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

Better Lucky Than Good

By Dan Rodgers

Unfortunately, my early teaser didn't hit yesterday because Wake decided to suck while Maryland decided to have their best game of the season. Toledo was closer than I thought but that backdoor three was awesome and felt great after an iffy day.

Only one late game sticks out to me tonight in college basketball:

Missouri -5.5 vs. Texas = I know people say it's tough to beat a team three times in a season (Missouri won both regular season matchups), but the Tigers are a much better team than the Longhorns. Texas surprisingly beat Iowa State yesterday and Missouri destroyed Oklahoma State. I just think that the Tigers are hoping that winning the conference tourney (which would most likely mean beating Kansas) would earn them a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. CORRECT

I haven't done very well nor had much of an opinion of the recent NBA games but tonight that changes.

Utah Jazz @ Philadelphia 76ers -6.5 = This spread is way off in my opinion. Now, I haven't been completely on but most of the teams have been on the road. Philly is at home and Utah is a bad road team (5-13). The 76ers are coming off of a 32-point victory of the Celtics and there is no reason the same won't happen here. CORRECT

I also like the Celtics at -3 and Oklahoma City is a huge favorite at -13 but I think they can get it done at home. (Celtics destroyed but Oklahoma City got embarrassed and lost outright. )

Rodgers That

Slide over Gil

By Dan Rodgers

No surprise to anyone the Washington Wizards selected John Wall first over in the 2010 NBA Draft. We expect the Wiz to ask Gilbert Arenas to slide over and play shooting guard. If Gil does so, and does so well then the Wizards could surprise people and make the playoffs next season.

The 76ers followed by taking Evan Turner...oh gosh...another surprise...

Some pretty weird stuff going on though...Kentucky's Eric Bledsoe fell to Oklahoma City at 18 and James Anderson fell to number 20 (he was projected 10).

Teams are proposing trades like crazy...reports that Oklahoma City is looking to trade Eric Bledsoe to the Clippers and get Cole Aldrich from the Hornets. There are also reports of the Bulls trading players to the Wizards to relieve cap room.

If any of the trades actually go through or any other crazy stuff happens...I'll report back.

Rodgers That

Wall to Washington?

By Dan Rodgers

Tonight is the NBA Draft and it is a fairly exciting time in the Baltimore/D.C. area because the Washington Wizards hold the first overall pick of the draft. John Wall is the projected first pick (even though I disagree), and many people think that the Wiz should take him.

I think a better pick would be Ohio State's Evan Turner. He won the award for the best college player, and I believe he is more NBA ready. Besides, Turner has great size (6' 7") and can play the guard or forward positions. That is a much more pressing need for them assuming Gilbert Arenas reverts back to pre-gunman form. Gil can be a great play-making point guard and even though Wall is a great player, he is going to realize that he can't run over, through, and past everyone in the NBA.

The 76ers have the second pick and what they plan to do is also very interesting. They have Jrue Holiday, a young rising point guard, and Andre Iguodala at the two position (he can play the three). Evan Turner would be a nice addition and upgrade over starting small forward, Jason Kapono. However, if the Wizards draft Turner, is Philly going to draft Wall just because he is the best available?

This should be an interesting night. ESPN @ 7:00 don't be late!

Rodgers That