NBA Picks and Trade Talk

By Dan Rodgers

I want to give a quick opinion on a few of the more notable trades that were pulled off in the NBA:

Wizards get: Nene, Brian Cook, future 2nd rounder
Clippers get: Nick Young
Nuggets get: JaVale McGee, Ronny Turiaf

This trade puzzled me because I'm not quite sure what the Wiz had in mind. They gave LA a young scorer to help replace Billups. They helped the Nuggets get younger and more athletic at the forward/center position. The Wizards got a quality veteran center, but they aren't in a win-now mode. Good move for LA/Denver, we will have to wait and see for Washington.

The Lakers situation is complicated because they pulled one trade to acquire Ramon Sessions and one to get rid of Derek Fisher. The Lakers didn't give up much in the trades talent-wise, but they did give up lottery protected first round picks. Still, Fisher is old and was a defensive liability. Sessions gives them more athleticism on both ends of the floor.

Warriors get: Andrew Bogut, Stephen Jackson
Bucks get: Monta Ellis, Kwame Brown, Ekpe Udoh

If Bogut can stay healthy, the Warriors will greatly benefit from this deal. They have a ton of scorers and could afford to deal Ellis. Bogut will solidify the defense in the paint and allow David Lee to play the four all the time. The Bucks dealt their injury-prone center for a scorer to complement Brandon Jennings. I think the deal is much safer for the Bucks but fairly even all-around.

Rockets get: Marcus Camby
Blazers get: Hasheem Thabeet, Johnny Flynn, 2012 second round pick

This deal presents incredible upside for the Blazers. They traded a 38-year-old center for a 25-year-old center and a 23-year-old guard, both of whom showed flashes of greatness in college. Thabeet hasn't been too much of an opportunity so he isn't a bust yet. Flynn averaged over 13 ppg and 4 apg as a rookie and hasn't been given a fair chance since then. Not to mention, who knows about the draft pick. Houston is clearly in a win-now mode, while Portland probably thinks they can win now and get younger at the same time. I think Houston might have been trade-raped... but only time will tell.

Picks:

Cleveland Cavaliers @ Philadelphia 76ers -9 = The 76ers get Andre Iguodala back tonight and Spencer Hawes is returning to form since returning from injury. The Cavs aren't a very good team and have lost three in a row. Starting center Anderson Varejao is still out with an injury and Jamison will be playing hurt. Philly hasn't been as good since their hot start, and needs to get these important home wins over bad teams as they are in a tight division race with the Celtics. I think Philly blows out the Cavs tonight as the Sixers have the youth to run with the Cavs and the experience to outlast them and pull away.

Minnesota Timber Wolves @ Memphis Grizzlies -5.5 = The Grizz have beaten the Wolves at home nine out of the last 10 times, including six in a row. Memphis lost the first three game of their road trip before posting an impressive win at the Lakers. They should carry that momentum back home as Minnesota will be without their starting center Pekovic and likely J.J. Barea as well. They will also obviously be without Ricky Rubio who is out for the season with a torn ACL. I think that Memphis found their stroke against LA and should go to work offensively against a Minnesota team that has allowed at least 100 points in four out of their last five games.

Enjoy the NIT games as well...

Rodgers That

Big Apple 'Melo-ing out

By Dan Rodgers

Of course the day I decide to write a tidbit about the trade is the day that the trade finally get done.

Carmelo Anthony has reportedly been traded to the New York Knicks, according to the Denver Post. Apparently, the trade involves Anthony and at least two other Nuggets, four Knicks, draft picks and cash.

WOW...I'll write more when I know what players were involved...

UPDATE:

Knicks Get:

• SF: Carmelo Anthony
• PG: Chauncey Billups
• G: Anthony Carter
• G/F: Sheldon Williams
  
• F: Renaldo Balkman (former-Knick)

Knicks C Eddy Curry and PF Anthony Randolph are reportedly going to be traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Nuggets Get:

• F: Danilo Gallinari
• F: Wilson Chandler
• PG: Raymond Felton
• C: Timofey Mozgov
• Knicks 1st-round pick 2014
• Warriors 2nd-round pick 2012 & 2013
• $3 million cash
  

This is an awkward trade for the Knicks. They gave up a ton of depth to get Anthony and if Billups retires they will have to start Toney Douglas. Douglas has looked good at times but I don't know if he's ready to start.

The Knicks are now forced to either play a very small lineup with Amar'e Stoudemire at center or start Ronny Turiaf or another bench player there. They'll probably do the latter of the two options.

I can't wait until Sunday Feb. 27, 2011 when the Knicks play the Heat. That will be a great game and early test for the Melo/Amar'e combo.

Rodgers That

'Melo Out

By Dan Rodgers

The NBA trade deadline is three days away and we have yet to see anything noteworthy. The big player that everyone wants to know about is Denver Nuggets Forward Carmelo Anthony.

The Syracuse product is easily a top 10 player in the NBA and he is only 26 years old. The big players are the New Jersey (soon to be Brooklyn) Nets and New York Knicks. The Nets owner has said that he met with Melo and that it went great.

Per an article from ESPN New York, "As you know, my instinct was to stay away and I still think that is [the] right decision," Prokhorov said.

Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the Nets and Russian billionaire, called of the talks about a month ago but said the meeting went "fantastic." The Nets look to be forcing the Knicks to play their hand if they want Anthony.

The Knicks, in response, have drawn a line in the sand. They have offered the Nuggets a trade and have said they won't budge from there. The trade will likely have the Knicks give up Wilson Chandler and Raymond Felton among other players.

As a Knicks fan, I don't want them to get rid of Danilo Gallinari. Felton has been great this year but if the management thinks Toney Douglas can take over then you have to trust them. Look for the Knicks to try and force the Nugs to take Eddy Curry in the trade because his contract is ridiculous. I pray that NY doesn't give up another first round pick. Years and years ago they screwed themselves by trading picks years into the future and they are just getting past those drafts. If the Knicks can get Melo, keep Gallinari, Landry Fields and their first round pick it should be a good trade for New York.

I'll update if there are any deals worth noting.

Rodgers That