Team All-American and named the Naismith College Player of the Year! He was the first basketball player to get his jersey retired by the University of Texas. The future was so bright for him that only he could stop it.

Do you remember him being drafted 8th overall in what is the one of, if not, the best draft in NBA history? Scouts raved about his potential to become one of the biggest stars in the NBA. His small stature was not a factor. His quickness and his play-making ability was off the charts. His capability of running a team was so superb that he was compared to the likes of Magic and Bird. Now, that's some company to be a part of. He was eventually named to the All-Rookie 2nd team but he completed only 55 games.

The memories go by too fast that only a few of us will remember all the accolades he received. I doubt many people remember of even knew that he was a part of those things. Even I needed to do my research here.

But, there is one thing that all of us will always remember. It's the dreaded spinal cord injury he suffered in his rookie year. This was the turning point in his young career. This was where his world spun and looked as if it was the end. It looked very unlikely that he would be able to return to full strength on the court. The injury may have jeopardized his career altogether and all the potential that everyone saw, faded away.

He missed the whole entire 2005 campaign recovering from the spinal cord injury. It seemed as if the whole basketball world had forgotten about him but he worked everyday for as long as he could. He was determined to make a comeback and put himself onto the spotlight again.

In the 2005-2006 season, he made his miraculous comeback! It didn't even look like he missed a beat. His quickness was still there and he was playing at an all-time high. No one expected it. Or at least, no one expected it as soon as it was. He defeated the odds and went on to average a solid 12.2 ppg, 6.6 apg, and 1.4 stls. He was then shipped to my Toronto Raptors and his years there were probably the best of his career!

I remember him running up and down the court and Chuck always raved about his motor. He did not stop. He was giving 110% every game and he excelled as the starting point guard. The "little engine" was a nickname that I knew him as. I loved watching him play. He meshed with Bosh quite well and we won the Atlantic Division for the first time in our history! He was a big part of it. He and Jose Calderon created the best point guard duo in the NBA and it looked like the sky was the limit for the team! Despite losing in a 6 game series to VC and the Nets, the Raptors were primed to make some noise for years to come!

Sadly, the next year was kind of a setback. It all happened because of another injury. This time, Al Horford smacked TJ Ford on a fastbreak by accident and he fell hard. That injury sidelined him for numerous games and it wasn't the same after that. Colangelo dealt him to Indiana in a blockbuster trade that saw Jermaine O'neal come to the Raptors. TJ Ford did okay at best in his first season as a Pacer but then slowly faltered. Indiana was tough for him and his minutes diminished game by game to the point where he was a DNP on occasional nights. There were some questions about his attitude and his capability to adapt to the lack of playing time but he fought through it. He then signed with Spurs this past off-season and looked good. He was signed to fill the backup point guard role and to mentor rookie Cory Joseph.

Unfortunately, another hard fall and emotional scare on Wednesday was the last straw. He was knocked down by Baron Davis and then inadvertently stepped on by teammate Tiago Splitter. He lied down on the court for several minutes before being helped off.

This is some hard news to digest because of all the things TJ Ford went through. If he didn't get injured in his rookie year, there would be no doubt that he'd be one of the better point guards in our game today. If he didn't get hit by Horford, there would be no doubt in my mind that Calderon would be the one moved. I really loved his time in Toronto as well as in the NBA. He was an exciting player to watch. A true inspiration because of the things he went through. He's definitely going to be missed. He showed that even though it may seem like its over, it really isn't. Perseverance and hard work brought him back to the game he loved. I hate seeing someone like him to have his career cut short because of injuries.Watching the retirement announcement earlier today really moved me. I'm gonna miss this guy!

There is definitely more gas in the little engine.  He said that we won't see the last of him and I'm sure of it.

Linsanity

I'm pretty sure everyone knows or at least heard about the big craze that the basketball world is on top of right now. He's a trending topic on twitter. He's the headline of many newspapers. He's even a YouTube sensation! And on top of that, he's Asian too! And no, his name is not Yao Ming. Don't worry if you didn't know him before this week! That's perfectly normal! Many others never heard of him either! But, if you still don't know him or even know of him, even with the help of the title of this post, you must be living under a rock. This man has been the biggest story lately and has taken the basketball world into a state of amazement. His name is Jeremy Lin.

Let's take a look at his journey before becoming the latest craze.

"Rejected by Stanford, so I went to Harvard"

He's a 6'3 point guard out of Harvard. It fits all the Asian stereotypes now doesn't it? Asian + Harvard = Genius. Anyways! He was the best player on his team and then decided to take his talents to the NBA. He went undrafted in the 2010 NBA draft but did show enough potential to garner a summer league team. Donnie Nelson called him to play for the Dallas Maverick summer league team. He went head-to-head with fellow rookie, John Wall and ended up playing really well. And after the summer league concluded, he was offered a few contracts with some NBA teams.

He decided to spend his rookie year last season with the Golden State Warriors. Unfortunately, he didn't really get an opportunity to play. He was only put onto the court for 29 games and only totaling an average of less than 10 minutes a game. The reason wasn't that he couldn't play. It was just a tough environment to be in for an undrafted rookie because of the gluttony of guards the team had. Playing behind the likes of Stephen Curry, Monta Ellis and other decent veterans is obviously a tough task to compete with. When all was said and done for the 2011 season, he ended up with averages of 2.6 PPG, 1.5 AST, and 1.1 STL. It wasn't the most successful rookie campaign ever but he did well under the circumstances he was put in. With the limited amount of playing time he was given, he was able to make the best out of his opportunity on the court. Uh oh, I'm foreshadowing! Watch out!

Now this is where the real story begins.

Sadly, he was cut by the Warriors. Again, it wasn't about the team thinking he was useless or anything. He was let go in hopes that the Warriors could reel in free agent center, Deandre Jordan, whom eventually re-signed with the LA Clippers. The Warriors front office did really like him on the team but business is business. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Fortunately, he was signed by the Houston Rockets! Jeremy Lin was again put into a situation where there were a lot of guards on the team. They weren't as talented as the Warriors backcourt but there were more bodies competing in Houston. Lowry, Dragic, Flynn, and Lin were all fighting for that spot. Through two days of training camp, he was cut to make room for Samuel Dalembert. GM Daryl Morey did think that Lin had potential but he really needed that force in the middle.

And then, Jeremy was unemployed. Fortunately, it was only for three days! With the injury to rookie Iman Shumpert, the New York Knicks called to Lin to provide insurance at their point guard position. Lin was eventually sent to the D-League to play a couple games and develop there. He tore it up! He was the best player on the court and he recorded a triple double which lead to a recall from the Knicks a few days later. The Knicks were underachieving and they needed a big spark to come from anyone. But the question was: Who would step up?

And then.... it all started....

February 4 vs New Jersey
Imagine this. Let's say that you're a young player in the NBA with limited experience.You're team is in dire need of a decent point guard. Then i'll throw you out there against one of the best point guards in the NBA in Deron Williams. And did I mention that you'd be playing on the biggest stage in basketball? Tell me how you are supposed to play in this kind of pressure? Ask Jeremy Lin. It didn't even seem like there was any pressure. He came off the bench in this game and logged in a career high 36 minutes! The night was unexpected to say the least. He surprised the New York crowd with dazzling moves and his tenacity to get into the paint. He poured in a career high 25 points and dished out 7 dimes. At some times throughout the game, he made Deron Williams look lost. The Nets, his teammates, and the crowd were all shocked at the performance. Even he was a little surprised with his effort saying,“This night, it just hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest. It’s like I’m still kind of in shock about everything that happened but I’m just trying to soak it all in right now.” (Thanks to Yahoo! Sports for providing me with that quote)

February 6 vs Utah
Jeremy Lin put up good numbers against the Nets two nights before and he was awarded with the starting gig on this night. But who really thinks that he'll put up another good performance? I certainly didn't. Although he turned the ball over 8 times, he made up for it by scoring 28 points and giving out 8 assists. With Amare out and Melo getting hurt in the early minutes of the game, they needed someone to carry the heavy load. He was carving the Jazz up from all over the court and he looked like an everyday starter. It was another solid performance by Lin and more importantly, a consecutive win for the struggling Knicks! By this time, the basketball world woke up and we all saw a little glimpse of the rising guard.

February 8 vs Washington

Coach D'Antoni was again pleased by the effort of Lin through his two games so he decided to keep in the starting lineup. Yet again, he made the right choice. It was a summer league rematch versus John Wall. Jeremy Lin ended up with 23 points and 10 assists! With this performance, he was making headlines and was trending on twitter. The "Linsanity" was born and everyone was onto it. "Lintendo", as some call him, has been playing at another level. See what I did there? I amuse myself sometimes.
He came out of nowhere and was starting to answer all the questions the Knicks were longing to answer. I think they've finally found their guy.

Feburary 10 vs LA Lakers
When asked about Lin, Kobe responded by saying that he didn't know who Lin was. I didn't know if that was a shot at Jeremy Lin or if he was actually being honest about not knowing him. But, by the end of their game, Kobe definitely knew about him. Jeremy took the Lakers by storm and provided instant scoring from the get-go. He had a magnificent first quarter and then eventually ended the game with two daggers from three point land. MVP chants from the crowd were pouring out and this was a defining moment for Lin and the Knicks. The Yellow Mamba defeated the Black Mamba and the Knicks won their fourth straight game!


Feel-good stories like these don't come around too often. Jeremy Lin is a perfect example of hard work and dedication will help you achieve your dreams. He came out of nowhere and provided an extra boost for the Knicks. He's the Tim Tebow of the NBA. He's providing hope to a fan-base that has been hurt for the last decade. He's bringing the life and excitement back to Madison Square Garden. Yeah, he may not be a household name but he's unquestionably making a name for himself. He has opened up everyone's eyes. He's showing us that anything is possible and although he may not be the first person to go through that example, he's undoubtedly one of the reasons why people continue to believe in this statement. I have hopped on the Jeremy Lin bandwagon and will probably stay on it for a long time. It's a great story and I hope it will not only continue for the rest of this year, but continue for the rest of his career. Let the Linsanity continue.

NBA All-Stars 2012

As we may all know by now, the NBA All-Star starters were implemented last week. I'm not a really big fan of fan votes to be honest. Many people don't deserve to be a starter, let alone an All-Star, but their popularity and huge fan-base really carries them. Anyone remember when AI made it as a member of the Detroit Pistons?! He was horrible that year but yet his fans took him to the All-Star game.

"I flex my biceps" - TBJ

As for this year, I'll give the fans credit for their choices. The East is shaped up looking pretty darn good. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat were virtually no brainers here. Dwight Howard and Derrick Rose were also clear-cut choices for the respective positions. All four of these guys aren't only popular to the NBA fan-base but they are well deserving superstars. No one can argue about the choices here. The only tiny, little, minor knock I have against the fans was the choice of Carmelo Anthony. Yeah, we all know what he's capable of. He can probably do anything offensively possible. He's definitely a star player and a game changer but does he deserve the starting gig in what is a down year for the Knicks? He's not an all too bad of a choice here but I would've given it to Chris Bosh.

 For the West, I honestly think that this was the best starting 5 you could get. LA dominated the starting 5 with 4 players. Chris Paul and Blake Griffin have created nice chemistry with each other and the Clippers are rolling! Chris Paul is my clear-cut favourite point guard in the West and he deserves this spot. On the other hand, Blake Griffin is a 50/50 toss up with Kevin Love. I don't mind Griffin as the starter. He's exciting and is quickly becoming one of the top tier players in the league. Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum were the other two LA stars. Kobe is scoring the lights out this season and has no signs of slowing down with the wrist injury. Bynum is playing great basketball right now and is showing why the Lakers should keep him and not deal him for Superman. The last spot was given to Kevin Durant who in my opinion, is playing on the best team in the NBA. Again, another no-brainer at this slot. You can't go wrong with the choices here. Good one!

The reserves were announced today and I think they're okay. The East looked like this: Chris Bosh(MIA), Joe Johnson(ATL), Luol Deng(CHI), Paul Pierce(BOS), Andre Iguodala(PHI), Roy Hibbert(IND), and Deron Williams(NJN). I love the new faces that the coaches selected. Deng, Iguodala and Hibbert are all making their first appearances and they absolutely deserve every second of it. Bosh and Joe Johnson were locks in my opinion because of everything they have accomplished this year. Deron Williams is an all-star caliber player BUT I think Brandon Jennings deserved this spot. Maybe I'm being a little biased but hey, he's playing too well. Maybe next year buddy. And sadly, Josh Smith got snubbed again. When will he ever be on the team?! It's taking way too long now! I swear he's going to be snubbed every year. It's actually a crime to keep him off for this long.

As for the west reserves, it ended up looking like this: Kevin Love(MIN), LaMarcus Aldridge(POR), Russell Westbrook(OKC), Steve Nash(PHO), Marc Gasol(MEM), Dirk Nowitzki(DAL) and Tony Parker(SAS). The West is looking good. Kevin Love, Aldridge, and Westbrook were easy choices to make. The tougher decisions lied around the others. I can see why Nash was voted in. Despite playing on an underachieving team, he has done everything humanely possible to keep them competitive. It doesn't seem he'll be slowing down anytime soon either. I'm proud of Marc Gasol being on this list. One Grizzly had to get it and I'm glad it happened. He stepped up in the absence of Z-Bo and Memphis is rollin'. Tony Parker personally suprised me. I actually haven't been following the Spurs all too closely this year and I was in shock to see his name pop up today. It's a good shock though. I didn't know he was putting up the numbers he was and the Spurs are atop the Southwest division. And then it comes down to Dirk. Sadly, the Finals MVP does not deserve a spot on the team. He hasn't been producing the way he normally has in past years. But on the other hand, it's hard to leave out a player like him.

Now....Close your eyes and let's imagine an all-star game without Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Can you?! NOPE! YOU CAN'T! It'll be weird without them. Their streaks are both over and its nearing the end of the road for some of the greats in our game. Time flies eh? AND I just want to say that Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings were definite snubs this year! There are many more but they were tough to include. Do you think the teams are as good as they get? We won't know until we actually watch but one thing is going to be certain. It's going to be a good weekend.

Oh, Henry!

The Grizzlies, 76ers and Hornets pulled off a three way trade today.

The Grizzlies gave up: Xavier Henry(to Hornets), 2nd Round Pick(to 76ers)
The Hornets gave up: 2nd Round Pick(to 76ers)
The 76ers gave up: Mareese Speights(to Grizzlies)

To me, these are all good under the radar type of moves.

For the Grizzlies, bringing in big man Mareese Speights is a great insurance move for the loss of Zach Randolph. Z-Bo is reportedly out for 6-8 weeks with a torn MCL. We all know how good the Grizzlies are and they can't let Zach's injury distract them. Dante Cunningham has done a decent job thus far for the Grizzlies off the bench but Mareese gives them some added size and depth at that position. Xavier Henry was given up but he barely played for them anyways.

The Hornets ended up acquiring the young guard out of Kansas in this deal. He was drafted 12th overall in last year's draft but hasn't really had the chance to play. With the signing of Tony Allen and the status of OJ Mayo, Henry didn't have much opportunity. For the Hornets, he may end up being a steal. The Hornets do have a crowded backcourt as well. Eric Gordon is one of the more better players in the game right now and arguably the Hornets face of the franchise. The only thing letting him down is his inability to stay healthy. Marco Bellinelli has filled in nicely for him but Xavier Henry can give him a run for his money. He has a really good chance to show his stuff in New Orleans. I liked this guy coming from college and I thought he would've made a big impact in the NBA. He'll be a great addition to New Orleans and contribute the way he should've last year if he had the chance to in Memphis.

The 76ers gave up big man Mareese Speights but brought in some pieces for the future. Two second round picks can bode well for a franchise. With the emergence of Spencer Hawes, the steady play of Elton Brand and Thaddeus Young, and the development of Nikola Vucevic, Speights was rotting on the bench. He was an expendable piece and getting two 2nd rounders for him is a good deal in my opinion.

Overall, I think everyone got a good deal for what they gave up.

The Chris Paul Relay

As we all know by now, the lockout has ended and the transactions started to roll! Almost every team made under the radar acquisitions but a handful of teams made a big splash! One of the biggest moves that happened was of course, the Chris Paul trade. It finally happened! After weeks of speculation and some offers that were negated by David Stern, the NBA has agreed to let Paul move. LA was the team that one the Paul sweepstakes. For all you Laker fans out there,  he'll be wearing purple and yellow!We're on the road to another championship! Just kidding.

 He actually joined forces with Blake Griffin and the rest of the Clipper gang. The Knicks, Nets, and Lakers were the other top runners in this marathon but they came up short. To be honest, I felt like the Clippers gave up WAY too much. I felt the same way when the Knicks got Carmelo Anthony last year. There was so much solid talent that were going Denver's way. This trade is the same. Eric Gordon, Al-Farouq Aminu, Chris Kaman, and Minnesota's UNPROTECTED 2012 first round draft pick were sent to New Orleans in exchange for Paul and a couple of second rounders in 2015. Yeah, I know Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA today but it does take more than one guy to win. Especially in a season like this, extra bodies are needed to fill the void a LOT this year.

Lets take a look at the Hornets side:

Eric Gordon is one of the upcoming young guards in this league! Did anyone even notice he averaged 22.3 points per game last year? I don't think so. Everyone was so focused on Blake Griffin's stellar "rookie" year but Eric Gordon quietly had one of the better seasons for any guard. He has been exceeding everyone's expectations and slowly progressing into the upper echelon of players. I thought the Clippers would have had a better team if they didn't give him up. He'll definitely be the key to the Hornets offense this upcoming season. As for Al-Farouq Aminu, the Hornets netted themselves another young, athletic player. He was drafted 8th overall in last year's draft. He didn't have a stellar rookie campaign but he showed flashes of what he could develop into. He's long, can stretch the floor, and play defense. Chris Kaman was the other guy in this trade. Even though he had an injury plagued year, I know he still has a LOT to offer. He's tough, can play amongst the best of 'em and has a soft touch around the rim. He's one of the best offensive big men in the NBA. Look's like they have a perfect replacement for Aaron Gray!Go Raptors! :D

AND. AND. AND. The Hornets also get the T-Wolves unprotected first round draft pick! WOW. With the Wolves roster right now, I don't see them making it far this season. This pick will give the Hornets a high end lottery pick for this upcoming draft! The can potentially snag someone like Harrison Barnes, Perry Jones, or some other top prospects. Crazy trade for New Orleans.

Trade Grade: A. We all knew Chris Paul was leaving. It was just all the matter of where and what the Hornets will get in return. This trade will make them better now and in the future.

And for the Clippers:

Chris Paul was the most prized guy in all the available guys other than Dwight Howard. The Clippers will be a better team but I just think they gave up too much of a price. But then again, Chris Paul is a superstar and opportunities to get a player of his caliber are rare. Chris Paul will make everybody on this squad better. His play-making and ball-handling skills are impeccable. It'll be "lob city" for the Clippers. The only thing that the Clippers need to do now is get overall depth. They have 4 point guards that are all worthy of being starters! Chris Paul is obviously the man there but everyone else is in a bubble. Newly signed Chauncey Billups will probably see time at the 2 but I don't see him doing all that well there. Mo Williams should be the next person moved on this Clippers team. They should trade him for depth. They need a legit SG and a backup big man. Ryan Gomes, Brian Cook, and Randy Foye won't fill the best needs at their respective positions. Mo will definitely bring in someone with value. And Eric Bledsoe is the 4th point guard here. He'll be a good backup and reliever for this team. His young legs will give a good spark off of the bench.

Trade Grade: A. Chris Paul is someone that could change a franchise in a blink of an eye. The price was steep but it is a definite upgrade. They need to work on getting rid of the logjam at the PG position for other positions. Other than that, this team will be exciting to watch this year.

What If..

Sadly, the NBA hasn't resolved its lockout issues just as yet and we have to wait even longer. But today, 'Off the Record' relived the past. It was about the '99, '00 Toronto Raptors. Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Charles Oakley all appeared on the show talking about the their tenure with the Raptors. McGrady was drafted 9th overall in the 1997 NBA draft. He was the young, high-flying, defensive phenom for the young raptors back in the day. Despite the season being awfully disappointing, T-Mac showed flashes of what his game could develop into.

As the next draft approached, the Raptors made the biggest deal in their history. They decided to select Antawn Jamison with the 4th overall selection and then ship him to the Golden State Warriors for his UNC teammate, Vince Carter. Vince Carter would soon be the franchise's biggest star. He would turn into the face of the Raptors and what many believe is the equivalent to what Lebron is today for the NBA; a world known superstar at the top of his game bringing excitement to everywhere he went.
 
The Raptors management saw the potential that these cousins had. The management team knew the two would excel in this league so they built a team with veterans that could show them the ropes. Charles Oakley was the main man they brought in. He was their big brother. If you were going to try and knock VC or T-Mac on their asses, Oak would be the first one at your doorstep ready to smack some sense into you. He was the glue to the Raptors team. In the interview today, Vince and Tracy both acknowledged him as the guy who made it all happen. Without the presence of Charles, Vince and Tracy wouldn't have been able to accomplish everything they did.

But, the biggest question that was asked today was "What If". That question for Raptor fans still lingers in our minds today. It makes me so sad thing about this. It actually breaks my heart. The 1999-2000 Raptors were special. They achieved the first playoff berth for the Raptors and they made some noise. Although they were swept by the more experienced Knicks, they showed that they were a force to be reckoned with. Unfortunately, McGrady decided to leave the up and coming Raptors for his own spotlight on the Orlando Magic. Some see it as selfish, but others see it as an opportunity to develop. People say that McGrady wouldn't have been as good as he was had he not left the Raptors but you can definitely argue that McGrady was the missing piece on the road to the championship. Carter did flourish as the only Raptor superstar but his cousin would have greatly helped. The second round was the furthest they went but Iverson scored in bunches. Although Vince Carter was killing the 76ers, his last shot was the start of the Raptors fall. The shot in game 7 still gives me nightmares. Why did that ball have to miss? WHY?! Tracy even said today that if he was playing in that game 7, the Raptors would have went to the NBA finals. Do you know how heartbreaking that sounds?! When Tracy said that, I was literally crying. Man, T-Mac should have stayed. He didn't even pass the first round of the playoffs in his career until he was injured with the Rockets a few years back and contributed nothing in the playoffs. But damn... I can't stress enough how sad I really am. This team could have been special. And I agree with Kobe with his statement that if that Raptor team stayed together, they'd be battling the Lakers multiple times for championships. Its unfortunate that things ended the way they did. Personally, I still love Tracy McGrady and Vince Carter. They were my idols growing up and even though they left, I still supported them. That's how much I loved these guys. I don't care about the way they left, I care about what they did with the team. They created a buzz in the air and expanded the basketball culture throughout Canada. Two of the biggest superstars in the basketball world. They gave us hope and something to look forward to. They even did a lot for the organization and for the city. *sigh*

 At least the Raptors look like they're going in the right direction with their young pieces like Derozan and Ed Davis. They look like a team that could make some noise, right?! But no matter how good this Raptor team will be in the future, we will always end up asking this question to ourselves. What if?

NBA 2k12

As we're still waiting for this dreaded NBA lockout to finally end, we can at least look forward to the releasing of the new NBA 2k12 right? I'm usually super amped to buy NBA 2k every year but this year is a different story. 2k did add some neat features with all the different legends branching off the idea from last year's MJ challenge. I do play those time to time but I'm more of an association and online mode player. And that being said, I do care about the ratings of the different players around the league. It's actually such a disappointment. I don't know what they base these ratings on but its horrible. Most players are either really overrated or extremely underrated.

Some notable overrated players
- Corey Maggette(CHA - SF) (74) : I don't think he deserves a 74 personally. He didn't have a great season and it was filled with nagging injuries. An average of 12.0 ppg and 3.6 rpg is not 74 worthy. I'll say 71. It is only a few more digits below but hey, it makes a difference.
- Delonte West(BOS - G)(69) : Really? This man is rated as good as Derozan? An average of 5.6 points and 2.7 assists is a person who should be in the low 60's. He even had a bad year before this year. How is he rated this high? Yeah, a 69 isn't high....but it is for a guy like West.
- Marcus Thornton(SAC-SG)(74) : I do like Marcus Thornton in both the game and in reality but a 74 may be a little too high for this young guard. Yeah, he's a dynamic scorer who has unlimited range but other than that, he can't do much else. If 2k puts a higher emphasis on scoring and shooting then I wouldn't argue about this one.
- Shannon Brown(LAL-SG)(72) : He's a great boost off the bench but a 72 for an energy guy seems like too much right? Every other energy guy seems to be in the 60s... Why does he get it different? I don't know. He's exciting I guess.
- Matt Barnes(LAL-SF)(71) : A little too high for him. He didn't even have that great of a season but he can play defense so I guess this is why he's at this rating.
- Quentin Richardson (ORL)(71) - A shooter. He averaged 4.4 points this past year and he's still rated this high. 71.....for QRich. He's done.
- Paul George(IND-SF,SG)(74) - As much as I like George, I can't rate him this high after just one mediocre season. He did have an ok rookie year and he did show flashes of greatness but it wasn't enough to earn him a 74. He only showed up in the second half of the season. I'd say a 70 at best.
There are WAY more but yeah....

Some underrated players include Derozan, Bargnani, and Nowitzki. These are just some that I think are horribly underrated. Demar Derozan is a 69....that's so harsh. He can't even believe it. I remember him tweeting @2k about it. It's an insult. He averaged 17.2 points and has developed nicely in every aspect of his game. His only clear flaw is his three point shooting. He has opened a lot of people's eyes this past season and he should have been recognized. Even by a game. Bargnani at 68 is just heartbreaking. He averaged 22 points, over 5 boards and a block per game. You might say,"Ew, a big man only grabbing 5 rebounds?" But, he's scoring over 20 points a game. That has to at least give him a nod on some more rating points! How can the likes of Humphries, and more other random players be better than him? It might just be a hate on Toronto as a whole team. No one is rated higher than a 69 other than Barbosa. It disgusts me. Dirk is another player that got robbed. A 85? Really? For the Finals MVP? That's just wrong. He needs a 90 AT LEAST. Like, how can you give this guy anything less? He plays his heart out everyday and just about does everything for his team. Without him, the Mavericks wouldn't have even gotten past the Lakers with ease. 2k needs to wake up! Their ratings are horrible. AND, they didn't include the rookies because of the lockout. Such a disappointment for me. I've probably left out a lot of players and you may think that I'm overreacting but hey, its just my opinion. Feel free to bash, comment, agree, disagree.

Anywho, this is Julius and this is what you've found in your Sports Locker! Thanks for caring! :)